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Outdoor adventures abound in Orlando

2014; Elsevier BV; Volume: 20; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s1042-0991(15)30922-1

2773-0735

Barbara Sax,

Adventure Sports and Sensation Seeking

Orlando is an outdoor city. The area’s fine weather and natural beauty make it a great place for biking, hiking, canoeing, or sightseeing. “There are a lot of beautiful parks and trails, so there’s a definite outdoor focus to the city,” said Florida native Jeremy Lund, PharmD. “It’s a really bike-friendly city with many bike paths and lanes, so biking is a great way to see the city.” Lund lived in Orlando for 8 years as an undergraduate and student pharmacist before moving to a suburb of Tampa to practice pharmacy. Orlando is an outdoor city. The area’s fine weather and natural beauty make it a great place for biking, hiking, canoeing, or sightseeing. “There are a lot of beautiful parks and trails, so there’s a definite outdoor focus to the city,” said Florida native Jeremy Lund, PharmD. “It’s a really bike-friendly city with many bike paths and lanes, so biking is a great way to see the city.” Lund lived in Orlando for 8 years as an undergraduate and student pharmacist before moving to a suburb of Tampa to practice pharmacy. A graduate of University of Florida College of Pharmacy Orlando, Lund said that Orlando’s status as a tourist destination that attracts both domestic and international travelers has made the city a “cultural melting pot” where many cultures and cuisines can be experienced. While Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld draw huge crowds, theme parks aren’t the only attractions in Orlando. The city is home to a number of outdoor parks, museums, and gardens. Lund’s favorite is one of the loveliest parks in Orlando, Lake Eola Park. The park features a majestic fountain, graceful swan boats, and a Chinese pagoda. “The 0.8-mile loop around the lake is great for runners,” said Lund. “It’s a great place to picnic, walk, or watch the sun set.” Surrounded by the dining and shopping of Thornton Park, South Eola District, and the Central Business District, the park is the heart of downtown Orlando. At Harry P. Leu Gardens, visitors can enjoy a wide array of temperate and tropical plants, including palms, tropical philodendrons, roses and camellias, and awe-inspiring camphor trees. Visitors can also tour Leu House Museum, a restored 19th-century home listed on the National Register of Historic Places. “Leu Gardens has a lot of evening activities, like movie night in the park, making it a good activity for day or evening,” said Lund. Wekiwa Springs State Park, about 25 miles north of the Orange County Convention Center, offers a glimpse of what Central Florida looked like when Timucuan Indians fished and hunted these lands. “You can rent canoes and kayaks and explore Wekiva River and Rock Springs Run,” said Lund. Thirteen miles of trails provide opportunities for hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding. The park is popular on weekends, so Lund recommends getting there early. Since it’s basketball season, if the Magic are in town, Lund recommends heading over to Amway Center to catch a game. “The arena is only 2 years old, and the area around it has been built up with restaurants, bars, and shops, so it’s a destination,” said Lund. The Orlando Science Center has four floors of exciting exhibits, amazing giant-screen movies, and engaging live programming. With its science stations, interactive exhibits, and theaters, it’s a perfect family activity—particularly ideal for a rainy day. American masterworks, contemporary American graphics, and a fine collection of African art can be seen at the Orlando Museum of Art. On view until May 5 is “Rembrandt, Rubens, Gainsborough, and the Golden Age of Painting in Europe.” Lectures and tours are available on certain days. It’s hard to resist the high-octane theme park experience at Universal Orlando. The focus at Universal is on interactive experiences, so visitors should expect to not just watch, but be a part of the entertainment. The park’s cutting-edge attractions are based on pop-culture icons, Hollywood blockbuster films, and hit television shows. Guests can become part of the action as they swing through the streets with Spiderman or help Shrek save Princess Fiona. Universal’s Islands of Adventure park features thrilling and innovative rides and attractions on seven specially themed islands: Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Jurassic Park, the Lost Continent, Seuss Landing, Port of Entry, and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The crowd-pleasing Wizarding World of Harry Potter gives fans of J.K. Rowlings’ series a chance to walk through the corridors and classrooms of Hog-warts and visit the shops of Hogsmeade. Be prepared to wait for your chance to challenge a dragon—the attractions are popular and the lines are long. The Universal Studio’s park—a real, working film and TV production facility—offers an array of rides, shows, and movie sets. On Universal City Walk, guests can visit dozens of clubs, restaurants, and shops. “City Walk has a ton of restaurants (like Bubba Gump Shrimp Company and the Hard Rock Café), clubs, and nightlife,” said Lund. “It’s a good nightlife option.” For many visitors, no trip to Orlando would be complete without a visit to Walt Disney World Resort. With four major parks, two water adventure parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon), sports and shopping complexes, a spa, hotels, and golf courses, there’s truly something for everyone at the enormous Disney compound. Considered the largest resort of its kind in the world, Disney World encompasses 35,000 acres or 40 square miles of property—about the size of San Francisco. Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom isn’t just for kids. Millions of visitors of all ages have flocked to the iconic park for generations for its classic attractions, spectacular nightly fireworks displays, and daily parade. In addition to thrilling rides, the park offers varied entertainment options. Whether you want to be a part of the “American Idol” experience or get schooled at Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial, Disney delivers on fun. Disney’s Epcot park features two completely different realms. Future World focuses on discovery and scientific achievements to bring out the techie in visitors. World Showcase lets guests immerse themselves in the culture and cuisine of 11 countries: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, United States, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom, and Canada. Daily entertainment and breathtaking evening fireworks displays are just two of the treats awaiting visitors here. Hollywood Studios is the park’s celebration of the entertainment industry on 135 acres. The theme park celebrates Hollywood’s Golden Age in the 1930s and 1940s with glitz and glamour (Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard are two of the park’s eight sections). But the park also has a thoroughly modern appeal, with onsite working film, TV, and radio studios. Pixar Place, Mickey Avenue, and Animation Courtyard offer visitors another kind of Hollywood experience. Visitors can encounter exotic animals and have adventures of another kind at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the resort’s fourth and largest park. One of the largest animal theme parks in the world, Animal Kingdom encompasses 403 acres and is home to 1,700 animals across 250 species. The park’s centerpiece is the Tree of Life, measuring 14 stories high and 50 feet wide at its trunk. Restaurants of every kind cater to the millions of tourists who visit Orlando each year; residents have their favorites. A few of Lund’s go-to spots are listed in the sidebar below. Enjoy your stay in Orlando! Food favoritesTexas de Brazil Churrascaria5259 International Drive Meat is the word at this Brazilian steakhouse, which lists 20 different cuts on its menu.Big Fin Seafood KitchenDellagio Plaza, Via Dellagio Way Located on Restaurant Row, this seafood restaurant is a favorite of locals and tourists alike for its large selection of fresh seafood and focus on global influences.Dexter’s808 East Washington Street This solid steak and seafood spot is located downtown.The Pharmacy8060 Via Dellagio WayLund said this speakeasy has “a coolpharmacy décor” along with terrificcocktails and food. It’s a must for thepharmacist set.4 Rivers BarbequeVarious locationsThis sophisticated Texas-style smokehouse is worth the 25-minute drive to one of its locations. Texas de Brazil Churrascaria 5259 International Drive Meat is the word at this Brazilian steakhouse, which lists 20 different cuts on its menu. Big Fin Seafood Kitchen Dellagio Plaza, Via Dellagio Way Located on Restaurant Row, this seafood restaurant is a favorite of locals and tourists alike for its large selection of fresh seafood and focus on global influences. Dexter’s 808 East Washington Street This solid steak and seafood spot is located downtown. The Pharmacy 8060 Via Dellagio Way Lund said this speakeasy has “a cool pharmacy décor” along with terrific cocktails and food. It’s a must for the pharmacist set. 4 Rivers Barbeque Various locations This sophisticated Texas-style smokehouse is worth the 25-minute drive to one of its locations.