Things to do / Travel Guide
Seekers of a luxury-based vacation in Central Florida are in for a real treat, with a very big tip of the hat to Walt Disney, of course, who converted the area around Orlando to the sterling place it is today. In fact, the Disney influence on luxury in this region is beyond profound. Disney has done a fantastic job of extending their themes beyond the parks - to the resorts, restaurants, golf courses, and nightlife.
Luxury Accommodations around Orlando and Tampa, Florida
Disney has quite a range of luxury lodging offerings, from the top-of-the line Grand Floridian resort to the Polynesian Resort to the Boardwalk Inn to the Wilderness Lodge. Or, experience an elegant New England experience in Disney's Yacht Club Resort. Choose your theme and location and enjoy total Disney-themed luxury, including golf, spas, white sand beaches and more.
Orlando is more than just the Disney theme parks: you can enjoy the spa facilities, championship golf courses, incredible pools, and overall first-class facilities for children and adults at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort, the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, and the JW Marriott Orlando. And Universal's entry into the luxury hotel market, the Portofino Bay Hotel matches the best Disney has to offer.
Over-the-top luxury lodging can also be found in Orlando at the Villas of Grand Cypress. This magnificent resort offers 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus golf, an equestrian center, racquet club, and 146 beautifully-appointed private villas. Dining is first class, and along with the attentive service, it's hard to beat this place for a memorable vacation stay.
In the Central Florida region, resorts and inns are found along the oceanfront, as well. On the Gulf of Mexico side, the cities of Clearwater, Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota, feature beautiful sunsets and vast stretches of white sand beaches for your enjoyment. The Don CeSar Beach Resort and Spa dates back to the roaring 20's. There is a wide choice of other luxury hotels in the area, ranging from the nature-themed Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay to the small and relaxing Captiva Beach Resort in Sarasota.
Tampa's Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is a great luxury vacation choice. Wait a minute! Hard Rock and Luxury? Well, truth is, the same guy who grew up on Mick Jagger and Jimi Hendrix is now a Fortune 500 CEO, so this is the hotel for him! Visitors are greeted by a giant guitar as they enter this monument to rock 'n roll history. Once inside, there are extravagant cascading fountains, dramatically-lit restaurants and bars, live music, and an enormous 90,000-square-foot casino; not to mention the really cool collection of rock memorabilia that adorns every Hard Rock Café and Hotel. The rooms are beautifully chic, and stocked with all the best amenities. There's also a great full service spa for proper pampering. This resort has proven unequivocally that luxury can also mean fun. Elvis would approve.
For something a little different, we suggest a stay at the luxurious Villa Serena Inn, in Sarasota. This majestic beauty reflects the lifestyle of a bygone era. You'll be able to imagine The Great Gatsby sitting in his private villa, sipping a mint julep and enjoying the surrounding luxury. The Villa is listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its outstanding Mediterranean Revival Architecture. Each suite is a statement in refined elegance. The European-styled interior decor of each suite features a lovely private sitting room with Oriental rugs, oak floors, a full service galley kitchen, a breakfast nook, and a master bedroom with a large and comfortable mahogany high four-post bed.
Luxury Dining around Orlando and Tampa, Florida
If we can pry you away from your fantastic accommodations for a bit, there are some great dining choices in this region for consideration. Emeril's Restaurant at Universal Studios in Orlando is one such place. Bam! It's great Cajun-style seafood and steaks. Bam! It's great service. Bam! Try the Banana Cream Pie for dessert. Bam! What can we say…it's Emeril Lagasse!
Disney, of course, offers fine dining in some of its theme park restaurants, with some of the best ones in Epcot Center's World Showcase. And don't miss Downtown Disney's variety of food and entertainment.
At the high end of the price spectrum is Victoria & Albert's in the Grand Floridian Resort featuring international cuisine in an intimate and elegant environment. Reserve early and go easy on lunch - the chef has prepared a seven course dinner for you!
The Boathouse Restaurant at the Hyatt Sarasota is next up. Patrons come for its simple, casual elegance, and a gorgeous water view. For over 30 years, the Boathouse Restaurant has consistently been named the best seafood house in the area, and that makes this selection a no-brainer for fine dining. Be sure to check out the killer wine list, too.
Luxury Activities around Orlando and Tampa, Florida
Once you've had that great meal, it's time to get out a little. The Central Florida region is full of great choices for nightlife. There are many different opportunities to party in style here, from the latest techno-dance hot spot to a relaxing jazz bar.
One such pace is Amphitheater, in Tampa. Three levels inside, plus a balcony outside provides tons of room for you to strut your stuff. Expect to be showered in bubbles, confetti, and a blast of frozen oxygen from time to time. Patrons here are always dressed to the nines, and the famous and infamous party here.
Next up, it's time for a little Latin sizzle. Bongo's Cuban Café is a creation of singer Gloria Estefan and her husband, Emilio. Located in Downtown Disney, the club provides a great mix of Old Havana and Florida Chic, making this one of the top “IN” spots anywhere around. There's great tropical décor, live Latin beat music, and they even trot out a Desi Arnaz impersonator!
If you are in need of some cool jazz, have we got the place for you! CityJazz, at Universal Studios Plaza, offers great live jazz, plus access to the Downbeat Jazz Hall of Fame. Here, you can get a look at pictures and memorabilia from the legends of jazz, such as Thelonious Monk, Glen Miller, and Ella Fitzgerald. There's also a great bar and tapas are served. Disney's Pleasure Island also offers a great selection of performances - everything from comedy to disco, all for one admission.
For the sports-minded luxury seeker, golf is another great opportunity in this region. With great weather most of the year, you can play courses like the PGA Golf Club (South Course) at the Reserve in Port St. Lucie, where the beautiful views are sure to distract you while you wrestle with this challenging course. In and around Orlando, the courses are as thick as thieves, and include such greats as Southern Dunes, the Legacy Course at the Reunion Resort, Mystic Dunes and the New Course at Grand Cypress. Just north of Clearwater, on the region's west coast, there's the Westin Innisbrook Golf Resort - Copperhead Course, and the Lake Jovita South Course. Any one of these courses will be sure to delight and challenge you.
Yet another item of luxury in abundance here is the spa. In Orlando, the Ritz-Carlton Spa at Grand Lakes and the Canyon Ranch Spa Club at Gaylord Pines rule the roost. Toward the west, there's the Spa at Saddlebrook Resort, the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa and the Don CeSar Resort Spa. As you can see, being pampered in this region is very easy.
Shopping in the Central Florida region is a mixed bag (a shopping bag that is). With so many theme parks in the area, they've proven to be stiff competition to many merchants, so you'll have to fight your way through all the character-themed items and plush dolls. If you persevere, however, you can find the gems of luxury that do exist here. Once such place is Church Street Station in downtown Orlando. This entertainment complex not only offers music, drinks, dining, and midway games, but also dozens of interesting shops. Disney has a great solution in “Downtown Disney” - a great area for shopping, restaurants and nightclubs.
Another interesting place to shop is at Old Town on U.S. Highway 192 in Kissimmee. This shopping, entertainment, and eating development is quaint and fun and has dozens of specialty shops at which to splurge. Here, you will find many shops featuring nostalgia and collectible items, special craft items, and unique and unusual trinkets. Outside of these specialty shopping areas, it's basically the standard mall that holds what you seek; trust us, you'll have no trouble finding them.
So, as a seeker of a luxury-themed vacation in Central Florida, you will be pampered, wined, dined, and otherwise treated to a great time. In many cases, it truly is a “Mickey Mouse Operation,” which is a great thing in this neck of the woods!
Luxury Vacation Ideas in Orlando, Tampa, Cape Canaveral and Central Florida
Luxury-Vacations
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