It’s been called the theme park mecca of the world but it should be called the number 1 city for families in the world. That’s because there are dozens of wild, wacky, unique and downright fun things for the entire family to do that don’t necessarily include theme parks. Here’s a list of our favorite events, museums, shows and places the entire family will love:

Anime Convention – On May 24 the third annual Anime Convention will take over the International Palms Resort with costume contests; Maile Flanagan (the voice of Naruto Uzumaki from Naruto) as Guest of Honor and more anime, manga and Japanese pop culture than you can imagine. If your children are in to anime this is the perfect place to introduce you to their world, and a great one to share as a family. 

Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba – Let your family enjoy the arts with Orlando’s permanent Cirque du Soleil production La Nouba. Everybody in the family will be glued to the stage as artists perform incredible stunts on trampolines, silks, highwires and much more. La Nouba is a story of make believe where two worlds collide – the Cirques or circus people and the Urbains or urbanites. In doing so, the Cirques set fire to the Urbaines world and what ensues is a magical performance of things you’ve never experienced before. Ultimately, La Nouba will take you back to your childhood where anything is possible.

Retro Game Night – Nothing says family fun than a game night and on May 31, you and your kids that are 18 and older can go head to head with some of the best games of your childhood during Retro Game Night at Orange County Regional History Center. Popular old school games will include Battleship, Clue, Scrabble, Candy Land, video games and newer games like Parcheesi, Pictionary and Chinese Checkers.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not – If you’re family likes weird and unusual things head to Ripley’s Believe It or Not this summer and check out the museum’s 16 unique galleries filled with unbelievable artifacts from around the world. Home to weird class family fun, Ripley’s will introduce the family to an 8-foot-long fish, a 7-legged sheep, optical illusions, wax figures, a rare fossil of a T-Rex and many more weird relics and treasures. Bonus, on a hot summer day Ripley’s is a great place to stay cool and still enjoy a wild family outing.

WonderWorks – There is no better place to let your imagination run wild than on a family adventure to WonderWorks. Adults and kids alike will love hearing how this building came to be in Orlando and upside down for that matter! In order to enter the building you must put on your imagination hat and step inside the inversion tunnel in order be turned right side up. Once you’ve done that you’re free to explore WonderWorks 100 hands on exhibits like the Disaster Zone where you can feel what an earthquake that measures 5.3 on the Richter scale feels like. You can even see what it feels like to lay on a bed of 3,500 sharp nails in the exhibit Bed of Nails. Wherever you go, WonderWorks will put your imagination to the test, and that’s something the entire family will have fun doing.

DisneyQuest – When you combine a Disney ® theme with five floors of interactive fun you have a slam-dunk when it comes to family entertainment, especially if your kids like video games! DisneyQuest offers a slew of high-tech games to choose from like Animation Academy where guests can become a Disney ® animator or Virtual Jungle Cruise where you can hop on a raft and float down a prehistoric river in 4D. Plus, there are plenty of classic video games available to enjoy. But that’s not all! When you combine all that with the Magic Your Way Ticket with Water Park Fun & More right here on Best of Orlando, you’ll get to experience all of this and admission to any four of Disney’s ® parks, plus other Water Park Fun & More options are admission to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon ® and Disney’s Blizzard Beach ®, Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and many more Disney ® family friendly adventures.

Wet ‘N Wild’s Blastaway Beach – Have a blast with the family at this thrilling new addition to Orlando’s most popular water park, Wet ‘N Wild. Let the good times flow as you play with your children at Blastaway Beach’s sandcastle themed water playground filled with a 60-foot sandcastle with over 160 interactive toys and slides. Blastaway Beach is geared a little more towards the kids but the inner kid in you will still love splashing away.

Orlando, FL – 05/21/13