No matter what your interests, you will find an attraction in Florida
to enjoy. Mouse ears and the major theme parks of the Orlando area are
what first come to mind as Florida attractions, but they are only the
beginning. Wildlife and botanical attractions are among the most popular
and include both large parks and zoos and small private gardens. Florida’s
rich history is reflected in museums, monuments, forts and homes throughout
the state. For a cultural excursion, fine art museums have works from
Dali to Rubens, sculpture and architecture by names such as Frank Lloyd
Wright.What most visitors think of as Orlando actually includes
Kissimmee and Lake Buena Vista as well.
Walt
Disney World's theme parks are mandatory magic for Central
Florida visitors. The spires of Cinderella's castle are familiar around
the world as the symbol of The Magic Kingdom,
Disney's original park in Lake Buena Vista. The castle is a fantastic
backdrop for playful rides and roaming characters like international celebrity
Mickey Mouse. Epcot is a two-part educational and cultural attraction
designed to challenge the mind and satisfy the senses. Here, you can sample
a warm croissant at a bakery in France; tap your foot to an authentic
oom-pah band in Germany; learn about the age of dinosaurs; and take an
exhilarating trip through the human body all in one day! Disney-MGM
Studios allows visitors to see Disney animators creating wonderful characters
and explains movie-making on an entertaining backlot tour.
Universal
Studios shares the movie-making theme of Disney-MGM Studios,
but attractions are presented quite differently here. At Universal, promoters
say you can "ride the movies." The rides provide an entertaining
look at famous movies of the past -- such as "Kongfrontation,"
where guests meet King Kong on the New York subway. Jaws, Earthquake,
Ghostbusters and the works of Hitchcock are among the park's other movie
attractions. The latest excitement at Universal is Terminator 2: 3-D Battle
Across Time, a live action and state-of-the-art film adventure featuring
Arnold Schwarzenegger and the cast of T2.
Visitors to Central Florida will want to explore natural attractions
as well as fantastical ones, and Sea
World is a wonderful place to start. New attractions include
the "Pacific Point Preserve," a sea lion and seal habitat which
mimics the rocky, northern Pacific coastline; and "Manatees: The
Last Generation?" an up-close look at the endangered sea cow. Sea
World's newest attraction is Wild Arctic, which takes visitors on a chilling
adventure to experience the natural beauty of the arctic. Visitors come
face to face with real polar bears, walruses, harbor seals and beluga
whales. The highlight of a visit to Sea World is the "Shamu: New
Visions" show during which killer whales interact with trainers,
defy gravity in breathtaking leaps; and make a big splash (and a wet audience!)
with a flick of the tail and 52 degree water.
A mecca for visitors from around the world, Orlando is known for its
international ambiance. Splendid China is a new major attraction
in Kissimmee, taking visitors on a 10,000-mile journey through 5,000 years
of Chinese history and culture. Many of the country's landmarks are re-created
in miniature in this unique location. The replica of the Great Wall is
considered its main attraction. The original three-foot building blocks
were replaced by one- and two-inch-long bricks and more than six million
of these were laid by hand to create this incredible 2,600-foot-long version
of the 4,200-mile-long original. The miniaturized re-creation of Beijing's
Forbidden City and Imperial Palace also are must-see attractions at Splendid
China.
Dinner attractions are very popular
in Orlando and also center around themes, whether of an era or an ethnicity.
At Arabian Nights, for example, chariot races entertain guests during
dinner. Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament in Kissimmee allows you to
cheer on a knight to victory. Wild Bill's Wild West Dinner Show re-creates
the spectacle of the Old West. Disney's Pleasure Island celebrates New
Year's Eve every night with laser lights and dancing in the streets. Church
Street Station in downtown Orlando is a nighttime entertainment complex,
hosting a variety of different clubs and restaurants.
Shopping areas have as much variety as
the local attractions. Souvenirs of your adventures for yourself and to
take back home are easy to find. Outlet centers and factory stores abound
here and offer some of the best bargains in town. Shopping areas are also
popular for their fun environments, such as at the Church Street Station
Exchange, Disney Village Market Place in Downtown Disney or Old Town in
Kissimmee.
Water fun is everywhere in Central Florida,
though it's not a beach destination. Wet 'n Wild in Orlando, Water Mania
in Kissimmee, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are four water
parks where visitors can beat the Florida heat -- and have a slipping,
sliding, good time of it! The newest, Disney's Blizzard Beach combines
water with "snow" from a "freak Florida snowstorm,"
creating snowy slopes.
Botanical beauty flourishes in several
parks which offer breathtaking displays of lush plant life. Cypress Gardens,
a short distance away in Winter Haven, shows off stunning outdoor floral
displays as well as world-class waterski shows daily. Bok Tower Gardens,
is a serene sanctuary abounding with azaleas, camellias and magnolias.
Leu Botanical Gardens is the home of the largest camellia and formal rose
gardens in the South. A World of Orchids displays thousands of rare and
exotic examples that flourish in a state-of-the-art, air conditioned,
tropical rain forest garden showcase.
| Back To Orlando |