Florida Guide > Days Out
International Drive - Part 1
If anybody tells you that you don’t want to go to International Drive because it is like Blackpool, take it with a pinch of salt.
International Drive starts a few miles before Sea World and Aquatica Water Theme Park and carries on northwards as far as the Premium Outlets Discount Shopping Malls. It is true to say that the northern most part is, shall we say “A little less Salubrious” but as this only accounts for about mile of the total 11. 5 mile stretch of International Drive it should not be discounted.
For at least ten miles you will be faced with palm tree lined stretches which house some of the world’s most exotic and grand hotels. At the furthest south end there is an abundance of very grand newly built holiday and vacation club apartments set in some of the most beautiful surroundings with fountains, palm trees and statues littering the entrances. Further along you will reach Sea World and Aquatica (Sea World’s newest attraction.
Carrying on past here you will start to see a few more interesting things such as stores and restaurants, all of a high calibre and eventually you come to Orlando’s magnificent Conference Centre. This building is quite staggering in its design and even has a glass walk-way over the road to transport delegates from the buildings on one side of the road to the other. Just past here is the best hotel in Orlando, The Peabody. This is one of the most luxurious hotels in Orlando and is used mainly by the conference delegates but they have a unique speciality unknown in any other hotel, except its sister hotel in Memphis. It is the Peabody Duck March.
Each morning, promptly at 11 a. m. , in a special elevator, the five North American mallard ducks, descend from their penthouse Royal Duck Palace. When the elevator doors open, The Peabody Ducks, accompanied by their Duck Master, take up their positions on a red carpet and begin The March of The Peabody Orlando Ducks to the music of The King Cotton March.
They waddle their way in formation through the hotel' s marble halls, and when they reach the fountain in the Atrium Lobby, the ducks mount three red-carpeted steps and splash into the fountain' s waters. At 5 p. m. , the procession is reversed and the ducks march back to their special elevator. This is open to the public so you may wish to go along for coffee and watch.
The other major luxury hotels are all owned by the Rosen Group, The Rosen Ritz Hotel and The Rosen Centre Hotel.
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