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Created page with "==Article Transcript== hen given the opportunity to write this column about what to do here in Orlando while you’re in town for our upcoming ISCA convention, I jumped at the..."
==Article Transcript==
hen given the opportunity
to write this column about
what to do here in Orlando
while you’re in town for
our upcoming ISCA convention, I jumped
at the chance. I LOVE my city, and love
talking about all of the wonderful things to
do here. Sure, we come to conventions to
draw, to learn and to hang out with friends.
But sometimes it’s fun to venture away
from the convention and see what there is
to do outside the hotel!
First off, let’s just get this out of the way—
yes, the best theme parks in the world are
here. You’ve probably heard of them. Our
convention hotel is close to all of them.
Universal Studios is probably 10 minutes
away, SeaWorld is probably 15 minutes
away, and Disney (where my caricature
concessions are) is about 20 minutes away.
The convention also happens to take place
this year during Epcot’s famous Food and
Wine Festival. If you’ve never attended
that, you should!
Outside of Orlando, Cape Canaveral is
about half an hour away (they have an
awesome tour), and Cocoa Beach, my
favorite place to be, is just past that. There
are airboat tours — where you can see live
alligators in the wild — fishing excursions,
and so many other things less than an hour
away. Central Florida has so much to do
and see!
Our convention hotel this year is actually
on International Drive, in the heart of the
tourist area, so there’s plenty to do that’s
even closer than the theme parks. For
attractions, there is the Ripley’s Believe It
or Not! museum, helicopter tours, The Fun
Spot (roller coasters and go kart tracks),
the Slingshot ride (that hurls you high into
the air — not for me, thanks), and the
Orlando 360 Eye (a giant Ferris wheel, like
the one in London) and its aquarium.
As for dining and the like, our hotel is in
the perfect area. There’s a full Starbucks
on-site, Cooper’s Hawk Winery and restaurant,
and Red Robin Gourmet Burgers. For
convenience, there’s also a great WaWa
gas station right next door that serves
sandwiches and is very popular. Plus, half a
mile away, there’s the famous “Restaurant
Row” with over 70 restaurants to choose
from in less than half a mile.
I’ve only touched on a tiny part of what
there is to do and see here. Come experience
it for yourself this November in
Orlando!
====SURROUNDING AREAS====
'''Disney Springs'''
Brand new expansion of what used
to be Downtown Disney. Restaurants,
shopping and entertainment.
www.disneysprings.com
'''Universal City Walk'''
Restaurants and themed bars
www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/
theme-parks/citywalk/index.html
'''Skeletons: Museum of Osteology'''
A man’s childhood fascination with
animal skeletons evolved into the huge
collection housed in this museum.
www.skeletonmuseum.com
'''Madame Tussauds'''
Come see the newest addition to this
chain of wax museums, where you can
get up close and personal with your
favorite stars in wax form.
www.madametussauds.com
'''Orlando “EYE”'''
Giant Ferris wheel gives a bird’s-eye
view of Orlando.
www.officialorlandoeye.com
'''Lake Eola Park'''
At this city park, you can feed the
swans or rent paddle boats to check out the fountain in the center of the lake
while enjoying the Orlando skyline. At
night, the fountain has two choreographed
light shows.
www.cityoforlando.net/parks/lake-como-
park/two
'''2017 Epcot International Food &
Wine Festival'''
Runs through November 13
Perfect for the foodie, festival will have
cooking demos, concerts, a global market
and, best of all...samples!! Festival
is included with your Epcot admission.
www.disneyworld.com
====ARTSY STUFF====
'''Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture'''
www.visitcentralflorida.org/top-10/attractions/
frank-lloyd-wright-architecture
'''Polk Museum of ART'''
Museum featuring pre-Columbian
through contemporary art. Always free.
www.polkmuseumofart.org
'''Grand Bohemian Gallery'''
Located across from City Hall, the
Grand Bohemian Hotel has an excellent
illustration and fine art display,
including the works of the likes of Dean
Cornwall and Larry Moore. Free.
www.grandbohemiangallery.com
====WITHIN AN HOUR DRIVE====
'''Cocoa Beach''' (1 hr away)
Surfing, bars, restaurants, fishing.
www.cityofcocoabeach.com
'''Port Canaveral''' - (1 hr away)
Jetty Park - State Park
$10 a car - Watch cruises go in and out
or a SpaceX rocket launch (www.spacex.
com), schedule permitting. Some beach
access with restaurants nearby
www.visitportcanaveral.com/beaches/
'''Kennedy Space Center''' - (1.25 hr
away)
www.kennedyspacecenter.com
'''Rock Springs / Kelly Park'''
The escape-to-nature option: 40-minute
drive from Orlando. Tubing in crystal
clear spring water. One of the many
springs in the Florida.
http://www.floridasprings.org/visit/
'''Gatorland'''
Founded in 1949, this theme park /wildlife
preserve buys and rescues trapped
alligators, preventing them from becoming
purses or kebabs. Admission includes
an aviary, petting zoo, shows and an alligator
breeding marsh. For an additional
fee, get a behind-the scenes tour of the
Alligator Breeding Marsh during feeding
time! Reservations to experience their
zipline includes admission to the park.
www.gatorland.com
''Thank you to Ryan Rhoads and Matt Zitman
for contributing additional information.''
hen given the opportunity
to write this column about
what to do here in Orlando
while you’re in town for
our upcoming ISCA convention, I jumped
at the chance. I LOVE my city, and love
talking about all of the wonderful things to
do here. Sure, we come to conventions to
draw, to learn and to hang out with friends.
But sometimes it’s fun to venture away
from the convention and see what there is
to do outside the hotel!
First off, let’s just get this out of the way—
yes, the best theme parks in the world are
here. You’ve probably heard of them. Our
convention hotel is close to all of them.
Universal Studios is probably 10 minutes
away, SeaWorld is probably 15 minutes
away, and Disney (where my caricature
concessions are) is about 20 minutes away.
The convention also happens to take place
this year during Epcot’s famous Food and
Wine Festival. If you’ve never attended
that, you should!
Outside of Orlando, Cape Canaveral is
about half an hour away (they have an
awesome tour), and Cocoa Beach, my
favorite place to be, is just past that. There
are airboat tours — where you can see live
alligators in the wild — fishing excursions,
and so many other things less than an hour
away. Central Florida has so much to do
and see!
Our convention hotel this year is actually
on International Drive, in the heart of the
tourist area, so there’s plenty to do that’s
even closer than the theme parks. For
attractions, there is the Ripley’s Believe It
or Not! museum, helicopter tours, The Fun
Spot (roller coasters and go kart tracks),
the Slingshot ride (that hurls you high into
the air — not for me, thanks), and the
Orlando 360 Eye (a giant Ferris wheel, like
the one in London) and its aquarium.
As for dining and the like, our hotel is in
the perfect area. There’s a full Starbucks
on-site, Cooper’s Hawk Winery and restaurant,
and Red Robin Gourmet Burgers. For
convenience, there’s also a great WaWa
gas station right next door that serves
sandwiches and is very popular. Plus, half a
mile away, there’s the famous “Restaurant
Row” with over 70 restaurants to choose
from in less than half a mile.
I’ve only touched on a tiny part of what
there is to do and see here. Come experience
it for yourself this November in
Orlando!
====SURROUNDING AREAS====
'''Disney Springs'''
Brand new expansion of what used
to be Downtown Disney. Restaurants,
shopping and entertainment.
www.disneysprings.com
'''Universal City Walk'''
Restaurants and themed bars
www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/
theme-parks/citywalk/index.html
'''Skeletons: Museum of Osteology'''
A man’s childhood fascination with
animal skeletons evolved into the huge
collection housed in this museum.
www.skeletonmuseum.com
'''Madame Tussauds'''
Come see the newest addition to this
chain of wax museums, where you can
get up close and personal with your
favorite stars in wax form.
www.madametussauds.com
'''Orlando “EYE”'''
Giant Ferris wheel gives a bird’s-eye
view of Orlando.
www.officialorlandoeye.com
'''Lake Eola Park'''
At this city park, you can feed the
swans or rent paddle boats to check out the fountain in the center of the lake
while enjoying the Orlando skyline. At
night, the fountain has two choreographed
light shows.
www.cityoforlando.net/parks/lake-como-
park/two
'''2017 Epcot International Food &
Wine Festival'''
Runs through November 13
Perfect for the foodie, festival will have
cooking demos, concerts, a global market
and, best of all...samples!! Festival
is included with your Epcot admission.
www.disneyworld.com
====ARTSY STUFF====
'''Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture'''
www.visitcentralflorida.org/top-10/attractions/
frank-lloyd-wright-architecture
'''Polk Museum of ART'''
Museum featuring pre-Columbian
through contemporary art. Always free.
www.polkmuseumofart.org
'''Grand Bohemian Gallery'''
Located across from City Hall, the
Grand Bohemian Hotel has an excellent
illustration and fine art display,
including the works of the likes of Dean
Cornwall and Larry Moore. Free.
www.grandbohemiangallery.com
====WITHIN AN HOUR DRIVE====
'''Cocoa Beach''' (1 hr away)
Surfing, bars, restaurants, fishing.
www.cityofcocoabeach.com
'''Port Canaveral''' - (1 hr away)
Jetty Park - State Park
$10 a car - Watch cruises go in and out
or a SpaceX rocket launch (www.spacex.
com), schedule permitting. Some beach
access with restaurants nearby
www.visitportcanaveral.com/beaches/
'''Kennedy Space Center''' - (1.25 hr
away)
www.kennedyspacecenter.com
'''Rock Springs / Kelly Park'''
The escape-to-nature option: 40-minute
drive from Orlando. Tubing in crystal
clear spring water. One of the many
springs in the Florida.
http://www.floridasprings.org/visit/
'''Gatorland'''
Founded in 1949, this theme park /wildlife
preserve buys and rescues trapped
alligators, preventing them from becoming
purses or kebabs. Admission includes
an aviary, petting zoo, shows and an alligator
breeding marsh. For an additional
fee, get a behind-the scenes tour of the
Alligator Breeding Marsh during feeding
time! Reservations to experience their
zipline includes admission to the park.
www.gatorland.com
''Thank you to Ryan Rhoads and Matt Zitman
for contributing additional information.''
