For those who may attend the UCF game

[cretv]

After seeing a Marshall fan’s in-depth compilation of Huntington information for the coming season, I thought it would be nice to give our ’08-’09 guests some early planning help too. This may be pinned if the mod wants. Sorry if I overload you with too many links. For additional or detailed information ask the UCF fans on any of their boards (Rivals has a ton of them).

General
For general UCF information, campus map, parking, tailgating, parking..
UCF.edu
UCF athletics

UCF area map
Campus Map

Gameday Information
Contains information for game day parking, stadium map, tailgating, etc

Hotels
There are plenty of hotels in the area, but here are some of the closest ones to the campus. I know a few students whose own parents stay at either of the first three listed when visiting.

La Quinta

Holiday Inn

Radisson

Marriott

Comfort Suites

Other Area Hotels

For hotels closer to the downtown attractions take a look at:
I-Drive Hotels

Restaurants
Orlando has a variety of food, and I can only name so many restaurants. Do not forget about the restaurants (Jimmy Buffett’s/Emeril’s, etc) in Universal’s free City Walk area!

trip advisor recommendations

Besides food locations in UCF’s athletics area:

Waterford Lakes
The Waterford Lakes Complex near UCF has an array of chain restaurants including the Orlando Ale House, Urban Flats, California Pizza Kitchen, Panda Express, Chipotle, Fuji Sushi, CheeBurger CheeBurger… You get my drift! For those that do not… It is not even close, the restaurant list continues!

Knightly Food
This website lists a bunch of usually cheap UCF area restaurants including times they are open.

El Cerro is a delicious authentic Mexican restaurant located directly across Alafaya from UCF.
Bubbalou’s is not far from campus and has great BBQ food.

Wingouse
Winghouse is my favorite wing place, but there is also a Hooters for the people that love those wings.

Downtown and International Drive have a lot more original and a lot of upscale restaurants.

Other Restaurants
I have been to Ming Court and it is superb.

Charleys Steakhouse
Charley’s Steakhouse has excellent steak and fish with costs in upwards of $20 per meal. There are two locations in the Orlando area.

Honestly, there are so many great restaurants that I have only named the tip of the iceberg. Visit one of the UCF boards for more feedback about what you feel like and they will kindly help.

Tourism
For General Orlando tourist attractions

Orlando Venues
Attractions Guide

Mall at Millenia
Florida Mall
Upscale Orlando malls. The mall at Millenia is aesthetically pleasing, while the Florida Mall is packed with a ton of stores.

Disney
Disney has its own hotels and is located about 20 miles from campus. Disney has many different theme parks.

Universal
Universal has a couple of different parks, and it is slightly closer to UCF than Disney. Islands of Adventure seems to be more ride oriented. City Walk is a free store, bar, and restaurant area outside of the theme parks, excluding parking.

Sea World

Orlando Science Center
Orlando Science Center. A great museum

Museum of Art
Orlando Museum of Art

KSC
The Kennedy Space Center is located about an hour away at Cocoa

Clubs and bars
other clubs bars
Downtown Orlando is filled with many bars and clubs for those that seek Knight : ) time fun! The above two links list a few of them.


Beaches
Cocoa Beach
Cocoa Beach is perhaps the closest beach to Orlando, and some of its beaches even allow cars to drive on it.

Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach is not much further away from UCF than Cocoa, and is about an hour to an hour and a half away. Daytona also has areas allowing car access to beaches. Daytona has the International Speedway which hosts the Pepsi 400 and, of course, the Daytona 500.

There are also beaches around the Tampa area, which is about two or two and a half hours away.

[southerncomfort]

How informative - and exciting! We appreciate ya Hopefully I'll be there long enough to enjoy at least some of that...

[peruna81]

New Smyrna Beach is the local's favorite, sand is great, not as crowded.

Dixie Crossroads in Titusville ( head east on highway 50 till you run into I95, one exit north, head towards the water ) provides excellent inexpensive seafood that is fresh.

UCF stadium was constructed after extensive looks at Ford...not quite as beautiful a setting as UP, but a great addition for UCF after having to play in the Citrus Bowl dump and deal with the City of Orlando.

Hope to make the game this year as well...

[SMU 86]

Looks like cretv may be doing some internet thread recruiting for UCF.

[RGV Pony]

Regarding Charley's mentioned above, I would argue that it's overrated. I saw it on one of those "best steak places in America" lists along with the likes of III Forks, Bob's, etc. My one excursion there left me underwhelmed.

As for hotels, the Westin downtown is one of the best Westins I've stayed at.

[cretv]

Looks like cretv may be doing some internet thread recruiting for UCF.

Besides the fact that I do not know what that means(though I have several ideas), I only posted this on the teams visiting us in 2008. It is only meant to assist those future guests.

And as for Charley's, I would rate it pretty high, though I could be off base since I have not been to many steakhouses. It is only a suggestion

[cretv]

New Smyrna Beach is the local's favorite, sand is great, not as crowded.

I have never been to New Smyrna Beach and my home away from school is about half of an hour above Daytona. I will have to give it a try sometime.

[NavyCrimson]

Thanx for the info. Very appreciative.

[MustangTu]

Thanks for the info. I may stay in New Smyma Beach

[smu diamond m]

Meet my friend, http://tinyurl.com/.

Thanks for the info, I just hate all the botched formatting from long URLs.

[JesuitPony]

Regarding Charley's mentioned above, I would argue that it's overrated. I saw it on one of those "best steak places in America" lists along with the likes of III Forks, Bob's, etc. My one excursion there left me underwhelmed.

As for hotels, the Westin downtown is one of the best Westins I've stayed at.

I have to agree with that review of Charley's. I was pretty underwhelmed during my visit. The hotel you're talking about is now called the Grand Bohemian Hotel (formerly under the Westin flag) and is in the heart of downtown, a short walk from bars, restaurants, etc. I live in Orlando and am hoping that there will be enough SMU fans in town to necessitate a tailgate or post game get together at a local bar. Does anyone know if the Mustang Club is putting anything together?

[jimmieho]

Great info!
I was trying to decide what to do with one extra day in Orlando.
This list will help.
Thanks