One of the nicest resorts we have been to in a long time, the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center was a vacation all in itself. With lovely rooms, several restaurants and dining options right on site, as well as shopping available, and it’s own pool and water park, you won’t need to leave the campus to have a great time. Beautiful gardens with running rivers and waterfalls, fish (including mangrove snappers, redfish, snook, stingrays and tarpon) and koi fish, alligators, turtles, and other aquatica abound in over 360,000 gallons of water, you may forget you are indoors as you [Read more…]
Paddle Boarding in New Smyrna Beach
August 28, 2012 by 5 Comments
Tired of the crazy, frenzied, tourist rush? I love theme parks as much as the next gal (maybe more!) but sometimes, you just have to get away. My son, a friend, and I took a day trip out to New Smyrna Beach to paddle board at East Coast Paddle, and it was one of the highlights of our trip. Spending the day out in the quietude, in nature, and with only 5 people visible to me (including myself) was a welcome break from the crush of crowds you typically find at most attractions.
About and hour and a half from Kissimmee, East Coast Paddle is an award winning-company, run by a husband and wife team. Proud parents themselves, they are excellent with children. Mine was smitten with wife, Cheryl, who toured about with him on her board the morning through. Cheryl, who has a doctorate in addition to her company and expert paddle boarder-status (and is a boat captain as well- yes, she makes us all look bad, LOL) also acted as tour guide in the river in New Smyrna for us, and was more then patient as we found our balance (or didn’t) and with my son, who kept dangling his feet in the water (which I am sure did not make steering easy for her!) Her husband, Tim, joined us in the beginning, and gave us our “lessons” on how to properly use the paddles and boards before we got on.
I think I annoyed him mildly, as I was only half paying attention (my son was asking a million questions, and also since he was on a boat and wandering, I was nervous- even though he was standing with Cheryl and I was an arm’s length away, LOL. What can I say, nervous mommy!) When we got on the boards, I found myself not having much of an issue finding my balance or keeping it. As a yoga lover for many years, I think that helped a lot, and did a fondness for kayaking. My son got right on Cheryl’s board, and stayed there, no problem. How she kept her balance with his wiggling is beyond me, though! My friend had a rougher start, but then he found his groove and we were on the way.
[Read more…]
Wingate by Wyndham- Universal Location
August 28, 2012 by 3 Comments
If you are looking for a hotel that is close to Universal Studios, Orlando, and the airport, feel free to check out Wingate by Wyndham Universal and Convention Center. Great for business or pleasure- or a mix of both- the Wingate is a great place to stay that won’t break the bank.
I am traveling with my son, who is 5. I know this is terrible of me, but I really liked the fact that there was an IHOP, KFC, and Taco Bell in the parking lot of the hotel. He almost never eats fast food, but when on vacation, [Read more…]
Dining With Al Capone
August 28, 2012 by 4 Comments
The Kissimmee area has much to choose from when it comes to dining, but our favorite is dinner and a show. It’s a fun way to experience some local flavor, and who cares if it’s raining?
We ate at Capones Dinner and Show, an interactive experience that is cute for all ages. It was a whole lot of “kitch” and meant to be fun and silly. It reminded me of another restaurant chain’s slogan- “Delightfully tacky, yet unrefined”. It for sure fell under that category. One of the running gags of the evening was “Fork You!” while brandishing- you guessed it- a fork.
[Read more…]
Daily Deals
August 28, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Plum District has 2 big savings for the Legoland/Sea Life right now!
Pay $365 for LEGOLAND SEA LIFE Aquarium Hopper Package with an Ocean View Room for Two Nights – a $599 Value
OR
Pay $485 for LEGOLAND SEA LIFE Package with One Bedroom Villa for Two Nights – an $815 Value.
Right now all Grandparent’s Day Cards are only $0.99 with code: CCK2099. Grandparent’s Day is September 9th.
Right now at [Read more…]
5 Top Family Activities in Turkey
August 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment
It’s great to get away for a couple of weeks over the summer with the family, but while the
sun, sea and sand is often entertainment enough for the adults, it’s a good idea to have a
few child-friendly day trips in mind to keep everyone happy. Cheap flights to Turkey also
mean a family break doesn’t have to cost the earth. There are lots of attractions around the
towns of Antalya and Marmaris in the southwest of the country that the little ones will love,
and you might even find you’re enjoying a day out at one just as much.
Dinopark, Antalya
Jurassic Park fans will love this one. Europe’s biggest ‘dinopark’ is located in Antalya, on
the coastal road between Konyaalti and Kemer. It features life-sized animatronic dinosaurs,
including a big T-Rex head which can comfortably fit in 3 children for a photo opportunity.
There’s an option for budding palaeontologists to dig for fossils, and a water park there to
cool off in at the end of the day. Admission is free for children 6 years and under.
Minicity, Antalya
Admittedly, I am quite a fan of model villages, but this place really is great! An amazing
amount of detail has gone into creating miniature versions of some of the most iconic
Turkish buildings and monuments, including Istanbul’s fabulous Hagia Sophia and the
Dolmabahce Palace. It opens at 8am and everything is outside so it’s best to get there in the
morning before baking temperatures set in. Entry is just 5 Lira (under $3).
Atlantis Water Park, Marmaris
Atlantis Water Park [Read more…]
@Kia – My Favorite Way To Travel
August 26, 2012 by 1 Comment
Over the past week I had the extreme pleasure of driving the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid around Florida. This was my first time driving a hybrid, and I have to admit I am impressed. (This may be the only car I will ever rent again…)
The Kia Optima Hybrid is a very interesting vehicle. This car is a hybrid which means it runs on gasoline and electric. It charges by breaking, and driving. It also saves you gas money and charges by coasting, [Read more…]
Medieval Times Dinner and Show
August 26, 2012 by 5 Comments
A feast for the eyes as well as the stomach, Medieval Times is a great show that the whole family can enjoy. No worries, the little ones won’t be afraid- the show is very tame (rated G!) while still offering tons of fun and action.
Make sure you arrive about an hour early to give yourself ample time to explore the Medieval Village, the only one in the country. Launched in Spain in 1973, and in Kissimmee, [Read more…]
