The area surrounding Orlando, Florida is one of the world's hottest tourist destinations, welcoming almost 50 million visitors per year. Its literally hot too, with a subtropical climate - summer temperatures regularly reach 90°F (32°C), while even in winter they rarely drop below 50°F - and hundreds of unique theme parks and tourist destinations, as well as attractive natural features such as springs, lakes and sandy beaches, all contributing to its success.
Nearby Lake Buena Vista is home to Walt Disney World, the most visited resort on Earth. It includes four separate theme parks, two water parks and many hotels and restaurants, with enough rides, slides and other entertainments to occupy children for at least a week - aside from the main rollercoasters and arcades, there are more varied attractions such as the 'Animal Kingdom' wildlife park, hang gliding, and a lagoon where you can snorkel with live sharks!
Another of the area's most popular destinations is Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, which hosts high-speed roller-coasters, rides for younger children, live shows and technological marvels such as interactive 3D environments, all based around favourite movies, cartoons and stories. Jurassic Park, Spider-Man, E.T., the Incredible Hulk, Dr. Seuss and Jaws are all here, with a new Harry Potter-themed area coming soon.
Animal-lovers are well catered for in Orlando at the huge 200 acre SeaWorld amusement park which houses many marine creatures such as orcas, dolphins, sea lions, sharks, sea turtles and false killer whales, with shows including water skiing and human acrobats, and ten rides. Nearby Gatorland boasts thousands of alligators and crocodiles, along with many snakes, other reptiles, insects and birds. Visitors can get closer to some of the park's residents during the regular 'Up Close Encounters' with trainers and there's even a chance for anyone over 12 - and fearless - to have a go at 'gator wrasslin' in the Trainer for a Day events. And at Blue Spring State Park, during the winter there's a chance to see Florida manatees in the wild as well as a huge variety of birds and other wildlife. Canoeing, swimming and scuba diving are popular activities.
There are simply hundreds of other things to do in and around Orlando: slightly older children may enjoy the Florida Music Festival, a visit to the Cirque de Soleil, the huge Orlando Science Center or the John F. Kennedy Space Center, the working NASA spaceport on Merritt Island where visitors can view flight-ready and used space craft and rockets. On a less technological note there are stunning sights at the World of Orchids and the beautiful Harry P. Leu gardens - an oasis in the city with lakes, a butterfly garden and historical museum.
Unsurprisingly for such a popular destination, there is also a huge range of accommodation in Orlando and the surrounding area, from hostels to 5 star hotels and private villas - in fact, the only place in the country with more hotel rooms is Las Vegas. It's also a fantastic area for shopping, with everything from Tiffany's to the specialist Asian shops and restaurants of 'Little Saigon', and food including traditional Cajun, Cuban-style and round the world cuisine.
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Every year, thousands of tourists flock to Orlando Florida to experience the world class theme parks located in this area. Aside from all these must-see attractions, this place is also popular for its incredible restaurants, luxurious resorts, and famous historic sites. It is no wonder many people dream of going to Orlando even at least once in their life. If you and your family are planning to visit this place anytime soon, you'll find this travel guide helpful for planning your vacation.
What to Bring
The temperature in Orlando is warm most time of the year. But it would still be a good idea to check on the weather before your trip and to pack in some rain gear just to be on the safe side. Some of the things to include in your packing checklist include clothing, personal items, toiletries, bathing suits, travel guide, travel documents, food, first aid kit, medications, money, credit cards, things for the kids (diaper, toys, and so on), camera, GPS, and other gadgets you need for the trip.
Where to Stay
Different classes of hotels are sprawled all over Orlando. From budget inns to exquisite resort hotels, there is an option for every kind of traveler. Check out the following Orlando hotels: Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Portofino Bay Hotel, The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, The Westin Grand Bohemian, Royal Pacific Resort, Villas of Grand Cypress, JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, and Celebration Hotel. It would be smart to avail Orlando Hotel Packages to save money.
What to Do
When planning your travel itinerary, you need to consider factors such as budget, time, age and personality of your kids, and the kind of experience you want to have. For example, if you have younger kids with you, including Disney World to your list of places to see is a must. SeaWorld and Gatorland are ideal choices if your kids are fond of animals and nature. Now, if your kids are already teenagers, they'll have more fun at Universal Studios.
If you want to have a romantic side trip with your better half, go to Downtown Disney's Pleasure Island and Busch Gardens. A family who's into science and technology should include the Kennedy Space Center in their travel itinerary. Other places of interests that you can consider include Fun Spot Action Park, Silver Springs, Orlando Science Center, Orange Tree Golf Club, and Wonderworks.
Where to Eat
Orlando has an extensive range of restaurants and eateries that will provide you with hearty meals to complete your vacation. From American to Asian to European, the dining options here will offer you with gastronomic treats you won't forget anytime soon. Here are some choices that you should check out during your stay in Orlando: Crave, Texas de Brazil, Waldorf Astoria Restaurants, Hilton Bonnet Creek Restaurants, Jack's Place Restaurant, Oceanaire Restaurant, and Bergamo's.
All the tourists who come to Orlando certainly wish they can go back soon for another round of fun-filled vacation that it's hard to find anywhere else.
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