Welcome to Orlando
While you may know Orlando for its world-famous theme parks, there are several distinct areas of the city for you to explore. Here’s an overview:
Downtown Orlando – The business side of the city, downtown Orlando is also a hot spot for nightlife, dining and entertainment. Museums, art galleries, theatres and concert venues make it a great spot for a day or evening – of exploring. The downtown neighborhood of Thornton Park offers great people-watching from sidewalk cafes and interesting boutiques, While Lake Eola is the perfect backdrop for several community festivals.
International Drive – As Orlando’s tourism corridor, International Drive offers 14 miles of hotels, shopping and dining attractions. The north end of “I – Drive,” as it’s known by the locals, is anchored by Prime Outlets International Outlets, Festival Bay Mall and Wet ‘n Wild® - Orlando. The center stretch of I-Drive is home to the Pointe Orlando shopping dining and entertainment complex, while the southern end of I-Drive features SeaWorld® Orlando, Aquatica™ – SeaWorld’s Waterpark, Discovery Cove® and Orlando Premium Outlets.
Universal Orlando Resort Area – Located on the west side of Interstate 4, the Universal Orlando Resort® is home to Universal Studios Florida® and Universal’s Islands of Adventure® theme parks; Universal CityWalk® shopping, dining and entertainment area; and three on-site Loews hotels.
Lake Buena Vista – Home to the Walt Disney World® Resort, its affiliated theme parks, numerous hotels and the Downtown Disney and Boardwalk shopping, dining and entertainment areas.
Winter Park - Located just minutes northeast of downtown Orlando, the quaint city of Winter Park offers upscale boutique shopping along Park Avenue and amazing museums and galleries, as well as nationally recognized art shows each spring and fall.
Climate in Orlando
One of the area’s biggest attractions is its year-round mild weather. Located at the heart of the “Sunshine State,” you can expect the January temperatures to rest at an average high of 71° F (22°C) and an average low 49°F (9°C). Despite 300 days of sunshine each year, there is a possibility of light rain, so you may decide to pack a travel umbrella. And, due to unpredictable hotel environments, a jacket or sweater is recommended.