Anyone from or familiar with Orlando?

B

bestoutwest

Cathlete
My dh and I are planning a trip in October. I'm attending a veterinary dental meeting and he is going to golf! Just curious about getting around the city. We will have to rent a car since dh is golfing and we want to take a day to goof around. Any info or suggestions would be helpful! The meeting is at a Universal Studios resort, but we won't stay there - too $$$$$!! We will probably stay somewhere close and drive.
 
There is SOOOOOO much to do and October is a beautiful time of year!!!! I would say pick one thing on your goof around day and live it up. There's Disney, of course, Universal Parks, of course, downtown Disney, Cirque Du Soleil, the list goes on for a months worth of attractions. Renting a car is pretty easy there. Just pick your thing and get a map!
 
I jsut visites Orlando recently and I would say Univeral Studios is a great way to pass a day. Also be sure to visit City Walk, there are plenty of restaraunts and shops.
 
I live in Central Florida--east coast. I have been to Orlando a million times. :) I highly suggest seeing La Nouba, the Cirque de Soleil production. http://tinyurl.com/85yoc It's a great show. There are restaurants and lots of stuff to do around there. :) I also love the Florida Mall on Orange Blossom Trail. Lots of cool stores.

Lori
 
I live in orlando, and there is lots to do near universal studios. You will probably spend most of your time on I-drive (international drive) tons of cool touristy things to do, lots of hotels, restruants, you name it. If you want to check out a cool mall the FLorida mall is nice, but one that is just a short trip east on I4 is mall of millenia. Let me just say wow, its ritzy and very well designed. Kinda pricey to shop but fun to browse, they even have a tiffany's in there. Anywasy you will have a blast. City walk in the area near universal that is doesnt cost money to get into, just shops, clubs, restraunts, and sometimes entertainers. Have fun~
~Angel
 
Angel,

How difficult is the city to drive around? We are from Montana & the city we live in (MT's largest city!) is just over 100,000!! Is it friendly for out-of-town drivers?:)
 
Edie,

I also live right outside of Orlando. I work in Orlando right down the streed from Universal at the Lockheed Martin Missile factory.

International Drive (I-Drive) can be horrendous at times, especially during tourist season. October is one of the best months in terms of good weather and less tourists so you should be okay.

But, keep in mind that Orlando is a city full of tourism and tourists so driving can be a little treacherous at times. The area attractions and streets are marked pretty well but just make sure you get a good, detailed map.

LaNouba is fun but be prepared because it's pricey for a couple of hours of entertainment. There is a lot to do around the Universal Studios.

You will have a wonderful time. As far as what to bring for clothes. Typical October weather is low to mid 80's during the day and 70's in the evening. Lots of sunshine usually.
 
Most drivers are out of town drivers so I would say be cautious as no one seems to know where they are going. Sometimes the traffic is slow going but there is tons to look at and take in when you are trying to get where your going.

Like Candi said most attrations are very clearly marked. I would second what Candi said about the price of laNoube unless you have that kind of money to spend on vacation. I think there are tons of exciting things to do to keep you busy and entertained while your here that are a lot less expensive.

Keep in mind the area near the conference is very tourist even though Disney is still a good 15 minutes southwest of there on I4. I would also recommend a map and talk with the people at the hotel you choose to stay at. Alot of times they have good tourist books with coupons and detailed maps of fun places.

Hope this helps
~Angel
 
Candi & Angel,

Thanks so much for the info!! We have already shelled out $200 to see Mystere (Cirque de Soleil) in Las Vegas, so I don't know that we need to see La Nouba!! (Although I'm sure it is a wonderful show!) Are there any beaches that you would recommend that we visit? We were thinking of driving south down the coast, is there lots to see that way? We will probably avoid the major tourist attractions, as we don't have children and get a little crazy with many screaming/crying/otherwise noise-making children around!!;-)
 
Edie,

Angel may have more to add but I believe many of the beaches in the area, Cocoa Beach, Daytona and New Smyrna suffered a lot of erosion due to the hurricanes last year. NurseLRT lives in Daytona I believe, so hopefully she can help you there. We have lakes but I wouldn't recommend for swimming because of safety and health issues.

If you like to canoe, there is a place called Rock Springs in Apopka which is about a half hour from Orlando.

I like St. Augustine which is a couple of hours North of Orlando. They have a beach and also some neat things to see. St. Augustine was the very first city of the United States. It's touristy but quite interesting, IMHO.

The Tampa/St. Petersburg area, about 1.5 hours away, have the Ringling Museum, the Dali Museum and the Tampa Aquarium. The Millenium Mall is very nice as Angel said and fun to window shop. South Florida is beautiful but from Orlando you're looking at a 2.5 hour drive to get to Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach area and 3.5 hours to Miami with approx 6 hours to the Florida Keys. Key West is a very interesting area. Everybody should go at least once but like I said it's at least a 6 hour drive.
 
Edie,

I've been to the beaches that Candi list first a couple of times this summer. Cocoa is the closest and not bad. Most of the beaches have brought in some sand so they are still pretty nice.

My favorite beaches are actually on the west coast about an hour and a half to 2 hours from here. Clearwater in over in St. Peterburg/Tampa area and is very nice, doesn't seem all that toursity but very nice.

If you drive a little farther south still on the west coast there are some great beaches, lets see if I can spell them, St. Armand key, Seista key and a few others in that area.

I haven't been to Ft.Lauderdale/West Palm so I can't really help you out there. But I'm leaving to go to Vero Beach tomorrow morning for a job interview and me and SO are staying the weekend so I can let you know how that is. Its amost 30minutes to an hour north of Ft. Lauderdale I believe.

Hope that helps some :)
~Angel
 
Thanks so much for all the info!!! I am already very excited, although it is 2 months away!!! Although it is a working vacation for me, I'm so excited that my husband is going with me!! He never wants to go with me to my meetings, so this one is special!! I will probably play hooky from 1/2 day of my meetings also, aside from the goof-off day.
 
Edie, I live in Daytona Beach. Our beaches, thankfully, didn't do so bad with the hurricanes. We had some erosion, but not as bad as New Smyrna Beach. They hardly have any beach at all left, it is a very sad situation. The US army is going to come in and give them some more sand. Anyway, if you want to drive to a beach, I would recommend Ponce Inlet--south of Daytona. It's a beautiful drive down A1A to the Ponce Inlet Light House. There are restaurants along the way, and beautiful homes to look at, plus there is a jetty, with a walkway.

If you do decide to go to New Smyrna, it's still beautiful. You can still walk, but not too much beach left in a lot of areas. It's not like you are going to sunbathe anyway in October--although you probably could. :)

If you want to go to Daytona Area--which includes Ponce Inlet, or New Smyrna area I can give you directions, restaurant recommendations, etc. Both areas have a lot to offer and are beautiful. Plus they won't be too busy at all, unless you are here for Biktoberfest. :) :) Even then--not bad.

Lori
 
Lori,

Thank you! I will probably contact you for some directions and advice as the trip gets closer. I realize now that I need to get a Florida map and study it!!:D I have only been to Florida twice, both times to Orlando and both times for meetings. Didn't get anywhere out of the city either time. Thanks again for the info!!;-)
 
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