Orlando, Florida, is the world's Number One tourist destination! While many people think of the area as a kid's playground, with such popular theme parks as the Walt Disney World complex (with the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and MGM Studios), Universal Studios, Sea World and more than 80 other attractions, it actually offers plenty to do for visitors of all ages.

Located in the center of Florida and less than an hour's drive to the Atlantic Ocean, Orlando has become world-famous as a popular vacation spot. There are more than 3,800 restaurants in the area, 125 challenging golf courses, superb weather just about all year long, and more than 39 million square feet of retail space — in fact, Orlando is the fastest growing retail market in the United States.

Orlando is a world-class destination that has so much to do that every member of the group can have fun in their own way. The collection of theme parks including Cypress Gardens, Discovery Cove, SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World Resort are unrivaled anywhere in the world.

Feel the adrenaline rush of indoor skydiving; twisting and turning on a thrilling roller coaster; or soaring over Central Florida in a glider, WWII fighter plane, helicopter or hot-air balloon. Cool off as you splash, spin, turn and twist through one-of-a-kind water rides at the area’s water parks and water ski parks. Or, discover the weird and unusual, the historic, and the spectacular at the many unique indoor attractions.

In fact, when you consider the mix of legendary theme parks, magnificent museums, world-class entertainment and blockbuster rides and attractions, it would take more than 65 eight-hour days to visit all of the entertaining offerings in Orlando.

Orlando offers you such a diverse range of leisure activities that you’ll need to return again and again to experience them all. With something for everyone in your family—the choice is yours for the taking.

While their world-famous attractions have made Orlando a household word, those seeking a rich cultural experience will discover Orlando’s many “unexpected” treasures.

Celebrate heritage via self-guided walking tours through the City of Eatonville, the nation’s oldest incorporated African-American municipality or The Wells’Built Museum of African-American History, formerly a hotel frequented by Duke Ellington and Ray Charles. Lovers of late-Victorian architecture will delight in the Historic Waterhouse Residence and Carpentry Shop Museum, built in 1884 and the Withers-Maguire House and Museum, built in 1888. And, the Orange County Regional History Center traces the area’s rich history with an array of interactive exhibits.

Celebrate the arts in Orlando. World-renowned actors take the stage regularly at the area’s many theatre venues, and often team up with the philharmonic orchestra for masterful performances. Opera, ballet and Broadway musicals round out an impressive lineup of performing arts happenings in Orlando.

Orlando also boasts the world’s most comprehensive collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany stained glass at the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, hands-on exhibits at the Orlando Science Center and extensive collections and touring exhibitions at the Orlando Museum of Art.

In Orlando, you’ll discover not only the expected, but also the “unexpected.”

Orlando has fast become a haven for sports enthusiasts and those seeking something different, exciting and off the beaten trail.

Clean your clubs and bring your “A” game, as each one of the 168 Orlando-area golf courses presents a formidable challenge to even the most seasoned golfer. But should you need a refresher course, world-class golf instruction schools await you.

And if that’s not enough, take advantage of the area’s best tennis and sports and recreation complexes that provide training and fun. Get back to nature by horseback-riding along scenic trails, canoeing past grazing manatees and alligators, gliding over a slice of the Everglades on an airboat or taking a sea excursion off one of our pristine coasts.

Or, choose the adventurous pursuits of auto racing, hot-air ballooning, scuba diving, waterskiing, cruising on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle or flying a glider or vintage aircraft.

The diehard sports enthusiast in you can cheer on the NBA’s Orlando Magic, catch a Predators arena football game or sit behind home plate at one of the many Atlanta Braves spring training games. Orlando is also home to several exciting college football traditions—the Capital One Bowl, Champs Sports Bowl, Florida Classic, Orlando Labor Day Classic and Villages Gridiron Classic.

During the year many sporting events capture the competitive spirit including the Festival of Speed bicycle challenge and marathons.

If it’s a tee time or flight time, box seat or driver’s seat, Orlando has your ticket for your next vacation.

A night out in the city of Orlando presents a wide array of options. From fine dining and dinner shows to dancing until the wee hours of the morning, your palettes and spirits will feel more than satisfied when the day is through. No craving is too great for Orlando’s kaleidoscope of more than 5,000 restaurants, nor is any creation beyond the imagination of our talented chefs.

From dining in restaurants overlooking the city and our scenic lakes to quaint outdoor cafés and plantation homes, Orlando’s culinary options delight with unique vistas and delicious creations that satisfy even the most finicky of diners.

More than a dozen dinner attractions serve up the perfect combination of entertainment, along with plenty of food and fun for everyone — all for one price. And ever-entertaining, character dining provides the little ones the opportunity to dine with some of their favorite characters, like Mickey, Shamu, Goofy and Cat in the Hat.

With your appetite more than appeased and your soul more than satisfied, you’ll find that an evening out in Orlando is just what you needed…and more.

Bring back not only lasting memories — but also trinkets and treasures from your trip.

Orlando may be home to the world’s greatest theme parks, but shopping is one of the most popular attractions in town. With more than 52 million square feet of existing retail space and continuous expansions and renovations, Orlando is a major player in the United States retail market.

An astounding array of shopping options awaits you. Shop the eight malls located throughout Orlando for the convenience of brand-name stores and specialty shops, all under one roof. No matter where you travel from, you will be at home with major retailers, including Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Macy’s, McRaes, Saks Fifth Avenue and Dillard’s. Or, for the bargain hunter in you, be sure to visit our many outlet centers, bargain boutiques and flea markets.

Search for that one-of-a-kind gift—shop our antique districts and upscale boutiques such as Nicole Miller and Tunis along charming oak-dotted streets, and Orlando’s themed shopping villages and theme park entertainment and shopping complexes.

So, pack an extra suitcase and check your shopping list, because you’re sure to find bargains galore and perhaps an unexpected hidden treasure.

Sure, our days here in Orlando are filled with fun, but when the sun goes down, the action heats up! After a great day at the park, strolling through a museum or skimming down the waterways, top it off with a night on the town.

If you feel like laughing until it hurts, catching a concert or dancing the night away, you’ll find so many choices for the perfect evening. Orlando, with its many nightclubs, lounges, pubs, bars, concert venues and evening “happenings” is the perfect place for those night owls whose fun begins when the stars come out.