One of the main places that pop into people’s heads when they think of Florida is Orlando. Maybe because it is known for its famous amusement parks, or maybe because it’s just a huge city in Florida, but it is a lot more than just that.

Right smack in the middle of Florida is the huge city, Orlando, which just so happens to be the place I was born. Although I only lived there for a mere 4 years, I still have many memories from there.

A lot of my memories consist of lake days with my family and friends, picking oranges off orange trees behind my house and attending the Orlando Science Center.

The Orlando Science Center is a place where I spent a lot of time because it was such a fun place, especially for children. It provides a lot of educational and hands-on experiences. Although I haven’t been since I was young, it is definitely a place I would like to visit and see how it has evolved.

A lot of my time in Orlando has been spent in different amusement parks, including Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, SeaWorld and of course Disney World (but I have so much to say about Disney, that I’m saving that for another post).

If you’re looking for a thrill, definitely visit both Universal parks. With roller coasters, themed areas and simulators, there are rides for any type of person. Between Universal’s two parks, you have so much to do. Especially with the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the brand new Volcano Bay water park.

SeaWorld is a great place to learn about the ocean and animals in it. It has some really exhilarating rides too, but definitely not as thrilling as Universal. A lot of the shows at SeaWorld are exciting to watch and you can definitely learn cool facts while there!

Another huge part of Orlando is the University of Central Florida. It is among one of the top universities in Florida. It is a great school for engineering and a ton of fun with lots going on around it. It’s a giant campus in Orlando with different campuses all over the area. It also has some perks with the amusement parks surrounding it and gives student discounts to UCF students!

I have spent a ton of time at UCF visiting friends, attending cheerleading camps, going to football games and more. I’ve seen a lot of UCF and have done a lot of things there so I can agree that it is a fun place to be.

Orlando is an extremely touristy city so shopping is a big part of Orlando. There are two outlets (The Premium Outlets and the Vineland Outlets) in the middle of Orlando that contain a variety of stores. If you want Nike, Forever 21, Vera Bradley, or even Bath and Body Works, the outlets have it! They are some of the biggest outlets I have ever seen.

Orlando is close to many beaches including Clearwater, New Smyrna and Cocoa Beach. These beaches are all along the Atlantic coast of Florida so you can definitely catch some bigger waves than the Gulf Coast.

Orlando has a plethora of things to do, and more than just amusement parks! For little kids, I highly recommend the Orlando Science Center, Gatorland and even SeaWorld. For older kids, amusement parks tend to be a favorite. Whether it’s Volcano Bay, Universal, SeaWorld, Disney or even FunSpot, those are always fun-filled options. And if you’re considering colleges, be sure to tour UCF!

P.S. If you are interested in Disney specifically, look for my next post!