The Land of Theme Parks
It is safe to say that the first place most people associate with family vacations is any of the Disney parks. Well, our number one destination not only has four of them, but it also has countless of other parks and entertainment complexes for your family to enjoy.
Orlando, located in the heart of Central Florida, continues to be one of the premier family vacation destinations in the country. Although it is mostly associated with families, its annual visitors compete with the numbers of other popular adult destinations, such as Las Vegas and New York City. Orlando is also the city with the second most hotel rooms (after Las Vegas) and the third most popular destination for meetings and conventions.
If you decide to make Orlando your family vacation destination, make sure you get ready for some serious theme park time. The Walt Disney World Resort, which also happens to be the largest single site employer in the United States, is a place where visitors can easily spend a whole week without even seeing anything else Orlando has to offer. With four theme parks, two water parks and countless of other entertainment venues right within the resort, the Disney folks make it extremely easy for visitors to forget about anything else beyond their gates.
- Early January is a great time to visit. Weather is good and is usually not very crowded.
- Avoid discount ticket scams. Some people will try to sell you "cheap tickets" - such as thing doesn't exist.
- Look for group packages at the Disney Resort - the more you go the less you pay.
- Don't be afraid to use the concierge at your hotel. They are usually very knowledgeable and will give you good advice!
If you do happen to break free from the Mouse, there are plenty of more theme parks for your family to visit. The Universal Resort Orlando also has two theme parks and plenty of other entertainment offerings. Universal Studios and Islands of Adventures are two state-of-the-art theme parks that are sure to satisfy your family's theme park needs. For example, Islands of Adventure will soon add a whole new Harry Potter-themed area to its grounds - which is sure to draw millions of Harry Potter fans (See video at bottom of the page!)
And if those aren't enough for you, there is also Sea World down the street and Busch Gardens just an hour drive away. And if theme parks just aren't your cup of tea (in which case I would choose another destination...) there are a few other things for your family to do. For example, you can get a true taste of Florida by driving to nearby town Kissimmee and embarking on an airboat ride through Florida swamps.
If when you think of family vacation you think of Mickey Ears, roller coaster rides, and Shamu, this is definitely the place for you. But if you want to give your family a break from the theme park-crazy Orlando, check out the other destinations we've picked for you and your family!