Sunday, January 25, 2009

There Is More To Orlando Than Just Mickey

By Andrew John

An Orlando vacation can involve various activities, but the most popular attractions are certainly the theme parks although it has a great deal more to offer. Orlando Town is also your destination for museums, galleries, historical places, edifices, flea markets, churches and much more. The city has been attracting tourists for a long time and justifiably so as it has just about everything the visitor could want.

As one of the most tourist centered cities in the world, Orlando a great deal to offer including large shopping malls, restaurants of every type, night clubs, bars and many specialist shops. An Orlando vacation is a destination that offers a wide range of attractions perfect for adults and children of all ages.

To start, there is the Central Florida Zoo which draws huge crowds all year round and has over four hundred animals there although it is was only granted this status in 1975. The Central Florida Zoological Park and Botanical Gardens is dedicated to preserving the beauty and wonder of animals including their habitats.

Then there are the works of Louis Tiffany whose famous collection is housed here in the Morse Museum of American Art. For aficionados of Tiffany art, this is the place to visit with the largest display anywhere in the world, including jewelry, paintings, glass, pottery and ornaments.

While it may seem that Orlando has been created for the entertainment of children that could not be further from the truth as there is plenty here for everyone. Entertainment in the evening when you vacation in Orlando is as sophisticated as you wish and as diverse as that found during the day; catering for young people, families and adults.

Another great place to visit about twenty minutes drive from Orlando Airport is The Orlando Science Center, originating back to 1955; it is a huge complex with over two hundred thousand square feet of exhibition space spanning ten halls. If your preference is in railways then the International Trolley and Train Museum on International drive will be a pleasant surprise with 14 trains running continuously and three waterfalls in a space of about 4,000 square feet.

The Mercado Center on International Drive is the home to the Titanic Exhibition where you are treated like a tourist traveling on board the Titanic Ocean Liner; this is a really moving and eerie experience which includes many original objects from the Titanic. Of course if you prefer something more relaxing then you should visit Lake Eola Park, situated in the heart of downtown; this is the city's main attraction with 43 acres of beautiful sidewalks and a boating lake.

Now you couldn't possibly visit Orlando without a trip to the numerous theme parks including Disney World, Universal Studios and of course not to forget the fantastic Seaworld. If you have never vacationed in Orlando before, you must try it at least once; it doesn't really matter when you go, however holiday seasons do get busy, especially Christmas; well, who wouldn't want to spend Christmas with Mickey.

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