The Info Barrack Resources Site

One of my husband’s favourite places is Florida, since he is an avid golfer and likes to get away from the cold Canadian winter for his birthday in early December.

For a while now we had planned to visit Orlando, but neither one of us are into theme parks. So there was the challenge for me: would we be able to visit Orlando without setting foot into Disney or Universal Studios? For someone as curious as me this was a suitable challenge and I had been doing weeks of searches on the Internet and communicating with the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau to find out about interesting destinations off the beaten path.

Well, I am happy to say, we arrived back safely yesterday from our trip, and the trip itself was quite an adventure since we decided to drive from Toronto to Orlando, about 2100 km each way! Actually, the drive was not as painful as I expected. The drive through Pennsylvania and West Virginia was nice and hilly, and I particularly enjoyed coming over the ridge of the Appalachians, right where Virginia and North Carolina meet, where you get a beautiful view of the piedmont area around Winston-Salem that spreads out towards the Atlantic in front of the mountain chain.

And I am even happier to say that in the 14 or so days that we spent in Orlando, not only did we get to play a lot of golf (to make my husband really happy…;) - including Mystic Dunes, Champions Gate, Royal St. Cloud Links, Hawk’s Landing and Timacuan Golf and Country Club, not to mention the Walking Hall of Fame experience of the PGA Father Son Challenge at Champions Gate, but I also got to explore some really interesting places, destinations I would not have expected in Orlando and its surrounding region. I also had a chance to do an interview with GolfOrlando to get a much better idea of why Orlando is called “The Ultimate Golf Theme Park”.

We started off our first week with a visit to the Orange Country Regional History Center, which gave us a suitable historic background of Orlando and Central Florida. Then, for some sociological and cultural insights, we visited the Well’s Built Museum for African American History and Culture in Orlando. To top off our first day of exploration we enjoyed a walk around picturesque Lake Eola in downtown Orlando.

The next item on my off-the-beaten path agenda was a discovery of the City of Winter Park, a beautiful suburb of Orlando, reminiscent of Old European towns. I also went on the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour, which was an entertaining, informative and visually appealing excursion.

The adrenaline revved up significantly on our next outing: a very high-speed airboat ride at Boggy Creek, that was followed up by a much lower speed swamp buggy ride in a custom-built monster truck that took us through authentic Florida landscape.

After our golf outing at the Royal St. Cloud Golf Links we enjoyed a wonderful picnic by the waterfront in sunny downtown Kissimmee. Then, on a beautiful Sunday morning we drove about an hour outside of Orlando to reach the quaint town of Mt. Dora, where I hopped on the “Herbie Express”, part of the Mt. Dora - Lake Eustis Scenic Railway.

From midweek in the second week onwards the weather took a turn for the worse. While planes were sliding off runways in Chicago and record temperatures were registered in the mid-western states, we were freezing in Florida where the mercury hovered around 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (around +20 degrees Celsius). So I bought a rain jacket, and determined not to let the freezing cold interfere with our plans, we headed out to continue our explorations.

On a day that was forecast to be rainy, but just ended up being a bit grey and clammy, we went out to discover Loch Haven Park, Orlando’s center of science, art and culture. We then continued our explorations further south to discover some of Orlando’s historic neighbourhoods and parks such as Lake Cherokee and Lake Lucerne.

As the drizzly weather continued, we went on to visit Florida’s Natural Visitor Center in Lake Wales, about an hours drive south of Orlando, where I got a really good understanding of Central Florida’s citrus industry. I spent the afternoon in another famous attraction in Lake Wales which holds two National Historic Landmarks: the Historic Bok Sanctuary, where I got to see the beauty of the Bok estate and its historic carillon tower, combined with a tour through the historic Pinewood Estate, which was decked out in full Christmas decorations.

During these 2 weeks in Florida, we got exposed to a lot of its plants, flowers and wildlife, much of which you run into casually even while playing golf or picknicking by the waterfront. Florida has a surprising amount of natural diversity and I enjoyed watching the various types of birds, lizards, and squirrels. The only thing we didn’t get to see was a live alligator (with the exception of the well-hidden rear end of a small alligator during our swamp buggy tour - unfortunately I couldn’t even get a good picture of that one..).

On our drive home, on a bright sunny day (of course…), we stopped off in St. Augustine, a historic town founded by the Spaniards in the 1500s, and the oldest continuously inhabited town in the United States - a mighty photogenic place, I should add.

So, you ask, is it possible to spend 2 weeks in Orlando without even setting foot inside a theme park and still have a good time? Well, based on the above itinerary I’d say that my plans to explore Orlando off the beaten path came to full fruition.

Mission accomplished.

Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website called Travel and Transitions (http://www.travelandtransitions.com). Travel and Transitions deals with unconventional travel and is chock full of advice, tips, real life travel experiences, interviews with travellers and travel experts, insights and reflections, cross-cultural issues, contests and many other features. You will also find stories about life and the transitions that we face as we go through our own personal life-long journeys.

Submit your own travel stories in our first travel story contest (http://www.travelandtransitions.com/contests.htm) and have a chance to win an amazing adventure cruise on the Amazon River.

“Life is a Journey Explore New Horizons”.
The story with photos is published at Travel Stories and Photos (http://www.travelandtransitions.com/stories_photos/orlando_off_the_beaten_path.htm).

Halloween is a festival of great popularity. People of all the age groups enjoy Halloween and every one loves it. Because it is fun and only fun.

During Halloween everyone wants to love the fear and the fun. How can those working on computers be away from that? Because during Halloween Internet offers many free goodies. You get ecards, Desktop wallpapers and Screensavers all free. Download and enjoy. Send, share and enjoy. Have fun, because it is Halloween.

Getting good screensavers for Halloween is a matter of good search. As most of the screensavers weigh a lot, downloading takes some time. If you do not like your selection, you have to download another. Therefore search for a site of good reputation. Choose few of them and download.

Now you can get Halloween screensavers with calendars on them. You cannot only watch the dates but the designs are equally mesmerizing. You will get a large collection of screensavers with calendars not only for Halloween but all major festivals. They are all in flash with video and the text is absolutely lovely.

Holidays are to be enjoyed. One should forget work for that day and rejuvenate oneself. The enjoyment fights with our stress and gives us a new freshness. Halloween is one such festival. Screensavers for Halloween will not only scare you but also those who pass by you and watch the screensaver.

CDMohatta writes text for free halloween screensavers, halloween ecards and also try some personality quizzes.

The rural town of Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England went for hundreds of years as just that. It was a country town with a market for the local farmers and traders to sell their wares, with shops, businesses, trades and agriculture being the usual income for local people. Situated on the pretty English River Avon and surrounded by villages of thatched cottages, the people who were born in Stratford-upon-Avon generally had a pleasant countryside existence.

Then came the craze for Shakespere.

Gradually over a number of years this little town has transformed itself into a place of culture and is now the second largest tourist destination in England. Scholars of English always knew that William Shakespere was born in Stratford, but it was only in the 20th Century that serious moves were made to re-popularise his plays, so much so that a new theatre was built in his town of birth to immortalise the “Bard” in 1932.

This new theatre on the banks of the Avon became a Mecca for scholars, students and theatre audiences. By employing well known as well as unknown actors, actresses, directors and staff Stratford soon became the best known Shakespearian theatre in the world.

The Royal Shakespere Company was able to expand in later years, and bought new property in Stratford to open small, intimate theatres, where the actors could talk directly to the audience. The very best actors, both in England and abroad, were often trained at the RSC in Stratford, and love to come back for a season from time to time.

The RSC now performs both Shakespere and many other authors all over the world, and is still considered “The Best” by many of even its sternest critics.

So, what happened to the little market town in the centre if England? It’s now a big town with a small town centre and no market. The people of Stratford have largely been pushed out of town by the incredibly high property prices. Stratford has become such a success that more than half of the smaller houses are weekend homes for the rich, and leaves many local villages dormant during the week.

Shakespeare’s Birthplace in the middle of town is a lovely half-timbered old house which is now trampled over by a million tourists every year. The town is within 2 hours of about 20 million day trippers living in England. The houses that belonged to William’s relatives do not escape either. You can tour the whole lot on double-decker buses along what were, recently, country lanes that are now covered with various coloured lines in the middle and on both sides.

The really bizarre reason to travel to Stratford-upon-Avon is to see if you can find a local person. Particularly during the spring, summer and autumn seasons you won’t find many. Japanese, German, American, Korean, Swedish, Dutch, French etcetera Yes. But a real Warwickshire accent? Unlikely.

Interested in this subject? Try this link for more of the same.

The city of Wrzburg, located on the Main river about an hour’s drive (at Autobahn speeds) southeast of Frankfurt, is a relatively unknown destination that offers sight-seers great architecture and wonderful wines.

While much of the downtown area was destroyed in a bombing raid in 1945, the numerous churches and other historical buildings have been lovingly restored. Even if you just stay for a few hours, you should make sure to see the Bishop’s Palace (”Residenz”). This 18th-century edifice contains the world’s largest unsupported ceiling fresco, created by the Venetian painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, as well as numerous incredibly ornate rooms. According to legend, Napoleon called the palace “the nicest vicarage in Europe”.

Among other places to see would be the Marienberg fortress overlooking the city (which hosts a museum that has several of the works of the famous wood carver Tilman Riemenschneider) and the Haus zum Falken with its ornate facade, which nowadays contains the municipal library.

If you are in science or medicine, you might want to visit the house where Wilhelm Conrad Rntgen discovered the X-ray in 1895. It now contains an exhibit about Rntgen’s achievements.

After all this sight-seeing you probably will be hungry and thirsty, and you should try out the local cuisine and particularly the dry white wines of Franconia, served in a squat, roundish bottle called Bocksbeutel.

If you want further information, you can e-mail the local tourist office: tourismus@wuerzburg.de

Pamela Bruce lives in Austin, TX. She is the owner of Love Beads Unlimited and sells the sterling silver and Swarovski crystal bead jewelry she designs and creates both in her eBay store (http://stores.ebay.com/LOVE-BEADS-UNLIMITED) and on her website at http://www.lovebeadsunlimited.com, where you can also download the free e-book “A Consumer’s Guide to Buying Bead Jewelry Online”.

When staying in Orlando, you really do have a lot of choices … sort of. One of the big decisions that the travel sites and the travel books will alert you to is whether to stay on property or off.

And to be perfectly honest, Disney hospitality can be very nice. We like the hidden Mickeys and the themed swimming pools, but on our last trip to Disney World, my wife and I looked at each other and asked, “We paid $250 a night for that?”

A Little Perspective

Did you know that you can get a room at the The Waldorf-Astoria® for less than $250 a night? It comes with neato robes, too!

Florida Lemons

The fact of the matter is, you have many choices, and not all of them put you into 250 sq feet or so of living space.

I compiled this chart for a 1st week in March stay for a family of six …

                 Price/night      Sq. feet       Sleeps
Doubletree          $ 168             608         4-6
Holiday Inn         $ 190             485          6
Caribe Royale       $ 166             500         4-6
Caribe Royale
(big suite)         $ 316           1,260          8
Sheraton Vistana    $ 218         497-910          8
Disney Value Resort $ 218 (2 rooms)   260          8
Disney Moderate     $ 338 (2 rooms)   314          8
Disney Deluxe       $ 578 (2 rooms)   400          8
Beach Club Villas   $ 350           1,080          8
3 BD/2 BA
Vacation Home       $ 150           1,600          8

When you look at how much you pay, the hotel option leaves you wondering what the differences are.

Hotels - Tried and True

Hotels offer a standard quality of accomodation. They’re centrally located - and this is especially true in Orlando. Disney’s hotels are right on their property, and therefore the closest you can get to the “Magic.” However, they’re small, don’t offer cooking facilities, and it can be difficult to get off of Disney property easily (say, to visit another park).

The Vacation Home Alternative

Orlando boasts an amazing number of vacation homes. These are detached homes that are individually owned. They have full size kitchens, several bedrooms and bathrooms, and many have private pools and/or hot tubs.

You do need to have a rental car. The homes in Orlando are between 10 to 15 minutes away from the parks at Disney World. My vote is that it’s nice to get away in the evening to your own private home and pool, but some people prefer to be surrounded by the theme parks 24/7.

In addition, there is no room service at a vacation home. However, most homes are within several blocks of a grocery store, so stocking up on your favorite foods (both fast and not-so-fast) is easy.

For a family of six, these two differences add up to serious savings, both in terms of time and money. Having a car means we have choices in terms of getting to and leaving the parks. On a busy evening, we may choose to have dinner at one of the resort restaurants and pay for valet parking (or skip dinner and just pay for parking anyway). At the close of day, we can then skip the long monorail/bus/boat lines, and take the much shorter resort monorail.

In the morning, having a ready supply of breakfast foods means the younger members of our family don’t have to wait until everyone is showered and ready to go before being able to eat breakfast.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to take a group or a family larger than five people on a Disney vacation, and if having a rental car and a full size kitchen appeals to you, then you owe it to yourself to try a vacation home.

Steve Black is a Disney nut and owner of Fezziwigs, a luxury, golf-course Orlando Vacation Home.

See a 360 virtual tour of the home at http://www.4kidsnus.com/orlando/tour/tour.shtml

Or get more information, pictures, and rates at:
http://www.4kidsnus.com/orlando

Local stories and evidences have it that the Amelia Island was first sited by the Timucuan Indians and they were here as long ago as 2000 BC. They were strongly committed to one of their customs which is tattooing themselves with murky, red, blue and yellow on different areas of their body.

The island was first named “Retreat de Mai” (Island of May) by Jean Ribault, the Huguenot leader who landed on Amelia Island in 1562. It is said that on Ribault and his troop’s plotting, they were greeted by the Timcuans with flops of berries. However, egghead that the Spanish had claimed the area in 1513, the fact did not prevent these French colonists from landing as not only were they seeking tract for France, but also refuge from the religious and political treasure hunt that went along with being Huguenots. Though Ribault and his band didn’t hang out, the Huguenots penitent again in 1564. It was this second empire which constructed the Fort Caroline in England Jacksonville near the mouth of the St. John’s River. In 1565, Spanish troops came to the area and killed the French settlers for them to regain the territory which they had plotted as their own years before.

With the coming of these Spanish troops, the first Spanish reign tool place, from 1565 to 1763. The operation of Santa Maria on the northern end of Amelia Island in what is now known as Old Town was set up to convert the Indians to Christianity. That time, the early moniker was changed to “Isle de Gigolo Maria”.

The following years, the Timucuans of Amelia Island gained contact with the Europeans, and the British settlements in the North soon took a keen interest in the area because of its naturally deep ports and the strategic industry route location. The island was then named “Amelia” by the governor of Georgia, King James Version Oglethorpe in 1735 in honor of Princess Amelia, the daughter of King George II. It is interesting to know that although the island was named “Amelia” by the British, it did not lapse into British hands until the Spanish Florida was traded for British Cuba in 1763 as a result of the Treaty of Paris. Mid the British precedent, Amelia Island was known as Egmont.

In 1783, the Second Treaty of Paris forgotten the Revolutionary War and returns Florida to Spain. It was in 1811 when George J. F. Clarke, an originator, plats the town of Fernandina, named in extol of King Ferdinand VII of Spain. However, to drive out the Spanish, the Jingoist*s of Amelia Island, which is an independent group of American civilians backed by the US government, seized control of the Amelia Island and it was that eternity that they raised their flag. The following day, they ceded Amelia Island to the Conjoint States.

In 1870 to 1910, the Golden Age of Amelia Island, several wealthy Americans made Fernandina their home and thrown together elegant Victorian style houses in what became known as the Silk Stocking District. The Egmont Hotel, which was once of the grandest camps of the times was even visited by Ulysses Grant. It was noted that the boom was due to the shipping industry and the rise of the numbers of New Yorkers who came down by steam van to enjoy the warm community and genteel chalets in Amelia.

In modern times, the Amelia Island Plantation was built and is now known as one of the perfect island destinations in the world. Several establishments began to pop up, and now the island is noted for various enterprises

Jeff Meier offers articles on Amelia Island as well as many other information topics at http://www.Jam727.com

1) When taking taxis from an airport to your hotel, travel in the more expensive airport taxis and ensure that the drivers have official identification. Never take a taxi waiting outside the airport grounds.

I know this sounds extreme, but it is by far better to be safe then sorry.

2) When traveling from your hotel to the airport, go with a taxi recommended by the hotel.

Again, taxi’s can be very dangerous. I can’t express that enough.

3) Try not to arrive in a new city or town late at night.

This can just go wrong in a number of ways. It is much easier getting checked in during the day time and security at night in certain areas is just horrendous.

4) Travel in a group if possible.

Since when is traveling in numbers not a good idea?

5) Learn the basics in the local language before you arrive. Don’t expect that people will speak English.

English is becoming more widely spoken these days, but you want to be sure. You should always check on these things before your arrival.

6) Keep your valuables hidden.

A money belt is great if it is an option that you willing to look into. There are many different styles of money belt. One of the most popular is an “over the shoulder” style wallet on a strap that you were underneath your top. This makes it very difficult for a thief to make off with your valuables.

7) Avoid going on your own to remote areas/ruins where tourist would be expected to go. Seek local advice or take a guide.

Read the guide books and talk with other tourists to find out which areas are best avoided.

9) When leaving discos late at night take a taxi home no matter how close your hostel is. Outside most discos you’ll find a street vendor selling cigarettes. Usually these people know all the taxi drivers and can recommend a safe one.

10) When arriving in a new town, keep to your original plan and stay in the hostel that you have decided on. Don’t let the taxi driver persuade you that your hostel is fully booked and that he knows a cheaper and better one. He’ll be working on commission and the hostel probably won’t be in a safe part of town.

11) Even better, when arriving lane/train in a new city, try to reserve your hotel in advance, preferably with a hotel that has an airport/station collection service.

12) Don’t wear expensive looking jewelry.

13) On public transport have your day pack close to you at all times, preferably with the straps around your legs or padlocked to the luggage rack. On buses your backpack will normally go outside, either on top of the roof or in the external luggage compartments. On long distance buses ask for a receipt for your bags. On short rides just keep a careful eye out each time the bus stops to off-load bags. In the event of having your bags stolen, stay with the bus - you will probably require a declaration from the bus company accepting responsibility for the loss in order to claim any money from your insurance company.

14) Leave your valuables in your hotel safe when making day trips or longer tours. Obtain a receipt not just for your money belt/wallet etc. but for its contents, with each item listed.

15) If you have to leave your passport and credits cards together, place the credit card in a sealed envelope and sign your name across the flap. This way when you return you will know that nothing has been tampered with.

16) If planning on going to market areas, crowded streets, fiestas etc. don’t go with all your valuables. Leave them in the hotel. If you’re planning on buying something expensive keep your money safely in a money belt. Try to be discreet when opening it! To protect small change in your pockets you can stuff a handkerchief in after.

17) If the pavements are really crowded, especially in market areas, walk in the road.

18) If you suspect someone is following you, stop and stare them in the eye until they go. If you really get a bad feeling about a place, go with your first instincts and leave. Bag slashing is rare nowadays but for added safety you can wear your day pack on your chest.

19) If it’s on your back try to walk without stopping. If you need to stop, sway your pack gently from side to side so that you can feel if anyone is tampering with it.

20) When putting your bag down on the floor, to take a photo or just to sit in a café, remember to put your foot through the strap. Not only will it be impossible to snatch, you also won’t forget it! This is the most common type of theft - tourists forgetting bags in cafes and on returning to ask if anyone has seen it, you’ve guessed it, it’s gone.

Eric Odom is an avid backpacker who runs student travel websites for a living. His latest site can be found at http://www.backpackearth.com.

Each year, families jump into their cars and head off on a road trip vacation. Within
minutes the kids start getting bored riding in the car and you are left with the
headache of trying to make their travel experience fun before they start to pick on
each other.

Here are some suggestions to keep your ride fun, peaceful and the ever dreaded
question of “are we there yet?”.

1. Play the alphabet game. - Children at reading age and above can play this game.
There are a few variations for this game. Starting with the first letter of the alphabet,
A - Find this letter on signs, billboards or license plates, but the word must start
with the letter A with a name like Applebees. Continue to the letter B for example: If
you drive past a Burger King restaurant, then you have your B, and can begin
looking for C. Of course you can make up the rules to your liking depending on the
age of your children. The key is that you must find these letters in sequence.

2. Another variation of the alphabet game will work for younger kids by finding
objects which start with each letter in the Alphabet. If you drive past a red barn, you
could probably claim either an R (red) or a B (barn), depending on which letter you
need next.

3. Play Card Games. There are many easy games which do not require all too much
space such as uno or war. A few travel games can pass by time and keep the kids
happy while you take a break from the action.

4. Play the I SPY game. I spy something green and it’s outside (as opposed to inside
the car). Riders take turns looking outside for something that might be the color
green. Chances are the object will pass quickly, so you will have to be alert and act
quickly. This is a great game to have your kids think as well as keep them busy and
aware of their surroundings.

5. Have the kids watch a movie or play their own travel game. The kids will be
occupied and probably glued to their own entertainment.

Don’t forget to take a break. Although stopping does not get you quickly to your
destination, it is important to take at least one stop along the way. Stretch breaks as
well as blatter relief should not go neglected as they are important for your bodies
well being. By getting some fresh air along the way, your road trips will be much
more enjoyable for everyone.

Jennifer Schilling has lived abroad in Switzerland and traveled Europe extensively.
Come check out here traveling tips at http://www.expatraveler.com/.

For most of us, the basis of a car rental in Europe is the journey, not the destination. We spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars so that we can see everything that we want in the minimum amount of time available. This is what a rental car is perfect for, what it is made for, and what you should use it for. Although I am not against taking a train from one place to another (especially after a long drive) I am constantly finding myself looking out the window wondering “Hey what’s over there?”

Of course, the destination is a factor when choosing our itinerary. Equally important is the starting point. Not only can the beginning and end of your car rental save you money, but chosen poorly, it can be the beginning and end of your vacation as well.

First and foremost, if at all possible, try and pick up your rental car in town. In some countries, this can be the difference between fifty to five hundred dollars or more. In some places, it’s just not worth it as the airport can be 20 kilometers or more from downtown with little to no public transportation. In other places, such as Rome’s Fiumicino (or Leonardo da Vinci) airport, there is a train between the airport and main station in town. And in some places the airport is practically in town. The common places where you will find a flat fee for airport pick ups are France, Spain, Portugal, Denmark and the United Kingdom. In Germany, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria it is usually a percentage, anywhere from 10% to 17%. In Holland, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe it can go either way. Please be advised that this is for the major car rental suppliers and does not cover every one. Always make sure to ask if the airport surcharge is included and if it is a percentage or a flat fee, and if it is waived if you pick up in town. Also, it is good to note that if you pick up in town to avoid a fee, you can usually still drop off at an airport without having to pay the surcharge.

Picking up downtown won’t always save you from a fee, though it usually reduces it if anything. Railstations sometimes have a surcharge (Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium) and if you pick up at a “Premium Location” such as Russel Square in London or Haddington Way in Dublin, you will have to pay a fee as well. Also, some port offices require payment too, either as stand-alone or for a “meet and greet” situation, where the office is outside walking distance so the agents wait for you at the pier. Once again, make sure you ask if there is a fee if you are picking up at a station of any kind.

Aside from saving money, convenience is always a sticking point when deciding where to pick up your rental car. If you are hesitant to drive in a big city, but you want to save money, then you have a couple of options. For one, you can always pick up outside of a busy area but still “downtown” but this alternative comes with the price of having to get there, which is okay if you already have your hotel nearby. You can also find a rental location that is near a highway on-ramp, which is particularly good if you need the rental car not for the city you’ll be in, but for the one you need to get to. A mapping program using the internet is of course invaluable in this search. Get the addresses for your hotel and available pick up locations, and choose the one that is most convenient for you.

Finally, it is important to know what locations are available along the way to your destination. If you need to add an additional driver in the middle of your trip, or you need to swap out your car for any reason, then knowing where you can choose from will help optimize your time and money. There’s no point in going back if you can do the same moving forward right? It’s a good idea to have the phone numbers to the locations you’ll be dealing with, as well as a headquarters number for additional inquiries. Try to use a service that has 24 hour support. The locations may not always be open, but at least you can get through to someone who can let you know your options. Oh, and try not to involve yourself with a rental location that is part of a gas-station, restaurant, barber shop or any other strip mall business that is not car rental. Although many of the major suppliers have locations like this with their name on them, they are licensee, independently owned subsidiaries and you will find the shadiest clerks and the worst service here. This is really just common sense though.

In conclusion, we all know that getting there is half the fun. But the other 50% depends on the start and finish. If you know where that is before you try to move on, you’ll get there just fine.

Murdoch Morris has spent 3+ years digging through address books to find every client’s best location options. If you have any questions regarding your specific area of travel, please feel free to contact him.

Auto Europe

Orlando is one of the top tourism destinations in the world. It features Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World. People come from every continent to take in these famous theme parks, and especially to meet Big Mickey.

But there is another Orlando, a city full of unexpected smaller attractions, that you might want to take in when you want something a little different or just a break from the crowds at Disney World.

Kissimmee Rodeo. http://www.ksarodeo.com

No, that’s not a misprint. The rodeos of the west have come to the south-east - and they are just as much fun. Try this for something different.

Inland manatees. http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/default.asp

People often forget that Florida is more than just one big theme park and the host to spring brake excess. It is also home to many natural wonders. Blue Spring State Park is tucked in between Orlando and Daytona Beach. Although it is an inland park, they have 153 manatees this season, more than ever before.

Private Villa Rentals. http://www.lastminutevillas.net

You don’t have to crowd the family into a cheap motel room in the Orlando region. Nowhere in North America are there so many private villas for rent (vacation home rentals). Look also for rental villas in Orlando at http://www.orlandovillaowners.com.

Mystery Dinner. http://www.sleuths.com/Directions.html

Half way between Orlando and Disney World, it’s no mystery why this show packs a full house. This is your chance to participate in a real murder mystery

Farm animal adventure. http://www.greenmeadowsfarm.com

Every child loves to pet animals. No, it does not replace Walt Disney World, but it might make a nice little break in the middle of the Disney excitement, and it is just a short distance south of the Disney park.

Ahoy there, Captain. http://www.piratesdinneradventure.com

Not just the manatees have found their way inland. There are pirates in Orlando, and they offer an interactive family dinner spectacle.

Riverboat Cruise. http://www.rivershipromance.com

It’s not the Mississippi, but the “Rivership Romance” cruises along the St. Johns River, providing a first-hand connection with Florida’s rich, natural heritage. Dining and dancing accompany the natural beauty.

A taste of Chicago. http://www.alcapones.com

Don’t be surprised if you wind up eating with a gangster or two. Or if the police burst in on your dinner to make a bust. This is a living tribute to the legendary Gangland Chicago, and you are invited to participate in the action.

It’s a pity that these gems hide in the shadow of Planet Earth’s biggest theme park . You won’t want to miss Walt Disney World, but take some time out to see what others have missed. Your friends back home will be impressed.

About The Author

David Leonhardt is a freelance writer, and an online and offline publicity specialist. Contact him at:

mailto:info@thehappyguy.com

or visit his website at:

http://www.thehappyguy.com

For Disney vacation villa rentals:

http://www.lastminutevillas.net/Disney-vacation.html

For other Florida vacation home rentals:

http://www.lastminutevillas.net/enquiry.html

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