Orlando and Beyond

By VISIT FLORIDA staff

Published: November 6, 2008

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Outstanding, outrageous, overwhelming Orlando. This central city is home to Mickey Mouse and Shamu, Universal Orlando and Disney's Hollywood Studios. But long before Walt Disney created his fantastical theme park, tourists were flocking to the area to experience Florida's first attractions. Places like Gatorland have always been favorites for families in search of fun in the sun.


Heritage Highlights

Today's tour starts with a stop at the Mennello Museum of American Folk Art, 900 E. Princeton St., one of the few museums in the nation dedicated solely to this art form. The Mennello houses the most extensive collection of paintings from the primitive genius Earl Cunningham. Other well-known folk artists are also showcased. Hours: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Tue. - Sat.; Noon - 4:30 p.m., Sun. Call (407) 246-4278.

Travel back 12,000 years in time and fast-forward to today exploring the people, places and events that shape Central Florida at the Orange County Regional History Center in the restored 1927 Courthouse, 65 E. Central Blvd. In the heart of downtown Orlando, this state-of-the-art venue brings history to life through audio visual presentations, hands-on exhibits, education programs and special events. Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Mon. - Sat.; Noon - 5 p.m., Sun. Call (407) 836-8500.


Nature Trek

Swing into the great outdoors by enrolling in one of the world's most renowned golf academies. Orlando boasts several, where both novice and expert golfers can take to the links. The Arnold Palmer Golf Academy at Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge, 9000 Bay Hill Blvd., emphasizes fundamentals with tips on course strategy and how to practice like a pro. Call (800) 523-5999 or (407) 876-5362.

No visit to Florida is complete without sighting an alligator. The easiest place to spot one of these primal creatures is at Gatorland, 14501 Orange Blossom Trail. It's the "Alligator Capital of the World" and one of Florida's first major tourist attractions. The Jumparoo (alligators jumping to catch meat) is a crowd favorite, but alligator wrestling is also popular. Over the years, the park has accumulated 5,000 animals in its exhibits, from a Barnyard Petting Zoo and Very Merry Aviary to a Breeding Marsh and Jungle Crocs of the World. Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., daily. Call (407) 855-5496 or (800) 393-5297.


Culture Quest

The next stop is the Orlando Museum of Art, 2416 N. Mills Ave., in Loch Haven Park, for a look at works by artists Georgia O'Keeffe, John Singer Sargent, and Robert Rauschenberg. The American art collection is particularly strong, with pieces from the 18th century to the present. African art and Pre-Columbian art collections also present a fascinating look at art through the ages. Hours: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Tues. - Fri.; Noon - 4 p.m., Sat. Call (407) 896-4231.

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