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Orlando, Florida is an exciting destination and a great place to visit in central Florida that attracts thousands of tourists each year. From theme parks to restaurants to cultural venues, Orlando and the surrounding area has something to offer people of all ages. In addition, Orlando is also known as “The City Beautiful,” because of its glorious landscaping, the best theme parks with thrill rides and serene natural areas. Even though Orlando is a major city and has many popular nightclubs, there are numerous fun activities for teens and kids of all ages.

Visiting Orlando With Teens: Top Things to do

Biking And Hiking For The Entire Family And The Adrenaline Junkie

Orlando is a bike-friendly city with many bicycle paths throughout the area. For avid mountain bikers, head to Lake Apopka where the trails are both gentle and challenging for all levels. Hikers will also find many venues to enjoy the beautiful outdoors in Orlando. Winter Park has a gentle four-mile hiking path and Turnkey Lake has a seven-mile hiking trail for ambitious hikers, and a picnic area where you can relax and refuel at the end of your walk.

Parks to Visit

Orlando has many parks of all sizes from small one-block parks too many acres of wilderness within the city limits. Lake Eola Park, located on Rosalind Avenue, offers hiking, biking, play areas for kids, and a lake for sailing, rowing, and kayaking. Orlando Vista Park and Recreation Center on Powers Drive has several pavilions, a lake, hiking trails, and tennis courts. If you venture outside the city limits to Kissimmee, you will find long hiking trails, camping, and picnic spots in wilderness preserves.

Golf Is One Of The Best Activities

If golf is your sport, there are many golf courses to hone your skills in the Orlando area. Orlando offers many reasonably priced vacation packages. Grand Cypress Golf Course offers three nine-hole courses along with a simulated golf practice driving range. Eagle Creek Golf Club, which is close to the Orlando Airport, has all the golf amenities. The Disney Palm Golf Course, located near Disney World, offers special rates for playing 36 holes.

Food And Dining Options

When hunger hits in this popular vacation place you will find restaurants that are family-friendly, Cuban, Asian, Italian, seafood, and fine dining. Julie’s Waterfront on S. Orange Street offers a variety of seafood and fresh salads, with a pet patio for your well-behaved dog. Seasons 52, located at Plaza Venezia, offers fresh low-fat, low-calorie seafood meals. If you are looking for vegetarian fare, try Woodlands, an Indian restaurant located on Orange Blossom Lane, or Infusion Tea House, located on Edgewater Street.

Popular Spots For Your Family Trip

Sea World of Florida is a popular marine-life park to view a wide variety of sea animals life. Harry P. Leu Gardens encompasses 50 acres of ancient oaks, giant camphor trees, and lush forests. You can take a tour of its museum, a 19th-century home that began as a Florida farmhouse. Take in a museum and head to Mannello Museum of traditional and contemporary Folk Art. A must-see is Islands of Adventure where you take exciting high-tech rides through five themed islands. All of these activities include a lot of walking while enjoying the outdoors.

Walt Disney World On Your Family Vacation

The first place that any kid has to visit upon arriving in Orlando is Walt Disney World. Disney has four different theme parks and two different water parks. The theme parks are Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. The water parks are Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. At Disney, kids and parents can enjoy rides, entertainment, food, and a whole lot of fun.

Universal Studios Florida Is The Most Popular Attractions

In addition to Disney, another theme park suited for teenagers in Orlando is Universal Studios. There are two parks at this location, the original Universal Studios and Islands of Adventures. Both parks feature rides for young ones, roller coasters, live shows, and water rides. New to Universal Studios is an interactive roller coaster experience that is the Rock N’ Roll coaster which features the heights of a 17-story building.

Seaworld Orlando For A Full Day Of Fun

For animal lovers, SeaWorld is a wonderful place to experience an atmosphere of a theme park and zoo combination. This theme park offers the chance to see dolphins, whales, sea lions, sting rays, and many other animals. Roller coasters and adventure rides are also a part of the park. SeaWorld also includes a water park where you can get soaked in the sun and see animals.

Gatorland Is The Perfect Place To See

Animal lovers can also visit Gatorland, where they are greeted by hundreds of crocodiles and alligators. Gatorland is a family-fun atmosphere with educational programs and adventure tours of the animals. It first began in 1949 as a roadside attraction and has quickly grown into a 110-acre theme park.

Blue Man Group For Older Kids

If you are going to Universal Studios, then you should make a point to see the Blue Man Group at least one time. Each show is different and you even have the chance to be a part of the entertainment as well as get splashed by paint. The show is truly a unique form of entertainment that combines music, comedy, and multimedia theatrics to create a wonderful show for people of all ages.

Cirque Du Soleil For Some Orlando Magic

If in Orlando, Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba is a show that can not be missed. This can be found in Downtown Disney and is popular among all ages. The show makes sure to please and entertain every spectator. Performances are held at night, Tuesdays through Saturdays and tickets can be purchased six months in advance.

Downtown Disney Is Just A Short Drive Away

If you see Cirque du Soleil make sure to check out the rest of Downtown Disney, where there are plenty of restaurants and shopping to last all night long. There are more than 70 shopping places and different places to eat such as fine dining and fast service places. There is even a McDonald’s located in Downtown Disney. There is also a movie theater complex there and a Disney indoor interactive theme park.

Wonderworks Is A Great Spot To Have A Great Time

If you prefer an interactive experience then Wonderworks is the place for you. This is similar to Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, but instead, virtually all of the exhibits are interactive. There are more than 100 exhibits for the whole family to experience. You can also buy tickets for a dinner and magic show while there. The outside of this place is completely upside down as well.

Rainforest Cafe For The Best Time

One restaurant that is an exciting and adventurous place to eat is the Rainforest Cafe. This restaurant has live fish tanks in it with exotic fish and a jungle-like atmosphere that will please any kid. The menu features a variety of foods and a special dessert named a Volcano.

California Grill Is The Best Place To Eat

Another restaurant that offers a fabulous view of the Disney landscape is the California Grill. This restaurant offers a rotisserie and wood-burning oven that result in fine dining at an affordable price. The menu features the best of California fusion cooking.

Downtown Orlando, Florida, located in the center of the state, is well known for Disney World and Universal Studios theme parks, which attract many tourists during the year. Thanks to mild year-round weather there are many other interesting outdoor places to see and the best things to do for a busy and active vacation with younger children.

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