Orlando, Florida Attractions

This is where you can go under the sea and get fully immersed in family-oriented learning and fun. Take in live animal shows, see wildlife in natural habitats and meet Shamu, too.

At this homage to Hollywood, visitors are transported into the make-believe world of TV and movies at two amazing parks - Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventures. For dining and nightlife, stroll along the CityWalk, party in the Latin Quarter or catch a performance of the famed Blue Man Group.

At NASA's launch headquarters on Cape Canaveral, visitors delight in seeing giant rockets, touring launch areas, training in spaceflight simulators and even witnessing a live shuttle launch. Check out the Lunch With an Astronaut program, which gives you personal insight into actual space travelers.

To much of the world, Disney is American entertainment. The first outpost of the iconic theme-park empire actually comprises four parks, including the Magic Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom and the futuristic EPCOT. Downtown Disney offers dining and nightlife options that include Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba show, while the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is its own upscale destination.

This is a historical landmark in Cocoa Beach, stretching 840 feet over the Atlantic Ocean, and features a wide array of restaurants, boutiques, and gift shops. Fishing is allowed on the pier, and rentals are available.

A 32-acre regional beach park, Lori Wilson Park is a maritime hammock and a site for special events. A 1,000-foot boardwalk features three pavilions, restrooms, concessions and outdoor showers, but the real beauty of the park is reflected in its dunes and maritime hammock and its 3,000-foot interpretive boardwalk.

The Daytona International Speedway is the home of "The Great American Race" - the Daytona 500. This race is the biggest, richest and most prestigious race in America and annually kicks off the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Although the Daytona 500 garners most of the attention, the enormous 480-acre motorsports complex boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe earning it the title of "World Center of Racing."

This four acre park features an interactive water fountain, decorative walkways, a shaded children's playground, volleyball courts, picnic areas, outdoor showers, two beach access ramps, and a Coca-Cola sponsored "cool zone."

It's on the doorstep of the Atlantic Ocean. It's in the heart of the "new" Daytona Beach. It's a multi-use facility that hosts conventions, tradeshows, concerts, banquets, family entertainment shows and sporting events. It's the Ocean Center, open for business with 200,000 square feet of interior meeting space.

The Peabody Auditorium is located at 600 Auditorium Boulevard, adjacent to the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. This historic building is home to local performances of the London Symphony Orchestra, the Daytona Beach Symphony Society, the Daytona Beach Civic Ballet, and hosts events for local schools and colleges as well as national artists and performers.

At the heart of Daytona Beach's most famous shoreline, Ocean Walk Shoppes is a collection of upscale eateries, boutiques and 10 screen movie theatre will captivate guests with afternoon and evening delights. A live web cam at oceanwalkshoppes.com allows guests to view the Ocean Walk Shoppes, Bandshell and the Atlantic Ocean.

Seasons 52 is a casually sophisticated fresh grill and wine bar that invites you to discover the sensational flavors of the seasonally inspired menu. At Seasons 52, you'll enjoy a warm, welcoming ambiance with rich mahogany accents, custom built wine cellars, and lush greenery that create an air of casual sophistication. With an award-winning international wine list of over 100 wines, of which 60 are available by the glass, they will find the perfect match to complement your menu selection.

Nestled in chic Thornton Park, Shari adds a level of sophistication and a tingle of excitement to the area with its dynamic new style of Asian fusion cuisine. With a full bar and stylish atmosphere, innovative drinks and unique menu selections, it's more than sushi, it's Shari!

Chef owned by Kevin F. Fonzo, K Restaurant and Wine Bar is a nationally recognized, upscale dining restaurant featuring eclectic American cuisine that reflects the season. The entire menu - tantalizing appetizers, exquisite main courses, and decadent desserts offers a wonderful diversity of flavors with influences from all corners of the globe.

Chatham's Place is a local gem and a tourist treasure. It has been one of the highest rated restaurants in Orlando for over twenty years. Chef Tony's Continental cuisine is seasonally driven and comes from his very own organic farm.

Citrus Restaurant features regionally inspired new American cuisine with Latin influences. Voted Best Power Lunch and Restaurant That Says "Orlando" Best Orlando Magazine 2009 Dining Awards. The menu celebrates the bold and distinctive flavors of the Latin culture and presents contemporary takes on classic American dishes. Citrus is an original concept by Urban Life Management Restaurant Group.

Discover one of Orlando's premier upscale restaurant and jazz lounge located on the famed "Restaurant Row", minutes from the convention center. Offering an unsurpassed dining experience in an intimate Chicago style ambiance, and specializing in steak and seafood, cooked over live charcoal. Vines Grille and Wine Bar also features an impressive selection of fine wines from around the globe, with live jazz performances, great martinis and various chef selections.

Evoking memories of a 1960's jet-set Rio de Janeiro get-away, Samba Room revives the lost rhythms of Cuban, Brazilian, Peruvian, Argentine and Caribbean style in an upscale, white-linen Latin cafe where Bossa Nova dance rhythms carry chile-laden and mango infused aromas through a palm-tree accented dining room and a serpentine bar.

Izzy's Bistro features an array of seafood appetizers, homemade soups, salads and seafood, steak, chicken and pasta entrees. Complement your dining experience with a selection of fine wines and beers from around the world!

Gregory's Steak and Seafood is a Cocoa Beach tradition, featuring the finest beef and the freshest local and Northern seafood.

Dining by day and dancing by night makes Blue Grotto a destination to remember. They serve affordable dishes prepared fresh to order inspired by Italy; the Grotto's own Lobster pasta, certified Angus beef, chicken, tuna, shrimp and much more.

Known throughout the south for it's midwestern beef, properly aged and charbroiled to order, Gene's has become a favorite with locals and many notables including top racing stars and enthusiastic fans. Midwestern beef, fine wines to complement the steak, a huge salad bowl and a big baked potato are only a few of the reasons to visit Gene's Steak House.

Located on the Halifax River, Chart House offers a beautiful panoramic view of the Intracoastal Waterway. Combine the extraordinary setting with outstanding cuisine and it's not hard to see why the restaurant is a longtime favorite. From top-of-the-catch seafood to succulent steaks, the renowned chefs have tailored a menu to complement local cuisine while introducing a hint of the exotic.

The only AAA Four-Diamond Daytona Beach restaurant, Azure presents chef-driven, ocean-inspired cuisine artfully infused with regional flavors and a pinch of fun. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, Azure features elegant indoor dining that is bright, blue and sunwashed by day and romantic and reflective by moonlight. Beachfront dining is also offered on the elevated outdoor terrace, overlooking the resort's pools and the sparkling Atlantic Ocean.

Located in Winter Park, The Ravenous Pig offers seasonal American cuisine with menus that change daily. Come enjoy their ever-changing American microbrews on tap and wines from around the world as well as a full bar in a casual yet elegant atmosphere.

Showcasing progressive American cuisine, Luma is the ultimate restaurant for fine food and wine enthusiasts who desire either a delicate bite or a multi-course feast in an inviting and alluring atmosphere.

Have some hands-on family fun with interactive exhibits, large-format films and Florida's largest public refractor telescope, available for viewing Friday and Saturday nights. A state-of-the-art children's museum is coming soon.

This 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve puts "family" back into "family fun." One of Central Florida's oldest attractions, the "Alligator Capital of the World" has been owned by the same family since 1949.

Who wouldn't want to have breakfast with their favorite Disney characters? Sure to bring a smile to every child's face, 1900 Park Fare at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is the place to breakfast with characters from Walt Disney World. You'll travel in style, transported to and from your hotel by luxury stretch limousine.

It's worth the trudge upstairs through class Antigua, past Chillers' adult frozen drinks and beyond Big Belly Brewery to reach rooftop Latitudes, where the only walls are the Orlando skyline.

You don't have to go far when eight bars line one short street between Orange Avenue and South Court. Have a blast hopping among The Globe, Wall St. Cantina, Waitiki, Slinapour's, Tuk Tuk Room, Loaded Hog, One Eyed Jacks and The Monkey Bar.

For more than thirty years, SAK Comedy Lab has been cracking up audiences with improv comedy in downtown Orlando. On Tuesdays, the Lab Rats compete for laughs and Saturday's early show is all-Spanglish.

The saying goes, "Smoke 'em if ya got 'em," and the self-proclaimed World Headquarters for the Ultimate Cigar Experience certainly has got 'em. Browse more than 1.5 million cigars from a dozen countries, including some rare vintage pre-Fidel Cubans.

The stars of this intensely local clothing and accessories shop are the under the radar designers and artists who ethically produce handmade goods that are not mass-marketed.

We will show you all the best places - from the Lake Buena Factory Outlet to the Florida Mall - all in one fun, action packed day. Don't waste your valuable time in Orlando, finding the right shops over the course of your entire stay.

There's also a Ron Jon shop in Festival Bay Mall, but the round-the-clock experience two million visitors share each year is in Cocoa Beach. Buy a bikini under a waterfall in a two-story art deco surf palace at 3:00am and die happy.

Not only home to casually elegant boutiques and shops, sidewalk cafes and art museums, Park Avenue is also where you'll find hidden gardens and the Saturday morning farmers market.