May 8, 2005 08:53 - Welcome to Florida Vacation News!
Hi everyone - welcome to Florida Vacation News, your Florida vacation planning headquarters! Planning your Florida vacation? You want to make sure you have the best time possible. I'll be bringing you news on....
Florida Attractions - ideas and deals
Florida Beaches - which ones are best for you?
Florida State and National Parks - special features
Florida Accomodations - hotels, motels, condos, villas, homes
Florida Travel - getting here, and then getting around!
I'm looking forward to exploring Florida with you. I've lived here pretty much all my life, so I know lots of things that the guide books may not tell you. (Or if they do tell you the information is soooo dry.) But there are plenty of places still to see, so how about we see them together? Ready? Set? Let's go!
May 8, 2005 09:36 - Packing for Your Florida Vacation
Ahhh, you've got your Florida vacation planned, and you're just about ready to.....pack.
If you're like me, you hate to pack for a vacation. (Actually I hate unpacking even more, but that is a different subject.) How can you pack so that you bring the fewest number of bags, but you don't leave anything important behind?
I've located an article that has some pretty good tips on packing for your Florida vacation. Here's how it starts:
"To be a smart packer, you need a reliable system that doesn't make the rush to get away madder than necessary and keeps you light on your feet wherever you roam.
Think of how turtles carry with them everything but no more than they need. Achieving this level of self-sufficiency takes analysis, organization and discipline. Here are some approaches..."
May 9, 2005 08:59 - The Happiest Celebration on Earth
Here's another reason to take a vacation in Florida this year - Disney turns 50 years olf. Can you believe it?
Yes, it was in 1955 that Walk Disney opened the original Disneyland park in Anaheim, California. Disneyworld opened less than 20 years later, between Orlando and Kissimmee Florida.
To mark the wonderful event, a year-long party will take place - the Happiest Celebration on Earth!
Each park segment (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, MGM) will have special celebrations. Sounds like you might want to extend your Florida vacation a bit, to take advantage of all there will be to see.
One thing I take advantage of when I do traveling here in Florida is to pick up and use a "Traveler Discount Guide". Why? Because I like a good deal!
In the Traveler Discount Guide there are tons of coupons for hotels all over the state. I used them whenever possible, and I have gotten some great deals. One of the ones I liked best was staying at a Hilton across the street from the beach for $69 a night. It was soooooo nice!
Where can you find these little gems? Just about any major interstate will have them at the rest areas, and you can also sometimes find them in grocery stores and chain restaurants across the state.
May 9, 2005 15:19 - Cypress Gardens - Alive and Kicking
It was a Florida institution, opening in 1936 and closing before its time on 2003. But wait! Cypress Gardens is alive and open for guests once more!
Before Florida was even a tourist travel destination, Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Florida was open, wowing people with the stunning array of flowers. As time went on, Cypress Gardens became more than just another pretty place. Ski (water) shows were a big hit, and ice skating shows and then rides followed.
On April 13, 2003 Cypress Gardens closed its doors, some thought forever. You can't keep a good park down, though! In December 2004, it re-opened with a flourish as Cypress Gardens Adventure Park. Shows, rides, animals and a brand new waterpark (scheduled to open this summer).
Now, word is that Cypress Gardens might be getting another piece of Florida history -- the Starliner roller coaster. The Starliner was the headline attraction of Panama City Beach, Florida for many years. When the Miracle Strip amusement park closed in 2004, the Starliner's fate was uncertain. The Starliner may stay in Florida, moving to Cypress Gardens, or it may move on to its sister park, Wild Adventures in Valdosta Georgia.
It's a fact of life -- about this time of year, Florida starts getting hot. And humid. Depending on the area of Florida in which your vacation travels take you, the heat and humidiity can be overwhelming from May through mid-October. Here are some ways to help beat the Florida heat.
Recognize that your body may need to adjust to the climate. It's tempting to want to go out and do all those wonderful things immediately, but give yourself a day or so first.
Stay indoors when you can at the hottest times of the day, between 11 AM and 3 PM.
If you are outdoors and at the pool or ocean, take a dip in the water every so often to help you keep your cool. Just don't forget to re-apply your sunblock after that dip!
Be alert for the first signs of heat exhaustion, and get into the air conditioning immediately. Signs include dizziness, nausea, fatigue and your skin getting clammy. Heat exhaustion is caused when the sweat doesn't evaporate fast enough to cool you down
Now it may sound like Florida is a tough place to visit in the Summer. It can be, if you don't take the proper heat precautions. But it can also be blue skies, sunshine and the relaxing feeling you get on a vacation. Why not visit some of Florida's beaches, springs and rivers? They are the perfect place to cool down. You can learn more about one of the more famous ones, Ichetucknee Springs.
Here's wishing you a wonderful Florida vacation!
May 10, 2005 11:32 - Alligator Hunting!
What is a Florida vacation without seeing some of the state's most famous resident -- alligators!
Now, when I say "alligator hunting" I mean hunting them with a camera. There are lots of places to see them - one being by the side of the road! If you are on a road with canals or other wet areas off to the side, you have a chance of seeing a gator au natural.
If you have the money and your vacation takes you to South Florida, do check out Everglades Safari airboat rides. They have private tours that I hear are fantastic (my sister just went on one). And alligators? Oh my, will you ever see alligators! Of course, you'll also see all kinds of wonderful things in the Florida Everglades, but alligators are definitely the star of the show.
Warning -- the private tours are pricey....but then again, how often are you going to get to Florida anyway? And this just proves that Florida is not just attractions and beaches. There are some awesome wild things too.
Happy gator hunting!
May 10, 2005 15:50 - Romantic and Unusual Weddings in Orlando Florida
Everyone has a wedding wish (everyone getting married that is), and if you'd like to tie the knot in Orlando, Florida I've got some ideas for you.
If you've ever wanted to be royalty, go to....not Disney (gotcha!) but Arabian Nights! Yes, you and your spouse-to-be can be a prince and princess in a fairy-tale wedding.
If you have something more "renaissance" in mind, there is Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, where you can be surrounded by fair maidens, courtly knights and their splendid horses.
Want to escape the ordinary and get married afloat? How about tying the knot aboard the Rivership ROMANCE, a 100-foot, Great Lake Steamer-style ship, cruising the St. Johns River?
Chalet Suzanne, located in nearby Lake Wales, will provide a beautiful wedding and a wonderful reception. Romantic spots include the Wedding Gazebo (beautiful for sunset vows), the sunken Autograph Garden and the elegant Swiss Dining Room. The food is divine and out-of-town guests can stay at the 30-room country inn.
Going "whole hog"? Then you don't want to miss out on exchanging "I do's" at Orlando Harley-Davidson. I have to admit, this one is unique, and I got a kick out of reading the description of the "Passion Party" wedding package.
No, I can't leave out the most popular wedding location in the Orlando area -- Disneyworld! There are all kinds of possibilities here, and it's basically the sky (and the wallet) is the limit. I have to say, my favorite option is riding in Cinderella's coach (the vintage Rolls Royce was second). If ever there was a story-book wedding opportunity, here it is.
May 11, 2005 07:07 - Golfing in Paradise
Ahhh, Florida - a golfing paradise. There are too many golf courses in Florida to count - they seem ever-present.
So you're traveling to Florida for a vacation, and you want to play a few rounds of golf. Which courses do you choose? And are they members-only or can anyone play?
Here are some you-shouldn't-miss-these golf courses. They are either daily-fee or resorts, so as long as they have an opening, a tee time can be yours.
Yes, Star Wars - Revenge of the Sith is almost upon us. Want to make the magic last a little longer? Check out Disney/MGM in Orlando, Florida (much closer than a galaxy far, far away) for their Star Wars weekends in May and June!
Starting May 20th and ending June 12th, on four consecutive weekends, you can immerse yourself in "the force". If you'll be here in Florida, on a vacation or otherwise, here's a peek at what Disney has in store for you.
Explore the Empire or the Rebellion as you make your way into the Rebel Base or take the path to the Imperial Sector.
See over 40 different characters from the entire Star Wars saga, including - for the first time - Anakin Skywalker and Darth Sidious.
Join actors (including Peter Mayhew, the illustrious Chewbacca) from Star Wars and an artist from Lucasfilm for:
Autograph Sessions
"Legends of the Force" Star Wars Hollywood-style Motorcade
"Stars of the Saga" Talk Show and Q&A
Jedi Training Academy - Give your kids a chance to train with a Jedi Master and test their skills against Darth Vader and Darth Maul.
Much, much more!
There's a galaxy of wonders available, so if you are a fan, make plans to attend one or more Star Wars weekends at Disneyworld/MGM!
May 11, 2005 19:16 - Did You Remember The.....
Have you ever been on a vacation where you didn't forget to pack at least one item? Even if I have a list, I tend to miss something.
You want your Florida vacation to go smoothly, so there are some things that you should remember to pack, and other things that you will want, but can pick up when you get there. Huh? Here are some examples:
Remember to Pack....
Sunscreen: At least SPF 30, higher if you can find it. The summer sun is strong in Florida!
Lip Balm: The same sun that fries your skin cracks your lips
Hand/Body Lotion: For after you get out of the sun
Mini-Umbrella or Poncho: Rain, rain, go away...but while it's here, you may as well stay dry. Florida summers tend to be rather wet.
Sunglasses: The sun is bright -- you'll definitely need them
Light Sweater or Jacket: No, I'm not kidding -- some places really crank the air conditioning up really high.
Pick Up When You Get Here....
Hat or Bandana: Aww, come on, don't you want a souvenir? It also keeps your scalp from burning.
Insect Repellant: Only needed if you are going into parks (nature, not theme)
Aloe Vera Gel: For when you ignored me telling you to bring sunscreen.
Best of luck in packing for your Florida vacation. Hoping that if you didn't pack it, you can find it quickly, easily and inexpensively when you get here!
May 12, 2005 07:24 - The Lobsters are Coming! The Lobsters are Coming!
If you are planning a vacation in the Florida Keys this summer, there are three words that can make-or-break your vacation:
Lobster mini-season.
For 2005, the lobster mini-season is July 27 and 28. It's a 48-hour frenzy in the Florida Keys, and it could potentially ruin your vacation in two ways:
I wish I had known about it - I can't find a hotel room or a seat at dinner and the traffic is terrible!
I wish I had known about it -- I would have scheduled my vacation then and have gone diving!
So, it depends on which side of the coin you're on.
One year, my husband and I were oblivious to the fact of the lobster mini-season (and we've lived in Florida all our lives). Our first clue should have been when it was so hard to get a hotel reservation. Our second clue was the traffic driving down to the Keys -- bumper to bumper! To make matters worse, a good part of the drive is on a 2-lane highway. (Ok, there are occasionally 4 lanes, for passing, but otherwise 2 lanes and no passing allowed when you're not in a town/city.)
Restaurants were packed, and the crowds were a bit on the annoying side -- after all, we were in the Florida Keys to relax in paradise!
Oh, and there was not one fishing charter to be had (hubby is an avid fisherman).
It didn't mean our vacation was a flop, it just meant that we didn't have as good a time as we ordinarily would have.
Keep the lobster mini-season in mind while you are planning for your Florida Keys vacation this summer!
May 12, 2005 11:52 - What's Your Vacation Style?
Most people fall into one of two vacation categories:
Plan out all the details in advance
Go when and where the spirit moves you.
No problem with either one, except....
....lack of at least a tiny bit of planning can cause your problems on your Florida vacation.
Now I have to admit - I am a planner and hubby is a free spirit. It's made for some interesting vacations at times. Here's an example.
The week between Christmas and New Year's, we planned to go visit Crystal River, Florida. Just up and went, trusting to find a hotel room available. Crystal River is not exactly a tourist mecca, so we were OK.
After a couple of days, hubby decides that he wants to go visit the Holy Land attraction in Orlando (neat, by the way, to see what Jerusalem was like 2000+ years ago). So we drove to Orlando.
Not a room to be had, unless we wanted to pay an exorbitant amount.
Now as I've mentioned before, we've lived in Florida all our lives. And I used to work at Disney when I was in high school, so I should have known that Orlando would be packed-to-the-gills with tourists that week!
The moral of the story -- if you are a free-spirit type, do a little research beforehand. Check to see if there is a tourist boom in town (Spring Break, the week between Christmas and New Year, lobster mini-season, etc.) and if there is, book a hotel room ahead of time. Otherwise, you may be disappointed or end up spending a whole lot more than your budget really allows.
(If you're interested in "the rest of the story": hubby and I finally did manage to snag a hotel room in Maitland. What we didn't know was that the hotel had just recently changed names, so we were looking for a sign for "Wellsley Inn" and the sign at the road said "Travel America" or something like that. I don't even want to think about how many times we drove past that hotel before we saw a small, unlit sign for "Wellsley Inn"....)
May 12, 2005 16:39 - How Sweet It Is!
Here's a down-home, old-Florida feel-good get together that you might want to check out.
May 27, 28 and 29 is the Zellwood Sweet Corn Festival, held in (of all places) Zellwood, Florida (just a little ways north of Orlando). Bands, crafts, shopping and contests, not to mention lots and lots of sweet corn!
I hear that Big Bertha will make her usual appearance. Bertha is the humongous corn pot; she can cook 1,650 ears of corn every 9 minutes, in 350 gallons of boiling water.
This is the 32nd annual Festival; it's homey and hokey, but also a whole lot of fun. So kick off your shoes and stay awhile, ya hear?
May 13, 2005 07:48 - Antiques and Kayaks, Oh My!
Does antiquing make your pulse quicken, your wallet whimper? Then have I ever got a place for you.
Mount Dora, Florida.
Antiquing is Mount Dora's claim to fame. Roughly 45 minutes north of Orlando, Florida, off of State Road 441 you can find quaint shops wherever you go. It's such an antiquing heaven that I know people from where I live (South Florida) who travel up to Mount Dora a few times a year for the experience (not to mention give their pocketbook some exercise).
Not everyone in your vacation group into antiquing? Then how about a kayak excursion? The company InuTrax has what looks to be some really cool trips. Based in Mount Dora, there looks to be everything from short little jaunts to vacation packages (including b&b accommodations, meals, wildlife viewing and so much more).
Mount Dora really is a nice little city, and if you'd like to get off the beaten path of the regular Florida attractions on your vacation, give Mount Dora a try.
If you haven't, let me fill you in on you what you've been missing. And before I start, here's a deal for you. Bring a Coca-Cola product (a can of Coke will do) and get over $10 off the regular per-person admission price! It's valid for up to 6 people in your group.
The cruises are must-dos while you are there. The glass-bottomed boats are awesome. Silver Springs has crystal-clear water (it is a spring, after all), so a glass-bottomed boat is a natural fit.
There are also river cruises. Go back, back, back in time to "Cracker Florida", when tourism was still way in the future. Amazing how people lived without air conditioning in Florida way back when!
There are wildlife exhibits too, of all kinds. I think the one that is most intriguing is the bear exhibit. Most people don't realize that we do have black bears in Florida!
There is a sky ride and shows, too. I'd sure love to see the "Birds of Prey" show and the "Fantastic Fountains" water show. That's just two of many.
Shopping and dining round out your day at Silver Springs. Oh, almost forgot! This weekend, May 13-15 there is an antique & classic boat show at Silver Springs, too.
Happy vacation travels!
May 18, 2005 09:59 - Hurricane Season Starting Early
Yowza! The Atlantic hurricane season doesn't officially start until June 1st, but there is already a tropical storm. Of all places it is in the Pacific.
That shouldn't matter much to us in Florida -- after all, the storms tend to move east to west. And the Pacific is certainly west of us.
But not Adrian.
Tropical storm Adrian is one of those flukes, that moves from the Pacific and into the Caribbean, crossing Central America. Once in the Caribbean, it is supposed to continue northeast.
Now, the good part of the forecasted track is that it's supposed to miss Florida by a fair margin. Of course, since it's many days out, anything can happen.
Should you cancel your Florida vacation plans? No, nothing to worry about at this point! Just keep an eye on Adrian over the weekend.
May 18, 2005 18:45 - SheiKra is Almost Ready - Are You?
Just three more days and SheiKra is ready for you!
Okay, you say....what the heck is SheiKra? It's a brand new terror, er, thrill ride at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. Actually SheiKra is North America's first dive coaster. Riders get to go up up up 200 feet and then plunge straight down (and I do mean straight down) at 70 mph. I don't want to give it all away, but there is also a dive into an underground tunnel and a splash finale. The whole ride is three minutes, but what a wild three minutes!
SheiKra is scheduled to open May 21st, which is this weekend. Oh, I wish I could speed on over to Busch Gardens in Tampa this weekend -- I love roller coasters!
Hey, did you know you can buy e-tickets online and get a 10% discount? Here's what you need to do: go to the Busch Gardens ticket order site and look for the order box called "Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Single-Day Ticket - 10% Off - 7 Day Advance Sale". So basically, you need to buy and print the tickets at least 7 days in advance in order to get the 10% discount. Me, I'll take every discount I can get!
May 20, 2005 08:41 - Blast Off at Florida's Space Coast!
If you're going to be in Florida in June, and you are intrigued with outer space, you just might want to catch one of the rocket launches at Kennedy Space Center, in Titusville, Florida.
The upcoming launches are:
June 23 : Delta 4 Rocket Launch- GOES N Satellite
Sometime in June: Delta 2 Rocket Launch- GPS 2R M-1 (a firm date hasn't been scheduled)
There are launches scheduled throughout the year, and the space shuttle Discovery is planned to blast off between July 13 and 31. And let me tell you, if you've never seen a shuttle launch, you are definitely missing an awesome sight!
May 23, 2005 07:53 - Florida Vacation Driving - Save Gas and Cash!
So, you're planning a Florida vacation and you want to do some driving, to see the sites (i.e. more than just the Orlando attractions). Gas costs are sky high, so here are a few tips on conserving your gasoline costs.
Most obvious, but one we tend to forget -- keep your tires inflated to the correct pressure!
Driving a gas hog? Think about renting a more fuel-efficient car. Depending on how much driving you plan to do, it just might save you some serious cash.
When your tank gets thirsty, try using regular unleaded gas. Of course this is only an option if your vehicle can handle it, but you'd be surprised at the cars that really do run OK on the cheap stuff.
Naturally, highway driving is more fuel-efficient than stop-and-go traffic. Stay on the highways, or less traveled roads, when you can. (As a bonus, some of the less traveled roads are more scenic.)
Keep the air conditioning as low as possible. Yes, you may have to blast it for awhile when first getting in, but when it's cooled down, turn it down.
Following on the above, get an early start, when the day is cooler. Or travel in the late afternoon and dusk.
And here's one everyone loves to hate -- drive the speed limit. It really is more economical.
