DID SOMEONE SAY SHOPPING? We bet you didn't know this about Orlando: Within a 15-mile radius you can be scooping up bargains at several outlet centers, high-end shopping at luxury malls or checking out the latest fashions at intimate independent boutiques. It's rare to find all of these different types of shopping experiences within such close range. We even found the "Rodeo Drive of the East," New York's brick-paved Park Avenue in downtown Winter Park. Founded in the late 1800s by northerners, many from New York, it's home to stores, boutiques, salons, galleries, Rollins College (of Mr. Roger's fame) and restaurants.

SO MANY ECLECTIC EXPERIENCES There's a symbiotic relationship between the theatrical excellence that permeates Orlando's theme parks and the city's cultural aura. The unparalleled ideals of creativity and innovation, raw talent and showmanship overflow to the surrounding community, making the area a haven for artists and performers. Orlando is home to hundreds of museums, galleries, theatres, gardens and historic homes. Start your research at www.visitorlando.com, where the Events Calendar offers all the 411 on the city's acclaimed ballet and philharmonic companies as well as traveling Broadway shows and other top-notch performances.

THE CULTURAL CORRIDOR If art is your passion, the Cultural Corridor belongs on your "must-visit" list. This eight-mile stretch along Interstate 4 spans from downtown Orlando to historic Winter Park and includes museums, galleries and theatres. Something to look forward to in 2011: The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art's expansion will increase its exhibit space by 50 percent. A Corridor highlight, it is home to the world's most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany. So when you're planning your all-girl getaway to Orlando, you can include a tour of Tiffany jewelry, paintings, pottery, art glass, windows, lamps and an elaborate chapel interior created for an 1893 exhibition. www.morsemuseum.org

YOU CAN FLY! We all love life at the beach, but Florida also has an adventurous side. Leave the roller coaster thrills behind at the parks and head for Wallaby Ranch Hang Gliding Flight Park, where you can learn to hang glide in a day, or opt for a multi-lesson package if you'll be in the area for a while. Tandem "discovery" trips begin every day at 8 a.m., no appointment necessary. Another option to get you airborne is IFLY Orlando for indoor skydiving. It's a way to get the thrill, without the climb 2,000 feet up.
www.wallaby.com; www.internationaldriveorlando.com

THE SPA AT THE RITZ-CARLTON ORLANDO, GRANDE LAKES Yes travelgirl, you can be pampered in Orlando. After a relaxing experience in one of the 40 treatment rooms, lounge in the private sanctuary of the Eco-Rooftop or create your own custom scrub at the Scrub Bar with the spa Mixologist, who combines fresh herbs from the spa's eco-garden with Himalayan salt. Take home a recipe card so you can recreate the potion at home and relive your spa experience. Grab a fresh smoothie from The Spa Café and relax by the private 4,000-square-foot heated pool or put on those dancing shoes and strut your stuff with a Broadway Dance class at the Fitness Center. www.grandelakes.com

DINING THAT'S DIVINE, DIVERSE AND DELICIOUS We were thrilled by the dining at Disney, but the rest of Orlando has a plethora of excellent options as well. Here are a few of our favorites: Pho 88 in the Vietnamese district is one of the finest places to enjoy Vietnamese food, including Vietnam! A bowl of noodle soup here is an elixir for the soul. Try the Jazz Brunch at the Grand Bohemian Hotel — the raw bar, chef's carving station, gourmet omelets and mouthwatering bread options are a great start to any Sunday. If you're celebrating a special occasion in Orlando? We recommend reservations at The Ravenous Pig; it's a superstar when it comes to Central Florida cuisine. Don't leave without sharing a dessert from the award-winning list.