Another Side Of Orlando, Fl
on March 16th, 2009
Many prospective visitors to Orlando, Florida are fully aware of what the area can offer in terms of amusement parks (such as Walt Disney World and Universal), and accommodation – but what lots of people forget is that Orlando also has a lot to offer for those in search art, science, nature, and culture. With the city striving to maintain its appeal at a time of economic crisis, and with cheap flights to Orlando becoming advertised more often, let’s take a look at the other side of Orlando.
The Orlando Museum of Art and the Cornell Fine Arts Museum both house an inspiring range of pieces, including painting and sculpture. The former was established in 1924 and asserted itself as an educator and cultural hub of Florida state. Exhibitions have included local, regional, national, and international works from pre-15th century Aztecs to Georgia O’Keefe. Cornell is famed for its lectures and educational angle, as well as its impressive exhibitions. The Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre is home to the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Orlando Science Centre is situated on East Princeton Street and is an exciting participative day out for all ages. The Centre aims to teach that science enriches our lives by demonstrating how with a frequently changing exhibition schedule, numerous lectures, an eight-story Cinedome, and an observatory. The centre also upholds stringent community obligations in order to establish a cohesive between families and institutions so that locals can get the most from an increasingly culturally diverse area
Orlando also caters for nature lovers with the Harry P. Leu Gardens and the Arboretum of the University of Central Florida. The Leus bought their house and 40 acres of land in 1936, since then the gardens have been deeded to the city and grown into a sumptuous demonstration of the glory of all types of flora, from exotics to 19th Century vegetables. The Arboretum is even bigger at 80 acres, and includes a conservatory, ponds, lakes, and woods.
Orlando is rich culturally, in terms of music and history. The city is home to the Florida Breakbeat scene and has an impressive hip-hop background as a result. For those with a historical interest, there is also The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Central Florida, and the Orange County Regional History Centre which details the past of the area as far back as 12,000 years
