QUINTESSENTIAL
Water Worlds
SeaWorld
Dolphin Plunge at Aquatica www.seaworld.com
Encounter everything from dolphins, sharks and penguins to manatees, sea lions and—of course—Shamu at this water wonderland. With rides that transport visitors to the lost city of Atlantis and the Arctic, plus nontraditional circus acts, rock ‘n’ roll concerts and “Believe,” the thrilling new killer whale show, deciding what to do first—or second, or third—won’t be easy. Spend another water adventure-filled day at Aquatica (www.aquaticabyseaworld.com), located across the street; the popular Dolphin Plunge ride propels visitors in an enclosed tube through the water.
DID YOU KNOW?
Shamu eats about 230 pounds of food every day—roughly 38 times more than the average
American human.
Discovery Cove
Swimming with dolphins www.discoverycove.com
You’ll need an entire day to do it all—swim with dolphins; snorkel through coral reefs and exotic fish; feed the tropical birds; take a dip in the river; and relax by the pool. What sets this tropical oasis apart from other big attractions is its reservation-only policy, which caps the number of visitors at 1,000 per day (so book ahead, especially near a holiday).
La Nouba
An acrobat from La NoubaOne of Walt Disney World Resort’s resident shows, La Nouba originates from the French phrase faire la nouba (live it up). This Cirque du Soleil show amazes audiences with acrobats flying through the air on trapezes and balancing on high wires. The show contrasts these circus people with Urbains (a monochromatic group), and it’s the interplay between them that truly creates the magic.
BY THE NUMBERS
1730
The number of audio cables running through La Nouba
WINTER PARK
Just a few miles from Orlando, Winter Park is a much-loved neighborhood known for its wealth of cultural, shopping and fi ne dining opportunities. It’s centered on Park Avenue, where you’ll fi nd The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum (www.morsemuseum.org), home to the world’s most comprehensive collection of Louis Comfort Tiff any glass art, jewelry and other pieces. A visit to Winter Park is not complete without a Scenic Boat Tour (www.scenicboattours.com), a tradition for 70 years. Sail past opulent private mansions and lush gardens while your skipper regales you with tales of the city’s history.
HARRY P. LEU GARDENS
Home to America’s most extensive collection of camellias outside of California, Florida’s largest formal rose garden (which peaks this month) and a lively butterfly garden, these gardens entrance visitors with the 50 acres of gorgeous landscape. (You can also schedule a guided tour three weeks in advance.) At the heart of the gardens is the Leu House Museum, once home to the prominent Orlando businessman for whom the gardens are named. It has been meticulously restored to illustrate Florida life in the early 1900s.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER VISITOR COMPLEX
Located 45 minutes from Orlando, Kennedy Space Center was established in 1962, four years after NASA was created, to be the launching pad for manned missions and scientifi c spacecraft . As interest in space flourished in the 1960s, the center provided the curious public with an educational visitor center. Today, guests can take a bus tour of KSC and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station; interact with an astronaut; touch an actual piece of Mars; and take their own journey to space during the Shuttle Launch Experience, the center’s newest attraction. For the most out-of-this-world experience, it’s best to set aside an entire day.
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS’ THE SIMPSONS RIDE
Open for just a few months, this new attraction is a virtual theme park within a theme park. Board your vehicle and enter Krustyland, created by the show’s crabby Krusty the Clown, and ride right alongside the Simpson clan. The ride features a groundbreaking digital video projection system (the image is twice the size of what you would experience in a digital movie theater). Keep an ear out for 24 other characters—all recorded by the show’s original stars—that keep you company on this virtual journey.
Orlando Science Center
Let your curiosity and imagination run wild at this center for exploration and discovery. Inquisitive kids will go crazy for “Beakman’s World on Tour,” a hands-on exhibition based on the popular children’s TV show, on view until January. Permanent exhibits include NatureWorks, where visitors come face to face with reptiles, amphibians and insects; and Crosby Observatory, which explores the mysteries of space through the largest publicly accessible refractor telescope in Florida.
Bookmark This Post