Parrot Jungle Island One of South Florida’s oldest attractions, Parrot Jungle Island has been open since 1936, when Franz Scherr rented some land south of Miami to display a shipment of 25 macaws. His family doubted the birds would stay in the park, but they quickly grew accustomed to their new home and eagerly performed [...]
At the Miami Metro Zoo, the top three popular attractions are: Wings of Asia – Offers more than 300 exotic, rare and endangered Asian birds representing over 70 species in the largest open air Asian aviary in the Western Hemisphere. The story is that Tyrannosaurus rex is a relative of the tiny Mandarin duck! They [...]
Claiming to be “where the humans are caged and the monkeys run wild,” this park is home to over 400 primates (not counting the humans). Monkey Jungle was founded in 1933 when Joseph DuMond released 6 Java monkeys to forage deep in South Florida. Their eighty-some descendents live there today, eating fruit and catching shellfish [...]
Fleaworld is located 10 miles north of Orlando, Florida, on US Highway 17/92. Featuring both indoor and outdoor shopping, Fleaworld is America’s largest flea market. Fleaworld’s 1700 booths offer an incredible array of merchandise and include six bookstores, two dozen auto supply and accessory outlets, and more than 70 jewelry outlets that specialize in silver, [...]
Disney’s not such a small world, after all. The vast array of tours offered at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Animal Kingdom add a new dimension to visits to Disney World. For the full scoop on Disney technology, talent and special effects, the Backstage Magic tour takes guests behind the scenes at the Magic Kingdom, [...]
Sports nuts, athletes and wannabes finally have a “world” of their own at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. This is the spring training home of the Atlanta Braves, and the home field of the AA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the Orlando Rays. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have also reported for training [...]
Disney World, Orlando’s largest and busiest vacation resort complex, is best known as a children’s paradise. But there are plenty of activities for adults who want to experience the Magic Kingdom for themselves. Because each of the four major parks at Disney World has a different theme, each will be more or less attractive to [...]
Disney-MGM Studios attempts to bring movie magic to the visitor much more than other parks do. Head down to Sunset Boulevard for the most popular attractions: Fantasmic! (nighttime only, a combination of live action and video with water effects and explosions….arrive at least an hour early, maybe two in the summer), the Twilight Zone Tower [...]
Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom is the place in Orlando to go on “safari” with little kids. The newest Disney attraction in Orlando is meant to be more of a conservation facility than the other theme parks. The animals are given more shade than the humans are, so be sure to pack plenty of sunscreen, [...]
Disney World, Orlando’s largest and busiest vacation resort complex, is made up of four major theme parks and several smaller attractions. Because each one can be a day’s adventure in itself, Disney features a ticket plan called “Magic Your Way,” which allows guests to customize an admission ticket based on what they want to see [...]
Universal Studios Escape is a vacation resort complex that features two full-sized theme parks, dining, entertainment, and accommodations in the City Walk area of Orlando. Combining rides and attractions based on its most popular films with some of the best-loved stories of childhood, Universal Studios Escape offers something for the adventurer in everyone. Universal Studios [...]
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS CityWalk® CityWalk® is the dining, shopping and nightlife hub of Universal Studio’s Universal Orlando Resort. CityWalk Dining Jimmy Buffett’s® Margaritaville®: Caribbean, Cajun and American cuisine; opens daily at 11:00 a.m.; live entertainment every night ($5.00 cover charge after 10:00 p.m.). Hard Rock Cafe® Orlando: The world’s largest Hard Rock Cafe; American cuisine; Hard [...]
Sharks might be stalking the Florida shores, but visitors to Orlando can still dive under the sea with a trip to Sea World Adventure Park. Where Sea World stands apart from other Orlando attractions is in its participatory nature. The park hosts Adventure Camps for kids and community outreach programs, and is a working rescue [...]
Visitors to Universal Orlando Resort can travel through not one, not two, but five different worlds with the Islands of Adventure theme park. Islands presents five themed “lands” of rides and restaurants centered around various film, television, literary and comic book characters. Most of the attractions are standard theme park fare, spiced with theatrical flair—the [...]
Driving through the Fabulous Fun Capital of the World at Orlando, I was struck by the thought that Florida should probably add to the list a planetary title for human perversity. There is something wondrously upside-down about a state to which people flock, purportedly for its climate and natural loveliness, but where most of that [...]
The Suncoast Primate Sanctuary is located south of Tarpon Springs on Alternate US 19 in Palm Harbor, Florida, 24 miles north of St. Petersburg, It has been an area landmark for over 50 years. The Sanctuary is located at the site originally occupied by Bob and Mae Noell’s Chimp Farm. Their dedication to helping primates [...]
At Busch Gardens-Tampa Bay, Florida it’s all about the roller coasters. Sure, the Gardens boast an impressive wildlife preserve and spectacular entertainment. For the Gen X-ers and teenagers that crowd the park, however, it’s all about the coasters. The variety makes this a great vacation spot. There’s SheiKra, a brand new monstrosity with a 200 [...]
Typhoon Lagoon is another wildly popular themed water park. It is an auspicious place for cooling off and is particularly convenient for those staying in Disney Resort Hotels. Others can gain easy access by riding a free Disney Bus to the site. Scenic picnic areas lend an especially pleasant touch to this park, which otherwise [...]
Silver Springs is a 350 acre theme park landscaped around the headwaters of the Silver River. The park is a natural wonderland. Silver Springs is famed for its glass bottom boats which one can ride for close, safe viewing of alligators, shellfish, turtles and fish. The waters are ultra pure. Boat captains are all licensed [...]
6000 Cypress Gardens Boulevard Winter Haven, Florida 33884 (863) 324-2111 www.cypressgardens.com Cypress Gardens is open daily from 10 AM through midnight. Admission Prices Children under 2 Free Children between 3-9 and Seniors $29.95 plus tax Adults $34.95 plus tax An annual pass is available for $64.95 Cypress Gardens originally opened in 1936. Its exotic botanical [...]