Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
10
Side Trips from
Orlando
Although many visitors to Orlando
never venture outside the city while on
vacation, an excursion away from the hub-
bub of the theme parks can allow you time
to recharge your batteries, while still offer-
ing plenty of fun and enjoyment. One
destination that many families will drive
some distance to see is Tampa Bay's Busch
Gardens Africa, another major area kiddie
attraction 1
1
/
2
hours west of Orlando on
I-4. But don't stop there: The city of Tampa
is an exciting destination on its own.
Florida's very own city by the bay,
Tampa is the commercial center of Flori-
da's west coast—a major seaport and a
center of banking, high-tech manufactur-
ing, and cigar making (half a billion drug-
store stogies a year). Downtown Tampa
may roll up its sidewalks after dark, but a
short ride will take you to Ybor City, the
historic Cuban enclave, now an exciting
entertainment and dining venue.
Visitors who opt to head southeast to
the Space Coast may find themselves privy
to the eye-popping spectacle of rockets
blasting off from the Kennedy Space Cen-
ter at Cape Canaveral. Nearby in Cocoa
Beach, they can catch a wave with the surf-
ing crowd.
Finally, you can catch both rays and races
at Daytona Beach, though nowadays visi-
tors seem to come more for the latter than
the former. The city offers fabulous beaches,
great nightlife, and lots of NASCAR excite-
ment. It's also a mecca for motorcycle
enthusiasts during its popular Bike Week.
1
TAMPA
85 miles SW of Orlando
Even if you stay on the beaches 20 miles to the west, you should consider driving into
Tampa for a mild taste of metropolis. If you have children in tow, they may
demand
that
you go into the city so they can ride the rides and see the animals at Busch Gardens (and
if you have purchased the FlexTicket—see p. 304—you'll get free admission and shuttle
service from Orlando to the park). Once there, you can also educate them (and yourself )
at the Florida Aquarium and the city's other fine museums. Additionally, historic Ybor
City has the bay area's newest and most contemporary nightlife.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE
Tampa International Airport
(
&
813/870-8770;
www.tampa
airport.com), 5 miles northwest of downtown Tampa, is the major air gateway to this
area. Most major and many no-frills airlines serve Tampa International, and all the major
U.S. rental-car agencies have operations there (see “Airline, Hotel & Car-Rental Web-
sites” on p. 394 for the major airlines' and car-rental agencies' contact details).
The
Limo/SuperShuttle
(
&
800/282-6817
or 727/527-1111; www.supershuttle.
com) operates van services between the airport and hotels throughout the Tampa
Bay area. Fares for one person range from $36 to $50 round-trip, depending on your
