Orlando Travel Tips

Not even Santa can resist Orlando's beautiful weather, tropical palm trees, and theme park entertainment. If you're looking for picture-perfect opportunities to see Santa this holiday season, here are the 8 best places to see Santa in Orlando this Christmas. 

The end of December is already packed with exciting holidays, but did you know that between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, December 27 to be exact, is National Visit the Zoo Day? Take time between your holiday celebrations to visit the Central Florida Zoo, home to some of the Orlando area’s most distinguished residents.  

To help you celebrate National Pastry Day on December 9, we've put together this list of our favorite Orlando bakeries for you to try. Here's where you can find some of the City Beautiful's best baked goods and pastries. 

If you thought the only Macy's parade was in New York City, think again. Universal Studios Florida is hosting the magic of the Macy's Day Parade in Orlando. 

Universal Orlando Resort always has something in store for the holidays. This Christmas, get festive at both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure.

When it comes to entertainment, Orlando has so much to offer beyond theme parks. In the heart of our City Beautiful is the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, a state-of-the-art venue with multiple stages and performance spaces that host a variety of the world’s best theatre, musicians, comedians, and more.  

 You never need an excuse to enjoy a sandwich, but if there’s any day to make a point to enjoy one, it’s National Sandwich Day on November 3. Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a hearty between-meal snack, you've got to check out our list of the best sandwiches in Orlando.  

Timberlake’s Forget Tomorrow World Tour is an unforgettable celebration of his greatest hits and his newest studio album, Everything I Thought It Was.The tour is making a stop in Orlando at the Kia Center on Saturday, November 9, 2024, and it’s sure to be a night of wild nostalgia and dance-worthy new hits.  

Christmas at Universal is incomparable to anything else you can experience in the area. Whether you’re hanging out with the Grinch in the afternoon or reveling in the magic of a Hogwarts holiday after sundown, unconventional Christmas is in this year– and it’s going to be epic.  

What do extravagant parades, Santa Claus, and a green furry guy who hates Christmas all have in common? You can find them all at Universal Orlando Resort this season. 

Orlando knows how to celebrate Halloween in many freakishly different ways, ranging from horrifying haunts to family-friendly festivals.

But what about an event that is both frightening and family-friendly? Harry P. Leu Gardens responded with an inventive experience appropriate for both children and adults.

It’s no secret that we love Halloween in Orlando. But while we’re known for our truly terrifying and scream-worthy events, we also have plenty of activities for families to enjoy throughout the spooky season. Here are some of our favorite family-friendly Halloween celebrations in Orlando to consider exploring with your little ones this year.  

This year, Halloween Horror Nights attendees can venture to Diagon Alley for a special spooky surprise. Death Eaters are descending upon Diagon Alley - and they're looking for any reason to attack. 

Figuring out your Halloween plans each year can be tricky — especially when looking to spend them at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights.

It’s no secret that family vacations can get expensive. Once your flights to Orlando, hotel, and theme park tickets are all booked, there’s still the matter of meals.

No Fourth of July celebration is truly complete without fireworks. Luckily, there are fireworks throughout the Kissimmee, Florida area on Independence Day 2024. Many of these celebrations are free.

They’re family. Sometimes you get along with them better than your blood relatives and other human beings. They get you and they complete you. I’m talking about our beloved dogs.

Summer is here, the season of longer days, cookouts, and blockbuster movies. But it’s also the season of sweltering heat, especially in Orlando. Luckily, the city’s world-famous theme parks are home to many refreshing and reinvigorating water rides. We’ve ranked them by how wet you’ll get, from a small splash to a super soaking.

Universal Orlando’s fourth project Universal Epic Universe is underway and theme park enthusiasts are starting to get excited. 

Orlando, Florida, is renowned for its world-class theme parks, but beyond the exhilarating rides and attractions, the city offers a plethora of enriching experiences tailored specifically for kids.  

From immersive educational exhibits to captivating stage performances, Orlando is a playground of endless possibilities for young adventurers. 

Longing for a sweet treat? Look no further. We’ve got a list of the best donuts in Orlando to satisfy your sugary cravings. Come see what tastes await you around town.

We’re sharing all our tips and tricks to ensure you have a perfect day exploring, Universal's Volcano Bay, a tropical-themed water park only a few minutes from Rosen Inn Closest to Universal.  

There’s one musical artist who has taken the world by storm with his influence on Latin sounds, and his name is Bad Bunny. His next stop? The Orlando Kia Center. Here’s what to expect during his performance this May.

Universal Orlando Resort is a treasure trove of hidden gems, offering guests a chance to uncover the magic beyond the surface.  From subtle nods to iconic figures to secret menus and interactive experiences, the park is rich with easter eggs waiting to be uncovered.  

Here’s how we’d tackle Universal Islands of Adventure with our cannot-miss list of rides.  

If you didn’t have dinner plans for your April vacation in Orlando before, you certainly do now. The smells of sizzling meat and veggies on an authentic teppanyaki grill are calling your name, and they’re coming from Shōgun Japanese Steakhouse on International Drive.

St. Patrick's Day spent at Universal Orlando Resort is an annual celebration that transforms the theme park into a lively Irish haven.  

The clock runs down to its last seconds. The ball is in the air. It’s good and your team scores. The crowds go wild!  

If you’re looking for this type of excitement during your time in Orlando, here are the top sporting events you should visit this month while in the City Beautiful.  

The good thing about vacationing alone is you decide what to do, when and where, and for how long. Plus you get the bed all to yourself. Traveling solo can be fun — especially if you know how to do it right.

Mardi Gras, a globally celebrated carnival, finds its vibrant home at SeaWorld Orlando in February 2024. 

The aquatic theme park proudly presents its extraordinary New Orlean’s inspired festivities—a fusion of culture and color that promises an unforgettable experience. 

Let the good times roll in a celebration that marries the depths of the ocean with the exuberance of a traditional Mardi Gras party. 

The annual Mardi Gras celebration at Universal Orlando Resort starts this month, February 3. This event strives to make it feel like an all-park party, from the decorations, street performers, delicious foods, to the full-on parade float complete with tons of beads.  

February is American Heart Month, and we’re all about finding different ways to ensure our hearts remain at their healthiest.

Get ready to rejoice once more at Rock the Universe, an annual Christian-rock concert held at Universal Studios Florida. 

Fans of this event are gearing up for an unforgettable weekend of worship at Florida’s largest Christian music festival taking place January 26 and 27, 2024.  

Whether you glide on ice with strength and grace or waddle awkwardly about like a penguin, there is no doubt about it – ice skating is fun. If you were worried you might miss out on ice skating while vacationing in sunny Florida, fear not. It may be warm outside but there are plenty of indoor and outdoor opportunities for ice skating in Orlando. Check out some of our favorite spots to enjoy this classic winter pastime all year long.

At Universal Orlando Resort, Christmas festivities are done a bit differently. 

It’s truly incomparable to anything else you can experience in the area –. Whether you’re hanging out with the Grinch in the afternoon, or reveling in a first-hand Hogwarts Holiday after sundown, unconventional Christmas is in this year– and it’s going to be epic.

November is all about good music and laughs at Hard Rock Live Orlando. With a variety of shows planned throughout each week, there’s definitely something for everyone.

The spooky season is almost here — do you have your Halloween costume yet?

Here are four tips for putting together an unforgettable Halloween costume during your Orlando vacation.

Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) at Universal Orlando is one of the world’s best Halloween events for those looking for thrills and frights. This year, the annual event runs on select nights from Friday, September 1, to Tuesday, October 31, 2023.

Halloween is one of those holidays that is best celebrated as a family, but when you’ve got little ones who are still figuring out their feelings about the world, it can be tough. 

Events like Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights may be too gruesome and gory for younger kids to handle, and even ordinary haunted houses can seem too scary.

If you’re headed to Walt Disney World this summer or fall, bring your appetite. From July 27 to November 18, 2023, the International Food & Wine Festival will bring worldly cuisine, live music, and family-friendly activities to EPCOT.  

Sushi has been around for a long time — likely since the fourth century.  

But it wasn’t until the 1960s that sushi took off in California, and it would take another two decades for it to catch on across the United States. To give the dish broader appeal, the first generation of American sushi chefs made some changes. Gradually, chefs across the Western Hemisphere followed suit.  

Here are four ways in which Western sushi differs from traditional Japanese sushi.   

When it comes to fireworks celebrations, Central Florida shines bright. Almost every night the skies light up with multiple firework displays at world-famous theme parks. On July 4th you can expect even more dazzling displays as Orlando celebrates America’s independence. Check out our list of the many firework shows in Orlando for Independence Day.

Earlier this year, EPCOT debuted new names for its parking lots. While it’s a small change, it has caused a lot of excitement. Here’s what you need to know about EPCOT’s parking lot rebrand before you hit the road for Walt Disney World Resort. 

When visiting Orlando, one can spot dozens of souvenir shops all along International Drive, within theme parks, and inside hotels. Walls lined with plushy Mickey Mouse dolls, racks of Spider-Man tees, buckets of decorative pens for autograph books, magnets…

Anyone even remotely familiar with American barbecue as a cuisine knows that there are several distinct regional styles. The competition between these regions for the best barbecue has been and always will be intense. Traditionally, barbecue hotspots have been places like Texas, St. Louis, Kentucky, Alabama, and the Carolinas. As the city of Orlando grows in size, so too does its presence in the world of barbecue, with several new entries to the local scene over the past few years.

The fast food innovators at Taco Bell have come up with another exciting creation, and it’s come to Orlando as of late September. This time, it’s not a unique menu item like the Crunchwrap or Doritos® Locos Tacos, but a new restaurant concept: Taco Bell Cantina.

Universal Studios™ Orlando is nearly three decades old, and in that time, many things have changed. Only two attractions from the park’s opening remain, which are E.T. Adventure and  The Lost Rides of Universal StudiosUniversal’s Horror Make Up Show.

This October, country music stars will come together in Orlando at the inaugural Country Kicks Cancer benefit concert. The show raises money and awareness about cancer so we can one day give it the boot.