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

KISSIMMEE / ORLANDO, CENTRAL FLORIDA: The number one holiday destination in the world. Where else can you find the combination of sunshine, blue skies and so much to entertain the whole family.

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, MGM 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. MGM Studios have recently 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 this year.

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.

However, there is a great deal more to the area than the main Theme Parks.

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. Stopping here and there to look at alligators, turtles and other wildlife in the water around you and eagle nests in the trees above.

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. A new and exciting addition is 37 rides, including 4 roller coasters and the worlds tallest spinning rapids ride. A great day out for all the family. Cypress Gardens is located at Winter Haven, just 30 minutes south of Disney.

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. The display of reptiles from all over the world and the poisonous snake shows are a must see. There is also a Florida Bear called Judy. There is a new Railroad train, which will give you as many rides as you want around the park. A very good day out for all the family and you can even taste alligator meat at the barbecue shack.

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

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: 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: 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: 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.