Orlando isn’t just home to theme park attractions. In fact, there are many other things to do in the city as well. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, take some time out to appreciate and explore these 5 unique places.
Global Convergence Sculpture – If you’re a local who’s been downtown, chances are you’ve walked by this sculpture more than a dozen times. However, do you know the story behind it? The Global Convergence sculpture was made by DeeDee Morrison, an Alabama sculptor, to remind people about the importance of sustainability and the role we play in the natural ecosystem.
The aluminum globe has blue panels lined with a school of shoal bass, Florida’s native fish, which appear to be circling their aquarium. Shoal bass are a threatened freshwater fish, and the sculpture is a reminder of what could be lost if the waterways keep experiencing adverse changes. Global Convergence was the first of 8 permanently installed art pieces paid for by private donors as part of the SEE ART ORLANDO project.
Mickey Pylon – This well-known landmark near Celebration, Florida is located alongside World Drive junction and I-4. The Mickey Pylon consists of a tubular pole for the base, a circular ring for the head, and two smaller elliptical rings to represent the ears. The tubular powerline tower that symbolizes Mickey Mouse is made of galvanized steel tube and is used to feed nearby Osceola substation with two 230 kV circuits. One of the power lines runs northward to the Intercession City Power Plant, and the other runs southward to the Pearce Road Station.
Jack Kerouac House – One of America’s most iconic writers, Jack Kerouac spent his final years in Orlando living in the small wooden house located at 1418 Clouser Ave. After the Beat Generation author passed away in 1969, the house remained with his family until his friends turned it into a writers’ residency known as the Kerouac Project in 2000.
Writers are able to live in the house for three months expense free while they develop new work. As of 2013, the house has been part of the National Register of Historic Places, and in 2014, the literary landmark received a sign to show the house’s importance as a Florida Heritage site.
Skeletons: Museum of Osteology – Though the original skeleton museum resides in Oklahoma City, a second one was opened here in Orlando by skull expert Jay Villemarette in 2015. The Orlando location is even larger, featuring over 500 real animal skeletons, including monkeys, bats, gorillas, elephants, alligators, and even rare species such as a Sumatran rhinoceros and two Komodo dragons. The museum is both informative and interesting and is located in the ICON Orlando plaza right under the Orlando Eye.
Harry P. Leu Gardens – Leu and his wife had exotic flora planted around their Florida home and across their 40 acres of land right up until their deaths. Once the couple passed away, the home and gardens were donated to the City of Orlando. The wide range of tropical and subtropical plants attract visitors from all over the world. Harry P. Leu Gardens always hosts different, fun events including movie night, story time, and temporary exhibits such as Nature Connects® Art with LEGO® Bricks and The Dinosaur Invasion at Leu Gardens (both no longer on display).
After a long day of exploring some of the unique attractions here in Orlando, come settle in and enjoy the deluxe accommodations at Rosen Inn International. Our hotel is conveniently located on I-Drive next to Interstate 4, making it easy for you to travel back and forth to all of the exciting activities you have planned. Book a room today for your next vacation by calling 407-996-1600.
