Orlando made more than 50 million visitors smile last year and remains the most visited destination in the United States. Tourism officials released visitation figures for 2010 earlier this month and research indicates Orlando, Florida, attracted 51.455 million visitors, a 10.5 percent increase from 46.6 million in 2009.

Whoa! That’s a lot of people! Luckily, there is a wide variety of activities to do in Central Florida so it doesn’t seem like 50+ million visitors.

To attract visitors throughout 2010, Visit Orlando initiated new marketing campaigns in its top feeder markets - the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Brazil - reinforcing the tagline, “Orlando Makes Me Smile.”  A new meetings and conventions marketing effort touted Orlando as the destination “Where Inspiration Meets.” Visit Orlando also showcased the destination’s offerings to thousands of tour operators and travel professionals at numerous key travel industry trade shows throughout North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia and was instrumental in driving additional air service to Orlando from domestic and Central and Latin America carriers.

New York City, which has a goal of reaching 50 million visitors by 2012, welcomed 48.7 million in 2010 while Las Vegas, an Orlando rival for conventions and meetings business, welcomed 37.3 million for the same year.

Riding high on Universal Orlando Resort’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Sea World’s new ‘One Ocean’ show, Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ revamped Star Tours, and LEGOLAND opening Oct. 15, 2011, it’s pretty safe to say visitors will continue to vacation in Central Florida and Orlando this year. Who knows, maybe Orlando will break another visitation record in 2011.

Image Source: SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT/Jason Collier

After a 30-year run, the space shuttle program is ending this year. NASA has set Friday, July 8, 2011, as the date for the final space shuttle mission (STS-135) when Atlantis will make its last flight from Kennedy Space Center. Officials in the Florida’s Space Coast are anticipating about one million visitors will be taking part in the historic event. Following are three ways to see the final space shuttle launch in person.

NASA Tweetup – put your Twitter account to work by registering for one of 150 spots to attend the NASA Tweetup scheduled for July 7 and 8 at Kennedy Space Center. This blogger participated in the April/May NASA Tweetup for Endeavour’s final launch and trust her – being selected and attending is like winning the lottery. A Tweetup is a gathering of Twitterers (or Tweeps or Tweeters) and NASA does it right with presentations by NASA officials including scientists, engineers and astronauts. The two-day event includes tour of Kennedy Space Center, most likely a visit to the launch pad to see the rollback of the rotating service structure and space shuttle launch. NASA Tweetup is held in the press site which is about 3.1 miles from the launch pad meaning these are the best seats in the house.

Selection for the 150 slots is done by lottery and registration opens Wednesday, June 1 at Noon EDT and will be open for 24 hours. Having a Twitter account and following NASA (twitter.com/NASA) are some of the requirements to attend. Visit the official NASA Tweetup website (http://go.nasa.gov/135tweet) for additional information.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex – There are multiple viewing options at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Due to demand, tickets for the final shuttle launch will be done through lottery. Registration for the opportunity to purchase tickets opens Monday, May 30 at 9 a.m. EDT and closes June 5, 2011, at 5 p.m. EDT. Registrants will be chosen at random for the opportunity to purchase tickets. Visit the website (http://go.nasa.gov/ieX1Mx) for additional information.

View a Launch from Off Site – Viewing a space shuttle launch is an incredible experience yet you don’t need to be on Kennedy Space Center property to see it. There are several vantage points in the Space Coast to see the final flight of Atlantis. Visit this NASA page (http://go.nasa.gov/OVlaunch) to view suggested launch viewing locations in Titusville and Cocoa Beach, Fla.

The best advice when planning a Florida vacation around the final space shuttle launch is to be flexible. Launch dates are subject to change with as much as two week’s notice to as little as an hour’s notice. When booking your travel, find an airline that offers flexibility in changing dates and check cancellation and change policies with your accommodations. Chances are, accommodations are booked in the Space Coast for the final space shuttle launch but Orlando is about an hour to the west and Daytona Beach is about an hour to the north and both offer reasonably priced lodging.

Sea turtle nesting season is May 1 through October 31. This is a time period when the marine reptiles lay eggs on popular coastal beaches such as those in Florida, South Carolina and Mexico. Visitors vacationing on beaches where sea turtles lay eggs need to take care especially by turning off lights, using window blinds and not disturbing turtle nests which should be marked by a local turtle patrol.

Earlier this month, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment announced the upcoming release of “Turtle: The Incredible Journey,” a family documentary directed by National Geographic Explorer’s Nick Stringer. The award-winning film follows the life of a loggerhead turtle on its 9,000-mile, two year journey from hatching to maturity to its return to its original Florida nesting grounds.

A threatened species, the loggerhead turtle has one of the most difficult and longest migratory patterns of any marine animal. For example, sea turtles hatched on Florida’s east coast make their way from sand into the ocean and begin a journey that can span the entire Atlantic Ocean and eventually return decades later to that same beach.

“This is a remarkable story crafted by one of the world’s most gifted documentary filmmakers,” said Scott Helmstedter, Chief Creative Officer for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. “Turtle: The Incredible Journey does what our parks have been doing for more than five decades: inspire, enrich and entertain. Helping bring this film and its powerful message of the fragility and beauty of our oceans to the public is what SeaWorld is and what we have always been about.”

“Turtle: The Incredible Journey” opens the same week as SeaWorld San Diego’s Turtle Reef, a new attraction showcasing this extraordinary species in a 300,000-gallon aquarium with a massive underwater viewing gallery.  The attraction also features thousands of tropical fish, a touch-screen interactive tracking map where guests can learn about sea turtles and SeaWorld’s rescue efforts.  Turtle Reef also includes a new ride that takes guests on a thrilling rescue mission of their own.

Initial theatrical markets set for June 24 include New York, Los Angeles and theaters near three primary SeaWorld locations: San Diego, San Antonio and Orlando.  The film’s official premiere is scheduled for Tuesday, June 21 at the large-format 3D theater at SeaWorld in San Diego.

Expansion plans call for the release of the film to additional theaters and cities throughout July and August, with a target of more than 200 locations. The film will be distributed in partnership with Hannover House by SeaWorld’s newly formed SeaWorld Pictures division.  Hannover House is the entertainment unit of Target Development Group.

This seems like a great film to watch with the family before heading out on a beach vacation so be sure to find time to see it before packing your bags.

Image Source: PRNewsFoto/SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Jason Collier