Until I discovered Boggy Creek Airboat Rides (www.bcairboats.com), I didn’t know how far north the Everglades stretch. They actually start just a few minutes away from the Orlando airport! Chris and Margie Long run their airboats through the marshes, giving passengers an education about these wetlands and the chance to see ‘gators, eagles and other wildlife in their natural habitats. Though most of their year-round trips are in the daytime (alligators bask in the sun, giving mid-day tours the best odds of seeing them), they offer a "night swamp safari" option, too. Thrill seekers can also hover above nature by parasailing over Lake Tohopekaliga – the headwaters for the Everglades.

If you want rustic, the Longs rent some cabins and operate an RV park. Right by the airboat dock is the East Lake Fish Camp & Restaurant. From its decor, menu and prices, you’ll think you’ve time warped back to central Florida before the tourism boom. The menu includes ‘gator "fingers" and the heartiest $6.50 buffet selection you can find anywhere.

At the other end of the luxury spectrum, the suburb of Winter Park just north of Orlando is a stunningly attractive contrast to the sprawl of newness all around the area. The town is surrounded by six small lakes, connected by canals, with numerous mansions and estates dating back to the industrial barons of the 19th century.

The best view comes from Scenic Boat Tours (www.scenicboattours.com), which have been running narrated cruises for over 50 years. The area is so laid back that they even have a "sleeping hibiscus" – the same flower as usual, except it never opens. Passengers learn about local history, flora and fauna with a genial guide who is likely to toss in jokes as old as the live oak trees you pass under.

The town is another visual throwback to gentler times. Its main street fronts a row of upscale shops and cafes in two-story buildings facing several blocks of old-growth park. Except for the cars, you’d think it’s Victorian times (including an old-fashioned ice cream parlor).

At the north end of the business district is the Morse Museum (www.morsemuseum.org), which holds the world’s largest collection of Tiffany glass (sample pictured at left) and pottery, including the Tiffany Chapel that debuted in Chicago at the 1893 World’s Fair. The permanent collection includes over 4,000 works of art, which are rotated with touring exhibits in the museum’s 19 galleries.

But the biggest surprise to experience was the best of the Caribbean Sea without having to go that far. Discovery Cove, affiliated with Sea World but a separate attraction, offers with a full day’s worth of aquatic activities. There is a simulated coral reef for snorkeling in a realistic setting with a spectacular assortment of tropical fish. Another pool allows you to safely meet some manta rays. Call 877-4DISCOVERY, or check www.discoverycove.com.

For further information on these and all area attractions, including multi-park passes and other money-saving packages, contact the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.orlandoinfo.com, or by calling 800-551-0181.