Curated inspiration for your next destination

Welcome to the aether edit, a carefully chosen collection of places to rest, replenish, roam and reconnect. We bring you well-known destinations through the aether lens, helping you discover a slower, more meaningful way to travel. This month we take you to Orlando, a city where moments of vibrancy sit alongside peaceful retreats. A city known for action-packed adventure, Orlando also has a rich cultural and artistic heritage and verdant outdoor spaces just waiting to be unearthed.

rest in Orlando

Orlando has something special for every traveller, whether you’re taking a family trip of a lifetime to one of the city’s many theme parks; looking for adventure on the water; mastering a new sport like pickle ball; or indulging in a poolside escape or spa treatment. Many of the city’s luxury hotels combine these activities, giving every member of your party exactly what they want from their holiday in one unique setting. And with fine dining and elegant suites, you’ll have somewhere exceptional to rest and recharge between adventures.

The hotel for family-friendly luxury

If you’re travelling to Disney World with family and want a perfectly curated mix of adventure and tranquillity, the Four Seasons offers something for everyone, from a large water park and complimentary kids club for the children, to a chic adults-only pool complete with private cabanas for the grown-ups. The resort is close enough to Disney World to deliver extraordinary views of the nightly fireworks from the patio of its Michelin-starred restaurant Capa, while also being removed enough to house a serene lazy river and an exclusive spa.

rest complemented by sports, spas and springs

The Rosen Shingle Creek is a peaceful refuge for those looking to enjoy outdoor activities, with a wraparound golf course, walking trails, tennis and fishing among other pursuits. The Ette Hotel, meanwhile, is the ultimate place to relax, with rejuvenating spa and wellness treatments, as well as “lifestyle resets”. The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, set against the stunning backdrop of the Grande Lakes, provides a host of unforgettable experiences, including kayaking and falconry. The luxury Waldorf Astoria is a family-friendly haven, close to Disney World but with spas, golf and pools for all family members to savour.  

The art hotel

If Orlando’s many theme parks aren’t on your itinerary, The Alfond Inn offers something completely different. This award-winning boutique art hotel is in Winter Park, which combines a unique mix of elegant gardens, exclusive stores and art galleries. The hotel itself houses The Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art and is a perfect base for exploring the area’s serene parks and vibrant arts scene. With a spa, two pools and a lush courtyard, the hotel is a tranquil retreat.

replenish in Orlando

Orlando has a rich culinary history, shaped by Cuban and Floridian influences. Seafood features heavily in local delicacies, from stone crab and rock shrimp to conch fritters. If you’re feeling adventurous, gator tail is a regional favourite, but for simple classics, you can’t beat a Cuban sandwich or a slice of key lime pie.

Eat like a local at one of Orlando’s markets

For a casual, on-the-go approach to dining, the weekly Downtown Orlando Farmers Market is a spectacular collection of seasonal, fresh produce and baked goods from the area. East End Market, meanwhile, is a neighbourhood market and food hall showcasing Orlando’s rich culinary scene. Units include La Femme du Fromage, Hinckley’s Fancy Meats and Dochi, selling mochi doughnuts.  

Discover one of Orlando’s exclusive Michelin-starred restaurants

If you want to savour something a little more elevated, Orlando boasts nine Michelin-starred restaurants, from the Japanese Sorekara and the Peruvian Papa Llama, to the contemporary Ômo by Jônt. Natsu Omakase, meanwhile, offers what it calls a ‘Japanese culinary journey’; most seasonal ingredients are flown in directly from Japan to offer an exclusive taste of traditional flavours.   

Enjoy character dining to delight the children

If you’re travelling with children, Orlando excels at event and character dining. You can dine with Marvel characters at Universal Islands of Adventure or classic Disney characters at Chef Mickey’s, while the Four Seasons hosts a Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy twice a week.

End your day with the perfect drink

Whatever your drink of choice, Orlando has somewhere special to unwind at the end of the day. Bitters & Brass and The Courtesy each offer a carefully curated menu of classic cocktails, but if craft beer is more to your taste, the city has a growing number of microbreweries, including Tactical Brewing and Twelve Talons Beerworks. For wine lovers, Wine Bar George is home to an exclusive event held by Master Sommelier George Miliotes, where guests learn to taste wine like a professional.

roam in Orlando

Orlando is best known for its theme parks, with Disney World and Universal Studios by far the most popular attractions. However, look a little closer and you’ll find a more peaceful side to Orlando, with beautiful parks and gardens to explore.

Explore the city’s lush gardens

Bok Tower Gardens has two hiking trails and 50 acres of gardens in which to immerse yourself, as well as the spectacular 205-foot art deco Singing Tower carillon, which plays concerts twice a day. The Harry P. Leu Gardens, meanwhile, is home to a tropical rainforest, a butterfly garden and a rose garden, with plenty of serene picnic spots where you can sit and take in the tranquil surroundings.  

Get lost in nature on one of Orlando’s scenic trails

Orlando has dozens of beautiful trails – some more remote than others – where you can lose yourself in nature for hours. If you’re staying centrally, the Lake Eola Loop is a paved city trail where you can run, walk or just enjoy the local birdlife. For something more remote, try the Shingle Creek Trail and Lake Fran Trail Loop, which offers a peaceful return to nature and possible sightings of the American Bald Eagle.  

If you want to immerse yourself in the wilder side of nature, Rock Springs offers exciting family activities including tubing, kayaking and canoeing, with perfect picnic spots where you can replenish after a morning of adventure on the water.

Go on an urban adventure in the city’s historic districts

For roaming with an urban slant, try exploring one of Orlando’s central boroughs. The Church Street District offers a glimpse into Orlando’s past, with many of the period architectural features - from cobbled streets to wrought-iron walkways - still present among the area’s boutique stores. The Milk District, meanwhile, is a quirky cultural hub full of street art and murals, bars, shops and restaurants.

reconnect in Orlando

Orlando has something for everyone, whether your idea of reconnecting involves a day at a luxury spa, a family game of pickle ball or a day on the golf course.

Indulge in a spa treatment that will leave you renewed and refreshed

The Conrad Orlando is nestled in a lush water garden, where you can rebalance body and mind. The spa offers a host of holistic treatments as well as a cold plunge and vitality pool. The Salt Room and Wellness Spa offers a range of treatments, including salt therapy, where for 45 minutes you can rest in zero-gravity recliners and enjoy the health benefits of a negative ion environment.

Enjoy an energetic reset

If something livelier is needed, why not try pickleball or tennis lessons at the Four Seasons resort. Golf lovers are extremely well catered for in Orlando; many hotels have their own course, with Shingle Creek Golf Club and Grande Vista Golf Club among the most exclusive.

Savour the serenity of the water or a poolside seat

Discovery Cove Orlando offers white sand beaches, tropical lagoons, winding rivers and waterfalls where you can relax and reconnect. The Wind-Away River, Serenity Bay and Freshwater Oasis create a serene paradise where you can escape, with or without the kids. All of Orlando’s most exclusive hotels, from the Four Seasons to the Waldorf Astoria, have their own crystal-clear pools where you can enjoy the water or sit back and relax in a private cabana.

To make your trip to Orlando truly special, you can enjoy the full aether experience with checked baggage when you fly from Manchester Airport to Orlando International Airport with our participating airlines.