Take a family break in Florida

If you're thinking of taking a family break in Florida, you must consider Orlando. As a holiday location it is perfect for family holidays as it offers something for everyone: theme parks, water parks, golf, major sports, great weather and lots of shopping! Florida is known as ‘America’s playground’, with Orlando alone attracting a staggering 52 million visitors every year. Indeed, when it comes to the number of available hotel rooms, Orlando is the second-largest city in America. That combined with the year-round sub-tropical climate makes it a top spot in which to retire or hold business conferences, but it is family tourism that mainly drives the local economy.

Walt Disney did Orlando's tourist economy a great service when his company took a gamble on converting 20,000 acres of swampland into Walt Disney World - a major tourist attraction. The Disney attractions built around Lake Buena Vista opened in 1971 and, since then, Orlando has never looked back. Disney operates four theme parks and two water parks, as well as other attractions including six golf courses. But, they are by no means the only major attraction: there’s also Universal Orlando comprising the Studios theme park, City Walk and the Island of Adventures, the latter featuring several extreme rollercoaster rides. Also in the Orlando/Kissimmee conurbation, you will find Sea World Orlando, Wet’n’Wild and lots more diverse attractions, such as Gatorland, Medieval Knights dining experience and plenty of crazy golf!

Over the last 20 years many major American leisure franchises have flocked to the area. Hard Rock Cafe, for example, built a traditional Café, a hotel and a major music venue with seating for 3,000. New theme parks and attractions seem to be springing up daily, with the latest addition being The Holy Land Experience, where visitors can visit a recreated ancient Israel.

Due to the size of the Orlando/Kissimmee area it is easier to get around if you hire a car, but if you prefer you can easily experience Orlando without driving. Shuttle buses operate to most of the popular tourist attractions and your operators will pick you up from most of the main hotels in Orlando. However, hiring a car is relatively cheap and you will be free to go where you want, when you want, including the many attractions outside of Orlando, such as the awe-inspiring Kennedy Space Centre, the Harry P. Leu Gardens and the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Orlando Odditorium.

Elisha Burberry is a freelance writer who loves her job and the occasional glass of red wine.