Hi All,
i am from Cairo - Egypt ,i will be visiting Orlando for a week 8th of June till 15th of June .. i would appreciate your advise for best things to do there and if i can pass by recommended near cities/states will be great.
and sure anyone interested to join will be most welcome :)
Thanks
Karim
Karim, more information, please?
How are you planning to get around once you arrive?
What is it you that you enjoy doing?
Honestly, the vast majority of visitors to Orlando go to visit the theme parks (Disney, Universal) and water parks. The theme parks are very expensive, and public transport in Orlando isn't great so without a car, those visitors usually arrange to stay at accommodations which provide transit to the parks.
I do not think you have time to "pass by" other states.
Unless you're only doing the theme parks, a car is pretty necessary.
If you do have a rental car, the Kennedy Space Center has a number of cool tours and is about an hour'd drive away. Cocoa Beach near Kennedy SC is the nearest proper ocean beach to Orlando. In the Orlando suburb of Winter Park, the Morse Museum of American Art has some cool displays of Tiffany glass, and downtown Winter Park is a popular boutique shopping destination for locals. There are a few other nice art museums in the Orlando area as well.
Probably an obligatory stop at one of the outlet malls- ignore any 'X percent off retail' signs or tags when you're considering a purchase (lots of stores have an outlet-only line that's different than what's sold in their 'normal' retail stores) and just buy based on perceived quality and price.
June is getting rather warm to do much hiking in state parks and such. But a walk around campus at Florida Southern College in Lakeland can be interesting if you like Frank Llyod Wright architecture.
The Tampa also has some nice museums and a good aquarium and interesting zoo.
Northeast of Orlando is Deland, which is called the Athens of Florida because of Stetson University, Florida’s oldest private university, this Old Florida town has much to offer. The downtown is lively. The Stetson Mansion is the most popular tourist destination in the Sunshine State according to TripAdvisor. The Lonely Planet Guide to Florida (2009) says this about Deland:
“The quaint, walkable Woodland Blvd...is home to independent shops and restaurants—modern yet through small-town. Ancient oaks lean to hug each other over city streets and Spanish moss dribbles from their branches. This is Old Town Florida, and it feels so cozy.” Just 40 minutes east is the Andy Romano Beachfront Park or Lighthouse Park Beach.
The Stetson Mansion is the most popular tourist destination in the Sunshine State according to TripAdvisor
I've lived in Florida for going on 20 years and never heard of the Stetson Mansion. And I bet that's the case of many Floridians.
I've lived in Florida for going on 20 years and never heard of the Stetson Mansion. And I bet that's the case of many Floridians.
Well, I can't help that. See this:
Seriously, QuiviraTrail2, Stetson Mansion may be a nice place but it can't possibly be the most popular tourist attraction in the Sunshine State. I seriously doubt that it is the most popular 19th century "Winter Residence" in Florida. I've never heard of it either.
OP, Orlando is a long way from any other state unless you fly. Orlando is also a couple hours drive from any of Florida's famous Beaches. Even if you don't leave Orlando, you will want a car. I've been traveling to Orlando since BEFORE there were any theme parks. The "urban sprawl" there today is incredible. By the time you see 2-3 theme parks, the Kennedy Space Center, and find a beach, your week will be gone.
Seriously, QuiviraTrail2, Stetson Mansion may be a nice place but it can't possibly be the most popular tourist attraction in the Sunshine State. I seriously doubt that it is the most popular 19th century "Winter Residence" in Florida. I've never heard of it either.
You must be right. They are hyping it up for some reason.
You'll definitely need a car to get around. If you are really into theme parks, half your week will be already gone.
Night life in Orlando is pretty decent.
If you want more of a chill/hipster vibe check out the bars on Mills50 and Ivanhoe area.
-The Guesthouse
-Will's Pub
-Santiago's Bodega
-The Grape and the Grain
-Ten Ten Brewery
-The Strand
If you want to get shit-faced on the weekend, your best bet is to hit up Wall Street off Orange Ave. You'll be reliving your college days. ( I would suggest you Uber/Lyft if you plan on going hard)
Orlando is central to all the beaches. I prefer the ocean side beaches versus the gulf side. You can travel up and down the A1A and stop by St. Augustine, Marineland, Flagler Beach, and New Symrna to name a few.
Stop by all the donut and coffee shops along the way as well.
St. Pete is about a two hour drive from Orlando and is a good day trip. You can take in the creative scene and rent a kayak and do some water activity or just lay out and work on your tan.
Orlando is also the land of fast food chains, so you can eat to your heart's content without really spending any money.
But if you prefer to drop some $$$ on a good meal, you won't have a problem finding a shortage of them.
Check out the restaurants in Winter Park, which is a neighboring city next to Orlando. 90% of the restaurants on Park Ave are on point.
-Luma
-Prato
-Pannuello's
-Bosphorus
-The Briarpatch
Restaurants that are closer to the theme parks on Sand Lake (Restaurant Row):
-Bar Taco
-Roco's Taco
-Chatham's
-Dragonfly
-Ocean Prime
-too many to name