Festival Bay

Festival Bay is situated at the end of International Drive opposite Prime Outlets (formerly known as Belz Factory Outlets.)

We often visit here as we can combine it with a visit to Prime Outlets for those of us trying to “shop until we drop” whilst Granddad usually takes the girls to the Cinemark where there are 20 movies to chose from. The Cinema opens about 12 noon and most of the last showings are around 10.00pm.

However on our last visit they traded their visit to the cinema for a game of golf at the Putting Edge glow in the dark putting course that had recently opened at Festival Bay. This also opens at noon but closes about 8.00pm. Children prices are about $8 but the girls took great delight in telling us that as Granddad was a “Senior” it only cost him $6!

The golf is, as it says, you are in darkness with lots of glowing luminous items all around you. The girls described it as awesome and stayed for a second game which only cost $4 each.

When we were last there they were advertising Vans Skatepark as opening late 2006 The girls have scheduled this for their next visit but I suspect someone more agile than Granddad will need to accompany them!
My Mother often just stays in the Festival Bay shopping area. After stopping at her favourite smoothy outlet Smoothy Bee she browses through the specialty stores which include Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Sheplers Western Wear, Steve and Barry's University Sportswear, Hilo Hattie - The Store of Hawaii, PacSun, Journey's, Hot Topic, Urban Planet, V Generation and BCBG MaxAzria.

Friends of ours, who are keen surfers, believe that late in 2006 the Ron Jon Surfpark will open. This has been designed specifically for surfing, body boarding and surfing enthusiasts. The park will include three surf pools to accommodate all levels of surfers and bodyboarders -- from beginners to professionals.

On previous visits Granddad and the girls have eaten at Fuddruckers, which is situated on the waterfront. They reckon you need to be hungry to eat there as they do great but large hamburgers. These are made from scratch each morning and there is an on site bakery producing bread throughout the day.

Last time we visited we all met up together in the early evening at Dixie Crossroads Seafood Restaurant. You can choose to sit inside or outside near the waterfront. This restaurant specializes in unique "Wild Ocean Shrimp" For once we all decided on the same dish and thoroughly enjoyed Rock shrimp, which is supposed to be the best of the Wild Ocean shrimp and tastes like lobster.

A pleasant way to end the day sitting by the Waterfront.