Holy Land Experience

The Orlando area and its surroundings offer much more than theme parks. A thirty-minute drive from Walt Disney World, the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral traces American space exploration history with full-scale rockets and Apollo mission exhibits. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy Gatorland, a 45-hectare (110-acre) animal park home to over 2,000 alligators and crocodiles, or Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, a 100-hectare (250-acre) reserve famous for its 62-meter (205-foot) carillon tower and landscaped gardens. Downtown Orlando features various themed museums, from the Science Museum with its planetarium to more unusual collections like the International Drive Wax Museum. Families appreciate entertainment options such as WonderWorks, identified by its upside-down building, or Fun Spot America in Kissimmee, offering roller coasters and go-kart tracks. For quiet relaxation, Leu Gardens display 20 hectares (50 acres) of botanical collections, while Kissimmee Lakefront Park hugs the shores of Lake Tohopekaliga with its paved trails and fishing piers.

Alternative attraction parks around the world challenge traditional notions of entertainment by combining unconventional themes with recreational experiences. Rather than following established formulas of rides and characters, these destinations explore diverse subjects ranging from religious teachings and historical reflection to artistic expression and cultural commentary. They emerge from specific cultural contexts, historical circumstances, or creative visions that set them apart from conventional amusement parks. Examples span multiple continents and themes. Suoi Tien in Vietnam integrates Buddhist narratives with amusement park features, while Haw Par Villa in Singapore presents Chinese mythology through elaborate sculptural tableaux. Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi celebrates automotive engineering with the world's fastest roller coaster, and Grutas Park in Lithuania preserves Soviet-era monuments as an open-air museum documenting recent history. From the satirical art installation of Banksy's temporary Dismaland in England to the adult-oriented sculptures of Loveland on Jeju Island, these destinations offer experiences that provoke thought, preserve memory, or explore subjects rarely addressed in traditional entertainment settings. Each park invites visitors to engage with its particular focus in ways that differ substantially from typical leisure destinations.

Orlando offers a wide range of entertainment and educational facilities. Walt Disney World Resort comprises four theme parks with various rides and shows. Universal Orlando Resort presents attractions based on film and television series. SeaWorld Orlando and Discovery Cove provide marine animal encounters with dolphins and manta rays. Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island documents American space exploration history through exhibits and tours. The city features museums, botanical gardens and shopping centers. Visitors will also find restaurants, golf courses and nature preserves throughout the region.