| On this overcast day we decided to explore other | | | | The Orlando Science Center includes ten themed |
| areas of Orlando in more detail. About 10 minutes | | | | exhibit halls with a large variety of interactive |
| north of downtown Orlando is Loch Haven Park, an | | | | activities for children and adults. A CineDome |
| area that holds a number of major attractions, | | | | Planetarium shows large format films and an |
| including theOrlando Museum of Art, the Mennello | | | | Adventure Theater as well as five Discovery |
| Museum of American Art as well as the Orlando | | | | Laboratories can keep everyone busy for hours. In |
| Repertory Theatre, the Orlando-UCF Shakespeare | | | | total the Science Center has four levels of hands-on |
| Festival, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, and the | | | | exhibits, a 200-seat cafe, 7,000 square feet of |
| Orlando Science Center. | | | | exhibition space for national and international traveling |
| We started our exploration off with a trip to the Leu | | | | exhibits. The Orlando Science Center is open Monday |
| Botanical Gardens. The centerpiece of the gardens is | | | | to Thursdays from 9 am to 5 pm, Fridays and |
| the Leu House Museum, a restored farmhouse dating | | | | Saturdays from 9 am to 9 pm, and Sundays from |
| back to 1888. It is located on Lake Rowena, one of | | | | noon to 5 pm. |
| the hundreds of lakes in Orlando, and surrounded by | | | | The Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival is a non-profit |
| a 50 acre garden of roses, palms and camellias. The | | | | professional theater that produces professional |
| complex also features an orchid house with one of | | | | productions of Shakespeare, classics and |
| the best collections of orchids in the United States. | | | | contemporary plays, as well as plays for young |
| The Leu Botanical Gardens also offer a new tropical | | | | audiences. The group also develops new plays from |
| stream garden, a kitchen garden complete with herbs | | | | readings through World Premieres and fosters |
| and vegetables and a butterfly garden. | | | | innovative educational programs to serve the |
| Just 10 minutes away is Loch Haven Park, one of | | | | community. |
| Orlando's centers of art, culture, and science. One of | | | | As a professional theatre for family audiences in |
| the main attractions is Orlando Museum of Art | | | | partnership with UCF, Orlando Repertory Theatre |
| (OMA), one of Florida's cultural gems and a popular | | | | (The Rep) opened its doors on October 9, 2003. The |
| destination for visitors from all over the world. The | | | | theatre focusses on classic and contemporary |
| collection features American art from the 19th | | | | children's literature. It is a place where young |
| century to the present, African art and art of the | | | | audiences can come and experience the adventure |
| ancient Americas. Outstanding temporary exhibitions | | | | and creative wonder of watching their favorite |
| are drawn from private collections and those of the | | | | characters come to life. |
| world's great museums. | | | | Loch Haven's cultural offerings continue with the |
| The upcoming exhibition at the OMA is called the | | | | annual Orlando International Fringe Festival of |
| "The Art of the Motorcycle". Based on the landmark | | | | theatrical performances. The 10-day, world-renowned |
| Guggenheim Museum exhibition, it explores the | | | | festival showcases original works; premiere |
| motorcycle as both cultural icon and design | | | | performances; and first-class improvisational comedy, |
| achievement and offers a thought-provoking | | | | musicals, drama, mime and dance in 500 shows by |
| challenge to conventional assumptions about art and | | | | more than 300 performers from around the world. |
| popular culture in the modern age. The exhibition will | | | | The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra is Central Florida's |
| run from Jan. 22 - July 23, 2006 and feature more | | | | resident orchestra, appearing in more than 105 |
| than 70 historic and contemporary motorcycles. | | | | performances each season. As a fully professional |
| The Mennello Museum of American Art is centered | | | | ensemble, the Orlando Philharmonic engages the |
| around the Museum's outstanding permanent | | | | talents of more than 80 professional musicians from |
| collection of paintings by Earl Cunningham (1893-1977). | | | | around the globe. The Philharmonic's mission is to |
| It also houses special exhibitions, publications, and | | | | foster and promote symphonic music through |
| programs that celebrate outstanding traditional and | | | | excellence in performance, education and cultural |
| contemporary Amercian artists. The Museum's | | | | leadership. |
| Cunningham collection was donated by collectors | | | | For general information about Orlando please contact |
| Marilyn and Michael Mennello of Winter Park, Florida, | | | | the Orlando Visitors and Convention Bureau. |
| and was opened to the public on Nov. 22, 1998. | | | | |