Orlando Questions

[CoachW44]

I am going on vacation here in a few weeks, we are heading to Orlando and going to Universal and Clearwater Beach and we are starting to get excited.

The question is this... Are there any activities, events, sites, sounds, places of interest you just have to check out when you are there? We went 5 years ago and mostly just did the Disney parks, anything we shouldn't miss?

John

[SandyL2002]

Re: Orlando Questions

If you did Disney last time.. I would do Universal and if you have a chance hit Sea World.. that is one of my favorite parks

Make sure you drink lots and lots of water you will need it.. I went 2 summers ago in July to Disney MGM.. I swear I think I spent $30 in just water...lol

[cherribom1]

Re: Orlando Questions

Since you will be going to Clearwater, make sure you check out the Gulf Beaches. Fort De Soto Beach was voted the best FL beach in 2005. There's also camping, trails, canoeing and other things to do there. Here's the link: http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_Ft_DeSoto.htm

[ValidRouge]

Re: Orlando Questions

Fort Desoto is an awesome beach/park. I, personally, like it better than any of the other beaches in Pinellas county. The beaches in Pinellas are FOREVER wide. You have to hike practically half the day just to get from where the sand starts to the water. ACK. Fort Desoto isn't like that. Anna Maria Island or Bradenton Beaches are my personal favorites...they are further south in Manatee County.

It depends on what kind of stuff you're into, Coach. There's lots of stuff to do between Orlando and Clearwater. Are you taking children?

I personally have not been to Universal, though i've heard it's a blast. I don't know if they'll still be there...but I heard Blue Man Group is performing at Universal...or they were. Downtown Disney has a nice nightlife at Pleasure Island and they also have a Cirque du Soleil http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/Cirque...en/default.htm...I believe the show is La Nouba (I haven't seen that particular show, but I have seen Quidam and Allegria--they were AMAZING). If you want something fun, tacky and inexpensive, you should check out Old Town in Kissimmee on 192 http://www.old-town.com/--it's kind of like a festival all year round and they have these HUGE old car shows on Saturday nights I think it is.

In Tampa, you could check out Ybor City http://www.ybor.org/index.cfm?section=vs or Channelside district http://www.channelsidetampa.com/. Lots of restaurants and night life at both places.

Clearwater...well, I don't go over there that much...so the only thing I know to do is the beach. http://www.visitclearwaterflorida.com/index.php Maybe the chamber's site will help.

[CoachW44]

Re: Orlando Questions

yea, I am taking my daughter, she's 9. We just wanted to go to the Gulf side and Clearwater Beach is really nice, we're just going there for the beach (so she can ditch me for the first boy who builds her a sand castle....)

We have a 7 day pass to both Universal Parks but I can not imagine going that many times. We stay in Kissimme at Orange Lake. My sister owns a Condo there or something and it's pretty nice.

2.5 more weeks! although it's alreadyu almost 100 in Ohio, can't wait for Florida....sigh What is even better is football camp starts the day after I get back!!!!