Once upon a time, Orlando was a small town surrounded by cow pastures and citrus groves. Then came the mouse. In 1971, Walt Disney opened Disney World and other theme parks followed, transforming Orlando into a vacation mecca that welcomes more than 50 million tourists annually.

Nicknamed “The City Beautiful,” just beyond the bustle of the theme parks lies the natural side of Florida with parks, gardens and over 300 lakes and springs in the Central Florida area. Orlando’s rich history and culture come to life through its many museums, events, galleries, theaters, fine restaurants and quaint retail districts.

The area boasts seven major malls and one of the largest collections of outlet stores in the Southeast, making it a shopper’s paradise. Visitors and locals looking for unique boutiques stroll the charming neighborhood shopping areas in College Park, Celebration, Thornton Park, Ivanhoe Village and Audubon Park finding a variety of gifts, home décor, antiques and apparel.

Becky Tyre

Becky Tyre is the senior trends editor for GIFT SHOP Magazine and the owner of the Retail Details blog.