Orlando, Florida is more than just the land of Mickey Mouse. It has a quirky undercurrent that most tourists do not get to see. So instead of writing about the usual round of suspects here are some of my central Florida favorites that may just give you a different perspective of Orlando:

1) The Austin Coffee House in Winter Park - this is a funky little cafe that serves up organic foods and desserts while playing music or eclectic films. On weeknights and weekends it is usually packed as they have live music.

2) Dandelions - this is a vegetarian tea house in Orlando that caters to the artsy crowd, as well as the techs. You can flop down on one of their coaches and sip tea while having intelligent discussions on everything from art to politics.

3) The Albin Polasek museum - this tiny house donated by the artist has amazing paintings and sculptures. Many of them were completed when he was partially paralyzed. The tour includes a lot of personal history, including information on his love affairs and his ability to blend his religious beliefs into his art. The chapel he created is breath taking.

4) If you care to drive a bit, go to the Lakeridge Winery and sample some Florida wines. A warning though, these are more than a bit sweet. The ride out there is fun though. You drive through winding hills and once you get there they take you on a tour and show you how wine is made. Of course there is also a wine tasting and they have tables outside where you can have a picnic.

5) The Enzian in Winter Park - this small non profit theater shows some of the best independent films around. Even better they serve wine, beer and tasty and unusual meals like potato pizza with truffle oil to begniets, a delicious French dessert that you can usually only find in New Orleans.

6) City Walk - this outdoor mall owned by Universal Studios has cafes, restaurants and night clubs and is absolutely packed on the weekends. Have dinner at Emerils and then head to the club of your choice. They have everything from Reggae to Hip Hop.

7) Celebration - this town is owned by Disney and feels as if you have stepped into a Norman Rockwell painting. There are shops and cafes and their own small town theater. All the homes are beautifully decorated and the people are actually friendly to one another.

8) Old Town - located  not far from Orlando is exactly what it sounds like. This town is where you go on weekends to see Antique Car shows. There is a soda shop and a candy shop and it feels like you have stepped back in time, when you visit.

9) Saks Comedy Warehouse - located in downtown Orlando, is the place to go if you really need a good laugh. This talented troop performs on the weekends and will have you laughing so hard you may fall off of your seat.

10) If you want to see more stars on the wall, and often in person, than in almost any other restaurant in America you go to Christinis Ristorante Italiano. The food has won every imaginable award, the wine list is extensive and you never know who you will see there. Take a moment to study the photos on the wall and see how many celebs you recognize.