Things to do / Travel Guide
The Central Florida region includes the cities of Sarasota, St. Petersburg, and Tampa on the Gulf Coast, the Orlando metropolitan area in the center, and the Cape Canaveral area on the Atlantic Coast.
The entire region was a pretty sleepy tourist destination until the late 1960s and early 1970s. Two events then put Central Florida on the tourist map in a huge way. First were the Apollo moon mission launchings from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral in the late 1960s. The second milestone was the 1971 opening of the Disney World Resort in the Orlando area. Many other mega theme parks and tourist attractions followed. Today, this region is a world-famous tourist mecca, one of the most popular vacation spots in the world.
The Tampa Bay area and Sarasota offer many attractions and interesting sites, including the Busch Gardens theme park in Tampa and a variety of museums in Tampa and Sarasota as well as some fantastic and beautiful Gulf Coast beaches to enjoy.
The Central Florida region also has a pulsating nightlife scene in the Orlando and Tampa areas. Water activities abound with many lakes in the region, as well as two separate and distinct coastal areas. This region is thus rich with a large quantity and wide variety of activities and environments for you to experience and enjoy.
Central Florida is on Eastern Time, three hours ahead of Pacific Time.
The most obvious risk associated with the region is a hurricane. Only rarely do they strike the inland area of Orlando, but be aware that hurricanes are a potential hazard along both the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. Useful Orlando vacation information: Be advised that during hurricane season, from June-November, your trip plans might have to change suddenly, but you will receive ample warning about dangerous weather systems. If you happen to get stuck in Central Florida before a hurricane hits, be aware that Orlando gets packed with people fleeing the coastal areas.
A unique risk in the region is the potential for a run-in with an alligator. While they usually stay away from people, they are definitely dangerous, so keep your wits about you when near inland bodies of water.
|
|
|