Orlando Travel Blog

Mandara Spa at Disney's Swan and Dolphin Resort When you are completely worn out from all the hullabaloo that is Orlando, scope out a spa — there are plenty of them. Your weary muscles deserve a treat. Orlando’s Ritz-Carlton at Grande Lakes There’s a reason that The Ritz-Carlton Spa...

Every now and then a ladies-only night is in order. And, never fear, there is a long list of places to choose from when the time comes. Here are a few of our favorites. Eden Bar at Enzian Taverna Opa This is the place for breaking plates, dodging confetti-style napkins and sampling tasty dishes like...

Paddleboarding on the Banana River. Photo courtesy of Sobe Surf. Central Florida has a smattering of cooler-than-cool things to keep you busy. You know the obvious ones — Disney, SeaWorld and Universal. Now here are the more inconspicuous spots. Some scream adventure; others soothe the soul. 1. Harry...

Belly up to Eden Bar to meet Orlando locals. Photo courtesy of Eden Bar. Meet active sporty types or bar-hoppers at dozens of Orlando hang-outs. 1. Taverna Opa This eatery on International Drive (part of the tourist district) is the place for breaking plates, dodging confetti-style napkins and sampling...

Photo by Sarah Sekula. If you’re ready to ask that special someone that special question, better do your research first. Never fear, there are some excellent choices and many of them are free. 1. Harry P. Leu Gardens This 50-acre botanical garden is Orlando’s equivalent to The Secret Garden: a maze...

The Gospel Brunch at House of Blues takes place each Sunday and features inspiring gospel performances and a buffet of Southern favorites. Photo courtesy of visitorlando.com. When it comes to catching a concert in Orlando, there are plenty of places to choose from. 1. Hard Rock Live Designed to look...

Most things at Walt Disney World will just plain wear you out, but here’s one thing, just outside of the park, that won’t: the Port Orleans Riverside Resort offers the perfect way to end the day with a 30-minute, horse-drawn carriage ride through the property. Hop aboard the old-fashioned, horse-drawn...

Taverna Opa is the place for breaking plates, dodging confetti-style napkins and sampling tasty dishes like the smash-it-yourself garbanzo beans appetizer. If you have not dined here yet, we suggest you bump it to the top of your list. All of the Taverna Opa buzz started in March 2003 with the opening...

Photo courtesy of Greg Pflug. If exploring Florida’s extensive waterways in a kayak or canoe sounds like your type of trip, then you’ll love Adventures in Florida, an action-oriented guide service that provides some pretty sweet trips across the sunshine state. The company was started by a group...

Often, it is hard to tell one spa from the next. The massage options at one spa over another can be strangely similar, the whirlpool might be the same temperature, and the cucumber water tastes, well, like cucumber water. But nothing about the Mandara Spa at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotel...