Orlando is a major city in the central region in the state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan region.
Lake Buena Vista, Florida, located 21 miles southwest of downtown Orlando, is the home of Walt Disney World. It contains many different resorts and theme parks, probably the most popular being the Magic Kingdom due to its’ iconic fairytale castle and famous roller coasters such as “Space Mountain”.
Other major tourist attractions include Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld Orlando. While smaller than Disney World, Universal Studios still draws a large audience due to its attractions that cater to a slightly older demographic. It also includes Wet 'n Wild water park which offers a temporary getaway from the hot Florida weather.
SeaWorld features an aquarium with highlights such as a dolphin petting zoo, and also includes roller coaster and flume rides.
These attractions form the core of Orlando's tourism industry and helped contribute to it being the most visited American city in 2009.
Apart from these major parks, the retail industry within this city is booming. For example, the Florida Mall is the largest in Orlando and one of the largest single story malls in the United States. The Mall at Millenia includes many fashion stores including department chains such as Bloomingdale's, Macy's, and Neiman Marcus.