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 Orlando is the number one tourist destination in the world today with current figures estimating that over 45 million tourists visit every year.
There are hundreds of attractions and places of interest to visit ranging from the high-octane rides found at the theme parks to the peace and tranquility of an afternoon on the beach, it can all be found in or around the Orlando area.
 Many of the better-known attractions and theme parks are located to the south of Orlando. They include Universal Studios, Sea World, Island of Adventure, Discovery Cove, Wet N Wild and of course the Walt Disney World Complex with its four parks (the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and MGM), three water parks (Blizzard beach, Typhoon lagoon and River country) and Downtown Disney. Also in the area is International drive, which is home to over 150 restaurants and an abundance of attractions including Wonderworks, Ripley’s believe it or not and Dolly Partons Dixie Stampede.
A little further a field to the North East on the Atlantic coast you’ll find miles of glorious golden beaches at Daytona and Cocoa, as well as the Daytona International speedway where many of high profile races are held including NASCAR, and you may even be lucky enough to experience a shuttle taking off from the Kennedy Space Centre.
 An hours drive to the west of Orlando will bring you to the Gulf coast and the fantastic Busch Gardens theme park in Tampa. If you continue further down the Gulf coast you will pass through a number of picturesque towns such as Clearwater, St Petersburg, Fort Myers, Naples and Marco Island, all of which have beautiful beaches and are well worth a visit. Special mention must go to the white sand beaches at St Petersburg and Clearwater that were ranked number one and four respectively in a recent national survey.
 A lot of tourists come to Orlando to experience the theme parks and sit around the pool, but there is so much more on offer. You can take a helicopter or balloon ride, ride an airboat through the swamps, have a picnic or try out some water sports in one of the many state parks, go horse riding, visit the museums, catch a game at one of the many pro sports teams in the area, or even go swimming with the dolphins at the excellent Discovery Cove. No matter how many times you visit or how long you stay there is always something new and exciting to experience.
More attractions can be found here.
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