Travelling to the East Coast of the USA has been extremely popular over recent months and I can certainly understand why. Focus on the East Coast and you have New York, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia and Florida all to be enjoyed, and Orlando is an exciting destination in itself where even a week is not really enough. It’s also the gateway to the Deep South, New Orleans and the Caribbean.
Most famous for being the home of the original Walt Disney’s Disneyworld, you may be forgiven for thinking Orlando is only great for kids, but this is definitely not the case. It’s true, there are theme parks galore, but they cater for all ages, tastes and offer a variety of themes so there is something for everyone, including the adults.
Disneyworld itself is made up of four major parks (The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom) plus two water parks (Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park) as well as the shopping and entertainment area of Disney’s BoardWalk, ESPN Wide World of Sports complex and Disney Springs. My personal favourite is Epcot, focusing on Future World and World Showcase which features eleven pavilions representing different countries from around the world, including Norway, Mexico, Morocco, UK and Canada. I could spend hours and hours in World Showcase alone.
Still on the subject of theme parks, there is also SeaWorld, Legoland, Universal Studios, Universal’s Islands of Adventure (home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter), Discovery Cove and Busch Gardens Tampa, so yes…lots of theme parks!
Hire a car for the day and journey out through the Everglades to send a day at Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. Covering all things space and giving you the chance to view the space shuttles and NASA, this is a day out that you’ll never forget and is quite unique. Boat trips through the Everglades to view the alligators are also popular.
Take day trips to Miami, Clearwater Beach, St Augustine to see the dolphins and also Gatorland – there really is so much diversity in this part of the world, and so many things to see and do!
Take day trips to Miami, Clearwater Beach, St Augustine to see the dolphins and also Gatorland – there really is so much diversity in this part of the world, and so many things to see and do!
As with most American cities, there are numerous dining options, evening entertainment and Show dinnes are always popular. There is a large Performing Arts Center and cabarets, concerts and sporting events are always on offer; there is always something happening in Orlando. And for the shoppers, enjoy a day at the Orlando Premium Shopping Outlets to grab a few bargains.
Florida is also the gateway for Caribbean cruises, so why not tag on a seven night cruise onto your Orlando adventure and take in either the West or East Caribbean islands? It’s easy to do and the cruises are really affordable and depart frequently throughout the year.
Orlando really is an outstanding destination, and one which the whole family will enjoy. The climate is always welcoming; the people friendly and there are a myriad of resorts to suit all budgets. It really is the perfect family holiday and who doesn’t love a bit of Disney magic?