Things to do in Florida?

    • Gold Top Dog

    Things to do in Florida?

    Well, at the end of March I will be in Orlando Florida for over a week.  So far I know I want to go to sea world (i have a *slight* penguin obbsession) but I don`t know what else to do.  I know the staple disney world, but even that I am iffy on, as I hate lineups.

    ANy suggestions of what might be fun to do in Florida from March 26 - April 5

    • Gold Top Dog
    Go to New Smyrna Beach! It's my hometown :) and I love love LOVE it there. It's maybe an hour drive from the parks. It will be waaaarm by March and NSB is far better than Daytona or any of the 'bigger' beaches, since the crowds are smaller. The tail end of March is kinda iffy, since that's when most of the college kids are on Spring Breaaaaaaak! and they descend on our poor little town. Most of them stay in Daytona, which is maybe 20 miles north and across an inlet. The lighthouse park is a hop, skip, and a jump up the coast and you can walk allllll the way (it's like 200 stairs!) to the top of the Ponce De Leon lighthouse. You can see the whoooooole world from up there!

    If you don't have little kids going, you could probably skip Disney if you're not into that kinda thing. Universal/Islands of Adventure is a lot more fun for grown ups if you like roller coasters :) I've always really liked Kennedy Space Center, but I'm a nerd, LOL.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Oh man, tons!!

    Megan is right -- Smyrna is great (each of the beaches are different -- depends on what you want to do and what you're looking for).  The Cape is NOT what it used to be -- it's more like a 'Park' now -- you can easily spend all day there -- but it's not 'free' anymore either.  But if you are at all a space geek check it out.  (I'm with Megan - it's one of my favorite places). 

     Sea World isn't 'big' - it's no where near as big as Disney nor Universal.  They do have a penguin exhibit -- we didn't see it yesterday cos we ran out of time.  I like penguins too!

    I like Busch too but that's 2 hours away. 

    Probably my favorite 'recommend' is Silver Springs -- about 1 1/2 hrs n. of Orlando in Ocala.  It's where all the old Tarzan movies were filmed *grin*.  But the Silver River is gorgeous and you can see the bottom of the springs as clear as glass.  Tons of animals -- they have an animal 'kingdom' that has nearly as many animals as Disney's Animal Kingdom but they're more visible and you see none of the repetitive "stress" movements -- these animals are in a pretty darned close to 'natural' habitat.  You can take different boat rides (there's a Jungle Cruise, the glass bottom boat and others) -- not tons of wait time AND there is usually a big bird show ("In our opinion there is no such thing as an untrainable animal -- you can train ANY animal with positive methods" -- that was the first place I ever HEARD that!)

    They have a concert series -- I *think* Kenny Rogers will be there March 1 -- dunno what your music taste is, but it's free (included in admission - a lot of the parks do that down here - particularly that time of year).

    http://www.silversprings.com/

    Cypress Gardens is a little more zoomy -- they have rides AND the "gardens".  That's just south of Orlando on I-4 (you get off at the Winter Haven exit of I-4, go south on 27 and follow the signs to Cypress Gardens).

    I think their Flower Festival is the last week of March:

    http://www.cypressgardens.com/

    Now again -- if you're really into nature, or gardens, further south of Cypress (continue south on US 27 and follow the signs just before you get to Lake Wales) is Bok Tower Gardens -- Bok Tower is a carrillon -- a bell tower.  It plays on the half hour and there's always a concert on Sunday.

    I know they have a special play going on the night of March 1 (it's actually a friend of ours -- he has a one-man show "Twilight at Monticello" -- about President Thomas Jefferson -- he's done it all over the country, including at Jefferson's home, Monticello) but I don't know if there are still tickets.  But the Gardens itself is gorgeous, squirrels, birds, hummingbirds, and small animals all over the place -- now David and I are prone to just taking a book and disappearing there for a day.  Just pleasant -- gorgeous and not something you'll see anywhere else.  But NOT "zoomy" -- if you're looking to be entertained that's NOT the place for you.

    http://www.boksanctuary.org/

    Now right "in" Orlando -- just north of Orlando on I-4 is "Maitland" (tiny little suburb) but it's home to a great predatory bird sanctuary/rehab facility sponsored by the Audubon Society - it is GREAT. Won't take you a long time to go thru it but it's a great place to get lost for an afternoon -- totally at your own pace, and stand and gawk at the birds as long as you want.  OR you could be done in an hour -- your choice.

    Centers and Sanctuaries (they don't have a website)
     
    Audubon Center for Birds of Prey
    1101 Audubon Way
    Maitland, FL 32751
    407-644-0190

    Bird Island,Colclough Pond, Egret Island, Sabal Point, Saddle Creek, St. John's Marsh, Sister Vesta Newcomb, Turkey Creek
    c/o Audubon of Florida
    1331 Palmetto Ave., Suite 110
    Winter Park, FL 32789
    407-539-5700
     
    Now if you like water parks -- Sea World is going to have a new one opening NEXT week.  Aquatica -- it actually sounds like a lot of fun (and I'm not into water parks but a lot of this sounds great).

    Also -- there is Discovery Cove -- less well known but it's where you can go swim with dolphins.  They have many different 'packages' -- it IS pricey but it's pretty awesome too.

    http://www.discoverycove.com/default2.aspx

    Beyond that you can go to the Orlando Sentinel (newspaper) and go down the left column to "Entertainment" -- and there is an automated calendar that will show you ALL there is to do on certain dates.  You have to troll thru a lot of wine tastings, etc. but you can pick various types of venues.  Fun tho.

    http://www.orlandosentinel.com

    • Gold Top Dog

    Haha, I think Callie covered just about everything!

    If you're looking for more of a drive - I can give you a bunch of stuff up in the Tampa/St. Pete area. You can probably spend a lifetime in Orlando and never see everything though, so I don't think you'll be short on anything to do!

    I love Sea World too - they are building a new theme park there - I'm pretty excited for that =]

    • Gold Top Dog

    If you can handle the temp of the water go to Crystal Springs, you can swim with Alligator Gar (a very large weird looking fish ) and Manatees, they find the springs a warm place to winter.  There is NOTHING like getting up close and personal with a sea cow. They enjoy the gentle stroking along thier sides and move with such gentle grace.  Even if they are not in residence you can rent tubes and float the river. Great way to spend an afternoon.  And it is dog friendly, although they have to be on a leash.  My kids also enjoyed the Medevil Knights show,  it is a lot of fun a seated dinner,  in an arena where you watch josting and sword fights, horses are fantastic the food is okay , you eat it with your fingers...they did not use silverware in the days of Arthur's Court.  I would opt for Epcot over Disneyworld for an adult trip, more to see and less lines. a BTW we always have a wheelchair with us, our mom in laws were both in them and now DH is limited on the extent he can comfortably cover by foot. Amazingly at Disneyworld when you have a chair you are put in a seperate line which is waaaaaay shorter, and your entire party gets on with you. Have fun !!

    Bonita of Bwana

    • Bronze

    sl2crmeg
    If you don't have little kids going, you could probably skip Disney if you're not into that kinda thing. Universal/Islands of Adventure is a lot more fun for grown ups if you like roller coasters :) I've always really liked Kennedy Space Center, but I'm a nerd, LOL.

    Ditto!!

    • Gold Top Dog

    Wow THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I heard about the Islands of Adventure, and I want soooo badly to go on that Jurassic Park ride (I am a jurassic park fan lol) But I don't like roller coasters with big drops, and apparently this one has an 85foot one lol.  eep.

    • Gold Top Dog

    haha - it's really not so bad. It's in water though, so be prepared to get wet!

    • Moderators
    • Gold Top Dog

    As a former central-Floridian and grad of New Smyrna Beach HS, I THIRD the vote for New Smyrna Beach.  Have a great time!!

     

    • Gold Top Dog
    Oh yeah, the Jurrasic Park ride gets you TOTALLY soaked. BF makes me ride it so I make him ride the Caroseusel with me :) (the caroseusel is in Seuss Landing, which is all Seuss-themed. I looove it!)

    The penguins at Sea World are AWESOME, don't worry. I always get made fun of because I make penguin noises at them and do a little penguin waddle.

    If you are interested in NSB, shoot me a PM and I'll see what I can find about daytrips and things. I know that there is a place that does kayak tours and things and you see DOLPHINS. I'll probably be around too so maybe we could meet up, weeee!