The Finer Side of an Orlando Vacation

Orlando has a finer side, especially when it comes to dining options. This is news to some, as they readily associate Orlando with hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, and other theme park food. But word is getting out that Orlando can whet even the most sophisticated of appetites. Below are just a few of the finer dining experiences that “the city beautiful” has to offer while on your Orlando vacation.

Downtown Disney has a resort called Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa. On the top floor (27th floor), is a corporate venue called 20Seven. One of the main reasons people choose this location for their corporate dinners, is the fact that the various fireworks displays from all of Disney’s parks can be seen from the floor to ceiling windows. Some of the favorite fare is found on their raw seafood bar or at their international cheese stations.

Another restaurant getting lots of attention from fine foodies is Jiko- The Cooking Place. Located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jiko boasts the largest collection of South African wine in North America- 1800 bottles to choose from. It is a AAA 4 Diamond restaurant.

Sand Lake Road in the Dr. Phillips area of Orlando (close to the intersection of International Drive and Sand Lake Road) is affectionately known as Restaurant Row. As this nickname suggests, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from, from casual to fine dining. Morton’s The Steakhouse offers more than just steaks as the name may suggest. They also serve a large selection of fresh seafood. It is a favorite for tourists and locals alike. Another raved about dining experience is the boutique restaurant Vines Grille & Wine Bar. Its chic atmosphere makes for more than just dinner. People say it is a true experience. As the name indicates, they also offer a wide selection of wines. Those are just a couple of the many restaurants to choose from on Restaurant Row.

Next time you think about Orlando, I hope that more than just theme parks and suntans come to mind. Orlando really does have a lot to offer in the way of fine cuisine. Whether you want to try one of the restaurants mentioned here, or search out some on your own, you can find a sophisticated dining experience in one of many locations in Orlando.

Legoland - Another Orlando Vacation Option for Families

Central Florida will soon have another option in theme parks. Legoland is coming! What is Legoland you ask? It takes the concept of one of the most adored children’s toys - Lego’s and makes it into an entire park. That’s right. Soon there will be a whole theme park in Winter Haven, Florida devoted to Lego’s.

You may recall the Lego attraction at Downtown Disney. Well, that’s the general idea, only picture a whole amusement park centered around the theme. There is one such existing park in the United States- in California. There are also a few Legolands in other countries.

This Legoland is going to take over the property formerly used by Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven. Cypress Gardens was home to tens of thousands of plant and flower species. They also held water shows and began adding rides over the past few years in order to attract more visitors. But apparently, their efforts were not enough and the park closed this past September. It will be interesting to see how Merlin Entertainment will redesign the space to house Legoland.

Winter Haven is about an hour’s drive from Orlando, so it’s definitely another possible draw to the Central Florida area while families are on their Orlando vacation. Most children own and like Lego’s, so it’s easy to imagine that families traveling to Orlando to visit Disney, Sea World, or Universal, will make the short trip to Legoland. Many already add Busch Gardens in Tampa to their plans. This just gives one more option.

The park is set to open by late 2011.

Children have a blast at Sea World Orlando

Children love animals and if you have small children (under the age of six), Sea World Orlando is the best theme park you can take your children to when visiting Orlando, Florida. Why is Sea World more appropriate for young children than the other major theme parks? As I mentioned in the opening, children love animals. There is really nothing scary about animals. Children understand the concept of animal. They have seen dogs, cats, birds, and fish, so the sight of a penguin is not much of a jump for the imagination.

Think about a child’s reaction to a seven foot tall mouse, the famous icon of another Orlando theme park. Nothing against the mouse, but a lot of parents are shocked that their small children do not readily accept the giant rodent as a friend. Have you seen the parents that try to force their young children to hug him because it would make a good picture and a good memory for them? What about for the poor little child? Talk about a traumatic experience! A mouse at a pet store is only a few inches in length. It does not walk or talk and it does not wear giant white gloves.

At Sea World, your child will “meet” live animals, which by the way, do not talk. A fish swims. A penguin waddles. Sea world provides a harmless environment for young children to explore and learn about nature and the sea. The shows combine animals and humans in a way that makes sense to a young mind.

Yes, many children love the other theme parks, but if you are unsure and don’t want to take a chance on wasting your vacation money, Sea World is a good place to start. Adults and older children love it, too. There are roller coasters in addition to the shows and animal exhibits. So for families that contain at least one small child, Sea World Orlando is a fantastic park to start with in venturing into the theme parks of Central Florida.

So Much to do on Your Orlando Vacation

There are so many things to do on your Orlando vacation. The area is known for having the world's best theme parks and they alone are enough of a reason to come to the Central Florida area year after year. Park hopping can fill up a vacation by itself. One of the many other fantastic things about Orlando is the shopping!

The locals know this little secret, but not unlike Disney and the other theme parks, most of the people you will encounter enjoying Orlando's outlet malls are foreigners. The discounts are good by anyone's standards, but when your currency is worth two of ours, imagine the savings and the large amounts of goods they scoop up.

Many people who travel to Orlando intent on shopping, bring extra suitcases just to carry home all of their bargains. Those are the serious shoppers- the ones who have been here before. Many others just browse and pick up a few special gifts or souvenirs. But with over a thousand stores to choose from, you can get almost anything in Orlando.

Make sure to bring comfortable shoes because between Orlando Premium Outlets, Prime Outlets, Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores, and hundreds of malls and specialty shops, you will likely walk miles each day. Add those miles to the miles you will walk if you do visit any theme parks, and you could consider your vacation an exercise plan. How’s that for an excellent excuse to take a vacation to Orlando? Save money, lose weight - it’s a win-win!

If you want to stay at quality Lake Buena Vista hotels at discount prices, be sure to search the hotels in the above search box. Lake Buena Vista hotels are just minutes from the Walt Disney World Resort.

Golfing on Your Orlando Vacation

As if you needed another reason to head for a warmer climate from the colder parts of the country, here is yet another- golf! For avid golfers, the long winters of the north can be excruciating waits to get back on the course. You can only go to the indoor driving range so many times before you just “need” to get out there for nine or eighteen holes of the real thing.

That is why winter is such a good time to vacation in Orlando, Florida. There are plenty of public and private golf courses to choose from and they are all open 365 days a year. If you dream of green fairways, you can find them in Orlando and the surrounding areas.

Most hotels and resorts offer golf packages to make it easy for you to plan and enjoy your golf vacation. Call around and ask about all of the options you are interested in. Waiting until you arrive removes some of the motivation from the hotel or resort. While you are still shopping around, they will be more likely to offer you specials and discounts. For example, you may get them to throw in use of a golf cart, club rental, a lesson with a pro, etc.

So, don’t suffer trying to stick it out all winter long. Orlando has lush, open golf courses waiting for you! Have family to bring along? They will be satisfied to let you go play golf while they do the theme park tour. Everyone will be happy with your choice to book an Orlando golf vacation.