Central Florida

Central Florida's Top Places

Orlando, FL

Orlando is the major city in the eastern area of Central Florida. It is one of the most visited cities in the world, the county seat of Orange County, and has a population of over 1.2 million in the greater metropolitan area (Orlando, Daytona Beach, Kissimmee, and Sanford). Tourism, major events, and conventions draw more than 75 million visitors a year.

The Orlando area is home to the NBA's Orlando Magic, Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Studios Florida, SeaWorld Orlando, Legoland, Orange County Convention Center, The Florida Mall, University of Central Florida (Knights), and so much more.

Orlando is a hub of art and culture. In addition to amusement parks, attractions, and shopping that draw tourists from all over the world, the area features numerous film festivals, theaters, performing arts centers, city parks, and is home to the annual Vans Warped Tour.

The Orlando area is also home to three state universities, two state colleges, and more than 25 private universities and colleges.

Tampa, FL

Tampa is the major city on the western coast of Central Florida. It is the county seat of Hillsborough County and has a population of over 3.1 million people in the greater metropolitan area (Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon, and Spring Hill). The area is often referred to as the Tampa Bay area.

Tampa, and the Tampa Bay area, is well-known for its large concentration of high quality art museums, food, and historic communities, such as Ybor City, Palma Ceia, and Hyde Park. Tampa draws more than 5 million people to plays, musical performances, museums, and other cultural spots every year. Fresh seafood, local produce, farmers' markets, and an abundance of restaurants are all hallmarks of the Tampa Bay area.

Tampa is also home to the MLB's Tampa Bay Rays, NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning. The MLB's Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, and Toronto Blue Jays also call the Tampa Bay area home for spring training.

Lake Eola Park

Lake Eola Park is a public city park located in the heart of Downtown Orlando. The park features Lake Eola, which is actually a sinkhole, and its famous fountain, live swans and other birds, beautiful flower beds, a walking path, picnic tables, and playgrounds. Swan-shaped paddle boats are available to rent and has many local restaurants nearby.

On west side of the park is the Walt Disney Amphitheater that hosts events and performances throughout the year. The park is also home to the Eola House which can be reserved for meetings, conferences, parties, retreats, and more.

The Florida Aquarium

The Florida Aquarium is a not-for-profit, publicly-operated aquarium located in Tampa. The 250,000 square foot aquarium features more than 7,000 aquatic plants and animals from Florida as well as throughout the world.

The Florida Aquarium is renowned for its wildlife conservation and eduction programs, offering summer camps, school trips, classes, and behind-the-scenes tours. They have swim and dive programs and guests can add a Wild Dolphin Cruise to their general admission.

The aquarium features exhibits of animal life from Florida's fresh water springs to the open waters of the ocean, including simulated wetlands, an atrium, shallow bays and beaches, and a coral reef ecosystem housed in 500,000 gallon tank.

Alligators, anemones, eels, fish, geckos, jellyfish, lemurs, ocotopus, pelicans, pythons, river otters, sea stars, seahorses, sharks, stingrays, tortoises, sea turtles, and sea urchins are just some of the many marine and animal species at The Florida Aquarium.

Central Florida Counties

Featuring many miles of coastline on both coasts, Central Florida is home to the Nature Coast and parts of the Suncoast in the west, and the Surf Coast, Space Coast, and Treasure Coast in the east.