There is more to Orlando, Florida than Cinderella’s castle, but chances are when you think about that family-friendly city in central Florida, the Disney World resort overshadows everything else. In fact, Orlando is not the type of place where you can imagine a town square, post office, library or grocery store; in your mind, all the normal features of a modern city are replaced with fantasy and make-believe. Disney characters roam the streets, and there is never a cloud in the sky. If there is a fluffy white cloud, however, it is shaped like a Disney character. Needless to say, while there are few clouds in the Florida sky, Orlando is more than just Disney World. It is, however, a magical, one-stop holiday destination.
An all-Inclusive City
If Las Vegas is considered the number one holiday hotspot for adults, then it stands to reason that Orlando holds the top spot for family holidays. Families have been coming to Disney World since 1971, which is the year the Magic Kingdom first opened to the public. Since then, Orlando has grown and expanded. Theme parks like Sea World and Universal Studios have opened. Five star hotels, world-class golf courses, restaurants, museums, spas and sporting venues have been developed. While many Caribbean resorts refer to themselves as being all-inclusive, Orlando is one of the most all-inclusive cities in the world for a family holiday.
Outside of Orlando
While many people never venture outside of Orlando, preferring to ride a vast network of shuttles and monorails to the various theme parks and attractions, renting a car will give you the chance to see what is beyond Orlando. It would be a shame to fly all the way to sunny Florida and not see its famous white sand beaches, or smell its fragrant orange groves. The beautiful Gulf Coast is roughly two hours away from Orlando, while the Atlantic Ocean is about an hour. In other words, pack a picnic in a cheap Styrofoam cooler and take a scenic drive to the beach; it is the perfect daytrip.
Beyond the Beach
Between the numerous theme parks, water parks and miscellaneous family attractions, your itinerary in Orlando can easily become unmanageable. If you have never been a beach person, then you might want to think about visiting the Everglades instead. This ecological marvel is only a short distance from Orlando. On the other hand, a trip to the Kennedy Space Centre is also an option. Florida is a large state, and the Everglades and the Kennedy Space Centre are just two examples of the type of alternative attractions you can find. In the end, you probably will not be able to escape Cinderella’s castle anyway.
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Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell
I like to tack on a couple extra days of calmer, more relaxing activities away from WDW. While I love it there, I'm usually exhausted after a trip.
Theresa
Walt Disney world is so huge! I can imagine that after visiting you would be exhausted.