So, thinking of planning a vacation to the wonderful sunny setting of Orlando? Well, you’re not alone! Hundreds of thousands of people flock to Orlando for its magnificent beaches, famous attractions, and cultural activities. Indeed, Orlando is an agreeable place for the entire family, but offers those with a nightlife sweet tooth just enough to indulge their wily desires. While your enjoying family outings and night time excursions in Orlando, you should also make a note not to leave until you’ve experienced a taste of the culture.

Once you touch down in Orlando you will be bewildered at what to do first, so you should get your priorities in order. Break your trip into a few separate categories of activities you would like to engage in while on your vacation in Orlando. For instance, family activities, nightlife, and cultural. Orlando offers its tourists plenty of options in the way of these three categories, and you will be pleased to find out just how many choices you have under the umbrella of these categories. Whether you are planning a strictly family outing, a single partying affair, or just want to soak up the grand culture that Orlando has to offer, you will find it all here!

Family Attractions

Going out for the day with the family is a fun way to begin your expedition in the majestic land that is Orlando, Florida! You and your family will be delighted in the various activities that Orlando offers for family vacationers. Of course you are already familiar with the famous attractions that are Disney World, and Universal Studios; but what else is there to offer that isn’t so, well, mainstream? Perhaps something that will cool the exhausting heat of the sun? If cool is what you want, then look no further than Wet N Wild! Wet N Wild is a fabulous water park located at 6200 International Dr. At Wet N Wild you will be able to take on exhilarating rides down long stretches of winding waterfalls, or simply enjoy a calm and relaxing lap around the lazy river. Which will be the personal favorite of mom and dad no doubt! Wet N Wild is a great Orlando attraction that will have you cooling off in no time!

Nightlife

If you are looking to get into a bit of “trouble” in Orlando, then the areas you will want to hit are: downtown Disney, Disney’s Pleasure Island, Universal Studios CityWalk, and downtown Orlando’s Orange Avenue. Here you will find great night life activities such as the House of Blues, Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba, and Comedy Warehouse. Some of the more popular nightclubs include the likes of Bob Marley and the Latin Quarter. You won’t want the sun to rise when you spend your nights at these locations in Orlando!

Culture

If you are looking to take in a bit of culture while you are in Orlando, then you will find that the Kennedy Space Center is a great place to start! At the Kennedy Space Center you will be able to simulate an experience of walking on the moon by use of special IMAX screens. Also, you will be able to meet real life astronauts, view giant rockets, experience the weightlessness of space in a spaceflight simulator, and also witness the launch of a spaceship!

These are just a few of the many attractions that await you on your journey in Orlando! The experience offered in Orlando is one of a kind, so be sure to experience as much as you can and to take it all in while you’re there!

Best Clubs in Orlando’s Downtown Church Street

Club 23: Probably the best club on Church Street with a great selection of hiphop and electronic music.  Club 23 has an upscale atmosphere, excellent DJs, great drinks, full bar, and access to other clubs such as Backroom.  They also have some of the best martinis in downtown Orlando!  Upstairs is the electronic music and downstairs is hiphop. The staff is very professional, yet very wild. Unlike most clubs on Church Street, Club 23 has a $10 cover which also ensures a different type of clientele.  Thursday is ladies night and valet for the entire strip of Church Street is right in front of Club 23. If you want to have a great time and prefer a more sophisticated crowd, then Club 23 is the place to be.

Ember

This bar is gorgeous. I’d say the prettiest bar in downtown Orlando hands down. I was here the day after its opening and several times since and have yet to be disappointed. The inside is larger with a huge rectangular bar in the the center and tables on the outer edges. The whole place has a Tuscan village feel and things really heat up on the fabulous patio. Ember is home to the largest patio downtown. It has various levels and makes you feel as if you are on vacation in a beautiful Spanish resort. There are 3 bars, a large rectangular one in the middle and two on higher levels along the perimeter.

There are plenty of high bar tables and chairs along with ornate decor wrap around railings and columns. The drinks are good and surprisingly not too expensive, I had their signature martini. But I really love the food, this bar has a menu with tons of options and small bites to enjoy along with your drink. We had a BBQ chicken flat bread which was scrumptious and the burger slides which came out super juicy and tender with all the fixins. The only draw back I’ve found with Ember are the bathroom lines, the inside line can take over 20 minutes to get through. That is extreme for what would be considered an upscale club not an outdoor concert. Find the outdoor restrooms, still a line but lesser so. But aside from that Ember is a wonderful edition to downtown Orlando unlike anything we’ve had prior.

There’s a new hot spot in town and it’s no surprise that it’s located in downtown Orlando. Ember, a Mediterranean themed restaurant and bar finally opened last week after a long wait and much anticipation from the locals. It is located where Kate O’Brien’s Irish Pub once stood and caters to a slightly older crowd than most of the other places in the downtown area, late 20s to 40s. A more sophisticated, upscale kind of place, without that snobbish feel though.

While the inside/outside layout is similar to Kate O’Brien’s the building is completely different and way more gorgeous. Spanish tile adorns the walls and floors, leather backed chair fill the bar and seating areas and even the bathrooms are amazingly decked out. The challenge, however, with this place is trying to beat the crowds at the bars and throughout the whole place. It’s not everyday a new bar pops up and when it does, people take full advantage.

Prices are average, starting at $4.50 and going up to $8 or more depending on what you order of course. Not the cheapest, but not as bad as some of the other places around. The sound throughout the place, both inside and outside is impressively even and not overly intense as is the case with most night time hangouts. You can actually hear yourself talk and speak…what a concept!

Overall, this place is pretty cool, but I would wait until the excitement dies down before checking it out.

This bar/restaurant rocks!  I had heard the radio commercials for its opening and had been wondering if they could live up to the hype they were receiving.  And after visiting last night, I can say with surety, that it is a fabulous place with wonderful potential.

The Tuscan and/or Spanish feel of their enormous outdoor patio is extremely well done and very inviting.  With two side bars, and one main bar in the center of this outdoor happy hour playground, they are prepared and content to serve you.  There is also plenty of seating, inside and out, for those just going to fill their bellies.  The warm earth tones and wrought iron gates create a Mediterranean theme that will have you smiling in no time.  The music playing in the background was not too loud but noticeable enough for me to start singing along with the mellow tunes.  And as if it was planned, there was a tantalizing breeze blowing through which increased the magnificent atmosphere we were already enjoying.  It was at that moment that one of my close friends stated what we were all thinking, “this is my new favorite place in Orlando!”

We were only there to enjoy their liquid assets yet they do have a kitchen full of food for their patrons.  Advertised on dandelion colored paper, their menu is fairly simple yet seemed to satiate the many eaters that were scattered throughout.  We watched many flatbread pizzas whiz by as well as quesadillas and chips with hummus.  So it seemed that they weren’t shooting for gourmet cuisine but rather flavorsome meals everyone enjoys.

This downtown hotspot certainly lives up to it’s reputation.  Great location, upscale atmosphere, huge crowd, and surprisingly good drink prices.

The location itself is off of Central and Orange, plenty of nearby parking.  The inside has been remodeled from it’s previous owner and it’s quite beautiful w/ subtle Spanish decor.  One of the most upscale establishments in the downtown area.  The best part would have to be the HUGE outdoor patio which includes an outdoor bar.  Great for some freah air and people watching.

The cover on a Saturday night is $5 (for ladies), not bad at all.  The drinks are good depending on what you order.  I ordered Captain and Cokes for $3.50.   My friend ordered Vodka Cranberrys for $5.50, and another friend ordered an Appletini for $6.50.

I don’t normally go downtown before 11pm, but I would go early for Ember as the place gets packed.  This is definitely my new downtown spot.

When it comes to family vacation destinations, there are none that rival good ole Disney World. Today, the economy has hurt tourism in general and almost all families are suffering from some form of cutbacks and, unfortunately, family vacations usually go high on that list! But while many who would have taken a family trip to Disney World may not be able to do that because of finances, there are just as many out there who are scaling back a more high-priced family vacation and settling for a Disney trip instead. So while taking the family to London may be out of reach, spending a week in Florida is not. The net effect is that the tourism in Orlando is not as slow as would be expected.

Let’s analyze Orlando’s internationally driven tourism for a moment. Many countries, like Brazil for example, have a very strong tourism market that heads to Orlando during school vacations (July, for example, since it is their winter vacation and the weather is typically beautiful in Orlando that time of the year). So while domestic tourism in Orlando may be down, the same is not necessarily true when it comes to international tourism. Also keep in mind that the falling value of the US dollar actually helps international tourism by making it more affordable.

But Orlando tourism is not just limited to Disney World (though it is, by far, the largest attraction). Orlando has become a tourism hub that has been built around all of the traffic that comes for Disney and the options have become virtually limitless over the past few years. Today, you would have to make several trips to Orlando to even begin to scratch the surface when it comes to all of the available destinations.

Some of the most popular ones, aside from Disney attractions, are Gatorland, Wonder Works, Cape Canaveral – Kennedy Space Center, the local nearby beaches – especially Cocoa Beach and many other local attractions such as Sea World, Universal Studios, Wet ‘n Wild, Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf, Fun Spot Action Park, Skull Kingdom, Orange Tree Golf Club, Bill’s Airboat Adventures and many, many more.

The list is virtually endless and, as stated above, you would have to make many, many trips to Orlando to take advantage of them all. So what’s your best approach? Probably one of the best approaches is to create a theme for your vacation. If it is around intimate family time, then choose smaller venue attractions that allow you to spend more quality time with the people you love.

If you’re interested in an “exposure to Disney” theme, your list is pretty much established already. There are enough Disney-related destinations to last you a couple of weeks easily. Or perhaps you want to mix some education in with your family trip with the kids (always a great idea). In this case, smaller venue intriguing destinations such as Gatorland deserve a high spot on your list. The live shows at Gatorland can stimulate a lot of great questions/intrigue and the first-hand observation of live gators is something almost all of the kids love. So pick a theme and enjoy your stay: if there’s one recession-proof thing, it’s Orlando tourism.

Have Fun in White Sandy Beaches around Orlando

If you are planning a vacation, Orlando is a must-see and while you’re there, enjoy the white sandy beaches around the area that are arguably one of the best ones in the world. There are plenty of beautiful white beaches to choose from and it is expected that you will find that all are satisfactory and to your liking.

One of the beaches that is close to Orlando is Clearwater Beach, which is considered one of the most beautiful beaches worldwide. There are many available charters, rental and party boats to choose from and you could watch the dolphins, have fun parasailing, try some fishing or simply go sailing. From Clearwater Beach, there is a string of barrier islands that also have white sand beaches as you move south and these include Saint Pete Beach, Indian Rocks Beach and Sand Key Park.

Much closer to Orlando is Cocoa Beach, which only requires a one-hour drive towards the east. It belongs to Florida’s Space Coast and can be used for several purposes: for a family vacation, leisure travel, a weekend getaway, a business trip or just one day of relaxation. You can go for an eco-tour to see first-hand the different kinds of wild-life in Florida or you can go parasailing or deep sea fishing. You can also have fun playing golf and can enjoy the food in the area through its many restaurants and dining places. Also, you do not want to miss visiting the Kennedy Space Center and look at the space program up-close.

If you are into surfing, you might want to go to the Hobe Sound Public Beach. During good days, long waves are typical for fast surfing. However, during “dangerous” days, only longer surfboards and expert surfers may are allowed to take advantage of this beach.

Much further south is Fort Lauderdale, which has miles and miles of beaches that have waves which are also suitable for surfing. Aside from that, there are countless restaurants, attractions and sandy beaches, making this a popular area for tourists.

If you have a taste for history, you might want to have some fun in the Saint Augustine beaches. There is much culture and history to explore in this area because the beaches are surrounded by some of the oldest European settlements that have been continuously occupied in the United States.

You have plenty of things to do when visiting Orlando, Florida. There are various shopping malls, museums and tourist attractions to choose from. The city is ideal as a vacation destination because of its humid and warm subtropical climate that ranges from dry and mild winters to rainy and hot summers.

The number one tourist attraction is, of course, the Walt Disney World Resort, which has various sections, including Downtown Disney, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot and Magic Kingdom. Cinderella’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom has attracted tourists from all over the world.
SeaWorld Orlando is also a theme park but it focuses on marine animals, various zoological displays and rides. The Key West area displays dolphins, stingrays, alligators, manatees and sea turtles. Shamu’s Happy Hour is hosted by the killer whale mascot known as Shamu and it features a play fortress and various family rides.

Universal Orlando is made up of the Islands of Adventure theme park, CityWalk, and Universal Studios Florida. The Universal Studios theme park features various rides based on movies, such as the Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster, a boat ride based on “Jaws” and attractions such as Twister, Shred 4-D, Terminator 2 and Men in Black.

For those of you who enjoy the arts, there are various museums in Orlando. These include the Mennello Museum of American Art, the Morse Museum of American Art, Orlando Science Center, the Orlando Museum of Art, the Cornell Fine Arts Museum, the Orange County Regional History Center, the Arboretum of the University of Florida and Harry P. Leu Gardens.

You can also enjoy fine dining in Orlando with its many and varied restaurants. These include Todd English’s Bluezoo, that is found at the Walt Disney World Dolphin; the Venetian Room that specializes in gourmet cheeses and fresh seafood at the Caribe Royale; the Boheme restaurant at the Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando; Emeril’s Orlando, which specializes in Creole food at the Universal City Walk Orlando; Roy’s restaurant, which features the Hawaiian fusion cuisine of chef Roy Yamaguchi and Ming Court, which offers Chinese cuisine.

And after an exquisite dinner, you can also enjoy Orlando’s nightlife at its clubs and lounges. The Wall Street Plaza has several bars with each establishment showcasing its own flavor. You could also watch local bands and national Indie acts at the Bosendorfer Lounge at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, the BackBooth and the Lodge. For a hip nightlife experience, you may want to also explore the Beacon in Thornton Park.

There are various kinds of places where you can stay when you visit Orlando, Florida. There are vacation rental homes, hotels and resorts, and bed and breakfast inns. You can choose in which category you would prefer to have your accommodations depending on your tastes and budget.

Vacation Homes & Villas

If you want to a place to stay that has the features of a normal home and much more, you may want to consider vacation rental homes or villas. Almost all of the vacation rental homes in Orlando are individually owned but many have a property management company for administration and maintenance. You can be comfortable in a completely furnished home with a full kitchen, game rooms, private pools and much more. Some of the choices are Global Resort Homes, All Star Vacation Homes, IPG Florida Vacation Homes, Imagine Vacation Homes, Premier Vacation Homes, Magical Memories Villas and Prestigious Villas.

Hotels & Resorts

Of course, the most popular places to stay are hotels and resorts. If you want a place in the Universal Orlando Resort area, your choices are: Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. In the Orlando Airport area are different hotel chains, including Sheraton, Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt. Other hotels include The Fountains, the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort, The Peabody Orlando, Marriott Vacation Club Harbour Lake, Staybridge Suites Orlando International Drive, SheratonVistanaVillages, Rosen Centre Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn Orlando at SeaWorld Internationa lCenter, Grand Beach Resort, Floridas Resort Orlando and Renaissance Orlando Resort at SeaWorld.

Bed and Breakfast

If you want home-style meals and a wholesome and homely atmosphere, you may want to try the bed and breakfast inns in Orlando. These are often private homes with less than 10 bedrooms that are allocated for commercial use. Only breakfast is served but you can enjoy some friendly discussions with fellow travelers who are also staying in the inn.

One such place in Orlando is Perri House Bed and Breakfast, which is located on two acres of a bird sanctuary. It is surrounded by 15 acres of oak trees, pine, fruit trees and grassy fields. An added convenience is that it is only minutes away from Universal Studios, Disney and Sea World.

Another bed and breakfast inn is the Edgewater Hotel that is located close to Orlando in Winter Garden. The hotel was built in 1926 and you can still see the first Otis Elevator in the building. Even though originally a hotel, it is operated as a bed and breakfast and is only 20 to 30 minutes away from famous destinations in Orlando.

What better place to take your family on vacation than the theme park capital of America? Orlando is one of the most kid-friendly places that you can visit, so it is the ideal location for your next family vacation. There are so many fantastic attractions in Florida that cater to families, and which are dedicated to helping your family have a vacation to remember. Here are some of the best things you and your family can do while on vacation in Orlando.

Visit Disney World

Every kid dreams of a visit to Disney World. So why not put a smile on their faces? Disney World contains four different theme parks and is one of America’s most famous holiday attractions.  For families, a trip to Disney World is the ideal vacation. Kids and parents can go on all the famous rides, meet their favourite cartoon characters and experience all the fun and magic of this huge theme park. There will be plenty to tell their friends about when the kids go back to school. For convenience, Disney World also contains over a dozen on-site resorts which are set up to cater to families of all sizes.

Take a Trip to Universal Studios, Florida

Orlando’s Universal Studios is second in size only to Disney World, as the largest attraction in Orlando. There is so much to do here that one day will not be enough! With its amazing shows, movie exhibits and over 25 fun and exciting rides including the new ride “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey”, the entire family will love a trip to Universal Studios.

Take the Family to SeaWorld, Orlando

SeaWorld Orlando receives over 58 million visitors a year. And there are plenty of good reasons why. SeaWorld combines fun rides and rollercoasters with animal attractions. There are plenty of ocean-themed rides such as the flying rollercoaster “Mantra” and the boat ride “Journey to Atlantis.” For families who prefer a bit of a quieter pace, there are also many amazing animal exhibits to check out. Visit the Shark Encounter exhibit and dine with the sharks, feed dolphins at the Dolphin Cove, or visit the cute penguins at the Penguin Encounter.

Check out the Wildlife at Central Florida Zoo

A trip to the Central Florida Zoo will be a real treat for your kids. They will love to get up close and personal with animals such as cheetahs, elephants, leopards, kangaroos and more! For a great family day out, make sure you bring your swimsuits and pay a visit to the Zoo’s Splash Ground. You can also take tours of the zoo, and take a fun ride at the zoo’s Zoom Air Adventure Park.