Orlando, Florida. Things To Do & See.

Imagine a vacation destination where you could take a Jungle Cruise in the morning after breakfast, eat lunch amidst the cobbled streets of a quaint English village, ride the Class 4 rapids of a white water river before dinner and then stroll past Hollywood starlets on your way for cocktails and dancing, all in the same day. Maybe you would prefer to lounge by infinity edge swimming pools or swing a golf club. Maybe you just want to sail quietly across a lake against the setting sun. Maybe you want to watch a rocket ship take off. No matter what you ideal vacation dreams looks like, not to worry. Whether six or sixty, looking for Mickey Mouse or Jack Nicklaus , the Greater Orlando area has something for everyone.

Largely a result of its temperate weather and unlimited attractions, the area in and around Orlando FL has developed into the preeminent resort destination in the United States. Established originally as a trading outpost in the 1800’s, through the years Orlando has evolved into a bustling, thriving entertainment and recreation haven, home to theme parks, movie studios and world class golf courses. The Greater Orlando area is made up the cities of Orlando, Lake Buena Vista, Altamonte Springs, Davenport, Kissimmee and Winter Park. Together these communities are home to hundreds of vacation and recreation attractions that make visiting Orlando the best vacation decision you will ever make.

Walt Disney World Resort.

Ask any kid what they want to see first and the answer is sure to be Walt Disney World Resort. Located a quick 20 minutes south of downtown Orlando along Interstate 4 in Lake Buena Vista, the Walt Disney World Resort is a destination in itself. The theme parks at Disney World consist of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, the Animal Kingdom wild animal park, water parks at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Hotel accommodations can be found at over 40 hotels at the Walt Disney World Resort or in nearby Lake Buena Vista and staying near the Magic Kingdom is perfect for families with children who plan on spending most of their time with Mickey and friends.

Universal Orlando Resort.

For more adult entertainment and accommodations, the Universal Orlando Resort area is home to the Universal CityWalk complex, the Hard Rock Hotel, Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park and Universal Studios Florida. Located northeast of Disney in central Orlando, the Universal Orlando Resort is perfect for people who enjoy Hollywood style entertainment, first class restaurants, and super luxurious accommodations. Guests at the Universal Orlando Resort enjoy complimentary water taxi service to the theme parks and CityWalk, and special frontline access to the most popular shows and rides inside the parks.

International Drive.

Known as Orlando’s Tourism Corridor, the International Drive area is home to over 100 hotels, nearly 500 stores and the SeaWorld Orlando theme park. Conveniently located along a 10 mile stretch that runs parallel to Interstate 4, International Drive is sandwiched between the Universal Resort to the north and the Disney Parks to the south. This makes it perfect for visitors who think they will be visiting all the parks and don’t want to miss any of the action. Also home to the Orange County Convention Center, travelers in town on business are able to take a quick trip to any of the resorts for lunch or dinner, even catching a show at Vegas-style venues such as the Blue Man Group theater before heading back to work.

Four Corner’s Area.

Located south of Orlando, the communities of Kissimmee and Celebration are home to the beautiful resorts of Ginn Reunion, the Omni, Champions Gate and Summer Bay. Uniquely situated at the intersection of four central Florida counties, the area is also the home of Florida’s vacation home rental paradise. Long and short term vacation home rentals are located throughout this region bordering U.S. Highway 192 and its convenient location adjacent to Walt Disney World Resort makes the Four Corners area perfect for anyone who wants a full service resort without the crowds and confusion of the central tourist district.

Things to See.

In addition to the resorts and theme parks, there are several other attractions in the greater Orlando area that you won’t want to miss. These include the Kennedy Space Center, a few miles east of the International Drive area via the Beach Line Expressway, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Odditorium in downtown Orlando, Busch Gardens Africa, located an hour southwest down Interstate 4, or the Cirque du Soleil experience at Disney World.

If you are interested in something a little less traditional for a summer vacation but exciting nonetheless, be sure to stop by Gatorland, a true Florida adventure park located in south Orlando a short 15 minutes from the Disney Resorts. North of Universal on Interstate 4 sits the Holy Land Experience, a theme park operated by the Trinity Broadcast Network that recreates scenes and locations from ancient Israel. Combining theme park, live theater and historical architecture, the Holy Land Experience is one Orlando attraction you will never forget.

Sports fans will find plenty to do in Orlando as well. The Daytona International Speedway is less than an hour’s drive north on Interstate 4 and although the Daytona 500 lasts just a few hours a year, the Daytona 500 Experience can be felt all year long at the Speedway’s exhibition halls, complete with IMAX theater and Victory Lane, displaying the current championship car in the exact condition it was in when it crossed the finish line.

Football fans can head south to Tampa Bay to see the Buccaneers in the fall, while basketball fans can catch an Orlando Magic home game just minutes from their hotel. With over 500 golf courses in the greater Orlando area, you don’t have to be a member of the PGA tour to find the course that is right for you. And if sea sports are your passion, Orlando is just a few minutes from the coast where you can book a fishing charter, scuba and snorkel, or simply sail into the sunset.

Getting To and Around Orlando.

One of the best things about Orlando is that it is easy to get to and easy to get around. Whether Orlando is your vacation destination or you are using it as a home base for countless day trips throughout Central Florida, the area boasts some of the best transportation options in the world. Orlando International Airport is just 15 minutes from all the major resorts, offering travelers convenient access from anywhere in the world.

Once on the ground, Florida’s system of Interstates, Turnpikes and Expressways makes it easy to get where you want to be. Some of the roads are toll ways; however most access points are $1, making it affordable for those in cars. Public transportation in the Greater Orlando is outstanding, with buses, taxis and pedestrian friendly roadways that allow you to easily get around without a car if you prefer.