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Orlando

The city of Orlando is in central Florida, in Orange County, USA.

The city is best known for the many tourist attractions, particularly the Walt Disney World Resort, located in Lake Buena Vista. Universal Orlando Resort and Seaworld are also notable attractions that delight and entertain children of all ages.

The region has over 50 million visitors each year, and has the second largest number of hotel rooms in the country.

Golfers are not forgotten either, as Orlando boasts over 150 courses, which are aimed at all levels of experience.

Orlando has been a popular resort since World War I, but it came into it's own when Walt Disney announced plans to build a theme park back in the 1960's. The world famous Walt Disney World was opened in 1971 and Orlando's tourist trade exploded. The Orlando International Airport was built in 1970 and visitors from all over the world started to arrive on mass. Various other theme parks began to appear all around Orlando, and it soon became one of the worlds best holiday destinations. The Epcot centre opened in 1982, the Disney-MGM Studios opened in 1989, Universal Studios in 1990, and Disney's Animal Kingdom opened in 1998.

Orlando has a warm humid, subtropical climate, and the seasons seem to be split into two. The rainy season starts from May and carries on through to October. November brings cooler temperatures, but less rainfall, and this carries on until March. During the summer months the average daily temperature is in the 90's, and occasionally thunderstorms occur. The average daytime temperature during the winter months is 72 degrees and Orlando rarely has any snowfall.

But, Orlando is not all about theme parks and Mickey Mouse costumes, it also offers tourists the chance to sit back and relax. Within easy reach there are over half a dozen state parks, giving you the chance to escape the concrete jungle, which is a necessity if you are staying for more than 3 days! Discover the sand pine woods of Ocala National Forest, or follow the Florida National Scenic Trail. There are over 300 lakes, numerous ponds and springs in the vicinity, and many species of wildlife can be seen. Bass-fishing, boating and water sports can all be enjoyed. Escape the hustle and bustle of the city with a boat trip on the Lake Tohopekaiga, in Kissimee.

Top attractions around Orlando include:

The World of Orchids - A half-acre greenhouse crammed with the worlds largest indoor collection of orchids.

Bok Tower Gardens - Woodland gardens, dating back to the 1920's, incorporating a tower, which is perched on top of Iron Mountain, Orlando's highest point. The gardens contain thousands of Azaleas, camellias and magnolias, along with oak trees, palms and pines.

Discovery Cove - Swim with dolphins and laze on the glorious purpose built inland beach. Discovery Cove opened its doors in the year 2000, and is quite exclusive, tickets can only be booked in advance, and visitors are limited to 1,000 guests per day. The all-inclusive ticket includes a personal guide, unlimited access to swimming and snorkelling areas, the use of all water sport equipment and a freshly prepared meal.

Kennedy Space Centre - The Kennedy Space Centre saw the historic launch of Apollo 11 back in 1969 and has been a top tourist attraction ever since. Visitors can discover the history of the US space programme, watch films and take a tour of the massive NASA space complex.

Shoppers will not be disappointed with Orlando. There are over 250 speciality shops, chic boutiques and massive department stores. The Mall at Millenia is Orlando's latest shopping extravaganza, and has over 150 well known branded shops. If you are looking for fun stuff or souvenirs, try the Marketplace in Downtown Disney. It's a fun place to shop and offers the biggest collection of Disney paraphernalia in the world.

There's plenty to do in the evenings too. Live music blasts out from sports bars, discos and nightclubs. Treat yourself to a dinner show, many have themed nights such as Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede or you could enjoy a medieval night and watch knights in shining armour partake in jousting and sword fights.

Whatever you decide to do on your holiday in Orlando, remember that it can't all be done in a fortnight. The place is far too big. Make an agenda of the things that you most want to see and do before you go. Many days can be lost wandering through Mickey Mouse land, so take time out to enjoy the real Orlando. Car hire is a must, even if its just to escape the hordes of crowds at the theme parks. Many holidaymakers opt for fly-drive packages to Orlando.