Not many places in the world conjure up as many images of family fun, happiness and togetherness as Orlando, Fla. Located in sunny central Florida, Orlando has wonderful weather and awesome attractions, making it a delightful destination for families worldwide.

On a recent trip, we focused on three key areas within Orlando: Universal Studios, Disney World and Sea World. These three destinations are mini-cities unto themselves, filled with resorts and theme parks of their own.

The Portofino Bay Hotel
Our first stop was the Portofino Bay Hotel At Universal Studios Escape, a full-service, 750-room hotel replicating the Mediterranean fishing village of Portofino, Italy. This Loews Hotel is like stepping through a window of time. The genius behind this elegant hotel is its ability to transport you to another place: All at once, you are in Portofino, Italy, at a lovely waterside hotel. The tranquility is everywhere. From the moment you walk in the doors to the stroll along the boat-filled bay to the incredibly appointed guest room filled with every amenity you could ever need, you are at peace.

The Portofino Bay is luxurious. Residing on the grounds of Universal Studios, it is the kind of place you never want to leave. Italian opera music wafts through the air, scrumptious foods surround you, lovely shops abound. You could spend your entire vacation on site and have all you need, and then some.

The rooms have comfortable beds with cozy comforters and high-tech audio/visual equipment. The huge bathrooms are to die for: A bathtub lies under a shuttered window that you can open to view the room. Across the way is a walk-in shower, next to a double sink with rich shampoos and lotions to soothe your body. Views of the grounds, with their greenery, games and pools, are lovely.

The zero-depth pool, with real sand beach, was a huge hit with our kids. The fun of getting sandy and then running into the pool to rinse off is an advantage for child and parent alike. Eating poolside was a pleasure, too.

The Portofino Bay is located at 5601 Universal Boulevard, Orlando. Contact them at 877-837-2273 or www.universalstudios.com.

Universal Studios
From the hotel you can take a fun boat ride throughout the Universal compound, accessing Universal’s theme parks and CityWalk, a hotbed of restaurants and nightlife.

Universal Studios theme park offers rides based on popular movies such as The Terminator, Back to the Future and Men in Black. There’s also fun for the kids! Sing and clap along at “A Day in the Park with Barney” and “Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone.”

Islands of Adventure theme park adds more to the mix. Explore the whimsical world of “Seuss Landing” and encounter all of Dr. Seuss’ wonderful characters. Discover the myths and legends of “The Lost Continent.” Journey back in time at “Jurassic Park.” Laugh with your favorite cartoon and comic strip characters on “Toon Lagoon.” Then enter “Marvel Super Hero Island,” where you’ll experience “The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man.”

A bonus: If you stay at a Universal hotel, you’ll get a pass to use in the theme parks that enables you to go to attractions’ short lines for hotel guests only! It made a big difference in our wait time.

CityWalk offers live music, casual and fine dining, specialty shopping and more. Attractions include Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom, Motown Cafe, Emeril's Restaurant, NASCAR Cafe, NBA City, Latin Quarter, Hard Rock Cafe and Universal Cineplex, among others. It’s loads of fun, but – as with all attractions in Orlando – wear good walking shoes!

The Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa
We were excited to explore the Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa in the Walt Disney World Resort. Being on the Disney property, minutes from the Magic Kingdom, was a thrill.

The 27-acre Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa is an on-site, Official Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotel. The award-winning resort features a staggering 1,014 rooms and suites; a European-style spa, salon and fitness center; eight restaurants and lounges; three pools; tennis; volleyball; concierge service and 24-hour room service. Directly across from the Downtown Disney Marketplace, Pleasure Island and West Side, the 27-story resort offers complimentary transportation to Disney theme parks and access to five championship Disney golf courses.

The Wyndham Palace is like a little town within a larger city. With everything you need at your fingertips, you can be tempted to stay there the entire time. The rooms are elegant and decorated with dark woods and modern amenities. It feels like a rich corporate retreat, and indeed, certain floors of the Palace treat you like visiting royalty. You will have a newspaper delivered to your door, find continental breakfast waiting for you in the lounge, a quick-response room service team and much more at your service.

For the children, there’s a great playground, pool and game room – in addition to the baby-sitting services offered – and great kids’ meals, too! For the parents, the spa is a fantastic diversion. Take turns getting massages or facials – you deserve it!

The Wyndham Resort & Palace is located at 1900 Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista (also known as the Disney World area). You can reach them at 407-827-2727 or www.wyndhamorlandohotels.com or palaceinfo@wyndham.com.