Whether you take in the Florida Strawberry Festival or another annual event, late winter and early spring are ideal times to come to Central Florida.

While late February and early March might be considered the dead of winter in other parts of the country, springtime is in full bloom in Central Florida—which is why late winter and early spring are ideal times for annual festivals. From theme park extravaganzas to traditional county fair carnivals, there is something for everyone in and around Orlando.

Even though the period of time between the influx of Christmas break and Spring Break crowds is considered the off-peak season, there are plenty of events for local residents and visitors to enjoy. Mardi Gras at Universal Studios Florida is free with daily admission or an annual pass, and some of the biggest names in pop music come here for concerts between he months of February and April. Add to that the festive bead-dazzling atmosphere of the Mardi Gras parade, French Quarter food and music, and an after party and Universal CityWalk, and you have plenty of reasons to return to Unviersal to enjoy the celebration.

While theme parks rule the roost in and around Orlando, every now and then it is nice to have the opportunity to experience the more traditional carnival atmosphere of a county fair. For the past century, the Central Florida Fair has been a gathering place for agriculture exhibits, home grown entertainment, midway games, carnival rides—and fried food on a stick. The Central Florida Fairgrounds are located in Orlando just west of Interstate 4, and it is popular annual event for local residents who wish to go back in time to the way Central Floridians enjoyed thrill rides and festival food before the arrival of Disney World.

For those who are adventurous enough to venture further out to Plant City, Florida—only a short drive from Tampa off of I-4—the Florida Strawberry Festival is a celebration of all things strawberry—right here in the Citrus State. Like the Central Florida Fair there is live entertainment (with a large number of big name country acts—Taylor Swift made an appearance here when she was a rising star) carnival rides, agriculture exhibits, and all the strawberries you can possibly eat, in the form of strawberry shortcakes, pies, ice creams, and other creations, and visitors can also purchase a few pounds of fresh from the field strawberries right before they leave.

With temperatures gradually warming before the onslaught of large crowds and hotter temperatures, late winter is an ideal time to come to the Orlando area and enjoy some of the region’s unique annual festivals. Whether you are loading up on Mardi Gras beads or a freshly made strawberry shortcake, you might just realize that anytime is the best time to come to Orlando.

Keyboard Keys Close Up

Anyone who has experienced the original Pat O’Brien’s on New Orleans’ world-famous Bourbon Street can get a taste of NOLA at Universal CityWalk in Orlando. Pat O’Brien’s lays claim to being the original home of the dueling pianos, and yes, they also serve the syrupy sweet—and sleep inducing—Hurricane specialty drink (after all, Florida gets the occasional hurricane as well). The piano bar opens at 5:00 p.m. daily and there is dueling piano entertainment every night.

Not to be outdone by Universal CityWalk, the Disney BoardWalk has their own piano bar—Jellyrolls. This is another 21-and-older establishment with dueling pianos, where customers can hear their requests from talented musicians and dance the night away. For Valentine’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries, or any romantic outing, Jellyrolls makes an ideal date night, and Disney’s Boardwalk tends to be less crowded than Downtown Disney.

For couples or singles wanting to celebrate a bachelorette evening, Howl at the Moon on Orlando’s International Drive includes dueling pianos plus an expansive dance floor. This is where date night and a spirited night life come together while revelers party until the wee hours (which in the city of Orlando, would be 2:00 a.m.)

While I-Drive, Universal and Disney draw upon tourist crowds, those who want to have a night on the town with the locals can check out the Church Street bars and Baby Grands Dueling Piano Bar. This downtown Orlando bar not only has live music and libations, but is just a short walk from the Amway Center, which hosts Orlando Magic NBA games and Orlando’s biggest concert acts.

Orlando’s Piano bars offer the unique experience of live music in an intimate setting, whether your night on the town is couples only or a lively outing with a group of old friends. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to make a night of dueling pianos one of your most cherished memories of Orlando Florida

Dave and Busters on International Drive is one of many venues in Orlando where kids can celebrate their birthdays.

Dave and Busters on International Drive is one of many venues in Orlando where kids can celebrate their birthdays.

For your child’s next birthday, you can reinvent the wheel with a typical pizza and cake at the indoor bounce house party, or you can create a memory to last a lifetime at one of Orlando’s many hotels, resorts and entertainment venues. The choices are endless and can accommodate a wide variety of group sizes—and parent budgets.

A day at the theme park is a great choice for a family outing, especially for Florida families that already have an annual pass. In recent years, SeaWorld has expanded its offerings for the preschool set, with Sesame Street characters and play areas geared for the little ones. Harry Potter fans will want to spend the day at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure to explore the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Of course, Walt Disney World has a host of opportunities for children of all ages to enjoy a memorable birthday. Little princesses will especially appreciate an opportunity to dine with Cinderella at her Magic Kingdom castle or the other Disney princesses at the Akershus restaurant in the Norway Pavilion of Epcot. Older kids and gaming fans might want to hang out at DisneyQuest indoor interactive theme park at Downtown Disney, which has a number of theme restaurants, such as the T-Rex Café. Call 407-WDW-DINE up to 180 days in advance to book the restaurant reservation.

If you want to turn your child’s birthday into a weekend experience for family or even a few friends, there are several resorts in Orlando that can accommodate water park enthusiasts. Ride the lazy river and enjoy the expansive pools at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando or the Hilton at Bonnet Creek. Gaylord Palms is only minutes away from the main gate of Walt Disney World, and yet it seems a world away from the tourist zone with its sun-filled, Florida-themed atrium area.

For a full-fledged water park within a resort experience—we’re talking everything from splash pads to body slides and the occasional sliming—check out Coco Key Resort on International Drive or the Nickelodeon Suites Hotel. The “Nick Hotel” is the premier family-friendly resort in Orlando, with character greetings from SpongeBob Squarepants, Dora the Explorer, and other Nickelodeon characters, and enough activities to keep your family occupied for a week.

Another entertainment venue that caters to birthday celebrations for kids and grown-ups are the dinner theater venues such as Medieval Times, Arabian Nights, and Pirates Adventure Theater. When you make your reservation, let these places know ahead of time that you are celebrating a birthday, or inquire about a special birthday package.

And if all these choices seem a little expensive for you, Orlando does have some very affordable birthday options as well. Miniature golf attractions like Congo River can be found up and down International Drive, and with the arrival of Dave and Busters on I-Drive, older kids can have more of a pay-as-you-go arcade experience (which is the opposite of DisneyQuest, where you pay Disney prices for admission up front but all of the games are free).

And for anyone who remembers having or attending a birthday party at McDonald’s, I-Drive has a McDonald’s birthday celebration like no other—featuring the world’s largest McDonald’s play place. The restaurant even serves “bistro” meals for more grown-up appetites, while the kids can enjoy arcade games after their burgers and fries.

With so many venues to choose from, parents can create a very memorable birthday for their child right here in Orlando. The choices are endless, the price ranges vary, and the kids will appreciate having a unique birthday experience with family and friends.

Orlando International Airport hosts a wide variety of domestic and international carriers.

Orlando International Airport (OIA) is one of the most tourist-friendly airports in the country, with a Hyatt hotel inside the airport, gift shops representing all of the major theme parks, and enough domestic and international airlines to attract visitors from around the world. OIA has two terminals—A and B—and is a major hub for Southwest Airlines in Terminal A. Most international flights arrive and depart through Terminal B, although some airlines based out of Canada or Mexico can be found in Terminal A as well.

The following airlines can be found at Orlando International Airport:

Aer Lingus (Terminal B)
AeroMexico (Terminal A)
Air Canada (Terminal A)
Air Transat (Terminal A)
Air France (Terminal B)
AirTran (Terminal B)
Alaska Airlines (Terminal A)
American Airlines (Terminal A)
Avianca (Terminal A)
Bahamas Air (Terminal B)
British Airways (Terminal B)
CanJet (Terminal A)
Caribbean Airlines (Terminal A)
Continental Airlines (Terminal B)
Copa Airlines (Terminal A)
Delta (Terminal B)
Edelweiss Air (Terminal A)
Frontier (Terminal B)
VOEGOL (Terminal A)
Interjet (Terminal A)
JetBlue Airways (Terminal A)
LAN
Lufthansa (Terminal B)
Miami Air (Terminal A)
Southwest (Terminal A)
Spirit Airlines (Terminal B)
Sun Country Airlines (Terminal B)
Sun Wing (Terminal A)
TACA (Terminal A)
TAM Airlines (Terminal A)
United (Terminal B)
US Airways (Terminal B)
Virgin America (Terminal A)
Virgin Atlantic (Terminal A)
Viva Aerobus (Terminal A)
WestJet (Terminal A)
Whitejets Airways (Terminal A)

It's the ultimate Disney cuisine--the smoked turkey leg, which is available at all Disney parks and water parks.

Whether it’s your first trip to Orlando or your fifth, there are certain things that should be on your bucket list for a visit to Orlando. No matter how many trips it takes to complete this list, here are some of the top things to add to your Orlando vacation bucket list:

1. Take a photograph in front of the iconic Cinderella castle at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.

2. Dine on an oversized smoked turkey leg at any of the Disney World theme parks. You might want to share it with a loved one.

3. If you still have room for dessert, polish off a “Mickey Bar”– chocolate-covered vanilla ice cream in the shape of Mickey Mouse ears.

4. Find as many “Hidden Mickeys” as you can at one of the Disney parks or resorts. (Books are available to help you in your search).

5. Enter the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studio’s Islands of Adventure.

6. Have a “date night” at one of the restaurants or nightclubs at Universal CityWalk—and catch a movie as well.

7. Watch the killer whales perform in the “Believe” show at SeaWorld Orlando.

8. Shop at one of Orlando’s Premium Outlet malls.

9. Spend a day at any of Orlando’s water parks: Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, Aquatica, or Wet ‘n Wild.

10. Sample a bit of Old Florida at one of Orlando’s oldest tourist attractions: Gatorland.

This list is just the beginning–make your own Bucket List of things to do in Orlando as you plan for your next vacation. Between all of the theme parks, water parks, and unique attractions, it might take several trips to check off everything you want to do on your bucket list.

A ski resort set in sunny Florida--the Summit Plummet at the top of Blizzard Beach's Mount Gushmore is a popular attraction for older kids and teens.

Once kids have reached or exceeded the height limit for all of the major theme park roller coasters, rides with abundant stroller parking don’t seem to cut it anymore. For families with older kids and teens, here are the best  theme parks and rides to “graduate” to on your next Orlando vacation.

While Disney World is best known for mild rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and It’s a Small World at Magic Kingdom, the most intense roller coaster experiences can be found at Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, or the Rock and Roll Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which also has the Tower of Terror ride that will leave your heart and your stomach in your throat as passengers feel like human yo-yo’s on a haunted elevator.

Avid gamers will love the DisneyQuest interactive indoor theme park with several floors of interactive video games (some of them with height requirements) plus many Old School arcade games their parents will enjoy. Keep in mind that Disney World boasts two water parks–Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach–that are best enjoyed by kids who are old enough to swim or handle the body slides at either park, including the famed Summit Plummet at Blizzard Beach–the tallest and fastest water slide drop in the world.

Orlando’s wildest water park–Wet n’ Wild–caters to more of a teenage crowd, with bowl rides like Disco H2O and The Black Hole: The Next Generation. The newest water park in town–Aquatica–offers the Dolphin Plunge and Roa Rapids. Which is a faster version of the traditional lazy river.

SeaWorld’s main theme park offers the Manta roller coaster, a unique experience where riders glide face down like a real manta ray. And in nearby Discovery Cove, the swim with the dolphins experience is reserved for older kids, teens and adults in a tranquil environment that feels far removed from the Orlando theme park crowds.

For those who don’t mind tourist crowds and queuing up for the hottest attraction in town, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure has the Wizarding World if Harry Potter, which brings the worldwide book and movie phenomenon to life right here in Orlando. Visitors can explore the world of Hogwarts, be selected by a mahic wand, and grab a mug of (non-alcoholic) butter beer while they enjoy everything that the Universal Studios and Islands if Adventure have to offer.

Other popular Universal rides for older kids and teens include the Incredible Hulk coaster and the Spiderman ride, which will have riders feel as if they are webslinging their way through a dark and dangerous city. Universal tends to attract visitors with older kids and teens as well as those who have already experienced all of the Disney parks.

Here in Orlando, theme parks are definitely not relegated to being kid stuff–there is something for everyone at each of the Orlando theme parks. And best of all, the Orlando parks are always trying something new–which is exactly what kids of all ages are looking for.

Children of all ages are delighted by Magic Kingdom's evening parades.

If you think your toddlers and preschoolers are too young for the Orlando area theme parks, think again. Children of all ages will find plenty of attractions that will delight them, and with free admission for children under three at most parks, there is no added expense to bring your wee ones along.

That being, some Orlando area theme parks are more entertaining for the stroller crowd than others. Theme parks cater to young families, so all of the basics for feeding, diaper changing and stroller parking will be covered no matter where you go, but as far as individual attractions are concerned, here are the parks that do the best job of keeping the youngest visitors engaged:

Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom: While all of the Disney World parks cater to children of all ages, attractions like “It’s a Small World” and the numerous Disney princess sightings are a big hit with the toddler crowd, as is the Grand Carousel and the Winnie the Pooh ride. Depending on their height, kids as young as four years of age can have their first roller coaster ride in the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Rides like Snow White, Haunted Mansion, and Pirates of the Carribbean are as mellow as they come, although your child’s enjoyment of the ride might depend on how sensitive he or she is to a dark tunnel ride with animatronic characters. Keep in mind that the other three Disney parks–Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios–all have areas that very young children will find entertaining, but for a child’s first foray into Disney World, nothing beats the backdrop of the iconic Cinderella castle at Magic Kingdom.

Another super family friendly theme park in Orlando is SeaWorld, with its Sesame Street characters, children’s play area and rides, and the enthralling  live shows featuring killer whales, dolphins, and even cats and dogs. While Believe with the orcas draws the largest crowds, the Pets Ahoy show offers plenty of entertainment with familiar household animals.

Add to that SeaWorld’s extensive kids’ area with places to climb and explore, and you’ll find plenty of things for young kids to do during a day at SeaWorld. Halloween and Christmas in particular are festive times at the park.

The newest addition to the Central Florida theme park scene is Legoland in Winter Haven, Florida. This park is specifically aimed at kids 12 and under  and the attractions in the Duplo Village specifically target the youngest visitors.

In addition to the playgrounds and rides designed for preschoolers, the live water ski shows are sure to please audiences of all ages, especially with the characters dressed in full Lego costumes. The interactive attractions where children build with Legos are especially popular with the younger crowd, as are pint size rides such as junior driving school and boating school.

While older children tend to “graduate” from the Disney parks to Universal and the water parks, any of the Orlando area theme parks can accommodate young children, but for parks that really cater to te younger crowd, be sure to make some memories–even if they are only for Mom and Dad–at Magic Kingdom, SeaWorld or Legoland.

The Miniland area of LEGOLAND salutes Florida with miniature locations like the Kennedy Space Center.

During Orlando’s peak travel seasons—the winter holidays, spring break, and summer vacation—you’ll see plenty of crowds packing International Drive and all of the local theme parks, but what if there was a way to enjoy a day at the theme park without spending so much of your drive just getting into the parking lot?

With the Opening of LEGOLAND in October of 2011, Orlando visitors and residents now have even more options for theme park fun. Located in Winter Haven, Florida, LEGOLAND draws visitors from both the Orlando and Tampa area, and since the park is only a few months old, there are still plenty of discount deals available for tickets and annual passes at the largest LEGOLAND theme park in the world—located less than an hour away from the Orlando attractions.

LEGOLAND is geared for the 12 and under crowd, and kids who want to continue having fun with Lego building sets will find more than enough Legos to choose from at the Big Shop located near the park entrance. (Note: If you do plan on buying any Lego sets here, do it on your way out of the park). The Duplo Village is where the littlest visitors will have the most fun, and older children will get plenty of thrills from Coastersaurus, Flying School and the Project X coasters.

Besides the Lego-themed rides, the Miniland area of LEGOLAND is a must-see stop for all visitors. There are several recreations of famous Florida locales such as Miami Beach, Tampa, and Kennedy Space Center (although you won’t find a salute to Orlando theme parks here). Other amazing replicas include Las Vegas, Washington DC and San Francisco, just to name a few. You might end up taking most of your photographs right here, posing the kids in front of various Lego landmarks.

Another unique aspect of LEGOLAND Florida is the theme park’s history as the Old Florida attraction Cypress Gardens. A small section of the original botanical gardens remains for visitors to enjoy, and the water ski shows that made this park famous more than 70 years ago continue to delight crowds with new Lego-themed shows. (And admittedly, it’s amazing to see how well these performers ski in their full Lego block costumes.

Since LEGOLAND is Florida’s newest theme park, expect to see more interest in this park in the months to come; when Disney and Universal reach maximum capacity during the Christmas/New Year’s holidays there is a good chance that LEGOLAND might max out as well. However, LEGOLAND’s location just outside of Orlando’s Disney World-Universal-SeaWorld complex has its advantages for travelers who want to experience a unique, modern theme park without spending the first hour of their journey traveling through the parking lot to get to the front gate. LEGOLAND is a welcome addition to the Central Florida theme park scene, and it looks like it will be for years to come.

Just about every theme park in Orlando will have some sort of fireworks display on New Year's Eve.

Orlando comes alive on New Year’s Eve, with the Orlando theme park attractions offering plenty of music and fireworks and the local area resorts helping visitors ring in the New Year. How do you want to remember the first day of the New Year? Here are at least 10 ways to party—without putting up with sub-zero temperatures.

1. Magic Kingdom: Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom caps off every evening with a spectacular fireworks display, and New Year’s Eve is no exception. The park stays open until 2:00 am. And there will be two fireworks displays—one at 8:30 (for the little ones) and Fantasy in the Sky fireworks at 11:50 p.m.
2. Epcot: Like Magic Kingdom, the World Showcase area of Epcot is known for a specular light and sound show at the end of the evening. On New Year’s Eve, even the Future World area of the park stays open longer, and a special version of Illuninations will entrance and enthrall the guests.
3. Disney’s Hollywood Studios: In addition to three showings of Fantasmic (get a seat early; those bleacher fill up fast) Disney’s Hollywood Studios features “Lights, Camera, Happy New Year” fireworks to ring in the New Year.
4. Downtown Disney:  DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive theme park will be hosting a cyber-celebration with access to all DisneyQuest attractions and video games, food, plus  a DJ dance party with a countdown and a confetti drop at midnight.
5. Universal CityWalk: Every year, Universal brings in a major musical act to perform at CityWalk. Add to that the all-you-can-eat gourmet cuisine, admission to seven nightclubs with live entertainment, and midnight champagne with confetti, and you’ve got a memorable night out.
6. SeaWorld Orlando: SeaWorld celebrates the Christmas season with soaring fountains, dazzling lights, and festive fireworks, all set to the tune of holiday music. With extended hours on New Year’s Eve the Fireworks and Fountain Finale is a perfect way to end the day and begin the New Year at SeaWorld.
7. Gaylord Palms: Book a package deal for the weekend and enjoy ICE! At the Gaylord Palms Resort, stroll through the atriums to admire the Christmas decorations, and then toast the New Year with champagne at one of the resort’s many restaurants
8. Waldorf Astoria Orlando/Hilton Bonnet Creek Orlando: Guests of the Waldorf Astoria Orlando and the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek can enjoy a private fireworks display on December 30, and on December 31 the resorts’ signature restaurant will be offering special menus. The kids can even stay in the Kids’ Club until just past midnight so Mom and Dad can enjoy a Parents’ Night Out!
9. Medieval Times: Celebrate Medieval Times’ New Year’s Eve Extravaganza with pre-show Hors D’oeuvres, a stroll through the Medieval Village, a two-hour jousting tournament, four-course feast, music, dancing, a champagne toast at midnight plus a continental breakfast.
10. Arabian Nights: Now more family-friendly than ever, you can celebrate New Year’s Eve with a pre-show appetizer buffet, live entertainment, roaming atmosphere entertainers, and drink specials all night. Exotic equestrian performances are the highlight of the evening, but don’t miss the countdown to the New Year with a balloon drop and a champagne toast at midnight.

Mickey Mouse is a big part of Christmas in Orlando.

So how will you spend your Christmas vacation in Orlando? Consider spending your trip at an upscale resort, such as the Hilton Bonnet Creek or Waldorf Astoria Orlando, where a day or two on the golf course can be a part of your travel itinerary. Guests at both resorts can also have access to spa treatments, fine dining and many other amenities during their stay.

Just minutes away from Walt Disney World at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center, you will be dazzled by the spectacular frozen sculptures at ICE! at Gaylord Palms. Bring at least one wintry outfit if you plan to explore this attraction (although oversized blue parkas will be provided) and don’t forget to have some hot cocoa afterwards and enjoy the holiday décor throughout the resort.

While ice and snow have to be manufactured in Florida, you don’t need freezing temperatures to truly appreciate the Christmas season. In fact, the lovely weather makes the outdoor light displays even more enjoyable. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests can take in sights and sounds of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. With twinkling lights choreographed to holiday music, you’ll join thousands of fellow visitors in being a part of a magical Disney World Christmas.

Keep in mind that all of the major theme parks are doing something special for the Christmas, whether it’s the Polar Express experience at SeaWorld or Grinchmas at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure. The festivities will continue right through the New Year’s celebrations—which is one of the busiest times for the Orlando area attractions.

If tourist crowds are not your style, on the east side of Orlando the University of Central Florida presents Light Us UCF ad one of the area’s newer holiday traditions. Locals enjoy this festive display of music, outdoor Christmas movies, ice skating, and of course, lights. Just north of downtown Orlando in Winter Park, the town’s Central Park has a lighted Christmas tree,

Admiring the Christmas light displays is just one of the many activities you can enjoy after the sun goes down. Orlando has a number of dinner theaters that can cap off your day with a fantastic evening show and dinner. The most popular Orlando dinner theaters include the equestrian pageantry of Medieval Times and Arabian Nights (both are located just south of Orlando in Kissimmee), and the Pirates Dinner Adventure, which finds a safe harbor just off of International Drive in Orlando.

No matter how you choose to spend your Christmas vacation in Orlando, there will plenty of things to keep you in the holiday spirit, even if you don’t have the wintry weather to go along with it (although it’s not exactly waterpark weather, at least by Floridian standards). With so many vacation homes and all-suite hotels to choose from in the Orlando area, your next Christmas get together with extended family can happen right here in Orlando.