recomendations please

[blackpoolowl]

happy new year to all!

visiting orlando again in 4 weeks (4 year on the trot) but this time we have a car..........very nervous about driving abroad shouldnt be been driving for 14 years!

what i need are recomendations of where to try in the car. i have done the parks to death so i want to try different things. we go for 3 weeks each year so i have plenty of time.

i have heard how nice celebration is but i would not know where to look! fancy old town.....now have directions thx. fancy going to the beach not sure which.

we have 3 kids so need something to entertain them.
also are walmart & florida mall easy to get to?

thx
terry

[Jo]

Walmart and Florida mall are easy to get to - in fact most places are in Florida. Driving is so much more sedate over there.

Why not try Busch Gardens near Tampa for a change of park.

The Space Center is worth a vsit too.

Why not treat yourself to an overnight stay on one of the coasts then you can do the beach too.

We did this for a couple of nights last year , it's great if you have a villa as you can leave everything there and just take overnight bags.

[fiona]

Celebration is lovely, has an excellent Italian restaurant, Cafe D'Antonio's - and if you go at lunch is very reasonably priced. Good pizzas and pasta for the children too.



You could also try a trip out to Mount Dora - about 35 mins from Disney, depends on the age of the children if they would find this interesting. Lots of little gifty type shops - including a sweetie shop!, and you can do a cruise at sunset on the lakes.








Regards the coast - about 1¼ one way, 1½ the other. Atlantic Coast is fun if you like surfing, Gulf Coast is prettier I think!

You can go to Winter Haven - they have a large park, and again you can do boat rides, and a museum where you can see Tiffany glass.

And if you have teenage daughters like me they you go shopping!!

[Lynnes]

Take a trip along the I4 to the Gulf coast, Clearwater is beautiful and there's plenty for the kids to do. If you fancy from there you could travel up H19 and visit Tarpon Springs - a Greek community - or Hommassa Springs.

have a great time.

[Robert5988]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:what i need are recomendations of where to try in the car. i have done the parks to death so i want to try different things. we go for 3 weeks each year so i have plenty of time.
[/quote]

If you have "done the parks to death" why not consider staying on one of the coasts and travel to Orlando if you want to visit the parks.

Apart from the parks Orlando has little to offer over any other Florida city and lacks the wonderful scenery and beaches of the coast.

[Katys Grandad]

If you haven't booked all your accomodation already, I would second Robert's advice. If you get chance to go a bit further south on either coast, the weather's better than in Central Florida too.

Unfortunately, it is a long way to go for the odd night or so.

[Ray&Sarah]

I would second a trip t Clearwater beach, it is our favourite one in Florida. We also dod a dolphin spotting boat trip from there which was great and lovely to see the dolphins in the wild putting on a show.[msnsmile2]

[blackpoolowl]

how far is clearwater? is it easy to get to? alot of people have suggested clearwater..........thx
i have totally fallen in love with orlando which is why i always stay here.....the price also helps. 3 weeks in the hotel & 2 weeks car rental, 2 adults 3 kids for £2400!!!!! always go with virgin which i cannot fault.
tried to get a fortnight break in tenerife just for a break in january before we go to florida in feb & couldnt get any where near this price self catering!

floridas for me everytime

terry

[Michele L]

I personally prefer Sarasota and siesta Key which is south of clearwater. Sarasota is very upmarket with lovely shops, but go next door to Siesta Key it is so laid back and have a couple of great bars and restaurants which are a lot cheaper and the food is definitely better than Orlando!

Michele

[Nostromo]

I would add Silver Springs near Ocala. It is an easy 90 minute drive from the villa communities and if you are on a US27 villa, involves only one major turn in Ocala to get to the park. Very relaxing day out for all the family.