Orlando - Further Afield

Situated in the heart of the pan handle of Florida, Orlando is well-placed to enjoy day trips to some of the state’s other great attractions.

The beaches of the Gulf Coast are spectacular. Great resorts such as St Pete’s Beach, Clearwater and Bradenton offer breezy coastal promenades, fine sands, clean, warm waters and strings of sea-side bars, shops and upscale restaurants. Perfectly placed to enjoy night after night of blazing sunsets, the resorts offer excellent water sports and boardwalks crammed with entertainment options from beach bars to barbeques. They’re all family-friendly affairs, with lots of safe paddling opportunities for little ones and shore-line natural parks to wander through.

Orlando is just a 90 minute drive from Busch Gardens, northern Florida's original tourist attraction, still a wonderland of roller-coasters and African-inspired Savannah safaris.

The bright and lively Central Florida Zoological Park, Sanford, has a decent programme of conservation - its exhibition animal and plant sustainability programmes highlights the zoo’s excellent work. The Zoo isn’t just about education – it’s an entertaining place, with night safaris, and lots of child-friendly shows.

Take a drive east to the Space Coast where Daytona Beach is home to the thrilling NASCAR 500 race meeting and, of course, the towers of Kennedy Space Centre, just 35 miles away from downtown Orlando.

South of Orlando there is a raft of companies offering thrilling airboat rides though the Everglades. Black Hammock Adventures at 2356 Black Hammock Fish Camp Road in Oviedo offer hair-raising safaris on the beautiful Lake Jessup. Experience Florida wildlife through an airboat ride and you’ll never think a white-knuckle ride is the ultimate thrill again.

From upscale to straightforward, there are plenty of golf courses scattered around Orlando and beyond. For a challenge, try Eagle Creek, a ten minute drive from Downtown at 10350 Emerson Lake Boulevard.