DK Travel : Orlando : Places of interest

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Caro-Seuss-El

Seussian characters make this carousel ride truly unique.
Celebration

When Walt Disney conceived of Epcot (see Epcot®), he imagined it as a residential community happily engaged in road-testing futuristic technologies. After his death, that dream went out the window only to resurface years later here. However, instead of looking to the future, Celebration salutes the past in a cliché of small town USA (think The Truman Show ). The houses are pretty, the downtown has some good restaurants and a cinema, and everything is upscale. This is not an attraction, but it is quite a sight.
Center for Birds of Prey

Founded by the Florida Audubon Society, and off the beaten tourist track, this center’s primary function is to rescue and rehabilitate wounded and orphaned raptors. Birds of prey that can’t be released back into the wild, however, are kept and used to educate the public about wild-life conservation. With knowledgeable staff and the opportunity to stand close to birds such as eagles and vultures, the center is a captivating treat for a handful of dollars. (see Audubon National Center for Birds of Prey).
Central Florida Guide Service

A professional guide service that takes clients fishing in some of the best big bass waters in Florida.
Central Florida Zoological Park

Beneath this zoo’s dense canopy of foliage, visitors can observe the residents (from howler monkeys to bald eagles, llamas, and zebu) at close quarters. Some areas fall short – the pacing big cats obviously need bigger cages – but on the whole, this makes for a rewarding trip.
Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art

The imposing, windowless walls of this museum rather ironically contain an outstanding collection of beautiful glass windows and objects by the American artist, Louis Comfort Tiffany. Other highlights include American ceramics and representative collections of late-19th- and early-20th-century paintings, graphics, and decorative arts.
Church Street

The stretch of Church Street that lies between Orange Avenue and I-4 is thick with enough specialty shops, restaurants, and bars to keep visitors engaged for hours. The anchor is Church Street Station, although the closure of several of its restaurants and shows has lessened the appeal of the complex. Despite this slowdown, the bar strip on the eastern side of Church Street near Orange Avenue remains very popular, especially with its three-level complex that has different bars on each floor. On weekend evenings, the street is blocked to traffic, which makes it easy to zigzag between watering holes such as the Ybor Martini Bar and Mulvaney’s, although hipper bars are found around the corner on Orange Avenue.
Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel

A 100-year-old beauty with an engaging fairy-tale theme.
Cirque du Soleil

Nowadays, circuses without animals are all the rage, and the Canadian company Cirque du Soleil is one of the best of its kind. So popular are its shows that, in addition to world tours, there are now permanent venues, too. Orlando’s high-energy, 90-minute show, La Nouba, climaxes with a finale in which more than 70 performers execute an extraordinary trampoline routine. The ticket is quite pricey, but you’re unlikely to be disappointed.
Cocoa Beach

Just 60 miles (96 km) east of I-4 via the Bee Line Express-way, Cocoa Beach is the seashore closest to Orlando. The beach is picturesque, although the surrounding town is less so (apart from the lovely Cocoa Village near US Hwy 1). Surfing is taken seriously here, due in part to the presence of the Ron Jon Surf Shop, a vast surfing mecca that sells surf wear, beach gear, boards, and every imaginable beach accessory.