This summer, why not rent a vacation home instead of paying for a hotel? FlipKey helps you browse vacation rental listing and verifies the information for you so that you can travel with confidence. This free website works with renters and rental managers to find the best fit for everyone. Popular FlipKey destinations include Orlando and Kissimmee, Florida; North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Barnstable, Mass.

We had a couple of videos sent to us from them: a standard promotional video, and a blooper reel. I decided to combine the two to reflect the fun attitude of the attraction itself. Leave a comment if you like it!

Earth Day is coming up on April 22, and these days it seems like everyone in the travel industry is buzzing about ways to make vacations more eco-friendly. The City of Orlando is also concerned about environmental conservation, so late last year they launched an initiative called Green Works Orlando. The plan calls for increasing the number of trees and green spaces in Orlando, investing in green buildings, and conserving natural resources.

This Earth Day, why not visit some of the Orlando attractions that let you experience nature first-hand. From animal petting zoos to rides along the Florida everglades, here are some of our picks.

1. Silver Springs Nature Park features glass bottom boats, giving passengers unrivaled views of marine life in the Silver River. Other highlights include the Big Gator Lagoon, Panther Prowl, and other animal exhibits.
2. Gatorland is a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve. The park opened in 1949 and continues to provide inexpensive family fun with educational wildlife programs, one-of-a-kind reptilian shows, and more.
3. Green Meadows Petting Farm offers a two-hour guided farm tour aimed at teaching children and adults about farm life. Kids have the chance to milk a cow and touch pigs, turkeys, chickens, ducks, and more.
4. Boggy Creak Airport Rides takes visitors deep into the Everglades to discover parts of Florida that remain untouched by man. The half hour airport ride is led by a certified U.S. Coast Guard captain and features views of turtles, bird, and other animals in their natural environment.
5. Florida Eco-Safaris at Forever Florida covers 3,200 acres of pristine Floridian wildernes, along with the 1,500-acres Crescent J Ranch. Visitors experience life as a Florida pioneer with horseback safaris, nature trails, pony rides, a petting zoo, and more.

Anything we’ve missed? Leave a comment and let us know!

What could be better than a trip to a water park on a hot Florida day? How about a trip to a water park that’s included with the Go Orlando Card? That’s right - we’ve added Wet ‘n Wild Orlando as a bonus offer when you buy a 3, 5 or 7-day card. You can boogie to hits from the 70s at Disco H20, take a relaxing ride through waterfalls on the Lazy River, or cool off with a refreshing water ride on The Blast. Your bonus offer includes free admission and one free tube rental.

If dinner shows are more your speed, then you can also choose Pirate’s Dinner Adventure Show, Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show, and the Arabian Nights Dinner Show. Bonus offers are not valid on 1 and 2-day cards and must be used on one of your card days.

Aside from our Go Orlando Card that saves you big bucks while traveling to the sunshine state, there’s a ton of great ways to ’stretch your vacation dollars’ in Orlando. The Orlando Visitors Bureau points out some of their tips in the article “Top Ten Value Tips Stretch Orlando Vacation Dollars.”

They offer tips on finding the best budget hotels, attractions, the cheap transportation with the I-RIDE Trolley, and how to pack for your trip. Additionally, they advise parents to take advantage of those “kids eat free” signs, and to seek out free attractions. These include the Lego Store at Downtown Disney, the Harry P. Leu Gardens, and the March of the Peabody Ducks at the Peabody Orlando Hotel.

Good luck with your quest for bargains on your Orlando vacation!

I live and work in Orlando and fly 5-6 times per year for both business and pleasure. The airport does a commendable job at herding all those theme park families through on a daily basis but it seems to never be a consistent wait time for the same time of day. One morning for a 7:30 flight to Boston I got from the curb to my gate in 14 minutes. Last week, for the same flight it took me almost 45.

As the number of passengers continues to increase at the Orlando International Airport there is help-a service called Clear which is like a fast pass for airport security. Clear members are prescreened and provided a high tech card which allows them “fast lane” (essentially you skip the line) access at designated airports nationwide. This allows you to pass through security with a much more predictable wait time and takes much of the stress away as well. Clear’s year 1 price is $128.

At the end of a big day of sightseeing with your Go Orlando Card, head out to one of these awesome eateries for some big time flavor!

For fresh seafood, head over to the Oceanaire Seafood Room, a place that’s reminiscent of the splendor of the 1930s and 40s. In the fall, Cuba Libra Restaurant and Rum Bar is a great place to sip on some delicious mojitos.

At B.B. King’s Blues Club, you can nibble on some ribs while you listen to some fantastic live music. For more ribs, be sure to check out Redrock Canyon Grill, which specializes in Southwest and American Cuisine.

For international fare, there’s Taverna Opa for Greek, Gol! for Brazilian steak, and Citrus Restaurant serves American food with a distinctive Latin flair.

For a complete listing of new places to try, check out Orlando.com!

If you’re a film nut, you’re in luck. The 17th Annual Florida Film Festival is back! Presented by the Enzian Theatre, it celebrates the best in cutting-edge cinema combined with exquisite food and wine.

This year, celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain hosts the opening day ceremonies, complete with a book signing on March 29th. The opening night screening features the film Young @ Heart, a documentary about a New England senior citizens choir that sings covers of underground rock songs. The festivities also include over 160 films from 20 countries, chosen from over 1,400 submissions.

With celebrities, tons of parties, and fantastic independent cinema, this festival is an amazing event that’s not to be missed!

After a day of sightseeing with your Go Orlando Card, be sure and check out these happenin’ spots for some live entertainment!

Orlando’s three-story Hard Rock Cafe with its theater-like layout is a favorite of locals and tourists alike, making for a fun crowd. Boasting of multiple bars and 3,000 seat capacity, the Hard Rock Cafe brings in the best in music and comedy tours.

There’s also the House of Blues, with its eclectic schedule of bands, comedians, and spoken-word performers. This venue is standing room only and general admission, with a huge main bar for drinks and delicious food.

Finally, check out The Social, known as Orlando’s longest-standing independent music venue. Right on Orange Avenue in the heart of downtown Orlando, this is the place to see indie’s up-and-comers along with underground DJs.

Maps can cost a lot of money, but are beyond useful when trying to navigate a new city. After you’ve picked up your Go Orlando Card, check out these great maps for bargain travelers!

Budget Travel just alerted us to the concept of Schmaps, which are free travel guides to places all over the world with local, zoom-able maps, and marked attractions.These guides are great for planning out itineraries based on your personal interests as well, providing all sorts of suggestions based on your preferences.

We’d love to hear what you think should be included for those traveling to Orlando! What are your favorite attractions? Let us know in a comment!