An official publication of Visit Orlando®

UnexpectedOrlandO

VisitOrlando.com

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table of contentsIntrOdUctIOn 4

art GallerIes & MUseUMs 6Orlando may be best known for thrilling theme parks, but its cultural and natural attractions are hidden gems you’ll be glad to discover.

HIstOry & cUltUral VenUes 10Explore the past and celebrate the present at any number of museums, historic sites and other cultural venues.

OUtdOOr actIVItIes 16Adventure calls: from hot air balloon and airboat rides to fishing trips and off-road tours, endless thrills abound in Orlando’s great outdoors.

parks & Gardens 20Local parks, zoos and botanical gardens provide up-close encounters with native and exotic flora and fauna.

perfOrMInG arts & entertaInMent 24Orlando’s professional dance and theater companies, top-rated orchestras, and wide variety of cultural events provide unrivaled entertainment.

Top: Home of Joseph Clarke, one of Eatonville’s founders; Central Florida Ballet

Bok Tower GardensThe Mennello Museum of American Art

calendar Of eVents 28A wide array of cultural festivals offers something for everyone.

lOcal Map 30An overview of venue locations

On the cover: Cityscape Twilight by Larry Moore, an original commission for the Amway Center Art Collection.

4 VisitOrlando.com Bach Festival Society

Discover the unexpecteD orlanDo

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Unexpected Orlando, Guaranteed smiles

Home 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.

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.

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 beGinThis 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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6 VisitOrlando.com Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens

art Galleries & MuseuMs

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create picture-perfect Memories

Pastoral 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 tiMelessImpressive permanent collections, touring exhibitions and creative events are hallmarks of 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-com-ing 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 treasuresThe 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 traDitionsThe Orlando area also offers great annual events, including the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, the Orlando Folk Festival and ArtsFest, which marks its 10th anniver-sary 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.

Orlando Museum of Art

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Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens633 Osceola AvenueWinter Park, FL 32789407-647-6294polasek.org

Baterbys Art Auction Galleryat Pointe Orlando9101 International Drive, Ste. 1008Orlando, FL 32819866-590-7570baterbys.com

Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art445 N. Park AvenueWinter Park, FL 32789407-645-5311morsemuseum.org

CityArts Factory29 S. Orange AvenueOrlando, FL 32801407-648-7060cityartsfactory.com

COMMA Gallery813 Virginia DriveOrlando, FL 32803407-894-4505commagallery.com

Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College1000 Holt AvenueWinter Park, FL 32789407-646-2526cfam.rollins.edu

Crealdé School of Art600 Saint Andrews Blvd. Winter Park, FL 32792407-671-1886crealde.org

Creative Spirit Art Gallery820 A Humpries AvenueOrlando, FL 32803407-898-8343

Gallery at Avalon Island39 S. Magnolia AvenueOrlando, FL 32801407-312-0708galleryatavalonisland.com

Gallery on First Jeanine Taylor Folk Art211 East First StreetSanford, FL 32771407-323-2774jtfolkart.com

Grand Bohemian Gallery325 S. Orange AvenueOrlando, FL 32801407-581-4801grandbohemiangallery.com

Jamali Fine Art7330 Sandscove CourtWinter Park, FL 32792407-629-6308jamali.com

Maitland Art Center231 W. Packwood AvenueMaitland, FL 32751407-539-2181artandhistory.org

The Mayor’s Gallery at City Hall400 S. Orange AvenueOrlando, FL 32802407-246-4279cityoforlando.net/arts

The Mennello Museum of American Art900 E. Princeton StreetOrlando, FL 32803407-246-4278mennellomuseum.com

Orlando Museum of Art2416 N. Mills AvenueOrlando, FL 32803407-896-4231omart.org

Polk Museum of Art800 E. Palmetto StreetLakeland, FL 33801863-688-7743polkmuseumofart.org

Suz Letzig Gallery1212 Woodward Street, Ste. 3Orlando, FL 32803407-896-7422suzletziggallery.tripod.com

The Terrace Galleryat City Hall400 S. Orange AvenueOrlando, FL 32802407-246-4279cityoforlando.net/arts

Timothy’s Gallery236 N. Park Avenue Winter Park, FL 32789407-629-0707timothysgallery.com

Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts227 E. Kennedy BoulevardEatonville, FL 32751407-647-3307zoranealehurstonmuseum.com

Must-see offerinGs

Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art

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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.

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.

Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art

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historY & culture

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Before theme parks, there we were

Welcome 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.

Discover orlanDo in a neW WaYYou can trace Orlando’s timeline at the Orange County Regional History Center, an affiliate of the Smithson-ian 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 and visiting exhibitions, including a replica of a “Cracker” 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 flopsFor 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 & futureJust 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 corner-stone 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.

Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts & Humanities

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HISTORy & CuLTuRAL CENTERS

Central Florida Railroad Museum101 S. Boyd StreetWinter Garden, FL 34787407-656-0559wghf.org

Florida’s Natural Growers Grove House Visitor Center20160 Highway 27 N.Lake Wales, FL 33853863-679-4110floridasnatural.com

The Hannibal Square Heritage Center642 W. New England AvenueWinter Park, FL 32789407-539-2680hannibalsquareheritage center.org

The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida851 N. Maitland AvenueMaitland, FL 32751407-628-0555holocaustedu.org

Kennedy Space Center Visitor ComplexState Road 405Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899321-449-4444kennedyspacecenter.com

Maitland Historical Museum and Telephone Museum221 W. Packwood AvenueMaitland, FL 32751407-644-1364maitlandhistory.org

Orange County Regional History Center65 E. Central BoulevardOrlando, FL 32801407-836-8500thehistorycenter.org

Orlando Science Center777 E. Princeton StreetOrlando, FL 32803407-514-2000osc.org

Wells’ Built Museum of African American History511 W. South StreetOrlando, FL 32805407-245-7535pastinc.org

Winter Garden Heritage Museum1 N. Main StreetWinter Garden, FL 34787407-656-5544wghf.org

Winter Park Historical Association & Museum200 W. New England AvenueWinter Park, FL 32789407-647-2330wphistory.org

WordSpring Discovery Center11221 John Wycliffe BoulevardOrlando, FL 32811407-852-3626wycliffe.org/discoverycenter

CITy TOuRSDowntown Historic Tourat The Downtown Information Center201 S. Orange Avenue407-246-3789downtownorlando.com/ visitors/tours

Downtown Skyline Tourat The Downtown Information Center201 S. Orange Avenue407-246-3789downtownorlando.com/ visitors/tours

Florida Cultural Tours407-507-3114floridaculturaltours.com

Gray Line of Orlando/ Gator Tours of Orlando407-522-5911graylineorlando.com

Segway of Central Florida140 W. 5th AvenueMount Dora, FL 32757352-383-9900segwayofcentralflorida.com

Winter Park City Tours407-896-9665winterparkcitytours.com

Must-see offerinGs

WordSpring Discovery Center

Historic photo of Park Avenue; provided by the Winter Park Historical Association

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A must-see Florida attraction in Orlando’s backyard just 10 miles from LEGO-LAND® Florida. Voted Florida’s best garden with a 205 foot Singing Tower carillon playing bells daily.

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.

This stunning paddlewheel riverboat specializes in private & exclusive charters & affairs such as weddings, corporate & convention events, reunions & other special gatherings.

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.

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.

Experience the thrill of skydivingin a safe, fun environment –without jumping from a plane! No experience neces-sary; ages 3& older. Certified flight instructor.

FEATuRED PARTNERS

Black HaMMOck aIrBOat rIdes

flOrIda cUltUral tOUrs

Ifly OrlandO IndOOr skydIVInG

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flOrIda ecOsafarIs at fOreVer flOrIda

IndIan rIVer QUeen/ Island BOat lInes

407-365-1244 theBlackHammock.com

877-312-2636 floridaculturaltours.com

407-903-1150 iflyorlando.com

863-676-1408 boktowergardens.org

407-957-9794 • 866-854-3837 floridaecosafaris.com

407-454-7414 indianriverqueen.com

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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.

Discover another side of Florida on Orlando’s longest paved rail-trail. Rent a bicycle and enjoy a break from the theme parks.

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.

Exhibits African Americans in Central Florida in jazz/entertainment. Tours bring to life Span-iards, Seminoles, black and white settlers who changed swamps, forests, cattle pastures, and citrus groves into Orlando.

FEATuRED PARTNERS

kIssIMMee swaMp tOUrs

OrlandO BallOOn rIdes

west OranGe traIl – BIkes & Blades cO.

407-436-1059 kissimmeeswamptours.com

407-894-5040 orlandoballoonrides.com

407-877-0600 orlandobikerental.com

tHe wells’ BUIlt MUseUM Of afrIcan aMerIcan HIstOry & cUltUre

407-245-7535 pastinc.org

Expect the UnexpectedGet 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.

16 VisitOrlando.com Florida EcoSafaris at Forever Florida

outDoor activities

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welcome to Orlando’s Great Outdoors

Theme 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 lineIf fishing is on your list of hobbies, you’ll find your 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 WilDOne 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 liMitHere 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.

Boggy Creek Airboat Rides

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HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHTS

Bob’s Balloon Charters407-466-6380bobsballoons.com

Magic Sunrise Ballooning866-606-7433magicsunriseballooning.com

Orlando Balloon Rides407-894-5040orlandoballoonrides.com

Painted Horizons Hot Air Balloon Tours407-578-3031paintedhorizons.com

AIRBOAT RIDES

A-Awesome Airboat Rides407-568-7601airboatride.com

A ultimate Airboat Rides407-572-3561aorlandoairboats.com

Airboat Rides at Midway407-568-6790airboatridesatmidway.com

Airboat Willy’s Airboat Tours407-891-7955wildwillysairboattours.com

Aquatic Adventures Airboat Tours321-689-4281aaairboattours.com

Black Hammock Adventures407-365-1244theblackhammock.com

Boggy Creek Airboat Rides407-344-9550bcairboats.com

Cypress Lake Airboat Rides407-957-2277cypresslakeairboattours.com

Kissimmee Swamp Tours407-436-1059kissimmeeswamptours.com

Old Fashioned Airboat Rides407-568-4307airboatrides.com

Tom & Jerrys Airboat Rides321-689-8918airboattoursorlando.com

Spirit of the Swamp Airboat Rides321-689-6893spiritoftheswamp.com

Wild Florida407-957-3135wildfloridaairboats.com

BOAT TOuRS

Blue Heron River Tours2317 River Ridge RoadDeLand, FL 32720386-873-4843blueheronrivertours.com

Indian River Queen Paddle Wheel Boat90 Delannoy AvenueCocoa, FL 32922321-454-7414indianriverqueen.com

Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour312 E. Morse BoulevardWinter Park, FL 32789407-644-4056scenicboattours.com

FISHING CHARTERS

A Pro Bass Guide Service407-877-9676probassguideservice.com

BASS Online Fishing Outfitter877-274-8433bassonline.com

Incentive Fishing Charters321-676-1948incentivecharters.com

Orlando Trophy Bass407-506-5154orlandotrophybass.com

Walt Disney World® Fishing407-939-7529disneyworld.com

FISHING OuTFITTERS

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World407-563-5200basspro.com

ADVENTuRE SPORTS & RECREATION

AAA Boat and Jet Ski Rental96 E. Eau Gallie CausewayMelbourne, FL 32937321-507-5400321boatclub.com

Must-see offerinGs

Revolution The Off Road Experience

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Adventures in Florida407-924-3375adventuresinflorida.com

Buena Vista Watersports13245 Lake Bryan DriveOrlando, FL 32821407-239-6939bvwatersports.com

Central Florida Nature Adventures352-589-7899kayakcentralflorida.com

Florida Dolphin Tours407-352-4646floridadolphintours.com

Florida EcoSafaris at Forever Florida4755 N. Kenansville RoadSt. Cloud, FL 34773407-957-9794floridaecosafaris.com

Fun 2 Dive Scuba and Manatee Tours407-322-9696fun2dive.com

Horse World Riding Stables3705 S. Poinciana BoulevardKissimmee, FL 34758407-847-4343horseworldstables.com

Kissimmee Boat Rentals407-580-8458kissimmeeboatrentals.com

Mauiva Air Tours3956 Merlin DriveKissimmee, FL 34741407-551-0577mauivaairtours.com

Revolution The Off Road Experience4000 State Road 33Clermont, FL 34714352-400-1322revolutionoffroad.com

Sammy Duvall Watersports4600 N. World DriveLake Buena Vista, FL 32830407-939-0754sammyduvall.com

West Orange Trail Bikes & Blades Co.17914 State Road 438Winter Garden, FL 34787407-877-0600orlandobikerental.com

Wallaby Ranch Hang Gliding Flight Park1805 Deen Still RoadDavenport, FL 33897863-424-0070wallaby.com

Wekiwa Springs State Park1800 Wekiwa CircleApopka, FL 32712407-884-2008floridastateparks.org

Westgate River Ranch3200 River Ranch RoadRiver Ranch, FL 33867863-692-0727wgriverranch.com

Zip Orlando4509 S. Orange Blossom TrailKissimmee, FL 34746407-808-4947ziporlando.com

Blue Water Balloons

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parKs & GarDens

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explore Orlando’s lush, natural Beauty

Orlando’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 YouOur gardens are so grand, they’re actually landmarks. Bok Tower Gardens in nearby Lake 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 areWe have characters that don’t just entertain, they swim, slither and climb, too. Experi-ence 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.

De Leon Springs State Park

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Must-see offerinGs

Blue Spring State Park2100 W. French AvenueOrange City, FL 32763386-775-3663floridastateparks.org/bluespring

Bok Tower Gardens1151 Tower BoulevardLake Wales, FL 33853863-676-1408boktowergardens.org

Brevard Zoo8225 N. Wickham RoadMelbourne, FL 32940321-254-9453brevardzoo.org

Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens3755 N.W. Highway 17-92Sanford, FL 32771407-323-4450centralfloridazoo.org

De Leon Springs State Park601 Ponce de Leon BoulevardDeLeon Springs, FL 32130386-985-4212floridastateparks.org

Fort Christmas Historical Park1300 Fort Christmas RoadChristmas, FL 32705407-568-4149orangecountyparks.net

Gatorland Alligator Farm14501 S. Orange Blossom TrailOrlando, FL 32837407-855-5496gatorland.com

Green Meadows Petting Farm1368 S. Poinciana BoulevardKissimmee, FL 34746407-846-0770greenmeadowsfarm.com

Harry P. Leu Gardens1920 N. Forest AvenueOrlando, FL 32803407-246-2620leugardens.org

Kelly Park/Rock Springs400 E. Kelly RoadApopka, FL 32712407-889-4179orangecountyparks.net

Kraft Azalea Garden1365 Alabama AvenueWinter Park, FL 32789407-599-3334cityofwinterpark.org

Lake Eola Park195 N. Rosalind AvenueOrlando, FL 32801407-246-4485cityoforlando.net

Magnolia Park2929 S. Binion RoadApopka, FL 32703407-886-4231orangecountyparks.net

Mead Botanical Garden1500 S. Denning DriveWinter Park FL 32789407-599-2800meadgarden.org

Gatorland Alligator Farm

Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens

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perforMinG arts & entertainMent

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set the stage for excitement

The house lights dim. The curtain rises. You settle into your seat, ready to be enter-

tained. 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 Broad-way play as part of the FAIRWINDS Broadway 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 noteOrlando 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 impres-sive, 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 musi-cians and the Orlando Calling festival, organized by the creators of the world-famous Leeds and Glastonbury music festivals, debuted last year.

DancinG With our starsIf 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.

The Center for Contemporary Dance

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Get cauGht in the actIf 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!

festivals With flavorMove 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 allWe 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 offerinGsAnnie Russell Theatre at Rollins College407-646-2145rollins.edu/annierussell

Bach Festival Society of Winter Park at Rollins College407-646-2182bachfestivalflorida.org

Blue Man Group at the Sharp Aquos Theater at Universal CityWalk407-258-3626universalorlando.com

The Center for Contemporary Dance3580 Aloma Avenue, Ste. 7Winter Park, FL 32792407-695-8366thecenterfordance.org

Central Florida Ballet 3306 Maggie Boulevard, Ste. BOrlando, FL 32811407-849-9948centralfloridaballet.com

Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts*455 South Orange Avenue, Ste. 410Orlando, FL 32801407-839-0119drphillipscenter.org

Encore! Concert Seriesat Seminole State College of Florida407-708-2050seminolestate.edu/arts/music

Enzian Theater1300 South Orlando AvenueMaitland, FL 32751407-629-1088enzian.org

FAIRWINDS Broadway Across America at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre407-423-9999broadwayacrossamerica.com

Florida Children’s Repertory Theatreat the Maitland Civic Center407-657-4483flchildrenstheatre.org

Florida Symphony youth Orchestra at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre407-999-7800fsyo.org

The Garden Theatre160 W. Plant StreetWinter Garden, FL 34787407-877-4736gardentheatre.org

The Icehouse Theater1100 N. Unser StreetMount Dora, FL 32757352-383-4616icehousetheatre.com

La Nouba™ by Cirque du Soleil® at Downtown Disney407-939-7600disneyworld.com/lanouba

Mad Cow Theatre105 S. Magnolia AvenueOrlando, FL 32801407-297-8788madcowtheatre.com

Melon Patch Players311 N. 13th StreetLeesburg, FL 34748352-787-3013melonpatch.org

Mount Dora Center for the Arts138 E. Fifth AvenueMount Dora, FL 32757352-383-0880mountdoracenterforthearts.org

Orlando Arts Getaways407-872-2382orlandoartsgetaway.com

Orlando Ballet at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre407-426-1733orlandoballet.org

Orlando Gay Chorus at The Plaza Theater407-841-7464orlandogaychorus.org

Orlando Improv Comedy Club at Pointe Orlando9101 International Drive, Ste. 2310407-480-5233improvorlando.com

Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre407-896-6700orlandophil.org

Orlando Repertory Theatre1001 E. Princeton Street Orlando, FL 32803407-896-7365orlandorep.com

Orlando Shakespeare Theaterat Lowndes Shakespeare Center407-447-1700orlandoshakes.org

The Plaza Theater425 N. Bumby AvenueOrlando, FL 32803407-228-1220theplazatheatre.com

The Pointe Performing Arts Center9101 International Drive, Ste. 720Orlando, FL 32819407-374-3587pointearts.org

SAK Comedy Lab at CityArts Factory407-648-0001sak.com

Theatre Downtown2113 N. Orange AvenueOrlando, FL 32804407-841-0083theatredowntown.net

Theatre uCFat the University of Central Florida407-823-1500theatre.ucf.edu

The Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center201-203 S. Magnolia AvenueSanford, FL 32771407-321-8111wdpac.com

Winter Park Playhouse711-C Orange AvenueWinter Park, FL 32789407-645-0145winterparkplayhouse.org

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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.

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JANuARyJanuary 13-16Otronicon Orlando Science Center407-514-2000 osc.org or otronicon.org

January 21-29Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts & Humanities Eatonville 407-647-3307 zorafestival.com

FEBRuARyFebruary 1-23Winter With the Writers Rollins College 407-646-2666 rollins.edu/winterwiththewriters

February 1-29ArtsFest Various locations 407-628-0333 ArtsFestFL.com

February 4-536th Annual Mount Dora Arts Festival Mount Dora 352-383-0880 mountdoracenterforthearts.org

February 6-73rd Annual Orlando Improv Festival Urban ReThink orlandoimprovfestival.com

February 10-1210th 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

February 11Children’s Art & History Festival Art & History Museums – Maitland 407-539-2181 artandhistory.org

February 11-1245th Annual Osceola Art Festival Osceola Center for the Arts 407-846-6257 ocfta.com

February 17-March 477th Annual Bach Festival Various locations in Winter Park407-646-2182 bachfestivalflorida.org

February, TBA8th Annual Orlando Latin American Film & Heritage Festival Various locations 407-860-4919 olafest.org

MARCHMarch 16-1853rd Annual Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival Winter Park 407-672-6390 wpsaf.org

APRILApril 6-8Easter Weekend Open House The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art 407-645-5311 morsemuseum.org

April 825th Annual Fiesta MedinaDowntown Orlando 407-381-5310 renesproductions.com

April 13-2221st Annual Florida Film Festival Various locations 407-629-1088 floridafilmfestival.com

April 14-15Spring Fiesta in the ParkLake Eola 407-246-2121 cityoforlando.net

April 27-May 1311th Annual Orlando Cabaret Festival Mad Cow Theatre 407-297-8788 orlandocabaret.com

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April, TBAFlorida Music Festival Downtown Orlando floridamusicfestival.com MAyMay 17-2821st Annual Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival Loch Haven Park 407-648-0077 orlandofringe.org

JuNEJune 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

JuLyJuly, TBA6th Annual Target Family Theatre Festival Orlando Repertory Theatre 407-896-7365 orlandorep.com

AuGuSTAugust, 25Red Chair Affair Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre 407-872-2382 artsandculturalalliance.org

SEPTEMBERSeptember 1-30Magical Dining Month Various restaurants 407-363-5872 OrlandoMagicalDining.com

September 18-23Global Peace Film Festival Various locations 407-224-6625 peacefilmfest.org

OCTOBEROctober, TBA5th 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

Orlando Film Festival Various locations in downtown Orlando orlandofilmfest.com

NOVEMBERNovember 9-11PlayFest! The Harriett Lake Festival of New Plays Orlando Shakespeare Theater 407-447-1700 orlandoshakes.org

November 9-1137th 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 Calling Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium orlandocalling.com

DECEMBERDecember, TBAThe Chocolate Nutcracker Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre 407-403-5519 chocolatenutcrackerorlando.org

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