Things to do in Orlando, Miami & Florida

At Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom pairs Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion with the TRON Lightcycle / Run coaster and the Happily Ever After fireworks, EPCOT circles the 11 country pavilions of World Showcase alongside Spaceship Earth, Test Track and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and Disney's Animal Kingdom sends you on Kilimanjaro Safaris beneath the carved Tree of Life; seasonal events such as the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays and Festival of the Arts change the mood through the year. Universal Orlando adds Universal Epic Universe, whose portals lead to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD and How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Universal Studios Florida with Diagon Alley and DreamWorks Land, and Universal Islands of Adventure with Hogsmeade, Jurassic Park and Seuss Landing, while SeaWorld Orlando mixes big coasters with Dolphin Cove, underwater orca viewing and a shark tunnel. On the Space Coast, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex displays Space Shuttle Atlantis as if in flight and runs bus tours behind NASA's gates to the Apollo/Saturn V Center. Farther south, ride the narrated tram or bike the 15-mile Shark Valley loop in Everglades National Park, stroll the pastel Art Deco buildings of Ocean Drive in South Beach and the murals of Wynwood Walls in Miami, and travel by boat or seaplane from Key West to Fort Jefferson in Dry Tortugas National Park.

Good to knowSmall children will find gentler rides at DreamWorks Land in Universal Studios Florida, Seuss Landing in Islands of Adventure and Sesame Street Land at SeaWorld Orlando. In the Everglades, stay at least 15 feet (5 m) away from alligators and other wildlife, and remember that Dry Tortugas, about 70 miles (113 km) west of Key West, can be reached only by boat or seaplane. EPCOT's festivals are included with park admission, but a park reservation may be needed depending on your ticket type.