In the mid 1800s, settlers began to follow soldiers to an abandoned army fort in Central Florida. By 1857, the old fort had been renamed, and the city of Orlando was born. Today, this tourism Mecca is home to a population of 1.5 million people, and hosts over 40 million visitors a year. The Greater Orlando region consists of Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lake Counties, with the city itself lying in central Orange County. Disney's theme parks are in Kissimmee, about 20 miles southwest of downtown Orlando, while the Universal Studios complex and SeaWorld both sit along International Drive, just minutes from downtown. Both major attraction areas are located right next to Interstate-4 for easy driving access. East Orlando is home to Winter Park, an upscale shopping and dining area, and the University of Central Florida, home of the Golden Knights. The downtown area features museums, dining and nightlife that stands up to any in the country.

This Before You Go guide is designed to help travelers answer common questions before they leave for Orlando. Hopefully, it will give you all the information you need to make your trip a fun, hassle-free experience.

Population

The population of the greater Orlando region is 1.5 million people.

Climate

October to May

Days – Low 70s F (22 C) to mid 80s F (27 C) Nights – Low 50s F (10 C) to mid 60s F (16 C)

June to September

Days – Upper 80s (27 C) to mid 90s F (32 C) Nights – Upper 60s (16 C) to mid 70s F (22 C)

For more detailed information, be sure to check out Go2Orlando's guide to Orlando Weather.

Transportation

Orlando International Airport is the 15 busiest in the country. It is conveniently located only 15 minutes from the downtown area as well as all of the major attractions. Once on the ground, there are plenty of transportation options to choose from. The airport is home to all major rental car companies, and the city's Lynx public transportation system connects all areas of Orlando. Taxi and Limousine service is available to any destination in the area as well. The I-Ride trolley service provides transportation from destination to destination along International Drive, with scheduled stops every 15 minutes.

For further transportation information, see Go2Orlando's detailed guide to transportation in Orlando.

Time Zone

Orlando is in the Eastern Time Zone (GMT – 5 hours)

Things To Do

Outdoors

Orlando is home to over 300 lakes, perfect for fishing, water skiing and boating all year round. The city is also located near many state parks, all of which offer canoeing, bike trails and hiking throughout the year.

Golf

There are over 125 golf courses within 45 minutes of downtown Orlando. Many of the area's courses have been designed by world famous course architects such as Tom Fazio and Robert Trent Jones, while others have been created by some of golf's all-time greats, such as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Not only are these courses fun to play, but a few are also home to major PGA tournaments throughout the year, where the greats of golf go to compete for the top prize.

Tennis

Orlando is filled with options for the tennis fan. Most resorts have at least one court on site, and there are many area tennis centers which are open to the public. Most hotels and tennis centers offer equipment rentals, as well as advice and lessons for beginners or experts.

Sports

Orlando's most famous team is the NBA's Orlando Magic. Beyond the Magic, there are also other sports teams worthy of checking out while in Orlando. They include, the Orlando Miracle (WNBA), Orlando Rays (AA Baseball), the Orlando Predators (Arena Football) and the Orlando Seals (WHA2 Hockey). The city also hosts spring training baseball featuring the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros. In addition, many other Major League teams hold there spring training camps within a few hours of Orlando.

Performing Arts

There are many opportunities to enjoy the performing arts in Orlando. The Orlando Opera Company and the Orlando Philharmonic provide musical enjoyment throughout the year, while the Shakespeare Festival and the Southern Ballet also delight audiences with their artistic productions. The Civic Theatre of Central Florida and the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center welcome local and national productions throughout the year as well, adding exciting variety to Orlando's performing arts calendar.

Special Events

Orlando attracts many amazing events every year. From high profile concerts to rodeo performances, art festivals to bike week, there is always something exciting on its way to Orlando.

Museums

While theme parks may be the main attraction, Orlando has no lack of culture to speak of. The Morse Museum is home to the largest collection of Tiffany stained glass in the world, and the Orlando Museum of Art features a prominent collection of 19th and 20th century American art. The Orlando Science Center delights visitors of all ages with dynamic, hands-on exhibitions featuring the latest in science and technology.

Meeting Space

Orlando is a popular stop for conferences, conventions and meetings. There is certainly plenty of available space to hold even the largest of gatherings.

Orlando's Orange County Convention Center – The third largest venue in the United States in terms of meeting space with 1.1 million square feet of available space.

Tupperware Convention Center – Another large venue, with 48,060 square fee of meeting space.

Orlando Expo Center – The Expo Center includes 74,691 feet of exhibition space.

In addition to these venues, there is another 1.7 million square feet of space available throughout the city's many hotels and cultural venues.

Shopping

Orlando is currently the fastest growing retail market in the United States. The city is currently home to over 39 million square feet of shopping, and is expanding by the day.