Unexpected
Orlando VisitOrlando.com
An official publication of Visit Orlando速
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Top: Home of Joseph Clarke, one of Eatonville’s founders; Central Florida Ballet
The Mennello Museum of American Art
Bok Tower Gardens
Table of Contents Introduction 4 Art Galleries & Museums
Orlando may be best known for thrilling theme parks, but its cultural and natural attractions are hidden gems you’ll be glad to discover.
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History & Cultural Venues
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Outdoor Activities
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Parks & Gardens
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Performing Arts & Entertainment
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Explore the past and celebrate the present at any number of museums, historic sites and other cultural venues. Adventure calls: from hot air balloon and airboat rides to fishing trips and off-road tours, endless thrills abound in Orlando’s great outdoors. Local parks, zoos and botanical gardens provide up-close encounters with native and exotic flora and fauna.
Orlando’s professional dance and theater companies, top-rated orchestras, and wide variety of cultural events provide unrivaled entertainment.
Calendar of Events
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Local Map
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A wide array of cultural festivals offers something for everyone. An overview of venue locations On the cover: Cityscape Twilight by Larry Moore, an original commission for the Amway Center Art Collection.
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Discover the unexpected Orlando
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Bach Festival Society
Unexpected Orlando, Guaranteed Smiles
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With world-class museums, theaters and performance companies, Orlando’s vibrant cultural community rivals that of many other major cities. Orlando has the highest number of performers per capita in the country. It makes sense: Our theme parks are the result of people with amazing talent and vision working together to create magical experiences. In fact, one out of six theme park workers is in an arts-related position, and their creative energy spills over into the community.
©The Walt Disney World
ome to some of the world’s best attractions, Orlando is known as a top destination for families. However, it has another side that visitors are often surprised to find. Like a pearl beneath an oyster’s shell, the area’s arts, historic and natural offerings are hidden gems, ready for you to discover.
La NoubaTM by Cirque du Soleil
Life is a Cabaret (And Much More!) Orlando has the cornerstones of any cultural capital — ballet, theater, philharmonic orchestra, noted museums — as well as a wide range of popular annual events. Traditional art, music, literary and film festivals are all staples, as are homegrown offerings, such as the Orlando Cabaret Festival and Otronicon, a multiday celebration of technology and its role in our lives.
ART FUSION – ORLANDO-STYLE! The unexpected side of Orlando is much more than the sum of its parts. It is a seamless blending of art, culture, literature, history and natural beauty. Orlando was a muse for Beat poet Jack Kerouac, who penned The Dharma Bums in a small house near downtown. The work of Zora Neale Hurston, the great African-American author and folklorist, was greatly influenced by her childhood in Eatonville, a small town just north of Orlando that was founded by African Americans in 1887. Each January, a cultural festival is held there in her honor. Renowned actress Annie Russell was friends with Mary Curtis Bok, the wife of Bok Tower Gardens Founder Edward Bok. Mary funded the Annie Russell Theater and also helped found what today is the Maitland Art Center.
LET YOUR JOURNEY BEGIN This guide offers a taste of Orlando’s seemingly endless cultural options, from visual and performing arts to historic sights and botanical gardens. So treat yourself to a trip to the Unexpected Orlando — you’re sure to uncover a few hidden gems.
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Art Galleries & Museums
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Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens
Create Picture-Perfect Memories
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astoral landscapes painted by the masters; bold scenes of rural America, told in fiery colors by folk artists; and even the interpretive appeal of contemporary art: Here in Orlando, you’ll find artistic beauty in many different mediums and venues.
FROM TIMELY TO TIMELESS
Impressive permanent collections, touring exhibitions and creative events are hallmarks of Orlando Museum of Art Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College, as well as of Orlando Museum of Art and its neighbor, The Mennello Museum of American Art, which has a large body of work by Florida folk artist Earl Cunningham. Local artists take center stage at Orlando’s Comma Gallery, CityArts Factory and Gallery at Avalon Island, and at nearby Sanford’s Jeanine Taylor Folk Art and Gallery on First. Hob-knob with up-and-coming artists and local art aficionados at monthly art strolls, such as downtown Orlando’s Third Thursday Gallery Hop, when local galleries and merchants stay open late and offer entertainment. Add to your own art collection with a piece by a local artist, or head to Baterbys Art Auction Gallery, which regularly auctions off works by 20th-century masters, including Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.
NATIONAL TREASURES The world’s largest collection of works by famed artist Louis Comfort Tiffany is housed right here at the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park. The museum recently opened a $5 million addition which houses its holdings from Laurelton Hall, Tiffany’s Long Island estate, included its fully restored Daffodil Terrace. Nearby, the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens was once the residence of the famed sculptor. Located on Lake Osceola, the beautiful estate now showcases permanent and rotating exhibitions of American representational sculpture.
ANNUAL TRADITIONS The Orlando area also offers great annual events, including the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, the Orlando Folk Festival and ArtsFest, which marks its 10th anniversary in 2012 with an entire month of free arts and cultural events offered in 87 different locations throughout Central Florida. From sun-lit leaded glass windows to larger-than-life works dotting a sculpture garden, Orlando’s art galleries and museums offer something for every taste and provide the perfect backdrop for creating your own colorful Orlando memories.
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Must-See Offerings Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens 633 Osceola Avenue Winter Park, FL 32789 407-647-6294 polasek.org Baterbys Art Auction Gallery at Pointe Orlando 9101 International Drive, Ste. 1008 Orlando, FL 32819 866-590-7570 baterbys.com Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art 445 N. Park Avenue Winter Park, FL 32789 407-645-5311 morsemuseum.org CityArts Factory 29 S. Orange Avenue Orlando, FL 32801 407-648-7060 cityartsfactory.com COMMA Gallery 813 Virginia Drive Orlando, FL 32803 407-894-4505 commagallery.com Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College 1000 Holt Avenue Winter Park, FL 32789 407-646-2526 cfam.rollins.edu
Crealdé School of Art 600 Saint Andrews Blvd. Winter Park, FL 32792 407-671-1886 crealde.org Creative Spirit Art Gallery 820 A Humpries Avenue Orlando, FL 32803 407-898-8343 Gallery at Avalon Island 39 S. Magnolia Avenue Orlando, FL 32801 407-312-0708 galleryatavalonisland.com Gallery on First Jeanine Taylor Folk Art 211 East First Street Sanford, FL 32771 407-323-2774 jtfolkart.com Grand Bohemian Gallery 325 S. Orange Avenue Orlando, FL 32801 407-581-4801 grandbohemiangallery.com Jamali Fine Art 7330 Sandscove Court Winter Park, FL 32792 407-629-6308 jamali.com Maitland Art Center 231 W. Packwood Avenue Maitland, FL 32751 407-539-2181 artandhistory.org
The Mayor’s Gallery at City Hall 400 S. Orange Avenue Orlando, FL 32802 407-246-4279 cityoforlando.net/arts The Mennello Museum of American Art 900 E. Princeton Street Orlando, FL 32803 407-246-4278 mennellomuseum.com Orlando Museum of Art 2416 N. Mills Avenue Orlando, FL 32803 407-896-4231 omart.org Polk Museum of Art 800 E. Palmetto Street Lakeland, FL 33801 863-688-7743 polkmuseumofart.org Suz Letzig Gallery 1212 Woodward Street, Ste. 3 Orlando, FL 32803 407-896-7422 suzletziggallery.tripod.com The Terrace Gallery at City Hall 400 S. Orange Avenue Orlando, FL 32802 407-246-4279 cityoforlando.net/arts Timothy’s Gallery 236 N. Park Avenue Winter Park, FL 32789 407-629-0707 timothysgallery.com
Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
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Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts 227 E. Kennedy Boulevard Eatonville, FL 32751 407-647-3307 zoranealehurstonmuseum.com
Spotlight on The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art From the outside, the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art gives no clue to the treasures it holds. The Winter Park museum houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by American designer Louis Comfort Tiffany. The Tiffany collection features jewelry, pottery, paintings and art glass, as well as Tiffany’s famed leaded-glass lamps and windows. A highlight is the restored Byzantine-Romanesque chapel interior that Tiffany designed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Also on view are American art pottery, and late 19th- and early 20th-century American paintings, graphics, and decorative art. Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
The Morse recently debuted a new 12,000-square-foot wing to exhibit most of its holdings of art and architectural objects from Tiffany’s grand Long Island country estate, Laurelton Hall. The new galleries feature more than 250 objects including the recently restored Daffodil Terrace, prize-winning leaded-glass windows, iconic Tiffany lamps, and custom furnishings. Learn more at morsemuseum.org.
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History & Culture
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Orange County Regional History Center
Before theme parks, there we were
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elcome to Jernigan! Doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as Orlando, does it? But that was the area’s original name in 1843 when it was an outpost, settled by the Jernigan brothers during the Second Seminole War. The city was incorporated as Orlando in 1875, a time when it was known more for cattle and citrus than for tourism.
You can trace Orlando’s timeline at the Orange County Regional History Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. Incorporating the city’s 1927 courthouse, considered to be Orlando’s best example of Beaux-Arts architecture, the museum features four floors of permanent Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the and visiting exhibitions, including a replica of a “Cracker” Arts & Humanities house. Don’t miss the grandeur of original Courtroom B, the site of the first legal case in which DNA evidence was used in the nation.
PUT ON YOUR WALKING FLIP FLOPS For a different perspective on the history of the area, explore it on foot. The downtown historic district features buildings dating to the 1800s, with styles ranging from Queen Anne to Mediterranean Revival to Art Deco. Join a guided tour at the Downtown Information Center or try a self-guided tour. Winter Park City Tours offers a variety of walks that include the area’s historic landmarks.
DIVERSITY – PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE Just north of downtown Orlando is Eatonville, the oldest African-American municipality in the United States. Harlem Renaissance author and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston spent her early years here and even wrote about it in Their Eyes Were Watching God and Dust Tracks on the Road. In the 1920s, musicians such as Cab Calloway and B.B. King traveled the South playing in segregated clubs and staying in segregated hotels, such as the Wells’ Built Hotel, which now serves as a museum. The hardships and triumphs of life in Winter Park’s African-American community are captured in The Heritage Collection: Photographs and Oral Histories of West Winter Park, the cornerstone of The Hannibal Square Heritage Center. No story of Orlando would be complete without mentioning its rich Hispanic heritage, with communities throughout the area that have quaint neighborhoods, restaurants and stores with a distinct multicultural flavor. Discover a Far East feel in the ViMi District. Located near Colonial Drive and Mills Avenue, the area is home to one of the largest Vietnamese-American communities in Florida, with an expanding enclave of authentic Vietnamese, Korean, Thai and Chinese restaurants, shops and markets.
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Ted Hollins
DISCOVER ORLANDO IN A NEW WAY
Must-See Offerings History & Cultural Centers Central Florida Railroad Museum 101 S. Boyd Street Winter Garden, FL 34787 407-656-0559 wghf.org
The Hannibal Square Heritage Center 642 W. New England Avenue Winter Park, FL 32789 407-539-2680 hannibalsquareheritage center.org The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida 851 N. Maitland Avenue Maitland, FL 32751 407-628-0555 holocaustedu.org Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex State Road 405 Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899 321-449-4444 kennedyspacecenter.com
Wycliffe
Florida’s Natural Growers Grove House Visitor Center 20160 Highway 27 N. Lake Wales, FL 33853 863-679-4110 floridasnatural.com WordSpring Discovery Center
Maitland Historical Museum and Telephone Museum 221 W. Packwood Avenue Maitland, FL 32751 407-644-1364 maitlandhistory.org Orange County Regional History Center 65 E. Central Boulevard Orlando, FL 32801 407-836-8500 thehistorycenter.org Orlando Science Center 777 E. Princeton Street Orlando, FL 32803 407-514-2000 osc.org Wells’ Built Museum of African American History 511 W. South Street Orlando, FL 32805 407-245-7535 pastinc.org Winter Garden Heritage Museum 1 N. Main Street Winter Garden, FL 34787 407-656-5544 wghf.org
Historic photo of Park Avenue; provided by the Winter Park Historical Association
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Winter Park Historical Association & Museum 200 W. New England Avenue Winter Park, FL 32789 407-647-2330 wphistory.org
WordSpring Discovery Center 11221 John Wycliffe Boulevard Orlando, FL 32811 407-852-3626 wycliffe.org/discoverycenter
City Tours Downtown Historic Tour at The Downtown Information Center 201 S. Orange Avenue 407-246-3789 downtownorlando.com/ visitors/tours Downtown Skyline Tour at The Downtown Information Center 201 S. Orange Avenue 407-246-3789 downtownorlando.com/ visitors/tours Florida Cultural Tours 407-507-3114 floridaculturaltours.com Gray Line of Orlando/ Gator Tours of Orlando 407-522-5911 graylineorlando.com Segway of Central Florida 140 W. 5th Avenue Mount Dora, FL 32757 352-383-9900 segwayofcentralflorida.com Winter Park City Tours 407-896-9665 winterparkcitytours.com
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Featured Partners
Black Hammock Airboat Rides
Bok Tower Gardens
Airboat rides on Florida’s most alligator populated lake. Live alligator exhibit. Restaurant, full liquor/lakeside bar. Live entertainment on weekends. Black Hammock is real Florida at its best.
A must-see Florida attraction in Orlando’s backyard just 10 miles from LEGOLAND® Florida. Voted Florida’s best garden with a 205 foot Singing Tower carillon playing bells daily.
407-365-1244 TheBlackHammock.com
863-676-1408 boktowergardens.org
Florida Cultural Tours
Florida EcoSafaris at Forever Florida
Experience the culture and history of Florida. See Florida that most tourists don’t see, on a fully guided daily individual, group or custom tour.
Explore 4,700 acres of pristine wildlife conservation on 4 amazing adventures: Central Florida’s biggest Zipline Safari, Coach Safari, Horseback Safari or the new treetop Cypress Canopy Cycle.
407-957-9794 • 866-854-3837 FloridaEcoSafaris.com
Ifly orlando indoor skydiving
Indian River Queen/ Island Boat Lines
Experience the thrill of skydiving in a safe, fun environment – without jumping from a plane! No experience necessary; ages 3 & older. Certified flight instructor.
407-903-1150 iflyorlando.com 14 VisitOrlando.com
tvphotog.com
877-312-2636 floridaculturaltours.com
This stunning paddlewheel riverboat specializes in private & exclusive charters & affairs such as weddings, corporate & convention events, reunions & other special gatherings.
407-454-7414 indianriverqueen.com
Featured Partners
Kissimmee Swamp Tours Offering narrated wildlife airboat tours through pristine swamps in Orlando area. See the old Florida everything else is just an airboat ride. Experience the difference.
Orlando Balloon Rides Sunrise hot air balloon experience in the Disney area! The 3 to 4 hour adventure includes champagne and full breakfast. Kids fly free – Hotel pick-up available.
407-436-1059 kissimmeeswamptours.com
407-894-5040 orlandoballoonrides.com
The Wells’ Built Museum of African American History & Culture
West Orange Trail – Bikes & Blades Co.
Exhibits African Americans in Central Florida in jazz/ entertainment. Tours bring to life Spaniards, Seminoles, black and white settlers who changed swamps, forests, cattle pastures, and citrus groves into Orlando.
407-245-7535 pastinc.org
Discover another side of Florida on Orlando’s longest paved rail-trail. Rent a bicycle and enjoy a break from the theme parks.
407-877-0600 orlandobikerental.com
Expect the Unexpected Get to know the unexpected side of Orlando and discover the unforgettable experiences that await.
Learn more and start planning your next vacation at VisitOrlando.com.
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Outdoor Activities
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Florida EcoSafaris at Forever Florida
Welcome to Orlando’s Great Outdoors
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heme parks aren’t the only way to get your thrills in Orlando. Here, you’ll find an almost limitless array of action-oriented activities to get your pulse pounding. From airboat and hot air balloon rides to fishing and zipline adventures, Orlando is a giant playground waiting to be explored.
CAST A LINE If fishing is on your list of hobbies, you’ll find your Boggy Creek Airboat Rides catch here. With more than 300 named lakes, rivers and springs, Orlando offers some of the best freshwater fishing in the world. If you prefer the thrill of saltwater fishing, the Atlantic ocean is only an hour away. Cast from piers, the shore or charter a deep-sea fishing boat and try your luck offshore. Before you head out, stop at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World to stock up on gear and helpful tips from the experts. Whether you go it alone or hire a knowledgeable local guide, you won’t be disappointed with your Central Florida fishing adventure.
GET INTO THE WILD One of the best ways to see the area is by boat. For a relaxed excursion, the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour provides a leisurely trip on the city’s chain of lakes. Or get more adventurous and explore Central Florida’s wetlands on an airboat ride. For fun on dry land, saddle up at Horse World Riding Stables or walk, bike or skate along the 22-mile West Orange Trail.
THE SKY’S THE LIMIT Here in Orlando, we like to take adventure to the next level. So why not take it up a notch, way up, and try some fun in the sky? Helicopter tours offer breathtaking views of the city, or for a more rustic view, take flight in the largest hot air balloon in the United States with Orlando Balloon Rides. If that’s too tame for your taste, try the thrilling new Wing WalkAir, a 600-foot zipline suspended four stories above water and loaded with mid-air obstacle courses. Or pedal your way through the raw nature of Central Florida on Florida EcoSafaris at Forever Florida’s Cypress Canopy Cycle. Orlando’s natural beauty and great weather means that you’ll always be outside wanting to enjoy our outdoor adventures. So get out in the sunshine and get your heart pumping on a one-of-a-kind nature experience in Orlando.
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Must-See Offerings Hot Air Balloon Flights Bob’s Balloon Charters 407-466-6380 bobsballoons.com Magic Sunrise Ballooning 866-606-7433 magicsunriseballooning.com Orlando Balloon Rides 407-894-5040 orlandoballoonrides.com Painted Horizons Hot Air Balloon Tours 407-578-3031 paintedhorizons.com
Airboat Rides A-Awesome Airboat Rides 407-568-7601 airboatride.com A Ultimate Airboat Rides 407-572-3561 aorlandoairboats.com Airboat Rides at Midway 407-568-6790 airboatridesatmidway.com Airboat Willy’s Airboat Tours 407-891-7955 wildwillysairboattours.com Aquatic Adventures Airboat Tours 321-689-4281 aaairboattours.com Black Hammock Adventures 407-365-1244 theblackhammock.com Boggy Creek Airboat Rides 407-344-9550 bcairboats.com Cypress Lake Airboat Rides 407-957-2277 cypresslakeairboattours.com Kissimmee Swamp Tours 407-436-1059 kissimmeeswamptours.com 18 VisitOrlando.com
Revolution The Off Road Experience
Old Fashioned Airboat Rides 407-568-4307 airboatrides.com Tom & Jerrys Airboat Rides 321-689-8918 airboattoursorlando.com Spirit of the Swamp Airboat Rides 321-689-6893 spiritoftheswamp.com Wild Florida 407-957-3135 wildfloridaairboats.com
Boat Tours
Fishing Charters A Pro Bass Guide Service 407-877-9676 probassguideservice.com BASS Online Fishing Outfitter 877-274-8433 bassonline.com Incentive Fishing Charters 321-676-1948 incentivecharters.com Orlando Trophy Bass 407-506-5154 orlandotrophybass.com
Blue Heron River Tours 2317 River Ridge Road DeLand, FL 32720 386-873-4843 blueheronrivertours.com
Walt Disney World® Fishing 407-939-7529 disneyworld.com
Indian River Queen Paddle Wheel Boat 90 Delannoy Avenue Cocoa, FL 32922 321-454-7414 indianriverqueen.com
Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World 407-563-5200 basspro.com
Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour 312 E. Morse Boulevard Winter Park, FL 32789 407-644-4056 scenicboattours.com
Fishing Outfitters
Adventure Sports & Recreation AAA Boat and Jet Ski Rental 96 E. Eau Gallie Causeway Melbourne, FL 32937 321-507-5400 321boatclub.com
Adventures in Florida 407-924-3375 adventuresinflorida.com Buena Vista Watersports 13245 Lake Bryan Drive Orlando, FL 32821 407-239-6939 bvwatersports.com Central Florida Nature Adventures 352-589-7899 kayakcentralflorida.com Florida Dolphin Tours 407-352-4646 floridadolphintours.com Florida EcoSafaris at Forever Florida 4755 N. Kenansville Road St. Cloud, FL 34773 407-957-9794 floridaecosafaris.com Fun 2 Dive Scuba and Manatee Tours 407-322-9696 fun2dive.com
Horse World Riding Stables 3705 S. Poinciana Boulevard Kissimmee, FL 34758 407-847-4343 horseworldstables.com
West Orange Trail Bikes & Blades Co. 17914 State Road 438 Winter Garden, FL 34787 407-877-0600 orlandobikerental.com
Kissimmee Boat Rentals 407-580-8458 kissimmeeboatrentals.com
Wallaby Ranch Hang Gliding Flight Park 1805 Deen Still Road Davenport, FL 33897 863-424-0070 wallaby.com
Mauiva Air Tours 3956 Merlin Drive Kissimmee, FL 34741 407-551-0577 mauivaairtours.com Revolution The Off Road Experience 4000 State Road 33 Clermont, FL 34714 352-400-1322 revolutionoffroad.com Sammy Duvall Watersports 4600 N. World Drive Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 407-939-0754 sammyduvall.com
Wekiwa Springs State Park 1800 Wekiwa Circle Apopka, FL 32712 407-884-2008 floridastateparks.org Westgate River Ranch 3200 River Ranch Road River Ranch, FL 33867 863-692-0727 wgriverranch.com Zip Orlando 4509 S. Orange Blossom Trail Kissimmee, FL 34746 407-808-4947 ziporlando.com
Blue Water Balloons
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Parks & Gardens
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Explore Orlando’s Lush, Natural Beauty
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rlando’s picturesque parks and gardens could be right out of a masterpiece by Van Gogh. With dozens of natural attractions and great weather year round, you’ll soon find out why Orlando is called The City Beautiful.
EVEN OUR GARDENS WILL ENTERTAIN YOU Our gardens are so grand, they’re actually landmarks. Bok Tower Gardens in nearby Lake De Leon Springs State Park Wales is a National Historic Landmark and its Pinewood Estate, a 1930s Mediterranean-style mansion, is on the National Register of Historic Places. It features 50 acres of gardens designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and surrounded by more than 600 acres of nature trails, groves and conservation areas. The 205-foot art deco and neo-Gothic Singing Tower houses one of the world’s finest carillons, with 60 bells that ring every half hour and during daily concerts. Harry P. Leu Gardens is one of Orlando’s most breathtaking attractions, featuring 50 luscious acres of Southern-style landscape with butterfly, rose and vegetable gardens, among others. The beautiful property also features the historic home of Harry P. Leu and hosts to a variety of events throughout the year, from romantic jazz strolls to kid-friendly events to outdoor movie nights.
WHERE OUR WILD THINGS ARE We have characters that don’t just entertain, they swim, slither and climb, too. Experience up-close-and-personal encounters of the Orlando kind at local zoos and wildlife parks. The star of the show is the Florida alligator at Gatorland Alligator Farm. You’ll learn lots of interesting facts about these often-misunderstood creatures, and see them in action in their natural habitat. Black Hammock Adventures has an alligator and wildlife exhibit where you can see, touch and feel amazing creatures. For more exotic species – ranging from elephants and kangaroos to monkeys and snakes – head to the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens or in nearby Melbourne, Brevard Zoo is one of the only places in the country where visitors can feed giraffes. Nature lovers: You’ve come to the right place! With almost 100 state and local parks, outdoor adventures in Orlando are endless. Snorkel in the cool, clear waters of De Leon Springs State Parks, or go tubing at Kelly Park/Rock Springs. Paddle a canoe at Wekiwa Springs State Park for a chance to see alligators and river otters in their natural surroundings.
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Must-See Offerings Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens 3755 N.W. Highway 17-92 Sanford, FL 32771 407-323-4450 centralfloridazoo.org De Leon Springs State Park 601 Ponce de Leon Boulevard DeLeon Springs, FL 32130 386-985-4212 floridastateparks.org
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Blue Spring State Park 2100 W. French Avenue Orange City, FL 32763 386-775-3663 floridastateparks.org/bluespring Bok Tower Gardens 1151 Tower Boulevard Lake Wales, FL 33853 863-676-1408 boktowergardens.org Brevard Zoo 8225 N. Wickham Road Melbourne, FL 32940 321-254-9453 brevardzoo.org
Gatorland Alligator Farm
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Fort Christmas Historical Park 1300 Fort Christmas Road Christmas, FL 32705 407-568-4149 orangecountyparks.net Gatorland Alligator Farm 14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail Orlando, FL 32837 407-855-5496 gatorland.com Green Meadows Petting Farm 1368 S. Poinciana Boulevard Kissimmee, FL 34746 407-846-0770 greenmeadowsfarm.com
Harry P. Leu Gardens 1920 N. Forest Avenue Orlando, FL 32803 407-246-2620 leugardens.org Kelly Park/Rock Springs 400 E. Kelly Road Apopka, FL 32712 407-889-4179 orangecountyparks.net Kraft Azalea Garden 1365 Alabama Avenue Winter Park, FL 32789 407-599-3334 cityofwinterpark.org Lake Eola Park 195 N. Rosalind Avenue Orlando, FL 32801 407-246-4485 cityoforlando.net Magnolia Park 2929 S. Binion Road Apopka, FL 32703 407-886-4231 orangecountyparks.net Mead Botanical Garden 1500 S. Denning Drive Winter Park FL 32789 407-599-2800 meadgarden.org
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Orlando Shakespeare Theater
Rob Jones/Orlando Shakespeare Theater
Performing Arts & Entertainment
Set the Stage for Excitement he house lights dim. The curtain rises. You settle into your seat, ready to be entertained. With a variety of theatre companies, a philharmonic orchestra, world-class choirs, and several ballet troupes, and more, Orlando has set the stage for the performing arts.
BROADWAY’S BEST AND MORE Enjoy the glitz and glamour of the latest Broadway play as part of the FAIRWINDS Broadway The Center for Contemporary Dance Across America series. Marvel at an inventive retelling of a classic or enjoy an innovative modern play at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. Introduce your kids to the joy of live theatre in a production staged just for them at the Orlando Repertory Theatre. Or explore lesser-known gems such as Mad Cow Theatre or The Winter Park Playhouse. You can also enjoy theater in the heart of International Drive at The POINTE Performing Arts Center at Pointe Orlando. Unique festivals — such as The Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival, the Orlando Cabaret Festival, the Target Family Theatre Festival and PlayFest! The Harriett Lake Festival of New Plays — add another layer to the Orlando theatre scene.
ORLANDO’S MUSIC SCENE HITS HIGH NOTE Orlando has produced a number of pop musicians, but classical music also has a stronghold here. The Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, an all-volunteer choir, performs the works of master composers and holds an annual festival in honor of Johann Sebastian Bach. Take in one of the 125 annual performances by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, or see the next generation of virtuosos at a performance by the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra. While its classical credentials are impressive, Orlando is also earning a reputation as a hotbed for popular music events. The annual Florida Music Festival serves as the premier showcase for unsigned musicians and the Orlando Calling festival, organized by the creators of the world-famous Leeds and Glastonbury music festivals, debuted last year.
DANCING WITH OUR STARS If dance moves you, you’ll want to catch a performance by one of the local companies. The Orlando Ballet thrills audiences with breathtaking classic ballets and innovative modern shows, while The Center for Contemporary Dance will expand your horizons with modern and ethnic dance. Offering performances in the International Drive district, Central Florida Ballet brings quality cultural and educational programs to audiences of all ages.
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Kieshalia Stephens
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If you’d rather be part of the show than simply watch it, make plans to head downtown to SAK Comedy Lab, which is where comedian Wayne Brady got his start. If these masters of improv don’t get you to join them onstage, they will at least have you rolling in the aisles. Audience participation is what makes Blue Man Group performances so memorable. Sit too close to the stage and you’ll be wearing the show home! And while La NoubaTM by Cirque du Soleil® leaves the amazing acrobatics to the professionals, you may end up a victim of a pre-show prank by one of the performing clowns who single out those who dawdle to their seats — consider yourself warned!
Phelan M. Ebenhack
GET CAUGHT IN THE ACT
SAK Comedy Club
FESTIVALS WITH FLAVOR Move your feet to a different beat and immerse yourself in Orlando’s diverse ethnic community at a local cultural festival. Fiesta Medina, Orlando’s longest running Latin festival, takes place every spring. Dance to salsa, merengue and bachata music or sample of Latin cuisine — delicioso! Festival Calle Orange takes up over 10 blocks of downtown Orlando and is one of the largest street parties in the city. With five stages featuring live bands from the Caribbean, Central and South America and more, Calle Orange is sure to have you dancing until your breathless. Each January, the Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities features a colorful street fair, live concerts by world-renowned performers, heritage tours and other educational events. And at the Florida’s Juneteenth Music Festival, you can listen to literary reviews by local authors, take in educational exhibits and soak up some live entertainment.
THE CENTER OF IT ALL We like to do things grand here in Orlando, and that includes our arts and cultural venues. The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is a brand new venue in downtown Orlando that will make even the most cultured arts enthusiast swoon. The architectural masterpiece will feature three theaters, including a 300-seat community theater and the 2,700 square-foot Disney Theater, an outdoor performance venue for lovers of Shakespeare-style plays and educational facilities where hopeful performers and artists can learn from the masters. When the center opens its doors in 2014, it will usher in a new era in Orlando’s arts and cultural community and take center stage by hosting some of the world’s most dazzling performances.
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Must-See Offerings Annie Russell Theatre at Rollins College 407-646-2145 rollins.edu/annierussell Bach Festival Society of Winter Park at Rollins College 407-646-2182 bachfestivalflorida.org Blue Man Group at the Sharp Aquos Theater at Universal CityWalk 407-258-3626 universalorlando.com The Center for Contemporary Dance 3580 Aloma Avenue, Ste. 7 Winter Park, FL 32792 407-695-8366 thecenterfordance.org Central Florida Ballet 3306 Maggie Boulevard, Ste. B Orlando, FL 32811 407-849-9948 centralfloridaballet.com Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts* 455 South Orange Avenue, Ste. 410 Orlando, FL 32801 407-839-0119 drphillipscenter.org Encore! Concert Series at Seminole State College of Florida 407-708-2050 seminolestate.edu/arts/music Enzian Theater 1300 South Orlando Avenue Maitland, FL 32751 407-629-1088 enzian.org Fairwinds Broadway Across America at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre 407-423-9999 broadwayacrossamerica.com Florida Children’s Repertory Theatre at the Maitland Civic Center 407-657-4483 flchildrenstheatre.org
Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre 407-999-7800 fsyo.org
Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre 407-896-6700 orlandophil.org
The Garden Theatre 160 W. Plant Street Winter Garden, FL 34787 407-877-4736 gardentheatre.org
Orlando Repertory Theatre 1001 E. Princeton Street Orlando, FL 32803 407-896-7365 orlandorep.com
The Icehouse Theater 1100 N. Unser Street Mount Dora, FL 32757 352-383-4616 icehousetheatre.com
Orlando Shakespeare Theater at Lowndes Shakespeare Center 407-447-1700 orlandoshakes.org
La Nouba™ by Cirque du Soleil® at Downtown Disney 407-939-7600 disneyworld.com/lanouba Mad Cow Theatre 105 S. Magnolia Avenue Orlando, FL 32801 407-297-8788 madcowtheatre.com Melon Patch Players 311 N. 13th Street Leesburg, FL 34748 352-787-3013 melonpatch.org
The Plaza Theater 425 N. Bumby Avenue Orlando, FL 32803 407-228-1220 theplazatheatre.com The Pointe Performing Arts Center 9101 International Drive, Ste. 720 Orlando, FL 32819 407-374-3587 pointearts.org SAK Comedy Lab at CityArts Factory 407-648-0001 sak.com
Mount Dora Center for the Arts 138 E. Fifth Avenue Mount Dora, FL 32757 352-383-0880 mountdoracenterforthearts.org
Theatre Downtown 2113 N. Orange Avenue Orlando, FL 32804 407-841-0083 theatredowntown.net
Orlando Arts Getaways 407-872-2382 orlandoartsgetaway.com
Theatre UCF at the University of Central Florida 407-823-1500 theatre.ucf.edu
Orlando Ballet at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre 407-426-1733 orlandoballet.org Orlando Gay Chorus at The Plaza Theater 407-841-7464 orlandogaychorus.org
The Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center 201-203 S. Magnolia Avenue Sanford, FL 32771 407-321-8111 wdpac.com
Winter Park Playhouse 711-C Orange Avenue Orlando Improv Comedy Club Winter Park, FL 32789 at Pointe Orlando 407-645-0145 9101 International Drive, Ste. 2310 winterparkplayhouse.org 407-480-5233 *Opening 2014 improvorlando.com VisitOrlando.com 27
Calendar of Events While in Orlando, make time to attend one of the area’s many cultural festivals and special events. For a complete calendar of local happenings, go to VisitOrlando.com/ events. JANUARY
January 13-16 Otronicon Orlando Science Center 407-514-2000 osc.org or otronicon.org January 21-29 Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts & Humanities Eatonville 407-647-3307 zorafestival.com
FEBRUARY February 1-23 Winter With the Writers Rollins College 407-646-2666 rollins.edu/winterwiththewriters February 1-29 ArtsFest Various locations 407-628-0333 ArtsFestFL.com February 4-5 36th Annual Mount Dora Arts Festival Mount Dora 352-383-0880 mountdoracenterforthearts.org February 6-7 3rd Annual Orlando Improv Festival Urban ReThink orlandoimprovfestival.com February 10-12 10th Annual Orlando Folk Festival The Mennello Museum of American Art 407-246-4278 mennellomuseum.com Love Your Shorts Film Festival Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center LoveYourShorts.com 28 VisitOrlando.com
Otronicon
February 11 Children’s Art & History Festival Art & History Museums – Maitland 407-539-2181 artandhistory.org February 11-12 45th Annual Osceola Art Festival Osceola Center for the Arts 407-846-6257 ocfta.com February 17-March 4 77th Annual Bach Festival Various locations in Winter Park 407-646-2182 bachfestivalflorida.org February, TBA 8th Annual Orlando Latin American Film & Heritage Festival Various locations 407-860-4919 olafest.org
MARCH March 16-18 53rd Annual Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival Winter Park 407-672-6390 wpsaf.org
APRIL April 6-8 Easter Weekend Open House The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art 407-645-5311 morsemuseum.org April 8 25th Annual Fiesta Medina Downtown Orlando 407-381-5310 renesproductions.com April 13-22 21st Annual Florida Film Festival Various locations 407-629-1088 floridafilmfestival.com April 14-15 Spring Fiesta in the Park Lake Eola 407-246-2121 cityoforlando.net April 27-May 13 11th Annual Orlando Cabaret Festival Mad Cow Theatre 407-297-8788 orlandocabaret.com Bach Festival Society
April, TBA Florida Music Festival Downtown Orlando floridamusicfestival.com
MAY May 17-28 21st Annual Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival Loch Haven Park 407-648-0077 orlandofringe.org
JUNE June 22-24 Annual Harvest Festival Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards 800-768-WINE lakeridgewinery.com June, TBA Florida’s Juneteenth Music Festival 407-245-7535 floridajuneteenth.com
JULY July, TBA 6th Annual Target Family Theatre Festival Orlando Repertory Theatre 407-896-7365 orlandorep.com
OCTOBER October, TBA 5th Annual Winter Springs Festival of the Arts Winter Springs wsfota.org 28th Annual Mount Dora Craft Fair Mount Dora 352-383-2165 mountdora.com/festivals.php 39th Annual Winter Park Autumn Art Festival Winter Park 407-644-8281 winterpark.org/autumnartfestival Florida Calle Orange Festival Latino Downtown Orlando 407-381-5310 renesproductions.com
November 9-11 37th Annual Festival of the Masters Downtown Disney 407-824-4321 disneyworld.com November, TBA 20th Annual DeLand Fall Festival of the Arts Downtown DeLand 386-738-5705 delandfallfestival.com 25th Annual Festival of Trees Orlando Museum of Art 407-896-4231 omart.org Fall Fiesta in the Park Lake Eola 407-246-2121 cityoforlando.net
Orlando Film Festival Various locations in downtown Orlando orlandofilmfest.com
Orlando Calling Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium orlandocalling.com
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
November 9-11 PlayFest! The Harriett Lake Festival of New Plays Orlando Shakespeare Theater 407-447-1700 orlandoshakes.org
December, TBA The Chocolate Nutcracker Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre 407-403-5519 chocolatenutcrackerorlando.org
AUGUST August, 25 Red Chair Affair Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre 407-872-2382 artsandculturalalliance.org
SEPTEMBER
September 18-23 Global Peace Film Festival Various locations 407-224-6625 peacefilmfest.org
Karen Leslie Photography
September 1-30 Magical Dining Month Various restaurants 407-363-5872 OrlandoMagicalDining.com
Bach Festival Society
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Local Map
ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER
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