Anytime you mention the city of Orlando, most people’s thoughts turn to theme parks, especially Walt Disney World. With a major airport located in the city, Orlando is readily accessible and there are a number of cheap flights to Florida that land here. It’s very easy to find flights to Orlando just by searching online and many of the airlines are offering some outstanding deals during the upcoming winter season. Being in Florida, the climate here is the primary draw as it attracts many visitors from colder climates. But there is so much more to visiting Orlando and the state of Florida than sunshine and theme parks.
National parks of Florida and their features
There are 3 major national parks in the state of Florida – Biscayne, Dry Tortugas, and Everglades. There are also 2 national memorials, 2 national monuments, and 2 national seashores that can be visited while vacationing in the state.
– Biscayne National Park – located east of Homestead in southern Florida, the park is 95% water as it is a preserve for Biscayne Bay. It is also a favourite destination for scuba diving.
– Dry Tortugas National Park – situated in the Florida Keys, it is a preserve for the Dry Tortugas area and Fort Jefferson. It is actually on the Gulf side of Key West about 109 km (68 mi.) to the west of the city.
– Everglades National Park – this national park now protects 25% of the southernmost portion of the original Everglades and is the 3rd largest national park in the lower 48 US states.
If you are looking to appreciate the true beauty and diversity of the state of Florida, there is no better way to accomplish that than by visiting any one (or all) of the above national parks.
Wildlife
Surprisingly, as populated as Orlando is (2.1 million) and the fact that the city sees over 52 million tourists annually, there are several species of wildlife that call this area home. The following will give you an idea of the more common animals that you may see when visiting the city:
– Bats
– Opossums
– Raccoons
– Rats
– Snakes
– Squirrels
Of the above the only ones that really cause any concerns are rats and squirrels because of how prolific they are and the damage they do. There are 3 varieties of rats that are very prolific and keep the extermination industry booming. Squirrels can do a lot of damage as well as they love living in attics and chewing up electrical wiring and wood.
Activities
Orlando features several major attractions that attract millions of tourists and international visitors every year. The following 8 are the ones that you will commonly hear about and are the most recommended:
– Aquatica
– Discovery Cove
– Gatorland
– Holy Land
– SeaWorld Adventure Park Orlando
– Universal Orlando Resort
– Walt Disney World
– Wet ‘N Wild
You can search online for more information about these major attractions and to learn more about their costs of admission and hours of operation.
Follow itravelnet.com