Orlando Travel Guide: Travel and tourist information, things to do and see in Orlando

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Orlando, Florida was once a small cattle town with no more than 200 inhabitants. Now it is the family entertainment capital of the world and this planet's most popular vacation spot.

It would take several holidays to experience all that this fabulous place has to offer and there is literally something to suit every taste and age group. A hugely popular family holiday destination, this is Florida's entertainment capital, where the theme parks are unsurpassed by anything on earth.

Almost everywhere you go in Orlando, reality takes a back seat and full-blown fantasy is there in its place. Nothing is quite what it seems.

Not recommended for anyone looking for peace, quiet or restrained good taste, Orlando is ideal for thrill-seekers, and those who thrive on plenty of activity and entertainment. The area is extremely well catered for families and couples of all ages.

Orlando is a world-class destination that has so much to do that every member of the group can have fun in their own way. The collection of theme parks including Cypress Gardens, Discovery Cove, SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World are unrivaled anywhere in the world.

Feel the adrenaline rush of indoor skydiving; twisting and turning on a thrilling roller coaster; or soaring over Central Florida in a glider, WWII fighter plane, helicopter or hot-air balloon. Cool off as you splash, spin, turn and twist through one-of-a-kind water rides at the area's water parks and water ski parks. Or, discover the weird and unusual, the historic, and the spectacular at the many unique indoor attractions.

In fact, when you consider the mix of legendary theme parks, magnificent museums, world-class entertainment and blockbuster rides and attractions, it would take more than 65 eight-hour days to visit all of the entertaining offerings in Orlando.

Although Walt Disney's wonders do dominate the area - and have done for the past 30 years - Universal Orlando's two upgraded parks come in a close second in terms of attractions.

And there are countless other locations, including Busch Gardens, Wet 'n Wild, SeaWorld and the nearby Kennedy Space Center all vying to offer visitors a fantastic day out.

Everything in Orlando is on a massive scale, and that includes visitor numbers: over 13 million to the region each year, filling the 80,000 plus hotel rooms and eating in the city's 3,000 restaurants.

Walt Disney World alone covers an area of around 47 square miles and most visitors, even if they spend two weeks in Orlando, will only manage to see a fraction of the attractions on offer.

You can swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove, have a splashing good time at Water Mania water park, or give your credit card a bashing at one of the many discount shopping outlets.

Eating out can also be an adventure: you can book dinner at Medieval Times, a replica 11th century castle, where you'll enjoy a hearty feast while knights battle it out for a fair maiden's hand, or sample the Eastern delights of the Arabian Nights dining experience. Eating out is all part of the American Experience and Orlando has more of its fair share of every type of eatery from fast food to feasts, from southern specialties to ethnic restaurants.

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Population: 295.734.100
Languages: English 82%, Spanish 11% (2000)
Currency: US dollar
Currency code: USD
Local Times:
U.S.A. - District of Columbia - Washington DC

U.S.A. - Florida - Orlando

U.S.A. - California - San Francisco

U.S.A. - New York - New York

U.S.A. - Nevada - Las Vegas

Country Dialling Code: +1
Voltage: 120V 60Hz
Electrical plugs:
2 parallel flat prongs

2 Parallel flat prongs with an earth connector

The USA is home to several of the world's most exciting cities, some truly mind-blowing landscapes, a strong sense of regionalism, a trenchant mythology, more history than the country gives itself credit for and, arguably, some of the most approachable natives in the world.

America was 'discovered' by Columbus in 1492 and for 500 years people have travelled here seeking a better life in the 'land of opportunity'. The land was fought over by colonial powers for centuries and finally won its independence from Britain in 1783. Despite the near annihilation of the Native American population, one of the bloodiest civil wars the world had seen, and racism (Native Americans were not granted citizenship until 1924 and racial segregation was the norm until as late as the 1950s), the American people have succeeded in forging one of the worlds most united, democratic and tolerant nations, a fascinating melting-pot of cultures, and the undisputed military and economic heavyweight of the world.

The country is made up of 48 contiguous states of the continental USA, plus the huge state of Alaska, northwest of Canada, and the volcanic islands of Hawaii, 2,000 miles (3,219km) out into the Pacific. There are also the US territories, which include Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Midway Islands and US Virgin Islands. Tourism is focused mainly in the great cities such as New York and Washington, as well as sunshine states such as Florida, California and Hawaii. However the mind-blowing landscapes, found in the wealth of magnificent National Parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Adirondacks, as well as spectacular sights like the Grand Canyon and the Rocky Mountains, are what make the USA so unique. With all this on their doorstep, it's easy to understand why a significant proportion of Americans have never bothered getting a passport.

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