Attractions

Bok Carillon Bell Tower

The animals at Bok Tower Gardens are fearless. Squirrels chuckle and scold guests who stroll the park’s winding paths. Mockingbirds serenade from low branches. Gigantic weaver spiders tense in the center of low-strung webs, patiently awaiting prey. Even the resident swans swim right up, hoping to steal fish food pellets meant for giant carp thrashing in the pond. Somehow, the animals know they are protected here.

This exquisite garden was created by Edward W. Bok, a Dutch immigrant and humanitarian who came to the U.S. at the age of six. In 1889, Bok became the editor of the Ladies Home Journal, a position he would hold for the next 30 years. During visits to his Florida winter home in the 1920’s, Bok witnessed the beauty and dramatic sunsets of Iron Mountain, the highest point in peninsular Florida. Awed by the tranquility of the area, he purchased the land and commissioned renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead Jr. to create a stunning garden that would become a haven for native birds, plants and wildlife. Bok worked closely with Olmstead through the design process and after giving his final stamp of approval, left to tour Europe. Seeing the carillon towers in his native Netherlands, he was inspired to build a carillon atop Iron Mountain within the sanctuary already being constructed. Read More »

With eleven country pavilions surrounding World Showcase Lagoon, live music performances, and Disney character appearances, Epcot is fun any time of the year, but the best time to visit this theme park may be during the annual International Food and Wine Festival. For six weeks each fall, guests can sample the world’s tastiest regional foods and drinks at kiosks specially set up for the event.

International Food and Wine Festival at Walt Disney World's Epcot

Between visits to year-round pavilions (Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, United States, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom, Canada) and stops to enjoy live musical performances, visitors eat their way around the world. At more than 25 kiosks, appetizer-sized entrees and desserts are offered for prices ranging from $2.75 to $7.25, with most in the $3-4.50 range. Wines, beers and specialty alcoholic Read More »

by Barbara Ann Weibel of Hole In The Donut

While the majority of the country is hunkering down in freezing temperatures and snowstorms, Florida’s abundant sunshine and warm temperatures signal the start of Fair season.

The RC-48 Coaster is 160' long, 65' deep and stands approximately 53' high, with exciting bank turns. Photo courtesy of South Florida Fair.

Florida’s County fairs focus on the agriculture, trade, entertainment, and heritage of Florida. Annually there are more than 50 fairs and livestock shows in Florida that showcase the past, present and future of Florida agriculture. County Fairs pair carnivals with traditional livestock competitions and displays such as the life-size “Milkable Cow” model that travels in her own exhibit trailer and “There’s A Cow In My Truck!,” an exhibit that portrays the parts of a truck that come from by-products of cattle.

The partial list below provides links to County Fairs that have individual web sites. For a complete listing of fairs around the State, visit Florida-Agriculture.com.

• DeSoto County Fair, January 15-25, Arcadia
• Manatee County Fair, January 15-25, Palmetto
• South Florida Fair, January 16 – February 1, West Palm Beach
• Highlands County Fair, January 23-31, Sebring
• Collier County Fair, February 5-15, Naples
• Martin County Fair, February 13-21, Stuart
• Osceola County Fair & Livestock Show, February 13-22, Kissimmee
• Pasco County Fair, February 16-22, Dade City
• Southeastern Youth Fair (Marin County), February 20 – March 1, Ocala
• Sumter County Fair, February 27 – March 7, Bushnell
• Southwest Florida and Lee County Fair, February 27 – March 8, Fort Myers
• Saint Lucie County Fair, February 27 – March 8, Fort Pierce
• Okeechobee County Fair, March 13-22, Okeechobee
• Indian River County Fire Fighters Fair, March 13-22, Vero Beach
• Sarasota County Fair, March 13-22, Sarasota
• Citrus County Fair, March 16-21, Inverness
• Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition, March 26 – April 12, Miami
• Suwannee County Fair and Livestock Show, March 26 – April 4, Live Oak
• Brevard County Fair, March 27 – April 5, Melbourne
• Santa Rosa County Fair, March 31 – April 5, Milton
• Clay County Agricultural Fair, April 2-11, Green Cove Springs
• Lake County Fair, April 2-11, Eustis
• Hernando County Fair, April 6-11, Brooksville
• Central Florida Fair, April 16-26, Orlando

Carley Moss, winner of 2008 Miss Martin County Fair Pageant. Photo courtesy of Martin County Fair.

Rosaire's Racing Pigs, photo courtesy of the South Florida Fair

Additionally, the Florida State Fair is scheduled for February 5-16 in Tampa. Except for a couple of years during World War II, this granddaddy of all fairs has been held every year since its inception in 1904. Horse shows, 4-H dog training classes, gun shows and sales, model train shows, concerts, tea times, and history tours join with the traditional carnival and livestock shows to provide 12 days of fun and excitement. If you plan to attend one of Florida’s many fun fairs, be sure to book accommodations well ahead of time, as hotels and motels fill up during these popular events. To find accommodations around the state, visit the UpTake.com Florida hotels page.

by Barbara Ann Weibel of Hole In The Donut

Magic Kingdom, photo courtesy of Disney

Mention Christmas parade and Florida in the same breath and children the world over instantly conjure up visions of Mickey and Minnie, riding upon a glittering, glimmering float down Disney World’s Main Street, with the fairyland spires of the Magic Kingdom castle in the distance. Disney is the undisputed king of the Christmas parade and their annual Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party captures everything kids and parents love about the holidays.

But Christmas in Florida is so much more than the Magic Kingdom. Scores of events, parades, shows,and lighted displays occur throughout the state, many of which are located in the greater Orlando area, but there are also many other Christmas events around the state, it would be a shame to restrict a holiday visit solely to Walt Disney World and the Orlando area.

In addition to Disney World, check out these nine other fabulous Christmas events around Florida:

• At Disney’s sister attraction, Epcot Center, Holidays Around The World showcases holiday traditions from different countries and includes a nightly tree-lighting, special IllumiNations laser light and fireworks show, and the Candlelight Processional, featuring a Christmas storyteller with music by a choir and 50-piece orchestra.
• Disney-Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios) in Lake Buena Vista offers the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights is made up of 5 million twinkling lights surrounded by nightly ’snow.’
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  Macy's Christmas Parade, photo courtesy of Universal Studios

  At Universal Studios in Orlando, join in the fun of the Macy’s Holiday Parade, featuring larger than life balloons from Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Continue the celebration with Grinchmas at Islands of Adventure (the only time all year the Grinch makes an appearance), Barney’s Christmas Show, and Blues Brothers Christmas Show.

• On various dates in late November and throughout December, Silver Springs Park in Ocala presents Festival of Lights, featuring a maze of illuminated gardens strung with more than a million sparklling lights, dozens of neon displays, local choirs, strolling carolers, musical stage shows, a lighted boat parade, shopping, a Holiday Buffet with all the trimmings, and Santa.
• Florida’s oldest city, St. Augustine, is magical during their grand holiday celebration of lights. The Nights of Lights features over two million lights that illuminate the colonial buildings, downtown parks, and historic bayfront.
• In Kissimmee, the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center stages ICE!, an indoor winter wonderland carved from two million pounds of ice. A team of 40 artisans from Harbin, China that spends more than a month in Kissimmee sculpting the display. The three-dimensional hand-carved ice monuments and sculptures include the ICE! castle and slides, which celebrate Santa’s Christmas Eve flight, reindeer and all. The attraction’s signature scene is a life-size Nativity carved completely of crystal-clear ice.
  

  Hand-carved ice slide at the ICE! Christmas display, photo courtesy of Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center

• Santa’s Enchanted Forest in Miami features half a mile of light displays, carnival attractions, over 100 rides, a petting zoo, a 92 foot tall Christmas tree, pony rides, over 3,000,000 lights, and visits with Santa.
• Fort Lauderdale’s Winterfest Boat Parade on the Intercoastal Waterway is billed as “The World’s Most Watched Boat Parade.” See scores of boats festooned with lights along the 12-mile parade route. The event is scheduled for December 13th this year.
• Dunedin, a small town just north of Clearwater on the Gulf Coast, does it up right for Christmas. They kick off the season with An Old Fashioned Christmas in downtown Dunedin on December 5th, and follow it up with a boat parade and tree lighting on December 6th and a holiday parade and concert on December 12th.

Orlando, with it’s amazing variety of family activities, is a fantastic destination. But the spirit of Christmas is alive and well all over Florida!

Downtown Disney is a free attraction for family travel. There is no admission fee to visit the marketplace, which is an open air shopping center for kids and adults. It is home to Disney Quest, a multi-story interactive virtual gaming attraction, there is a marina to enjoy, and many restaurants and variety shops.

Families on vacation can enjoy a stroll past Goofy’s Candy Company, where caramel apples are made before your eyes. The Lego Imagination Center displays a number of statues made of Legos and even a play area for kids to enjoy while parents sit in the shade relaxing. Little princesses can get a makeover at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, but be sure to make reservations for this which is located in the World of Disney.

A nearby magic shop provides for free entertainment with magic trick demonstrations that leave children wide-eyed with wonder. Moms can make their own bath soaps and dads can enjoy the boats in the marina. The Ghirardelli Ice Cream Shop makes the perfect stop for the entire family to enjoy an old time soda fountain. Families on a budget will be glad to know that at Mickey’s Mart, everything is $10 and under.

Disney’s Days of Christmas allows families to take a look inside Santa’s Toy Shop. Hand painted personalized ornaments can be ordered to commemorate the family visit to Disney. The shop even ships orders home, so there is no need to carry around packages. Nighttime is when Downtown Disney changes. Families will enjoy Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba, an outstanding production that amazes visitors of all ages.

The nightlife at Downtown Disney’s Pleasure Island is for adults only, and is the perfect spot for parents to be able to let loose and like the kids that are still inside them. If you are searching for a budget friendly family place to spend the day and still get that Disney feel without the Disney ticket prices, Downtown Disney just might be the spot you are looking for during your family trip.

Photo of Lego Imagination Station by Shannon Hurst Lane