|
Visitor Information
Car Rentals in Orlando
Restaurant Reservations
Southeastern U.S. WebGuides
> Miami
> St. Petersburg
> Boca Raton
> Ft. Lauderdale
Hotel Specials
> Houston Hotels
> Memphis Hotels
> Miami Hotels
> New Orleans Hotels
> Raleigh Hotels
> St. Petersburg Hotels
|
|
|
|
Orlando Attractions
Orlando is a city of eternal sunshine where everything grows – whether it’s sprawling, behemoth vacation spots like Walt Disney World Resort, or the 20-foot gargantuan reptiles at Gatorland. Though most find themselves here with families in tote heading for the obvious, there are plenty of places to go and things to see that aren’t brimming with big crowds and commotion. Take refuge in the wilderness at the Harry P. Leu Gardens or spend the afternoon at the Morse Museum marveling at the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany. Like any other city, downtown Orlando is filled with opportunities to indulge in arts, culture and nightlife – grown-up style – and if you simply must satisfy the urge to mingle with the stars of the city, rest assured you won’t be disappointed.
Harry P. Leu Gardens
1920 N. Forest Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32803; Tel. 407.246.2620
Sweltering heat and golden tans aren’t the only thing that the blazing Florida rays are able to breed. Set on 50 acres, the Harry P. Leu Gardens is the perfect example of what year-round sunshine can do for the outdoor landscape, so long as it’s well tended. A beautiful refuge of flowers and lush foliage, the Lue gardens feature more than a dozen gardens and other green spaces to stroll, relax and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. Walk along the water in the Tropical Stream Garden where fruit trees and brilliant flowers blossom, or become inspired by the Home Demonstration and Urban Patio Gardens where examples of do-it-yourself arrangements are on display. The gardens surround the 19th Century home of Harry P. Leu, a historic mansion that has been converted into a museum. Guided tours of the property are available throughout the day.
Ripley's Believe It or Not Orlando Odditorium
8201 International Drive, Orlando, Florida 32819; Tel. 407.363.4418 or 800.998.4418, ext. 3
If you’ve seen one, you haven’t necessarily seen them all. A member in the family of 27 Ripley’s Believe It or Not museums across the world, the Orlando Odditorium is home to a curious collection of the type of specimens that made Robert Ripley famous during the first half of the 20th Century. And, without a doubt, most of the “artifacts” can’t be found elsewhere. In keeping with its notoriety as a refuge for the world of weird, the museum itself is an oddity that appears to be sinking on one side into the depths of Florida’s marshy soil. Inside, you’ll find a behemoth rendition of Van Gogh’s “Self Portrait in Front of Easel, 1888,” made out of postcards and Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” created out of toast. Enough to keep you wondering, “Who are these people?!” Also on site at the Orlando Odditorium is a three-quarter scale model of a 1907 Silver Ghost Rolls Royce … made out of matchsticks.
The Holy Land Experience
4655 Vineland Road, Orlando, Florida 32811; Tel. 407.367.2065 or 1.866.USA.HOLYLAND
An attraction dedicated to the life of Jesus, The Holy Land Experience is the bizarre marriage between the biblical and the secular, where religious faith meets amusement park fantasy. Spread on 15 acres, The Holy Land Experience includes intricately rendered architecture reminiscent of ancient times, costume-clad actors (who at times break out in song) and a series of theatrical presentations. Inside the Wilderness Tabernacle for instance, a 20-minute multimedia presentation tells the story of priesthood and sacrifice in the land of ancient Israel. Also on site is The Scriptorium: The Center for Biblical Antiquities, where once again, theatrics take center stage and visitors are told the story of the Holy Book through special effects and dramatic detail. Inside the large repository’s collection of antique manuscripts, you can get a glimpse of important historical documents like Gutenberg’s Bible, the Eliot Bible and John Bunyan’s The Pilgrims Progress.
Unviersal Studios Florida
1000 Universal Studios Plaza, Orlando, Florida 32819; Tel. 407.363.8000
Tucked inside a resort-style oasis that includes another theme park as well as hotels and restaurants, Universal Studios Florida is a place where you can literally immerse yourself in the land of film and television. Popular cinema releases such as Men in Black, Back to the Future and Mummy take new form as thrill rides, while simulated natural disasters like tornados and earthquakes recall film favorites like Twister and Earthquake. Young ones will enjoy exploring Nickelodeon Studios;, where they can shake hands with Sponge Bob, or land the lucky chance of participating in a game show (watch out for the slime!). Grown ups will get a kick out of the Blues Brothers revue performance and the tribute to Lucille Ball that features show clips, family videos and other memorabilia. If you want to escape all the action, head over to the nearby Universal Cineplex to catch a first-run film or settle down in one of the many restaurants at Universal CityWalk.
-- Orlando attraction reviews by Joy Howard
|
|
|
