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International Drive Area : Overview & Top 10

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Considered the times square of Orlando, International Drive is a brash 10-mile (16-km) strip boasting five theme parks, countless attractions open day and night, including Universal’s CityWalk entertainment complex, and the USA’s second-largest convention center. Added to the mix are hundreds of hotels and resorts catering to all budgets, shopping malls and outlet stores, and themed and fast-food restaurants. As a package, the result is a frenetic zone, which, despite its wall-to-wall neon signs and visual overload, has become a serious competitor of Disney World, appealing to visitors who prefer to stay away from the clutches of Mickey but want to be in the thick of the action.

  • Crowds of 20-somethings swarm this restaurant/bar (with 65 varieties of tequila) and dance the night away to cover bands.

  • With flights starting at just $20 there’s no reason not to enjoy a panoramic birds-eye view over the city.

  • Expect the bluesy feel of a 1930s supper club and dishes such as a seafood medley, and pan-seared duck.

  • Trust the Caribbean menu and spirits to create some fun, but expect to wait up to two hours for a table.

  • The doorway to this shop is straddled by a large flying saucer. Alighting from a nearby rocket-ship is a giant green Martian wearing casual clothes and holding a stick – no doubt to root out those bargains.

  • Overflowing with fishing, golf, camping, and hunting supplies, plus footwear and apparel, this is a vast shrine to the great outdoors.

  • With more than 170 stores bursting with bargains, there’s something for everyone.

  • Between the Buns

    Some describe it as an example of form-follows-function Programmatic architecture from the 1920s. Others just see it as a 25-ft- (8-m) long frankfurter.

  • Live outdoor reggae music is the big draw here, and the bands are often excellent.

  • Slim pickings for suits, but there’s a great range of casual sportswear for men and women, discounted by at least 40 per cent.

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