Orlando is easily the most attractive and lucrative tourist destination in the United States, earning over $8 billion more than its closest rival in terms of tourist income in 2022.
It’s a bustling vacation, business, and event destination, attracting well over 60 billion visitors every year, so there’s a good chance this city has something to offer you if you’re planning a trip to Florida.
Read on to explore just ten of the many reasons to visit Orlando for your next vacation.
1. Amazing Weather
Florida boasts a glorious sub-tropical climate, which translates into plenty of sunshine, short rain showers, mild winters, and a lush environment. It can also mean you’re in for hot, humid summer days, dramatic thunderstorms, and occasional hurricanes.
It’s best to plan your Florida vacation between mid-September and early November if you want to avoid the high summer temperatures and bask in comfortable 75°F days.
Mid-August to mid-October is peak hurricane season in Florida, but Orlando is among the best places to visit in this state if you want to avoid these weather events. The city rarely experiences hurricanes due to its location at the center of Florida, and it is one of the cities many of Florida’s coastal inhabitants choose as a haven when hurricanes threaten.
2. Great Accommodation Options
Thanks to a thriving tourist industry, you’ll find a huge variety of accommodation choices when planning your Orlando vacation. The city is home to premier as well as budget options and many interesting establishments promising memorable stays.
There are many highly-rated hotels in Orlando, along with family-friendly timeshare options and other self-catering options. Bed and breakfast accommodations, backpackers, apartments, rooms to rent, and campgrounds are abundant in this top tourist destination.
Some of the more unusual offerings include tiny homes, zen retreats, lakeside mansions, and backyard ADUs.
3. So Many Theme Parks
No conversation about Orlando is complete without mentioning the great diversity of theme parks available in the area. Visitors to Orlando can keep themselves busy for a week or more with an exclusive Disney vacation and still never get to enjoy everything on offer.
Plus, once you’ve ‘done Disney World’, there are still another 30 amusement parks to enjoy. These are some of the standout theme parks in the Orlando area:
Walt Disney World
This is the world’s most popular theme park, attracting over 17 million fun-seekers every year. It comprises four theme parks and two water parks, namely Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon, and Blizzard Beach.
It’s the perfect place to embrace good, clean fun for the whole family, with exciting rides, vibrant parades, charming character interactions, and plenty of sightseeing. The park is always adding new rides and attractions to keep the crowds coming back.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, and TRON Lightcycle Run Roller Coaster are some of the latest additions.
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando comprises three parks, namely Volcano Bay, Islands of Adventure, and Universal Studios Florida. Each of these offers thrilling rides like The Simpsons Ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and Race Through New York.
The park has a variety of themed worlds to enjoy, with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter proving to be the top pick at the moment.
SeaWorld
SeaWorld Orlando is one of the world’s best-known aquariums. It stands out for its interactive activities and animal interactions, although education is its most important function.
Here visitors can find out about the world beneath the waves while interacting with sea lions, dolphins, and orcas.
Legoland
Legoland is another highly interactive theme park, offering over 50 rides, attractions, and shows inspired by these iconic toys. There’s also a Legoland Water Park onsite.
When you visit Legoland, you can make the most of it by staying at one of the property’s unique hotels, like the Legoland Beach Retreat or the ”5-gazillion star” Legoland hotel.
Legoland is about 45 minutes drive from Orlando.
Discovery Cove
This unique water park allows guests to snorkel with tropical fish, swim with dolphins, and feed exotic birds. You can also float away your cares on the Wind-Away River or relax at Serenity Bay.
4. Visit Orlando For Family Fun
Orlando’s theme parks are excellent vacation choices for families with children of all ages, but there are many other activities suited to an unforgettable day out in Orlando. These include:
Family Hotel Packages
Many hotels in Orlando are geared toward family stays, with a host of activities conducive to bonding moments. These include marshmallow roasts, arcade games, nature walks, arts and crafts sessions, rock climbing scavenger hunts, and paddle boarding.
Escape Rooms
The growing popularity of escape rooms means that you’ll find several of them to choose from during your visit. These intellectual adventures cater to everyone, from groups of friends to extended families, and provide hours of fun for everyone.
According to https://www.escapology.com/en/orlando-i-drive-fl, players as young as seven can take part in the escape room fun.
Orlando Science Center
Thanks to fun interactive activities and engaging displays, your kids won’t even know they’re learning every step of the way during a visit to this fantastic venue.
Space talks, IMAX movies, fun zones, dinosaur digs, and fun zones are all part of the action at the Orlando Science Center.
Skating Rinks
Retro rinks offer good fun, exercise, and a chance for the whole family to loosen up to disco beats. The Astro Skate Family Fun Center and Semoran Skateway offer affordable admissions and various weekly events for your amusement.
5. Entertainment Galore
When night falls, it’s easy to find a trustworthy caregiver to attend to your little ones if you fancy a little time on your own, and there’s no shortage of places to let your hair down in Orlando. Take your pick from upbeat dance clubs, comedy shows, live music, sleek lounges, or several annual events.
Some of the most popular nightspots in town include:
- Aero Rooftop Bar and Lounge
- Amway Center
- The Attic Orlando
- EVE nightclub
- The Beachman
- Hanson’s Shoe Repair Speakeasy Bar
- Wall Street Plaza
- TIER Nightclub
International Drive is a top spot for after-hours amusements thanks to its variety of bars, restaurants, clubs, and live music venues.
6. Outdoor Amusements
When you need a break from the non-stop city action on offer in Orlando, you can easily escape to enjoy outdoor relaxation or fun activities galore. Orlando’s surrounding areas offer a chance to:
Slide Down a Zipline
Visit Gatorland, located between International Drive and Walk Disney World, where you can get a bird’s-eye view of the snapping jaws of the gators on the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line. Seminole Aerial Adventures, about 30 minutes north of the city, offers a tamer excursion with challenging obstacles among the trees to add a little variety to your ride.
Admire Nature
Photographers and birders alike will find everything their hearts desire at Lake Apopka, where an unspoiled shoreline begs exploration. There are over 360 bird species in this area, and there are abundant opportunities to snap memorable shots.
Kayaking
Thanks to an abundance of water, Orlando might just be the place you get to take the plunge and try out kayaking. This tranquil sport is available at several lakeside resorts, and also at the Brevard Zoo near Orlando.
Guided trails are the best way to make the most of your water excursions, and you’ll find these on offer at Shingle Creek, the headwaters of the Florida Everglades.
Walking and Biking
Orlando’s nature parks and preserves are abuzz with wildlife and green spaces to explore. Many resorts offer trails onsite, and you’ll also find several pristine places for walking and biking close to the city.
These include:
- Lea Gardens
- Tibet-Butler Preserve
- Split Oak Forest and Wildlife Area
- Winter Garden
Do you fancy a little fishing during your vacation? Head to Lake Kissimmee, the Winter Park Chain of Lakes, Lake Tohopekaliga, or the Butler Chain of Lakes.
7. World-Class Dining
Epcot offers plenty of food for thought, but it’s also home to an excellent variety of cuisine from across the globe. Each of the 11 countries featured at this amusement park also showcases foods from that part of the world, making for some varied and interesting dining options.
CityWalk at Universal Orlando is home to the largest Hard Rock Café on the planet, and Disney Springs offers a good selection of dining and nightlife, too.
If you’re spending time near Pointe Orlando, try Millers Ale House for a large selection of beers on tap. zesty cocktails, and hearty pub-style food.
Those who prefer high-end dining from time to time can try out one of Orlando’s Michelin-starred restaurants, namely, Capa, Soseki, Kadence, or Knife and Spoon.
8. Golfing Excellence
There is no shortage of places to swing a club in Orlando, where you have over 200 golf courses to choose from. The area features several world-class venues and is home to the Bay Hill International and the FUNAI Classic.
Top designers like Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Greg Norman are the experts behind some of the 160 courses you can reach within a 45-minute drive of the city, with pros on site to help you master any challenges you encounter.
Golfing in the Florida sunshine is an extraordinary treat, and every outing makes for a peaceful break from the non-stop action of a family getaway.
9. Famous Landmarks
Disney’s world-acclaimed attractions aside, Orlando is also home to many historical buildings and other worthwhile attractions. Some of the most rewarding ones are:
The Kennedy Space Center
Florida’s Space Coast is around 45 minutes from Orlando and home to the iconic Kennedy Space Center. Here, you can glean inside insights into the mysteries of space travel thanks to a collection of memorabilia spanning the history of America’s space missions.
You can also learn more about future endeavors in the vast reaches of the universe.
International Drive
Florida’s Space Coast is around 45 minutes from Orlando and home to the iconic Kennedy Space Center. Here, you can glean inside insights into the mysteries of space travel thanks to a collection of memorabilia spanning the history of America’s space missions.
You can also learn more about future endeavors in the vast reaches of the universe.
The wheel lights up at night, casting its glow across the nearby lakes and the sky with bold, glittering colors.
Harry P. Leu Gardens
The Leu Gardens offer a tranquil escape from the city and a quaint glimpse into times gone by. The 18th-century onsite mansion and butterfly garden are an interesting diversion for history and nature lovers alike and the lush surroundings are well worth exploring.
The Rogers Building
It’s worth paying attention to the Rogers Building during a trip to downtown Orlando. This architectural gem was built in the 1880s as an upmarket gentleman’s club and features interesting English Baroque architecture.
You might find out a little more than expected if you visit the building as part of a city ghost tour of this historic site.
10. Seaside Access
Thanks to its central location, Orlando offers easy access to both of Florida’s beautiful coastlines, where a variety of beaches offer seaside fun. You can reach many of Florida’s most popular beaches on a day trip from the city, including:
- Vero Beach, where you can see turtles hatch in the summer
- Cocoa Beach, near the Kennedy Space Center
- Flagler Beach for boating and paddle boarding
- Daytona Beach for motorsport action and free concerts
- Clearwater Beach for jet-skiing, parasailing, and paddle-boarding
Whether you’re craving a day of sunbathing, fast-paced ocean action, or simply longing for the feel of sand between your toes, there’s a beach near Orlando that will make your day.
Enjoy Family Fun Wherever You Are
If you won’t get a chance to visit Orlando this year, it’s never too early to start planning. With so much to see and do, you’ll need all the time you can get.
Don’t put your happiness on hold until vacation time rolls around, though. Every day can become a fun-filled occasion when you have a family. All it takes is a little effort and imagination.
If you’re short on ideas, please browse my blog for more family-friendly tips and travel inspiration.
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