Destinations

Voices Of Travel Discovers Orlando’s Other Side

By Sanja Sekaric

May 6, 2019

Home to seven of the world’s top theme parks, there are few families anywhere who have not heard of Orlando, Florida. It’s a dream destination for most children — and a bonding adventure for parent and child when they do visit.

To capture the true magic of Orlando, you need to go beyond the theme parks to find what makes it special.

In this issue, Voices of Travel host, Ron Pradinuk will take readers on a journey to a side of Orlando and the Orange County region that is just as interesting and exciting as the parks, yet only taken advantage of by a small percentage of visitors.

The area around International Drive is a destination of its own. The ICON Park is a 20 acre walkable entertainment and restaurant centre — with unique attractions like the tallest observation wheel on the East Coast — and over 40 restaurants on site.

It’s within minutes of show-stopper theatres like the Orlando Forum Rock experience, and the famous South Beach Mango’s dinner show.

Just a few kilometres outside the city are two communities that paint a real picture of what Orlando is all about.

Winter Park is one of the oldest communities in the Orlando area. Modelled in part after New York, it has its own Central Park and Park Avenue, and is bordered by a beautiful chain of three lakes.

Winter Gardens is a separate community that is home to some of the wealthier residents of Orlando. Its Farmer’s Market and Plant Street market are places where people from all over Orange County come to shop.

After you listen to this show, you’re sure to modify what may be singular impressions of what Orlando Florida really is all about.