Editor Letter For February: Orlando Love Letter

The first time I fell in love with Orlando was at the airport. Arriving from an early-morning flight, I was ravenous, and not many restaurants were open. Making my way into the main concourse area, my nose led me to Zaza’s Cuban Cafe. I was excited to find something other than the typical fast-food chains and delighted by the creative coffee options. I loaded up on the tempting guava pastries and beef empanadas that were fresh from the oven. Another wonder! Since that trip, I have always returned with a box of empanadas—or several— when traveling through MCO.

Whether as a vacation or staycation, you can make Orlando a journey of discovery. Going to a theme park? Why not also take time to visit a state park? Heading out for a night on the town? Why not make a half day of it to revisit some of the restaurants and attractions nearby that you have yet to discover, or return to a favorite from the past? I recently got to rediscover downtown when the Grand Bohemian Orlando invited me to check out its multi-million dollar renovation. Read all the details on p. 22. With GBO as my home base, I took a leisurely jaunt to Lake Eola Park, one of The City Beautiful’s prettiest parks. Along the way, I got a new perspective of the Big City Birds, those 16-foot-tall inflatable neon pigeons, which reminded me of Orlando’s wonderful, artistic pursuits and acceptance of creatives—one of my favorite things about the city.

Once I got to Lake Eola, I was in heaven interacting with the many swans, ducks and other birds that reside there, even though I couldn’t feed them (they’re on a strict diet, so don’t you do it!) Even the molting birds were beautiful. It made me think about how swans mate for life and how those who call The City Beautiful home have nothing but admiration for this great destination—how once you’ve been paired with this city, you loathe to leave it.

Flip to p. 25 for our story on Unforgettable Date Adventures to rediscover the city through the lens of different date types: adventurous, culinary and after-dark experiences are among them. Even if you plan on a solo experience, you’ll get a peek into some of Orlando’s best gems. It’s also the kickoff to our wedding coverage, so get the scoop on wedding trends, reception sites and honeymoon tips. And don’t miss our Best of Wedding Hall of Fame, highlighting top area wedding vendors in 30 categories. While you’re out and about in Orlando, keep your eyes open— beauty is everywhere, we just need to register it sometimes.