Adventure Around Every Corner

Disney, Universal, Epcot oh, my! and plenty more attractions await you in Orlando, Florida. This is the place for terrific family vacations.

One of the most popular attractions in Orlando is Walt Disney World Resort. The well-known Magic Kingdom opened its doors in 1971. This has become a huge complex with four theme parks, two water parks, a shopping and entertainment district, and a sports complex.

Magic Kingdome Park is recognizable by Cinderella’s Castle. There are plenty of rides for children and now additional rides have been included for those seeking thrills like the state-of-the-art TRON Lightcycle/Run which is one of the fastest roller coasters in the world.

Epcot Center offers the Spaceship Earth Geosphere which includes Future World and the World Showcase which takes you around the world through 11 pavilions that each feature a participating country. You can meet international Disney characters like Mary Poppins, Belle, and Mulan.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios offers visitors the thrill of movie magic with exciting stunts and special effects shows. There are thrilling new themed rides from films like Star Tours and Rise of the Resistance from Star Wars and for the younger generation the Toy Story Mania.

Animal Kingdom features the Kilimanjaro Safari experience where visitors can see African animals in a natural habitat. A popular spot for photos is the huge Tree of Life. Among the rides here is Expedition Everest, a roller coaster.

When nighttime falls, there are parades and fireworks all throughout the parks.

Universal Orlando Resort offers three individual parks with Universal Studios Florida being the original. This is a combination theme park and working studio. There are exciting roller coasters and cooling wet rides.

Universal’s Island of Adventure features eight themed zones each dedicated to a film franchise.

Among them are Seuss Island, The Lost Continent, Jurassic Park, Skull Island, and others.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the newest addition. Here you can visit Hogwarts Castle, ride the Hogwarts Express, and get refreshments at Hogsmeade.

The whole family can enjoy City Walk which is a huge entertainment complex with shopping, dining, movies, and other kinds of entertainment.

SeaWorld Orlando with its massive aquariums it the place to get close to dolphins and whales and see shows, enjoy touch pools, and thrilling rides. Visitors enjoy the interactive Dolphin Cove Pool to pet dolphins. Dolphin Encounters lets you spend time with a trainer and see how they interact with these beautiful sea creatures.

Up-close tours are available with dolphins, killer whales, sea lions, penguins, and sharks. Also tours of the dolphin nursery and manatee rehabilitation center.

The rides here include the Mako hyper coaster, the Manta Coaster, and the Kraken Virtual Reality Coaster.

Right next door to SeaWorld is Discovery Cove where visitors can interact with ocean life in a natural setting. There is snorkeling along a coral reef, exploring underwater with a full dive helmet, wading among stingrays, and swimming with dolphins. In a large aviary, you can interact with exotic birds. There is a lazy river to explore and snorkel in and a tropical swim area for lounging on a sandy beach or splashing in the pools.

Typhoon Lagoon is the biggest and most popular water park that Disney has to offer. There are attractions for all ages including kiddie rides, swimming and splash areas, and Ketchakiddee Creek for young children.

The huge wave pool is great for surfers. Other attractions include whitewater adventures on Miss Adventure Falls and thrill rides like the Humunga Kowabunga. Multiple waterslides are available for all ages.

Volcano Bay Water Theme Park is the newest attraction at Universal opening in 2017. In the center of the park is Krakatau which is home to the popular Aqua Coaster thrill ride. Waturi Beach faces the volcano where you can enjoy a sandy beach and swim in a large wave pool.

Away from the theme parks, you can enjoy the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex just a day trip from Orlando. Visitors enjoy the Heroes and Legends exhibits, the US Astronaut Hall of Fame, and the Rocket Garden, where you can see the rockets that were part of some of NASA’s most famous flights. Other exhibits include lunar exploration, mock astronaut training, a shuttle launch experience, and an IMAX Theater.

Gatorland opened in 1949 and is the place to see thousands of alligators, crocodiles, and other reptiles. You can enjoy the Alligator Jumparoo Show and Gator Wrestlin’. This is also home to rare white leucistic alligators. You can take a small train around the grounds and get great views from an observation tower.

Two ziplines have been included The Screamin’ Gator and the Gator Gauntlet. These run above the alligator and crocodile pens. There is also a self-guided swamp walk and for kids the Gator Gully Splash Park.

Take the time to enjoy some shopping at Disney Springs with its many chic fashion stores. Altogether there are over 103 shops to explore. Kids enjoy the World of Disney store, the LEGO store, Build-a-Dino, and the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for little princesses.

Lake Eola Park is situated in downtown Orlando. It is a lovely green space. You can take a stroll along the paved pathway circling the lake. There are swan-shaped paddleboats to get out on the lake and see the swans that live there. The Walt Disney Amphitheater provides live music. It is also a great place to have a picnic.

The lovely Harry P. Leu Gardens has ponds, fountains, and gardens with walking trails winding all around. You can enjoy the moss-draped camphor and elm trees and enjoy the beautiful rose gardens. There is also a large collection of palms and bromeliads.

ICON Park is a combination of open-air shopping, dining, and entertainment sites. It is recognizable by the huge Wheel at ICON Park which is a 400-foot Ferris Wheel that offers awesome views all around. At night it is illuminated by 64,000 lights changing colors.

Try the Orlando StarFlyers which is billed as the tallest swing ride in the world. The Pearl Express will take you for a ride around the park.