Orlando

It is a serious business hub, with many corporate headquarters located here. There is some of the most famous tourist attractions in North America located here, besides the world-class golf courses, nearby sports fishing and some of the finest beaches in Florida are less than an hour away.

A Brief History:

The area was no morethan a sparsely populated Indian tribal, before the incorporation as a town in 1875 with originally 4 square miles and incorporated in 1885, as a city.

Throughout the history, the town was known as Jernigan, named after a cattleman that bought the town in 1842 and later, a soldier from the Second Seminole War named Orlando Reeves, (sometimes known as Rees) became a war hero the town was later rumored to be named for.

The city was a cattle town after the war and the Florida citrus era boomed the city onto the forefront from 1875 to 1895.

In the mid-1900's, the entertainment and tourist attractions started moving in, including Walt Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios. While the city has grown to more than 100 square miles and features many things to see and do, there are still some cattle farms and orange groves that exist amongst corporate buildings.

Entertainment and Recreation:

Walt Disney World:

Walt Disney World opened in 1965 and is one of the cities most famous landmarks. It continually adds new attractions almost every year, expanding the size of the park...

It is still considered the trip of a lifetime for most American families and many across the globe. There are shuttle buses that run from major hotels all over Orlando on a daily basis, if you need transportation and you will find many of them if you arrive at the airport.

Sea World:

Sea World remains a world-class attraction and many families will incorporate all of the theme parks into a weeklong vacation. The marine animal theme park is open daily. You can also get passes that offer multiple parks, typically, with Busch Gardens, featuring aquatics shows and gorgeous park with original tropical plants.

Universal Studios/Island of Adventures:

These two amusement parks have something for everybody, although the kids like the fast rides at the Island of Adventure and the rides at Universal Studios are a family affair that is unique and different.

Discovery Cove:

One of the most popular amusement parks, water parks or marine wildlife parks, Discovery Cove is a fairly new water-park attraction that gets raves reviews. The whole family will love the dolphin swim.

Gatorland:

You have to see Gatorland when in town because it is a great chance for kids to get a close up interaction with alligators, which are native to the area and it's a fun place to visit.

Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf:

Don't forget to take the whole family for a golf outing at Pirate's Cove. It was voted the best adventure golf in Florida, so it is definitely worth a trip.

Accommodations:

There are many great hotels, motels, and campgrounds to stay at, in Orlando. Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa or the Marriott Orlando World Center Resort are popular ones, but you will find many accommodations to fit every budget.