This morning we checked into the Gaylord Palms Hotel - I could feel myself relaxing already! Luxurious greenery & the sound of rustling water… we got to walk through the caves that made you feel like you were immersed in the Everglades. Thanks to a very “Consider It Done” attitude – we were able to thoroughly enjoy our stay here. We managed to move to a room that had access to a glass elevator & a nearby staircase. Many would wonder why this is an important thing – but one of our girls is afraid of elevators. The staff was excellent & went out of their way to make our experience memorable. After finally settling in to our room (which was gorgeous, we might add!) we headed down to the Cypress Springs Family Fun Park!
This is a pretty new addition to the Gaylord Palms – and it has BUCKETLOADS of fun! Here, you can find a tree house full of water spigots and splash zones you can explore, a large bucket that dumps gallons of water from overhead, a special toddler play area! We had such a good time that the kids didn’t want to leave! We stopped over at the Haggen-Daaz shop for ice creams too! Later that evening, we all went back down for the Crack-A-Lackin’ Pool Party, hosted by the characters from Madagascar! There was dancing, games, a gargantuous beach ball – so much fun in one pool! We stayed for about half of the movie showing at the splash-in theatre… but I think the kids wore themselves out having so much fun.
Our room was … opulent! I loved the gorgeous views from our balcony looking out towards the St. Augustine inspired atrium. I probably slept one of the best nights’ rest in a long time – and I wasn’t sure if I liked our room or the grounds more – lol. All in all, whether you’re visiting from out of town, or you’re a local looking for a stay-cation … I think it’s safe to say that the Gaylord Palms has all the comforts and entertainment you could ask for!
Today was pretty much a day of R&R – with so much to do right at your fingertips, sometimes you just need to take a vacation from vacation, right? It also holds a special, more personal meaning for me, as it’s my anniversary!Well, our agenda was basically to chill out, have some BBQ with friends, and go watch the fireworks! I feel fortunate to be able to call downtown Kissimmee my home, as there is so much to do, with special events, movie nights, arts & crafts shows – and so much more! This year, they brought out the Monumental 4th of July and we were looking forward to it! We were sooo excited to be able to just walk on down and join in all the fun.
"...a glorious sight, with the harvest moon set low in the sky and the reflections of the fireworks gleaming in the waters of Lake Toho..."
Early afternoon brought us a Naturalization ceremony for many residents who are becoming US Citizens. What better day to commemorate citizenship than on the 4th of July?! Later on, the festivities began… there was a kids zone and music and plenty of food for everyone that went on right up until the buildup for the fireworks. We moseyed on down to the lakefront (you could still hear the band playing patriotic music in the distance) with the kids, spread out our blankets and got ready for the show.
As always, Kissimmee knows how to do their fireworks! What a glorious sight, with the harvest moon set low in the sky and the reflections of the fireworks gleaming in the waters of Lake Tohopekaliga – well, let’s just say it had the kids quiet for the duration of the whistles and booms and oohs and ahhs! That included my husband, who comes from the UK, and has never really seen fireworks done up the way we like to do them. The finale came, with cheers and clapping from the crowd and the last few strains of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” – sending us all home with a touch of nostalgia. Hope everyone had a happy & safe 4th of July!
Today was a day for exploring and experimenting! We had the opportunity to spend the day at the Orlando Science Center, and explore four levels of fun. Full of exciting and interactive exhibits, a 360 degree cinedome and a children’s play area… let’s just say we had a lot to keep us busy!
One of my favorite experiences at the Orlando Science Center has always been to visit the dinosaurs… so I dragged the kids upstairs to go see them in all their glory. Mind you, their only experience seeing a dinosaur in the past had been to see ONE bone – so Wow! were they in for a surprise! The ooohs and ahhhs as we walked in and saw the humongoustyrannosaurus rexmade it worth all the while. We showed up just in time for one of the staff to make a presentation about what kind of food certain dinosaurs eat, we were able to touch a realtriceratopstooth, and pass around petrified dinosaur poop [which was the highlight of the experience]
Currently, the science center offers an exciting exhibit called PLAY! where you immerse yourself in music and art and science! You can ride simulators, play life-size chess, watch sound waves and more! You can also take part in the current films showing, in this case, a series of natural disasters at the Dr. Phillips Cinedome. We decided to watch Tornado! and had a whirlwind experience as we drove into the eye of a storm.
Before we left, we made it a point to stop at the KidsTown exhibit where the kids could really climb, jump and explore! Here you can not only see unique reptiles and amphibians, but also learn about their environment. You can also learn about the Orange Grove Renovations and see what it looks like under the city streets!
All in all, I’d say that there’s a little bit for everyone at the Orlando Science Center! With four levels of interactive fun and learning – you’re sure to never be bored. Add in the great volunteers who show special exhibits and talk about what there is… it makes for an awesome day!
... a mystery is afoot...
Later in the evening, my husband and I took advantage of a kid free night to celebrate our 1st anniversary. We headed over to Sleuth’s Mystery Dinner TheatreSleuth's Myster Dinner Theatre – a first for the both of us! We should have known we were going to have a good time when we first walked in to a life size figure of a detective. As people chatted and snacked on hor d'oeuvres, they took turns posing and taking pictures with the great sleuth!
After checking in, we were ushered into a different room – which is, of course, the main dining theatre. You are seated at a table of 8, mixed with other guests from all over! We were the only locals at our table, as we were seated with some guests from North Carolina and a lovely family all the way from Australia. All of us were there in celebration of some sort or another. While we chatted and got to know one another, a frisky maid and a very staid butler meandered through the crowds… we knew this was going to be a fun night! Then they passed out our drinks: your choice of unlimited soda, beer or wine – and that was our cue that we were going to have a WONDERFUL night lol!
The show started in it’s typical manner, with a lot of slapstick and comical clichés – and we were already looking for clues to the mystery. Together we worked with our tablemates to try and discover the murderer, but it was mixed in with eating a scrumptious dinner and talking about where we were from. We had a wonderful time, and even though there were several double entendres, it was still a show I’d feel comfortable taking our 7 year old to. The cast were excellent and hilarious and posed afterwards with the guests for pictures. We didn’t guess the murderer correctly – actually, not many people did – but it was so well done, we’ll definitely make it a point to come back for another murder!
This morning we were VERY excited to be up and out and headed to the WhirlyDome! What's the WhirlyDome? Never heard of it before? Well - NEITHER HAD WE! (And there's a good reason for that!) We had the chance to have a great time and explore the brand spanking new WhirlyDome - right off I-Drive! Like most attractions, it was about a 15-20 minute drive from Kissimmee - one more reason I love having Kissimmee as my home base! Just between Pointe Orlando and the Outlets, the Whirly Dome is easy to find and looked to be a fun place to visit. Inside we were introduced to the staff and given the grand tour of this awesome 2-story facility! Let’s give a little run-down of all the fun to be had under one roof … dome!
WHIRLYBALL! - I mean, it's the namesake! Who can go to the "WHIRLY" Dome and not play a little bit of "WHIRLY" Ball?! Basically, it's like bumper cars meets air hockey meets basketball meets jai alai! You move around in these little bumper cars, bouncing into one another - all the while trying to catch the ball in your scoop and pass it to your teammates (or score for yourself!) to get the ball into the basket! It was so much fun and we were breathless from the adrenaline and all the laughing! Apparently, they even have WhirlyBall leagues!
"Even better - they have a WhirlyBall court on BOTH FLOORS!"
BOWLING! - Most people say, "Oh yeah, I've been bowling before." - but really... they haven't - at least, not like this! There are two lanes, side by side, where up to 5 people per lane can bowl! But this Floridian thinks that the best way to go bowling is... IN YOUR FLIPFLOPS! No socks or special shoes required.
ARCADE! - Yep, the WhirlyDome has it all... right down (or should we say UP since it's on the 2nd level) to billiards and an arcade area. Not your typical redemption/point based arcade games... these games are purely for the fun! You can play kickball, ride a virtual motorcycle, putt a little golf --- then meander over to the bar for a cocktail or soda (did we forget to mention that?).
FORMULA 1 RACING PLATFORM SIMULATOR! - This is one for the racing aficionado! Get behind the wheel of one of Evotech's latest creations, and race along one of several tracks in the only F1 simulator in North America! As my [gaming geek] husband says, "The only thing that reminded me I wasn't REALLY in a racecar, was seeing the guy in the black and white!"
LASER FRENZY! - Here is where you feel like you're a top secret agent working for M! All you have to do is maneuver through the maze of lasers and try not to get hit! But it's not just a matter of having snake like moves... you need cheetah speed too! The best part is afterwards you get a print out of your skill and speed to compare with each other (or yourself!) time after time.
LASER TAG! - We saved the best for last! Nothing cooler than an ocean-like black-lit theme to gang up (or go every man for themselves) on each other! You can go by teams, or split up and take each other out one by one... either way, it's guaranteed fun! We were worn out by the end of it - and laughing hysterically as we did it! This is fun for all ages, whether you are running around in circles, or just waiting it out with super sniper skills!
BLOODHOUND BREW! - Grab a bite to eat without having to leave the building. Touting a full bar and menu - take a break for lunch (they have awesome lunch specials) or order a meal - a wide variety of appetizers and entrees and burgers - not to mention the nice selection of beers and other mixed drinks to choose from! All food is freshly prepared and the staff is fantastic! My personal recommendation: Fish Tacos and their awesome Coconut Rum sauce! Bon apetit!
Now that we've worn each other out and had a blast and a laugh -- we just want to tell you guys what a GREAT. TIME. WE. HAD! So much fun under one DOME! And everyone there was awesome! I think the kids had just as good a time joking with some of the staff as they did experiencing everything at the WhirlyDome! This is definitely one place I would recommend whether you are a tourist visiting from out of state (or country) or a local looking for something to do with your family! Be sure to give the WhirlyDome a whirl!
We'll be back tomorrow with a new adventure! Be sure to check out i.seekissimmee.com as well (for our adventures and more!)
With all our talk about doing the lesser known attractions in Central Florida, we still love our visits to the major theme parks – and Sea World is among our favorites! Today it was just Kevin, Laurel, Ella and I (our nieces arrive Monday morning!) and we thought we’d start off with a nice relaxing day watching the shows and catching a few rides. Before I begin to describe our experience, I feel compelled to point out that my husband, Kevin, is from the UK and has only been in the US for a year. So this is fun as many of our experiences are done from both local and tourist viewpoints. Kevin has been to all of the major area attractions with the exception of Sea World – and it’s always pleasurable to see someone experience something for the first time!
"...it’s always pleasurable to see someone experience something for the first time!..."
We made a late day of it, because we wanted to have the energy to stay until the fireworks – so we arrived at the park around midday. What I love about Sea World is the way you can literally work your way around the park in a circle! So we headed straight for Key West to Dolphin Cove. One place you can cool down, escape the blistering sun & chill out is to enter “behind” the Dolphin Cove & go to the underwater viewing tank. There you can see the dolphins playing and interacting with the people above who are petting & feeding them!
This time, as we curled around the cove, we noticed Turtle Trek – a brand new exhibit/experience! We were so excited to get to see this! For Sea World pros, this has been incorporated into the [formerly] Manatee exhibit…and it was really well done! Of all 3D experiences I’ve ever been to… nothing has ever had such a WOW impact as this! It was not only in 3D, but it was what I like to refer to as 360 degrees of eye candy. You are experiencing the trek of an endangered sea turtle from hatching to adulthood to laying its’ own eggs. There is still the reminder of our impact on the world, explaining the importance of recycling, and picking up trash – teaching us to turn off lights during nesting season as well! And of course, the interactive zone as you leave where you can pretend to be a turtle swimming to shore, and you can still view the manatees from above the tanks!
We also decided to make a point to catch shows on this trip. My daughter, Laurel, and I are die hard Clyde & Seymour fans – but we wanted to see a few of the other shows as well! Kevin absolutely LOVED the Blue Horizon show with the dolphins! We were fortunate enough that we saw 5 shows, which included Clyde & Seymour as they made of parody of all the other shows, as well as Pets Ahoy! and Shamu Rocks and fireworks at the end of the night. We didn’t only do shows though… Kevin went for a ride on Manta and said it was “one of the best rollercoaster experiences” he had ever been on. And dining at the Voyager Restaurant was both a relaxing reprieve from the heat, as well as a yummy BBQ feast! All in all, I’d say Sea World still ranks top notch in our book – and only 15 minutes away from Kissimmee makes it even easier to visit on a regular basis!
We'll be back tomorrow with a new adventure! Be sure to check out i.seekissimmee.com as well (for our adventures and more!)
