Florida's central city Orlando is the world's theme park capital. Live oak trees line the picturesque brick-lined streets that surround the city's central landmark, Lake Aeola . The history of the city dates back to the early 1800s, when it was part of a military outpost. Today Orlando is a modern and dynamic city with a constant influx of tourists who come here to enjoy the parks, attractions and warm weather.
Orlando climate
Central Florida has a humid subtopical climate with the rainy season from May to October, so you will definitely need an umbrella at this time of year. The rest of the year is a dry season with a lot of sunny days. Temperatures in the region are moderate all year round, with the least comfortable summers due to high temperatures and humidity. The hottest months: July and August - 33 ° C, the coldest - January: 10 ° C.
The wettest month is June: During this time, there are tropical storms caused by the Atlantic hurricane season, which often bring wet and windy weather. Hurricane season runs from June to November in much of Florida, which can unexpectedly interfere with travel plans during the busy summer and fall tourist months.
Top 5 reasons to visit Orlando
Walt Disney world
The Walt Disney World amusement park was opened in 1971: America's number one amusement park receives about 20 million visitors annually. It is divided into four separate entertainment areas:
- Magic kingdom
- Animal kingdom
- Epcot
- Disney Hollywood Studios.
If you love rides, shows and world cuisine, then there is nothing better.
Universal orlando
Universal Orlando is the place to go for moviegoers. From Harry Potter and The Simpsons to Despicable Me and Transformers, there are attractions for every taste.
Golf
Its convenient location and excellent climate have made Orlando one of the world's golf centers. Book time to play Mystic Dunes, Lake Nona and Celebration - all championship courses.
Nature
Orlando is a great place to explore the natural world. You can watch exciting sea shows at SeaWorld Florida featuring killer whales, dolphins, alligators in Gatorland or the endangered panthers of Forever Florida .
Orlando landmarks
- SeaWorld Orlando introduces a world of mysterious, exciting ocean life. The Marine Zoological Park, with themed attractions, exciting shows and a variety of wildlife, SeaWorld offers an educational, unforgettable day for the whole family. Dine with sharks, dance with penguins, enjoy the pleasures of the natural world. Swim with dolphins in nearby Discovery Bay, and Aquatica Water Park is an endless maze of water slides.
- LEGOLAND Florida - LEGO building blocks are loved by children all over the world. Offering millions of possibilities, this unique toy inspires epic creativity. Innovation is the theme behind this family theme park. Built near beautiful botanical gardens, the park is filled with rides, intricate Lego sculptures, and practical building areas. Kids' favorite characters come to life at every turn under the gorgeous Florida sun.
- Orlando Science Center is a hands-on museum. Visitors of all ages are invited to explore the wonders of engineering, the geological layers of the Earth, space beyond the atmosphere, the existence of dinosaurs, and more.
- The Wycliffe Discovery Center is an interactive hub for guests of all ages. Whether you are 5 or 75 years old, you will love to learn about people, languages, cultures around the world. Take a guided tour and listen to amazing stories of how lives change when God's Word becomes available to those in need, and learn how you can become a part of what God is doing around the world through Bible translation.
- The Orlando Shakes Theater in collaboration with UCF (Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Inc.) produces classical, contemporary, children's plays. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Jim Helsinger and Managing Director Douglas Love-Ramos, Orlando Shakes has grown into one of the region's most renowned professional theaters, gaining national recognition.
Food in Orlando
Orlando and the major amusement parks are fantastic places to sample food from all over the world. For example, only Walt Disney World has French, Moroccan, British, Italian, Cajun, Indian, Japanese, Hawaiian restaurants (among many others). If you are looking to organize a world culinary tour, you will never have a better opportunity!
Orlando's restaurants look like a map of the world, with several new ones being opened every year. Jaleo recently opened in Disney Springs (with authentic Spanish tapas, paella and sangria), City Works Eatery, Pour House (also in Disney Springs, with 80 draft beers), Lotus Asia House serving Pan-Asian cuisine. Inspired by street food, Pointe Orlando is the second place to sample authentic Cuban cuisine from the popular Black Bean Deli .
After sunset, Orlando's vibrant nightlife comes alive, from trendy bars, energetic dance clubs to laid-back pubs and multi-venue entertainment venues. Mango's Tropical Café offers exciting live performances, dancing, world-famous cocktails in a vibrant Miami-style club. The Forbidden Lounge in Morimoto Asia is also open until late, where you can order Pan-Asian bar dishes, cocktails. Inspired by Roman Aperitivo bars, Enzo's Hideaway serves Prohibition-era cocktails.
Top dishes to try in Orlando
- Ribs at Morimoto Asia is the dining place that Disney Springs desperately needed and deserved: the menu is full of great food that the public will love, including ribs. After stewing for several hours, the pork ribs are sprinkled with cornstarch, fried and glazed with a mixture of hoisin, a sweet chili sauce.
- Hot Chicken in Nashville at Cask & Larder is a southern-style version prepared by celebrity chefs James and Julie Petrakis. They use the classic ingredients of Nashville's staple - a dark red sauce with equal parts sweet, hot, spicy - but add chopped pickles.
- Butter chicken tacos at Pig Floyd's . There are very few people at this lively, world-renowned BBQ bar at Mills 50, but the butter chicken tacos shouldn't be missed. Pieces of spicy chicken are seasoned in a warm flatbread, topped with fried pumpkin seeds, tikka masala sauce, Greek yogurt and jalapeno slices. Each bite is filled with contrasting textures and aromas that make it truly unique.
- Red snapper prepared by chef Dominic Rice is accompanied by zucchini noodles. Fillets of local fish are sprinkled with breadcrumbs and baked in a wood-burning oven. The popular Restaurant Row has no shortage of good food from chef Dominic Rice.
- The lamb ribs at Osprey Tavern , which opened last year in Baldwin Park, are popular with locals. Designed by Chef Joseph Burnett, the menu draws inspiration from almost everywhere. For example, his lamb ribs are dark, crispy and aromatic, grated with a mixture of Middle Eastern spices. A generous portion of honey and cooling yoghurt add to the richness of the meat.
Accommodation in Orlando
With over 450 hotels, over 120,000 rooms, including 35 AAA Four Diamond award winners, Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star, Orlando offers more accommodation options than almost any place in the world. Accommodation options range from luxury resorts, themed hotels with family suites to charming bed and breakfast, economy hotels, motels, campgrounds.
Transport in Orlando
Getting to Orlando is quick and easy, especially if you are arriving by air. The main gateway, Orlando International Airport (MCO) is JD Power & Associates' # 1 mega-airport in the southeastern United States in terms of customer satisfaction.
Electric car rental
- Get behind the wheel of America's transport future - rent an electric car from Orlando Enterprise Rent-A-Car or other providers. With a well-developed support infrastructure, Orlando is an ideal place to drive electric vehicles. Drive Electric Orlando is a pioneering partnership between car rental agencies, hotels, Orlando attractions including Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando. They work together to offer travelers an exciting eco-friendly vehicle experience during their visit to Orlando. Orlando boasts numerous charging stations, and all major tourist attractions and business districts are within the reach of modern electric vehicles.
- I-Ride Trolley runs on and around International Drive and costs no more than $ 2 per ride.
- LYMMO is a free circulator that provides residents, employees, visitors to downtown Orlando with fast, convenient access to restaurants, shops, entertainment, offices. LYMMO operates on four different routes on partially dedicated bands with signal transit priority. Eight all-electric buses will enter service in 2020.
- SunRail provides Central Florida with commuter services Monday through Friday from Volusia County to Poinchiana in Osceola County. Launched in May 2014, SunRail currently has 16 stations. SunRails are ADA compliant and suitable for cyclists. They have toilets, sockets, free Wi-Fi.
- Amtrak - the station was designed by architect M.A. Griffith and built for the Atlantic Coast Railroad in 1926. In 2014-2015, serious restoration work was carried out at the station, including the restoration of the historical facade, double domes, repair of doors, windows, tiled roofs, repainting, construction of new sidewalks, landscaping, irrigation.
- The pilot bike rental program is another way the city is promoting viable, healthy, sustainable transport alternatives.
- Brightline is an All Aboard Florida intercity express train that runs between Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
Mobile communications in Orlando
Top 4 mobile operators in Orlando in terms of coverage:
- AT&T
- Verizon
- T-Mobile
- Sprint.
Check out more information about universities in Orlando or private schools in Orlando.
