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Part of Central Florida, Orlando is the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area and the third most-visited city in the United States after New York and Miami. In 2022, there were 2.9 million visitors. The Orlando international airport is the 29th busiest on the globe. The city is part of the US’s Sun Belt, which stretches from the Southeast to the Southwest and features several types of warm climates, from desert in Nevada, Utah, and Arizona to humid tropical in Louisiana, Florida, Texas, and South Carolina, and Mediterranean in California.

If you’re looking to have a holiday in the region, there’s no better place to see than Orlando. But with so many tourist attractions around, you’ll have to start off with a plan in order to make the most of it.

Jack Kerouac House

Book lovers cannot miss the opportunity to visit the Jack Kerouac House in Orlando, Florida. Kerouac, who wrote both prose and poetry, pioneered the Beat Generation alongside Allen Ginsberg. The Beats inspired the subsequent hippie movement, with the difference being that the latter was centered on music, while the Beatniks were focused on literature. The house marks the author’s career and life and has become a pilgrimage site for the fans.

Try Holafly’s eSIMs to enjoy perfect connectivity no matter where you are so that you can send everyone back home pictures of the landmarks you visit. The house has a simple design, being made of wood. Kerouac lived with his wife and mother and wrote The Dharma Bums here. In 2013, the house entered the National Register of Historic Places.

Walt Disney World

Visiting Disney World is a given if you travel with children, but many adults enjoy traveling to the iconic destination. The resort opened on October 1st, 1971 and covers roughly 25,000 acres. The Journey of Water inspired by Moana, sharing stories about family with Mirabel, the Magic Kingdom Park and the Disney After Hours that offer snacks and exciting attractions are just a few things you can enjoy at the park.

If you’re a Star Wars fan, you must visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There’s an immersive experience that features Batuu, a planet in the Outer Rim Territories, and you can also join a mission on the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. You can also embark on an adventure in Toy Story Land across Andy’s Backyard. And, of course, you must join the intergalactic quest at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Harry P. Leu Gardens

These gardens are a must-see for those who love walking through green areas and just taking in the views. The place was created by Mr. and Mrs. Harry P. Leu, who had a habit of returning home with exotic plants from their journeys. Their hobby continues to delight all the visitors who arrive to see the gardens each year. The gardens are attached to the home and sprawled over 40 acres. After their passing, the estate was donated to the City of Orlando. Horticulturalists come here to study and study in the lush gardens.

The reason why they can survive in the area is due to Florida’s humid climate. The most celebrated collection is that of camellias, which includes 2,000 plants and 200 different cultivars. However, you can also see a wide assortment of ferns, roses, lilies, magnolias, and palms. The massive floral clock on the premises is frequently replanted, so if you decide to revisit it during the following year, you’ll find different patterns.

Cultural landmarks

If you’re keen on the city itself and enjoy the charms of the urban jungle, you’ll be happy to hear that Orlando offers a wide range of cultural activities, so there’s no risk of you ever becoming bored. The Orlando Museum of Art was founded in 1924 and must be on your itinerary if you love both historical and contemporary artworks. Every year, you have the opportunity to see about twelve different exhibitions on-site and approximately thirteen off-site. The Orlando Science Center includes exhibits about America’s food systems and sustainability, dinosaurs and kinetic energy.

You can book private experiences in advance as well. For instance, you can choose to be an animal keeper for the day or choose classes about circuit boards and origami. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art is situated in the historic Winter Park. It hosts the most extensive collection of art pieces created by Louis Comfort Tiffany, best known for his stained glass and decorative arts work. There’s also the Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, dedicated to the ship and its tragic fate. From Monday to Friday, you can join one of the guided tours and gain insights about the passengers and crew, as well as the artifacts that were recovered and how they are preserved.

The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens are another area that is unique to the city. It is the home of the Czech sculptor of the same name. The museum is open to visitors from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, from Tuesday to Sunday. You’ll find it at 633 Osceola Ave, right on the shores of Lake Osceola. The gardens are filled with various sculptures, and there are also temporary exhibits that honor the work of other artists. You can even enjoy a picnic outside; the gardens are perfect for lounging and relaxing.

Restaurants

You can’t visit a new city without sampling some of its local cuisine. At Kabooki Sushi, you can sample the 15-course omakase selected by the chefs themselves. However, if you’d rather choose something more familiar, the sushi and sashimi are excellent as well. For dessert, consider the ube cheesecake, carrot cake with cinnamon glaze, orange and ginger ice cream or the walnut brittles. The Buttermilk Bakery has become a staple in Orlando, particularly for breakfast. You can find croissants, tarts, brioche and quiche here, but you must be willing to be an early bird to catch the best goods.

Some of the iconic foods that are specific to Florida and you might consider giving a try are key lime pie, Cuban sandwiches, stone crabs which are native to the Florida coast, Apalachicola oysters, sour orange pie, pink shrimp, clam chowder and fried gator bites, if you’re more culinary adventurous and not afraid to try new things.

Orlando is one of the best places you can visit in the United States, but there’s so much to do you need to have an itinerary before you leave your home. This way, you can visit as many spots as possible.