Orlando has been named one of the top destinations of 2016 by Travel + Leisure due to the community support witnessed around the world after the Pulse tragedy.
The City Beautiful is one the top destinations chosen by 17 editors of the New York-based travel publication. People can vote for a Reader’s Choice Award until the magazine reveals the winner Nov. 14.
“The theme park capital, known to many as the most magical place on earth, suffered a horrendous homegrown terrorist attack in June,” writes Christopher Tkaczyk, senior news editor at the magazine. “After the senseless, heartbreaking tragedy, an outpouring of love for Orlando and its LGBT community quickly filled social media channels around the globe — proving that we truly do live in a small world after all. With those dark days behind them, the citizens of the City Beautiful have rallied and are planning to make November’s Pride festival the largest in Orlando history. If you’ve never visited, it’s time to see what all the love is about.”
The Orlando Pride Festival was postponed after Hurricane Matthew and rescheduled to Nov. 12 at Lake Eola Park.
Cuba was the magazine’s top choice last year, and Myanmar in Southeast Asia was their pick in 2014, the first year the magazine chose the top destinations. Orlando is one of only three U.S. cities nominated and is competing against 15 other places around the world. The magazine opened up the vote for a Readers’ Choice Award, and Nashville won last year with 15.8 percent of the vote.
Orlando is up against some tough competition. The finalists are Canada, Croatia, Hawaii, Iceland, Ischia (an island off Italy), Korea, Mallorca, Mexico City, New Zealand, Paris, Pittsburg, Portugal, Rio de Janeiro, Singapore, and Washington, D.C.
To cast your vote, go to travelandleisure.com.