Silver Springs & Rainbow Springs

  These days it’s hard to find someone who hasn’t heard of Florida’s most popular tourist attraction, but how many of us can pick out the park that started it all? If you guessed Disney World, you’d be off by over 100 years. The answer is Silver Springs, an attraction that continues to see guests today. Silver Springs began its life as a tourist attraction in the 1860s. The park soon gained national attention as travel guides advertised it as a must-see attraction. As the park’s popularity grew, a glass-bottom boat was added causing the park’s popularity to soar. It wasn’t long before Hollywood discovered the natural beauty of the park and began using it as a location for some of cinema’s classic movies. What attracted Hollywood to the springs continues to attract visitors today. Their waters provide not only a refreshing escape from Florida’s summer heat, but also a…

A Weekender’s Approach to Disney World

There are so many different ways to approach a trip to Disney World and articles have been written about just about all of them.  What’s been missing is a good description of how to approach Disney World from the position of a weekend visitor.  A weekender, who spends only 2 or 3 days at the park, has different expectations and goals for their trip than someone who intends on spending an entire week or more at Disney World.  Where a weekender intends on returning soon, someone visiting for a week or more will usually wait at least a year before repeating the experience.  This article is intended to throw some light onto the viewpoint of a Disney World weekender as well as provide some planning tips for anyone intending on spending a weekend at Disney World. What we want in a weekend at Disney World             Although Disney World is…

Explore Orlando Outside Walt Disney World

  If you live in Florida and you have kids, chances are good that you will find yourself answering the inevitable question: “Can we go to Disney World?”  Those of us who are kids at heart will jump at the opportunity and wonder why we didn’t think to ask the question first.  Others, who might not have the time or desire to go will be able to make excuses for a while, but at some point the pleas of youth will win out and you will find yourself planning a trip to Disney World. Planning a trip to Disney World is not difficult.  If you like, you can just go to the Disney World website, book a hotel and show up. You’ll never have to leave Disney property and to be honest, you’ll probably have a great time.  When my kids were small, this is exactly what we did and we…