Central Florida

Activities and attractions for Central Florida visitors.

Let's play a word-association game! I say time, you say clock; I say blue, you say sky; I say Central Florida, you say Mickey Mouse!

Yes, Central Florida is home to Mickey and all his friends. It is home to a royal family of theme parks including Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal Studios. These are world famous, guaranteed-to-please attractions that have something for everyone - kids, parents and grandparents. Not just simply made for the thrill seekers, either, many attractions have well designed, highly educational systems that make learning easy and fun. It's not just the mouse that brings people to the area around Orlando anymore, but he's still king.

The area doesn't lack the ability to handle the huge surge in crowds, either. Fine dining to franchised fast foods to mom and pop style restaurants are available throughout the area. Lodging inventories can accommodate the high rollers and the family on a budget. An entire vacation rental resort industry has sprung up around the land of the theme park with turn-key properties available for any class of investor. While the automobile is the primary means of transportation used to bring visitors to Central Florida, the Orlando International Airport handles over 80,000 passengers per day. Taxis, buses and rental cars are all in great demand but 

kept in supply by an efficient, market-driven system. The railroad, so instrumental in the early development of Florida but now missing from much of the rest of the state, is a favored trip into Sanford, just northeast of Orlando. Here visitors on the "auto-train" re-unite with their cars, shipped from their home terminal on the same train to Sanford.

Away from the rush of the theme parks, Central Florida still has plenty to offer. Cypress Gardens is back with new attractions and more planned. Along with the ever beautiful gardens are more rides and concerts. A water park is planned and an indigenous animal exhibit. Down the road from Cypress Gardens is the Bok Sanctuary, nestled peacefully on approximately 200 acres of the Lake Wales Ridge. The 205 foot Bok Tower houses a 60-bell carillon which peals angelically during scheduled times throughout the day. Acres of  lovely gardens and trails await visitors.

Leesburg, Florida plays host to well over one-hundred thousand motorcyclists during April for the annual Leesburg Bikefest. The city of Mount Dora bills itself as the "Mecca for Antique Collectors" and has more antique dealers per square foot than any other place in Florida. Visit Celebration, Florida for a look at one of the most unique and forward thinking communities in America, where prospective residents must pass muster before becoming members. From the major attractions to historically significant small cities and towns to state parks and wildlife refuges, all over Central Florida you will find attractions and activities that will provide memories for a lifetime.

For further information on each city in Southwest Florida, Please click on the underlined. linked city name in the directory listing.

Lake County

Year 2000 population: 210,528.

Major cities, population or tourist centers include:

Clermont
Leesburg
Mount Dora
Umatilla

Seminole County

Year 2000 population: 365,196.

Major cities, population or tourist centers include:

Altamonte Springs
Oviedo
Sanford
Winter Springs

Orange County

Year 2000 population: 896,344.

Major cities, population or tourist centers include:

Apopka
Lake Buena Vista
Maitland
Orlando
Winter Garden
Winter Park

Polk County

Year 2000 population: 483,924.

Major cities, population or tourist centers include:

Bartow
Cypress Gardens
Haines City
Lake Wales
Lakeland
Winter Haven

Osceola County

Year 2000 population: 172,493.

Major cities, population or tourist centers include:

Celebration

Kissimmee
St. Cloud