 |
AirTran Airways Flights from Washington (IAD) to Orlando (MCO)
Orbitz is pleased to offer airline tickets on AirTran Airways, which operates a daily non-stop flight from Washington (IAD) to Orlando (MCO) regularly scheduled to depart at 11:32am and arrive at 1:48pm. Usually a Boeing 717 is flown for this route. The average travel time from Washington, DC to Orlando, FL is 2 hours and 16 minutes.
During your Orlando vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
Harry P. Leu Gardens
This 50-acre botanical garden on the shores of Lake Rowena offers a serene respite from the theme-park razzle-dazzle. Paths lead through giant camphors, moss-draped oaks, palms, cicadas, and camellias -- the latter represented by one of the world's largest collections: 50 species and some 2,000 plants that bloom from October through March. There are 75 varieties of roses in the site's formal gardens, as well as orchids, azaleas, desert plants, and colorful annuals and perennials. The attraction also has palm, bamboo, and butterfly gardens. Businessman Harry P. Leu, who donated his 49-acre estate to the city in the 1960s, created the gardens. There are $7 guided tours of his house, built in 1888, on the hour and half-hour (advance reservations suggested). The interior has Victorian, Chippendale, and Empire furnishings and pieces of art. Admission is free Mondays from 9am to noon. It takes about 2 hours to see the house and gardens.
Holy Land Experience
Battles to get tax-exempt church status and smaller-than-expected attendance caused this tourist attraction to add a parking fee and boost rates by $13 in its first 2 years. But backers still believe Jesus Christ and John the Baptist can go head to head with (or at least play second harp to) Mickey Mouse and Woody Woodpecker. This $20 million, 15-acre attraction near Universal Orlando is trying to court more believers by offering exhibits focusing on Jerusalem between the years 1450 B.C. and A.D. 66. Instead of thrill rides, visitors get lessons about Noah's Ark, the limestone caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, 1st-century Jerusalem, and Jesus' tomb. The trimmings include a display of old Bibles and manuscripts, a Bedouin tent where biblical personalities tell Old and New Testament stories, and a cafe serving Middle Eastern food. New additions include a multimedia production of music and art giving an overview of worship through the ages; a small play area for kids; and the Oasis Outpost, which features a rock wall and archaeological dig, misting station, and a small refreshment spot. The attraction has caused some controversy: Orlando-area rabbis, among others, say they believe it's a ploy to convert Jews to Christianity. Allow 3 to 4 hours.
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium
Do you crave weird science? If you're a fan of the bizarre, here's where you'll find lots of oddities. Among the hundreds of exhibits: a two-headed kitten, a five-legged cow, a three-quarter-scale model of a 1907 Rolls-Royce made of 1 million matchsticks, a mosaic of the Mona Lisa created from toast, torture devices from the Spanish Inquisition, a Tibetan flute made of human bones, and Ubangi women with wooden plates in their lips. There are exhibits on Houdini and films of people swallowing coat hangers. Visitors are greeted by a hologram of Robert Ripley. Allow 2 hours.
Make your reservations for discount hotel rooms in the
Orlando area, including:
La Quinta Inn Lakeside
The hand-painted exteriors, lobby, and common areas of this hotel give it a unique charm not found in its hotel brethren. Just up the road from the Disney entrance, this 24-acre resort looks deceptively small when you first pull up (most of the accommodations are hidden behind the lobby area), but amenities include numerous recreational options (pools, playgrounds, and so on), a food court, good-sized convenience store, and bountiful free breakfast. Rooms are standard in size and offerings, but are nicely decorated and will comfortably sleep four. Other pluses include a childcare facility and free transport to all the major theme parks.Facilities: 2 restaurants; food court; 3 outdoor heated pools; 2 kids' pool; small mini-golf; 2 tennis courts; exercise room; Jacuzzi; playgrounds; kids activities; Guest Services desk; free bus to Disney, Universal and SeaWorld parks; laundry service; valet.
Radisson Barcelo Hotel
Like many I-Drive properties, the Radisson offers a good location for people whose vacations center on Universal Orlando or SeaWorld, and a central location for travelers who plan to visit Disney and downtown, too. Rooms are brightly decorated (the Deluxe towers rooms are larger and worth the extra dough) and have refrigerators, but views are basic. Otherwise, you'll be watching traffic on I-4 or I-Drive. As a plus, kids 10 and under eat free with a paying adult at breakfast.
Sierra Suites Orlando Convention Center
Another respite from I-Drive on the less-than-congested Universal Boulevard, this one's a few blocks north of the Convention Center and convenient to Universal Orlando's theme parks. You can walk to some minor attractions, and if you take the footpath west a few hundred feet, you can catch the I-Ride Trolley. Size-wise, the rooms are standard motel fare with the added bonus of kitchens. The staff is friendly, but there's no kids' pool and no view to speak of.
|
|
|
