| Attractions Orlando is now justifiably the world's number one holiday destination. Best known for its Disney theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, MGM studios, and Animal Kingdom. There are also not-to-be-missed water parks and gator parks, art museums and air museums, architectural dreams and rides. At the top of the list is Walt Disney World, four parks headed by the perennial Magic Kingdom and newer additions such as Epcot Center, the Animal Kingdom, and Disney–MGM Studios. Allow a day each for these, more for Magic Kingdom and EPCOT if you want to see it all! The centrepiece of the Magic Kingdom is Cinderella's Castle, the most recognizable of Disney's logos. Within the Kingdom are a series of "lands," including New Tomorrowland, Fantasyland and Adventureland. EPCOT stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, and its trademark silver geodesic dome is visible throughout Disney World. EPCOT Center is divided into two main sections: Future World, a combination amusement and educational park, and World Showcase, a well-presented re-creation of 11 countries - Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, the UK and the US. Disney-MGM Studios rides and attractions are absolutely first rate, but it's far less of a working studio than they'd have you believe. Most of the "rides" here are 3D, with the notable exception of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, which is arguably the park's best and most terrifying ride. The 3D stuff in Jim Henson's Muppet Vision 3D is so real that kids (and adults too) try to reach for the characters. It's best to buy your tickets before you arrive, either at a Disney store or by mail from Walt Disney Guest Communications, since lines to buy tickets can be very long. There are numerous ticket prices and options. Disney World is about 20 miles (32km) southwest of downtown Orlando, west of I-4, in a town called Lake Buena Vista. The best way to access the park is by car Like Universal Studios in Hollywood, Orlando's Universal Studios is a combination working movie studio and theme park. What this means essentially is that you can admire stars from afar and live vicariously through them. Some of the best attractions for relieving star-envy include Terminator 2: 3D, a spectacular 3D simulator experience where you get to be Ahnold; Back to the Future, which has phenomenal special effects; and Earthquake - The Big One, which is so dynamite it hits 8.3 on the Richter scale. Popular shows include the Animal Actors, Dynamite Nights Stuntacular, Ghostbusters and the Gory Gruesome & Grotesque Horror Makeup Show. The Hitchcock 3D Theatre is a tribute to the master of suspense. Universal Studios is 4 miles (6km) southwest of downtown Orlando near the intersection of I-4 and the Florida Turnpike. Sea World (owned by the Anheuser-Busch beer empire), boasts leaping dolphins, sliding sea lions and crashing killer whales and some entertaining and educational marine theme exhibits. The park also puts its money where its mouth is, sending out a Sea World Animal Rescue Team to rescue endangered manatees and restore them to health. One of the best animal rescue outfits in the country, the team is partially funded by park admissions. Sea World's highlights include the Whale & Dolphin Stadium, which includes 40 dolphins that have been born at the park; Manatees: the Last Generation?, which shows a fine nature film about these endangered creatures; the Sea Lion & Otter Stadium, full of mimicking sea lions, otters and walruses; and Terrors of the Deep, a visual reminder that sharks and barracudas have really sharp teeth. Sea World is 10 miles (16km) southwest of downtown Orlando near the intersection of I-4 and the Bee Line Expressway (Hwy 528), west of International Drive. At time of writing, Universal and Sea World both offering 2nd day free. You can leave and re-enter these parks on the same day without charge, which means that you can return to the Villa after lunch for a refreshing dip in the pool ( an early start at the theme parks is always recommended ), and return to the park in the evening to finish off the rides and shows, or catch the fireworks/ laser show. The centre draws 2 million people a year to its Gallery of Spaceflight, packed with real spacecraft and scale models. It was established in 1958, when the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) started Project Mercury to compete with the Soviets' successful launch of Sputnik. The US started launching its spaceships from Cape Canaveral, a stone's throw from the Kennedy Space Center, because of its weather, its proximity to the ocean (for splash landings) and the huge, unpopulated tracts of land available to the government for testing. Mercury was succeeded by Project Gemini, then Project Apollo, which landed a man on the moon. The Space Coast still maintains facilities for unmanned and space shuttle launches. Titusville, the main gateway to the Kennedy Space Center and the wildlife refuge, hosts the Astronaut Hall of Fame, dedicated to exhibiting every detail of the astronauts" lives and boasting a shuttle-landing simulator ride and G-force trainer. Titusville also has excellent vantage points from which to watch shuttle launches. The Kennedy Space Center is on Merritt Island, on the eastern side of the Intracoastal Waterway (called Indian River here). The NASA Causeway is the main east-west thoroughfare and begins at the junction of Highway 405 and Highway 1. The Banana River separates the main Kennedy Space Center complex from Cape Canaveral, the site of the first launches of the US space program. You"ll need a car to get to the Space Coast. Greyhound buses only get as close as Titusville, 7 miles (11km) west of the Space Center, off Highway 405. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge NASA only uses 5% of its land area for making things go boom. It turned over its unused land to the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 1963, which in turn established the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, where migrating birds stop on their way to and from South America. Manatees, alligators and turtles also inhabit the refuge. The best time to visit is from October to May. Black Point Wildlife Drive, a 6-mile (10km) loop, is a good road for self-guided tours. A two-hour bus tour leaves from the Kennedy Space Center, taking visitors around the coast. Other attractions in the Orlando area include Wet'n wild, Water mania, Gatorland, Splendid China, and many more. For a day at the beach without going to the beach - try the Disney water parks, Typhoon lagoon, Blizzard beach, River Country - entry is free if you have a Hopper ticket. Tampa on the gulf coast is some 2 hours drive along the I-4, and feature Busch Gardens, and access to St Petersburg and the gulf beaches. Between Orlando and Tampa is Cypress Gardens, Florida's first theme park. The East coast is 45 minutes drive, and boasts Daytona Beach, Cocoa beach, and the Kennedy space centre. Nature For hundreds of years the Blue Spring area was home to the Timucuan Indians, until settlers killed them off in the mid-1800s. Today, Blue Spring State Park is practicing karmic retribution by doing everything it can to protect a beleaguered resident of a different kind - the endangered manatee. This park is the best place in the state to see manatees in their natural habitat, especially between November and March, when the St John's River to the north gets cold enough to drive the manatees to Blue Spring's warmer waters. There are campsites and cabins within the park, but book ahead as things get crowded and you can't see a manatee through somebody else's tent. Blue Springs State Park is about 40 miles (65km) north of Orlando off I-4, near a town called Cassadaga. You'll need private transportation to get there. The Ocala National Forest is a gigantic, old established Florida park with several natural springs and lakes, and fantastic hiking, canoeing, fishing and swimming. You can camp anywhere in the park. Three major spring areas make up the park: Juniper Springs (at the park's centre), Salt Springs (at the northern end) and Alexander Springs (to the southeast). Juniper Springs are incredibly clear and beautiful and offer great canoeing. Salt Springs and Alexander Springs have trails through cypress forests. The Lake Eaton Sinkhole is 80ft (24m) deep and 450ft (135m) in diameter, and a staircase leads down into the hole. Nearby Lake Eaton is a good spot for swimming and sunning. The Ocala National Forest is 10 miles (16km) east of Ocala, which is about 60 miles (96km) northwest of Orlando and is the best base for exploring the forest. Highway 19 runs north south through the park and Highway 40 east-west. You'll need private transportation to get there. The Wekiwa River carries canoers past 15 miles (24 kilometres) of unspoiled vegetation full of wildlife. Just watch out for the alligators. Has the largest collection of camellias on the eastern seaboard along with a spectacular show of blooming roses and 18th century mansion. The Orlando Science Center, has a gator hole and the physics-phriendly Tunnel of Discovery; and the Orlando Museum of Art, showcases Mayan archaeological finds. Natural escapes include the Florida Audubon Society Center for Birds of Prey and canoe and houseboat trips on the St. John's River. Arts & Culture At the town's Rollins College campus, the Cornell Fine Arts Museum houses 6,000 works by distinguished artists of international acclaim. Its undeniable centrepiece is the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, which displays the world's most comprehensive collection of the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany, including his distinctive lamps and his 1893 chapel. Nearby Eatonville, America's oldest African-American municipality rotates exhibits by artists of African descent at its Zora Neale Hurston Museum of Fine Arts. Sports & Recreation This city of lakes has 300 varieties—in the form of lakes, springs, and rivers—for year-round swimming, fishing, boating, and water-skiing. Greater Orlando has 125 golf courses within a 45-minute drive and is home to two PGA tour events—the Bay Hill Invitational in March and the National Car Rental Classic at Disney World in October. The area also has 800 tennis courts at resorts, hotels, and tennis clubs. And there's a 1.1-mile (2-kilometre) banked oval track for the Indy 200 at Walt Disney World Speedway. Orlando is home to the NBA Orlando Magic basketball team, Tel. +1 (407) 896-2442; the Orlando Solar Bears IHL ice hockey team, Tel. +1 (407) 872-7825; the Orlando Predators arena football team, Tel. +1 (407) 648-4444; the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves baseball clubs in spring training, and the Orlando Rays AA baseball team, Tel. +1 (407) 649-7297. Places to canoe include the Wekiwa Springs State Park, the Ocala National Forest and Mosquito Lagoon in the Canaveral National Seashore. There's good swimming in the Ocala National Forest at Juniper Springs, Alexander Springs, Clearwater Lake and Lake Dorr. You can also swim in Blue Spring State Park's 72°F (22°C) crystal-clear waters when no manatees are present. Apollo Beach and Klondike Beach at the northern end of Merritt Island have gentle surf and soft sand. Kid's Stuff The fun goes on day and night, with themed miniature golf parks (Pirates Cove) and myriad other small attractions and game rooms. Animal farms such as Green Meadows Petting Farm and old-time Florida attractions such as Gatorland entertain young folks. Tours & Excursions Manatees, alligators, osprey, and bald eagles are the highlights of a riverboat tour on the St. John's River, and various operators offer everything from helicopter and hot-air balloon rides to airboat and bicycle tours. Nightlife Most consist of a pre-show, dinner (usually three or four courses), and the show itself. Shows run 2–3 hours. For adults, there are nightclub venues packed with options. They all have a cover charge, though packages often include passes. At Downtown Disney Pleasure Island, a nightly New Year's Eve celebration caps entertainment at eight clubs, while Downtown Disney West Side has Cirque du Soleil and House of Blues. Downtown stays lively until 2 AM at Church Street Station, a collection of restored Victorian-era buildings where the entertainment runs from Dixieland jazz to country and western. Universal Studios Citywalk is the newest hot spot with live music and dancing. Shopping Along International Drive and U.S. Highway 192, expect to find throngs of shops selling T-shirts, tourist gear, and cameras. You will have to look hard to find bargains or value. It's better to proceed directly to Belz Factory Outlet World, with more than 170 outlets. Other spots for great bargains are Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores and VF Factory Outlet. In fact, Orlando is one of the national centres for outlets, and there are many from which to choose. To save yourself some time and energy, head to the Mercado Mediterranean Village and the Official Visitor Information Center, and grab some brochures to help you pinpoint where you want to shop. This also is the place to stop for discount attraction tickets. Now visitors don't have to travel into the residential area to find upscale shopping, although the upscale shops along Winter Park's Park Avenue are worth a trip. At the Belz Designer Outlet, there are discounts of up to 60 percent on wares from Donna Karan, Cole Haan, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Closer to the convention center on International Drive lies the Pointe*Orlando (CQ), which offers the Armani Exchange and an FAO Schwarz flagship store. Disney souvenirs are sold at all Disney parks, but visit the World of Disney at Disney Village Marketplace, which is the world's largest Disney character merchandise shop. . Current Orlando, Time & Temperature
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