| Since the weather in Florida is mostly sunny | | | | exciting Florida city. If you've never been to |
| year-round, it is always a fine day to go exploring | | | | Miami, you can take the One Day Miami Tour |
| in the most welcoming town in the nation's | | | | from Orlando and discover the most "upbeat" city |
| sunniest state (sorry, California, you come in | | | | on the East Coast. If you only want to invest half |
| second). Of course, the 800-pound gorilla is Disney | | | | a day, then try Gatorland, voted Orlando's "best |
| World, where you could spend an entire | | | | half-day attraction" in the local papers. The |
| two-week vacation and still not see everything. | | | | self-described "Alligator Capital of the World" is a |
| Yet there is so much more. Why not do a little | | | | huge, 110-acre alligator theme park as well as a |
| wine tasting at the Orlando Food and Wine Fest | | | | working wildlife preserve. |
| that is held every November? There are other | | | | You can also explore the amazing, one of a kind |
| attractions for kids of all ages, including several | | | | Florida Everglades with a Boggy Creek Airboat |
| world-class golf courses for the golfer in the | | | | Ride. A half-hour airboat ride is both educational |
| family. There are plenty of water activities, this | | | | and exciting, for all ages. If it's youngsters you're |
| being Florida, after all, but a great selection of | | | | thinking about, though, try the Fun Spot Action |
| things to do on dry land, too. | | | | Park with its unique elevated go-kart racetrack, |
| Disney World, a triple threat | | | | family and thrill rides, special "toddler" activities and |
| Four Disney theme parks are spread over an | | | | more. The kids will also enjoy the famous Green |
| area about the size of Boston. The Magic | | | | Meadows Petting Farm, an animal education |
| Kingdom is the best place for families with little | | | | disguised as fun, where kids and their parents can |
| kids, while people who try to see all of the | | | | all spend some quality time with a variety of farm |
| Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow | | | | animals. The Farm also features hay rides, pony |
| (EPCOT) will say that the acronym stands for | | | | rides, small-scale train ride and more. |
| Every Person Comes Out Tired. There is a lot to | | | | Additional attractions |
| do there! Rounding out the quartet of parks are | | | | Of course, there are activities for the head in |
| Disney's Hollywood Studios and the Animal | | | | Orlando, too. In addition to various museums and |
| Kingdom. | | | | parks, there is the Haunted Grimm House (slogan: |
| There are two water parks, over a dozen other | | | | "It's a scream!") that offers special effects, dark |
| themed mini-resorts that are fun in themselves | | | | and scary rooms and passages, as well as |
| and much more. Make sure you have a good plan | | | | sudden, unscripted encounters with live actors in |
| figured out beforehand, because entering "the | | | | various guises. Ripley's Believe It or Not! Orlando |
| World" without a map, game plan or time limit is a | | | | Odditorium is a strange, funny-but-interesting |
| sure route to exhaustion. If you wanted to, you | | | | museum that offers interesting, odd and |
| could stay in Disney World for your entire | | | | interactive exhibits based on both science and |
| vacation. Still, there is more than Disney in | | | | legend. |
| Orlando. | | | | WonderWorks is a different kind of amusement |
| Other biggies in town | | | | park. It is definitely one for the mind, and it dares |
| Orlando's other prime time multi-park resort is | | | | you to stretch your imagination as you explore |
| Universal Orlando. There are two different theme | | | | the various interactive exhibits. It is here that you |
| parks. The Islands of Adventure park has a | | | | can experience Orlando's only "upside-down" |
| special "zone" for toddlers and "little kids," while | | | | entertainment attraction. Finally, Train Land |
| the 10-acre Seuss Landing is based on the popular | | | | International is just what "the conductor" ordered |
| Dr. Seuss books and features "The Cat in the | | | | for all of you model train collectors and |
| Hat" ride, the "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue | | | | enthusiasts. Railroad fans both young and old can |
| Fish" ride and more. During the holidays there's a | | | | learn the history of trains, both full- and |
| special "Grinchmas" celebration, too. | | | | small-scale, and examine a fabulous collection of |
| You will also find a fabulous shopping and | | | | miniature models, many still in action after a |
| entertainment zone at Universal Florida, called | | | | century or more. |
| CityWalk, which adjoins the two theme parks. | | | | To sum up, there is so much to do in Orlando |
| The CityWalk area offers shopping, | | | | that you need to plan your visit very carefully. |
| entertainment, the Blue Man Group shows and | | | | Unless you want to stay put in Disney World, you |
| other entertainments. Despite much of CityWalk | | | | will need to do a little planning, map-making and |
| being geared to partiers, kids will also get a kick | | | | scheduling, because there is so much to do you |
| out of the theme restaurants like NASCAR Cafe | | | | can't expect to show up and make sense of the |
| with its auto-related game area, Hard Rock Cafe | | | | myriad choices. Get out a map, hit the Internet, |
| with giant desserts and rare rock-'n'-roll collectibles, | | | | poll the family members and then make plans to |
| and NBA City with both videogames and | | | | visit Orlando, where you can do anything and |
| giant-screen basketball games. | | | | everything under the sun - and under the moon, |
| Lots of great choices | | | | too! |
| There are all kinds of other attractions in this | | | | |