Central Florida

As someone who has been surrounded by it my whole life, I can tell you that Orlando is an overlooked hub of art and culture. Sure, we’re known best for our weather and world-class theme parks, but those with keen eyes can see the arts alive throughout our city via projects like the decorated electrical […]

There are so many great things about the Sunshine State – one of them being that, no matter where you are in Florida, you are never more than one hour from the nearest beach. For many, an Orlando vacation is not complete without a beach trip. While Central Florida is just that, central to the […]

Orlando only ranks somewhere in the middle when it comes to the most expensive cities in the United States, but tickets to the big theme parks still may carry a hefty price tag. There are, however, plenty of other ways to offset that cost. In fact, there are a variety of free activities in Orlando! Take […]

International Drive has served as a major corridor for Orlando visitors since 1972. It was originally conceived by a lawyer and real estate developer, Finley Hamilton, and his partner, Jack Zimmer – the story goes the two named it “International Drive” because “it sounds important.” It would be difficult to dispute that I-Drive is, in fact, […]

Orlando is famous for its theme parks and tourist destinations. When friends and family hear you’re heading for the City Beautiful, they often assume you’re Disney-bound or hitting up The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. They picture character dining and roller coasters and white, sandy beaches. But there is another type of park many visitors don’t […]

Orlando’s world-class attractions make it the number-one tourist area in the world, but what if vacationers aren’t the only beings this destination attracts? Consider this: ghosts and spirits are believed to congregate here, too! I’ve consulted my Ouija board and conjured up Central Florida’s best ghost tours to satisfy those who seek the more spirited […]

Welcome to Pointe Orlando, a playground for adults in the heart of Orlando’s International Drive. As a large, single-site complex, Pointe Orlando is one of the few places in Orlando to offer a fantastic mix of shopping, dining, and entertainment establishments, all within an easy walk of one another (the other two being Universal’s CityWalk and Disney […]

When I first moved to Orlando in 2012, it was common knowledge that The Florida Mall was the less-desirable shopping destination among our local options. Compared to places like Mall at Millennia, Florida Mall was generally considered less-attractive, “sketchier,” and often not worth the time. However, in the last few years, there have been major […]

When someone mentions Orlando, the first things to come to mind are our world-class theme parks and wonderfully warm climate, but there’s so much more to our city – there’s an entire sub-sect of art and culture within our town that would require several other articles to get into. A great representation of this that’s […]

When traveling, it’s always a good decision to research a few things prior to departure. What’s the weather like? What’s some native wildlife you might encounter? How should you dress? And, of course, do we tip, and, if so, how much? Tipping is customary here in the United States, and in Orlando, specifically, our hospitality […]

Being born and raised in New Jersey gives you a few inalienable rights. For me, those were the New York Yankees, wanting to grow up to become a Ghostbuster, and – well – pizza. Pizza, for many, is just a Friday night tradition. For others (myself included), it may as well be a lifestyle. To […]

UPDATE (06.21.19): It breaks my heart to have to update my review this way. Recently, Copper Canyon has closed the doors of its International Drive location. This happened suddenly, and the timing couldn’t be worse. The restaurant always held a dear place in my heart from the first meal I had so many years ago, and […]

When you think of Florida, you likely think of summer – palm trees, a scorching sun, and a life spent by the water with fun frozen drinks that magically appear out of thin (but humid) air. Summer in Florida isn’t just a season, it’s a lifestyle – and one we locals tend to live year-round, where […]

Cooper’s Hawk is an award-winning restaurant and winery located at the intersection of International Drive and Sand Lake Road – the head of Restaurant Row. They consider themselves a modern-casual experience delivered in an upscale setting. What this means is that the cuisine is kept familiar, but with their own spins thrown in while guests […]

  Looking for some indoor fun on a rainy day (or just any day, really) in Orlando? You can’t go wrong with Putting Edge’s glow-in-the-dark mini-golf. Located inside the former Artegon Marketplace, just down the street from Universal Orlando Resort and at the north end of International Drive, Putting Edge is a great place to bring the kids if it’s too hot, too […]

On the one hand, the new Sesame Street land at SeaWorld Orlando is a pretty standard children’s area of a theme park; with its bright colors, happy music, and inviting design, it’s actually fairly reminiscent of the Shamu’s Happy Harbor land that it only recently replaced (especially considering that all six of its rides are […]

After months of wild speculation, rumors, and anticipation, Busch Gardens today announced what is going to replace Busch Gardens Tampa’s long-suffering (and -shuttered) Gwazi wooden roller coaster. This brand-new, as-yet-unnamed coaster is yet another hybrid coaster from manufacturer Rocky Mountain Company, which has quickly obtained a sterling reputation for laying new steel track over the […]

After paying for admission to SeaWorld Orlando, then handing over $20 or more for parking, the last thing you want to do is spend a fortune to feed your family all day. The good news is that SeaWorld has many ways to make eating at the park very affordable – no matter how long you’ll be there […]

Here’s a perfect quick-and-healthy restaurant idea: put out dozens of fresh-from-the-farm salad ingredients and toppings as a buffet, toss together a few handmade options for the guest who doesn’t want to build it himself, serve the salads with unlimited soup, pizza, pasta, and ice cream, and do it all for about $10 a person. Well, […]

When one thinks about Orlando, thoughts of theme parks and world-class attractions are often the first to come to mind; a record 68 million people visited the City Beautiful last year, and most spent at least some time experiencing all that these attractions have to offer. What may be surprising to some, however, is that […]

WonderWorks is possibly the strangest and most intriguing attraction on International Drive. The look of the building itself is enough to draw anyone’s curiosity, as, upon first glance, it seems to literally be upside-down, but there’s much more to the experience than just appearances – this “amusement park for the body and mind” is edutainment […]

If you’re planning your first visit to Orlando, you want to make sure you’re as prepared as possible! If you’re responsible for creating the perfect trip for your family, the weight on your shoulders can feel a little heavy. But don’t worry – we’re going to help you out and relieve a little of that stress. […]

Mini golf is a great go-to for a wide variety of reasons – family bonding, a simple date night, or just an easy, non-theme park activity. But how do you decide which putt putt course to pick with all that’s offered in Orlando? That’s where we come in! Here’s our list of the best mini […]

With spring in full swing, some of us are focused on getting our swimsuits ready for summer vacation. If you’re planning a trip to Orlando, chances are you’ve thought about checking out one of the five water parks in the area. But which one is right for you? We break down the best of the […]

Sponsored Post: our friends at The Escape Game asked us to write this. Prior to any communication, we were big fans and had already completed every escape room that they offer in Orlando. I love the parks – they were what brought me to Florida in the first place. But after six years and countless […]

Let’s be blunt: SeaWorld Entertainment isn’t doing very well right now. In late August, it was announced that its former CEO, Jim Atchison, is under investigation by the Department of Justice for insider trading. A few weeks before that, it was revealed that the company’s national attendance for the first half of the year was […]

When it comes to roller coasters, a lot of people sometimes say bigger isn’t better, yet the theme parks, year after year, continue to push the envelope with just how high and how fast their coasters can go. Orlando is home to one of the best collections of roller coasters in the world; the theme […]

April is National Autism Awareness Month and LEGOLAND Florida Resort is doing their part by announcing the addition of ‘Quiet Rooms,’ No-Wait Passes and Employee Training to assist guests with Autism Spectrum Disorders. LEGOLAND Florida recently partnered with the North and Central Florida chapter of Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, to better serve […]

One of the biggest problems facing tourists when they arrive in Central Florida is transportation; the last thing a number of visitors want to do while on vacation is having to drive around Orlando’s heavily-congested roadways (hence Disney offering its Magical Express service from the airport to its on-site hotels), and those who hail from […]

One of the most perennial, most fundamental questions to tackle during vacation planning has always been: do I take my children out of school for our Orlando trip? The pros and cons make the issue more fraught than one might otherwise assume – waiting until a school break means bigger crowds and more expensive rates […]

LEGOLAND Florida Resort has officially opened its latest expansion at its resort in the shape of  83 colorful bungalows. Each bungalow features 166 separate rooms that sleep up to five people, including an area just for kids with a bunk bed, trundle bed and privacy curtain, you know, because kids need their alone time too. […]

If you’re a fan of the new LEGO Batman Movie, which has already grossed over $136 million at the box office since its February 10th debut, you may want to head to LEGOLAND Florida starting tomorrow for their new event featuring the caped crusader. The event takes place over the next two weekends, on March 4-5 […]

One of the biggest frustrations of a road trip is trying to entertain the kids so you and your kids don’t go crazy. LEGOLAND Florida Resort has a new app that will help entertain your kids, at least for a little while, that involves c. Here’s how it works. You go and download the free ‘Quest […]

Skyplex on International Drive, the massive thrill ride tower complex that is scheduled to start construction later this year, just announced yet another thrill ride to its arsenal, called Sky Jump. The attraction is described as a “free fall” experience where guests are strapped to zipline mechanism 500-feet in the air and “freefall” to the ground. […]

When planned correctly, wearing a cute dress on your vacation to the Orlando theme parks can be another memorable and fun aspect of your vacation. To help make the most of your trip, I’ve compiled some tips and ideas for wearing a theme park inspired dress on your next Orlando trip! How to pick the […]