City Odyssey

I’m starting a new segment called Throwback Travel to share about places I’ve visited in the past. There are a few trips I haven’t written about yet, and this feels like the perfect way to look back and document them.

Last May (2024), we visited Orlando. It was my second time in the city.

Getting There

We flew direct from St. Louis, a smooth 2.5-hour flight. After landing, we rented a car since our plans were spread out across the area.

Orlando is best known for Disney World, but this wasn’t a Disney trip. I didn’t have the time to do it right, and I feel like if you’re going to Disney, you should go just for that.

We stayed on International Drive, which is a central spot with easy access to major roads, parks, restaurants, and attractions. Since we got in late, we stayed in that evening.

Day 1: Cocoa Beach and ICON Park

This was a beach day. Since Orlando doesn’t have beaches, we drove about an hour to Cocoa Beach. The weather was perfect. We found a quieter area, rented an umbrella and chairs, and spent the morning lounging and swimming. It was peaceful until more people started showing up by late morning.

After a few hours, we headed to the Cocoa Beach Pier, which was much livelier. We grabbed food and drinks at a restaurant (don’t remember the name), then drove back to Orlando in the early evening.

That night, we went to ICON Park. It has rides, restaurants, music, and shops. We started with the Ferris wheel, which gave us a nice view of the city. I love a good Ferris wheel. Afterward, we wandered around, listened to a DJ, browsed shops, and got some acai bowls before heading back to the hotel.

Day 2: Lake Eola and a Soccer Match

We started the day at Lake Eola Park for the swan boat ride. While in line, I chatted with a woman who offered me two free tickets. I tried to pay her, but she wouldn’t accept. It was such a kind surprise.

The boats were fun but harder to steer than expected. We kept going in the wrong direction at first, but eventually got it. We circled the fountain and enjoyed the view from the water. After the ride, we grabbed gelato and walked the park. There was a protest happening nearby with some police presence, so we left to be safe.

That evening, we went to a NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) match between Orlando Pride and Bay FC. Orlando won 1–0. It was great to see some of my favorite players like Marta, Barbra Banda, Racheal Kundananji, and Asisat Oshoala. After the game, we headed back to the hotel.

Day 3: Heading Home

We had a slow morning, packed up, dropped off the rental car, and made our way to the airport.

It was a short trip, but packed with great moments. Even without Disney, Orlando had a lot to offer—beaches, local attractions, good food, and live sports. A fun and memorable weekend.