Dream Destinations – Orlando

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For many visitors outside of the United States, the ultimate relaxation spot for them is Florida. Of course this is justified because of a variety of reasons. Florida plays host to some of the most beautiful beaches throughout USA, cities such as Miami and Tampa are attractive tourist destinations and then you have Key West which is the stereotypical end of USA due to it’s proximity to Cuba.

Beyond all of these great locations there is one more spot which likely supersedes all of these when it comes to the first destination that you think about when you hear Florida – the city of Orlando. It’s pretty obvious the main reason why this is so popular given that it is home to the Walt Disney World Resort. But Orlando is not just about Disney World as there are many other attractions that make this such a lucrative location for visitors from around the world. Here are some of the top reasons for visiting Orlando.

Walt Disney World

Image courtesy of Jrobertiko (Denis Adriana Macias) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Jrobertiko (Denis Adriana Macias) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
Do you have kids and want to find the ultimate spot that will leave them in awe at the amazing attractions and adventures that take place in Walt Disney World? Even if the answer to this question is no, Walt Disney World offers so much more than many people fail to realize. It is NOT just for kids but one thing that it will do is take you back to your childhood memories and provide you with a moment of joy as you walk around the various parks on offer here.

I have read a variety of reviews from people that have visited the different parks, ranging from probably the most famous Magic Kingdom Park to Epcot. If you are an aspiring world traveler, you will likely be very interested in experiencing the World Showcase at Epcot which shares with guests the cultures and cuisines of eleven countries around the world.

Gatorland

Image courtesy of Bobak at en.wikipedia [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], from Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Bobak at en.wikipedia [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], from Wikimedia Commons
If you haven’t already had enough fun after experiencing Walt Disney World, head on over to the world famous Gatorland which houses thousands of crocodiles and alligators. Here you can see some of the world’s largest gators but if you are too feared by these predators, you can still have a great time by checking out an aviary, petting zoo and a selection of panthers local to the Florida region.

Bok Tower Gardens

Image courtesy of Ebyabe (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Ebyabe (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
One of Florida’s best kept secrets but most beautiful attractions, Bok Tower Gardens is a hub of natural beauty. Filled with acres of gorgeous landscapes and floral beauty, these gardens are frequently voted as Florida’s finest. If you have any interest in art-deco architecture, the bell tower that stands proudly at the heart of Bok Tower Gardens rings every half hours providing a relaxing ambiance to the thousands of daily visitors that arrive here for pure relaxation.

International Drive

Image courtesy of IDriveDistrict (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of IDriveDistrict (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Orlando’s destination for some of the world’s greatest theme parks, finest dining options, myriad of shopping outlets and much more, International Drive is a great spot to enjoy some of Orlando’s finest attractions. Commonly known as I-Drive, this Orlando strip serves a similar purpose to ‘The Strip’ in Las Vegas as a core attraction for tourism.

The local authorities are constantly making improvements to I-Drive and if you can wait until 2015, there is a brand new entertainment complex being constructed containing ‘The Orlando Eye’, a Madame Tussauds waxwork museum and SeaLife Aquarium.

Lake Eola Park

Image courtesy of David Akers [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of David Akers [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Continuing with the natural beauty within the Orlando region, Lake Eola Park is located at the heart of the city’s central business district and provides a relaxing spot for locals and tourists to have lunch or take a few minutes before heading back to the hectic city lifestyle. A gorgeous fountain and graceful swan boats are key features of Lake Eola ensuring that anyone visiting this park have a memorable experience.

***This post is part of the 2014 A to Z Blogging Challenge (#DreamDestinations #AtoZChallenge)***

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Chris Boothmanhttps://abritandasoutherner.com
Chris Boothman is the co-founder of A Brit and A Southerner. Born near Manchester, England, Chris moved to USA in 2006 where he soon after met his wife and travel partner in crime, Heather. They have since embarked on an amazing journey of travel as they challenge others to follow in their paths of working full-time but also being able to travel frequently! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact Chris at [email protected]

7 COMMENTS

  1. I lived in Orlando for many, many, many years and this has made me a bit nostalgic. Great choices (although, as a “local” I don’t think I can recommend I-drive, but it’s popular enough that I can see why people would go there – and there’s definitely fun stuff to do there.)

    May I also suggest the Winter Park area (boat tour, Park Ave., museums, and theaters) and the natural springs. I think Wekiwa is the closest?

    Lots of fun!

    • That’s awesome Corinne, hope you have an amazing time in Orlando! It sure will be hot, probably touching 100+ degrees but you can visit one of the water parks at Disney World which will be a nice way to keep the heat away.

  2. Great information on Orlando and proof there is more to do than Disneyworld. Although the Disneyworld park is so enormous it’s a feat just to find your way out 🙂 I remember catching a bus from our hotel to one of the parks and we drove for 15 minutes without leaving the park! At the time it blew my mind because you can get anywhere in our hometown in 15 minutes.

  3. I think y’all know I’m a big fan of Disney World – but I’m a huge kid at heart. My mom is from Orlando and I’ve been more times than I can count. Just went this past January and I’m going again in October – can’t wait to see the Harry Potter theme park expansion that will be open! Be prepared for terrible traffic though, especially on I-drive 🙂

    • Great point Constance, I can just imagine how many dollars you could spend in Orlando….and FAST!! But maybe if you go there realizing it’s a one time thing, you can take advantage of it and worry about the cost later.

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