About the area
Getting from the Orlando Airport to the home
I will include detailed driving instructions to get you from the airport to the home, but you can click on this link to get a rough idea of the distance and drive. Nearly the entire drive is on a major Interstate or tollway.
Grocery Stores
Publix
is the most common grocery store in the area. They have dozens of
locations and you will see them frequently as you drive around.
There several very close to the home and this is the one we use the most.
This WalMart supercenter is just a short drive away. It has a huge grocery store and often has the best prices.
Our favorite activities other than Disney
Universal Studios is something you shojuld not miss. It is about 1/2 hour from the home and a very easy drive up Interstate 4.
If you are looking for a fun evening consider the Sleuths Mystery Dinner show.
No matter how many times I take an airboat ride with Boggy Creek Airboats, I'm always amazed at the abundance of wildlife so close to Orlando.
Dining
Since we are located so close to Disney, you will find nearly every
major food chain located within 15 to 20 minutes of the house.
Everything from fast food to moderate sit-down dining
establishments. There are simply too many to mention. For
something nicer than the typical restuarant, I suggest you visit Celebration Florida and check out their restuarants. I highly recommend Cafe D'Antonio but strongly suggest you make a reservation. Another favorite is the Columbia Restaurant of Celebration famous for their "1905 salad." The Celebration Town Tavern is also highly recommended.
The Rainforest Cafe has two locations in the area, one in the Animal Kingdom and the other at Downtown Disney.
This is a very popular restaurant that you kids will love, but not
cheap and your wait for a table can be lengthy.
Old Town is a
short drive from the home and features 75 specialty shops, eight
restaurants, and 18 rides. Friday and Saturday evenings usually
have interesting activities like antique car shows and every Saturday
night is a cruise night.
Visit the Beach!
If you're thinking of a day at the beach, I suggest Cocoa Beach.
Our home is equipped with chairs and coolers that you are free to use
to thake to the beach. Near Cocoa Beach but a bit to the north is
the Jetty Maritime Park.
This is a really nice place with an excellent beach that is less
crowded than Cocoa Beach. If you happen to visit on a Sunday, the
cruise ships depart about 4:00 PM and they are really fun to watch.
Where to go to Church
My wife and I attend the Community Presbyterian Church in Celebration Florida. The Catholic Church is the Corpus Christi Catholic Church also in Celebration.
Shopping
If you love to shop, this is the place for you! Outlet stores and shopping malls abound. I highly recommend Downtown Disney where, among other things, you will find the largest Disney store in the country. The Orlando Premium Outlets is another favorite where you can sometimes find really good deals. I like to go to the Bass Pro Shop
in Orlando, about 1/2 hour from the home. I can wander around and
look at fishing gear while my wife can shop at any of the other stores
in the same mall.
Golf
The locals avoid many of the premium golf courses and play where the green fees are more affordable. I suggest the Kissimmee Golf Club.
There are dozens of other premium courses a short drive from the
home. Just google "golf kissimmee florida" or try this link.
