Information on Alternative Visitors Trips to Silver Springs, The villages, Botanical Gardens, Bok Tower Gardens

THE THEME PARKS...... and other less well known attractions

DISNEY THEME PARKS: With so much to see and do the natural inclination is to start with a trip to the Four Main Walt Disney World Theme Parks at Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom and the Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon Water Parks. Disney is adding new attractions all the time and some of the most recent are Space and Soarin' at Epcot and Philharmagic at the Magic Kingdom. Hollywood Studios have opened their new stunt show with cars performing death-defying feats in a new purpose built arena. Animal Kingdom is due to open a new exciting roller coaster ride shortly.

UNIVERSAL THEME PARKS: As well as Disney, there are the two Universal Theme Parks; the Universal Studios Park where you ride the movies and Islands of Adventure with its cartoon and superhero theme. The Universal Theme Park has recently opened its newest ride, Revenge of the Mummy The Ride. This is a roller coaster with a difference, hang on and be prepared to experience fireballs, scarab beetles and an army of warrior mummies! If your visit is in the month of October DON'T MISS - 'Scary Nights' ...not for the faint hearted!!!

SEA WORLD: Sea World is a more relaxing day where you can marvel at Dolphin and Killer Whale Shows as well as seeing many marine animals, including the Manatee. In addition there are thrill rides like the Kraken for the more adventurous. Clyde and Seamore is a pirate adventure and a must get there 30 minutes before the showtime and enjoy the hilarious mime as he greets the visitors into the arena. I promise that you will cry laughing at this show!

BOGGY CREEK AIRBOAT TOURS: For a really good view of the original Florida, a ride on an Airboat is a not to be missed adventure. Boggy Creek Airboats just South of the Orlando International Airport are probably the best known of many operators in the area. There you can take a 30-minute airboat ride. With earmuffs to deaden the sound of the jet engine on the back of the boat, you can skim across the surface of the lake, twisting and turning at high speed, with the wind on your face.

CYPRESS GARDENS: Florida's original Theme Park at Cypress Gardens has re-opened with a completely new look. The historic botanical gardens with the Southern Belles in their beautiful dresses will again be on show, as will the world famous water-skiing. You can visit a turn of the century working village and come face to face with Floridas native animals.

GATORLAND: On South Orange Blossom Trail there is the home of the Floridas oldest inhabitants, the alligator. Visit Gatorland for a view of the alligator in its natural habitat, from the boardwalk walkway with towers overlooking the river, you will be amazed at their size and number. There are many shows including the world famous Jumperoo where meat is suspended over the alligator's heads and alligators jump into the air to snatch the food from a pole.

Trademarks as appropriate to: Disney, Universal, Sea World, Gatorland, Cypress Gardens, Boggy Creek Airboats

THE VILLAGES

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 is called Spanish springs. To live at The Villages you must be over 55 years old. It is a very close knit community and people from all over America and the rest of the world live there. Strangers moving into the village soon make new friends, as they have various activities throughout the day and into the evening. There is a weekly paper which publishes the weekly events from keep fit classes to art classes, swimming and it is also a golfing community. They also have their own radio station. The people who live there drive round in golf carts rather than cars with their names printed on the front of the carts. You have to be careful crossing the roads as they travel at great speed, They also drive the golf carts on the main road. There are numerous restaurants coffee shops and pubs and most evenings the restaurants have a live band playing from 7PM onwards, music ranged from country and western, jazz, to modern. They also have a theatre, which perform plays and musicals with guest appearances there is also an 8 screen cinema. Every evening 7 days a week 52 weeks of the year from 5 - 9 PM there is music and dancing in the square. You just take a chair and join in the fun. There is line dancing, rock and roll, twist, ballroom, and any dance you care to do. There are little huts around the square that sell drinks and hot dogs. As you walk down the quaint little streets there are boutiques selling ladies, gentlemens and childrens clothes. There is also a fantastic chocolate and ice cream shop! There is one shop that sells everything from furniture, crockery linen to Christmas decorations. There is also a candle shop that is run by a English gentleman. There are also gifts and souvenir shops. Next to the square there is a pretty little church where we were fortunate enough to see a wedding take place. If you have family or friends visiting Im sure they will enjoy the friendly atmosphere of The Villages. Arrive about 3PM, have a look around the shops, have a meal at a restaurant before enjoying the music and dancing in the square.

INTERNATIONAL DRIVE

INTERNATIONAL DRIVE: Are you fed up with the car? Why not try a walk around International Drive?
Start at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure which are full of shops and places to eat.Take the I-RIDE Trolley south to International Drive and be prepared to shop until you drop at Orlando's massive range of Outlets. Theres nothing ordinary about shopping in Orlando where everything has been super-sized. Whatever you are looking for you will find in the shopping malls and outlet complexes.
For the kids visit Fun Spot Action Park, Wet n Wild, Skull Kingdom, WonderWorks and the mini-golf parks. You wont lack for food options along the way theres everything from McDonalds Worlds Largest Playplace to a Brazilian grill and Japanese steakhouse.
Three of Orlandos trademark dinner show extravaganzas are situated in and around International Drive: Pirates Dinner Adventure, Sleuths Mystery Dinner Shows and Dolly Partons Dixie Stampede. You'll find entertainment from movie theaters to a skydiving wind tunnel.
Hop the trolley to visit SeaWorld and Discovery Cove parks before heading back north along Universal Boulevard. Hot spots along this route include The Mercado complex, headquarters for Ripleys Believe It or Not! and the Titanic Experience, plus good-time clubs and restaurants. The neighborhood is active all night with most attractions staying open late.There is a wealth of restaurants to relax in after a busy day. Casual to fine dining in a setting of bright lights and big city.

FANTASY OF FLIGHT

FANTASY OF FLIGHT: If you want to experience the fun and adventure of flight at the World's Greatest Aviation Attraction. The stunning art deco facility is home to over 40 rare and vintage aircraft many of which have been restored to flyable condition. However that is just the beginning - you will be offered a variety of guided tours including visits to our working restoration and maintenance areas. You can climb inside the cockpit of a Corsair fighter for a battle over the Pacific and then take a spin on our state-of-the-art hang glide simulator in the Fun with Flight area. If you are looking for a real experience, real fun, and real takeaway - something the entire family can enjoy, Fantasy of Flight is An Attraction on a Higher Plane!

HOT AIR BALLON RIDES: This amazing experience lasts approximately 3 hours, including an hour in flight. Passengers must be a minimum of 40" tall to fly. Hot air balloon can accommodate one to four passengers at a time. To ensure a romantic experience, ask about the exclusive flight options. Advance reservations must be made for this experience. The pilot will confirm your flight time with you on the evening before your flight date. In the event of inclement weather conditions, you may book the next available reservation. Flights are available 7 days a week except Christmas and Thankgiving.

BIPLANE EXPERIENCE: Waldo Wright’s Flying Service offers a variety of vintage biplane experiences daily off the grass runways at Fantasy of Flight Aviation Attraction in Central Florida from October through August. Passengers can travel back to the 1930s to enjoy an authentic barnstorming ride in a New Standard D-25, or the 1940s opt for a more hands-on WWII adventure at the controls of a Boeing Stearman PT-17. What started over a decade ago with the dream of restoring two New Standard biplanes to recapture the "Golden Age of Aviation" has grown into the America’s largest vintage biplane ride company.If you are not familiar with the New Standard airplane, it was designed specifically for barnstorming at the request of Ivan Gates, proprietor of the famous Gates Flying Circus. Gates formed and operated one of the largest groups of barnstorming airplanes from the middle 1920's and into the 1930's.Carrying 4 passengers in a large front open cockpit, the airplane was instrumental in introducing tens of thousands of people to their first airplane ride, back when aviation was in its infancy.

SILVER SPRINGS

SILVER SPRINGS: is a 350 acre nature theme park that surrounds the headwaters of the beautiful Silver River, the largest artesian spring formation in the world. Located 90 miles north of Orlando, just east of Ocala, Florida. Here you can view the underground springs from the famous glass-bottom boats, where you’ll see fish, shellfish, turtles and alligators in water that’s up to 80 feet deep and 99.8% pure! Walk the beautiful grounds and experience the natural habitats of Florida’s largest alligators, endangered bears and panthers, Kritter Korral petting zoo, plus an entertaining variety of wildlife shows from Birds of Prey to snakes and reptiles. There are rides and exhibits for all ages in a natural setting of stunning beauty. No matter what your age, there are plenty of rides and attractions at Silver Springs that will make you laugh, fill you with wonder, and provide a glimpse into what life was like in Florida more than 10,000 years ago. Just as they did then, the springs pump out 550 million gallons of sparkling-clear water a day—enough to supply the entire city of New York. Surrounding the springs is a marvelous diversity of animals and nature where you can explore the stunning beauty of Florida in its natural state.

GLASS BOTTOM BOATS: offer passengers an unparalleled view of underwater life in the 99.8% pure waters of the Silver River. Our boats, with U.S. Coast Guard licensed captains, will take you on an enchanting tour of the seven major spring formations at the headwaters. One spring, Fish Reception Hall, is home to dozens of species of fish as well as alligators, clams, crawfish, shrimp, snails and six different kinds of turtles, all amidst the backdrop of tiny fossilized shells from 70 million years ago. Peer through the glass and crystal clear water for views that only a scuba diver could have. You’ll be comfortably seated, and covered from the sun and weather.

LOST RIVER VOYAGE: transports guests back in time to wild Florida as it was thousands of years ago—untouched and untamed. Riverbanks are lined with towering bald cypress trees, some more than 500 years old. See alligators, turtles, heron, osprey, and other wildlife basking and feeding in their natural habitat. The ride includes a stop at a wildlife outpost, where naturalists talk about Silver Springs’ wildlife rehabilitation and breeding programs.

BOTANICAL GARDENS: Silver Springs’ beautiful botanical gardens feature more than 138 varieties of native and exotic plants showcased in floral sculptures and flower beds along the banks of the Silver River. A popular location for weddings, the gardens have a winding pathway that allows park guests to view all aspects of the landscape. It’s a pleasure to take a leisurely stroll amid the ever-changing colors, and a photographer’s paradise.

SPRINGSIDE SHOPPING MALL: offers a wide variety of shops with merchandise ranging from hats, souvenirs and T-shirts, to gifts from the sea. When you're ready to eat, Silver Springs has a selection of dining choices, from quick sandwiches and ice cream cones to cafeteria-style settings. Open daily are the Springs Pizzeria, Springside Cafe, Deli, Ice Cream & Fudge Shop. Billy Bowlegs Bar & Grill is open during special events, and there are many snack bars and food carts throughout the park.

BOK TOWER GARDENS

GENERAL INFORMATION: One of our favorites! The Visitor Center features permanent exhibits on Edward Bok and the Singing Tower carillon as well as the design, flora and fauna found in the Gardens and the surrounding Lake Wales Ridge, one of Florida’s most threatened ecosystems. A variety of art exhibits are on display throughout the year featuring some of the best landscape artists in the state. Visitors may also view an orientation video about the Gardens. In addition Bok Tower Gardens has one of the best cafes for visitors 10/10

THE GARDENS: The meandering garden is one of the greatest achievements of famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. Tranquil resting places, shady recesses, picturesque vistas and expansive splashes of color create a contemplative setting for your personal renewal and enjoyment.There are also many family-friendly garden areas which give children the chance to learn about the gardens while playing in a vine-covered arbor or observing butterflies. The acres of ferns, palms, oaks and pines create a year-round backdrop of 1,000 shades of green for the seasonal bursts of azaleas, camellias and magnolia blooms that form an ever-changing work of art. One of the best spots to observe the Gardens' native birds, wildlife and wetland plants is inside the nature observatory known as "Window By The Pond." Situated on the edge of a pond, the small wooden building has benches that face a large picture window where visitors can observe birds, reptiles, butterflies and native species in their natural habitat. On the back wall are drawings of some of the animals that visitors may catch a glimpse of from this unique human vantage spot. But a sign also reminds visitors: "this is nature's show not ours. No scheduled performances

THE TOWER: Looking up at the 205-foot Neo Gothic and art deco Singing Tower carillon is an experience like no other. Designed by famed architect Milton B. Medary and ornately crafted by noted stone sculptor Lee Lawrie, the Tower houses one of the world’s finest carillons. Concerts from the 60-bell carillon at 1 and 3 p.m. fill the Gardens daily. Because the primary purpose of the Tower is to house the carillon, it is not open to the public. So what's behind the Great Brass Door? On the first floor is the Founder's Room, created as a private study for Edward Bok.

Level two and level three contains mechanical equipment.
The curator's workshop is on level four.
The Anton Brees Carillon Library, located on level five, is the largest carillon library in the world. Between level five and six is a practice keyboard.
The carillonneur's studio is on level six.
The carillon fills the upper third of the Tower on level seven.

Directly below the bells, inside the bell chamber is a playing room, housing the clavier or keyboard. There are 211 stairs going from the Founder's Room to the bell chamber, and an elevator to level 6. Bok, Medary and Lawrie made it a goal to create perfect unity and symbolism in the design of the Tower. The scheme for the sculptures and grille work is mostly birds and plants with a few other forms of wildlife depicted. Besides various flowers and trees, you can find cranes, herons, eagles, seahorses, jellyfish, fin fish, pelicans, flamingos, geese, swans, fox, storks, tortoise, hare, baboons, Adam and Eve, and the serpent. The colorful tiles found only in the top third of the Tower depict the perfect balance in nature, species and gender and were designed by H. Dulles Allen. The Great Brass Door and wrought iron gates on the north side of the Tower were the masterpiece of Samuel Yellin, America's premier metalworker. The door depicts the Book of Genesis, starting with the creation of light and ending with Adam and Eve being ousted from the Garden of Eden. The iron gates leading to the Tower were hand-wrought and showcase birds with various expressions and wings for flight. The sundial on the south side of the Tower was set in place on October 26, 1928. The gnomon, which indicates time by casting a shadow on the dial face, is made with a bronze rod supported by a bronze snake - the ancient symbol of time. The hours are marked by the twelve signs of the zodiac. A correction table for different periods of the year is located at the base of the sundial. Edward Bok's Singing Tower was sited at the highest elevation south of the reflection pool, so the water reflects its full image.

PINERIDGE NATURE RESERVE: Pine Ridge Nature Preserve is a 100-acre Longleaf Pine/Turkey Oak ecosystem, which provides opportunities for researchers and visitors to learn more about the sandhill ecosystem. The Preserve is home to six listed plant species, including Warea amplexifolia, and to endangered species such as the Indigo Snake and Gopher Tortoise.

MOUNT DORA

Take a 30 minute drive and relax in the small-town atmosphere of Mount Dora. During the day, gentlemen trek to the nearby Mount Dora Golf Club, while the ladies shop in the downtown district. Known for its festivals and antique shopping, the vibrant downtown in the past few years has evolved to include art galleries and unique boutiques. But Mount Dora isn’t known as one of the best romantic getaways in all of Central Florida because of its varying activities. This Lake County city is pretty much unlike any other in Florida. With its downtown streets lined with New England architectural, this hilly destination overlooks the breathtaking view of Lake Dora. During the evening, couples can enjoy romantic cruises along the Dora Canal, which was penned in the 1930s by a leading sports writer as “the most beautiful mile of water in the world.” Local restaurants often feature live entertainment on the weekend. Besides some fine dining opportunities, downtown Mount Dora features vintage train rides and horse-drawn carriage rides. Along the lake are several parks and walking trails as well as the famous Lakeside Inn. With more than a dozen parks within walking distance of the downtown, couples can escape from the bustle of the shopping district. Some of the more popular parks are Gilbert, with a boat dock, croquet court and playground; Donnelly, with a tennis court and fountain; and Palm Island, with a lakeside hiking trail. Perhaps the most romantic characteristic of Mount Dora is its downtown. With quality restaurants, antique shops and art galleries lining its streets, walking the streets of Mount Dora is the perfect getaway. Mount Dora features several nationally recognized annual festivals such as the Mount Dora Arts Festival in February. Other events include an antique boat show, antique car show, sailing regatta, golf tournament, bicycle festival, crafts fair and the Christmas lighting festival.

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