Orlando
The City Beautiful
General Information
Other Name: -, District: Florida, State: South, United States of America
Area: 101 sq mi
Languages Spoken: English
Long Distance Code: -
Importance: -
Best Time to Visit: September to October and March
International Access: -Description
Orlando is a major city in central Florida, USA and is the county seat of Orange County, Florida.The city is well known for the many tourist attractions in the area, in particular the nearby Walt Disney World Resort, which is located in Lake Buena Vista about 20 miles (32 km) south of Orlando city limits via Interstate 4. Other notable area attractions include SeaWorld and Universal Orlando Resort. The region sees an estimated 52 million tourists a year.It is also known for its wide array of golf courses, with numerous courses available for any level of golfer.Location
-Climate
Humid subtropical climate
Owner, Captain Bill Daniel is a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed seaman, a conservationist, and a river historian. Who better to take you and your family on a tour of Florida''s pristine St. John''s River? The 90-minute tour includes backwaters and marshland, where you''ll almost certainly get an up-close view of some of Florida''s famous wildlife. Encounter alligators, bald eagles, otters, manatees, osprey and deer, to say nothing of indigenous cypress trees.
Located on lovely Lake Bryan, just off State Road 535 and minutes from the theme parks and International Drive, Buena Vista Watersports is a perfect way to spend the day with some good, old-fashioned Florida fun. You can rent a jet-ski or a boat. Or you can try water-skiing; just slip in for a few hours of learning at Dave''s Water-skiing School.
This two-day event in mid-November features more than 600 juried artisans in all media, including ceramics, glassware, jewelry, photography, wood, clothing, and more. A major annual outdoor event, this festival attracts locals and visitors alike to enjoy carefully-selected multi talented crafters, as well as a variety of delicious food booths ranging from American hot dogs and hamburgers, Greek kebabs, Mexican tacos, ice cream and pastries. At the children''s activities area, the young ones will enjoy sand sculpting and face painting.
Orlando Science Center is a glistening structure that is highlighted by the dome of the John Young Planetarium and looks like the product of a meeting between Greco-Roman architects and Star Trek engineers. The analogy applies to inside activities as well. The museum strives to teach kids (and adults) about classical science using modern, hands-on, sometimes high-tech activities. With 207,000 square feet, the museum houses 10 themed exhibit halls where patrons can explore the human body.
One of the first theme parks to open in Orlando, SeaWorld has been operating here for more than 30 years. The 200 acres of attractions and animal shows make this a perennial favorite with Florida visitors. Many new attractions and rides have been added to the original fun including a laser-fireworks-water extravaganza and high-tech thrill rides. The park also hosts a number of family-friendly events, including February''s Bud & BBQ Fest.
The Titanic, exhibit features more than 200 historic Titanic artifacts from private collections around the world. For movie buffs, there''s original movie memorabilia from such films as "A Night to Remember," and "The Search for Titanic". There''s even a costume worn by Leonardo DiCaprio in the latest Titanic film. To complete the experience, your guides through this impressive presentation are live interactive storytellers in period costume.
Amusement Business Magazine calls this Wet ''n Wild venue the nation''s best-attended water park. With the variety of rides offered, it''s no wonder. Adults love thrill rides such as Brain Wash and The Storm which are definitely not for the faint-hearted. Children enjoy milder thrills at the Kids Park section like ''Bubble up''. The whole family can kick back on the Take It Easy offerings, including the mile-long Lazy River for tubing. Pools are heated in the winter. If all this activity leaves you hungry, you can fill up at one of the park''s several snack bars.
WonderWorks bills itself as a museum "where science has gone crazy." While not as cerebral as some other area attractions, such as the Orlando Science Center, this attraction will amuse both children and adults and they can pick up some quirky scientific information along the way. This bright upside-down establishment offers more than 100 hands-on exhibits, including the Bridge of Fire walk-through, simulating the power of 250,000 watts of electricity,etc.