Orlando Travel Guide
Travel guide to Orlando, Florida with comprehensive information about events, shopping, and major Orlando sporting events to help you enjoy your visit more.
Orlando Overview
Described as the Holiday Capital of the World, Orlando is a city founded on fun. The home of Walt Disney's most famous creation, Disney World, families visit Orlando from all over the world for the holiday of a lifetime, and fall under its spell to return every year.
Offering top quality theme parks, accommodation to suit every taste, and great weather, it isn't hard to see why so many people take a holiday in Orlando every year. The city offers something for everyone, from thrilling rides through to high culture, and everything in between. There are plenty of golf courses to keep you occupied during your stay, and top class shopping for all those holiday essentials available nearby.
A holiday in Orlando is often undertaken for the benefit of the kids, providing them with a chance to see the magic of Disney world before they're too old to appreciate it, although such is the unique charm of this all American destination, it is a place that is often enjoyed just as much if not more by the parents who organise the holiday.
Top Orlando Attractions
The main attraction in Orlando is obviously Disney World, with its many "kingdoms" - The iconic Epcot, new Animal Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom are the best known - Other attractions include the Universal Studios and Island of Adventure theme parks, Sea World, and many other smaller attractions such as alligator theme parks, and even an amusement park based on a very American interpretation of the Bible!
Within a short drive of Orlando, you can visit the Kennedy Space centre at Cape Canaveral, check out the Gulf Coast resorts of Clearwater and St Petersburg, or visit one of central Florida's top attractions - Busch Gardens in Tampa.
If you fancy getting back to nature a bit, why not take an airboat ride through the swamps. These exhilarating vehicles are one of the most famous modes of transport in the world, and a ride on one is very enjoyable for all the family.
You can buy tickets for most Orlando attractions before visiting, including so called Hopper passes, which allow access to several theme parks, and offer a real saving on the price you would pay on the gate. A top tip for visitors wanting to experience Disney without the queues is to stay in one of the Disney World Resort hotels, because as a guest you will get priority access to the park before the gates open to the general public.
Shopping in Orlando
You can't spend all day everyday queuing for the roller coasters, so handily; Orlando has some of the best (and cheapest) shopping around. There are literally hundreds of enormous shops around the city that offer the chance to buy pretty much anything you might want at a price that is right.
International Drive is the best-known area for shopping, and there are a number of strip malls along this long road where you can indulge in some retail therapy. A short word about shopping in Disney itself - don't. You can buy all the same branded goods in the Wal*Mart round the corner for less than half the price!
Orlando Sporting Events
Whether you prefer to watch or get involved in sport in Orlando, there will be something to excite you during your stay. With a number of top quality golf courses dotted around the city, along with swimming pools and jogging tracks aplenty, it is easy to work off all those cheeseburgers.
The biggest local team is the Orlando Jazz, who play basketball in the NBA. You can get tickets to most games through local companies, and all the razzamatazz of American sports makes a visit to a match worthwhile.
