This title states it all, sort of. You can obtain merely about anything you desire in Orlando, and any time of yr (unless you like snow and cold weather; sorry friend).

The superb shopping in Orlando can be merely as much of a tourist attraction as the world famous theme parks and other regular tourist attractions.

Called by some writers ‘the ultimate family holiday destination’ this small but vibrant city is home to a massive number of excellent shopping malls, and is known for its vibrant nightlife and renowned sports centers.

In sum, a visit to Orlando means a phenomenal number of outstanding shops and stores. You’ll obtain a vast range of designer outlets, classy department stores, countless fashion boutiques and sprawling shopping malls.

Something for everyone, indeed. Let’s check out a few of them now, so you can have an idea of what to anticipate in this tourist mecca.

Starting at the top end, there is the Florida Mall, Orlando’s largest shopping center. With 245 stores, including 8 department stores, well, you’re more than in all probability to obtain what something you desire here. The location, naturally, is convenient as it’s near International Drive, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World.

Not so large, but hardly ‘small’ is Alamonte Mall, near the downtown area. More than 150 stores beckon you to a great shopping experience which is very much Florida, including indoor palm trees and native vegetation in the mall.

And if shopping is your thing, or even if you merely require a couple of personal items or a gift or two, or three, don’t miss The Mall at Millenia. Reputed as very huge and very complete, it’s centrally located and close to major theme parks. The mall offers such conveniences as valet parking, discounted hotel reservations, gift wrapping, and a U.S. post office; and that’s merely the beginning.

And with all that shopping, eating has to fit in there somewhere. There’s swift and simple food for the family at the food court. There are also plenty of upscale restaurants and their famous cheesecake factory.

The variety of shopping in Orlando is not merely in the number of malls. There are various styles also. For example, outlet malls are known for great deals. Orlando has numerous outlet centers. Two are located right on International Drive: Belz Designer Outlet Center and The Belz Factory Outlet are convenient to get to and the Belz Factory Outlet is the largest outlet center in the United States. The designer outlet includes brands such as Ralph Lauren, DKNY and numerous others.

Another outlet mall is The Orlando Premium Outlet, featuring discount merchandise. There are good deals at merely about each store. And Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores, located near Disney World, has a great variety of stores and products for everyone in your family, including a playground for the kids.

Completing the shopping cycle, International Drive has 2 large, open air markets.

The Mercado has numerous stores featuring a wide variety of designer clothes. There are also various places to purchase the art work of local artists as well as other Floridian merchandise. The ambience of an open air market is emphasized by the cobblestone walk ways throughout.

The Pointe Orlando is a massive open air market with sixty stores, but is not only for shopping. One can have a great time dining and enjoying their evening entertainment. Its 7 restaurants and 2 night clubs assure you a fine time.

And to get more of a sense of locality, another open air market, The Farmer’s Market, features fresh produce, locally made crafts and a variety of other merchandise.

So, yes, it’s true, Orlando really does offer the visitor a full experience. After the theme parks, don’t forget your shopping. You’ll obtain it all here!

Did you ever sit down with your family to plan your next vacation and then realize that you merely couldn’t obtain that special somewhere where the parents and the kids, and perhaps another relative or 2, could all obtain something interesting to do?

And on top of that, maybe you’ve been to all the interesting places within your travel budget anyway? Well then you probably haven’t been to Orlando, Florida.  Otherwise you’d realize that even Orlando ‘V-V’s’ (Vacation Veterans) can always obtain something to see and do in Orlando that they didn’t do the final time they were here, or even the time before that.

I’ve long wondered what it is about Orlando that draws so numerous people to this, the 6th largest city in Florida. Well, a city of less than 200,000 people that draws about 52,000,000 (yes, Million!) tourists a yr must be doing something right.

It’s nearly an understatement to state that the good people of the city desire to give you the chance to see and do something untried and fun (or even something old and fun, because numerous of the city’s attractions do bear repeated visits).

This attitude, and the countless opportunities for the fun-loving and health-loving and education-loving visitor, is 1 reason that Orlando is called ‘the amusement capital of the world’, as well as ‘the city beautiful’.

Step by step I’ll take you through a lot of the city’s tourist attractions (not the least of which are the fine accommodations for visitors, from hotel rooms to fully equipped apartments). In this article I’ll begin with some of the more famous attractions, since these are what numerous people are initially interested in.
Not that you’re unfamiliar with Disney World. We might safely label it as the world’s favorite children’s theme park.

This grand creation has four different theme parks full of shows, rides and other attractions.  As well it provides plenty of shopping and eating opportunities for those who might be ‘themed’ out for awhile.

The 1st park is Magic Kingdom, Disney’s 1st theme park. Second is Animal Kingdom Park, combining an animal experience with classic rides, attractions and shows. Epcot Park takes you into the future, cleverly combining fun and learning. The MGM Studios contains among numerous other things, a tower of terror which is pleasant looking from out and about but may, once you’re inside, frighten your heart out.

Another famous tourist haven in Orlando is Universal Orlando Resort, which has 5 theme parks, including the Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida, Wet ‘n Wild Water Park, Sea World, and Busch Gardens.   Add to this the dining, nightlife and shopping venues and you might merely obtain the best place for at least 1 full vacation. The resort also contains the Universal Studios where you can enjoy the ride while watching movies.  If you have a budding Hollywood star in your brood they can learn how movies are made and the secrets behind some motion picture effects. Within this resort all theme park stands alone.

Perhaps 2 of them at this resort are most famous  One is The Islands of Adventure, which certainly live up to their name, with wild rides and roller coasters in this quite untried park in Orlando.
There is also Sea World, a well known aquatic park, which offers breath-taking rides as well as animal shows where you can see smart animals doing their astonishing stunts.

We are merely scratching the surface of this astonishing town. We’ll follow up with more on Orlando in future articles and I won’t be surprised if you write me sometime to state you’ve planned many vacations there for the near future.

If there’s 1 place on earth where nearly everyone wants to go at 1 point in their lives – whether they’re newlyweds, college students, families with small children, or even retirees – it’s Orlando, Florida. Why? Because it’s the home of Walt Disney World! It doesn’t matter how young or old you are when you travel to Orlando and head to Disney World, you’ll always feel like a kid. The excitement, adventure, and merely plain fun atmosphere nearly guarantees a perfect vacation in Orlando.

In fact, Walt Disney World 1st opened in 1971, and since that opening day, it has expanded to include an immense amount of features! It includes 4 theme parks, a sports complex, race track, 2 water parks, 6 golf courses, twenty family or resort hotels, and many, numerous more restaurants, shopping, and entertainment options than you could ever experience in merely 1 visit. Literally, Walt Disney World takes up over 20,000 acres of space in Orlando, making it the largest amusement part in the world. Think that still isn’t enough? Believe it or not, Disney in reality has its own adjacent community in the Orlando suburbs, called Celebration.

Since there are 4 separate theme parks in Orlando’s Walt Disney World, it can sometimes get a tiny confusing as to what all part really represents. Here’s a swift overview of all theme park inside the Disney World property:

1) The Magic Kingdom: This theme park has 7 “countries”, and all focuses on a different and one-of-a-kind theme. Inside the Magic Kingdom, you’ll travel to Main Street USA, Mickey’s Toontown Fair, Liberty Square, Frontierland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland, and Fantasyland – all with their own set of themed rides to enjoy!

2) Epcot: The Epcot park was initially built as an homage to technical innovation, and as such, focuses more on exhibits rather than rides. There is also a massive concentrate on learning what it means to live in harmony with international culture, and therefore numerous of the exhibits are very informative and culturally-related.

3) Disney MGM-Studios: This Disney World part has 5 separate themed area, all attempting to concentrate on a different part of the “studio production” process. These areas include: Hollywood Boulevard, Mickey Avenue, Sunset Boulevard, the Animation Courtyard, and the Backlot!

4) Disney’s Animal Kingdom: The park here is dedicated to animal conservation, and as such, has 7 small “lands” that concentrate on different species from these areas – sometimes real, and sometimes imaginary! The sections include: Oasis, Camp Mickey & Minnie, Asia, DinoLand USA, Discovery Island, Africa, and Rafiki’s Planet Watch.

A trip to Orlando, Florida would simply not be complete without at least a day in Walt Disney World – after all, it’s the place where dreams are supposed to come true!

The kids have finally broken you down and you’ve concurred on that family vacation getaway to Florida. They’re excited. They desire to go to Orlando, and you’re fairly certain that if you hear 1 more thing about Goofy or Micky your head is going to explode. What’s a poor mother or father to do? While it’s true that Disney World is 1 of the premier family vacation getaways in Florida, it is by no means the only fun place to be.

The Orlando/Kissimmee area boasts a plentiful array of family vacation getaways. In fact, Kissimmee can be considered the laid-back, historic substitute to Orlando. Residents of Kissimmee have gone to great lengths to keep the hometown charm that the area is noted for. While there are some water parks and resorts, attractions such as Old Town, rodeos, horseback riding and a petting farm make it a wonderful family vacation getaway.

Other towns in the area which are best family vacation getaways include: Mount Dora, perfect for biking trips; Polk City, for the family of aircraft enthusiasts; and Sanford, home of the Central Florida Zoological Park.

Further south lies Palm Beach County. Yes, that’s right; I did state Palm Beach. I know what you’re thinking. ‘Palm Beach’ and ‘family vacation getaways’ don’t go hand in hand. That’s where you’re wrong. You merely have to know where to look. West Palm Beach is perfect for that family vacation getaway, thanks to destinations such as the Norton Museum of Art and the Lion Country Safari, where visitors can see lions, giraffes, and a host of other animals, running free.

As you travel further north, you can give your kids the perfect opportunity to use their family vacation getaway to learn about the environment, by visiting the Loggerhead Park and The Marine Life Center in Juno. Here they can be taught about turtles and go on turtle walks.

We’re not done yet. Welcome to the Florida Keys, the perfect destination for putting a tiny more excitement in your family vacation getaway. Certainly I wouldn’t recommend you take your kids diving, unless they’re accustomed to that sort of thing, but you can definitely visit Islamorada. They’ll love their family vacation getaway when they get to interact one-on-one with dolphins and sea lions. You’ll also have the chance to feed the giant tarpon that gather around the docks. Now how numerous people can state they had a chance to do that on their family vacation getaway? So you see? Disney World isn’t the only option for your family vacation getaway.

When you enjoy the vacation of your life in Orlando, Florida you might desire to treat yourself and your family to a meal at some of the finer restaurants in the area. Here is a pick of some of my favorites.

California Grill

Located on the 15th floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort this restaurant was voted Orlando’s Most Popular restaurant. Its renowned chef Clifford Pleau continually reinvents his “unique seasonal menus”, creating “divine” dishes paired with an “equally eloquent wine list”; add “impeccable” service and “spectacular” views of the park and its fireworks, and the result is truly great, even if it is accompanied by tourists wearing shorts and Mickey Mouse ears! Location: Disney World, Contemporary Hotel, $41

Christini’s

This restaurant has been called “a treasure among restaurants”, and is located in the in the Dr. Phillips area of South Orlando. It is well-known for lavish meals, complemented by a 450-label wine list. The food is served in a romantic setting with strolling musicians giving you the ambience of a night out in Italy. However, the feasting here does not come cheap and the prices are “high” even by “expense-account” standards. South Orlando 7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd., $52

Hemingways

If you have always loved the mystique of Ernest Hemingway then this is the place to go. The Hemingway-at-Key-West decor (rods and reels, a stuffed marlin, nautical trinkets) at this Lake Buena Vista hotel seafood home makes you feel like you have spent the day fishing with Hemingway. Guests describe it as “a nice place to bring clients” or to celebrate “special occasions” and some of the favorite dishes include coconut shrimp and paella. Lake Buena Vista 1 Grand Cypress Blvd. $41

Morton’s of Chicago

If cost is no object to a good meal then this steakhouse is the place for you. When was the final time you have had beef so tender and full of flavour that you have to remark after each bite? While the steakhouse is particularly close to the Central Florida theme parks, it is tucked away in the quaint Physician Phillips Marketplace, a respite of sorts from nearby tourist hangouts. The clientèle is made up of Orlando executives and Orlando business travelers. They are all here to drink martinis and sink their teeth into the juicy porterhouse, sirloin and Maine lobster. As for side dishes, do not pass up the specialty, potatoes Lyonnaise. Location: 7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd. $60

Venetian Room

This is a fine-dining restaurant that prides itself on offering an elegant experience of the highest level. The chef de cuisine is Khalid Benghallem, a former sous chef at Emeril’s and the opening chef at Shula’s Steakhouse in the Dolphin Hotel. The menu is typical for an upscale restaurant in this category and includes foie gras, crab cake, lamb rack, veal chops and other dishes. However, it is the special readying of these basic items that makes this restaurant special. You will, however, have to pay for this one-of-a-kind treat. This is not a cheap restaurant and appetizers range from $14 to $17, and 6 of the 7 entries are more.than $30. Location: Caribe Royal Hotel 8101 World Center Drive

There you have it. If cost is no object, and you merely desire to enjoy a fine meal at a great restaurant, then 1 of these Orlando restaurants will certainly satisfy you.