The Nice Places to Eat in Orlando
January 1st, 2009 by Christopher Linch, under Travel and Leisure. No Comments
I usually like to go to the restaurants that I don’t have to be dressed to impress, however in Orlando sometimes it is fun to get all dressed up and go to one of the nice restaurants. Orlando is not just a place for theme parks and water parks. Honestly there are a lot of romantic restaurants to choose from in Orlando. The following are three of my favorites.
I would like to first mention a place called the Venetian Room. It is on World Center Drive, at about the 1800 block. I think this is a great place to pop the question or just take your date for a night out. It is for sure one of the most elegant places you can eat in Orlando. Their chef was schooled in Europe and Northern Africa and he has worked at Emeril’s and at Shula’s. They have a European inspired cuisine and a beautiful restaurant. I would recommend this for any guest who wants to be pampered.
Secondly I will have to mention Christini’s Ristorante. It is another fantastic dining experience that you just have to go try. It is located on Dr. Phillips Blvd. in Orlando. You sit within the art and sculptures they have from Italy. They have wonderful classic cuisine and a list of wines to die for. If you want to shock your date or significant other, this place can help you out.
My third choice of Orlando Fancy Dining is Antonio’s Ristorante. It is located in the Fountains Plaza. They have a view of the Florentine fountain. They treat their guests like royalty. It has beautiful wood floors and vaulted ceilings. The kitchen is open so you can see in. It is truly a taste of Tuscany. I feel the food is best of class. They have Italian food made in wood burning ovens. They also have a wine list of 250 wines.
Give Mickey a rest, the next time you are in Orlando check out one of these fine restaurants. You will be glad you did.
Florida Family Activities:Interesting Museums for Interested Kids
December 13th, 2008 by Chris Blackerby, under Travel and Leisure. No Comments
Five to ten years ago, ask a kid what he thinks of museums and he’ll tell you exactly what they were: boring. Today it’s good news that museums are slowly upstaging theme parks when it comes to catching little kids’ short attention spans, and family activity ideas. And Florida has some of the best educational places in the country to boast.
The Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, is the number one science center in the Southeast when it comes to size. It’s very popular to kids for its anti-gravity race track called the The Vertical Rider where they get to race remote-controlled race cars against their friends on the ceiling! It’s also celebrating its 25th anniversary with The Making of MOSI Exhibit, featuring never before seen rare artifacts collected during their 25 years of existence.
Imaginarium Hands On Museum in Fort Myers takes on hands-on learning to a whole new level. The museum lets the kids experience archaeology in their Florida Fossil Quarry and Dino Dig exhibits by allowing them to play around and dig the fossils themselvels! Imaginarium is a good place if your kid dislikes “Don’t Touch” signs in museums.
Miami Museum of Science and Planetarium goes out of its cosmic boundaries to offer an outdoor animal exhibit and indoor exploring adventure with an Indiana Jones-style twist. Some of their popular exhibits include, Newton’s Notions, an exhibit on the Physics of everyday stuff and the Immersion Theater, which takes you inside a virtual human body in a small spaceship.
Ever wondered about the life of Florida’s favorite fruit, the orange? You can learn more in Lakeland’s Explorations V Children Museum. They also offer play clinics, grocery stores, banks and schoolhouses, all made for your children to enjoy!
For more fast paced learning, go ahead and visit Daytona USA and let your kid experience the thrill of a wordclass racetrack through video simulations, playground pit stops and other exhibits related to the world of race cars.
Florida museums are finally realizing the importance of fun in making kids learn. They’re offering more and more exciting family activities to serve this purpose. Make sure to visit them if you want your kid to have best learning experience ever.
Top Vacation Options In Florida
December 9th, 2008 by Alix Montoya, under Travel and Leisure. No Comments
Florida has some of the country’s top destination spots for tourists and vacation seekers. With a mostly tropical climate and plenty of beaches, Florida is on the prime spot for holiday options. So if you’re planning to spend yours down here, let me give you some of the best places to visit.
Orlando holds the probably most popular tourist attraction there is in the country: Disney World. Who can resist the cute little cartoon characters walking along beside you inside this magical theme park? It’s a great deal for the kids and for the entire family, too. But Orlando also has great other options to offer like Universal Studios and Sea World that’s sure to be a hit too.
You could also try out the great sea side activities in the Florida Keys. You can go exploring the beaches in a historic western theme in the Key West. Or you could go enjoy the popular homey feeling of Key Largo. The Keys give what every vacation is looking for: an option. So head on down and experience it for yourself.
Miami is a good option if you’re into a great combination of sea and city. The city is the place for top commercial spots and fashion options which you can proudly wear outside on the magnificent beaches. The hotels are world class and the variety of activities available in Miami is to kiil for.
From the world class beaches of Clearwater to the awesome seaside attractions on the waterfront on St. Petersburg, the tri-state area, also known as the Tampa Bay area is a great way to spend your family vacation in. The gentle waves of the Gulf of Mexico can give you that relaxation that you sorely need.
What are you waiting for? Book a plane or drive on down to where the best vacation places are and start enjoying the out of town that you and your family so greatly deserve.
Orlando Vacation Rentals : How to Choose The Right Area
September 4th, 2008 by Raymond Lam, under Vacations. No Comments
Everyone needs a vacation every once in a while, and your family is probably no different. But let’s face it - with gas prices at sky-high levels and already-high hotel rates on the rise, it’s getting harder and harder to take an affordable vacation that won’t break the bank.
Importance of Orlando vacation rentals increases manifold when you are planning a vacation here with family. First of all, it is easy on the pocket because hotel rooms are more expensive option with a family. It is not only the cost of staying where you save money but you can also make your Orlando vacations less expensive by cooking your own food in a well-equipped kitchen inside these beautiful homes.
By far the most expensive of them all, the Disney owned vacation rentals are also the most fun for the family. They often have character dinners, special discounts on theme park tickets, free transportation and other perks that can make a Disney vacation truly memorable-especially for the kids. These are available on many sites, and can even be booked through a travel agent if that is who you have handling your travel affairs.
You can rent an Orlando vacation home for less than the cost of 2 hotel rooms - which means that you will be able to spend your hard-earned money on other things, such as visiting an extra theme park or a special dinner out. In addition, Disney area vacation rentals are a lot more spacious than hotel rooms - there is space to stretch out and relax, cook, play and just spend more quality time together.
Definitely, privacy is also a significant aspect that you cannot ignore if you wish to enjoy your vacations fully. Through out the entire duration of your vacations, you are like the owner of these marvelous homes. It is totally up to you when you wish to come in and when you fancy going out. Unlike hotel rooms there is no one at the reception counter watching your every single movement.
If you are okay with having to travel a little further to get into the Disney parks, perhaps the vacation rentals in the Orlando area that aren’t right outside of the Disney walls may be a good idea. This is great for the family who has other plans for their Orlando vacation, plans that do not necessarily include one of the Disney parks. Believe it or not there are plenty of things to do in Orlando and not all of them are owned by the Walt Disney family. For this reason, it may be a good idea to stay somewhere other than on or near Disney property-especially if you have older kids in your party.
By cooking in just half the time, you’ll have extra money to spend on little splurges, such as trinkets and souvenirs, or even a short side trip to the Kennedy Space Center or Busch Gardens. Just because the economy isn’t the best doesn’t mean that you can’t take your family on an affordable vacation. Rent an Orlando vacation home, surprise your family by giving them the time of their lives, and save some money in the bargain!
Make The Most Of A Palm Beach Vacation
September 2nd, 2008 by Chris Channing, under Vacations. No Comments
Florida itself is already a popular location- but especially the location of West Palm Beach. West Palm is widely known for the lush vacationing areas, as well as the many shopping districts and support for local tourism. But to take advantage of all West Palm has to offer, one is going ot have to partition their fun among many different subjects.
West Palm Beach, or just West Palm, is a particular interest in colder months, where mild winters are observed. The temperature is, on average, going to be around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Note that there has been snow fall in the area, but this is a rare occurrence. Nevertheless, expect the local produce to spike in prices for particularly cold months.
Despite the high risk of hurricanes, West Palm beach continues to be an attraction to tourists. It seems that the wonderful strip of sands and ocean water are too irresistible- even for those who wish to call West Palm their home in the midst of the dangers. So far there have been at least ten total documented cases of a hurricane directly or indirectly hitting the area- so newcomers should be wary in storm seasons.
One of the biggest festivals in West Palm Beach is the Palm Beach International Film Festival. This festival alone is worth going to and planning a vacation for, simply because it is such a unique experience to be able to see independent films from all around the world. It’s also a good place to network to get industry contacts, but for most it’s a great and cheap form of entertainment.
Museums are also a popular way to spend time in West Palm Beach. Museums come in many flavors, but art museums in general are known for their level of prestige. Art museums in West Palm Beach decorate the city in multiple locations- so be sure to visit all of them if time permits. Art museums also have low admission fees, so it’s a great way to stay entertained on a budget.
Of course, it just wouldn’t be a vacation without shopping- and women should be relieved to find that West Palm Beach has numerous shopping centers. The Palm Beach Mall is one example that houses over 125 different retail stores inside. Clearly, shoppers can be entertained all day by one of the four major shopping districts. And if need be, visiting other districts is just a short drive away.
In Conclusion
There are few better places to live than West Palm, and much fewer places that should be considered to be better than West Palm as a vacation destination. For more information, consult travel agents or local real estate agents to see if you can afford a trip or long term stay in the area.