I used to work in Orlando back in my heyday.  It’s a virtual tourist Mecca. And a great little town overall … provided you’re not anywhere near the tourist hotspots.  Here’s a quick look at Orlando – by the numbers:
 
*Orlando has over 500 hotels and 113,000 guestrooms – offering more lodging options than any destination in the world.
 
*Orlando has nearly 5,200 restaurants.  (Bring your appetite!)
 
*There are more than 2,000 lakes, springs and rivers for swimming, boating, water skiing and fishing. (Bring your swim trunks!)  There are also 168 golf courses, 800 tennis courts and 21 fitness trails for biking, walking or rollerblading.  (Bring your sunscreen!)
 
*Approximately 50 million visitors come to Orlando each year for business and pleasure. Of those guests, 48 million are domestic visitors.
 
*Orlando has more than 100 attractions to keep visitors coming back for more.  It would take about 67 eight-hour days to visit all of the entertaining offerings in Orlando.
 
*Orlando has become the fastest growing retail market in the USA.  (Bring your credit card!)
 
*Metro Orlando is ranked as one of the top five movie making cities by MovieMaker Magazine.  (Bring your camera!  You never know who you’ll see!)
 
*The world’s largest Hard Rock Café is located on Universal Boulevard, Orlando.  (Of course, visiting Hard Rock’s is a hobby of mine … so this was especially sweet.)
 
I’ll say this much … Orlando welcomed me with open arms.  It’s certainly great people watching everywhere you go!  Whether you choose to visit downtown or one of the various theme parks, there’s always someplace new that will pique your interests.  So if you get a chance to visit, please do.  I come here four or five times a year and can’t get enough!