| After our interesting visits to the Orange County | | | | and aerospace industry: during World War II |
| Regional History Center and the Well's Built | | | | bomber pilots were trained here. A missile factory |
| Museum of African-American Culture and History, | | | | was built by in 1956 by a forerunner of the |
| we decided to continue our explorations of | | | | Lockheed Martin company, which still serves as |
| downtown Orlando and its surrounding historic | | | | the backbone of the area's technology industry |
| neighbourhoods. After driving through beautiful | | | | today.Tourism became Central Florida's main draw. |
| residential areas, framed by majestic oak trees | | | | From an early entertainment park in 1895, to the |
| adorned by Spanish Moss, we decided to take a | | | | creation of the Cypress Gardens Adventure Park |
| stroll around beautiful Lake Eola, which is just | | | | in 1936, the opening of Walt Disney World Magic |
| minutes from downtown's Heritage Square, home | | | | Kingdom in 1971 really laid the foundations to |
| of the Orange County Regional History Center, | | | | Central Florida's tourism boom. Other Disney |
| and every second, third and fourth Saturday of | | | | attractions followed, including Walt Disney World |
| the month is also home to a lively farmer's | | | | Resort, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studies, and Animal |
| market. By this time, the sun was starting to set | | | | Kingdom. Universal Studios Florida opened in 1990, |
| and Lake Eola and the surrounding highrises were | | | | followed by Islands of Adventure in 1999 and |
| bathed in the golden hues of sunset.Lake Eola is | | | | Universal City Walk, an entertainment |
| one of Orlando's more than 300 lakes and is | | | | complex.Indeed tourism is Central Florida's main |
| surrounded by established residential areas and | | | | industry today, with more than 50 million visitors |
| highrises ringing the downtown core. The park | | | | annually and yearly revenues of $28 bllion. |
| extends over 43 acres (17.2 hectares) and | | | | Tourism combined with high-tech and the citrus |
| provides generous sidewalks around the lake on a | | | | industry are the three dominating economic |
| 0.9 mile (1.4 km) loop around the water, which is | | | | sectors in Central Florida.After our walk around |
| enthusiastically used by walkers and joggers. The | | | | historic Lake Eola we strolled back into downtown |
| lake itself can be explored on paddle boats, and | | | | and grabbed a table on the street patio of |
| other facilities include a playground, a small | | | | "Tijuana Flats", a Mexican restaurant located right |
| outdoor cafe, gondola rides, and the Walt Disney | | | | on Heritage Square, and just one of many diverse |
| Amphiteatre for special events.Lake Eola is | | | | kinds of eating establishments in the downtown |
| intricately connected with Orlando's history. Even | | | | core.While savouring some tasty and very filling |
| the origin of the name Orlando may be connected | | | | Mexican food, we watched the early evening |
| to Lake Eola: the first European settlements in the | | | | street life in Orlando's downtown. We reflected on |
| Orlando area grew around an old army post: Fort | | | | how different the downtown area is in |
| Gatlin. According to one story, a U.S. soldier by | | | | comparison to the newer and very spread out |
| the name of Orlando Reeves, was killed by an | | | | tourist-oriented hotel and resort areas, which |
| American Indian's arrow while on sentinel duty in | | | | often seem rather devoid of character. Here in |
| what is today Lake Eola Park and may have | | | | the downtown area you really get a feel for the |
| given name to this town. Originally, Orlando had | | | | history and the community that started |
| been called Jernigan after a Georgia settler, Aaron | | | | developing in the first half of the 19th century. |
| Jernigan, who settled in the area in 1843. The | | | | The downtown and Lake Eola areas, all of which |
| origin of the town's name Orlando is not certain, | | | | are on an easily walkable scale, have a much |
| however: another popular story claims that a | | | | more authentic ambience to them which we |
| certain Judge Speer named the settlement after | | | | thoroughly enjoyed.For more information about |
| the Shakespeare Character "Orlando" in the play | | | | Orlando contact the Orlando Convention and |
| "As you Like it."Be that as it may, the town was | | | | Visitor Bureau. The Orlando Regional History |
| named "Orlando" in 1857 and was centered | | | | Center can be found at Pacher is the publisher of |
| around the cotton and cattle industry. Demand for | | | | a website called Travel and Transitions ( Travel |
| beef was fuelled by Cuba while cotton plantations | | | | and Transitions deals with unconventional travel |
| thrived until the Civil War, which stole away the | | | | and is chock full of advice, tips, real life travel |
| area's workforce, compounded by a devastating | | | | experiences, interviews with travellers and travel |
| hurricane in 1873. "Orange fever" hit Central | | | | experts, insights and reflections, cross-cultural |
| Florida in the 1870s, aided by the completion of | | | | issues, contests and many other features. You will |
| the South Florida Railroad in 1880.The Great | | | | also find stories about life and the transitions that |
| Freeze of 1894 to 1895 destroyed Florida's citrus | | | | we face as we go through our own personal |
| industry and it took 15 years to recover. Florida's | | | | life-long journeys.Submit your own travel stories in |
| citrus industry peaked in the 1950s with more | | | | our first travel story contest ( and have a chance |
| then 80,000 acres (32,000 hectares) of | | | | to win an amazing adventure cruise on the |
| plantations.Orlando's first airport opened in 1922. | | | | Amazon River."Life is a Journey Explore New |
| Orlando also plays a significant role in the defense | | | | Horizons". |