Archive for the family activities category
November 28th, 2007 by keith f
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To many parents and their kids, Orlando is a dream vacation, but it also presents challenges to their wallet and sometimes even more so, their patience. Tourists who want to do and see it all can easily get stressed out. Here are a couple of tips before you go.
- Have a daily budget in mind. Aside from purchasing multiple day passes, there are plenty of free or lower cost attractions which the whole family can enjoy. Performed twice daily for free, the is great fun for kids. A half day in Winter Park is also a great way to escape the theme park crowds. Stroll up Park Avenue and duck into one of the unique shops and end up at the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tours. If you are going to the theme parks and are able to do so, pack a lunch as the food at the parks can get expensive. For food outside of the theme parks, you could use the Kids Eat Free Card.
- Be mentally prepared to wait in line. One suggestion is to consult the calendar and travel during off school vacation times. Summer is probably the worst time to come because of the heat. Also be cognizant of the American holidays as those are busy weeks as well but remember, travelers from all over the world are visiting Orlando year round. Another word of advice, pace yourself-if you attempt to do it all, you’ll fall down from exhaustion!
- Check the weather and traffic updates. It rains daily in the summer so bring a poncho. Traffic can be brutal so try to avoid I-4 during rush hour. Lastly, all of the major theme parks have ride restrictions as far as height requirements. Check out the theme park websites to avoid breaking your youngster’s heart. Enjoy your visit!
Planning a trip to
Orlando?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Orlando Card.
November 12th, 2007 by amy c
Bilmar Beach Resort, photo courtesy of
Whether you are looking for an action-packed getaway to the best theme parks in the world or a relaxing vacation on tropical beaches, Florida offers excellent vacation destinations for the whole family. Here are some of our picks for hotels that will complete your trip:
If you are headed to the Gulf Coast…. and mark bustling metropolitan areas that seamlessly blend nature and culture with its warm, picturesque beaches, perfect for snorkeling and the many museums in the area. A vacation in this region is best taken on the beach. Try these family friendly, beach side resorts:
: Equipped with the comforts of home, this resort features spacious rooms with ocean views, along with easy access to family activities. Located in Treasure Island, the Bilmar is in the heart of Gulf Coast fun, including a and the , located right in a working historic fishing village.
: This bay front hotel gives families and business travelers luxurious accommodations in a picturesque setting. In the heart of downtown, the hotel offers a serene stay in a convenient location– a short walk from Channelside, a restaurant filled neighborhood, and the
If your next vacation spot is Florida’s Central Coast… For the traveler that has always wanted to experience the high-technology wonders of Florida, start planning a trip to or . Here are some great hotels near the excitement of space travel, Nascar, and beaches:
: Located right on the area’s only traffic free family friendly beach, this resort is the perfect destination for family travel. Enjoy a resort vacation with everything you need at your fingertips, or venture out to see or the .
Beyond Orlando’s theme parks is a rich, proud history of space science, such as at the . See space shuttles launch or splash around Cocoa Beach at this family friendly vacation condo.
If you are headed to Downtown Orlando…When staying in the bustling tourist magnet that is , it is important to have a vacation headquarters that will offer easy access to the famed attractions and a place to relax after a day of roller coaster sightseeing.
: For an affordable place near the theme parks and action-packed International Drive, Residence Inns are the way to go. There is also one directly on International Drive and both offer complimentary transportations to the famed parks. For some near by restaurants check out: and for some Latin flare.
Planning a trip to
Orlando?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Orlando Card.
November 6th, 2007 by susan j
Located a short drive from Orlando in Daytona Beach, the Museum of Arts and Sciences (MOAS) has an impressive collection with nine permanent exhibits, as well as a 90-acre nature preserve. They also plan to add a in the fall of 2008. Here are some of the new exhibits coming up at the MOAS:
November 2, 2007 - January 20, 2008
Paintings by Kevin McNamara
December 7, 2007 - April 27, 2008
Great Masters of Cuban Art: 1800 to 1958
March 14, 2008 - TBD
The Classical World: From the Collection of the Tampa Museum of Art
Click to read more about MOAS’ upcoming exhibits.
Planning a trip to
Orlando?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Orlando Card.
November 1st, 2007 by susan j
Cypress Gardens
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Thousands of travelers head to Florida each year to meet America’s most famous mouse, but Orlando has many more fun activities besides Mickey and friends. Here are some of our picks for active adventures in the area:
- Cypress Gardens Adventure Garden is Florida’s first theme park. With 39 thrilling rides, including five roller coasters and Splash Island water park, Cypress Gardens entertains visitors of all ages.
- Gatorland combines classic Florida charm with modern excitement and adventure. Known as the Alligator Capital of the World, this 110-acre theme park lets visitors get up close and personal with reptiles and other animals.
- Boggy Creek Airboat Rides takes travelers into the Everglades to discover Florida’s wilderness. This half hour ride often includes sightings of wildlife including alligators, turtles, birds, and more.
- Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour covers 12 miles of Winter Park’s serene lakes and canals. Riders enjoy views of swaying palms, lush ferns, and colorful sub-tropical flowers.
- Green Meadows Petting Farm offers a 2 hour guided farm tour that lets visitors touch the pigs, chickens, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and more. Kids can even their hand at milking a cow!
If you’ve visited any of these attraction, leave us a comment and let me know how you enjoyed it!
Planning a trip to
Orlando?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Orlando Card.
October 23rd, 2007 by susan j
As many parents can attest, feeding growing kids can get pretty pricey. Which is why we were so excited to discover the Kids Eat Free Card.
The card is valid for one free kids meal with the purchase of an adult meal (one per family) at over 50 Orlando area restaurants, including Baskin Robbins, Sizzler, and CiCi’s Pizza. Available as part of the Go Orlando Card, the Kids Eat Free Card has an estimated potential savings around $350.
Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch?
Planning a trip to
Orlando?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Orlando Card.
October 15th, 2007 by admin
Orlando Museum of Art
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If you look hard enough, culture does exist in the land of Mickey, water slides, golf and sun and you don’t have far to travel to experience it. Downtown Orlando offers visitors a number of cultural options for those in their search of the “other Orlando.”
The recently renovated Orlando Museum of Art (or OMART) displays a fine rotating collection of American, pre-Colombian and African art and displayed the Art of the Motorcycle exhibit last year. OMART is also home to the annual Festival of Trees in November.
Nearby is the Mennello Museum of American Folk Art, whose main collection consists of the paintings of Earl Cunningham, who produced 450 works in his lifetime. Make sure to take a guided tour when you go. In beautiful Winter Park is the world’s most comprehensive collection of the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933).
Also visit the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. If you’re looking to learn about the history of this great city, you may want to check out the Orange County Regional History Center. This historic five-story masterpiece offers Orlando residents and visitors alike fascinating insight into how this region has made its transition from a small town surrounded by citrus groves and cattle ranches to today’s thriving urban community.
Planning a trip to
Orlando?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Orlando Card.
October 11th, 2007 by susan j
The Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau put together a handy list of 207 Things to Do in Orlando in 2007. Among their recommended activities are holding a snake at Gatorland, sampling space food at Kennedy Space Center, and designing your own roller coaster at WonderWorks.
Obviously, that list is pretty darn comprehensive, but here are a few other suggestions that were somehow missing:
- Visit the Haunted Grimm House
- Explore the Orlando Museum of Art
- See one of the country’s largest train collections at Trainland International.
What’s your favorite thing to do in Orlando? Leave a comment and let us know!
Planning a trip to
Orlando?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Orlando Card.
October 8th, 2007 by susan j
Photo uploaded by jurvetson.
Mark your calendars for November 1-4, when the Kennedy Space Center hosts the World Space Expo celebrating NASA’s 50 years of space exploration. In honor of this very special anniversary, visitors will see an air show, special exhibits, and more. Check out the World Space Expo’s event schedule.
Planning a trip to
Orlando?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Orlando Card.
October 1st, 2007 by susan j
Attention, Harry Potter fans: tipped us off to some exciting news. “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” a theme park area inspired by the best-selling book series by J.K. Rowling, is set to open at Universal Orlando in late 2009. Visitors will be able to explore the haunts of Harry and his friends, including the village of Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and Hogwarts Castle. For those who plan to visit Orlando before 2009, check out these exciting Orlando attractions.
Planning a trip to
Orlando?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Orlando Card.
