Some call it the “Theme Park Capital of the World.” For others, its nickname is “The City Beautiful,” but one thing for sure, Orlando is among the world’s top tourist destinations. For most, Orlando came to fame with its well-known attractions at Walt Disney World – from the original Magic Kingdom to its Animal Kingdom and Pleasure Island. The fun expanded as Universal Orlando Resort came to life, expanding its trademark Universal Studios attraction to include Islands of Adventure and its popular addition, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Located in Central Florida, Orlando is a major metropolitan city and one of the busiest sites for conventions and trade shows in the U.S. In fact, the Orange County Convention Center has been named the second largest convention facility in the country. Its growth was kick started in the 1960s when Walt Disney came to town and further in the 1970s when Orlando International Airport was built drawing in four major airline carriers. The city’s growth continued throughout the 1980s and into the first decade of the 21st century. It is home to the University of Central Florida, the largest college campus in the U.S., and has come to be one of the most popular choices among where Americans want to live.

Orlando is in the SunBelt and has a humid subtropical climate. May through September is generally hot and rainy, while October through April remains warm but is often a bit drier. Despite the two unique seasons, Orlando is a year-round destination – attracting more than 50 million visitors a year to the area. There is no shortage of hotels and resorts, restaurants and theme parks. But it isn’t only tourism that drives this major U.S. city. Orlando is also well known as a hi-tech center and has one of the largest research parks in the country.

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