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Why Orlando, FL should be your vacation destination?
Orlando FL

Attendance at North America's 50 most popular theme and amusement parks jumped almost 4 percent in 2004, the first overall increase since the 2001 terrorist attacks slowed the U.S. travel and tourism industry.

An estimated 169.1 million visitors rode thrill rides and romped around with costumed characters at the North American parks, according to an annual survey released Monday by the trade magazine Amusement Business and the research firm Economic Research Associates.
The increase was helped by a jump in international visitors spurred on by a weakening U.S. dollar, improved weather over last year and a rebound in U.S. travel and tourism.

Worldwide attendance at parks increased by 2.2 percent to 252.4 million visitors.

The hurricanes in Florida, which shut down the state's parks for several days, didn't have much affect on attendance since the most attended park in the world in 2004 was the Magic Kingdom at Orlando's Walt Disney World with 15.1 million visitors. The Florida park was followed by Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., with 13.3 million visitors and Tokyo Disneyland with 13.2 million visitors.

What are some of the facts most visitors are curious about when visiting Orlando, FL?

In the mid 1800s, settlers began to follow soldiers to an abandoned army fort in Central Florida. By 1857, the old fort had been renamed, and the city of Orlando was born. Today, this tourism Mecca is home to a population of 1.5 million people, and hosts over 40 million visitors a year. The Greater Orlando region consists of Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lake Counties, with the city itself lying in central Orange County. Disney's theme parks are in Kissimmee, about 20 miles southwest of downtown Orlando, while the Universal Studios complex and SeaWorld both sit along International Drive, just minutes from downtown. Both major attraction areas are located right next to Interstate-4 for easy driving access. East Orlando is home to Winter Park, an upscale shopping and dining area, and the University of Central Florida, home of the Golden Knights. The downtown area features museums, dining and nightlife that stands up to any in the country.

Population in Orlando, FL

The population of the greater Orlando region is 1.5 million people.

Climate in Orlando, Fl

October to May
Days – Low 70s F (22 C) to mid 80s F (27 C) Nights – Low 50s F (10 C) to mid 60s F (16 C)

June to September
Days – Upper 80s (27 C) to mid 90s F (32 C) Nights – Upper 60s (16 C) to mid 70s F (22 C)

Transportation in Orlando, Fl

Orlando International Airport is the 15 busiest in the country. It is conveniently located only 15 minutes from the downtown area as well as all of the major attractions. Once on the ground, there are plenty of transportation options to choose from. The airport is home to all major rental car companies, and the city's Lynx public transportation system connects all areas of Orlando. Taxi and Limousine service is available to any destination in the area as well. The I-Ride trolley service provides transportation from destination to destination along International Drive, with scheduled stops every 15 minutes.

Time Zone in Orlando FL

Orlando is in the Eastern Time Zone (GMT – 5 hours)

Things To Do in Orlando, FL

Outdoors in Orlando, FL

Orlando is home to over 300 lakes, perfect for fishing, water skiing and boating all year round. The city is also located near many state parks, all of which offer canoeing, bike trails and hiking throughout the year.

Golf in Orlando, FL

There are over 125 golf courses within 45 minutes of downtown Orlando. Many of the area's courses have been designed by world famous course architects such as Tom Fazio and Robert Trent Jones, while others have been created by some of golf's all-time greats, such as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Not only are these courses fun to play, but a few are also home to major PGA tournaments throughout the year, where the greats of golf go to compete for the top prize.

Tennis in Orlando, FL

Orlando is filled with options for the tennis fan. Most resorts have at least one court on site, and there are many area tennis centers which are open to the public. Most hotels and tennis centers offer equipment rentals, as well as advice and lessons for beginners or experts.

Sports in Orlando FL

Orlando's most famous team is the NBA's Orlando Magic. Beyond the Magic, there are also other sports teams worthy of checking out while in Orlando. They include, the Orlando Miracle (WNBA), Orlando Rays (AA Baseball), the Orlando Predators (Arena Football) and the Orlando Seals (WHA2 Hockey). The city also hosts spring training baseball featuring the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros. In addition, many other Major League teams hold there spring training camps within a few hours of Orlando.

Performing Arts in Orlando, FL

There are many opportunities to enjoy the performing arts in Orlando. The Orlando Opera Company and the Orlando Philharmonic provide musical enjoyment throughout the year, while the Shakespeare Festival and the Southern Ballet also delight audiences with their artistic productions. The Civic Theatre of Central Florida and the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center welcome local and national productions throughout the year as well, adding exciting variety to Orlando's performing arts calendar.

Special Events in Orlando, FL

Orlando attracts many amazing events every year. From high profile concerts to rodeo performances, art festivals to bike week, there is always something exciting on its way to Orlando.

Museums in Orlando, FL

While theme parks may be the main attraction, Orlando has no lack of culture to speak of. The Morse Museum is home to the largest collection of Tiffany stained glass in the world, and the Orlando Museum of Art features a prominent collection of 19th and 20th century American art. The Orlando Science Center delights visitors of all ages with dynamic, hands-on exhibitions featuring the latest in science and technology.

Meeting Space in Orlando, FL

Orlando is a popular stop for conferences, conventions and meetings. There is certainly plenty of available space to hold even the largest of gatherings.

Orlando's Orange County Convention Center – The third largest venue in the United States in terms of meeting space with 1.1 million square feet of available space.

Tupperware Convention Center – Another large venue, with 48,060 square fee of meeting space.

Orlando Expo Center – The Expo Center includes 74,691 feet of exhibition space.

In addition to these venues, there is another 1.7 million square feet of space available throughout the city's many hotels and cultural venues.

Shopping in Orlando, FL

Orlando is currently the fastest growing retail market in the United States. The city is currently home to over 39 million square feet of shopping, and is expanding by the day.