Phila Airport Parking Vacations

So you’ve decided to come back for another Lake Buena Vista vacation and although perhaps you will spend a couple of days going to the Disney or Universal theme parks you would like some alternative places to visit. Perhaps you would like a different sort of theme park for say half a day so you can spend the rest of the day chilling out by the pool. Well here are a few ideas.

Gatorland is the place to see some of Florida’s oldest inhabitants – alligators. Dating back to prehistoric times, these fascinating creatures live wild all over the State and at Gatorland’s Jumparoo you will get the closest of close ups that anyone could want, plus lots of facts to educate you and an introduction to other animals..

For more excitement you can watch in awe as the trainers wrestle with these huge animals. Remember to take a change of clothes for when you want to cool off in the splash park. You will find Gatorland at 14501 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, Florida 32837 about 1 mile north of Osceola Parkway.

Slightly farther away but also worth adding to your list of highlights is Jungle Adventures. This is a nature park and a zoo and will allow you to get very close to baby alligators, snakes and other wildlife. There are about 200 alligators altogether and some of them like to wrestle! Jungle Adventures is on Highway 50 to the east of Orlando.

The park takes longer to get to than Gatorland but it does have a wider range of animals including raccoons and even a Florida Panther (an endangered species in Florida). Another attraction is the tour of a replica Native American village that includes examples of tools produced by today’s Native Americans.

If you prefer a more gentle and relaxing experience then a visit to Historic Bok Sanctuary in Lake Wales would certainly fit the bill. You can wander through the magnificent gardens with their meandering paths enjoying the perfume of the flowers and looking out for the many different birds and butterflies that are attracted to the Sanctuary.

All around the gardens are benches and grassy areas for you to relax and experience the tranquility. You can take a picnic and settle down on the grass and enjoy reading a book while enjoying the peace or sample a more substantial repast in Carillon Cafe.

Every hour from the superb marble and coquina bell tower you can hear beautiful carillon music. There is also an opportunity to step back in time with a tour of the Pinewood Estate which was built as a winter retreat for Charles Austin Buck and still contains most of the original furnishings and decorations.

Another peaceful place to visit is Lake Louisa State Park which is located at 7305 US Hwy 27 Clermont, Florida 34714. There are many activities to enjoy especially if you are the outdoor type. Take your binoculars with you and wander down the nature trails to see birds, butterflies, deer, opossum, wild turkeys and many other mammals. Don’t forget to wear suitable shoes if you are going hiking, sunscreen so you don’t get burnt and maybe some insect repellent.

Lake Louisa is loved by anglers because they can use four of the six lakes as long as they have a license. The Lake does offer the opportunity to swim, which can be very welcome after a hot few minutes or hours on the hiking trails, but pay attention to the restrictions highlighting the water areas to avoid. Also, be sure to take your own food and drink as none is available to buy inside the park.

So there you are – these are just a few of the many alternatives to Disney and Universal that can make your Lake Buena Vista vacation just that little bit more special.

When you book a second (or third or fourth) Lake Buena Vista vacation, you might start to think about spreading your wings beyond the first and obvious choices of Disney World or Universal or Sea World. If you’re looking for some variety, there is a lot to choose from and some of them only take up about half a day, so you can use the rest of the day to relax by the pool. This article gives you some brief details about just a few of the alternatives.

If you want to see some of Florida’s oldest wildlife residents then a trip to Gatorland will enable you to get up close to the alligators that can be found all over the State. Here you will learn fascinating facts about these prehistoric creatures when you visit the Gator Jumparoo and be able to have a close encounter with gators and other animals.

If you want to be really entertained, make sure you visit the wrestling show where the trainers take on the animals. Then you can cool off in the splash pool but of course you need a change of clothes for the rest of the day. You can reach Gatorland in about fifteen minutes from most Lake Buena Vista locations, so give it a go!

On a smaller scale Jungle Adventures at 26205 East Colonial Drive, Christmas, Florida 32709 (yes there really is a town called Christmas complete with a decorated tree!) is a nature park and zoo. Here you can take a Jungle swamp cruise among about 200 alligators, get close up and personal with baby alligators and snakes and of course see alligator wrestling.

The park takes longer to get to than Gatorland but it does have a wider range of animals including raccoons and even a Florida Panther (an endangered species in Florida). Another attraction is the tour of a replica Native American village that includes examples of tools produced by today’s Native Americans.

Instead of the alligators and panthers you may enjoy the more peaceful experience of the Historic Bok Sanctuary. Located in Lake Wales (south of Lake Buena Vista), it comprises 250 acres of gardens including walking trails and paths and many birds and butterflies are attracted to the Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary is loved by its many visitors for the peace and tranquility available throughout. Take a stroll and experience the calmness of the place, bring a picnic and rest on the grassy areas or the benches or enjoy a meal at the Carillon Cafe. It’s all just very relaxing.

The most prominent landmark is the Bell Tower, constructed of marble and coquina eighty years ago. Carillon music is played every hour. You can also take a guided tour of the Pinewood Estate, formerly the winter home of Charles Austin Buck of Bethlehem Steel in the 1930s and still containing much of the furnishings and decorations from his time.

Finally, why not try Lake Louisa State Park, on Highway 27 and about thirty minutes west of Lake Buena Vista? Unlike the Disney theme parks, the attractions are all strictly natural: deer, butterflies, wild turkeys, opossum, birds and many other mammals are on view along the nature trails. Good hiking shoes are advisable as is lots of insect repellent and supplies of sunscreen.

Lake Louisa is loved by anglers because they can use four of the six lakes as long as they have a license. The Lake does offer the opportunity to swim, which can be very welcome after a hot few minutes or hours on the hiking trails, but pay attention to the restrictions highlighting the water areas to avoid. Also, be sure to take your own food and drink as none is available to buy inside the park.

I hope this has given you some alternative ideas of places to visit during your Lake Buena Vista vacation.

Orlando has 7 distinct areas that vacationers can use as a home base for visiting the many theme parks and recreational spots in the county. Making a choice of where to stay can be quite a daunting task, so here are some tips that may help you choose the optimum lodging that will suit your vacation needs (and budget) during your stay in the world’s family entertainment capital.

South of Disney World (Kissimmee area – Highway 192)

Over the years, highway 192 has been a well-known destination for many of the tourists visiting Orlando. With its many restaurants, good golf courses, and family attractions, many visitors consider this area an excellent one for finding hotel accommodations. Hotel prices are less expensive here compared to hotels in other areas. However, many of the structures are aging as most were built in the late 1970′s. Many of these hotels are not connected with national brands.

North of Disney World

Also known as the Lake Buena Vista area, this is the newest location for places to stay in Orlando County and is managed by the Walt Disney Corporation. The hotels here were built starting in the early 1990′s to the present and are mostly associated with the national hotel chains. The Lake Buena Vista area hosts great shopping and dining within a few miles radius.

Disney World Resort Properties

For a Disney enthusiast, the resort itself is the best option to scout for a good hotel. Obviously, it will be the closest to Disney World and free shuttle services to the parks run every thirty minutes. Disney World hotels are run at the highest standards so there is a high probability for an excellent stay. However, these hotel rooms only allow up to four people in a single room and as compared to similar quality hotels outside the Disney World property, the prices can be almost double. There is a lot of value, however, in not having to make the daily car trips back and forth to Disney World.

Universal Studios Theme Park Area

While there are also some good options for lodging in the Universal Studios area, there are not nearly as many choices as other areas of Orlando County. The lack of competition results in prices that are not really that attractive.

Downtown Orlando

An Orlando vacation means visiting the theme parks and beautiful attractions that this region has to offer. Most likely, you will not enjoy the traffic hassles of long trips from downtown to the theme parks – not to mention the time that you will be wasting traveling thirty minutes or more to and from Disney World each day. There are just too many good alternatives to staying downtown.

Orlando County Convention Center Area

This area is just a few minutes away from SeaWorld so it can be a good choice for those who will be going to that park. However, the prices are a little more expensive here while the amenities that the hotels offer are mostly geared for business travelers than for families.

International Drive / SeaWorld Area

This is our favorite area to stay when vacationing with children. The reason is due to the number of villa resorts in the area. For the same price as a nice hotel room, you can have a two bedroom villa with full kitchen, whirlpool bath, living room and screened veranda. These resorts have lakes, pools, activity centers and other amenities that children (and adults) love. You will especially appreciate these resorts if you have some planned non-park days.

Orlando offers a large variety of different options for lodging. By reviewing the different choices described in this article, you will be well on your way to making the right decision for a great Orlando vacation.