Destination Orlando: Grown-Ups Only
June 17, 2008
Filed under Destinations
Orlando attracts families annually with its mega theme parks, but there’s lots to do in the area besides hang out with Mickey Mouse and ride roller coasters. Check out Orlando’s sophisticated side if your timeshare vacation takes you to Central Florida without children.
Indeed, half the visitors to Disney’s theme parks are less than four feet tall, but the massive resort complex actually offers activities and attractions for adults only. Eat at Victoria & Albert’s at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. This elegant eatery does not allow children under 10, and requires a dinner jacket for men. The menu is pricey, but it makes a great romantic evening for a special occasion. In Downtown Disney, see Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba, hit the dance clubs or comedy venues at Pleasure Island, or listen to music at the House of Blues.
Universal Studios
CityWalk is Universal’s 30-acre entertainment complex offering loads of entertainment, including performances by the Blue Man Group, concerts at Hard Rock Live, plus jazz, comedy and dance clubs. Top choices for sophisticated dining here include Emeril Lagasse’s restaurant or Bice Ristorante at the Portofino Bay Club.
Parks, Gardens & Forests
Take a picnic to the pretty 43-acre oasis of green in downtown Orlando, Lake Eola Park. Stroll along the paved walkways that take you through 50 acres of gardens at Harry P. Leu Gardens, also downtown. In Ocala National Forest you can hike along the Florida National Scenic Trail, or canoe, swim and even snorkel in the streams, lakes and springs.
Art Museums
See the impressive collection of art and antiquities spanning centuries at the Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College. The Morse Museum of Contemporary Art in nearby Winter Park houses a stunning collection of Tiffany glass, jewelry, pottery and lamps. Permanent exhibits at the Orlando Museum of Art include American Art, Art of the Ancient Americas and African Art.
Dance, Opera & Orchestra
The Orlando Ballet is Central Florida’s only resident ballet company that performs September through May, and also hosts visiting dance troupes. The Orlando Opera Company celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra typically appears in more than 115 performances each season.
For more activities, see this blog entry: Destination Orlando: Beyond Disney.
