Florida’s Must-Visit College Town, According to a Former UCF Student

I spent a few years of my adult life taking online classes at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. When I still lived in the City Beautiful, I took great pride in showing visitors the Orlando beyond the theme parks. It’s a pretty sweet city, y’all. And I’m not just talking about the oatmeal pies.

Being an online student is a little different than being on campus. You don’t bump into classmates in the Student Union or have late-night cram sesh over bad coffee. Honestly, as an adult student, the social aspects of college feel less urgent. I was a young mother, though, and by the time I found myself back in an academic setting, I was ready for that spark of community... the laughter, the conversation, the chance to feel like more than just a name in a discussion board thread.

For me, that spark came through comedy. The first love hit me at Sak Comedy Lab, where so many early fall Friday nights were spent at their late-night Brawl for All. Picture this: themed teams of improvisers facing off week after week, battling for ultimate glory. It was part wrestling match, part comedy showdown, and all adrenaline. Dan Francisco will forever have my vote as an improv champion. The energy in that room was electric: audience roaring, comedians sweating, and me, happily clutching a cup of wine like it was prime-time television.

When the Brawl era ended, my friend Ross McCoy started doing stand-up. That shift brought us to Bull and Bush every first and third Saturday night for what felt like an indie comedy showcase. This wasn’t your cookie-cutter, setup-punchline stuff. These comics were experimental, sharp, and determined to make you think between the laughs. And it paid off! Several have landed on Fallon or other late-night stages, a few have millions of followers now, and one even turned up in both an Emmy-nominated series and an Oscar-nominated film. Orlando comedy was on fire back then.

And the beating heart of that fire? The Bull and Bush Pub. I miss crisp autumn Florida nights on their lively patio, a pint of Guinness poured to perfection (the best in Orlando proper, in my humble opinion), and a perfectly-cooked scotch egg. Their menu goes full British pub: think fish and chips, cottage pie, but with a hint of American flavor. Pair that with clever comics, and you’ve got the kind of night that makes you forget about the stress of online exams.

Not all my Orlando love stories were built on punchlines. I also fell hard for Lazy Moon Pizza and the skate shop next door, Catalyst. Lazy Moon isn’t just a pizza joint, y'all… it's a slice of UCF history. The slices themselves are the size of your head (and I mean that literally). One slice and you’re full, but you’ll still want another because who walks away from a triangle that big? Next door, Catalyst Skate Shop became the spot where my stepson picked out his very first skateboard. What a great way to start a new school year, isn't it?!

Of course, the best part of living in Orlando sometimes means leaving Orlando. That’s where Sunny Nights Kayak Tours comes in. When the city lights fade and you paddle into the Indian River Lagoon, something almost supernatural happens… the water glows. It's hard to capture on camera, but that glow up above? That's not a light, y'all; that's nature.

That magic is called bioluminescence, and Sunny Nights takes you straight into the science and wonder of it all. Led by a naturalist and scientist who knows the glowing dinoflagellates like old friends, these tours are more than just a pretty Instagram shot. They’re a masterclass in ecology, conservation, and the kind of magic nature pulls off without fireworks. Plus, it’s a woman-owned business, owned by someone who is deeply committed to protecting Florida’s wild beauty. They even teach you how to leave no trace. I mean, except for the memory of glowing water dancing around your paddle.

Orlando isn’t just mouse ears and roller coasters, y'all, it’s a grown-up playground too, especially when it's not too hot out. Come to the City Beautiful in the early fall. Laugh through a comedy night, tackle a pizza slice that could double as a blanket, pick up a skateboard, and paddle through a glowing lagoon under the stars. UCF Knight or traveler, these spots show the city after hours, when textbooks are closed and adventure is wide open. Bring curiosity, good company, and a stomach ready for oversized pizza.