Orlando, the theme park capital of the world, is packed full of exciting and popular tourist attractions - the magical experience of Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom; the thrill of the world class rides at Universal's Islands of Adventure; & make believe that you're in Hollywood for a day at Universal Studios, splash around with Shamu and friends at Sea World, have fun and get wet at Aquatica and down the road at Tampa is the exciting rides and animals at Busch Gardens. Cypress Gardens Adventure Park is an experience for everyone.

Besides the parks there is non-stop nightlife, plentiful shopping and great dining throughout the Orlando and surrounding area. Lake Buena Vista, Kissimmee, Winter Park and Altamonte Springs.

Just a short distance from the hustle and bustle of Orlando's attractions, several destinations offer back-to-nature experiences and small town charm. Travel to tiny, charming towns like Mount Dora and Bartow for antiques and other treasures. Mount Dora has often been called the "antiques capital of Florida," but it is also noted for its festivals and great boating.

Shopping
Shopping is the Number 1 attraction in Orlando. There are two fabulous shopping plazas: the Florida Mall and the Millennium Mall, both offering a great choice of large department stores and specialty shops.

Bargains can be found at the Prime Outlet Mall on International Drive and at the Orlando Premium OutletsŪ at Lake Buena Vista.

Golf
Did you know that there are more than 150 golf courses within an hour's drive from Orlando? Add great weather to the equation and it's plain to see why Orlando is such a popular golfing destination. Many of the big PGA names are resident here; most notably Tiger Woods so keep your eyes peeled out on the driving range!

Designers like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Robert Trent Jones have produced a huge variety of challenging, and in many cases quite spectacular courses.

Nightlife
Nightlife in Orlando is varied and vibrant with Downtown Orlando offering a variety of clubs and bars; Universal Citywalk® is one of the hottest night time entertainment spots. At "CityWalk®" there is live music, fine and casual dining, shopping, dancing, and state-of-the-art cinemas all in one location. Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island is another great choice for visiting in the evening.

Why not try one of the many superb Dinner Theater experiences,such as Pirates Dinner Adventure® and Arabian Nights.  

 

That means if you think, "Hey, this is a great day to go to the beach", chances are the locals are already there. To avoid the larger crowds try to go during the week. If the weekend is your only chance to get to the beach make sure you go early.

To help you decide where to go we've broken the beaches down into four general areas. If you're interested in catching some waves head for the East Coast. The water's calm, and so is the pace on the West Coast. On the South East the tropics are alive and well. Take a drive to the Panhandle if you're looking for a more woodsy kind of beach.

East Coast
This is the place to go for surfing. The East Coast beaches offer the best waves (they generally get better the further north you go), and the Atlantic water is a tad cooler here than at the other beaches. Daytona Beach is a wide, flat beach where you can drive your car onto the sand. That explains why Daytona is the home of "Race Week" and the Daytona 500 in February, and "Bike Week" in March (1 hour drive). Cocoa Beach, home to the 'Ron Jon Surf Shop' is the closest beach to Orlando (45min to 1 hour drive). South of Daytona, New Smyrna Beach is also wide and flat with vehicle access, but much less crowded than its northern neighbor (1.25 hour drive). Melbourne Beach is easily reached from the Kissimmee area, and offers a clean narrow beach more popular with locals than tourists. (1.25 hour drive).

West Coast
Situated on the Gulf of Mexico, and smack in the middle of the Gulf Stream, the beaches of the West Coast offer warm, calm seas, and are generally regarded as very safe for swimmers. Try to stay late because the sunsets here are nothing short of spectacular. The most popular beaches are St. Pete and Clearwater. Both are famous for well-groomed white sands, and their delightful mix of resort amenities and relaxed beach living (2 hour drive). Take a look at the Historic Spanish Fort at Fort DeSoto while the kids splash the day away (2.25 hour drive). To get away from the crowds drive a little further south to Longboat Key, Sarasota, Ft. Myers, Naples, and Marco Island. (2.5 to 4 hour drive).

South East
If you like your beaches with a more metropolitan feel this is where you want to go. The South East beaches of Florida have long been a playground for the wealthy and fashionable. The most well know, Miami Beach is always a hotspot for celebrities (4.5 hour drive). Look up from the water at the mansions of Palm Beach (3 hour drive). Key West is one of the best places in the world to go scuba diving (7 hour drive). The fish are biting off the coast of Key Biscayne (4.5 hour drive), and you can just imagine the tropical feel of Coconut Grove (4.5 hour drive).

Panhandle
The water here is the same warm, emerald green of the Gulf of Mexico as the West Coast Beaches. In fact the Panhandle is actually part of the West Coast, just a little further north. Here there is the expected beautiful shoreline found along the rest of the state, but there is also quite an emphasis on outdoor activities such as camping and fishing. Destin offers a wide array of full and half-day fishing charters, and was voted "Best Beach" by Parent Magazine (6.5 hour drive). For those who enjoy the fishing, but not the boating, try the Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge in Pensacola (7.5 hour drive). You can park your car right next to your spot! Enjoy 27 miles of white sand beach in Panama City, and if you like diving you'll find out why this is called "The Wreck Capital of the South" (6 hour drive). Camp out on St. George Island, and enjoy the stretch of undeveloped beach (5 hour drive).