Downtown Disney® area/Lake Buena Vista
Downtown Disney ® area is Disney for the adult set. Here, restaurant options range from fast-food fare to white-linen service. Entertainment choices include dancing, live music, and a multiplex cinema. Shops offer children’s toys, as well as Harley-Davidson gear and hand-rolled cigars. Downtown Disney ® area’s other appeal is its proximity to both non-Disney and Disney-owned golf courses.
Downtown Kissimmee
Kissimmee’s downtown is chockablock with historic buildings. The city’s courthouse, dedicated in 1890, is Florida’s oldest courthouse still in use. Lake cruises depart from the city’s waterfront perch on Lake Tohopekaliga. The lake is a bird haven, and its big-mouth bass lure anglers. Feral hogs, turkeys, and white-tailed deer roam south of Kissimmee at the Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area.
Downtown Orlando
Although Orlando is best known as a place for play, the city’s downtown reflects the area’s vibrant economy. Skyscrapers rise along Lake Eola, the site of a popular Sunday market. West of the Central Business District, the Orlando Magic holds court at the Amway Arena, while the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre hosts major concerts. The Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium is nearby.
Maingate East
Along with Maingate West, this area caters to guests of the Walt Disney World® Resort. Maingate East is popular with families who want to explore Walt Disney World® Resort and other nearby theme parks on International Drive. Area accommodations include traditional hotels and motels, condominiums, and vacation homes. Celebration Golf Club, one of Florida’s best courses, is nearby.
Maingate West
Along with Maingate East, this area caters to guests of the Walt Disney World® Resort. Maingate West lies west of Interstate 4 and directly south of Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Area. Nearby accommodations include hotel resorts, motels, and extended-stay properties. A few residential neighborhoods feature guest villas and condominiums.
North Orlando
Although considered off the beaten for the average tourist, North Orlando is home to several attractions. Orlando Loch Haven Park is the city’s cultural center: its 45 acres include the Orlando Shakespeare Park, the Orlando Museum of Art, the Orlando Science Museum, and the Mennello Museum of American Art. North Orlando is also home to the city’s Antique District and a growing Asian enclave.
Orlando International Airport
Suburban neighborhoods and green spaces hem the Orlando International Airport, directly east of the International Drive tourist thoroughfare. Two large attractions are near the airport’s flight path. The Florida Mall is one of the largest shopping centers in Orlando. Nearby, the Orlando Watersports Complex is designed for wakeboarding, waterskiing, and wakeskating.
Sea World - Convention Center
SeaWorld, a marine mammal park, is part of an international chain. The Orlando park is just off International Drive and features Orca, sea lion, and dolphin shows. Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center is the country’s second-largest in terms of square footage. The convention center boasts a wide array of golf courses suitable for putters of all levels.
Universal Orlando - International Drive North
International Drive's largest claim to fame is the Universal Orlando Resort, home to two theme parks — Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios; the water park, Wet 'n Wild; and the entertainment area, CityWalk. The I-Ride trolley (really a bus) stops frequently along the street. At the north end of International Drive are two shopping meccas: Prime Outlets-Orlando and The Mall at Millenia.
University of Central Florida
Constructed in 1968 as a regional college, the University of Central Florida has grown substantially. The northeast Orlando institution’s 150 brick buildings house nearly 50,000 students. University Boulevard and East Colonial Drive serve as the main commercial drags. Nearby, Little Big Econ State Forest provides a glimpse of old Orlando before human settlement.
Walt Disney World
This area encompasses the bulk of the Walt Disney World® Resort, including futuristic Epcot®, Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, Disney-MGM Studios®, and the Magic Kingdom® Park. In a place rife with photo ops, Cinderella’s storybook castle is among the most photographed. The Disney-branded hotels here cater to economy and luxury budgets.
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