Posted By: Amanda Olsen, ASHG Meetings Assistant
Note: We have received a number of inquiries about any potential impact of Hurricane Irma on ASHG 2017 in Orlando. We are in regular touch with local authorities and convention center staff, who report all facilities should be ready to welcome ASHG attendees as planned, and we will continue to monitor the situation.
Starting to plan your travel to Orlando? Consider taking a day or afternoon to venture out of the city and check out some of these area neighborhoods (listed alphabetically).
Audubon Park Garden District – 35-minute taxi ride from the OCCC
This is Orlando’s first “ecodistrict,” a sustainable shopping and dining community. Dine here and experience the rewarding taste of farm-to-table foods, locally sourced ingredients, and award-winning cuisine. Audubon Park offers a myriad of specialty food and drink options, most of them being locally-owned small businesses. In addition to its unique boutique stores and dining, this Orlando gem hosts endless foodie festivals. On the eastern edge of town, Leu Gardens never fails to awe visitors as a vast botanical paradise. Although Audubon Park is geographically small, the possibilities for enjoyment are boundless.
College Park – 30-minute taxi ride from the OCCC
Located in northern Orlando, this town takes its title from its Ivy-inspired street names—visitors will find themselves walking down W Harvard Street to cross Dartmouth Street. If you’re in the mood for a stroll, College Park boasts many paved pathways circling its multiple lakes. If you want to take part in some higher learning to reflect the streets along which you travel, visit the Orlando Science Center or the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. The area is also known for its inimitable shopping boutiques and retro dining locations. Follow a trip to the local thrift shop with a cup of coffee at Shaker’s American Café and sip as you look at their extensive collection of vintage salt and pepper shakers.
- Market Street, Celebration, FL (credit: Visit Orlando)
Celebration – 20-minute taxi ride from the OCCC
The “Traditional American Town of Celebration” is exactly as idyllic as you would expect a community developed by Walt Disney to be. The 1950s-inspired neighborhood is a must-see for Disney enthusiasts. Even if you’re not a Disney lover, the town offers many attractions, with most food and shopping located in its Town Center. The town may be uniform in appearance, but the food is diverse enough to serve all tastes. Visit Columbia Restaurant for Cuban and Spanish fare, Ari Sushi for hibachi, or the Town Tavern for a burger and fries.
Lake Nona – 25-minute taxi ride from the OCCC
Lake Nona refers to itself as “a community of and for the future,” and a trip to the town will prove it’s a well-deserved tagline. The community is sprinkled with breath-taking art installations amongst its plentiful shopping and dining options. The Town Center includes brand-name shopping as well as boutique options, while also serving as great spot to sit outside and enjoy the Floridian fall weather. As a town devoted to health and wellness, Lake Nona’s bike share program and lengthy trails are hard to beat. For a unique dining experience, visitors should visit Canvas Restaurant and Market, an American-Latin fusion eatery with an attached market that sells food, drink, household goods, and local artisan crafts.
- Shopping in the city of Winter Park (credit: Visit Orlando)
Winter Park – 35-minute taxi ride from the OCCC
The northern Orlando city of Winter Park is an arts-filled area rich in culture and activity. Visit for the day and peruse the art in the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum, walk through the Mead Botanical Garden, or take a stroll in one of the more than 70 parks. If you’re in for a nautical adventure, there are numerous boat tours that take you through the Lakes of Winter Park. With wide-spanning activities from orchestral concerts to luxury shopping to outdoor music festivals, you can always count on finding something to entertain you.