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This week, REALTOR® Magazine is previewing NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience.
Orlando is a magical playground of attractions, adventures, culinary amusements and the arts. Yes, the City Beautiful has theme parks, but there is so much more to explore. If you’re in town for NAR NXT, take time to experience some local flair—with family or on a solo voyage. You know what they say about all work and no play.
“To get a real feel for Orlando, attendees should get outside and explore some of our neighborhoods, like SODO and the Milk District,” says Tansey Soderstrom, ABR, AHWD, C2EX, president of the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association. Signing up for one of the many food tours in town can combine your love of food with getting to know the real Orlando. A favorite of Soderstrom’s is in Ivanhoe Village.
Great Outdoors
Orlando averages daytime temperatures in the high 70s in November. That means you need to get outside, and one great outdoor destination is the botanical oasis of Leu Gardens, located north of the convention hotels in Orlando. It’s a nature lover’s paradise, offering a 50-acre swath of flowers, trees and plants.
Nearby, stroll down Winter Park’s famed Park Avenue, then unwind on the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour, discovering lakes and canals that mark this historic city. If you love to golf, one of the finest courses in town, the 18-hole Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, is a quick jaunt from this year’s convention.
Grab Some Culture
Would you like to take in a show or concert while in Orlando? Broadway shows and top-name acts come alive at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. For a more intimate and historic venue, The Plaza Live hosts live music in what was once a popular movie theater.
Join local history buffs at the Orange County Regional History Center in downtown Orlando. It offers a captivating look at how the city has developed since its inception in 1875. If sports are up your alley, the Orlando Magic are bringing a talented young team to the 2022–23 season. (Nov. 11, they take on the Phoenix Suns; Nov. 14, it’s the Charlotte Hornets.) While in the area, pay your respects: Congress designated the former Pulse nightclub as the National Pulse Memorial to commemorate those who lost their lives there in 2016.
Back in Winter Park, fine art enthusiasts will appreciate the Rollins Museum of Art, home to works by Rembrandt, Picasso and Cézanne. Find this hidden nugget on the famed campus of Rollins College, worth a walkthrough all on its own.
Treat Yourself
On Restaurant Row, located near the convention district, you’ll find some of the finest chains in the country. Think Eddie V’s Prime Seafood and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. Prefer local hot spots? Reese Stewart, RE/Max Properties SW, immediate past president of the Orlando association, recommends Linda’s Cantina, a mainstay since 1947. “It’s my preferred off-the-beaten-path place for steak,” says Stewart, an Orlando native.
Closer to the meetings, treat yourself to a gourmet burger and a craft cocktail in a city tavern atmosphere at The Whiskey on Sand Lake Road. In the adjacent Dr. Phillips community, local favorite Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine serves up generous portions and terrific service. Order the hollow bread for the table. For more than 30 years, neighboring Chatham’s has been delighting diners with a menu featuring ingredients culled from the organic farm of Chef Tony Lopez.
For a fun, energetic night out, Mango’s Tropical Café combines dinner and a show filled with music and dancing on the weekends.
Family Fun
Kids and adults love the Chocolate Kingdom Factory Adventure Tour, located near the headquarter hotels. Sample sweets throughout your visit. You can even make your own chocolate bar.
On International Drive, the iconic meeting and convention strip, get a bird’s-eye view of Orlando aboard the 400-foot Ferris wheel at ICON Park. Next door, the entire brood will enjoy the Illusion Museum, home of mind-boggling displays.
The Orlando Science Center is a gem that brings learning, art and science together in interactive exhibits for kids of all ages.
For a live animal adventure, Stewart notes, a 15-minute ride from the meetings brings you into the prehistoric world of Gatorland. “For seeing alligators in their natural habitat,” he says, “hop aboard an airboat in Kissimmee or on the St. Johns River.”
If theme parks are part of your agenda during the conference, you have plenty of choices, including Universal Studios Florida, SeaWorld Orlando and Disney World. If you are considering a Disney outing, the International Food & Wine Festival at EPCOT Center is taking place during NAR NXT. Beyond those mega-destinations, discover games, rides and go-kart tracks at Fun Spot America, minutes from the convention center. For a theme park vibe without the admission fee, stroll Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney) and Universal CityWalk.
Bienvenue Orlando!
