One of the early settlers of Ormond Beach was millionaire John D. Rockefeller. The Casements, his former winter home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Hungarian folklore, Italian ceramic, and Boy Scout memorabilia are some of the diverse
exhibits found within its walls. Nearby, visitors to the Memorial Art Museum and Gardens can stroll through a four-acre botanical garden and appreciate native  flora such as the banana plant, sago palm, and bamboo.

 Bordered by  Halifax River on the west, the Atlantic Ocean on the east, and home to numerous rivers, lakes, and springs, Ormond Beach is an ideal location for a myriad of water activities. Water and jet skiing, surfing,and deep-sea fishing can all be enjoyed in the surrounding waters, while the shore offers the sun-seeker miles of white sand beaches for relaxation.  Visitors can also enjoy a variety of cultural and recreational events offered throughout the year. The Jazz Matazz, an annual event held over the 4th of July holiday, showcases musicians recognized both nationally and internationally. 

Ormond Beach is known as the "Birthplace of Speed" due to the historic legacy of the
automotive beach races which began in the early 1900's. It continues its appreciation of the automobile through an annual show each Thanksgiving weekend highlighting antique cars and treating participants to a gaslight parade. 

This island city  is well-known for its National Wildlife Refuge. At the Indian River Lagoon local wildlife, manatees and sea turtles can be observed and studied on informative tours.

Cocoa Beach is 5 minutes from the home of Deborah and Roger, who are home hosting.Teachers Travel Web members. Here, you can see everything from an eagle soaring across a brilliant blue sky to the silver bullet of a space shuttle streaking into orbit.

 You can relax on the soft sands of Cocoa Beach, go deep-sea fishing in the  Atlantic, explore ancient cypress forests by airboat. or learn about our investigations of the heavens at the planetarium or one of many other space attractions. 

 NASA's Kennedy Space Center, one of the seven wonders of the modern world, is situated in the
 middle of the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. It is a breeding ground for the endangered bald eagle, The Kennedy Space Center Visitor  Complex features interactive exhibits, guided bus tours, an art gallery, and a rocket garden.  The five-story IMAX theater features films with footage shot by NASA astronauts on location — in space. The more personal story of space exploration is highlighted at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and U.S. Space Camp,where visitors can view memorabilia from the original Mercury Seven and Gemini astronauts.
 

 Epcot is a two-part educational and cultural attraction designed to challenge the mind and satisfy the senses. Here, you can sample a warm croissant at a bakery in France, tap your foot to an authentic oom-pah band in Germany, learn about the age of dinosaurs, and take an exhilarating trip through the human body all in one day! Disney-MGM Studios allows visitors to see Disney animators creating wonderful characters and explains movie-making on an entertaining backlot tour.

  Universal Studios Florida shares the movie-making theme of Disney-MGM Studios, but attractions are presented quite differently here. At Universal, promoters say you can "ride at famous movies of the past, such as "Kongfrontation," where guests meet King Kong on the New York subway. Jaws, Earthquake, Terminator 2: 3-D Battle Across Time and the works of Hitchcock are among the park's other movie attractions. Twister, a technological marvel, invites guests to experience the awesome live spectacle and destructive nature of an actual tornado, a mere 20 feet away.

SeaWorld is a more natural attraction where you can be Trainer for a Day, working alongside real SeaWorld animal trainers to learn training techniques, feeding, and show preparation. Attractions include the "Pacific Point Preserve," with sea lions and seals and "Manatees: The Last Generation?" an up-close look at the endangered sea cow. SeaWorld's newest attraction is Wild Arctic,You come face to face with real polar bears, walruses, harbor seals and beluga whales.                 

Dinner attractions are very popular in the Orlando area and also center around themes, whether of an  era or an ethnicity. Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament in Kissimmee allows you to cheer a  knight to victory. Disney's Pleasure Island celebrates  New Year's Eve every night with laser lights and dancing in the streets. Church Street Station in downtown Orlando is a nighttime smorgasbord of activities and eateries, hosting a variety of different clubs and restaurants. Universal Studios CityWalk is a colossal 30-acre entertainment mecca,
 where themed restaurants, nightclubs, cinemas, live entertainment, and shopping abound.

 Botanical beauty flourishes in several parks, Cypress Gardens, a short distance from Orlando in Winter Haven, shows off stunning outdoor floral displays as well as world-class water-ski shows daily. Bok Tower Gardens is a serene sanctuary abounding with azaleas, camellias and magnolias. A World of Orchids displays thousands of rare and exotic examples that flourish in a state-of-the-art, air-conditioned, tropical rain forest garden showcase.