Home to several of the world's leading theme parks, it's not hard to see why Orlando is synonymous with family fun. And though Walt Disney World first put the quiet farming town on the tourist trail in 1971, the staggering array of distinctive parks that have sprung up around the sun-baked Floridian metropolis since then have transformed the city into a thrill-seeker's Mecca. Of course, no visit to Orlando is complete without a visit to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, where even the toughest cynics can't help but crack a grin on one of the park's whimsical rides. Disney's other trend-setting parks include the Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow (EPCOT Center), with its international village and world of the future.

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Next door, Disney Hollywood Studios pulls spectators into the action of some of their favorite films, while Disney's Animal Kingdom puts an entertaining spin on animal conservation. Disney's three water parks—Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, and River Country—are great places to splash away the summer heat.

To appreciate the ocean's natural wonders, Sea World can't be beat. The park's beloved Dolphin Pool and the Shamu Adventure have entertained generations of visitors, and today's park boasts a Wild Arctic complex, the Terrors of the Deep glass tunnel, and a Journey to Atlantis thrill ride. Discovery Cove, Sea World's more exclusive second park, offers visitors a unique chance to get up close and personal with some of nature's most surprising underwater creatures.

Universal Orlando Resort, meanwhile, offers two more thrilling theme parks to explore. Universal Studios Florida puts visitors right into the main picture of films like Shrek and E.T., while the neighboring Islands of Adventure has some of the fastest coasters and most thrilling simulation rides in the country. Universal's Wet n' Wild water park has everything from slippery interactive rides to an enclosed aqua disco to cool you down.

Theme parks aside, Downtown Orlando itself has more than a smattering of cultural sights to recommend it, including the Loch Haven Park, home to the Orlando Museum of Art, the Orlando Science Center, the Orlando Shakespeare Festival, and the Mennello Museum of American Folk Art. Shop with the locals at the vibrant Saturday morning Farmer's Market in the center of town, then picnic along one of the city's quaint Lake Eola Park with the Orlando skyline as a backdrop. Just an hour's drive outside of town, on the East Coast of Florida, the Kennedy Space Center provides a fascinating glimpse into the out-of-this-world work of NASA.

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