Destination Guidebook for Orlando, Florida
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The theme parks that draw most visitors to Orlando are getting larger all the time: Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Studios, Universal's Islands of Adventure and SeaWorld Orlando seem to be in a mad dash to out-build one another, regularly adding multimillion-dollar rides and attractions to lure more guests.
There are countless other hot spots in and around Orlando, too. The epicenter of downtown is Lake Eola Park, a scenic oasis surrounded by upscale condo developments, shops, restaurants, cultural venues and nightlife. The lake's fountain is lit at night with a rainbow of lights, and just a few blocks to the east is the revitalized Thornton Park neighborhood, marked by Craftsman-style houses, brick roads, shady oaks, trendy shops and smart eateries. The Orange County Public library, just three blocks from Lake Eola, boasts a popular deli and coffee house on its main floor as well as a bookstore selling gently used books at bargain basement prices.
A few miles/kilometers north of downtown, a cultural district surrounds Loch Haven Park. Its focal point is the striking aluminum-domed observatory of the Orlando Science Center, housing interactive exhibits that appeal to children of all ages. Also in Loch Haven are the world-class Orlando Museum of Art and the Mennello Museum of American Folk Art. Nearby, enjoy peace and quiet as you admire roses and camellias at the Harry P. Leu Gardens.
Some of Orlando's best shops, restaurants and attractions are in Winter Park, an affluent town where oak and cypress trees laden with Spanish moss line cobblestoned streets. Winter Park also is known for its upscale boutique-style shopping and outdoor dining along picturesque Park Avenue. You can take a boat tour past opulent estates and landmarks through the canals that connect Winter Park's chain of lakes and experience what vacationing northerners found so wonderful about old Florida. In line with its affluence and artistic nature, Winter Park is home to The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens, and the Cornell Fine Arts Museum on the beautiful campus of Rollins College. With its tree-lined walking paths and Spanish-style buildings, it's a serene way to enjoy an evening stroll after a day spent enjoying the sights and activities offered along the Park Avenue strand.
Adding to Park Avenue's popularity in recent years is nearby Winter Park Village, a 500,000-sq-ft/46,500-sq-m urban lifestyle project where visitors can view films, dine at a variety of restaurants or shop at several well-known high-end stores. The former home and studio of the late Czech-born sculptor, this impressive museum sits among a row of historic estates on a heavily trafficked Winter Park thoroughfare and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Polasek was a leading sculptor in the 1920s-40s, and his lifelike busts and grand sculptures adorn several rooms and the broad gardens that slope down to Lake Osceola. The quiet lakeside clearing is perfect for a picnic. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm, Sunday 1-4 pm. Closed July and August. US$5 adults, US$4 seniors, US$3 students, free for children younger than 12. 633 Osceola Ave., Winter Park. Phone 407-647-6294. http://www.polasek.org. This surprisingly well-endowed museum in Winter Park is located on the Rollins College campus and is known for its collection of Renaissance and contemporary art. Among the top college art museums in the U.S., located on the shores of Lake Virginia, it has six galleries that display a fraction of the museum's more than 5,000 pieces. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday 1-5 pm. US$5 adults, free for Cornell museum members, faculty and students. 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park. Phone 407-646-2526. http://www.rollins.edu/cfam. This small, well-focused museum features changing exhibits by national and Florida folk artists. The vivid, often whimsical paintings of late seaman and artist Earl Cunningham are part of the permanent collection, though the highly popular exhibit is often on loan to other museums. The museum hosts storytelling events for children younger than age 12, free gallery discussions and instructional art workshops—there's a small fee to cover the cost of materials. The sculpture garden adjacent to the museum is perfect for an afternoon rest beside a verdant lakeshore. Monday-Saturday 10:30 am-4:30 pm, Sunday noon-4:30 pm. US$8 adults, US$7 seniors 60 and older, US$5 students, free for children younger than 12. 900 E. Princeton St., Loch Haven (near the Orlando Science Center), Orlando. Phone 407-246-4278. http://www.mennellomuseum.org. Discover 12,000 years of central Florida's past. Five floors of interactive exhibits include a Seminole settlement, an orange "grove" kids love, a Florida Cracker home and tin-can tourist camps (a title given to tourists who arrived in makeshift metal trailers in the 1920s). The history center also explores the region's past through a delightful collection of artifacts such as a Native American canoe and a citrus-industry tractor. Be sure to see the display called "The Day We Changed"; it chronicles the impact of the arrival of the Disney theme parks in central Florida. The Center also hosts special displays. Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday noon-5 pm. US$7 adults, US$6.50 students and seniors 65 and older, US$3.50 children ages 3-12. 65 E. Central Blvd. (in Heritage Square), Orlando. Phone 407-836-8500. http://www.thehistorycenter.org. Considered one of the best art museums in the South, this Loch Haven Park facility boasts an impressive permanent collection of 19th- and 20th-century American, African and pre-Columbian art. It also hosts national traveling exhibits. Among the featured artists are William Joyce, a display of African textiles from the Norma Cenelas and William D. Roth collection and an Aztec artifact exhibit. The museum offers live music, a cash bar and special exhibits the first Thursday evening of each month. Tuesday-Friday 10 am-4 pm, Saturday and Sunday noon-4 pm. US$8 adults; US$7 seniors, students and active-duty military personnel; US$5 children ages 6-18; free for children age 5 and younger. Prices may vary throughout the year. Admission price includes an audio-guide tour. 2416 N. Mills Ave., Loch Haven, Orlando. Phone 407-896-4231. http://www.omart.org. Hands-on exhibits are the main attractions at this museum. Dr. Dare's Laboratory is great for children of all ages. In addition to a huge exhibit on Florida's ecosystems, there are daily demonstrations of the museum's scanning electron microscope and what it claims is the world's largest Iwerks domed theater and Digistar II planetarium, with 28,000 watts of digital sound that screens familiar IMAX films and a nighttime star show. Current exhibits include Titanic: The Experience, with more than 200 priceless artifacts from the doomed vessel. Open Sunday-Thursday 10 am-6 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am-9 pm. The observatory is open Friday and Saturday 6-9 pm. US$9.95 adults, US$8.95 students and seniors, US$4.95 children ages 3-11 (includes IMAX film). 777 E. Princeton St., Loch Haven, Orlando. Phone 407-514-2000. Toll-free 888-672-4386. http://www.osc.org. This Winter Park museum is recognized for housing one of the world's largest collections of work by Louis Comfort Tiffany, including his chapel for the 1893 World Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Its permanent collection also contains American decorative art from the 19th and 20th centuries, important American Arts and Crafts-style pottery and paintings, and a wealth of Tiffany-era furniture. The works of Edward Hopper, John Singer Sargent, Frank Lloyd Wright, Carl Faberge, Maxfield Parrish, Rene Lalique, Gustav Stickley, Paul Cezanne and Daniel Chester French are among the exhibits. Open Tuesday-Saturday 9:30 am-4 pm (Friday till 8 pm), Sunday 1-4 pm. US$3 adults, US$1 students, free for children younger than 12. No charge on Friday after 4 pm November-April. 445 N. Park Ave., Winter Park. Phone 407-645-5311. http://www.morsemuseum.org. About 20 minutes north of downtown Orlando in historic Eatonville (the first incorporated African-American town in the U.S.) is a museum devoted to Zora Neale Hurston, a writer, anthropologist and folklorist known for such works as Their Eyes Were Watching God. Her books and stories about growing up in Eatonville and her travels through the rural South are the basis for the annual spring festival in her honor. The museum provides information about Eatonville and pays tribute to Hurston by showcasing the work of artists of African descent. Open Monday-Friday 9 am-4 pm, Sunday 2-5 pm. Admission is free, though a donation is requested. 227 E. Kennedy Blvd., Eatonville. Phone 407-647-3307. http://www.zoranealehurstonfestival.com. | Neighborhoods & Districts | Top  |
College Park, north of downtown, is the type of residential neighborhood favored by residents who enjoy living close to downtown but in a 1950s-era setting. Old oaks and small lakes enhance Edgewater Drive, the main thoroughfare, which features boutiques, music stores, independent restaurants, antiques shops and several local pubs. Beat generation icon Jack Kerouac lived in one of the bungalows from 1957-1958 while penning the novel On the Road. Today the house is home to a writers in residency program that provides grant money for emerging writers who live in the home and work uninterpreted on their writing projects. To arrange a tour, visit http://kerouacproject.org/see-the-kerouac-house. The area around the convention center known as "I-Drive" is touristy, but it has a number of restaurants, attractions and places to party concentrated within a short distance of each other. Points of interest are accessible by the I-Ride hop-on, hop-off trolley. Sand Lake Road, which intersects I-Drive, is part of this popular tourist corridor, and is a haven for anyone seeking a variety of restaurants. In recent years, Sand Lake Road has become so popular for some of the area's best-known gourmet restaurants that it has attracted the attention of locals. Don't overlook the hotels for additional dining opportunities such as the Peabody's Dux, the trendy Capriccio Grille, the 24-hour B-Line Diner and Jack's Place at the Rosen Hotel. Surrounding the busy intersection of Mills Avenue and Colonial Drive (Highway 50), you'll find a district that's become known as Orlando's Little Saigon. A dense concentration of reasonably priced, authentic Asian restaurants (mostly Vietnamese) and markets are situated there. Some of these eateries have become particularly known for their huge servings of nurturing pho, the traditional Vietnamese noodle soup. There's also a large number of jewelry stores concentrated among the restaurants that offer discounted prices for gold, diamond and jade pieces if you don't mind negotiating a little. A lively price banter between buyer and owner is the norm there. Known as Orlando's cultural center, the 45-acre/18-hectare Loch Haven Park is situated a few miles/kilometers north of downtown. The area is home to the Orlando Museum of Art, the Mennello Museum of American Folk Art and the Orlando Science Center. The busy area around the University of Central Florida is the place to hang out when you seek restaurants priced and portioned for starving students. It's hip and culturally diverse, but not much of a tourist area. Check out what campus activities (plays, lectures, concerts, exhibits, and a 45,000-seat stadium for sports events and concerts) are on the schedule when you're in town. Attracting young professionals, this district just a few blocks east of Lake Eola offers a blend of hip cafes, independent shops, bed-and-breakfasts, and trendy restaurants such as Hue-A Restaurant, Dexter's, The Beacon and Midnight Blue. Just 10-20 minutes northeast of downtown, Winter Park is known for its upscale shops and alfresco dining along Park Avenue, as well as its art and culture and a lovely park that's perfect for a picnic. A few miles/kilometers from Park Avenue is Hannibal Square, affectionately called Winter Park West End. It is popular in its own right for cafe-style sidewalk dining. Continue a couple more miles/kilometers west and you're in the retro-themed Winter Park Village, which offers still more sidewalk cafes, bookstores, boutiques and a first-run movie theater. | Parks & Gardens | Top |
This preserved 50-acre/20-hectare site is a welcome island of unspoiled nature in a city that's largely paved. The tranquil spot has trails that wind through profuse blooms, including a large camellia collection, a formal rose garden and a tropical stream garden. Attractions include a tall floral clock, a butterfly garden, native plants and an orchid conservatory. You can take a guided tour of the Leu House Museum, a restored late-19th-century house that was once a farm home and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Check out special events and courses that change with the seasons. Daily 9 am-5 pm (last admission 4 pm). US$5 adults, US$1 children ages 6-18, free for children 5 and younger. Free Monday 9 am-noon, except groups. 1920 N. Forest Ave. (between Orlando and Winter Park), Orlando. Phone 407-246-2620. http://www.leugardens.org. Since 1888, this downtown location has been Orlando's focal point and a popular picnic spot. The park is frequented by walkers and joggers who enjoy circling the lake and its colorful dancing fountain. Be sure to look for the park's resident swans. Cultural events, such as plays, movies and concerts, take place at the lakefront Walt Disney Amphitheater. Every Sunday, there's a food court and market. You can grab a bite to eat from the concession stands, which are open year-round 10 am till dark. Swan-shaped paddleboat rides, including photographs, cost US$12 per half-hour. Open Monday-Friday noon-8 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10 am-8 pm. Rosalind and Central streets, downtown, Orlando. Phone 407-246-2827. | Amusement Parks | Top |
Aquatica
SeaWorld Orlando's shiny new water park offers a family centered place to relax and spend a day, Florida style, complete with white sand beaches and pounding surf, palm trees and private cabana rentals. Three on-site restaurants provide snacks, drinks and meals. Water fun includes two side-by-side wave pools; Big Surf Shores, where you can ride the "ocean" surf; the Dolphin Plunge, where enclosed tubular slides send you racing through an underwater pool that's home to some playful dolphins; the Taumata water ride, where thrill seekers can mat-race seven other riders; a lazy river ride; and Kata's Kookaburra Cove, where small ones in the family can enjoy quieter activities. Daily 8 am-10 pm. US$41.95 adults, US$35.95 children ages 3-9. All-day cabana rentals for four US$150-$175 (US$30 each for up to three extra people) include a ceiling fan, locker, sunscreen, towels and a refrigerator stocked with 16 drinks (water, juice, sodas, milk). 5800 Water Play Way (across the street from SeaWorld), Orlando. Toll-free 888-800-5447. http://www.aquaticabyseaworld.com. This park—with admission limited to 1,000 visitors each day—offers a chance to interact with dolphins and to snorkel along a re-created coral reef that's home to colorful fish, stingrays, manatees and even sharks. You can also float in a blue lagoon, play in waterfalls and relax on a sandy beach. Like any visit to the tropics, the experience is on the pricey side, but all packages include snorkeling equipment, unlimited use of the pools and beaches, meals, soft drinks, lockers, towels, access to the park's aviary and a generous seven-day pass to the SeaWorld park (in other words, visit Discovery Cove before you pay for park admission). Daily 9 am-5:30 pm. Because only 1,000 visitors are allowed into the park each day, reservations are required. US$179 (without dolphin swim) or US$249-$279 (depending on time of year) with the dolphin interaction. Central Florida Parkway (adjacent to SeaWorld), Orlando. Toll-free 877-557-7404. http://www.discoverycove.com. This zoo, disguised as a theme park, is perhaps the most low-key of Disney's four parks. In addition to quiet walkways and peaceful animal exhibits, there are roller coasters, thrill rides, production spectaculars and a daily parade. Expedition Everest is the park's No. 1 attraction. Disney Imagineers have built a somewhat scaled-down Mount Everest (now the tallest mountain in Florida) upon which they have re-created a small Himalayan village. Guests board a simulated steam train through the "forbidden mountain" guarded by a truly heart-pounding audio-animatronic abominable snowman. The next most popular attraction is the Kilimanjaro Safari ride that takes you onto an African plain where lions, elephants, giraffes, hippos and antelopes roam. (Arrive early or late in the day to see active animals, because most sleep during the high heat of the afternoon.) On the Maharaja Jungle Trek, you can walk through the re-created ruins of an Indian palace and observe tigers, gorillas and Komodo dragons. Take an old-fashioned steam train to Conservation Station and watch Disney veterinarians treat and study endangered animals. At Dinoland USA, youngsters can take a thrill ride into the past, dig for bones in the Boneyard or follow the Cretaceous Trail to view prehistoric plants that survived to the present. Primeval Whirl is a small-scale, free-spinning roller coaster that manages to elicit some big thrills. The Tree of Life, the giant centerpiece of the park, is where you'll find the entertaining 3-D film It's Tough to Be a Bug. Presented inside the tree, it's an enjoyable must-see show that features fun sensory surprises, including the smell of a stinkbug and the spray of a termite. Flights of Wonder is a delightful, sit-down show that features the antics of birds in free flight, and Nemo the Musical, produced by the creative team from Broadway's Avenue Q, uses live singers and puppetry ranging in size from a Volkswagen Bug-sized turtle to a school of silver hand puppets. Animal Kingdom hours vary by season, but the park is generally open 9 am-8 pm. Hours are usually longer in the summer and on holidays. One-day admission is US$71 adults, US$60 children ages 3-9. Other ticket options are available. Phone 407-939-6244 for information. http://www.disneyworld.com. As with all of Disney's attractions, there is a theme at this one—winter. This water park has a ski resort in the midst of a tropical lagoon surrounding Mount Gushmore. There isn't any snow, but visitors can "ski" down the slope on one of the fastest and tallest waterslides in the country. There's a sandy beach at the base of Mount Gushmore as well as a wave pool and a smaller version of the mountain for younger children. There are four snack bars at the park, each with a slightly different menu. You can rent towels if you forget yours. Lockers are available for valuables. Daily 10 am-8 pm. US$39 adults, US$33 children ages 3-9. 1801 W. Buena Vista Drive (north of the All-Star Movie Resort), Lake Buena Vista. Phone 407-939-7812 for information. http://www.disneyworld.com. This park features thrill attractions, shows, rides and a 1930s-style studio with an entertaining overview of how movies are made. Walk down Hollywood Boulevard, where sharp Hollywood agents, would-be starlets, demanding directors and cops on the beat will greet (or accost) you. Major attractions include the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, Star Tours, Jim Henson's Muppet-Vision 3-D and the exciting Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, which hoists you through the ruins of a haunted hotel before your elevator plummets several stories—several times. Equally exciting is the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, an indoor roller coaster propelled by the blasting tunes of Aerosmith. The new, interactive 4-D adventure ride Toy Story Mania! is now open. Assisted by Woody, Buzz, Rex and Hamm, you are the player inside midway-style games, shooting targets that come at you from all directions. The entire family should reserve a few hours for the park's Fantasmic! grand finale, a true Disney spectacular that features singing, dancing, fireworks, lasers and ornate costumes. Line up early—the 2,000-plus-seat amphitheater is nearly always filled. It's also hard to beat the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show for heart-stopping action involving real cars and boats. For insider moviemaking information, take in the Great Movie Ride, the Backlot Tour and the Magic of Disney Animation. You can enjoy a richly detailed and loving tribute to the man who envisioned Disney World through the film and museum collection at Walt Disney: One Man's Dream. Be sure to keep a sharp eye for celebrity sightings. Hours vary by season. One-day admission is US$71 for those age 10 and older, US$60 children ages 3-9. Other ticket options are available. Phone 407-939-6244. http://www.disneyworld.com. The theme at this water park is a tropical island that's been transformed by a massive storm. You can't miss the shrimp boat stranded atop Mount Mayday. Thrill rides include a 30-mph/48-kph descent in an enclosed waterslide that dumps you into the wave pool, and Crush 'n' Gusher, a raft-driven water-coaster thrill ride. When you get your courage up, you can also swim with live sharks at the shark reef. (Snorkel equipment provided at no additional cost.) Two snack bars are on-site. Daily 9 am-5 pm, with extended hours in the summer and on holidays. US$39 adults, US$33 children ages 3-9. Buena Vista Drive (between the Downtown Disney Village Marketplace and MGM Studios), Lake Buena Vista. Phone 407-939-6244 for information. http://www.disneyworld.com. Located in Downtown Disney, this video arcade offers you an opportunity to ride a virtual magic carpet, interact with the pirates of the Caribbean, record your own CD, raft through a prehistoric world or hunt for treasure. You can even design and ride your own virtual roller coaster. There's a small Internet cafe and wonderful food at nearby restaurants. Daily 11:30 am-11 pm, Friday and Saturday till midnight. US$36 visitors age 10 and older, US$30 children ages 3-9. Children age 9 and younger must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. West Side, Downtown Disney, Lake Buena Vista. Phone 407-828-4600. Disney's attempt at educating guests through science and world scenery is divided into two sections: Future World and World Showcase. Future World usually opens a few hours earlier. With its steel and glass buildings and oddly shaped walkways, Future World is dedicated to what lies ahead. One attraction, Mission: SPACE, puts you on a spacecraft embarking on a mission to Mars. Created in conjunction with NASA astronauts, this centrifugal machine creates an authentic space-flight experience. Some riders love it though others hate it, as it can cause dizziness and nausea. Other major attractions include Spaceship Earth (a history of communication), Universe of Energy (a history of fossil fuel), Test Track (a neat zip around an automobile test track followed by a sales pitch for GM) and Soarin' (a gentle motion simulator with a breathtaking film of California's most beautiful scenery; this 10-seat hang-glider ride has become an instant classic). World Showcase circles a mammoth lagoon and features 11 international pavilions, including Canada, the U.K., France, Japan, Morocco, Italy and Germany. There are few rides, though the Mexico and Norway pavilions offer tame boat excursions. Several pavilions have larger-than-life movies, including two (Canada and China) that surround the audience with 360-degree entertainment. One of the best performances may well be the Voices of Liberty singers at the American pavilion: They provide an a cappella rendition of patriotic songs for guests waiting to enter the pavilion's show. Be sure to be in the park at 9 pm, when Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, a great laser show, lights up the sky. Future World is generally open daily 9 am-7 pm; World Showcase is open daily 11 am-9 pm. One-day admission is US$71 age 10 and older, US$60 children ages 3-9. Other ticket options are available. Phone 407-939-6244 for information. http://www.disneyworld.com. The first theme park to open in Walt Disney World, this is what most guests envision when they think of Disney World. When planning your visit to the Magic Kingdom, you'll be pleased to find that it's easy to navigate. The park is designed like a wheel, with Cinderella's Castle at the hub and the seven "lands" (Frontierland, Tomorrowland and so forth) radiating out like spokes. If you arrive early (and to avoid crowds, you should), walk down Main Street USA and get into the nostalgic, magical feeling of the park before taking a right into Tomorrowland. Your first stop there should be the indoor roller coaster Space Mountain, which takes you on a wild ride through the darkness of space. Before you leave Tomorrowland, drop by Stitch's Great Escape. From there, you can circle the park counterclockwise, working your way to Adventureland. Keep in mind that Fantasyland rides are tame, appealing mostly to young children. With the exception of the popular 3-D movie Mickey's PhilharMagic, adults and children older than 9 may want to skip this section entirely. Be advised that families with children tend to make the lines there slightly longer than elsewhere in the park. Mickey's Toontown Fair is geared for toddlers. There you'll find Mickey and Minnie's homes, Goofy's roller coaster and pint-sized petting zoos, as well as countless full-sized characters who pose for your camera. Be sure to see the Haunted Mansion and Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square. In Frontierland, roller-coaster lovers won't want to miss Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and the flume ride Splash Mountain is another must-do—if you can stomach the final hill. Following Frontierland is Adventureland, where the highlights are the Pirates of the Caribbean (a boat ride past robotic pirates, which now includes Johnny Depp's character Captain Jack Sparrow) and the Jungle Cruise, a voyage down the mystic rivers of the world led by a wisecracking skipper. Stick around at dusk and you may be able to catch the evening parade and the nightly fireworks display. Open daily at 9 am, but closing hours vary by season. One-day admission is US$71 for those age 10 and older, US$60 for children ages 3-9. Other ticket options are available. Phone 407-939-6244 for information. http://www.disneyworld.com. Motor-sports fans won't want to miss this opportunity to experience the same high-speed thrills retired NASCAR-king Richard Petty once had by driving a 600-horsepower Winston Cup car. Several options are available, including riding shotgun for a couple of laps at 145 mph/230 kph or spending a minimum of three hours or as much as two days learning how to drive a race car yourself and then racing fellow daredevils. Note: You must sign a waiver and be at least 18 years old. Hours and seasons vary. Reservations required. US$134-$2,099. 3450 N. World Drive (near Disney's Magic Kingdom), Lake Buena Vista. Toll-free 800-237-3889 for information. http://www.1800bepetty.com. SeaWorld is a more laid-back theme park, where you can get an education in marine life, see great shows, ride heart-stopping roller coasters, eat, shop and cool off at the new Aquatica water park. Clever shows star creatures galore, including dolphins, seals, otters and manatees. The curved walkways, cool venues, quiet paths and areas such as the Waterfront (a collection of shops and restaurants) make the attraction seem more like a real park than a theme park. Your day at SeaWorld will likely revolve around showtimes. Walk clockwise around the park to reach the Dolphin Nursery, where mother dolphins and their young swim around and look for smelt (which you can feed them). In the Tropical Reef, there are beautiful fish, worms, eels and other aquatic creatures on display, and at the SeaWorld Theatre, the show Pets Ahoy is a must-see with its cute stunts performed by (mostly rescued) cats, dogs, pigs and monkeys. The inhabitants of Stingray Lagoon aren't as cuddly, but you can still reach out and touch them (they've had their barbs removed). When you've had your fill, visit Manatees: The Last Generation, which combines a show and a wide viewing window to give you a glimpse of the intriguing sea cows that are native to Central Florida. Next door, the Dolphin Stadium features Blue Horizons, a dolphin-centered show. The park's two super coasters, Kraken and Journey to Atlantis, attract adrenaline addicts. On Wild Arctic, passengers board "jet helicopters" for a motion-based flight to a remote research station to see real walruses, beluga whales and polar bears. For tamer trips, Shamu's Happy Harbor houses the park's first family-oriented roller coaster. Whale-themed cars offer gentle thrills at slow speeds of less than 30 mph/48 kph. Nearby, the Penguin Encounter is a walk-through venue where the tuxedo-clad birds waddle around a chilly re-creation of the Antarctic. One of the most popular shows is at the Sea Lion and Otter Stadium, where Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island is a slapstick melodrama featuring sea lions, walruses, an otter and lots of audience participation. Odyssea is an ethereal show in the style of Cirque du Soleil, and you'll pass the Clydesdale Hamlet (a stable of the Busch Brewery's horses) before you reach Shamu's Happy Harbor—an immense playground. Shamu Stadium is a great place to wrap up the day as you watch the park's newest show, Believe, billed as the most ambitious project in the park's 41-year history. It was nearly four years in the making, replacing the previous Shamu show. Daily 9 am-7 pm, though closing hours vary by season. Tickets are US$69.95 adults, US$59.95 children ages 3-9. Combination and two-park tickets are available for Discovery Cove, SeaWorld, Aquatica and Busch Gardens—mix or match. 1000 SeaWorld Parkway, Orlando. Phone 407-351-3600. http://www.seaworld.com. The Universal Orlando Resort complex includes Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure—adjoining theme parks charging separate admission. There's CityWalk as well, a dining and entertainment complex accessed at no additional cost, and three sumptuous hotels. A two-park, one-day ticket to both Universal Studios and Universal's Islands of Adventure is currently US$77 online for adults (US$82.95 at the gate), and US$67 online for children ages 3-9 (US$72.95 at the gate). Parking costs US$10 but is free after 6 pm. The two-park unlimited admission ticket is currently US$85 for all ages, offered only online. It entitles visitors to admission for up to seven consecutive days to Universal Studios and Universal's Islands of Adventure, including all-club access to Universal CityWalk. Multiday, multipark passes and packages include lodging, parking and transportation, and priority access to some rides. Universal Studios is all about Hollywood and the film industry, with more big-ticket rides and more activities than Disney's Hollywood Studios but less moviemaking lore. The park's key attractions are the thrill rides—try the new The Simpsons Ride, Terminator 2: 3-D (a 3-D movie with live action stunts) and The Revenge of the Mummy, a roller coaster that hurdles you through darkness both backward and forward. Also popular is Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast, based on the Nickelodeon cartoon, where you board a rocking and rolling spaceship and follow Jimmy into space. There you meet a variety of Nickelodeon characters, including SpongeBob SquarePants and the Rugrats. Capitalizing on the success of Shrek is Shrek 4-D, a 3-D movie that adds sensory touches to a continuation of the film as Lord Farquaad attempts to do away with the ogre, his bride and donkey. Don't miss the creepy comedy at Fear Factor Live. Rides based on Jaws, Twister and Earthquake are essentially variations on the same theme: Take your seat and watch as chaos overtakes an otherwise normal situation. Tamer attractions for small children include a ride with E.T., Fievel's Playland, a splash-park with Curious George, and the live sing-along, clap-along show featuring Barney and Baby Bop. Open daily at 9 am; closing times vary throughout the year (later in summer). A one-day pass good for Universal Studios costs US$71 adults, US$60 children, with a US$4 discount for online advance purchases. Multiday, multipark passes covering several of the Universal Orlando parks are also available. Parking costs US$10 but is free after 6 pm. Express passes that allow quicker access to certain rides are available with some ticket packages and for resort guests: The passes get you into an attraction within 15 minutes. 1000 Universal Studios Plaza, Orlando. Phone 407-363-8000. http://www.universalorlando.com. This park offers high-action thrill rides that rival anything found on the Disney properties, and the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in late 2009—complete with Hogwarts Castle—plans to rival the Magic Kingdom itself. Currently, near the park's entrance at Marvel Super Hero Island is the Incredible Hulk Coaster, a scream-a-second rocket-sled ride through loops and drops. The most incredible improvement on roller coasters—the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man—is an interactive 3-D roller-coaster ride that puts you in the middle of a weird and wild showdown between the action hero and his foes. Hard to describe, impossible to forget. Toon Lagoon is designed for children and has the requisite log flume rides (Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls and Popeye & Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges). The island of Jurassic Park features the Jurassic Park River Adventure that sends you cruising past dinosaurs and the clutches of a Tyrannosaurus rex. The main attraction of the Lost Continent Island is Dueling Dragons, a white-knuckle roller coaster with two tracks that nearly collide. Don't miss the live stunt show, the Eighth Voyage of Sinbad. In Seuss Landing, you'll ride on a sofa through the pages of The Cat in the Hat, spin around on the imaginative Seussian animals of the Caro-Seuss-el and challenge the spitting fish that encircle One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride offers a bird's-eye view of the park. Open daily at 9 am; closing times vary throughout the year (later in summer). A one-day pass good for Islands of Adventure costs US$71 adults, US$60 children. Multiday, multipark passes covering several of the Universal Orlando parks are also available. Parking costs US$10 but is free after 6 pm. Express passes that allow quicker access to certain rides are available with some ticket packages and for resort guests. 1000 Universal Studios Plaza, Orlando. Phone 407-363-8000. http://www.universalorlando.com. Walt Disney World Resort is truly a world of its own, the primary reason that millions of people visit Orlando each year. Spend the day in a Hollywood studio, visit Cinderella at her castle, dine in a Parisian cafe and dance to techno-pop tunes on the streets of Downtown Disney. When it's time for bed, rest easy in places such as an African-style lodge, a sports center or a tropical Caribbean village. The main attractions at Walt Disney World Resort are the four big parks: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Magic Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios. But there is plenty more to see and do. The Wide World of Sports offers big-name competition and Atlanta Braves spring training. Two water parks make getting wet a thrill. Kid-friendly shopping is available at the Downtown Disney Marketplace. The ultimate video arcade, DisneyQuest, is also located in Downtown Disney and is chock-full of virtual-reality games and other high-tech pursuits. Downtown Disney is so popular with families that the west end is being revamped from its former party-hearty nightclub scene into even more family-oriented options. Completion is targeted for spring of 2009. Plan a winning strategy for your vacation battle. If you're going during peak season—the two weeks around Christmas, Easter week, or mid-June to August—the best days to go to the theme parks are Saturday and Sunday or on December evenings during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Off-season, weekends tend to be busier, as Floridians flock back to the parks. The best, least-crowded times to visit are the first six weeks of the New Year, May, September, early October and weekdays from late November to mid-December. During holiday seasons, the parades become longer and more elaborate, the stage shows more exciting and the lines much longer, but this is usually offset by earlier openings and later closings, allowing guests more time in the parks. On the Fourth of July and New Year's Eve, fireworks are immense and dazzling. There are fireworks on nonholidays, too, during those periods when the park is open until 10 pm. It all comes at a cost, of course. Disney has a complex pricing system, so look for a package that will give you the most flexibility for the time you plan to spend at each theme park. Packages can include lodging, meals, water-park admissions and a long list of other perks. One-day admission to one of the four main parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, etc.) costs US$71 for those age 10 and older, US$60 children ages 3-9, and free for children younger than 3. Rates diminish with the number of days you purchase. Multiday and other packages are available. You can save time and money by buying tickets online and having them mailed to you, so you can head right through the turnstiles when you arrive. Parking is US$10, but most packages and passes cover the fee; it's also free if you're staying at a Walt Disney World hotel. Phone 407-939-6244 for information. http://www.disneyworld.com. Wet 'n Wild is among the largest water parks in the world, featuring dozens of rides for both thrill seekers and the timid. Water flumes, high-speed slides, a lazy-river float and The Blast (a raft ride featuring bursting water pipes) are among them. Ride the Disco H2O, a 1970s-themed attraction in which four-person rafts descend through a time tunnel into a disco-era nightclub. Or climb to the top of the Black Hole and experience an eerie darkened ride down a completely enclosed slide. Because the park can be crowded during the summer, it may be better to visit after 4 pm or during cooler months, when pools are heated. Opening and closing times vary throughout the year. US$41.95 adults, US$35.95 children ages 3-9. Internet discounts are also available, as well as limited weekend passes. Tube, towel and locker rentals are priced separately, but life vests are free. You're welcome to take an ice chest, but no alcohol is allowed in the park. Parking costs US$8 for cars and US$9 for vans and RVs. 6200 International Drive, Orlando. Phone 407-351-3200. http://www.wetnwildorlando.com. | Zoos & Wildlife | Top |
You can get up close and personal with cheetahs or interact with elephants in this tropical habitat for animals and birds from around the world—some of which are endangered. Plan on spending two pleasant hours at the park, which is a 45-minute drive northeast of downtown Orlando. You can stroll through a forest of native palms, cypress and oaks on elevated boardwalks and enjoy the children's train and carousel rides, cougar and siamang habitats, a king-vulture exhibit, and a butterfly sensory garden that offers opportunities to look at, listen to and feel the elusive winged beauties. Daily 9 am-5 pm except Thanksgiving and Christmas. US$10.95 adults, US$8.95 seniors 60 and older, US$6.95 children ages 3-12. Group rates available. Special animal-encounter programs cost extra. 3755 N. Highway 17-92, Sanford. Phone 407-323-4450. http://www.centralfloridazoo.org. One of Orlando's original attractions, this 110-acre/45-hectare theme park and wildlife preserve opened in 1949 and remains popular with visitors and locals. It's the Alligator Capital of the World, utterly covered with alligators, crocodiles and the wading birds that seem to live symbiotically with them. It's a cheap day, so splurge on the Adventure Tour, where you get to go behind the fence and toss huge meat chunks into the mouths of a crowd of gators—nothing between you and them except a park employee with a stick. There are also regularly scheduled shows such as Gator Wrestlin' and the Gator Jumparoo. A train ride chugs past a breeding marsh and the Jungle Crocs of the World exhibit. A water play area, Gator Gully Splash, is now open for cooling down—but don't worry; there are no gators in this section of the park. For those interested in sampling native Florida cuisine, gator ribs and nuggets are served up at Pearl's Smokehouse within the park. Daily 9 am-5 pm. US$22.99 adults, US$14.99 children ages 3-12. Ask about nighttime animal viewings and the US$100 Trainer for a Day program. Discounts for prepaid tickets ordered online. 14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail (about 25 minutes south of downtown), Orlando. Phone 407-855-5496. Toll-free 800-393-5297. http://www.gatorland.com. This farm experience comes complete with pony rides, 300 farm animals to pet, hayrides and even a chance to try milking a cow. Visit for at least half a day, take the two-hour farm tour and take along a picnic lunch to enjoy in the free picnic area or buy food at the snack bar. In October, pick your own pumpkin from the farm's pumpkin patch. Tours daily 9 am-4 pm. US$19 adults and children older than age 2, US$16 seniors. 1368 S. Poinciana Blvd., Kissimmee. Phone 407-846-0770. http://www.greenmeadowsfarm.com. | Other Options | Top |
The building housing this Odditorium slants wildly, as though it were falling into a Florida sinkhole. It's a preview of the campy, macabre and bizarre exhibits inside. The matchstick replica of a Rolls-Royce is amazing, as are the shrunken heads, a Mona Lisa made from toast, a 26-ft-/8-m-high portrait of Vincent Van Gogh and the collection of fertility statues. Daily 9:30 am-midnight. US$18.95 adults, US$11.95 children ages 4-12. 8201 International Drive (near SeaWorld and Universal Orlando), Orlando. Phone 407-363-4418. Toll-free 800-998-4418. http://www.ripleysorlando.com. Inside a high-energy, vertical wind tunnel, participants get a crash course in sky diving. Professional instructors teach free-fall techniques in a wind tunnel that imitates a real sky dive. Five 200-horsepower electric motors create wind speeds of 150 mph/241 kph. The flying begins at 11 am and goes on until 9 pm. Reservations are essential. US$44.95 adults and US$39.95 children ages 3-12. Price includes training, gear, two flights in the tunnel and a flight certificate. Parents must sign waivers for adventurers younger than 18. 6805 Visitors Circle (off International Drive), Orlando. Phone 407-903-1150. http://www.skyventureorlando.com. Touted as Orlando's only Christian amusement park, it's really more museum than rides, navigable in a single day, with an 18,000-sq-ft/1,672-sq-m Scriptorium that houses a vast collection of biblical artifacts, a replica of the Garden Tomb where Jesus was purportedly buried, a replica of the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered and a model of Jerusalem. Kids may be more enthused about the laser show set to a chanted prayer soundtrack or the musical theater shows of stories from the Old Testament and the ministry of Jesus. Monday-Saturday 10 am-6 pm. US$35 adults, US$30 seniors, US$20 children ages 6-12, free for children age 5 and younger. For discounted tickets, use advance purchase online. US$5 for parking. 4655 Vineland Road (just north of the end of International Drive), Orlando. Phone 407-872-2272. Toll-free 800-447-7235. http://www.theholylandexperience.com. One of Orlando's best hands-on museums, WonderWorks has an upside-down exterior and offers more than 100 activities and interactive exhibits that entertain and teach lessons in physics, meteorology and other sciences. Feel the force of a hurricane and the trembling of an earthquake, design your own roller coaster and watch your phosphorescent shadow linger behind you. A laser-tag shoot-out with visual effects is offered at an added cost, and a video arcade and a gift shop are also on the premises. Daily 9 am-midnight. Magic dinner shows with pizza and beverages are presented at 6 and 9 pm; participation is encouraged. US$19.95 adults, US$14.95 children ages 4-12 and seniors 55 and older. Various combination tickets are available. Laser tag and magic dinner show cost extra. 9067 International Drive, Orlando. Phone 407-352-0411. http://www.wonderworksonline.com. Orlando's warm climate encourages the year-round pursuit of outdoor activities, especially those involving water or green grass. More than 300 lakes beckon visitors for swimming, boating and fishing—in addition to the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico beaches that are within a 30-minute to two-hour drive. Golf courses in the area number more than 170, and many were created by the world's most prominent designers. Players such as legend Arnold Palmer and local resident Tiger Woods often enjoy the private high-end golf clubs. (If you can stand the heat, the courses are less crowded in the summer.)
In addition to the golf courses and the abundant waterways teeming with bass and bluegill, there are numerous places to indulge passions for tennis, hiking and canoeing. | Boating & Sailing | Top |
At this spring in the Ocala National Forest you can rent canoes to float 7 mi/11 km through the heart of the Juniper Prairie Wilderness. It's as far from whitewater canoeing as you can get, but it's a memorable experience that combines cold, clear water with an up-close view of nature. Reservations are advised. In summer daily 8 am-8 pm; 8 am-6 pm during the off-season. Entry is US$3 plus the cost of canoe rental (US$25 for a two- or three-seater). 10863 E. Highway 40 (from Ocala, take State Road 40 East about 29 mi/47 km to the campground sign), Silver Springs. Phone 352-625-3147, 352-625-7470 or 352-625-2808. One of America's designated Wild and Scenic Rivers, this beautiful waterway flows through a pristine wilderness only minutes from the blare and crush of crowded Orlando-land. Options range from self-guided canoe and kayak trips in rental boats to tubing to horseback riding trails. If you take along your own canoe or kayak, transportation is available. US$35 for a guided, two-and-a-half-hour tour. 1800 Wekiwa Circle (take the Route 434 exit off Interstate 4, and then head west), Apopka. Phone 407-880-4110. Match your swing against Florida's longest golf course, designed by Lloyd Clifton. Greens fees US$40-$79, less after 2:30 pm. 14401 Sports Club Way, Orlando. Phone 407-240-4653. http://www.golfhunterscreek.com. This traditional open course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. Greens fees range US$65-$125 depending on the season, day of the week and time of day. Carts included. 2100 S. Hiawassee Road, Orlando. Phone 407-297-7453. http://www.metrowestgolf.com. Two great courses, Crooked Cat and Panther Lake, are part of a complex that includes a golf institute, a 46-room lodge and a huge clubhouse. Greens fees run US$65-$140 depending on the season, day of the week and time of day. 16301 Phil Ritson Way (southwest of downtown Orlando), Winter Garden. Phone 407-656-2626. Toll-free 888-727-3672. http://www.ocngolf.com. This David Harman-designed, 18-hole championship course is one of the area's most recent venues. The course features undulating fairways and interconnecting waterways bordered by the natural backdrop of dense oaks and pines along historic Shingle Creek. Located only 0.5 mi/0.8 km from the Orange County Convention Center, the course is connected to the six Rosen Hotels and Resorts Orlando properties. There are various Stay and Play packages. US$69-$159 for golf only. Phone 407-788-7070. http://www.rosenhotels.com/vacationgolfpackages.asp. Features five 18-hole courses and one nine-hole walking course. The Joe Lee-designed Palm and Magnolia courses are considered the best. Longest of the Disney courses, the classic PGA-style Magnolia features 97 bunkers and a six-hole Mickey Mouse hazard. The Palm is one of Disney's most difficult courses. Tee times available seven days in advance May-December, four days in advance January-April. Greens fees vary (US$38-$155), depending on the course and time of day. Guests at a Disney hotel pay less. Fees are lower at twilight. Ask about packages with or without a Disney-resort stay. For golfers who want to walk, the small nine-hole Oak Trail course is US$42 adults, US$22 for youths 17 and younger. Phone 407-939-4653. | Hiking & Walking | Top |
The Orlando area is dotted with parks that offer at least some walking, hiking or jogging opportunities. Begin by asking your hotel where you might connect with the nearest path. Walt Disney World Resort and the Grand Cypress Hyatt Regency are both large spreads with good hiking options.
Two of the area's best-known state parks, Blue Springs and Wekiva Springs, are within an hour's drive of downtown Orlando.
For those who like to take a long stroll, the 3-mi/5-km Cady Way Trail links the cities of Winter Park and Orlando, and there are plans to connect it to a network of trails in other counties. The 12-ft-/4-m-wide trail is accessible for wheelchairs as well as bicyclists, in-line skaters and pedestrians. The well-maintained trail is a favorite with locals, and it passes by residential areas, a golf course and a memorial garden. Open from dawn to dusk. There are shelters and rest stops with benches, trash receptacles and water fountains along the trail. Contact Orange County Parks and Recreation (phone 407-836-6200; http://www.parks.onetgov.net).
Wekiva Springs State Park
This huge park comprises 700 acres/283 hectares of wild Florida. The springs pump out 42 million gallons/160 million liters of crystal clear water a day. Popular activities are canoeing, swimming, picnicking and fishing. Canoe rentals are available. Generally open 8 am-sunset. US$4 per carload. Wekiva Springs Road, Apopka. Phone 407-884-2008. This is the winter home for the large numbers of Florida manatees that swim upstream from the St. Johns River to bask in the warm 72 F/22 C of the springs. It's well worth the 45-minute drive north to see the huge Florida native giants basking in the clear, shallow waters where visitors stroll wooden boardwalks for up-close photo ops of the sea cows. Canoeing, swimming and fishing are also popular. Take along a picnic lunch. The original homestead is still there, harkening back to the days when steamboats docked there to load crates of oranges. Canoe rentals are available. Generally open 8 am-sunset. US$4 per car. 210 W. French Ave., Orange City. Phone 904-775-3663. This massive trail project has blazed a route that begins in northwest Florida, cuts across the northern part of the state and then heads south through Ocala National Forest. As it approaches the Orlando megalopolis, it splits into two routes and ends in the heart of the Everglades. The trail traverses countless state parks, state and national forests, preserves and reserves. Serious hikers will need careful planning to target and traverse all or part of this trail. Contact the Florida Trail Association for more information. Toll-free 877-445-3352. http://www.floridatrail.org. This preserve is a piney wilderness that seems flat and featureless until you stop and listen for the feast of nature around you. Songbirds serenade you from the trees while great raptors float overhead. The wetlands teem with life and are ever-changing with the seasons and water levels. The 3-mi/5-km trail is available any time the preserve is open. From Orlando, head south on State Road 535 about 15 mi/24 km to Pleasant Hill Road and then take another right on Old Pleasant Hill Road. The Nature Conservancy sign will be on your right. Open October-May daily 9 am-5 pm; June-September Monday-Friday 9 am-5 pm. Buggy tours offered October-May noon-4 pm. US$3 adults, US$2 for Nature Conservancy members and youths ages 6-17. Tours are US$10 adults, US$5 youths ages 6-17. Phone 407-935-0002. Orlando's choices for evening entertainment are plentiful, but neither the nightclubs nor the comedy clubs are confined to any particular neighborhood, nor do they tend to stay in favor for more than a year or two. Universal's CityWalk is a lively place to go for music, drinks and dancing. Downtown Orlando is a must-see for the twenty- and thirtysomething crowd. Winter Park and nearby Winter Park Village are home to pubs, bars and restaurant lounges popular among all age groups.
Generally, nightclubs open around 7-9 pm, but comedy clubs and other places that serve food often open earlier (around 11 am). Closing time is 2-3 am. | Bars, Taverns & Pubs | Top |
The chic place for a cocktail and a great place to people-watch from the outdoor cafe-style seating. Brio boasts sophisticated decor, and its Tuscan dishes draw diners well into the night. The house drink is the Brio Bellini, a frozen mix of champagne and peach nectar. Open Monday-Thursday 11 am-11 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 am-midnight, Sunday 11 am-10 pm. 4200 Conroy Road (in the Mall at Millenia), Winter Park. Phone 407-622-5611. http://www.brioitalian.com. This fashionable wine bar offers a selection of merlots, chiantis and more from vineyards around the world, with an emphasis on California's Napa region. Wine is served by the glass, split or flight. Bottled beers are also available. There is a second location in Winter Park. 500 E. Centra | | |