International Drive

WonderWorks

WonderWorks is an amusement park for the mind with 35, 000 square feet of “edu-tainment”. The attraction combines education and entertainment with more than 100 hands on exhibits that challenge the mind and spark the imagination. Wo...

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Old Town

Old Town has had a lot of money spent on it in the past couple of years. It’s now a lot more professional and the car parking has been improved enormously. It’s now a large tarmacced area at the bottom end of the area. Note:- whenever a cruise is being run they do make a $10 charge. Also, don’t thin...

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Bangkok - Part 1

Bangkok is one of the most exhilarating cities in the world. It’s hot, crowded and chaotic but also tremendously vibrant and friendly. This Thai capital is a rising Asian megapolis that embraces modernity, yet still manages to maintain a strong connection to its enduring Siam roots. While twenty-fou...

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Bangkok - Part 2

Your next stop is to visit Wat Arun (the temple of Dawn). For a scenic, peaceful and less congested route across the Chao Phraya River, take a boat. You will be poised and ready to glimpse the coloured porcelain temple in all its ornamented glory.

After seeing some of Bangkok’s histo...

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Bangkok - Part 3

For further pre-dinner entertainment head over to Lumpinee Boxing stadium to watch a traditional Muay Thai fight. You will see strong displays of force and respect as local and foreign fighter’s battle it out in the ring.

For dinner, try Issaya Siamese Club, Kittichai started cooking...

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Ghent - Part 1

Ghent is steeped in Flemish culture, this rebellious port city is one of Belgium’s best-kept secrets. James Williams discover beer, art and medieval architecture aplenty.

A jumble of medieval streets, canals and chocolate shops. Ghent packs a lot in, through pleasingly without the cr...

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Canterbury

Canterbury is a Kentish city for its Roman ruins, classical cathedral, verdant parks and flourishing food scene.

With its fruity history and ecclesiastical grandeur, Canterbury tops the list of English cathedral cities. Nestled in Kent’s North Downs, just ten minutes from the coast, ...

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Manila, Philippines - Part 3

Where to Stay

At the top end of the market and deep among Ortigas’ gargantuan shopping malls, the five star Edsa Shangri-La hotel has huge modern rooms and a palm oasis built around a large pool. The breakfast buffet in their HEAT food outlet is...

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Manila, Philippines – Part 1

Manila has never enjoyed the best of reputations, but amid the traffic chaos and commercialism lies an ambitious city that is both rich in history and character. This is the most Americanized of all Southeast Asian cities. It now has over 13 million people living and working in the Filipino capital ...

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Manila, Philippines – Part 2

If you travel by air then you will arrive at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) which is located about 7km from Manila. The direct flight on Philippine Airlines from the UK is around 14 hours, arriving at Terminal 2. This has well-staffed immigration desks which are efficient at processing th...

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Canada: Coast to coast by train – Part 1

A couple of year ago an opportunity presented itself to do something that I had been thinking about for a few years. We had booked on a trans-Atlantic cruise that made a last port of call at Halifax before stopping at New York. We had also booked an Alaska cruise from Vancouver shortly after. The or...

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Canada: Coast to coast by train – Part 3

Toronto to Winnipeg

Toronto’s early 20th-century Beaux Arts Union Station gives you a sense of the wild Canadian landscape that is about to become part of your journey. It hear you first board the train known as ‘The Canadian’.

...

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Canada: Coast to coast by train – Part 4

Winnipeg to Churchill

This part of the journey takes you into remote Canada and is a reminder of the role the railways played as a lifeline for distant communities. On this part of the trip look out for the northern lights and when you get to t...

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Canada: Coast to coast by train – Part 5

Winnipeg to Jasper

Winnipeg’s station was designed by the same architects as Grand Central station in New York. This provides the starting point for this part of the journey with sweeping prairie landscapes and wide open skies ahead.

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Canada: Coast to coast by train – Part 6

Jasper to Prince Rupert: continued

Trains on this less popular route still run three times a week in each direction and take about 33 hours. The overnight stop in the logging town of Prince George comes with a hotel stay. It’s the most interesti...

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Suffolk Heritage Coast – Part 1

This small slice of East Anglia’s coast is an untamed blend of endangered landscapes, unusual history and unique wildlife waiting to be discovered. If you like walking or bird watching then this trip is for you.

Golden sands and candy-coloured beach huts is how many of us picture Suf...

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Suffolk Heritage Coast – Part 2

Basic Information

So when’s the best time to do this? Summer and autumn normally bring warmer weather, and this is when the heathland comes alive, as its heather flowers and its wildlife are most active. In winter, the coast is much quieter, so ...

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Suffolk Heritage Coast – Part 3

If you here for a longer stay then day two is a good time for some bird watching before you see some other sites in the area. Just down the road from Dunwich Heath is another oasis of wildlife, this is the RSPB Minsmere. Grab your binoculars and camp out in one of the many hides they provide while l...

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Verona: An overview - Part 1

Verona means one thing to most people and that is Romeo and Juliet, but there is so much more to this city.

The urban setting for William Shakespeare’s tragic star crossed lovers, Vstar-crossedng been a place of pilgrimage for couples seeking romance. 2016 marked 400 years since the ...

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Verona: An overview - Part 2

The Adige river flows through and bisects Verona; bridges, therefore, have always played an essential role in the life of the city. Today there are seven that have shared the fate of being destroyed by retreating Nazis and then being reconstructed in the following years. The oldest of all is the Sto...

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Kuala Lumpur - an overview - Part 1

KL is frequently ignored as a transit stop only but the Malaysian Airlines’ hub city is well worth taking the time to explore for a day or even longer.

The Location

After catching sight of the glossy steel and glass skyscrapers o...

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Kuala Lumpur - an overview - Part 2

Basic information for your visit

The population is 7. 2 million in the main metro area and the languages spoken are mainly Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. However, English is widely spoken in most places a normal visitor would go. The timezone is GMT...

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Kuala Lumpur - an overview - Part 3

Merdeka (Independence) Square was once the cricket field of the Royal Selangor Club. Its current claim to fame is that it now plays host to the world’s tallest flagpole which stands at an incredible 95m. As the day comes to an end then why not treat yourself to a sundown cocktail with a great view o...

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The Maine Event

Which is exploring mountains and sea in this marvellous state

Just recently to mark the centenary of the National Park Service, the service has been offering extra guided tours of some of its most breathtaking scenery in the wilds of Maine.

The state is perched on the ...

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Treasure Island Beach

Treasure Island is one of the many beaches along the Gulf Coast which has beautiful white sand that stretches for miles. All the beaches along the coast are amazing and so worth a visit, even for a day.

Located not far from St Petersburg, Tampa you could take a trip along to Bush Gar...

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Tarpon Springs

We discovered Tarpon Springs last year after some friends recommended it, We wanted to discover new places in Florida so we gave it a go and have to say we were not disappointed at all.

The main town you would think you were in Greece with all the Greek restaurants and shops was a lo...

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St Cloud

If you want a bit of a change from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks, and tourist areas, head for St Cloud, Kissimmee’s quiet, traditional next door neighbour. It is well worth a visit for a half day or so, to enjoy its lakeside charm and facilities.

Head east along 192 (Irlo ...

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Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards

If you are looking for an interesting half day (or more) out, think about visiting the Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards. Situated at 19239 US27 North (Clermont FL34715), it is about a 20 min drive from where US192 meets the US27.

The pretty Spanish Revival buildings sit amid 127 acres ...

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Trip to St Augustine Florida

An easy 100 min drive from Orlando, use the coastal road via Daytona and you can stop off at some gorgeous secluded unspoilt beaches, plus on the journey see some awesome high-end properties perched high above the beach on stilts for protection from the Atlantic ocean.

St. Augustine ...

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Niagara-on-the-Lake Fort George

Having spent a busy half day visiting Niagara-on-the-lake tourists could be excused for passing the entrance to Fort George en route to Niagara Falls, but those who do, miss a piece of US, British and Canadian history and a chance for a further few hours of entertainment.

Fort George...

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Niagara Falls - An overview

Niagara Falls straddles the border between the USA and Canada and covers part of the province of Ontario in Canada and New York State in the USA.

When tourists refer to Niagara Falls they are often referring to Horseshoe Falls which is actually only one of three waterfalls which make...

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Niagara Falls - Voyage to the Falls

When viewing Niagara Falls from either side of the US/Canadian border you cannot fail to notice the seemingly tiny boats sailing relentlessly up and down the Niagara River to the base of Horseshoe Falls and for many this is an absolute must when visiting the Falls area.

Many refer to...

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A visit to Alcatraz in the bay of San Francisco

If you are in San Francisco with half a day to spare then this is a trip that is well worth your time. Just remember to put on something warm as the wind chill factor is quite high even in summer. Regular Alcatraz tours including the ferry trip and an audio guide cost around $30 at the time of writi...

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Cedar Breaks National Monument Utah - Part 1

Cedar Breaks National Monument is situated in the state of Utah on US 89 about 30 to 40 minutes drive from the moderately sized town of Cedar city. If you are combining a trip to Cedar Breaks with other National Parks in the area it is 45 miles from Kolob Canyons, 60 miles from Bryce Canyon and 80 m...

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Cedar Breaks National Monument Utah - Part 2

Continued from part 1

The most sensible point to start your exploration of the park is the rim visitor center at Pointe Supreme. The visitor center opens daily 9 AM until 6 PM from around mid-May until around mid October. The winter ranger station is open Saturdays and Sundays only, f...

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Alpine Trail Cedar Breaks Utah

On a day visit to Cedar Breaks National Monument we were looking for a short hike, not too challenging or strenuous, just something that would take us away from the main hub of visitor overlooks and give us an opportunity to see more of the park. The Alpine Pond trail seemed to fit the bill, describ...

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MIami

There are some amazing places to visit in Florida. Most people head for the hustle and bustle of Disney and Orlando area, but around 4 hours drive from Orlando is Miami and its amazing art deco area and World famous beaches.

If flying from the UK Miami is a good option in the peak se...

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Highlights of our Florida holidays.

A Florida holiday is always wonderful. Every minute filled with joy and pleasure. However, some moments stand out for us and for you also. I am sure. Of course, the first time is always dusted with a little extra magic; we were awe struck with the rides and the shows. And believe me, they were prett...

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New York

On our latest trip to Florida we continued our quest to see more of the USA and decided on a couple of nights in New York. The flight was just under two hours and we made our way by taxi to The Hudson Hotel which we had found on line. The hotel was built around 1920 as a dormitory and been given a m...

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Winter Park

For a wonderful day out in a quaint America town, why not head to Winter Park. It is located north of Orlando (about 35 minute drive from Disney area (east on I95)).

Winter Park with its shops, restaurants, parks, lake and museum is now an art and culture place, varied in contrast with i...

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Old Town - Kissimmee

Old Town Kissimmee is a rather an unusual place. It used to be a celebration of all that was good about the USA in the past. It now is just a place for people to browse, eat and shop. It is laid out as a couple of cobbled streets but is not accessible to traffic, apart from on Fridays and Saturdays ...

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Tours of Gasparilla Inn, Boca Grande.

While staying on the Gulf Coast you may like to visit the old historic Gasparilla Inn, Boca Grande (‘The Inn’ as it is known by locals) which celebrates 100 years in 2013. It is only a short drive from Rotonda West and midway between Fort Myers and Sarasota. In 1885, The American Agriculture and Che...

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Fort Christmas Review

Fort Christmas

If you have got all ‘theme parked out’ and you are ready for something quiet and off the beaten track, then take a ride along State Road 50 and visit the Pioneer Homes and Fort Christmas. This piece of Pioneer History can be found about 1. 8 miles along North Fort Christmas...

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Circle B bar Reserve Part 1 Alligator Alley and Lake Hancock

Circle B bar Reserve Part 1 Alligator Alley and Lake Hancock

Circle B Bar Reserve was once a cattle ranch on the shores of Lake Hancock in Polk County. The importance of water management in this area is such that the land was purchased in December 2000 and has been transformed by a 400acr...

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Circle B Bar Reserve Part 2 Heron Hideout and Marsh Rabbit Run

Circle B Bar Reserve Part 2 Heron Hideout and Marsh Rabbit Run

Before reading this article, you would be well advised to read part 1 and also the article on Polk’s Nature Discovery Centre.

On my second day visit to Circle B Bar Reserve in Polk County I took the Heron Hideout a...

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Polk's Nature Discovery Centre

Polk’s Nature Discovery Centre


I could not believe that I had only just discovered this place when I went in January 2012 for the first time. It was only when I read the literature that I realised how recently it was developed and my fervent hope is that when everyone finds this abs...

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The New Dali Museum

The New Dali Museum

The new Dali museum in St Petersburg opened at the beginning of 2011 so when we visited during the Christmas holidays that same year we should have expected exactly what we encountered…. lines longer than those for Soarin’.

The journey was really easy. You ca...

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Seaside -The Truman Town

Jim Carey' s Seaside in Florida

I dare say if it were not for the attention Hollywood brought to the coastal town of Seaside then it would just be be of a number of small towns dotted along the 30A in the Panhandle , but the fact it was chosen as the back drop for the Jim Cary film “The T...

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Lake Wales Art Centre

The Lake Wales Arts Center was, for 60 years , actually a working Catholic Church but is now a cultural centre that offers everything from live musical performances and art exhibits to summer programmes for children.

When the building became too small for the ever growing congregation- a g...

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The Aquatic Preserves of Charlotte Harbour

In 1975 Florida decided to protect the coastal and inland waters for all future generations to enjoy and also to preserve a unique biological and scientific area. The Aquatic Preserves Act of 1975 came into being and this ensured submerged lands which were state owned were forever protected. ?

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Deerfield Beach on the Atlantic Coast, Florida

We were in Florida in January 2012 staying at our villa and decided we would have a break from the usual homeowners holiday – lots of maintenance and replacing items – and get away from it all for a few days and take a ‘proper’ vacation.

About 8 years ago we flew into Miami and spent a few...

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Chalet Suzanne - Lake Wales

Driving south along the U. S. Highway 27 in the Lake Wales area, I noticed a sign at the side of the road advertising Chalet Suzanne. Having nothing better to do and out of curiosity, we decided to investigate.

Leaving Hwy 27, we drove down Chalet Susanne Drive for a mile till we reached t...

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K'nex display in Fort Lauderdale

Are you in Florida before the 6th of may 2012? you are? that is great, I have a wonderful temporary display to tell you about.

This is a K' nex exhibition (you know what they are, those pesky bits of building pieces that you pull out of the hoover) held in The Museum of Discovery and Sci...

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The Museum of Discovery and Science.

Fort Lauderdale is about 3 hours away from your vacation villa and is well worth a visit.

If you have children, then you should definitely make time to visit is The Museum of Discovery and Science.

This museum is divided into several distinct areas and I am going to whet your...

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Gizmo City to Florida Ecoscape.

And so on to the second part of an on depth look at The Museum of Discovery and Science.

Today we are going to look at Gizmo City, The Great Gravity Clock, Living in the Everglades and Florida Ecoscapes.

Gizmo Gity is devoted to finding out how things work. The exhibit that s...

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From Gizmo City to the gift shop.

And so on to the second part of an on depth look at The Museum of Discovery and Science.

Today we are going to look at Gizmo City, The Great Gravity Clock, Living in the Everglades and Florida Ecoscapes.

Gizmo Gity is devoted to finding out how things work. The exhibit that s...

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An Arty Day Out!

The Orlando Museum of Art is located in North Mills Avenue in Orlando. This will be roughly about an hours drive from your vacation villa.

This museum has been up and running for around 90 years and the richness and depth of the exhibits is clear to see.

One of the most inter...

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The Gulf Coast

Sunshine state rentals are exactly that, renting a villa in the Sunshine State, the colloquial name for Florida. Villa rentals are available in Orlando for ease of visiting the Walt Disney parks, a trip to Kennedy or even the beaches on the east coast of this sunshine state of Florida.

T...

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Celebration – a good afternoon out

The town of Celebration (on Highway 192 near the Disney turn off) was built originally as Walt Disney’s ideal of a modern suburb. It is supposed to be kept as litter free and clean as it is possible to get and all the homeowners have strict rules to which they must adhere, like keeping their lawns i...

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Market Place Downtown Disney - Part 1

When you wake up on your first morning in Orlando, a good way to immerse yourself gently into the spirit of Disney is with a visit to Market Place in Downtown Disney. Here you will get the feel of what you are about to experience when you do your first ever full day at Walt Disney World.

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Market Place Downtown Disney - Part 2

When you have exhausted the shopping, it may be time for lunch. There are many novelty restaurants in Market Place. One I mentioned in Part 1 of this article is the Earl of Sandwich. As the name suggests they sell sandwiches (and salads) but these are served hot in an enormous bagette almost the siz...

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Market Place Downtown Disney - Part 3

Having told you about the wonderful, shopping and dining in Market Place Downtown Disney, I will now tell you about the attractions there.

There is the cutest little miniature train for the tiny people up to the age of about 8 called, Rio Grande Old Timer and a small carousel for the you...

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Our Stay at Treasure Island Part 1

We have always loved the Gulf Coast and over the years had stayed at Naples, Anna Marie Island Sarasota and Clearwater. About 10 years ago when they were staying at our villa on their own my parents went in search of somewhere we could all stay together for a few days yet still be reasonably indepen...

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Our Stay at Treasure Island Part 2

The Thunderbird motel is ideal for families although when they holiday on their own in the quieter months my parents still stay here.

All the rooms have 2 Queen Beds which is ideal for young families with children. You can either stay on the ground floor which surrounds the beautifully l...

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Our Stay at Treasure Island Part 3

Directly in front of the Tiki Bar area at the Thunderebird is a walkway where people stroll or ride bikes during the day and this gets particularly busy in the late afternoon as the heat of the day dies down a little. We often just sit here in the early afternoon with a cool drink and watch the worl...

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A Leisurely Day in the Cocoa Beach Area Part 1

When we visited our villa in March 2011 we were delighted to experience great weather particularly hot for that time of year. Having been to various Theme parks during the first week of our stay we decided Orlando was getting very warm and we decided to head for the Cocoa Beach area for a day.

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A Leisurely Day in the Cocoa Beach Area Part 2

Having spent a few hours on Melbourne Beach it was now late afternoon and we headed towards Cocoa Beach for a meal. We were travelling along the coast road and there did not seem many dining facilities around so we stopped at a garage to ask and they directed us a mile or two further on to Coconuts ...

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Marie Selby Gardens Sarasota - a great place to visit!

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Sarasota

If you are looking for a day out with a difference then try the Marie Selby Gardens in Sarasota. Their mission is:- “to further the understanding and appreciation of plant life, with emphasis on epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants), an...

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Bok Tower Summer Concerts.

For those of you that are fans of the splendid Bok Gardens (and come to think of it, maybe particularly for those of you that have never been) there is a summer of music planned for this year.

On june the 25th, The Porchdogs are featured in the second of the series. The Porchdogs describ...

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Snook Haven, Venice

For visitors to the Gulf Coast, something really unique is a visit to Snook Haven which really is a trip back into ‘old’ Florida. Although the official address is Venice, it is only a few minutes from junction 191 on the I-75 and only 20 minutes drive from Rotonda West. From McCall Road take Winches...

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Florida the ultimate getaway.

Why is vacationing in Florida considered the ultimate getaway? There truly is something for everyone to enjoy. If you are a history buff, then traveling to St. Augustine, Florida would be a great place to start. As the oldest City in the continental United States founded in 1565, it has numerous cul...

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The Barn Antiques Lake Alfred

The Barn Antiques Lake Alfred

We discovered Barn Antiques one day, quite by chance, when we were actually looking for Fantasy of Flight. We had taken the 27 to get to Fantasy of Flight instead of using the I4. - In my opinion if you have time to avoid the I4 it is always more of a voyage ...

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Christmas at Christmas

Christmas at Christmas

Some of the family were at the villa in Florida; Christmas was looming and we wanted to contact friends and family back home . We decided that we would visit the small township of Christmas in order to secure its unique postmark on our cards to the UK. We had read t...

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Yalaha Bakery

Yalaha Bakery

A long way to go for bread but it’s worth it.

Over the years we have come to accept the fact that despite the many great meals and food which we enjoy in Florida, we have never found a local bakery to rival the one which we use here in the UK.
Publix brea...

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Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota.

If you are planning a trip to Sarasota, there is far more than shops and beaches for you to see. You need to make time and include a trip to the beautiful Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a respected world centre for tropical plant research, conservation an...

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A morning at Lake Eola!

Every time I visit Lake Eola, I think how nice it is. TOP TIP, time your visit for a sunday when they have a craft market and often some entertainment.

Well, where is it? Lake Eola is in Downtown Orlando and is accessed from Rosalind Avenue, East Central Boulevard, North Eola Drive and E...

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Explore Venice

If you are ever on the Gulf Coast it is well worth spending a day in Venice. Despite traveling along the Gulf Coast for many years last year was the first time when we were traveling from Orlando down to Naples we decided to break our journey there.

For those in the party that like to re...

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Marathon on the Florida Keys

Visitors to Key West wishing to break their journey often stay over at either Key Largo or Marathon. The latter is a quaint tropical city and is conveniently situated in the middle of the Keys island chain.

The first time we went to Key West we stayed there. Marathon it is a ten mile-lon...

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Visit Key Largo

There is a song by the Beach Boys called Kokomo that makes a famous reference to Key Largo and the Florida Keys, not to mention the famous film ‘Key Largo’ that starred Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Ever since I first heard that Beach Boy song and flew regularly into Miami I have wanted to visi...

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Sanibel/Captiva Beaches

If you want a really relaxing time on the beach and a few days away form Orlando head to Sanibel and Captive Islands. Here you can enjoy 5 miles of unspoiled beaches, 22 miles of bike paths, good fishing, many types of birds and of course its famous sea shells. You may have heard of the Sanibel Stoo...

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All about Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale is a popular tourist destination on the Atlantic coast, 23 miles north of Miami. Originally it got its name after a series of forts built by the United States during the Seminole War. Nowadays it is sometimes referred to the “Venice of America” because of its expansive and intricate ...

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Big Pine and Lower Keys

If you are traveling to Key West and you have time try to explore Big Pine and the Lower Keys you will be amazed how good it is to get away from a busy and crowded world and completely relax.

If you want to dive you can board a dive boat and enjoy a day of diving and snorkeling on the fa...

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Vero Beach

The first year we went to Florida we stayed for one week at Palm Beach. Whilst there we went to the Vero Beach area for the day as it was not too far away. My parents were quite tired this day so they decided just to stay on the beach whilst we explored. Apparently they had an afternoon stroll and w...

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Enjoying Key West

You can travel to Key West by Road, Sea or Air and when you get there you will find it a city of fascinating contrasts. In fact after a few days there you may find yourself wanting to stay far away from the hassles of everyday life forever!

With its beautiful blue skies, the island is, a...

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Day Trip to Key West

My parents stayed with friends in Miami last year and decided that rather than doing the long drive to Key West in their car they would take a day trip along with their friends.

They booked their trip on the internet and had to give at least seventy two hours notice. Although the trip pi...

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Places to visit near Miami

We sometimes stay for a day or two in Miami either because we have flown in there or are on our way to the Florida Keys. We like to explore whilst we are there so I thought I would try to list a few places near Miami that you might like to visit.

Firstly there is the Cape Florida Lightho...

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West Coast Beaches

While all the fun of the theme parks is what most of you go to Orlando for, do remember to take breaks in between the days or you will be exhausted. At the height of the season you could arrive at a park when it opens at 7am and not leave until it closes at midnight, I do not think you could do that...

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East Coast Beaches

If you are staying in Orlando for long enough to have a few rest days from all the hustle and bustle of the theme parks then why not try a day at the beach. Orlando is close to both the coasts but the East coast is slightly closer. There are two main beaches close to Orlando, Cocoa Beach and Daytona...

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Awesome Lake Okeechobee

Many of you will have visited the Historic Old Kissimme and marvelled at Lake Okeechobee but I wonder how many of you are aware of its awesome size and history?

Lake Okeechobee was named by the Seminole Indian and it means ' big water' well it certainly is that! This lake holds 1 trillio...

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A day out in Daytona Beach.

Daytona Beach is about an hour and a half from your holiday villa and so makes a good choice for a day at the seaside.

Apart from lolling around the beach (doesn' t float my boat for long) what else can you do? Well, I have put together a few ideas for you; gotta be something here you wo...

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The Whetstone Chocolate Factory in St Augustine

Are you, like me, a chocoholic?

If so, read on!

Did you know that you can take a tour of a chocolate factory in St Augustine?

Shh! Don’t tell anyone else – let’s keep it between ourselves. . . . .

Why not indulge yourself with a tour of the Whetstone c...

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Key Largo

Key Largo is the island at the top of the Florida Keys and visitors often stop off here on their way to or from Key West. When we first visited there about twenty years ago there had been a lot of devastation in the surrounding area due to hurricanes and this took time to rebuild.

To get...

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Christmas in Celebration

Large numbers of tourists travel to Florida for the Christmas vacation, or simply “The Holidays” as it is affectionately known by our US neighbours, and whilst they are unlikely to be expecting the traditional Christmas, one or two may exhibit a few withdrawal symptoms! !
Fear not. . . . . . C...

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Enjoy Anna Marie Island

There really is something very magical when you arrive at Anna Marie Island and you see the white sand you know you are in for few days of complete relaxation. There is not any need to plan your journeys for quite times to avoid the crowds because crowds and traffic jams do not exist on Anna Marie! ...

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Visit St Armands Circle Sarasota

We have on several occasions when we visited the Gulf Coast had a couple of nights stay in a small motel at Siesta Key in Sarasota. This really is a relaxing part of Sarasota away from the bustle of the town itself.

Whist we are there we usually visit St Armand' s Circle for our shopping...

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The Pinellas Trail

If you have ever been in the Gulf Coast area surrounding Treasure Island, Clearwater or St Petersburg you will have seen signs highlighting the Pinellas Trail. We often spend a few days at the Gulf Coast and I became so intrigued by always seeing the Trail when we were around Seminole I researched i...

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Enjoy Naples

Naples is located in Florida' s near-tropical southwest corner and is one of the more glamorous of Florida’s beach areas. It has beautiful white beaches, ample water access, and many upscale restaurants and shops. In the twenty years since we first started visiting Naples it has grown considerably i...

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Things to do at Clearwater (3)

If you visit Clearwater on the Gulf Coast you will be amazed at the amount of things to do. Clearwater is about an hour and a half drive from Orlando along the I4. When we initially go to new places we always call in first at the Visitor Information Center. The one in Clearwater is at 333 C, South G...

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The Villages Golf Carts

We were looking for somewhere new to spend the late afternoon on what had been, and still was, a glorious Florida spring day. We didn’t want to drive too far from our base on US27 near Clermont but as we had already been to Bok Gardens, Mount Dora and Winter Garden on a previous visit our options we...

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The Villages – Market Square and beyond

The Villages provide a fascinating insight into what can be achieved for good quality 21st century living set in a lovely environment.

Basically a number of individually named village communities for age groups of 55 and over have been set around a hub which has become the focal point fo...

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The Lakeland Derby

When traveling to the Gulf beaches from Orlando along the I4 you will see several signs for Lakeland. For many years we just thought of it as the place that sold plastic containers until a friend told us about the Lakeland Derby.

Each Lakeland has its annual community fundraiser the “Lak...

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The Villages Florida

Having visited the town of Celebration on our holidays to Orlando and always enjoyed the laid back feel of the place we were looking for somewhere similar when we happened to hear about The Villages Florida. So on our very next holiday we made plans to travel to The Villages so we could see how it c...

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Lake County Festivals

If you have been a frequent visitor to Florida you probably look around for something new to do when you go. May I suggest you think about the Festivals that take place all over. I know that other counties have their own but I am just going to cover the ones that take place in Lake County. I won’t a...

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Celebration at Christmas

Celebration is one of our favourite places to visit at any time of the year but it has a special magic at Christmas. You will find Central Celebration either from the 192 turning left just before the junction with the I4, or from the I4 taking the junction labelled Celebration. You will then need to...

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ICE and SNOW at Gaylords 2010/2011

Every year Gaylord Palms Convention Centre puts on a magnificent Christmeas display of ICE. The top ice sculptors from China come across and design 5 rooms of massive display.

This year the theme is “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and each room represents a verse of the famous poem. ...

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The Miami Bus Tour

Whenever wherever we are on holiday our favourite way of initially exploring any city is to do the bus tour to see what the city has to offer. We then either hop on hop off the bus tour to visit some of the places on the initial tour or plan the remainder of our stay in the city by deciding the plac...

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The Town of Celebration Overview

Whenever we visit our home in Florida we like to take a trip to the town of Celebration.

Located just off H192 and very well sign posted (look out for the water tower) is this beautiful quiet community was built by the Disney corporation in a style that enables residents and visitors alike t...

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A visit to St Cloud

After visiting the theme parks and shopping malls it is nice to take a trip away from the Disney area to the town of St Cloud, and a visit to a man made beach against Lake Toho.

The round trip from the centre of Kissimmee is approximately 20 miles. The directions are to take the HWY 192 east...

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The Marine Discovery Centre.

The Marine Discovery Centre is located at New Smyrna Beach and is dedicated to the presevation and restoration of The Indian River Lagoon Estuary. This would take you something over an hour from your resorts area villa and makes a welcome contrast to the hustle and bustle of the parks. .

You...

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Old Town Kissimmee

Believe it or not we have never been to Old Town Kissimmee before in all our years visiting Florida.

We hadn’t realized how easy it was to get to Old Town from our villa on Southern Dunes. Simply up H27 onto I4 and straight onto H192 next to Old Town.

When we arrived it was quite qui...

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Visiting Fort Lauderdale

I first visited Fort Lauderdale in 1995, for a few days and fell in love with all it had to offer. The beaches and the life style blew me away. So much to see and do and of course the sunshine and beaches were an added bonus.

Due to work and family commitments fifteen years passed by before ...

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Beaches at Fort de Soto

We recently spent a fantastic day at the amazing beaches of Fort de Soto. Situated on Florida’s stunning west coast this island is close to Tampa and Clearwater and only takes about 90 minutes to drive to from the Disney area.

Fort de Sota is open all year round and is approached via the Pin...

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The Town of Celebration

The quaint and pretty town of Celebration is an oasis amidst the hustle and bustle of the theme parks.

Created by Disney in 1994 and launched to celebrate the life and times of a typical American town, Celebration is a pleasant mixture of both visitors and residents. Think The Truman Show. T...

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Visit Mount Dora

Mount Dora, set amongst the citrus groves of Lake County, this town is one of the prettiest Victorian settlements left in the State. It’s name comes from both the relatively high local elevation and the small lake on which it sits. The town was originally known as Royellou, after Roy, Ella, and Loui...

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Visit Daytona Beach

Extending South from Ormond Beach is the lively and boisterous Daytona Beach. As many as 200, 000 students descend on the beach for Spring Break. They pour in in their thousands from all over US and Daytona Beach is was of the most sought after destinations for them, so it would be advisable not to ...

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The visit to The Ponce Den Leon lighthouse.

The Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse Museumwas built in 1887 and is one of only a few lighthouses left in the United States.

You start your visit at the entrance buildings which houses a gift shop, rest rooms and library. This was built only 18 years ago but from plans originally drawn in 1883...

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Labadee – Royal Caribbean’s Private Island Paradise.

Over 30 years ago the first ‘private’ island was developed by Norwegian Cruise Lines, and this was a totally new concept – that of an exclusive paradise island retreat for the use of its passengers. Since then all the major cruise lines in the Caribbean have developed their own little slice of parad...

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The Florida Aquarium – an overview

The Florida Aquarium was established in 1995, covers over 200, 000 square feet and is rated as one of the top ten aquariums in the United States.

The Aquarium has 4 main galleries; -

The Wetlands

Here you can follow the story of a drop of water as it starts life in the subterra...

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The Northern Tip of Anna Maria Island

On our previous trips out to the Gulf of Mexico we had tended to gravitate towards Clearwater and St Petersburg and enjoy many of the water activities on offer.

On this occasion we decided to venture a little further south and head for the white sands of Anna Maria Island which looked absolu...

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Henry Morrison Flagler Museum – Part I

Palm Beach County is the home one of Florida’s finest museums; the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum.

The Flagler Museum was Florida’s first museum and was built in 1902 as a ‘house museum’ that would showcase the finest in art. The museum is housed in Whitehall, the fifty five roomed home that ...

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Henry Morrison Flagler Museum – part II

In my previous article about the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum I gave readers some insight into the history of the house and to the rooms on the first floor.

While the emphasis on the first floor was on the art of what is known as ‘The Gilded Age’, the second floor concentrates more on the a...

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Coquina Beach – Anna Maria Island

We had just spent the most idyllic couple of hours strolling along the beach at the northern tip of Anna Maria Island.

There were fine views across Tampa Bay to the Gulf resorts of Clearwater and Saint Petersburg, and over to our right the expanse of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge glistened in t...

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Historic Bok Sanctuary – Pine Ridge Nature Preserve

Formerly known as the Mountain Lake Sanctuary and Singing Tower, Historic Bok Sanctuary is about an hour’s drive from downtown Orlando and is well signposted from the US27 near Lakes Wales.

The Sanctuary offer the visitor a surprising amount of diversity with the Omsted Gardens and Carillon ...

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East Coast Beaches of Florida

Cocoa Beach

In between those wonderful, full days at the theme parks, although fabulous as they are, and they are, you might be tempted to take a day off and have a great day and just chill. A great way to do this is to escape to Cocoa Beach. It is the closest beach to Orlando and takes just ...

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Information for Visiting Old Town

When you are traveling along the 192 if you pass Old Town you cannot miss it, you will be very aware of the giant Ferris Wheel. You can see the Bunjee Jumping from other roads miles away.

It is like an old fashioned fair and is a combination of shopping, dining and entertainment all close to...

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Cruising – Jamaica, Part 1 Martha Brae River Rafting

Jamaica is one of our favourite islands in the Caribbean, perhaps because it was one of the islands we visited on our very first cruise with the children, so it has a certain magic about it. Although we love Florida, and Orlando in particular, we enjoy visiting the many islands of the Caribbean afte...

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St Augustine Lighthouse and Museum

We went to the Lighthouse and Museum on the recommendation of some other guests at our hotel when we visited St Augustine. They told us to allow at least an hour to tour the site and climb the tower, as the latter was one hundred and sixty feet high and we had my Father with us it took us nearer to ...

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The Orlando Science Center

I am sure most of us have taken our children to the Science Museum in London, or the Natural History Museum next door, but have you ever considered taking your offspring to a museum in Orlando?

Well, if you have time to fit it in, or if you have a rainy day and don’t know what to do, then yo...

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The South Florida Museum - Part 1

A friend had recommended a trip to Anna Maria Island if we were looking for somewhere new to visit, and while plotting a route on Google Earth I spotted an icon for the South Florida Museum, which was right on our route from Orange Tree to Anna Maria. We decided to call in at the museum, hopefully g...

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The South Florida Museum - Part II

While plotting a route from our home on Orange Tree to Anna Maria Island I had noticed that along our route was the South Florida Museum, and so we decided to drop in on our way through Bradenton. The museum also incorporates the Parker Manatee Aquarium and also the Bishop Planetarium and to find ou...

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An Introduction to Bradenton

We were waiting for the Illuminations firework display to begin in Epcot when we engaged in conversation with an middle aged American couple who had driven up for the day from their home in Bradenton, Florida.

We had skirted close to their hometown on a previous trip around Tampa Bay but wit...

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Anastasia State Park and Fort Mose Historic State Park

While the State of Florida has three National Parks, the best known being The Everglades National Park, plus the Biscayne National Park and the Dry Tortugas National Park it has no less than 160 State Parks which spread over 700, 000 acres of land.

In the my first article I concentrated on t...

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The Ormond Art Gallery and Gardens.

The Ormond Art Museum and gardens have the double benefit of an interesting gallery to look at and a beautiful garden to view.

For 64 years this museum has been dedicated to the work of artists connected to the two World Wars.

It all started in 1946 when the well known artist Malcolm...

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A visit to the space coast and Kennedy space centre

Kennedy space centre is a truly awesome place to visit. The visitor complex is the best place to start. Here we have an IMAX theatre were they show 2 different films on stunning screens which are more than 5 storeys high. The first film we saw was Magnificent Desolation; Walking on the Moon 3-D. Thi...

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The Museum of Science and Industry

The Museum of Science and Industry is located in East Fowler Avenue in North Tampa. Tampa is on Florida' s Gulf Coast.

As well as being the largest science center in America you can also enjoy a planetarium a butterfly garden a 3. D. theatre and the Dome theatre that shows feature length fil...

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Beaches of Florida

Cocoa Beach

In between those wonderful, full days at the theme parks, although fabulous as they are, and they are, you might be tempted to take a day off and have a great day and just chill. A great way to do this is to escape to Cocoa Beach. It is the closest beach to Orlando and takes just ...

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5 Days in the Florida Keys

On our most recent visit to the villa we decided to take a trip down to the Keys. We wanted to share with you some of the interesting things we did and the best places we ate in. You may wish to take a visit too. . . . . .

We drove down on the US 27 which took about 6 hours to reach ...

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Menello Museum

The Mennello Museum of Modern Art is situated in Orlando in a truly stunning location on a lake in Lock Haven Park.

THe cornerstone of this museum is works by Earl Cunningham. Earl was born in 1893 in Booth Bay Harbour. At the pitifully age of 13 Earl left home and lived his life for a while...

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The Salvadore Museum.

The Salvadore Dali museum is located on third street in St Petersburg. Quite soon, this location will close but more of that later.

Dali was born in 1904 in the Spanish town of Figueres. He was born into a well to do family who had a second home in Cadaques.

It was in Cadaques that h...

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The Selby Memorial Gardens

The Selby Memorial Gardens are situated in Sarasota on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

The story of these stunning gardens starts with the marriage of Bill and Marie Selby. Bill had long ago fallen in love with Sarasota and fortunately his bride soon came under its spell as well.

They dul...

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The Salvadore Dali Museum.

The Salvadore Dali museum is located on third street in St Petersburg. Quite soon, the location will close but more of that later.

Dali was born in 1904 in the Spanish town of Figueres. He was born into a well to do family who had a second home in Cadaques.

It was in Cadaques that he...

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Ice at Gaylord Palms

Every Christmas time for the last few years there has been a spectacular event held at Gaylord Palms, called Ice.

This features spectacular ice sculptures and lasts around 7 weeks; this year (2010) it runs from november to after Christmas.

Gaylord Palms select Chinese artisans to cre...

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Gatorland in Florida

Gatorland, on South Orange Blossom Trail, is ideal for a half day outing, although you can take longer and stay all day. It makes a great break from the busy, big theme parks. The huge, gaping gator jaws with big white teeth make an unmistakable entrance and set the scene for a visit to this 110 acr...

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A wonderful city by the Sea called St Augustine

Somewhere very different in Florida when you’re staying in Orlando and just over 1. 5 hours drive is a place called St Augustine. I can fully recommend visiting St Augustine. This city is the The Nation' s Oldest City was founded in 1565. St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European se...

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ICE 2010

Each year Gaylord Palms Hotel and Convention Centre hosts “ICE” as part of their Christmas programme and it is really worth seeing. This is the second time that we have been and most of the display was completely new to us so it was well worth it.

First the tips for your visit.

• It ...

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Showcase of Citrus

On US-27, four and a half miles North of 192, is Showcase of Citrus. This is a family owned citrus grove and so much more. With over 2, 500 acres of working citrus groves and cattle ranch, it is an amazing place to explore and so much more from what it appears as you drive past.

When you pul...

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Sloppy Joes - Treasue Island

One cloudy day we decided to go to Treasure Island to see the “Bands on the Sands” festival they were having followed by a meal at Sloppy Joes which is on the beach.

There a path along the beach that we strolled along stopping first at the Tiki Bar at the Thunderbird Motel for a drink. It wa...

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Mallory Square - Key West

Several years ago we decided to go down the Florida Keys and stay at Key West for a couple of nights. There is a fabulous laid back atmosphere here and fun to be had in Mallory Square day or night, spring, summer, autumn or winter you will find there is always something to enjoy.

Mallory Squ...

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Interesting places to visit in South Florida with kids-part 3

On Day 3 we decided to travel about 55 miles south to Islamorada, a group of islands close to the continent’s only corral barrier reef. It is the second major island region of the super scenic Florida Keys.

Renowned for its sportfishing and diving, Islamorada has plenty to offer children. On...

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Driving Across Seven Mile Bridge

Although we had heard of the Seven Mile Bridge, which links the small islands of the Keys like a necklace of pearls, we were quite bowled over when we actually drove over it. It is truly spectacular, and if you have time to drive all the way down to the Keys then it is well worth doing so. The bridg...

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Interesting places to visit in South Florida with kids-part 2

On our second day in Miami we elected to visit the Miami Seaquarium. It shows off the area’s most family friendly assets; sunshine and aquatic life. The Main Reef Aquarium is a 750, 000 gallon saltwater tank filled with plenty of varieties of colourful fish, which gives an in depth look at reef life...

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The Shuttles Retire

On the 24th October 2003 between 4. 01p. m. and 4. 05p. m. three Concorde flights landed to great fanfare at Heathrow Airport in London. These were the final flights of this fantastic aircraft, two being round-trips for VIPs and the third, a scheduled flight from New York. Everybody with an ounce of...

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San Sebastion Winery - St Augustine

We first saw San Sebastian Winery on a trolley bus tour on our first trip to StAugustine. From the outside it does not look very inspiring but friends of ours who had visited it the previous year urged us to try a visit to it.

Unlike much of St Augustine it was only founded in1996. It is loc...

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The Lightner Museum

No visit to St Augustine is complete without going to the Lightner Museum which is located in the historic downtown. It is 20 minutes from I-95, one hour from Jacksonville and Daytona Beach, and two hours from Disney World, Epcot Center and Cape Canaveral.

Opening hours are as follows:

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Key West Narrated Trolley Bus Tour

For our visit to Key West a few years ago my Father did a lot of the planning. We stayed at Fort Lauderdale for a night before going on our journey down the Keys. Because it appeared to be a long drive we decided to stay overnight half way down the Keys. In hindsight as we had two drivers in the car...

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The Old Jail and St Augustine History Museum

If you get time to visit St Augustine, and I strongly recommend that you do, it is possible to go for a day with a very early start and a late return to Orlando. However to see everything and explore this beautiful city it is good if you can stay at least overnight if not for two nights.

On ...

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Walking Tour of St. Augustine Part 2

Continuing on your walking tour go to see the Colonial workers at the reconstructed Colonial Spanish Quarter (the entrance is via the Triay House at 29 St. George St) go about their work as if it’s just another day in the mid 18th century. Clad in period dress, gardeners tend to their vegetables; wo...

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Key West

We have visited Key West several times and have always been charmed by its quaint houses and fascinating museums and shops. Located in Monroe County, Florida, 129 miles from Miami, Key West is a delightful place to visit if you have time to spend a few days away from the Orlando area. It is a mere 9...

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History of St. Augustine

If you wish to spend the day away from the hustle and bustle of Orlando and it’s fantastic Theme Parks, what better way than to take a drive to St. Augustine. As the oldest, continuously occupied European settlement in the United States, St. Augustine has played varied and prominent historic roles. ...

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Kennedy Space Center IMAX

No trip to Florida should end without a visit to the Kennedy Space Center. When you are so close it would be criminal not to visit the most historic place in America – from where all the space missions leave. It is situated about 60 minutes drive from Orlando.

This may not appeal to everyone...

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Showcase of Citrus

If you were asked to name 3 things that you associate with Florida, there’s a fair chance that apart from sunshine and theme parks you’d mention freshly squeezed orange juice or the groves where they grow.

So next time you visit Florida, why not take time out of your hectic schedule and take...

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Places to Visit - Anna Maria Island

Many of you who do decide to venture away from the theme parks probably head the beaches of Daytona or Clearwater

Let me let you into our little secret - its called Anna Maria Island, Its about 3 hours south of Kissimmee heading towards Tampa.

Its probably Florida' s best keep secret ...

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Celebration - A Brief Guide

One of our favourite places to visit, apart from the numerous theme parks in and around Orlando, is called Celebration. Celebration is a little town just south of the US 192 adjacent to Interstate 4. One of the best ways of finding it, if you have never visited Celebration before, is to follow the d...

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Christmas at St Augustine

Next time you visit Orlando at Christmas why not take a trip across to St Augustine, the oldest city in Florida, which is steeped in history? However, at Christmas St Augustine is even more attractive as it sparkles with over two million bulbs. Each year, between Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday in Nov...

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The Bishop Planetarium

We had taken up a suggestion from an American couple we had met a week or so earlier to visit their hometown of Bradenton which is situated on the Gulf of Mexico just south of the city of Tampa.

Out intention had been to head for the beaches and the sugar white sands of Anna Maria Island but...

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The new Town Center at Cagan's Crossing

When we visit our villa in Orlando we always enjoy a trip to Town Center at Cagan’s Crossing, which is two minutes away, just opposite the fantastic SuperWarlmart on Highway 27, north of the junction with the 192. This pretty development is continuing to grow, and is a mixture of residential apartme...

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Annual Events at Celebration

If you have never been to Celebration it really is a Must Do on any Disney holiday even if it is just to stroll around the shops or sit and relax in a rocking chair around the lake. It is situated on the 192 about 4 miles before you reach the 27.

In the early 1990s, the Disney Development Co...

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Bock the Manatee

Manatees are wonderful, gentle creatures, often called sea cows, which inhabit the waters around Florida. If you are fortunate enough to visit Orlando in the winter season you can visit these lovely animals at Blue Springs, where they over-winter in the warm waters of the St John’s River.

A ...

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Lakeridge Winery Tour

If you enjoy wine and are interested in local wines then a trip to Lakeridge Winery is a very pleasant and informative half day excursion.

You will find it by travelling up the SR27 north of Clermont and it is on the left hand side of the road just past the correctional institution. Once you...

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Bok Tower Gardens

If you drive from Davenport to Miami on US highway 27, look to the left as you approach the town of Lake Wales. On the distant ridge – the highest hill in the peninsula of Florida - you will see a prominent tower, known as Bok Tower. Surrounding the tower are the Bok Tower Gardens.

The garde...

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Myakka State Park

Myakka State Park is situated in Sarasota on the S. R. 72. This park covers 58 square miles od natural prairie and encompasses The Myakka River.

This area was once occupied by the Seminole Indians and it was they who named the river Myakka. The lands were dotted with cattle. By 1900 it had b...

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Key West - The Little White House

The Little White House is well worth a visit if you are spending some time in Key West.

Originally the Little White House was the command headquarters of the Key West Naval station. Built in 1890, it was used for this purpose during the Spanish American War, World War 1 and World War 2.
...

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Key West - The Trolley Tour

Whenever we visit a town or city for the first time as tourist we usually take the bus tour to get to know the local area. Our visit to Key West was no exception - we took the Key West Hop on Hop off Trolley Tour. This tour is as its name suggests, a tour which you can leave at any point to see some...

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K.P.Hole

If you enjoy tubing then you should put K. P. Hole on your to do list. K. P. Hole is situated near Dunellan Florida (about 2 hours from the Disney area.

K. P. Hole is a public park in Marion County and is situated on the lovely Rainbow River. Rainbow River runs from Rainbow Springs (which is...

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Tarklin Bayou

Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park is located 10 miles south west of Pensacola and 2 miles south of the U. S. 98.

This was first acquired by thge Parks Department in the 1990s and was originally 900 acres. Since then the Department has added more land and they are currently planning a disable...

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Three Rivers State Park.

Three Rivers State Park is located in Sneads on Three Rivers Park Road off the Highway 90. The three rivers involved in the name are The Chatahoochee, The Flint and The Apalacholicola.

A dam was created as a result of which Lake Seminole was formed. This lake is an impressive 37000 acres and...

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Waccasaasa Bay

Waccasaasa Bay Preserve State Park is situated in Cedar Key beween Yankee Town and Cedar Key on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

You can trace the history of this park back to the Native American and there are artefacts found here that prove that the Indian communities once lived here. Next came t...

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South Beach Miami - Art Deco Area

If you fancy seeing a bit more of Florida during your stay why not take a trip to Miami.

Miami is around 4 hours' drive from the Orlando area and so it is worth staying over night or even two nights to enable you to have a good look around.

We decided to stay just for one night. We w...

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Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

We have been visiting Florida now for over seventeen years and are still discovering new places of interest every year. Our most recent new discovery is the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park situated in, not surprisingly, Homosassa.

The leisurely journey took us about two hours, north al...

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The A1A Coastal Road - the Atlantic Coast of Florida

“The Scenic & Historic A1A Coastal Road is more than a name – it’s a state of being. ” We picked it up in Daytona and travelled up Ocean Shore Boulevard through Ormond Beach right the way up to the Fernandina Beach, St Amelia with a couple of nights stay in St Augustine. Just the name Ocean Shor...

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Kissimmee Old town - family entertainment

A visit to Kissimmee Old Town is a must. The entertainment and rides are ideal for the whole family especially for the kids. For the very brave the human slingshot that catapults you up to 365 feet into the sky is probably the most scary ride to go on, it will certainly get the palms of your hands s...

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Orlando’s Lesser Known Attractions – Part III

Nobody can deny that it is the lure of the big name theme parks, Universal Studios, Magic Kingdom, Sea World and the like, that attracts the vast majority of visitors to the Orlando area. However, the region could not survive on just these few, albeit ‘big’, businesses alone. Fortunately the region ...

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Daytona Beach -supercharged speed

Daytona Beach is the home to wonderful stretches of sand, backed in parts by 50’s pop culture attractions. However, it is probably associated in most people’s minds with supercharged speed.

Daytona’s is still host to one of the last Atlantic coast Spring Breaks, albeit much more restrained n...

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A visit to Tarpon Springs

Why not visit Tarpon Springs for a good day out. Tarpon Springs is the most northerly of the Pinellas County coast communities, at the point where the Anclote River widens into bayous on its way to the Gulf. Tarpons Springs was first founded in 1876, so well over a hundred years old. The name stems ...

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Manatee Village Historic Park

One thing we hadn’t realized on our first trip to Bradenton was just how proud the city is of their history and that the Manatee Village Historical Park provided a lasting legacy to those early pioneers of the nineteenth century.

Probably the most famous resident of the park is ‘Old Cabbage ...

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Miccosukee Indian Village

On our travels through the Everglades National Park, almost by accident we came across the Miccosukee Indian Village which is located on the Tamiami Trail (US90) about an hour west from the bright lights of the cosmopolitan city of Miami.

We really had no intention of stopping here but curio...

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Things to do in Florida

Staying in a villa near to Disney World Orlando and surrounding areas is less expensive than most people think. These days it’s not considered to be a once in a life time holiday, more and more families go there on a regular basis because there is so much more to do than the Theme Parks even though ...

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Tubing down the Rainbow River

Tubing down the Rainbow River is a truly wonderful experience and well worth the rather long drive from the Parks area. It is about 2 hours north of Tampa and north of Dunellan.

An awesome 460 millions of gallons of water flows from the headsprings every day. There are only 4 larger such spr...

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Venice in Sarasota County

Venice in Sarasota County

Venice, a city of 21, 000 population, is often a forgotten gem on the Gulf Coast, south of Sarasota and long before you reach the mighty Palm City of Fort Myers.

In many ways Venice is more reminiscent of a British town than most American small towns. There i...

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Top 10 things to do in Orlando for free!…….Part I

Everybody knows that you generally “get what you pay for” but this is not always the case, especially in Orlando. If you are like me, then you will love a bargain and if the bargain is not going to cost you a single dime………. well that’s even better! Below is a list of places we have visited, over se...

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Naples – Florida

Naples sits on the Gulf Coast of Florida, is roughly due west of Fort Lauderdale and is the most southerly town of any size on the Gulf Coast mainland. It is considered by many to be the Gulf Coast’s answer to Palm Beach, but not as ‘snobby’! If you take the time to visit and stroll around its chic,...

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Orlando Science Center – Exhibition Halls

Centrally placed at 777 East Princeton Street just north of downtown Orlando, the Science Center’s vast exhibition halls provide a dazzling selection of interactive and hands-on experiences for all ages.

At the time of our visit TechWorks provided an insight into the planet’s physical scienc...

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Dr Phillips Cinedome - Orlando Science Center

Florida boasts a wonderful sunny climate and a host of outdoor activities from golf to the theme parks and everything in between.

However, it has to be said that there is the odd occasion when the weather may be a little inclement and a game of dodge the thunderstorms might be the order of t...

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Orlando’s Lesser Known Attractions – Part I

Anybody contemplating a holiday in Central Florida, or more specifically – Orlando, will be more than familiar with the big name attractions that draw millions of visitors to the area every year. Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Sea World are all as familiar as Coca-Col...

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Kanapaha Botanic Gardens – East Side

In a previous article we spent some time exploring the trails to the west of the picnic area. However, time permitting, there is still much more to see and do.

Picking up the trail to the east of the picnic area takes the visitor to the Cycad collection. These are often mistaken for palm tre...

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Kanapaha Botanic Gardens – West Side

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is situated just to the west of Gainesville a few miles from the intersection of the I75 and US24. After travelling west on SW Archer Road for two miles take a right into SW58th Drive to reach the gardens parking lot.

Kanapaha Botanic Gardens are relatively new and...

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Orlando’s Lesser Known Attractions - Part II

While the big names, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Sea World, are the main crowd pullers to the Orlando Metropolitan area, there are also a great many smaller attractions that are well worth a visit if you are holidaying in the area and feel that you need something j...

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Adventures Unlimited – the rope challenges.

High in Florida’s panhandle there are rolling hills, fast flowing streams and dense forest. It is a region that seems totally disconnected to the main peninsula and what most people come to associate with a trip to the sunshine state.

But here, set in picturesque surroundings, just north of ...

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The Wine Room at Park Avenue

There are a number of excellent wineries dotted around Central Florida most notably San Sebastian in St Augustine and Lakeridge in the rolling hills just outside Clermont near Orlando.

However, in Winter Garden there is something very different to get excited about at the Wine Room on Park A...

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Winter Park - Culture Capital

Winter Park is generally regarded as Central Florida’s culture capital with its quaint brick streets and European like town center, luscious gardens, sparkling lakes and wonderful estates. However it’s the museums, cultural events, shops and restaurants that keep most visitors returning time after t...

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Vera Bradley

Vera who? is the response I expect most Brits to come out with-unless of course you are an afficionado like I am in which case I am preaching to the converted.

However for those of you non-americans who have yet to sample the delights of a 'Vera' -let me tell you more.

Vera Bradley w...

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Orlando Museum of Art

If you’re looking for a change of pace from the usual Florida attractions, the Orlando Museum of Art will offer you a culturally stimulating experience! The museum is made up of 7 galleries with temporary exhibits as well as permanent collections.

There are three collections on permanent exh...

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Gatorland

If you love animals and you want somewhere to go for just a half a day, give Gatorland ago located on US 441, South Orange Blossom Trail, near the Orland/Kissimmee border, the entire family found it an amazing place.

We arrived at the park around just before it opened and found only one othe...

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Historic Bok Sanctuary

Historic Bok Sanctuary is described in their leaflet as “A Remarkable Experience that Will Elevate Your Mind and Spirit” and I think that this sums it up perfectly. Situated in Lake Wales, easily reached from the theme parks and attractions of Orlando, it sits atop Florida’s highest point.

W...

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Visit Celebration

One of our most favourite places to visit whilst in Florida and always at the top of our list is the magical small dreamy town of Celebration. Conceived as an ideal small town by Walt Disney and completed in 1996 it is a real fairytale come true kind of place.

Beautiful homes complete with ...

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General Van Fleet Trail

This trail is on the bed of an old railway line, which was closed in the 1980s. It is 29. 2 miles long and is paved, which makes it suitable for bicycling as well as walking. It runs from Mabel in the north to Polk City in the south. There is car parking at four places on the route.

To get t...

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A Trip to Key West

The Florida Keys are a ‘must do’ if you can fit in a few days break away from your holiday in Orlando.

OK – it’s along drive – but we did it in one hit from our villa on the Highway 27 down to the most southerly point of the USA – Key West.

We drove down to Miami on the Turnpike which ...

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Places to go and things to do

We have spent the last 8 weeks here in Orlando and have discovered many things do do that most people miss. One of our favourites is Boardwalk its a pleasant place for an evening stroll and we have found that its an ideal place to park up and and stroll of to Epcot and watch the fireworks. You can a...

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Winter Park (10)

For a totally different experience of Orlando which takes you away from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist attractions, head north and visit the utterly delightful town of Winter Park.

It is an easy drive along the I4 and only takes approximately 30 minutes to get there. There is ampl...

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Natural Dolphin Swim

If there is something that you should do before life passes you by, it has to be a swim with Dolphins.

To get into the water with these fabulous marine animals has to be an experience of a lifetime. There friendly nature and that never changing smile they seem to have just makes a swim with D...

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The Villages

If you would like to go somewhere different from the theme parks why not spend some time at the villages. You go north on the us 27 through Leesburg about 4 miles north of Leesburg you will see a bridge with The Villages written across it. Turn left and that will take you into The Villages The area ...

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Old Town Kissimmee

This is a great place to visit if you want a bit of a rest from the busy theme parks.

Located on Highway 192 the small town is surrounded by many restaurants it is very easy to find and very close to many villa communities. Just follow the lights to the Sky coaster, you won’t miss them.

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Duck Tours, Miami

If you have been to London and visited the London Eye, then you cannot have missed seeing the fascinating ‘Duck Tours,’ which transport you around London, in an ex World War 2 amphibious vehicle. They take you past the landmarks of London and then suddenly launch themselves into the River Thames at ...

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Life’s a Beach – Melbourne / Cocoa

Most people love the beach, even though Orlando and Kissimmee don’t have a beach it doesn’t mean you can’t find one. Probably the easiest and quickest beaches to get to are the ones on the east coast. The Atlantic Ocean is to the east of Orlando and Kissimmee and is loved by families and surfers ali...

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The Old Town Trolley Tours of Key West

Although Key West is not a large island, and is a mere 3 1/2 miles by 1 1/2 miles, there is so much to do and see that it is well worth taking one of the Old Town Trolley Tours. You cannot miss these large orange and black trolley buses which take visitors on a 90 minute tour of over 100 points of i...

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Three of Florida’s Most Beautiful Beaches

Florida has some of the most beautiful and best beaches in the country. In a recent rating of the nation’s top 10 beaches, three of them are here in Florida, the Sunshine State.

Off the Gulf Coast of Florida, roughly about two hours from Orlando, you’ll find Fort De Soto Park’s North Beach. ...

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The Conch Train Tour, Key West

Although we had visited Key West several times, it was not until our third visit that we decided to take the Conch Train Tour. Of course they are not real trains, but they are fun to see, with their little black engines chugging through the streets of Key West, pulling colourful canopied carriages f...

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Melbourne Beach

As much as we love our little corner of Kissimmee and the mass of attractions the area has to offer, the kids always enjoy a day at the beach. In the past we have always been to Clearwater or Daytona. This year we thought we would try Melbourne Beach, which was a 70 minute drive East on the 192. The...

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A Day at Miami Beach

No trip to Miami would be complete without a visit to Miami Beach, and the wonderful white sands which stretch along the Atlantic coast. When staying in Miami we like to take a day out at the beach, and nothing is better than taking a trip across the MacArthur Causeway, which joins Miami to the Miam...

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The Port of Miami

Miami is often called the 'Cruise Capital of the World' and rightly so, as it is ranked 8th in the USA's leading seaports. At least 18 cruise ships and nearly 4 million passengers used the port in 2005, and it is expanding all the time. Many people now combine a stay in Orlando with a Caribbean crui...

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Cruising from the Port of Miami

We first sailed from the Port of Miami over 8 years ago, when we arrived to embark on our first cruise, on board Enchantment of the Seas, a brand new Royal Caribbean ship in her inaugural season, and the thrill of driving across the bridge and seeing the funnels of our cruise liner ahead, in the dis...

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What to expect when you embark on a cruise ship

Many people now combine a stay in Orlando, with all its wonderful attractions, with a cruise to the Caribbean or the Bahamas. It is a great way to finish a visit to Orlando, and offers a complete contrast to all the excitement of the parks, and the numerous delights of shopping, or just relaxing in ...

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Horse World Riding Stables

If you have children or even adults that enjoy horse riding do try and spend some time at Horse World Riding Stables. These can be found just south of the Disney World Resort area situated at 3705 Poinciana Blvd, Kissimmee that is 12 miles south of the 192. Telephone 407 847 4343. It is usually bett...

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"Cassadaga " somewhere different

A Brief History

As a young man from New York, George Colby was told during a séance that he would someday be instrumental in founding a Spiritualist community in the South. This prophecy was fulfilled in 1875, when Colby was led through the wilderness of Central Florida by his spirit ...

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Catamaran Trip - Ft. Lauderdale

The Atlantic coastline is one of the most attractive in Florida, with long stretches of sandy beaches, with silvery sand, and blue seas that can be ideal for surfing, superb for sunbathing, or great for just paddling.

However, if you want to experience all that the coast has to offer then wh...

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Clearwater Beach - Excellent West Coast Beach

Clearwater Beach is located on the west coast of Florida and provides white, sandy and serene beaches combined with the gentle, silky waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Clearwater Beach has been designated as the "Best City Beach on the Gulf of Mexico, and USATODAY readers ranked Clearwater Beach in thei...

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Daytona Beach - Great Day Out!

Daytona Beach is one of Florida’s most popular east coast beaches and spans for approximately 23 miles along the eastern coast of central Florida. It is simply a must if you want to experience a totally different style beach from those you may have experienced.

What makes it different, well f...

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Florida's Beaches

Florida is blessed with many excellent beaches and visiting one can be inexpensive and make a pleasant change from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks.
The sun-kissed sands are an excellent place to top-up your tan and recharge your batteries!

Listed below are a few of the b...

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Cocoa Beach

In between those wonderful days in the Disney parks although fabulous as they are, and they are, you might be tempted to have the occasional day off, and a great way to take a day out and just chill, is to escape to Cocoa beach.

Cocoa beach is just an hour’s comfortable drive east of O...

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A Day Out to Rock Springs Tube Rafting

Fancy a day off from the theme parks or maybe just something that is relaxing that the whole family can take part in. This 248-acre Orange County park is built around one of the Apopka area’s crystal clear springs. As its name suggests, Rock Springs bubbles up from a cleft in a rock outcropping and,...

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A trip worth doing if you have a few days to spare

If you can drag yourself and the family away from lazing by the pool and visiting the theme parks, shops and activities that Orlando has to offer then taking a few days to travel north of Orlando is well worth the effort.

Start by heading north towards Mt Dora and spend a few hours in this qu...

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Days out - Mount Dora

If you fancy something a little different from the theme parks and the neon signs of International Drive and highway 192 a great place to visit for the day is the beautiful old town of Mount Dora in Lake County. Located approximately 25 miles northwest of Orlando it’s easy to find. From the Walt Dis...

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A day out in Punta Gorda

Punta Gorda is a city of 15,000 residents located on the banks of the Peace River and the Gulf of Mexico in South West Florida. It has also been described by the current mayor as, the “heart-beat” of Charlotte County.

Driving into Punta Gorda, from the North, means that you enter the city ove...

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Blue Springs State Park in Florida

Blue Springs State Park is yet another great State Park, which is often overlooked by the normal holiday maker. It is located on the St John River and is indeed the largest spring on this river The Park covers 2664 acres packed with wonderful things to do.

Originally settled on by nativ...

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Butterfly World, Coconut Creek, Fort Lauderdale

BUTTERFLY WORLD, COCONUT CREEK

If, like me, you are fascinated by beautiful butterflies, then you won’t want to miss a trip to Butterfly World, just 10 miles north of Fort Lauderdale, and north of Miami, on the East coast.

Whilst having taken parties of school children in the UK to vis...

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John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk, near Madeira Beach

Situated on Highway 699, just north of Treasure Island, is a quaint and enchanting fishing village, marina and boardwalk. It has a fascinating history, which dates back to the mid 1800’s, when Florida was very different from the way it is now.

Florida was an untamed and lawless land in the ea...

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MIAMI METROZOO

If you happen to be spending some time in Miami, and want something different to do, then a trip to a zoo is always an interesting day out, and Miami’s ‘Metrozoo’ is no exception. It was ranked top in the ‘Top 10 Zoos in the Country’, according to ‘Travel and Leisure Magazine', as well as being call...

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MONKEY JUNGLE, MIAMI

If you like monkeys then you will love Monkey Jungle! Advertised as the place where ‘Humans are Caged and Monkeys Run Wild’ it is certainly one not to miss if you are in the Miami area. It is located just off US Highway 1, south of Miami at 14805 Southwest 216th Street, in South Dade. Here, nearly 4...

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Clearwater Beach Sunset Festival At Pier 60

No matter how much you enjoy the theme parks in and around central Orlando, there comes a time for most people when they just feel like doing something else. One of the nicest, most enjoyable, laidback experiences we have found was the sunset festival at Clearwater Beach.

Old and young ali...

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Daytona International Speedway

The Daytona International Speedway is a must see attraction for all motor-sports fans out there. The complete set-up is absolutely breathtaking!

Looking down the Front Straight taking in the huge Grandstand that runs the full length almost of the straight just shows why this is one of the ...

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Things To Do In Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay is approximately a one hour drive from Orlando. There are many things to do on a day trip or indeed a weekend visit. Here are just some of the more interesting attractions to keep you occupied.

Busch Gardens:

Probably what Tampa is most well known for. This is a fam...

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Blue Springs State Park

Since our first trip to Florida in ’94, when we kept seeing references to ‘Save the Manatee’ on license plates, we had wanted to see this unusual creature in the wild. So, I started digging around on the Internet during the planning stages of our November trip. There’s so much more to Orlando tha...

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Longboat Key

SARASOTA IN THE SUMMER - THE RED TIDE

After spending a hectic week at Disney we looked forward to a week of relaxation in Sarasota on the Gulf coast. We stayed at the Hilton, Longboat Key, a pleasant if somewhat small hotel but it was on the beach so we had the best of both worlds b...

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Visiting St. Augustine

If you are looking for something different, something of the real Florida a two hour drive north will bring you to the wonderful town of St Augustine.

Take a scenic drive north on the coastal route of A1A or the inland route along I4 AND 195 and two hours later you will arrive at St August...

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Gatorland, A Half Day Out

GATORLAND is an ideal attraction to visit see when you just have a half day, it has a nice and relaxed atmosphere with no rushing around or queues (a la Disney style to contend with. Let me tell and show you what it is all about, for me this was a most relaxing half day visit attraction. Gatorlan...

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Anna Maria Island, Florida

Whether you want to go for a day trip or to relax for a few days and and re-charge your batteries after the Theme Parks Anna Maria Island which is 20 miles southwest of Tampa is an ideal place to do this.

Anna Maria is a narrow scrape of land which nestles on the Gulf of Mexico just below ...

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Vero Beach - A Great Day Out

In Vero Beach, among the elegant subdivisions and hotels that have arisen over the years you can still find traces of the old Florida.

Most obvious of these are the two beachfront buildings erected by Vero Beach resident Waldo Sexton. When he built the Driftwood Resort and Ocean Grill in...

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The City of Winter Park, Florida

If you are looking for something different to do on your days away from the theme parks and outlet malls why not fit a trip to Winter Park into your holiday plans?

Winter Park is a sophisticated suburb of Orlando approximately 20 minutes drive north of downtown but a lifetime away from the...

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Kenedy Space Center

This is located 45 minutes from Orlando and is well worth a visit although not really suitable for very young children. Kenedy is open all year except Christmas Day and some special launch days.

Some of our guests who went for a launch, not once but twice because of bad weather the first ...

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Kissimmee Old Town

Old Town Kissimmee is great for an evenings entertainment. It is easy to find as it is along the US192. If you plan to go either on a Wednesday , Friday or Saturday nights there is the added extra of seeing the old Classic cars or Harley Davidson motorbikes parading up and down the main street.

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Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, Florida

If you are looking for somewhere different to visit on your next trip to the Orlando area why not take a trip to Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards.

If you thought that California was the only state in the U.S to produce wine think again. Lakeridge is situated near Clermont on highway 27, thir...

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Everglades National Park :- The Practicalities of a Visit

Getting there:

The park is on the southern tip of mainland Florida. The nearest airports are in Miami, 50 miles and Fort Lauderdale, 65 miles away from the park''s eastern entrance and in Fort Myers, 31 miles from the western entrance. If you are flying into Miami for an Orlando holiday ...

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Bill Baggs State Park

Bill Baggs State Park is located at the end of Key Biscayne, to the East of Miami and is connected to the mainland via the Rickenbacker Causeway which passes through Virginia Key. The road onto the islands has a $1 toll which can be negated by stating that you are a patron of one of the restauran...

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Silver Springs, Ocala

p>Silver Springs is best described as nature’s own theme park, and is certainly recommended as a great alternative day out for all the family.

Whether you choose to sail along Spring River in their famous glass bottom boats to marvel at the vast array of fishes and marine life vi...

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Crandon Park

Visit to Crandon Park, Key Biscayne

Crandon Park is located on Key Biscayne to the East of Miami and is connected to the mainland via the Rickenbacker Causeway which passes through Virginia Key.  The road onto the islands has a $1 toll which can be negated by stating that you a...

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Siesta Key Beach on the Gulf of Mexico

Looking for that picture perfect beach. White sand, aqua blue waters and tropical palapas scattered across the beach side? Well, you are only two hours away from sitting in the "postcard picture" that brought you to Florida in the first place. Pack your cooler...

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Celebration, Florida