Weather
Florida has ideal temperatures from October – December and March and April, with highs in the mid 80’s, and the lows in the 60’s and 70’s. January and February are very sunny, but for short periods the temperature can dip below freezing. May – September gives us our typically HOT Florida weather, with high humidity and many days in the 90’s.

Attractions
The city of Orlando, including the metro area, many attractions which include amusement parks, shopping, and things to do. Some favorites include: Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World and Discovery Cove, Busch Gardens, Daytona International Speedway, Gatorland, The Holy Land Experience, Kennedy Space Center, Orlando Science Center, and Ripley's Believe it or Not.

History
Some historians date Orlando's name to around 1836 when a soldier named Orlando Reeves allegedly died in the area during the war against the Seminole Indian tribe. Prior to being known as its current name, Orlando was known as Jernigan, after the first permanent settler, cattleman Aaron Jernigan. But most pioneers did not arrive until after the Third Seminole War in the 1850s.

Most of the early residents made their living by cattle ranching. Orlando remained a rural backwater during the Civil War. The Reconstruction Era brought a population explosion, which led to the city's incorporation in 1875. The period from 1875 to 1895 is remembered as Orlando's "Gilded Era," when it became the hub of Florida's citrus industry. But a great freeze in 1894-1895 forced many owners to give up their independent groves.

Orlando, as Florida's largest inland city, became a popular resort during the years between the Spanish-American War and World War 1. The city was also host to several sanitariums, which serves as the basis for its hospitals today. In the 1920s Orlando experienced a large housing boom. Land prices soared. During this period several neighborhoods were constructed downtown leaving behind many bungalows. The boom ended when several hurricanes hit Florida in the late 20s and by the depression.

Perhaps the most critical event for Orlando's economy occurred in 1965 when Walt Disney announced plans to build Walt Disney World. The famous vacation resort opened in October 1971, ushering in an explosive population and economic growth for the Orlando metropolitan area. As a result, tourism became the centerpiece of the area's economy. Orlando is consistently ranked as one of the top vacation destinations in the world, now boasting more theme parks and entertainment attractions than anywhere else in the world.

The city of Orlando is best known for the many tourist attractions in the area. The region sees an estimated 52 million tourists a year. Orlando is the second largest city in the country for number of hotel rooms and one of the busiest American cities for conferences and conventions, with the Orange County Convention Center the country's third largest in square footage.

Despite being far from the main tourist attractions, downtown Orlando is undergoing major redevelopment with a number of residential and commercial towers. Another major factor in Orlando's growth occurred in 1970, when the new Orlando International Airport was built. Four airlines began providing scheduled flights in 1970. It is considered a world-class facility, and it is one of the most heavily traveled airports in the world.

What God has in mind for this growing metropolis with regard to missions, no one knows for sure. However, with New Tribes Mission, Frontier Missions, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Campus Crusade for Christ International and Youth With A Mission Orlando all having their headquarters here in Orlando, it will be interesting to find out.

Facts
Population: over 220,000 people (2005 projected)
Ministries that are based in Orlando: Campus Crusade for Christ, Navigators, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Relevant Magazine, New Tribes Missions.

How far it is to…..(approx.)

Disney: 30 minutes
Cocoa Beach: 50 minutes
Daytona Beach: 1 hour
Universal Studios: 25 minutes
Kennedy Space Center: 1 hour
International Drive: 15 minutes