Blueberry Bliss
U-pick Season Offers Tasty Family Fun From sugar-sweet citrus to chin-dripping juicy watermelons, Central Floridians are blessed with a bounty of fresh produce year round. With the warmth of spring, local blueberries are slowly turning from firm and green, to plump, brilliant purple and juicy, deep blue. Blueberry season begins in mid-April and typically runs through June. So,... Read More
Florida Wine Tours
Florida Wine Tours Trade in the weekend whining for wine excursions Did you know that Florida is actually the birthplace of American wine? According to Visit Florida, the first recorded reference to winemaking in the United States was found in St. Augustine, where Spanish missionaries used local, wild muscadine grapes to make wine for religious ceremonies. Today, there are approximately... Read More
Pirate Paradise: Walk the Florida Planks
Ahoy, mateys! Pirate talk is hard to resist and, in Florida, swashbucklers are a family draw, whether at the theme parks or aboard an authentic pirate ship in the ocean. The Sunshine State is full of tales of pirates plundering for booty, and many sites off our coast boast shipwrecks that only add to the mystery of a time when peg legs and eye patches were commonplace. Central Florida... Read More
A Snowstorm of Vacation Fun
Three Ski Destinations for Your Next Snow-Filled Escape I remember sitting in my daughter’s class a few years ago listening to the dozen or so preschoolers talk about snow. Some had seen it firsthand, a badge they wore with honor, while the ones who hadn’t listened closely with mystified facial expressions. Even as adults, we never lose the feeling that snow is magical, which... Read More
Puppy Love Plans
Date Night Ideas for your Teens & Tweens Think back to some of your very first dates as a teen and you’ll likely come up with a list that includes roller-skating and trips to the local movie theater. While those romantic mainstays are fine staples, why not help your teen or tween come up with some other creative get-togethers…especially if you’re planning on tagging along... Read More
Orlando’s Candy Land: A Tasty Game of Sweet Spots
First published in 1949 by Milton Bradley, Candy Land continues to be among the classic board games played in American households with preschool-age children. The game’s bright colored winding path takes players on a magical journey through sugary sites, like Candy Cane Forest and Gum Drop Mountain, to find King Kandy, the lost king of Candy Land. Well, it turns out that King... Read More
Calling All Telephone Lovers And Superheroes
Children are obsessed with telephones. They’ll turn any object ─ a large Lego brick, a banana, the dog’s toy, etc. ─ into a phone and conduct a pretend conversation with Grandpa or their favorite character. Online memes have been dedicated to the topic of imaginary play: a popular one shows a church’s billboard stating, “I don’t care how big and bad you are. When... Read More
Push The Pedal To The Metal And Experience A Nascar Thrill of a Lifetime …For The Entire Family!
For more than a decade, Richard Petty Driving Experience, located just outside the Magic Kingdom, has offered adults the stimulation of roaring around the track at speeds of up to 120 MPH. Kiddos were left to cheer from the grandstands or pit road while their parents pushed fun into high gear. Well there’s no more ‘putting the brakes’ on broods! Richard Petty Driving Experience... Read More
Treasures In The Seagrass
Scalloping Adventures For Your Summertime Family Fun From shopping at farmer’s markets to growing backyard gardens, many families are now embracing the concept of fresh and local food. But have you ever imagined diving for your next meal? Each summer, Florida’s Gulf coast becomes an epicurean treasure trove inviting foodies and adventurists alike to join in the search for scallops.... Read More
Wild Wild West
Three Family Summer Adventures Of A Lifetime It’s time to plan a wild family vacation…Wild West style! Your trip can begin with truly adventurous modes of transportation ─ whitewater rafts, trains, or vintage wagons ─ that offer a whole new vantage point of the mountains, canyons, plains, and deserts that shape the iconic Midwestern USA. iPhones and WiFi will soon become... Read More
Rent a Floating Hotel
Do you wish that the stresses in your life would simply float away? It’s time to let your worries go drift! Try vacationing on a houseboat — a floating hotel where waterfront views are guaranteed. Splash into refreshing water from the on-deck slide, dive off the back-end swim platform, or toss your fishing line into the sea for the catch-of-the-day. Watch wildlife scamper on... Read More
Roughing It…Without The “Rough” Part
You’ve put your closed-toe shoes and long-sleeve shirts away, signaling the end of Florida’s winter. Perhaps you would love to spend some time outdoors with your family, but roughing it isn’t exactly your style… Well, have no fear, because the Central Florida area offers some amazing family-friendly getaways that do not require the purchase of a snakebite kit, hiking boots,... Read More
Unleash Your Imagination at WonderWorks!
A wondrous place where mind meets adventure Looking for a fun place to entertain your entire family during the cooler, winter months? How does an upside down house with over 100 hands-on exhibits sound? Even your older children will enjoy the many adventures awaiting inside WonderWorks Orlando, starting with the inversion tunnel that will turn them “right side up” to begin... Read More
A Winter Waterland For Family Wonders
Central Floridians can add mermaids to their visions of sugar plum fairies this holiday season, thanks to the annual Winter Waterland Show at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. This unique seasonal performance spreads holiday cheer through underwater choreography synchronized to an eclectic mix of modern and traditional holiday tunes. The environment may be a bit different from the... Read More
Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest
This holiday season, travel to Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest in Eustis, Florida, where you can pick and cut your very own Christmas tree! —————– In 1986, Jack and Judy Ewing joined the Florida Christmas Tree association, and a year later planted their first Christmas trees. In 1989, they opened Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest to the public and... Read More
Fort De Soto Park – Family Troops Enjoy Campground Fun!
Located just off the shore of the Gulf of Mexico, Fort De Soto Park embodies a long military history. Yet, these days, it is better known as a family fun site thanks to its seemingly untouched, pristine beaches, an abundance of kid-friendly activities, and spacious campgrounds. The park is the largest in Pinellas County and spreads over 1,136 acres on five interconnected keys filled... Read More
Orange County Regional History Center – Taking a Step Back in Time
Have you ever wanted to travel through time? Here’s your chance. Go on a wild adventure through history at the Orange CountyRegional History Center! In 1942, as part of the Central Florida Centennial Celebration, the Orange County Regional History Center opened its doors to the public as a “pioneer kitchen exhibit” in the old red brick, 1892 Orange County Courthouse. The... Read More
Titanic: The Experience
Titanic sets sail again for its 100th Year Voyage! Step aboard the most famous, exquisite ship in history and experience the voyage of a lifetime. —————————- Titanic: The Experience, located on International Drive in Orlando, is a first class attraction acquired by RMS Titanic, Inc. in 2011 and completely redesigned in January... Read More
A Legoland Adventure
Brick by brick, your family will be amazed at these architectural wonders. And when they are done LEGO gazing, there are roller coasters, shows, a water adventure park, and lots more. It was 1932 in Denmark when Ole Kirk Christiansen began making wooden toys in his small workshop he named “LEGO.” In his wildest dreams, he probably never imagined that his passion would turn... Read More
Wild & Wacky Water Games
Summer time means pool time for most of us. And whether you own your own pool or visit the local pool or beach, it’s always fun to play in the water. Having several game ideas on hand for the kids to play in the water can keep them from getting bored. Don’t have a pool? That’s OK – some of these fun games are easily played with a sprinkler. So, dig out those swimsuits and... Read More
Northeast Florida’s Amelia Island
A peaceful, relaxed destination for family fun. Easy to get to, hard to forget Summertime means lazy days and family vacations, a time to regroup with those you love most. Family experts agree that both children and parents need that reconnection only a family vacation provides and the memories are something that will never go out of style or be forgotten. There’s no need to spend... Read More
