This region, perhaps more than anywhere else, represents how vital Florida is to America’s sustenance -- as a food source and entertainment capital. Orlando, Kissimmee, Lake Buena Vista, Celebration and, farther west, Winter Haven and Tampa are internationally recognized theme park destinations -- powered by Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND and Busch Gardens, brands that regularly refresh their attractions. I-Drive in Orlando is 11 miles of experiences such as the The Orlando Eye, plus shopping, hotels, dining and nightlife. Professional sports teams include the NBA’s Magic and Major League Soccer’s Orlando City SC.
The short question might be: How much vacation time do you have?
Florida is epicenter of the world for theme parks. Orlando is the capital. Every day here, no one is too old, or too young, to wear Mickey ears or wave a wand and shriek in delight. Besides the titans -- Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld -- here are a couple other theme park destinations to watch:
- Orlando Watersports Park
- Kissimmee’s Fun Spot
Janet K. Keeler wrote that “Orlando International Premium Outlets may just have the best location of any shopping mall in the U.S.A. The complex has unmatched visibility, tucked as it is into a huge pie-shaped parcel where Interstate 4 and the Florida Turnpike meet.” Audubon Park is a shopping and dining district surrounded by 1920s bungalows and more modern ranch-style homes. Winter Park got its start in the late 1800s as a resort community. The 49-store Winter Park Village isn’t old, but there’s a slowed-down vibe to a stroll here. And, like Winter Park itself, it seems exclusive.
Orlando, like any major American city, is a smorgasbord of exquisite experiences: James Beard chefs, concentrations of cultures such as Vietnamese and Puerto Rican, fan favorites, and local color. Then there are the theme parks and entertainment districts such as Disney Springs, which offer a culinary diversity to match any thrills you had during your stay.
For close to 60 years, Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center have been the world’s launchpad for manned space flight. Mercury. Gemini. Apollo. The space shuttle. At the Visitors Center, you can stroll through a garden of rockets or watch one rise into the blue.
If you’re this far east, remember the beaches just an hour from Orlando. Cocoa is America’s Atlantic surfing capital, birthplace of 11-time world champion Kelly Slater. The surf culture is thick here, quietly represented by its local board shops and loudly proclaimed by Ron Jon, the multi-level shopping experience (you likely saw the signs on I-75).
Driving from Atlanta to Orlando is a road trip full of Florida adventure possibilities. The Orlando theme parks and entertainment centers may be your ultimate destinations, but along the route there are numerous Florida points of interest and memories to make. Enjoy the ride.
