Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
An enormous glass-topped atrium encompasses three re-creations of Florida wilderness:
the Everglades, St Augustine and Key West, each with live plantings, piped-in insect
sounds and running water. This is, without a doubt, the most massive hotel in Orlando,
with plenty of eye candy and energy, and it's popular as a conference center (expect cor-
porate banners) and a family resort.
There's an on-site 'water park,' with poolside movies, waterslides and a zero entry pool,
as well as an adults-only pool.
Greater Orlando
All kinds of chain motels cluster around Orlando International Airport - recommended op-
tions include Springhill Suites (
www.marriott.com/springhill-suites/travel.mi
)
and Home-
wood Suites (
http://homewoodsuites3.hilton.com
), and the lovely little town of Winter
Park, just north of downtown Orlando, boasts the
Alfond Inn
and
Park Plaza Hotel
,
two of
the city's best hotels.
Parliament House
GAY & LESBIAN
407-425-7571;
www.parliamenthouse.com
;
410 N Orange Blossom Trail; r & ste
$66-106; )
An exclusively gay and lesbian Orlando institution on the shores of Rock Lake. The resort
has several bars, nightclubs and a legendary Wednesday-night drag show. Parliament
House is located on Orange Blossom Trail, northwest of downtown Orlando.
Bay Hill Club and Lodge
HOTEL
888-422-9455, 407-876-2429;
www.bayhill.com
; 9000 Bay Hill Blvd; r $150-240;
)
Quiet and genteel Bay Hill feels like a time warp; as though you're walking into a TV set
or your grandmother's photo album, into a time and place that is reassuringly calm and
simple, and slightly bizarre. The staff is exceptionally gracious and accommodating, and
handsome rooms are spread among a series of two-story buildings bordering the golf
course.
Though the lodge seems to attract an older, golfing clientele, and there is nothing trendy
or fancy about its pool or amenities, families will find Bay Hill's comforting cocoonlike at-
