How to Spend an Extra Day in Orlando
The city has more than 40 Michelin-awarded restaurants and is a prime location for meetings and conventions
Orlando / Photo: Colin LLoyd/Unsplash
Orlando may be famous for its many theme parks—with Walt Disney World and Universal Studios topping the list—but look beyond the obvious and the city offers far more. In this year-round sunny destination, visitors can partake in diversions including water sports, museum and gallery hopping, exploring the unique neighborhoods, shopping and dining.
Orlando has more than 40 Michelin-awarded restaurants, ranging from tucked-away sushi joints to lively Italian spots—all are worth checking out. With more than 140 parks, the city is also full of green spaces and features over 100 lakes, several of which are ideal for kayaking, fishing, paddleboarding and other water adventures.
For business travelers, Orlando is a prime location for meetings and conventions. The convention center, with seven million square feet of space and 70 meeting rooms, hosts an average of 200 events per year and draws more than 1.5 million people annually. Get ready to unearth a side of Orlando that tourists don’t usually discover.
Four Seasons
Four Seasons Orlando / Photo: Don Riddle Images
Resort Orlando The Four Seasons offers an unrivaled level of luxury. Featuring immaculately landscaped grounds, the property abounds in amenities, which include an impressive gym, adults-only swimming pool and golf course. Dining options include the Michelin-starred Spanish steak house Capa and the Italian eatery Ravello.
fourseasons.com
Mills 50
Mills 50 / Photo: Richard Ellis/Alamy
One of Orlando’s most flourishing neighborhoods, Mills 50 is a showplace of Asian-American culture. Its attractions include an abundance of restaurants, as well as Asian-themed markets. But the district also boasts a collection of public art, such as large-scale murals on walls.
mills50.org
Knife & Spoon
Knife & Spoon / Photo: Courtesy of Knife & Spoon
Knife & Spoon is a steak and seafood restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Grande Lakes. Featuring the cuisine of chef John Tesar, it has an open kitchen and comfortable beach aesthetic. Tesar’s menu highlights beautifully presented dry-aged steaks in a variety of cuts, such as a 32-ounce bone-in rib eye. Seafood is also a home run, with possibilities such as diver scallops and lobster tail.
knifeandspoonrc.com
Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour
Disney / Photo: Courtesy of Disney/Abigail Nilsson
Keys to the Kingdom was designed with adults and older children in mind. This five-hour walking experience traverses hidden spots in the Magic Kingdom, including an underground network of tunnels known as the utilidor. You’ll also get a deep dive into Walt Disney himself and learn details about how he brought his vision for his globally famed park to fruition.
disneyworld.disney.go.com
Winter Park
Winter Park / Photo: Courtesy of Morse Museum
Situated on three lakes, Winter Park warrants a half-day visit, if not longer. Take a boat tour and learn about the local history, or visit The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, featuring one of the largest collections of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, including his bright mosaic windows and jewels. The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens and Rollins Museum of Art are two other renowned cultural venues. You can also dine at chef-driven restaurants such as Ava MediterrAegean.
cityofwinterpark.org
