| Theme Parks |
Orlando Attractions & Entertainment:
Orlando offers so many attractions for visitors,
you won't have time to rest!
Orlando, in central Florida, is a major tourist attraction thanks to Disney World but this is not all that the area has to offer.
For a beautiful change of pace, there are several parks and recreation trails.
It's central location makes it an ideal base to visit coastal resorts such as St.Petersburg or Tampa and Cape Canavaral is a short drive away.
Approx. distances: Cape Canavaral (58 miles); Tampa (84 miles); St.Petersburg (106 miles); Sarasota (131 miles).
Theme Parks:
It is easy to spend 3-4 full days divided between the four complexes that make the No.1 attraction: Disney World.
- The Magic Kingdom, Disney's original park in Lake Buena Vista.
- Epcot, an educational/cultural attraction where you can visit other countries, see Dinosaurs and take a trip through the human body, all in one day!
- Disney MGM Studios give visitors the chance to see Disney films behind-the-scenes.
- Disney's Animal Kingdom, the newest addition to Disney World
Other great attractions include:
- Universal Studios, where you can 'Ride the Movies', including Terminator 2:3-D Battle across Time - a live action/state-of-the-art 3-D film extravaganza featuring Arnold Swarzenegger.
- Sea World visit real polar bears; walruses; harbor seals; beluga whales, with special displays of manatees, sealions, seals and killer whales.
- Wet'n'Wild fun and adventure in the ultimate waterpark.
- Splendid China journey through 5,000 years of Chinese history and culture. The main attraction is a 2,600ft replica of the 4,200 mile Great Wall of China.
Science:
- Orlando Science Center & John Young Planetarium;
- Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum.
Nature:
The West Orange Trail extends 19 miles from the west edge of Orange County and heads northeast to Apopka.
Wekiwa Springs State Park, a 6,900 acre natural park, offers good hiking, canoeing, horse-riding, camping and picnicking.
- Gatorland, the Alligator Capital of the World, contains thousands of alligators and crocodiles.
- The Reptile World Serpentarium is a leading facility for the production of snake venom!
- Discovery Island, a wildlife preserve, includes one of the world's largest aviaries.
- Plus
- Central Florida Zoological Park;
- Green Meadows Petting Farm;
- A World of Orchids;
- Harry P.Leu Botanical Gardens.
Museums:
- Flying Tigers Restoration Museum, displaying WW2 aircraft.
- Orlando Museum of Art.
Themed restaurants:
Restaurants vary from chic international cuisine to themed dinner & shows, providing entertainment for the whole family while you eat.
- King Henry's Feast;
- Sleuths Mystery Dinner Theater;
- Arabian Knights;
- Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament;
- Wild Bill's Wild West Dinner Extravaganza;
- Polynesian Luau Dinner Show.
Points of Interest:
Orlando survived on cattle and citrus farming until the 1960's, when Walt Disney quietly purchased farmland for what was to become the world's largest theme park.
Disney World opened in 1971 and is now the planet's most popular man-made attraction.
Approx. driving time: Fort Myers (50 miles); Sarasota (67 miles); Tampa (85 miles); Everglades (138 miles).
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