Headed to Orlando for USA Volleyball’s Open National Championships this weekend? The annual gathering of more than 6,000 adult volleyball players competing in 29 divisions—including men’s 79+, Special Olympics, coed reverse and sitting—is an event every volleyball player must attend at least once. It’s a wonderful testament to the existence of competitive volleyball after the end of high school, club or college.
Although the competition is great, one of the best things about Nationals is getting out and exploring a new city with your teammates. We’ve put together a list of recommendations for where to eat, shop and adventure in Orlando during your free time.
Eat and Drink
With more than 60 million tourists flocking to Orlando every year, the restaurant industry is booming—you have plenty of options for great places to eat. Fuel your game close to the convention center at Café Tu Tu Tango, Everglades Restaurant or Emeril’s Tchoup Chop.
Willing to drive? We suggest Hawkers Asian Street Fare for—you guessed it—Asian street fare; Yellow Dog Eats for mind-blowing sandwich creations like pulled pork with fried onions, bacon, goat cheese and jalapeno-fig sauce or tuna with dried cranberries, caramelized onions, sunflower sprouts and orange Cointreau mayo; and Dandelion Communitea Cafe for the vegetarian and vegan crowd.
While attending the first-ever Florida Open Nationals, you should definitely eat some Cuban food. Your best option relatively close to the convention center is Havana Bistro Cafe. Some menu highlights: empanadas, classic Cubano sandwich, paella havanera (shrimp, squid, fish, chicken, pork and mussels) and a slew of bakery treats and sweets.
For the best brew in town to celebrate a day well-played or lament a tough loss, visit the Orlando Brewing Company downtown. With 24 beers on tap, live music some evenings and trivia on Mondays, this spot is worth the 20-minute drive from the convention center.
Outdoor Adventures
When you envision Orlando, you might see theme parks and strip malls. That’s certainly a lot of it, but there are also plenty of nature-filled adventures within a short drive of the city. The Harry P. Leu Gardens feature 50 acres of tropical and semi-tropical plants, and the wildlife that said plants attract and are just north of downtown. Orlando Wetlands Park is free and open to the public, and you’re almost guaranteed to see an alligator somewhere along the eight miles of hiking trails. Prefer to do your adventuring on water and have an extra day in the area? Make the hour drive to take a nighttime kayak tour of the bioluminescent waters of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Spend Money
For those who didn’t blow their entire budget on flight, entry fee and lodging, Orlando offers a plethora of shopping options. A 20-minute drive from the convention center is the Florida Mall for all your favorite national brands, and 13 minutes to the south you’ll find the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets. Looking for something with a little more regional flavor? Visit the Artegon Marketplace, which features boutiques hawking local products alongside larger chains like Bass Pro Shop and Ron Jon Surf Shop. While you’re there, check out the indoor ropes course and SkyZone Trampoline Park.
Although the competition is great, one of the best things about Nationals is getting out and exploring a new city with your teammates. We’ve put together a list of recommendations for where to eat, shop and adventure in Orlando during your free time.
Eat and Drink
With more than 60 million tourists flocking to Orlando every year, the restaurant industry is booming—you have plenty of options for great places to eat. Fuel your game close to the convention center at Café Tu Tu Tango, Everglades Restaurant or Emeril’s Tchoup Chop.
Willing to drive? We suggest Hawkers Asian Street Fare for—you guessed it—Asian street fare; Yellow Dog Eats for mind-blowing sandwich creations like pulled pork with fried onions, bacon, goat cheese and jalapeno-fig sauce or tuna with dried cranberries, caramelized onions, sunflower sprouts and orange Cointreau mayo; and Dandelion Communitea Cafe for the vegetarian and vegan crowd.
While attending the first-ever Florida Open Nationals, you should definitely eat some Cuban food. Your best option relatively close to the convention center is Havana Bistro Cafe. Some menu highlights: empanadas, classic Cubano sandwich, paella havanera (shrimp, squid, fish, chicken, pork and mussels) and a slew of bakery treats and sweets.
For the best brew in town to celebrate a day well-played or lament a tough loss, visit the Orlando Brewing Company downtown. With 24 beers on tap, live music some evenings and trivia on Mondays, this spot is worth the 20-minute drive from the convention center.
Outdoor Adventures
When you envision Orlando, you might see theme parks and strip malls. That’s certainly a lot of it, but there are also plenty of nature-filled adventures within a short drive of the city. The Harry P. Leu Gardens feature 50 acres of tropical and semi-tropical plants, and the wildlife that said plants attract and are just north of downtown. Orlando Wetlands Park is free and open to the public, and you’re almost guaranteed to see an alligator somewhere along the eight miles of hiking trails. Prefer to do your adventuring on water and have an extra day in the area? Make the hour drive to take a nighttime kayak tour of the bioluminescent waters of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Spend Money
For those who didn’t blow their entire budget on flight, entry fee and lodging, Orlando offers a plethora of shopping options. A 20-minute drive from the convention center is the Florida Mall for all your favorite national brands, and 13 minutes to the south you’ll find the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets. Looking for something with a little more regional flavor? Visit the Artegon Marketplace, which features boutiques hawking local products alongside larger chains like Bass Pro Shop and Ron Jon Surf Shop. While you’re there, check out the indoor ropes course and SkyZone Trampoline Park.