5 Not-So-Ordinary Orlando Spots!

I make a point to check in on my friend Kathleen often, so when she moved to Orlando, I knew it would be the perfect opportunity to discover the city! Please enjoy this list of 5 out of the ordinary places that you won't want to miss the next time you're in Orlando!

1. Korean BBQ Taco Box

Kathryn Kuehn Photography / Via Facebook: kathrynkuehnphotography

Make your way to the food trucks in the Milk District on Tuesdays! Voted Best Food Truck for the 5th year in a row by Orlando Sentinel. After a great inner-debate on what to order, I decided to try the chicken taco plate, which came with a delicious cheese ball and some other unexpected yummies as well. The surrounding bars welcomed patrons into their bar to eat their chosen food and perhaps serve you with a beer from the tap! I thoroughly enjoyed my plate. I had no choice but to lick up the last of the salad dressing on my plate, and the sauce on the bulging (Yes, I said bulging) taco was exceptionally flavorful.

2. Credo House

Tara Smith / Via eatlovevolunteer.com

The Credo House is a MUST DO! During my visit, I was immediately charmed by the friendly welcome, clean coffee bar and romantic string lights (I'm such a sucker for lights!). Photos of Haiti by a local photographer hung on the wall, and large glass windows allowed all the sunlight in without any of the cold. Downtown Credo's donation only coffee shop is an opportunity to drink a delicious cup of coffee with purpose. Credo's website explains that as customers assign a value to their coffee, they become more conscious of where their money is going and are invited to consider the impact it makes. Credo House partners with fair trade Guatemalan farmers, and supports several projects within the Orlando community as well. The more the cute ginger bartender indulged us in their mission, the more we fell in love. With my friend Kathleen, we quickly claimed residence on the over-sized chairs by the window and spent the next couple of hours discussing life and happiness. We shared a piece of coconut banana bread, that could not have tasted any fresher or better. The world needs more businesses like this.

3. Courtesy Bar

Tara Smith / Via eatlovevolunteer.com

A few hours later, we prepped ourselves for a ladies' night on the town! We gracefully landed at the Courtesy Bar, where the vibe was dark, romantic and vintage. The Courtesy is all about experience. The thought provoking art within the bar captured our interest and served as a beautiful backdrop for elegant lady conversation. A kind and knowledgeable gentlemen served us a tasty, classy cocktail. As he elegantly made each drink, he provided an eloquent summary of ingredients and the history of the drink itself, which made for an even more lovely experience. We were definitely feeling fancy!

4. Mac & Cheese Night at Independent Bar on Wednesdays

Independent Bar / Via independentbar2.pushthetempo.com

The iBar and club has brought on a new night called Mac & Cheese, featuring DJ Mac and promising the cheesiest music. Without question, we needed to check it out! After the doors opened at 10 PM, we entered the club without any cover, and ordered some drinks before heading to the dance floor, ready for whatever cheesy music may inspire us. The '90s and '00s music was off the chain! From Spice Girls, NSYNC, to Bon Jovi's "Living On A Prayer", the crowd belted out lyrics that they know all too well, and the date Kathleen met there may have become intimidated by our ballads and dancing!

5. The Smoothie Room

The Smoothie Room / Via thesmoothieroom.com

You can imagine that after a full night of dancing, we might need a little help getting hydrated again! What better way than with an all natural, organic smoothie experience! I ordered a classic strawberry-banana smoothie, and both my taste buds and body were very satisfied by the beverage. What's more is that this smoothie shop will provide a FREE ginger shot to each customer who requests it! While my friend Kathleen opted out, I drank the spicy, pungent liquid that I could feel burning all the way into my stomach (in a good way!). While we took our drinks to go, I noticed the shop was clean and modern, with authentic art hanging from the walls that is also for sale. But we needed to make our way to the airport, and at least for now, we would need to pause our exploration of Orlando until our next girls' getaway.