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.
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November 8th, 2007 by
keith f
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If you get as excited about beer as I do, you’d think that the land of Mickey would offer only your standard choices of the suds (read: Budweiser). But you may just be pleasantly surprised.
If you venture to Winter Park –you should as it’s a very different Orlando - a must visit is . Located upstairs in Hannibal Square, this dark joint attracts an indie crowd and some serious beer worshippers. Any place which promotes “Beer Church” is serious about their beer. Their 10 draft choices blend American micros (Lost Coast Apricot Wheat) and Belgians (Val Dieu Blonde) while the bottle list is extensive and runs the gamut. Mead, sake and wine are also served up with a live music.
Another must visit is the beautiful town of Celebration (yes it does look like a movie set) and the . Ten rotating drafts and 99 bottles are just part of the lure of this Boston-influenced watering hole and authentic Boston seafood restaurant. Join the beer club, watch the Pats game, enjoy a Chimay red cap, Eightball Stout or yes, even your dad’s Schlitz.
Florida’s Tap Room in MetroWest pays homage to the Shipyard Brewery from Maine and is a great hangout to watch the games or shoot pool. Visit Florida Tap Room on Hiawassee Blvd in MetroWest.
Orlando’s Brewing Partners, located in downtown, has a taproom where you can taste what this small local brewery has to offer. It’s Florida’s only certified organic brewery and offers a great variety of their own fresh brews as well as some great others. Live music is offered on weekends. Check their . Prost!
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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.
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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!
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October 29th, 2007 by
keith f
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Just a few hours after the Orlando Magic thought they had their coach and GM of the future, he decided to return where many of us wish we could (at least for a couple of fun filled nights)… college. After much drama, Billy Donovan opted to return to the University of Florida prompting the Magic to hire former Miami Heat coach Stan Van Gundy.
The Magic did sign arguable the best available free agent in Rashard Lewis who spent the past xx season with the Seattle Supersonics averaging a career high 22.4 points and 6.6 rebounds. Lewis should be the perfect compliment to emerging superstar center Dwight Howard who led the team last season in scoring, rebounding and blocks. Dwight Howard is 21 years young and the cornerstone of this team. Plain and simple: the Magic go as he goes.
Gone will be the long time face of the Magic and oft injured Grant Hill who is now with the Phoenix Suns. Joining Hill on the train out of town were the almost promising Darco Milicic and sharp shooter Travis Diener.
A familiar face will be on the bench this season, Patrick Ewing. No, he won’t be sharing minutes with Dwight Howard but showing him all his moves as a coach.
With this interesting blend of new talent and coaching, the Magic are early contenders to knock off the Heat in the East after finishing last year 2 games under .500. Van Gundy will have to use all his coaching know how to blend the talent behind Howard and Lewis. The Magic are enjoying a successful pre-season which was highlighted by a trip to China and will open Halloween Night against the Milwaukee Bucks. Click here to see Orlando Magic’s game schedule.
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October 25th, 2007 by
susan j
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If you’re anything like me, then your computer probably gets bounced around a lot as you go from airport to car to hotel to coffee shop and so on (in fact, my last laptop met with early retirement after an unfortunate Starbucks incident - don’t try this at home).
Sound familiar? Then check out the ’s tips for . Independent Traveler also offers some good suggestions for taking your computer on the road, including updating virus protection and carrying your laptop in a bag that doesn’t scream “expensive electronics inside!”
While we’re on the topic of computers, you’ll be pleased to hear that Orlando International Airport offers free wifi. i. Happy travels!
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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?
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October 18th, 2007 by
jamie a
Gatorland in Orlando, Florida
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Though you can’t bring the Florida sun home with you, your vacation memories can always be revisited through photographs.
If you fancy yourself a great photographer, we’d love to see your vacation photos. You could even be the next lucky winner of our Go Card Photo Contest!
You could be the winner of:
1st Prize (Best Overall Photo):
Canon PowerShot SD 1000 7.1 MP digital camera
2nd Prize (Best Fun Photo):
Phillip 7-inch Digital Picture Frame
Send us a photo of your daughter posing on an alligator, your son playing mini-golf, or your entire family lounging on the beach. The deadline for submissions is November 1, so hit us with your best shot!
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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.
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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!
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