| The area surrounding Orlando, Florida is one of the | | | | acrobats, and ten rides. Nearby Gatorland boasts |
| world's hottest tourist destinations, welcoming almost | | | | thousands of alligators and crocodiles, along with |
| 50 million visitors per year. Its literally hot too, with a | | | | many snakes, other reptiles, insects and birds. Visitors |
| subtropical climate - summer temperatures regularly | | | | can get closer to some of the park's residents during |
| reach 90°F (32°C), while even in winter | | | | the regular 'Up Close Encounters' with trainers and |
| they rarely drop below 50°F - and hundreds of | | | | there's even a chance for anyone over 12 - and |
| unique theme parks and tourist destinations, as well | | | | fearless - to have a go at 'gator wrasslin' in the |
| as attractive natural features such as springs, lakes | | | | Trainer for a Day events. And at Blue Spring State |
| and sandy beaches, all contributing to its success. | | | | Park, during the winter there's a chance to see |
| Nearby Lake Buena Vista is home to Walt Disney | | | | Florida manatees in the wild as well as a huge variety |
| World, the most visited resort on Earth. It includes | | | | of birds and other wildlife. Canoeing, swimming and |
| four separate theme parks, two water parks and | | | | scuba diving are popular activities. |
| many hotels and restaurants, with enough rides, slides | | | | There are simply hundreds of other things to do in |
| and other entertainments to occupy children for at | | | | and around Orlando: slightly older children may enjoy |
| least a week - aside from the main rollercoasters and | | | | the Florida Music Festival, a visit to the Cirque de |
| arcades, there are more varied attractions such as | | | | Soleil, the huge Orlando Science Center or the John F. |
| the 'Animal Kingdom' wildlife park, hang gliding, and a | | | | Kennedy Space Center, the working NASA spaceport |
| lagoon where you can snorkel with live sharks! | | | | on Merritt Island where visitors can view flight-ready |
| Another of the area's most popular destinations is | | | | and used space craft and rockets. On a less |
| Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, which | | | | technological note there are stunning sights at the |
| hosts high-speed roller-coasters, rides for younger | | | | World of Orchids and the beautiful Harry P. Leu |
| children, live shows and technological marvels such as | | | | gardens - an oasis in the city with lakes, a butterfly |
| interactive 3D environments, all based around | | | | garden and historical museum. |
| favourite movies, cartoons and stories. Jurassic Park, | | | | Unsurprisingly for such a popular destination, there is |
| Spider-Man, E.T., the Incredible Hulk, Dr. Seuss and | | | | also a huge range of accommodation in Orlando and |
| Jaws are all here, with a new Harry Potter-themed | | | | the surrounding area, from hostels to 5 star hotels |
| area coming soon. | | | | and private villas - in fact, the only place in the |
| Animal-lovers are well catered for in Orlando at the | | | | country with more hotel rooms is Las Vegas. It's also |
| huge 200 acre SeaWorld amusement park which | | | | a fantastic area for shopping, with everything from |
| houses many marine creatures such as orcas, | | | | Tiffany's to the specialist Asian shops and restaurants |
| dolphins, sea lions, sharks, sea turtles and false killer | | | | of 'Little Saigon', and food including traditional Cajun, |
| whales, with shows including water skiing and human | | | | Cuban-style and round the world cuisine. |