There's more to Orlando than Disney magic

Orlando's prominence is nowhere more evident than on a Florida road map. Here more-or-less all roads really do lead to Orlando - more so than the capital Tallahassee or the international gateway of Miami.

Until the 1970s Orlando was largely just a featureless plot of scrubland. The arrival of Walt Disney World, and a rash of attendant theme parks - including Epcot, Universal Studios and Sea World - changed all that and the area now attracts more visitors than any other in the state.

While there's little more than copyright-protected magic in Orlando's immediate vicinity, a short drive can take you to major car races, space shuttle launches and some gorgeous beaches.