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)

Café de France

Despite the name, this eaterie has an international menu served in an upbeat setting.
Café Tu Tu Tango

Local artists’ work adorns the walls of this vaguely Latin-style eatery. Dishes include black bean soup, shrimp fritters, and quesadillas.
Café Tu Tu Tango

The menu in this lofty space is Spanish tapas in name but more international in flavor, with such diverse nibbles as baked goat’s cheese, tuna sashimi, alligator bites, and snapper fingers. Performers (from sword eaters to artists at work) provide the entertainment.
Cairo

Everything from house to retro-progressive is played at this multi-floored, Egyptian-themed club. There’s also a rooftop reggae lounge.
Cairo

Who could have guessed ancient Egypt would make such a splendid theme for a dance club? In between the Sphinx paintings and columns in this multi-level space, clubbers dance to alternative house, disco, retro-progressive music, and more. Upstairs, an excellent rooftop lounge known as the Reggae Bar features reggae and other downtempo beats. When there’s a line stretching down the block, duck into Knock Knock next door and have a drink.
Caladesi Island State Park

This 3-mile (5-km) island, accessible by ferry from Honeymoon Island, is a lovely outdoor retreat traversed by a nature trail. A ban on cars helps keep it much as it was a century ago. In season, beach areas are dotted with the tracks of loggerhead turtles that nest here.
California Grill

One of Disney’s most vegetarian-friendly restaurants offers delicious California cuisine in this romantic 15th-floor space.
California Grill

The 15th-floor vista here gets top marks from both critics and diners (especially when the lights are dimmed for Magic Kingdom’s nightly fireworks display), as does the Pacific Rim cuisine. Popular choices are seared grouper in a noodle bowl with ginger-crab salad, and pork tenderloin with polenta and mushrooms. There are also interesting vegetarian and sushi menus. It’s hard to get a table on weekends.
Canaveral National Seashore & Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

These two federal preserves bordering the Kennedy Space Center are home to scores of species, including endangered ones such as sea turtles, manatees, dolphins, alligators, bald eagles, and ospreys. Explore Canaveral’s beaches (including a naturist one, Playalinda) and Merritt Island’s trails, driving route, and observation deck (see Merritt Island).
Canyon Ranch SpaClub at Gaylord Palms Resort

This spa has 25 start-of-the-art rooms for massage and body treatments including a Canyon Stone Massage, and a Mango Sugar Glo conditioning body scrub. There are men’s and women’s steam and sauna rooms as well as a relaxation room.

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Restaurant price categories

For a three-course meal for one, a glass of house wine, and all unavoidable extra charges including tax.
- under $20
- $20–$30
- $30–$45
- $45–$60
- over $60