Orlando Travel & Vacation Guide

Check out 220 acres of pure sporting adrenaline awaits visitors at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The complex's facilities are all professionally managed and maintained, hosting thousands of athletic events each year and over 60 sports. You can catch games or training sessions of your favorite teams, or even join in on the excitement. Located at the Walt Disney World Resort.

If you've always dreamed of cuddling a baby lemur or feeding playful kangaroos, this unique ranch is the place to go and make your dreams come true. Many different animals cohabit here under the supervision and care of the friendly owners. This venue might just be worth the trip to Orlando even for those who do not particularly delight in roller coasters and rides.

Hard Rock Live is a venue for great live concerts, all with the wonderful vista of palm trees and Orlando sunshine. Music and comedy events are both held. The establishment suggests arriving 1 hour before the performance because of security measures. Cameras and recording devices are not allowed.

The Harry P. Leu Gardens were founded in 1961, following the donation of its historical home and gardens to the City of Orlando. Now visitors are given an opportunity to explore the 50 acres of pure, natural bliss. Stroll along paths that lead to over 40 plant collections, including a butterfly garden and Florida's largest rose garden.

For decades, space has been our final frontier. The Kennedy Space Center is dedicated entirely to expanding our scientific knowledge and the borders of our galaxy. Serving as the gateway for American space exploration since 1968, the Center is open for your exploration as well. Come be a part of past, present and future history.

Orlando gives visitors a chance to burn rubber like the pros at the K1 Speed tracks. You can get speeds up to 50 mph on the electric Italian Pro-Karts, or opt to grapple with your reflexes in the off-camber corners. Both tracks can be rented by the hour.

When theme parks just won’t do, check out the educational yet fun alternative: The Orlando Science Center. This huge 5-story building is chock full of exhibits and activities on each level. Don’t miss the Dr. Phillips Cinedome, an 8-story mega-screen theater. The OSC also has a planetarium on the top floor that opens every Friday and Saturday night.

Despite its compact size, the Orlando Shakespeare Theater continues to impress locals and guests alike with the high quality of its shows, including (but not limited to) "Monty Python's Spamalot." Check the website for the current show schedule.

If you are searching for country music or a chance to polish up your line-dancing moves, then Cowboys Orlando is your place. Boots and bikini contests for the guys and boots and boxer contests for the girls are very popular. There are also tattoo contests and even live bull riding on special occasions.

For over 40 years, Funny Bone Comedy Club comedy club has produced world comedic talents at its various national locations. Adam Sandler, Bette Midler, Robin Williams, and Jerry Seinfeld are just a few household names that had beginnings at Funny Bone Comedy Club (called The Improv back in the day). Now with a location in Orlando, the comedy club features local talents from Central Florida. So come for the laughs, and you might just see the next big comedian!

The name does not betray you, for this bar was quite literally made from over 50 tons of carved ice! Icebar is kept at 27 degrees to ensure that everything is chill in both temperature and ambiance. All of the lights, frozen sculptures and music would make even Antarctica proud, along with world famous drinks like the Penguin Pizz.

Murphy's Arms Pub is British-owned and operated, providing Orlando residents and visitors with an authentic pub experience. Beer pong is played every Friday, and the widescreen televisions are always aglow with games from the English Premier League, Coca-Cola Championship, Euro, Champions League, and the World Cup. Bucket and pitcher specials are offered daily.

Modeled after its first location in New Orleans, Pat O'Brien's in Orlando serves Cajun with a Floridian twist. It is known for several things, the first of which being the famous flaming fountain patio. Guests are encouraged to taste the specialty "Hurricane" drink on the patio or at the Main Bar, where you can watch a game of one of the local teams. The Piano Lounge adds the finishing touches with the dueling pianos and sing-alongs.

Redlight Redlight is Orlando's beer parlor and destination for craft beer education. There are 23 rotating draft beers, and the cask-conditioned ales are made in the 2 beer engines. The beer list overall is impressive with over 250 bottles, from vintage selections to sour beers.

The Beacham is most likely Downtown Orlando’s best music venue. Superstar artists like Lauryn Hill, 50 Cent, and The Police have all performed here. Famous dance DJs David Guetta, Tiësto, and Benny Benassi have also made appearances.

A place to let loose or people watch, whichever side of the fence you're on, a good time is guaranteed. If you're into getting funky to cheesy tunes and boys bands, Mac&Cheese nights are just the thing for you.

In addition to a robust selection of apparel and accessory stores, Altamonte also has dining and entertainment. Eat at the Orlando Ale House or the Seasons 52 before heading to a movie at the AMC Theaters. The mall is incredibly child- and family-friendly, with a big children's play area.

Not so much a comic book store in the traditional sense, this venue is a great place to browse around for geeky stuff and spend some time in the back, where a special area with board games and drinks has been set up.

For those who delight in browsing through international delicacies, this location is a treat in itself. Try the gyros at the tiny adjacent cafe and grab a (very reasonably priced!) British candy bar for dessert.

Only minutes from Disney and the Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa, the Factory Stores offer premium merchandise with daily savings. Convenient store-front parking is a plus, and coupons are available online.

With two Florida locations, Lauren Nicole boutique in Orlando sells both trendy pieces and chic classics for young women. The prices are reasonable for top apparel, but quantities are limited. The staff are always eager to help you find the perfect style.

The plethora of M&M colors and the smell of chocolate will make your head spin while you struggle to make up your mind as to which ones you're taking home. The store also sells M&M-themed items and accessories.

Sundays bring local vendors together at this main farmer's market, where atypical market treats such as cupcakes and mojito tea are on sale as well as fresh produce. A definite must-see if in town on a Sunday.

Oviedo Mall is a lux combination of shopping and entertainment. Choose from a selection of stores featuring the likes of Express, Joseph A. Banks, Champ's Sporting Goods, and more. Catch a movie at the Regal Cinema and a bite to eat at Oyishi Japanese Steakhouse.

The summer months bring the largest crowds and most stifling temperatures. The weeks and months just before and after the summer months are better in terms of both weather and crowds. In winter, temperatures are at their coolest, crowds their smallest, and prices on accommodation their lowest. Orlando’s climate is humid and subtropical with two major seasons a year. From June to September, the weather is hot and rainy, while the dry season lasts from October through May.

Citizens of the Schengen countries, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the Kingdom of Brunei can visit the United States for up to 90 days without applying for a visa (as well as citizens of Andorra, Lichtenstein, Monaco and San Marino). Citizens of these countries must obtain an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) before traveling. All other travelers must obtain a visa before visiting the United States. International travelers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip in order to enter the country.

Located only six miles southeast of downtown Orlando, the Orlando International Airport (MCO) is within 20 miles of almost all major hotels and attractions. It has two main terminals, serving a number of airlines, including domestic carriers Continental, American, JetBlue, Delta, Southwest, Midwest, Frontier, Northwest, AirTran, Spirit, United and US Airways, as well as a wide variety of international carriers like Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada, Air Jamaica, British Airways, Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic. There are nine rental car companies within walking distance of the main terminal, and Lynx bus lines 11, 51, 42, 111 and 407 connect the airport and the city center.

LYNX is a regional bus service in central Florida, including Orlando. You can either buy a single ride or buy a 7-day pass. You can buy your tickets online or from certain outlets in the area. LYNX bus stops are regularly marked by a round sign with a pink paw or with a pink bus symbol. LYMMO, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, operates in downtown Orlando, providing a non-congested route to the city’s major destinations. SunRail provides Central Florida with commuter rail service from DeBary in Volusia County to Poinciana in Osceola County. Four of the line’s stations are located in the City of Orlando, one of them being the Amtrak Station. Brightline connects South Florida and Orlando with high speed rail. The express train connects Miami and Orlando, and also stops in Aventura, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.

Various taxicab options are available in the Orlando area, including: Mears Transportation Group +1 407 422 4561 Taxi Orlando Cab Service +1 321 732 8266 Yellow cab Orlando +1 407 900 5207 Apps like Lyft and Uber, as well as Blacklane, also operate in Orlando.

All power sockets in the United States provide a standard voltage of 110–120V with a standard frequency of 60Hz. Plug type A has two flat parallel pins.

There are numerous locations of CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Rite Aid at most grocery stores and various independent and chain store retailers.

Sending parcels and letters in the US is a relatively straightforward process. The most common method is through the United States Postal Service (USPS). The USPS offers a variety of services for sending mail, including First-Class Mail for letters and postcards, Priority Mail for packages, and Priority Mail Express for overnight delivery. To send a parcel or letter, you will need to take it to a USPS post office or use a USPS blue collection box. Use the USPS website to find the nearest post office or collection box to your location. Additionally, you can also use private couriers such as FedEx and UPS, which often provide a wider range of services and faster delivery times, but generally at a higher cost.