Orlando, Florida is one of the most-visited cities in the world primarily due to tourism, major events, and convention traffic; in 2018, the city drew more than 75 million visitors. Theme parks aren’t the Orlando’s only claim to fame – though, they are very fun! Here’s your guide to Orlando, Florida.
The Best Western Plus Universal Inn in Orlando is directly across from Universal Studios®, Harry Potter® & the Island of Adventure®, so you can enjoy the leisurely convenience of strolling towards your destination for fun and adventure. The hotel also offers complimentary breakfast, an outdoor pool, and on-site gym, for all your needs.
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If you fancy yourself a foodie, the Wandering Palm Adventure Tours offer a tour of Orlando’s Ivanhoe Village and Wander & Eat in Hidden Main Street. In Ivanhoe Village, you eat where the locals eat. This tour includes five food stops, such as farm-to-table, Florida-focused cuisine, local pizza and beer, delicious, fresh cafe bites and an Orlando-born sweet treat. The Main Street tour includes five guided locations for a taste of the neighborhood culture. Get ready for tasty sandwich bites and unique eats that may include, English pub grub, authentic Mexican, mouth-watering Italian tastings, a sweet treat and East meets West gourmet sandwiches.
If you like arts, history and museums, don’t miss the Orlando Science Center. The Science Center’s exhibit halls feature a vast array of exciting, interactive experiences from down-to-earth explorations in natural science to the high-tech world of simulation technology. Everywhere you look you’ll find educational and entertaining opportunities to explore, experiment and discover.
For architecture buffs, the Downtown Orlando Historic District Self-Guided Walking Tour gives you the opportunity to experience Orlando history firsthand. This self-guided walking tour is available online or via mobile device here. As a designated historic district, Lake Eola Heights is one of downtown Orlando’s oldest and most architecturally diverse, predominantly residential neighborhoods. Stroll along the shady, tree-lined streets and you’ll see a mix of Craftsman, Mediterranean Revival, Colonial Revival and frame vernacular residences that blend with Art Deco and traditional homes.
If you are outdoorsy, Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge exists to rescue, raise, rehabilitate, and release injured or orphaned Florida native species and to provide education about respecting and preserving the environment through our non-releasable permanent residents known as “educational ambassadors.” Back to Nature is the largest non-profit public wildlife rehabilitation facility in the Central Florida Region, serving 2,500-3,000 of Central FL’s Wildlife per year. And, Wekiwa Springs State Park, with emerald springs feeding the Wekiwa River and lush tropical hammocks, is perfect for observing abundant wildlife or cooling off on a summer day.
Sports fanatics can scoop up autographed memorabilia at Orlando Card Show. The show includes all sports, as well as vintage and modern memorabilia. Admission is only $2 and those proceeds are donated to the Oranole Foundation, which provides food pantries at schools in Orange and Seminole counties.
Or, are you in serach for hidden gems? Airboat through the swamps on an airboat tour to see the Everglades with a U.S. Coast Guard Captain. Keep your eyes peeled for alligators, turtles, and birds in this natural wonderland. Or check out Wallaby Ranch hang-gliding which offers year-round Discovery Tandem Flights and hang-gliding instruction. Wallaby Ranch enjoys a stellar reputation as one of the best hang-gliding schools in the nation and around the globe.