ORLANDO
Area: Florida
Country: United States of America


Location:
In the SE United States, in the centre of Florida, 60 mls SW of Daytona Beach (Atlantic Ocean, E coast), 95 mls NE of Tampa (Gulf of Mexico, W coast), 135 mls S of Jacksonville; 240 mls NW of Miami. Orlando International airport 6 mls E of International Drive resort area.

Telephone code from UK:
1 407

Website:
http://www.go2orlando.com

Position:
Built on a flat area which was originally swamp and citrus groves. Very verdant with trees and lots of water features, lakes, rivers, etc.

Description:
A metropolitan area on a huge scale (15 mls by 30), Orlando comprises 3 counties _ Orange, Seminole and Osceola. With a population of 1.2 million people, it is ranked as one of the fastest-growing urban centres in the USA with an estimated 75 or more people relocating to the area daily. Orlando developed as a tourist destination slowly, but things really only took off with the opening of Disney World in 1971. New attractions and theme parks have been added over the years and still are, making Orlando America's number-one tourist destination. The service industry is the backbone of Orlando's economy, although some financial corporations and light manufacturing industries do exist. One area in which Orlando has not kept abreast of the times is transportation; a poor public bus system, coupled with an archaic road network means clogged traffic arteries. Consequently, during morning and evening rush hours, the major thoroughfares are grid-locked. Extra time should therefore be allowed for getting from A to B. A local nickname for the I-4 motorway (which has exits for many of the major attractions) is "The Long Skinny Parking Lot". There are distinct areas in this conurbation: Walt Disney World Area _ located in the SW. Kissimmee _ extreme S. International Drive _ central. Florida Mall _ between the airport and downtown. Downtown and Colonial Drive _ NE. The Altamonte Springs/Winter Park area _ in the far N. Serious consideration should be given when deciding where to stay; it is a choice between cheaper hotels and long journey times against more expensive properties and being on top of things _ and so avoiding the long drive and traffic jams the locals endure daily.

Suitability:
Something for everyone; families with children will probably get most out of it, but with the huge range of things on offer, there really is no doubt Orlando has something for every pocket and persuasion.

Accommodation:
Has more hotel rooms than any other city in the USA, and more hotel chains are building here each year. Cheaper the farther you get from the attractions; more expensive the closer you come. From basic motels to first-class hotels.

Shopping:
Mercado Mediterranean Village, on the N end of International Drive, has 60 shops and 5 restaurants. Florida Mall _ 200 shops and a busy food court. Church Street Station Exchange, a multilevel retail centre in a historic train depot. Several outlet stores. Flea World _ America's largest market under one roof _ 104 acres. Park Avenue _ downtown shopping area full of exclusive boutiques, designer stores, restaurants and tourist outlets. And many, many more.

Beach:
Some of the larger properties have man-made beaches on lakes and lagoons.

Entertainments:
Daytime: huge numbers of theme parks and attractions. Tennis; golf. Water sports, including water-skiing, jet-skiing, sailing, fishing and speed boats. Spectator sports such as dog racing, jai alai, baseball, basketball and, at times, rodeo. Nightlife: Walt Disney Pleasure Island, a 6-acre nightlife park (children under 18 must be accompanied after 8pm.) Clubs, pubs, restaurants, cinemas, dinner shows and something raunchier should you so desire; in fact, every conceivable distraction.

Eating:
You name it, they've got it, from fast food to fine dining. Many smaller hotels and motels may serve only a basic breakfast _ sometimes not even that; be aware that this is the norm and be prepared to travel and go out to eat.

Public-transport:
The public bus system is quite limited and not easily accessed by tourists. In fact, it is not used all that much by the residents. Car hire is the most practical option and cheaper than in Europe. Distances are great and the traveller needs to do a good deal of traffic negotiating. Shuttle buses can be arranged at most hotel receptions to different locations (for a fee). Taxis are readily available and can be found at major hotels, restaurants and attractions.

Local-excursions:
Theme parks: Busch Gardens; Cypress Gardens; Gatorland; Kennedy Space Center; Sea World; Universal Studios; Walt Disney World Resort; Epcot Center; Disney-MGM Studios; Magic Kingdom; Silver Springs and many more. Water parks: River County at Walt Disney World; Typhoon Lagoon; Water Mania; Wet 'n Wild and others. Cultural and special interest: Central Florida Zoological Gardens; Don Garlit's Museum of Drag Racing; Leu Botanical Gardens; Orlando Museum of Art; US Astronaut Hall of Fame and Space Shop.