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While Orlando is best known for it world-famous tourist
attractions, those of us who live here realize that this is a
uniquely “livable” community. Distinctive brick streets and
tree lined neighborhoods; year-round outdoor recreation; proximity
to beaches, lakes, springs, parks and trails; professional sports
franchises; thriving arts community that ranges from Shakespeare to
Film to Fringe Festivals; world-class shopping; a vibrant and
eclectic club scene. All contribute to the kind of environment that
offers something for everyone.
Allow us to show you Orlando through our eyes.
YEAR-ROUND SPORTS &
RECREATION
The region’s mild climate makes outdoor recreational pursuits a
year round lifestyle choice in Metro Orlando. This is one reason
that more professional golfers live here than in any other city in
the United States, including legend Arnold Palmer. But, there are
plenty of sports and recreation options for amateur sports
enthusiasts and spectators as well.
- The region is home to more than 100 top-rated golf courses,
which are available for play 365 days a year. The annual Arnold Palmer
Invitational and Tavistock Cup are just a couple of the major
tournaments that attract top players to Central Florida.
- The NBA’s Orlando Magic play on their home court in the Amway Arena
in downtown Orlando, as do the Orlando Titans, the newest professional sports
franchise - lacrosse - to make its way to the area. The Orlando
Magic’s corporate home is based at Orlando’s RDV
Sportsplex, a sprawling sports and entertainment destination
that houses a fitness club, ice skating rink, tennis courts, salon
and spa, retail and restaurants, corporate event facilities, and is
adjacent to a Florida Hospital therapy and medical complex.
- The region’s park network is extensive and well maintained,
providing space for activities ranging from youth to adult
recreational sports programs to corporate picnics and family
reunions. A growing number of hiking and bike trails also dot the
region; providing safe, traffic-free expanses for weekend exercise
as well as for athletes in training.
- Orlando Speedworld is Central Florida's most active
stock car racing speedway. And, nearby Daytona Beach is home to the
world-famous NASCAR and Daytona 500, as well as to the annual Bike
Week gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts.
- The Atlanta Braves, of MLB fame, host their spring training at
the state-of-the-art Disney Wide World of Sports Complex. That
unparalleled sports mecca is also home to hundreds of other annual
sports competitions, ranging from youth soccer to professional
fastpitch softball and the annual Disney Marathon.
- Lake County is home to the National Training Center, a facility where
local residents, national and international athletes of all levels
gather to train and build strength. The USA Triathalon Team and
United Kingdom Olympic Track Team are among those who have taken
advantage of this stellar resource.
ARTS OFFERINGS
The creative talent that make their home in metro Orlando
contribute substantially to an arts community that is substantial
for the size of the region. Orlando is home to a professional
orchestra and ballet, a Broadway Series, several top-rated annual
film festivals, an outstanding art museum, and the world’s largest
collection of Tiffany Glass. And there is more on the
way. The world-class Dr. P. Phillips Performing Arts Center
is slated for construction in downtown Orlando, with groundbreaking
scheduled as early as this year.
Local highlights include the following:
- The artistic director of the Orlando Ballet,
Robert Hill, is internationally renowned.
- Orlando is home to one of the top orchestras in the
state.
- The Morse
Museum is internationally known for its Tiffany Glass
collection.
- The City of Orlando’s Public Arts division curates
three galleries, all of which are free to the general public. Two
of the galleries are located in Orlando’s City Hall; the third is
housed within the historic Harry P. Leu Gardens Garden Home.
- The Florida
Film Festival in Orlando has been ranked among the top 10
festivals in the world by The Ultimate Film Festival Survival
Guide, 2nd Edition.
- The Zora Neale Hurston Festival is an internationally
known celebration of the cultural contributions that
Africa-descended people have made to the United States and to world
culture.
- The Orlando
Museum of Art boasts a renowned permanent collection and has
played host to many world-famous traveling exhibits, including
American glass artist Dale Chihuly, China’s Ming Dynasty
Collection, and American folk painter Grandma Moses.
- Adding to the rich community fabric of Orlando cultural arts is
the Orlando Broadway Series, Orlando Shakespeare
Theater in Partnership with UCF and the Festival of
Orchestras.
- The Orlando Fringe Festival is a well-known, off-beat
cultural event.
- Home to exciting, hands-on exhibits, amazing giant-screen
movies and engaging live programming, Orlando Science Center is a place where
visitors can explore and discover science and technology
together.
JUST A FEW … ORLANDO HOT
SPOTS
Don’t worry, this is not a town that rolls up the sidewalks when
the sun goes down. There's too much to do here. Here
are some of top spots to see and be seen.
- Blue Martini: Popular daily happy hour from 4
to 8. Hospitality Blue Mondays, Tequila Tuesdays, Ladies Night
Wednesday, Latin Thursday, Orlando’s Best Happy Hour Friday,
Ultimate 80’s Party Saturday, Sunday Funday. The Mall at
Millenia
- Café Tu Tu Tango: All-appetizer,
multi-cultural eatery resembling a wild artist's loft in Barcelona,
Spain, where a party is always in progress. International
Drive, Orlando
- Carlos’ and Charlie‘s: The one and only!
Combines festive entertainment with traditional foods to create an
authentic Mexican experience. Promenade Avenue, Lake
Mary
- The Dessert Lady: Stylishly elegant 80-seat
eatery, located in downtown’s historic Church Street Station,
offers an extensive wine list, lite bites and famous desserts.
Church Street, Downtown Orlando
- Hamburger Mary’s Bar & Grille: A bar and
grille for open-minded people, where guests enjoy a flamboyant
dining experience. Everyone is welcome. The ONLY national franchise
actively marketing to the gay community. Church Street,
Downtown Orlando
- Howl at the Moon Orlando: Home to the World’s
Greatest Rock ‘N’ Roll Dueling Piano Show. International Drive,
Orlando
- ICEBAR Orlando: First of its kind in North
America. Ice laden locale carved from 50 tons of ice. It’s 27
degrees inside, so bring your coat. International Drive,
Orlando
- Parliament House: Premiere all-gay resort in
the Southeast, known throughout the world. 130 hotel rooms on
beautiful Rock Lake near downtown Orlando. Featuring the best
female impersonation shows in the South; six clubs and bars and a
full-service restaurant. Orange Blossom Trail,
Orlando
- Urban Flats Downtown: Wine Down Wednesday:
Variety of wines from a select source are available for unlimited
tastings. Buffet features flat breads, dips, pasta salad, pizza and
chocolate fondue. Orange Avenue, Orlando
- Wall Street Plaza: Eight unique bars and
restaurants line a street in the heart of Downtown Orlando. Patio,
balcony and private seating. Legendary weekend block parties
feature live entertainment. Wall and Court Streets
- The Wine Room: Sample from nearly 150 wines
sold by the ounce through high-tech Enomatic dispensing machines.
Park Avenue, Winter Park
- A Few Other Local Favorites: Antigua •
BackBooth • Bar BQ Bar • Club Firestone • Corona Cigar Bar •
Crooked Bayou • Dandelion Communitae • Downtown Disney • Dragon
Room • The Drunken Monkey • Eola Wine Company • Finnhenry’s Pub •
Independent Bar • Latitudes • Lizzy McCormacks Irish Pub • The
Loaded Hog • Makos • The Matador • One Eyed Jacks • Pine Street Bar
and Grill • Pulse r Sky 60 • The Social • Stardust Lounge •
Tanquerays • Universal CityWalk • Wall St. Plaza • Wyldes
SOME OF OUR BEST …
SHOPPING
If shopping’s your thing, you’ll find some of the best here in
Orlando. From designer collections by Tiffany and Jimmy Choo, to
designer bargains at outlet prices.
- The Mall at Millenia: Orlando’s premiere place
to shop includes stores such as Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales,
Apple, Urban Outfitters, Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Jimmy Choo,
Coach and many more! Conroy Rd, Orlando
- Park Avenue @ Winter Park: Ten quaint city
blocks filled with some of Central Florida’s best shopping. Find
everything from high-end footwear and designer lingerie, to fine
wines and pooch-friendly pastries. Park Avenue, Winter
Park
- Cida’s Consignment: Consignment shop located
on the oh-so-ritzy Park Avenue. Cida's boasts "gently worn"
top-of-the-line gowns and accessories at a fraction of retail
prices. Park Avenue, Winter Park
- Orlando Premium Outlets: Impressive savings at
over 150 outlet stores, including: Ann Taylor, Barneys New York,
Burberry, Coach, Diesel, Fendi, Gap, Giorgio Armani, Kenneth Cole,
Lacoste, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Salvatore Ferragamo, Theory,
Tommy Hilfiger. International Drive, Orlando
- Prime Outlets Orlando: A frugal fashionista’s
dream at 175 luxury brand-name outlet stores including Saks Fifth
Avenue OFF 5TH, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Victoria’s Secret
Outlet, and the first and only outlet for both
Baccarat/Lalique and 7 for All Mankind. Also, Orlando's only outlet
with sit-down restaurants and a spa. International Drive,
Orlando
- Florida Mall: You'll find more of what you're
looking for at Central Florida's largest mall; with over 260 stores
there's something for everyone, including Saks Fifth Avenue and
Nordstroms. South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando
- IKEA: Plan for a full day of shopping! With a
supervised children's play area, a 300 seat restaurant serving
Swedish specialties along with American favorites, and 309,000
square feet of shopping showcasing over 10,000 exclusively designed
items in a maze of mini showrooms. Mall at Millenia Mall,
Orlando
FEATURE FLICKS
Like nothing more than a great movie night? We’ve got you
covered. Local offerings range from foreign flicks to film
premieres to movies on the park lawn.
- Popcorn Flicks: Shown in the
park. Park Avenue, Winter Park
- Movies on the Plaza @ UCF: University of
Central Florida Arena
- Enzian Theater: Home to the renowned Florida
Film Festival. Central Florida's only full-time, nonprofit
alternative cinema, serving the community for 23 years. Enzian
annually produces six film festivals, a Cult Classics series, meet
the filmmaker events, and much more. Restaurant and bar. South
Orlando Avenue, Maitland
- Plaza Cinema Café: Just opened! Downtown
Orlando’s first movie theater in several decades plays feature
films and offers two bars with a wide beverage selection and
American-style menu. Orange Avenue, Orlando
- Movies in the Park: Family movies in Lake
Mary. Central Park, Lake Mary City Hall
- Garden Theatre in Winter Garden: Exciting
entertainment, enlightening cultural experiences and engaging
educational programs in a historic setting. West Plant Street,
Winter Garden
ANNUAL & ONGOING EVENTS
You won’t ever run out of things to do in Orlando. There are
college bowl games in January, Symphony Under the Stars in
February, Major League Baseball in March… the list goes on and
on. Here are a few examples:
- Atlanta Braves' Spring Training: Disney’s
Wide World of Sports
- Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill:
Premiere event on the PGA Tour. Bay Hill Club &
Lodge
- Tavistock Cup: Officially sanctioned PGA Tour
event pits cross town rivals, Team Lake Nona vs. Team Isleworth.
Travels between Lake Nona Country Club and Isleworth County
Club
- Cirque du Soleil's LaNouba: Avant-garde blend
of circus art and theater. Downtown Disney
- Downtown Orlando Farmer’s Market: Every
Saturday. In addition to the traditional vegetables, crafts and
plants, features an outdoor restaurant, live music and wine &
beer garden. Dog friendly! Lake Eola, Downtown
Orlando
- Mad Cow Theater: Theatre that celebrates the
human condition through art. Downtown Orlando
- Silver Spurs Rodeo: Largest rodeo east of the
Mississippi; ranked among top 50 sanctioned events. Silver
Spurs Arena, Kissimmee
- Halloween Horror Nights: Theme park transforms
into a nightmarish labyrinth of haunted houses, live shows, and
“scare zones” roamed by an army of mutuants, monsters and maniacs.
Universal Studios Florida
- Arabian Nights Dinner Show: Features over 60
of the world's most beautiful horses combined with special effects
and incredible stunts. Arabian Nights Dinner
Theatre
- Harry P. Leu Gardens: Miles of paved walkways
through garden settings and the 1800’s Leu House Museum. Harry
P. Leu Gardens
- Discovery Cove at SeaWorld: Swim with
dolphins, wade with rays, snorkel with thousands of exotic fish.
SeaWorld Orlando
- Sak Comedy Lab: Nightly shows at 200 seat
improv comedy theater. Downtown Orlando
- Orlando Science Center: Largest refractor
telescope in Florida. Princeton Street, Orlando
- Ripleys Believe It or Not: Museum of the odd,
the unusual, the unbelievable. International Drive,
Orlando
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