Orlando, Florida
Orlando in central Florida offers a great vacation
Orlando is one of the world's top tourist destinations and now we know why.
Walt Disney World is the granddaddy of amusement parks and a global institution. The house of mouse is open all year round and is always surprisingly enjoyable even for the most jaded cynic.
In Kissimmee a company called Orange Blossom Balloons ran early morning hot-air balloon flights that gave the most spectacular views we witnessed on our vacation at a price that didn't break the bank.
Universal Studios is perhaps the most fun any early teenage boy can have. The kids really wanted to come back to Orlando because of Universal Studios
Sea World is huge and fascinating and offers a fair share of spills and thrills.
Blue Spring State Park between Orlando and Daytona Beach is a wildlife haven with incredible manatees.
However, not all wildlife experiences need to be quite so managed. Just a little to the north east of Orlando about an hour's drive from the downtown area is the great expanse of Wekiwa Springs State Park. This is where you can get a glimpse of what Florida looked like when the native Indians fished and hunted here. Entrance is between 3 and 5 dollars for the day and they strictly limit visitor numbers to ensure that the place never becomes too overcrowded. You can phone Wekiwa Springs State Park for details (407) 884 2008.
Riverboat Cruises on the Rivership Romance along the St. Johns River allow you to see a different side to Florida.
Some europeans have the view that there is something tacky about orlando. I will be honest and say I was one of them, but the truth is that there is very little that is tacky. In fact there is lots to see and do in orlando whatever sort of a vacation you are looking for.
However, it is true to say that in Florida in general and orlando in particular you definitely get what you pay for. The Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes is expensive but good quality, while the Comfort Suites Orlando focus on the cheap and cheerful. The type of holiday you enjoy will very much depend on your budget.
Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay has opened a dive-coaster. According to their press release SkeiKra is "...Set among the jungle ruins of a once-mighty African civilization, SheiKra begins by carrying riders up 200 feet then hurtling them 70 mph straight down at a 90-degree angle. It will be the first coaster of its kind in North America and only the third in the world, but no other dive coaster can match the height, speed and intensity SheiKra will offer. At 200 feet, SheiKra now takes the crown as Florida’s tallest roller coaster."
Afficionados of Microsoft combat simulator will be pleased to see the new roller-coaster features an Immelmann loop which is guaranteed to churn a few stomachs.