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There's more to Orlando than Disney
By Mike Pickup, Mike writes about travel for numerous newspapers and magazines, both consumer and trade, and has over a hundred features published each year. He is also the Editor of Holiday Magazine and a professionally trained photographer. For more information click here
Once known only for its cattle, cotton and citrus industries, the Orlando area didn’t enjoy the taste of fame until Walt Disney World opened its doors in 1971. But you know, there’s much more to Orlando than that….
Tucked away in the heart of Florida, the Sunshine State, Orlando grew up around a sleepy farming town called Fort Gatlin which was founded as a military outpost. While there are different versions of the origin of the name, the official version gives credit to US soldier Orlando Reeves, killed by an American Indian's arrow while on duty at what is now the 43 acre (17 hectares) Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando. These days, the Park is a busy visitor attraction with walking and jogging trails, playgrounds, eateries, an Amphitheatre for special events and swan-shaped pleasure boats for hire.
There are few destinations to rival Orlando’s year-round recreational offerings. Besides a pulsing nightlife, fabulous restaurants, luxurious spas and culture in the form of live theatre, dance, and art and history museums, there are also lakes and crystal clear rivers for swimming, boating, water skiing and fishing. There is a choice of 21 fitness trails for biking or walking, 800 tennis courts, opportunities for horse riding and of course it just wouldn’t be Florida without golf. There are more than 150 courses within a 45-minute drive of Orlando and golf schools, golf events and golf specialty outlets are all part of the local scene.
Orlando and surrounding district is a shopper’s paradise, home to around a dozen shopping malls and department stores including Saks Fifth Avenue. One of the most recent additions to the shopping skyline is the stunning, state-of-the-art Mall at Millenia, where department stores Bloomingdale and Macys sit alongside a wardrobe’s worth of designer names including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, Tiffany & Co and Jimmy Choo.
Downtown, only a short drive from Orlando’s major attractions, you can mingle with the ritzy crowd in the swish neighbourhood of charming Winter Park. This area is chocca with art galleries, jewellery stores and antique shops as well as chocolatiers and a shop devoted to selling clothing for dogs! After you’ve shopped till you drop, there is no shortage of sophisticated cafés in the tree-shaded avenues spilling out on to red-brick pavements where you can relax and people watch.
Downtown, only a short drive from Orlando’s major attractions, you can mingle with the ritzy crowd in the swish neighbourhood of charming Winter Park. This area is chocca with art galleries, jewellery stores and antique shops as well as chocolatiers and a shop devoted to selling clothing for dogs! After you’ve shopped till you drop, there is no shortage of sophisticated cafés in the tree-shaded avenues spilling out on to red-brick pavements where you can relax and people watch.
.Another way to get a peek at the Winter Park lifestyle is by taking a trip on the Scenic Boat Tour which trundles through historic canals past a glorious collection of lakefront mansions.
Wildlife is plentiful in this part of the world and taking an eco-tour is the perfect way to catch sight of wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, hogs, coyotes, bobcats, black bears and maybe even the elusive Florida panther. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge with its hiking trails and 7-mile wildlife drive also has a manatee viewing area and offers boating, fishing and canoeing. This is an excellent place to see waterfowl, wading birds, alligators and river otters. In the wildlife realm, you can't beat Gatorland for up-close-and-personal encounters with alligators.
There is so much more to Orlando than Mickey, Donald and Pluto.
Wildlife is plentiful in this part of the world and taking an eco-tour is the perfect way to catch sight of wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, hogs, coyotes, bobcats, black bears and maybe even the elusive Florida panther. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge with its hiking trails and 7-mile wildlife drive also has a manatee viewing area and offers boating, fishing and canoeing. This is an excellent place to see waterfowl, wading birds, alligators and river otters. In the wildlife realm, you can't beat Gatorland for up-close-and-personal encounters with alligators.
There is so much more to Orlando than Mickey, Donald and Pluto.
Want more about the USA? Check out Adirondacks and Anza Borrego and Bend & the PCT and Branson and Chicago and Cleveland and Connecticut and Napa valley and Nashville and San Francisco and Sedona and Shenandoah and Yellowstone