Any time is a good time for a Florida Adventure!
What better way to start an adventure than on the train! Amtrak rails crisscross the country making it easy to route a perfect adventurous vacation. For those of us in the Northeast, Amtrak has the best way for getting to the sun and fun of Florida: Amtrak’s Autotrain. The Autotrain leaves from Lorton, Virginia daily at 4pm on its overnight trip to Sanford, FL. (about 40 mins from downtown Orlando) and departs from Sanford returning to Lorton also at 4pm daily. Both trains arrive around 9am the next morning. Avoiding the hassle, delay and expense of a rental car, the Autotrain takes passengers along with their vehicles on board for a relaxing evening that includes a delicious table-service dinner with a variety of entrees to choose from including kid’s meal selections, a movie, then, like a hotel on wheels, rocks and sways lulling passengers to sleep. Passengers can choose between spacious coach seating, first class private seating and sleeping cars (my personal recommendation). Sleeping cars allow for sitting, playing games and reading during the day with turn down service at night, which converts the seating area to beds and drops down bunk beds. Upon waking, breakfast is served and before you know it you have arrived at the station and it is time to embark on your day ahead, rested and ready for adventure.
Orlando boasts some of the best amusement and adventure parks in the country all clustered within a short drive of one another. No matter what adventure your seeking Orlando is sure to be able to provide.
SeaWorld offers guests glimpses into the underwater world and the creatures that dwell there much like an aquarium, but with great rides and stadium shows including dolphin, sea lion, whale and waterskiing shows. There is a conservation edge to SeaWorld that makes learning about different environments and how to keep them safe and healthy easy. You can even have close encounters with some of the animals such as the dolphins, whales, penguins and sharks. Those who like a little scream in their day shouldn’t miss the new Manta rollercoaster that lets you feel what it’s like to dive deep by flying high.
A stop at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure will offer you a glimpse into fantasy worlds such as Marvel Super Heroes, Seuss Landing, Jurassic Park and of course the fabulous Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Like a walk through Hogwarts itself, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter feels like a stroll through the imagination of J.K. Rowling herself. Pick out a wand at Olivandear’s and try some treats at Honeyduke’s. There is no shortage of rides to further titillate the senses with Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey; you join the action right there with Harry and his friends. Take courage as you climb aboard the Dragon Challenge (each dragon is a completely different ride) and pass by Hagrid’s cabin while waiting your turn to take the Flight of the Hippogriff. Universal Studios which is located right next to Islands of Adventure takes you on a journey across the country from New York to San Francisco where you’ll enjoy rides from your favorite movies such as Shrek 4D, Revenge of the Mummy, Jaws, E.T. Adventure and Men in Black to name a few. While little ones will certainly enjoy rides such as One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and enjoy play areas such as Camp Jurassic and Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are geared toward the tweens and teens.
Any trip to Orlando would be remiss without a visit with the mouse! Each one of Disney World’s theme parks can keep you occupied for more than a day, however if you have limited amounts of time my favorite for overall family enjoyment is Disney’s Epcot Center. What I love most about Epcot is the ease with which children can learn. Innoventions East and West is there to provide fun games that educate without the kids realizing it including fire safety, how to save money and so much more. Underwater realms can be explored in The Seas with large aquarium exhibits. Turtle Talk with Crush is a must-see where kids can interact with the sea turtle. The Land takes you into the past to the time of dinosaurs and shows you about the horticulture Disney employs to produce some of the food which is used every day in Disney restaurants. Then it is off to the World Showcase featuring countries from around the world. Within each country, Disney employees are from the country in which they work adding to the authentic feel. Kids are welcome to ask about the countries and learn even more. For kids (well, adults too), become a secret agent with Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure. Upon entry to the showcase, you simply pick up a handset, turn it on and follow the directions. It’s a great way to see the countries in depth and have fun being a spy that gets to save the day! Just know that it can be time consuming, so be sure to factor it into the time you plan to spend in the showcase. There is no shortage of food choices in Epcot from seafood at the Seas to a sample of cuisines from any of the countries including counter services, moderate restaurants and fine dining.
There are plenty of accommodations to choose from in Orlando, so many in fact that it can be hard to decide the best to suit your family.
Nickelodeon Hotel and Resort is the quintessential kid getaway with waterparks within the courtyards, daily kid shows, and meet & greets with Nickelodeon favorites such as SpongeBob, Patrick, Dora, and Aang (Avatar, The Last Airbender). Between the two hotels is a mall area that has a food court, restaurant in which there is a daily character breakfast, a kid spa, arcade and 4D movie theatre. Nickelodeon offers so much that you’ll want to plan a day just to spend on property. However, as an added convenience the Nick Hotel provides shuttle services to surrounding parks free of charge to guests. Rooms are family friendly incorporating kid sleeping areas that are separate from adult areas and suites that have a kitchenette area with microwave, small refrigerator and sink.
For a truly spectacular stay with elegance, class and plenty of kid fun, there is no better place than the J.W. Marriott Orlando. With gorgeous grounds, world class dining and on-property wild-life there is something to please even the most discerning tastes. The heated pool on grounds incorporates a lazy river with inner tubes available for purchase or you can simply swim along with the current amid tropical plants and tropical resort feel. The Ritz-Carlton shares the property and hosts the kids club, where kids can spend the day having fun while parents take in some golf on grounds or a day at the spa. Kids are more than welcome to join their parents in all activities as well. Kids play a free round of golf with their paying adult. On holidays and certain summer weekends, lawn games are available to families between the two hotels. The JW Marriot is also host to eco-tours and fly fishing experiences as the property is next to a 500 acre wildlife preserve. Glide along in canoes or kayaks and take in the Florida wildlife from birds to snakes and more. The dining at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton is exquisite with world-class chefs on staff. Though adult meals can get a little pricey, the kids’ meals are all the same price no matter the restaurant you choose with the same items to choose from no matter where you eat. This makes it much easier to satisfy those picky eaters without breaking the bank.
After a dynamic time in Orlando, what could be better than a road trip! A weekend in the tropics of Key West is a mere eight hour drive from Orlando. We made a game out of counting all 42 bridges including 7 Mile Bridge on way through the keys. We took in a little beach time at Bahia Honda State Park and walked out onto what was once a train bridge. It felt like walking on the promenade of cruise ship with water surrounding you. A little further on was another worthwhile stop to see the Big Pine Key deer, but be aware they are friendly! Because the deer are so comfortable around humans the speed limits on Big Pine Key are kept low to assure their safety. Key West accommodations can be expensive, which is why I recommended a vacation rental home. It makes for a comfortable stay and allows for some meals to be made rather than purchased out. A few must-sees in Key West are the Southern Most Point of America for photo ops and the Earnest Hemingway House to say hello to the Hemingway six-toed cats. A free stop at the Eco-Discovery Center allows a little cooling off time and time to learn about the marine life of the Keys and what conservationists are doing in the area. Key West has museums, night-life and of course plenty of restaurants. The best way to take it all in and get a good sense of your surroundings is viewing it from one of the Old Town Trolley Tours. The trolleys allow you to jump on and off at points of interest.
There is plenty to do on land, but the real draw for Key West is the water. If you have never had the chance to go scuba diving before, Snuba is an exciting way to explore the deep without having to be certified or worry about the things one needs to be concerned with while scuba diving. The set-up for Snuba is exactly the same as scuba except that you don’t have a tank on you back; instead you are tethered in groups of four to a central raft which has oxygen that instructors regulate. This also allows kids eight and older to easily share in the fun. It is an experience like no other diving down to see the fish of the coral reef and becoming surrounded by the beauty of it all. While you are enjoying your dive Adventure Imaging is taking pictures that you can later choose to purchase to make the folks at home jealous. If you’re not up for a dive, no worries, even off the beaches fish can easily be seen while snorkeling. Currents can be heavy, so it is recommended that you always swim with a partner and follow advisories. The Key West waters can also be enjoyed from above with plenty of boats to choose from catamarans to sailing ships to glass bottom boat excursions.
Going home is always sad especially after such a great adventure, but with the Autotrain the fun goes on for at least one more night. After your drive back from paradise in the Keys, it’s back on the train for another evening of dinner and a movie and a relaxing sleep. Upon waking, the final trek home is an easy one that lets you share your memories with each other fondly.
The writer was provided with complimentary accommodations. No other compensation was received, and all opinions are her own.
