Orlando
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Orlando, Florida is known as the “theme park capital of the world,” home to big names like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. The sunny weather draws lots of people year-around, including a fair amount of “snowbirds” and retirees. There are more than 100 lakes within the city, over 60 golf courses nearby, and tons of fun places to learn about the region’s interesting biodiversity.
Travel tip #1: Other than theme parks, Orlando offers a variety of environmentally-focused attractions and adventures. It’s best to partake in these types of activities—airboat rides, zip-lining, hang-gliding, off-roading, kayaking, hiking—in the cooler spring and winter months. Day trips to different cities or natural sightseeing spots are other great alternatives. Saint Augustine (click here for my blog post), Tampa, Daytona Beach, and Gainesville are good places to start, just to name a few!
Places of Interest
Kraft Azalea Garden: Technically in Winter Park, but close to Orlando is this pretty park space that sits on a local lakefront. It’s a nice place to walk around, take photos, and relax. The trees have tons of beautiful Spanish moss hanging down from the branches, adding to the park’s naturally beautiful vibe.
Winter Park Farmers’ Market: Also nearby Orlando in neighboring Winter Park is the weekly farmers’ market. It’s held at the old train depot and is one of the best farmers’ markets in Central Florida. You can catch local vendors selling their goods, sample local produce, and hang out every Saturday from 7:00 am – 1:00 pm.
Showcase of Citrus: If you’re visiting in the winter months, stop by here to pick your own citrus fruits! This family owned farm grows and cultivates over 50 types of citrus, some of which can be sampled in the Old Time Country Store. Highly recommend coming here for a break in the orange groves or to ride monster trucks around the property.
EPCOT: An abbreviation for “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow,” Epcot is dedicated to human achievement, innovation, and culture. Even though there are several rides, this park is more geared for adults than children. I love how the park is divided into different countries, with food and drink from each, as well as people working in those areas of the park from the countries themselves!
Disney Springs: Similar to Downtown Disney outside of Los Angeles (click here for my LA Travel Guide), Disney Springs is a space dedicated to different shops and restaurants. A great place to walk around, grab dinner, and watch a couple performances with over 60 eateries to choose from and lots of regular shows.
Gatorland: I would not have gone here if it wasn’t for my friend’s suggestion as ‘gators aren’t really my thing. However Gatorland has more than baby alligators, mama alligators, and rare white leucistic ‘gators. It’s home to various animals, is a great education center, and offers daily shows. If you have an extra few hours or just want to get rid of an annoying friend by feeding them to some hungry alligators, check-out Gatorland.
Travel tip #2: Walt Disney World Resort is comprised of four separate parks: Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Each hosts different events and festivals throughout the year. If you’re going to Orlando specifically for Disney, plan ahead to ensure you’re getting the best deal on park tickets and accommodation.
Food
Orange juice: The official beverage of the state of Florida, and for a good reason—Florida orange juice is delicious! Although the stuff on the market shelves is okay, try to get some fresh squeezed juice from local farms or at a local market.
Showcase of Citrus: This place is listed above for fruit picking and monster truck rides, amongst other things. However, their Old Time Country Store has a few secrets within, like the samples of local honey, orange slushies, and orange creamsicles. They sell homemade jams, marmalades, sauces, wines, and more.
Fortuna Bakery & Cafe: Desserts, pastries, cakes, and savory options prepared the Colombian way. Fortuna is a local favorite and there is usually a line going out the door in the morning hours! From arepas to Colombian coffee to guava-cheese pastries, this place has some of the best baked goods.
@ The Diner: A solid restaurant for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. Pretty large menu with common items like pancakes, waffles, and sandwiches. They also offer biscuits and gravy, chicken and waffle plates, and other specialities. Fairly priced and really tasty.
Babbi Babbi Korean Kitchen: Loved this place! They serve simple bibimbap bowls and kimbap rolls. The bibimbap can be customized to your liking, with plenty of meat, veggies, and rice options. Each meal comes with complimentary soup and traditional Korean side dishes. A good place for something casual yet tasty with friends or family.
East End Market: A space for artisans and merchants that serve food and drinks throughout the day. There are eleven independently-owned businesses selling items like fresh baked breads, locally roasted coffees, cakes, cookies, organic juices, raw foods, artisan cheeses, plants, and more. Definitely a hip spot to grab a bite with friends.
Publix Subs: Publix is a popular grocery store chain in the southeastern United States. Like a typical grocery store, they sell standard produce, meat, and dairy. Yet their deli section is quite popular. Here you can pick-up some of their fried chicken or have a custom-built sub sandwich made to order. The chicken tender sub was honestly so, so good and I’m mad I don’t have a Publix where I’m from in America!
Travel tip #3: Orlando has a lot of chain restaurants and upscale eateries, yet there are also smaller businesses that locals tend to frequent. Additionally, Orlando has become more diverse over the past years with various types of cuisines being offered throughout the city. Timeout has a nice article on some of the best restaurants there with price ranges included—click here to get an idea on where to eat in the city!
Transportation & Accommodation
Car is by far the easiest way to get around the Orlando area, as it is fairly spread out. Many resorts and hotels offer shuttle service to and from the regional airports (Orlando International and Sanford International), as well as to major tourist destinations and theme parks. It would be best to check with your accommodation provider about such services. If renting car is not possible, ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft are common throughout Orlando.
Booking.com is a great website to use to search for and book accommodation throughout the world, including Orlando. Although I stayed with a friend during my time there, she pointed out the multitude of accommodation options from the highway. There are tons of places to stay, but booking ahead of time during high season (March – April; June – August; December – January) is best. For those who do not prefer hotels and want something unique or more affordable, Airbnb is another good option.
Travel tip #4: Traffic can be terrible in Orlando! School and work commuting coupled with theme park opening and closing times can create lots of people on the roads. To avoid traffic jams, try to plan your day around these peak times.
Climate
Orlando has consistently warm and sunny weather—great if you’re seeking loads of sunshine! Yet, it basically has two seasons: hot and hotter. October through April is warm/ hot and drier than May through September, which sees lots of rain, high temperatures, and humid weather. The best time to visit is between October through December, when the weather is much more mild and pleasant. Even though many people flock to Orlando and the rest of Florida between June and September, it is probably one of the least desirable times to visit. Thunderstorms, high rainfall, high temperatures, bugs, and intense sun create unfavorable conditions for outdoor activities—including visiting theme parks! Hurricanes commonly occur from June until as late as November. It is advised to check the weather during these months and listen for news updates regarding tropical storms.
