DK Travel : Orlando

One word describes Orlando’s transformation in the last three decades: stunning. The city and its suburbs have gone through a Cinderella-like metamorphosis, where plain Jane has become a worldly beauty. Millions of tourists are seduced every year by sophisticated resorts, a wide range of theme parks, must-see attractions, happening nightclubs, and winning restaurants. Here are Orlando’s best of the best.

More on the Top 10 sights in Orlando (see Thrill Rides)

Fantasy Of Flight

A stunning art deco facility that is home to over 40 rare and vintage aircraft, many of which have been restored to flyable condition. They offer a variety of guided tours including visits to working restoration and maintenance areas. You can climb inside the cockpit of a Corsair fighter for a battle over the Pacific and then take a spin on the state-of-the-art hang glide simulator in our Fun with Flight area.
Festival Caliente

A sizzling Latin music fiesta with big-name performers and tasty Latin food.
Fiddler’s Green

An energetic Irish pub with darts, music, and a full selection of draft beers and stouts. It stays open until 2am most nights, making it popular for a last round. The food is good, too.
Fiddler’s Green

A big, noisy Irish pub, Fiddler’s Green has an excellent beer selection, a homey, shabby ambience, and a bartender who pours faster than anyone in town. Darts and occasional live music form the entertainment, but people come here just to down a few beers and shoot the breeze. Lunch and dinner are served.
Fishing

Land your dinner (and a fish story) with Pro Bass Guide Service, a Winter Garden outfit that specializes in guided bass-fishing. Local and regional trips to some of Central Florida’s most picturesque rivers and lakes are on offer (pick-up can be arranged), as are offshore expeditions for saltwater species, such as redfish and sea trout.
Flea World

Claiming to be America’s largest flea market, Sanford’s Flea World is a Byzantine maze of more than 1,700 sales booths, which are bursting with bargains every weekend. The mostly new goods are already cheap, but you can haggle to lower prices still. In addition to an A to Z list of goods for sale, Flea World also has live bands, bingo, and an a old-style amusement park, Fun World, for the kids.
Florida Aquarium

Florida’s native species are just a fraction of the more than 10,000 animals and plants on display in this modern attraction. Wetlands, bays, coral reefs, and their creatures are featured in several galleries, and you can watch divers feed sharks and other marine creatures.
Florida Celebration Gift Shop

A replica of the space shuttle is bolted to the façade of this gift shop, which is actually completely unrelated to space exploration.
Florida Citrus Bowl

The annual college football showdown between the No. 2-ranked teams from the Southeastern and Big Ten conferences; preceded by a huge parade.
Florida Film Festival

This 10-day festival is packed with more than 100 features, documentaries, and shorts. Film-makers introduce their works, and a few Hollywood names make guest appearances.