Economy

Tourism is a large contributor to Central Florida's economy. However, the area has economically diversified in the past decade. As a high-tech industrial hub, Metro Orlando has the seventh largest research park in the U.S., Central Florida Research Park, the engineering and business school of the University of Central Florida. It has defense companies such as Lockheed Martin and Siemens.

Medical research is conducted in Orlando's Lake Nona area with the University of Central Florida medical school, the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute biomedical research facility and a new Veterans Administration hospital. These facilities, along with several research support companies, have led this research cluster to be referred to as Medical City. In 2012, an estimated 400,000 veterans lived in the ten counties of Central Florida. A $665 million Veterans Administration hospital was being built in Lake Nona. Completion was scheduled for 2013.

Kennedy Space Center is a NASA facility. Patrick Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station are military installations located on the Atlantic coast. Central Florida has three major zoos, the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens, in Sanford, the Brevard Zoo and the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay animal park. There are also two theme parks in Orlando featuring animals: Disney's Animal Kingdom and SeaWorld Orlando.

Theme parks and waterparks Walt Disney World SeaWorld Orlando Universal Studios Florida Legoland Florida

Other major attractions include Kennedy Space Center, Bok Tower Gardens, Daytona International Speedway, The Holy Land Experience, and Gatorland. Central Florida also has a wide variety of natural attractions including the Wekiwa Springs State Park, Blue Spring State Park, Rock Springs Run State Reserve, Canaveral National Seashore, and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The region also boasts an extensive network of recreational trails (jogging, biking, equestrian, etc.). While many connections are already in place, construction continues and will link all of the trails and greenways. Major trails include the Cady Way, Cross Seminole and West Orange Trails.

Shopping

Major malls and open-air centers in the area include:

Altamonte Mall Downtown Disney The Florida Mall The Mall at Millenia Orlando Fashion Square Oviedo Mall Seminole Towne Center Universal CityWalk Volusia Mall Waterford Lakes Town Center West Oaks Mall Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves