With the nicknames of ‘The City Beautiful’, ‘O-Town’ and ‘Theme Park Capital of the World’, the City of Orlando is a magical place and one of the most-visited cities. Along with shopping, restaurants, attractions and live entertainment in downtown Orlando, three of the largest tourist destinations are Walt Disney World® Resort, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld® Orlando. Other main attractions in the city include the Wheel at ICON Park® Orlando, Orlando Museum of Art, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and it is also one of the busiest American cities for conferences and conventions, thanks to having the second-largest convention facility in the United States, the Orange County Convention Center. Widely recognized as the most popular destination for families, Orlando offers adults – or kids at heart – plenty of their own adventures and opportunities to explore.
Home to seven of the world’s top theme parks along with 450 hotels, Orlando offers a diversity of things to do that will keep you busy regardless of how long you stay.
Things to do
Orlando ensures an unforgettable vacation filled with unique experiences for every visitor, here are a few top attractions.
- Walt Disney World® Resort: Opened in 1971, the nearly 25,000-acre resort complex is comprised of four theme parks, 40 hotels, golf courses, a multitude of dining and entertainment options as well as a shopping paradise at Disney Springs®.
- Universal Orlando Resort: Home to Universal Studios Florida, an active production studio, the resort is home to shopping and dining at Universal CityWalk, two theme parks (Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe) as well as the Volcano Bay water park.
- SeaWorld® Orlando: The marine zoological park consists of many hotels and theme parks for all-year fun like Aquatica® Orlando, Discovery Cove®, and one-of-a-kind animal experiences.
- International Drive Entertainment District (aka I-Drive): The walkable area boasts a number of attractions, dining and entertainment options such as Icon Park® and the 400-ft tall The Wheel and more.
- Outdoor attractions and adventures: book a 45-minute tour cruising up to 40mph on airboats with Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures, go kayaking at Rock Springs at Kelly Park, challenge yourself at the Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park.
Cuisine
With more than 5,000 restaurants featuring celebrity chefs and local favorites, Orlando has something for every palate.
- Acclaimed restaurants include: Bull & Bear at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, Victoria and Albert’s, Shula’s Steakhouse, José Andrés’ JALEO and Pepe, Masaharu Morimoto’s Morimoto Asia and many more.
- Swing by one of the many craft breweries which include: Big Storm Brewing Company, Broken Strings Brewery and Cask & Larder.
- Check out a dinner show at: Mango’s Tropical Café, Wantilan Luau at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando, Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament or the Capone’s Dinner & Show.
Places to stay
Home to over 130,000 rooms across 480 hotels and resorts, Orlando’s are as diverse as the destination itself. For those looking for high-end family accommodations here is our pick for a luxury vacation home in Orlando.
- KEMPA PARK: Set along the sixth hole of award-winning Jack Nicklaus designed golf course, KEMPA PARK is located adjacent to Walt Disney World® and the 12,000+ sq. ft. villa can sleep 32 people. With 12 bedrooms, the villa features expansive pool, large game rooms and gathering rooms, theatre room, themed children’s bunk rooms, indoor and outdoor kitchens and dining areas and unique Disney® VIP and backstage experiences. Entertainment for all ages is abound with game rooms designed for both the young and the young at heart, as well as access to surrounding neighborhood features, including three world class golf courses, waterpark, multiple dining options, fitness centers, tennis courts and more.
- For the best luxury hotel we recommend:
- Four Seasons Resort Orlando: With a total of 443 rooms, the resort has the largest standard guest room square footage in Orlando and is home to the largest Royal Suite in all of Central, FL. There are five world-class dining experiences on property (including the rooftop Michelin Star rated Capa Steakhouse, with views of the nightly Disney fireworks from the terrace) along with the five-acre Explorer Island water park, five resort pools, an 18-hole Tom Fazio-designed golf course, spa with 18 treatment rooms and three Har-Tru tennis courts.
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