The resort is quite nice and is located in proximity to Universal Studios and Walt Disney World. It is in fact situated on Universal Boulevard.
Adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center, Vista Cay Resort features 674 condominiums and town homes with two and three bedrooms.
The resort apartments are very well-equipped and relatively new. The property has a heated pool located behind the central club house. There is in-unit washing machine/dryer but with enough detergent for 1 wash cycle.
There are shops and supermarkets in the immediate vicinity or nearby. Publix supermarket is literally next door - it it located at the same mall entrance. Costco is a 7-10 minute drive. Walmart Supercenter is a bit further away, at 10-15 minutes. Whole Foods is a 10 minute drive.
The NYPD Pizza next door (next to Publix) is reportedly very good. There is a nearby Greek Taverna which was reportedly good too.
The International Drive is about a 5 minute away.
Finding the check-in office may be a challenge - it is in a suite #244 in the mall next to Publix. There is a $75 cleaning fee.
The entrance door uses a 4-digit key, similarly to the entrance door (this is a gated community). There is a free secure WiFi.
Attractions and Distances from Community:
Walt Disney World: 8 Miles
Disney's BoardWalk World: 8 Miles
Sea World: 1.5 Miles
Universal Studios: 5 Miles, it is located on the same road where Vista Cay is - Universal Boulevard.
Orange County Convention Center: .5 Mile
Closest Beach: 60 Miles, Cocoa Beach
Closest Golf Course: 1 Mile
View Larger Map
Vista Cay is close to "everything", it is also only 14 minutes (11 miles) from the airport (MCO):
View Larger Map
References:
Vista Cay Resort Condo Rentals in Orlando Florida
http://www.vistacayresort.com/
Vista Cay Resort: Traveler Reviews
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34515-d652638-r89748326-Vista_Cay_Resort-Orlando_Florida.html#REVIEWS
http://vistacayholidays2-px.rtrk.com/
http://www.keinternationalgroup.com/index2.html
Showing posts with label Tax 10. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tax 10. Show all posts
"The Senator" 3,500 year old cypress in Big Tree Park, Orlando, Florida
This park is a step back into time. You will see natural vegetation and marsh lands as you make your way on the boardwalk to "The Senator", the park's main attraction, a 3,500 year old Bald Cypress. This property was donated to Seminole County by Senator M.O. Overstreet and dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge in 1929.
The Senator is the largest Bald Cypress tree in the United States, located in Big Tree Park, Longwood, Florida. It is 125 feet (38 m) tall, with a trunk diameter of 17.5 feet (5.3 m). Update from 2014: The tree was burned down. Here is the news report: Model burned down 3,500 year-old 'Senator' tree while high on meth avoids jail time | Mail Online http://buff.ly/Sq5X9r
The Seminole Indians and other Native American Indians who lived throughout Central Florida used this tree as a landmark. In the late 19th century, the tree attracted visitors even though much of the surrounding land was swamp; reaching the tree was done by leaping from log to log.
In 1925, a hurricane destroyed the top of the tree, reducing its original height of 165 feet (50 m) to its present height of 38 meters. The Senator is named for Senator M.O. Overstreet, who donated the tree and surrounding land to Seminole County for a park in 1927.
The Senator is estimated to be 3,400-3,500 years old, the 5th oldest tree in the world. The Senator not only the largest Bald Cypress in the United States, but also the largest tree of any species east of the Mississippi River.
Located 40 feet (12 m) from The Senator is another old cypress in the same Big Tree Park named Lady Liberty. It is 89 feet (27 m) high 10 feet (3.0 m) in diameter, and is estimated to be 2000 years old and another of the oldest trees in the world.
View Larger Map
Free Things to Do in Orlando:
- Big Tree Park
- Disney's Boardwalk
- Downtown Disney Marketplace
- Lake Eola Park, located in the heart of the city - a small park
- University of Central Florida Arboretum
References:
http://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/guide/parks/park1.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senator_(tree)
http://www.floridata.com/tracks/thesenator/page1.htm
Free Things to Do in Orlando. National Geographic.
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/city-guides/free-orlando-traveler/
The Senator is the largest Bald Cypress tree in the United States, located in Big Tree Park, Longwood, Florida. It is 125 feet (38 m) tall, with a trunk diameter of 17.5 feet (5.3 m). Update from 2014: The tree was burned down. Here is the news report: Model burned down 3,500 year-old 'Senator' tree while high on meth avoids jail time | Mail Online http://buff.ly/Sq5X9r
The Seminole Indians and other Native American Indians who lived throughout Central Florida used this tree as a landmark. In the late 19th century, the tree attracted visitors even though much of the surrounding land was swamp; reaching the tree was done by leaping from log to log.
In 1925, a hurricane destroyed the top of the tree, reducing its original height of 165 feet (50 m) to its present height of 38 meters. The Senator is named for Senator M.O. Overstreet, who donated the tree and surrounding land to Seminole County for a park in 1927.
The Senator is estimated to be 3,400-3,500 years old, the 5th oldest tree in the world. The Senator not only the largest Bald Cypress in the United States, but also the largest tree of any species east of the Mississippi River.
Located 40 feet (12 m) from The Senator is another old cypress in the same Big Tree Park named Lady Liberty. It is 89 feet (27 m) high 10 feet (3.0 m) in diameter, and is estimated to be 2000 years old and another of the oldest trees in the world.
View Larger Map
Free Things to Do in Orlando:
- Big Tree Park
- Disney's Boardwalk
- Downtown Disney Marketplace
- Lake Eola Park, located in the heart of the city - a small park
- University of Central Florida Arboretum
References:
http://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/guide/parks/park1.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senator_(tree)
http://www.floridata.com/tracks/thesenator/page1.htm
Free Things to Do in Orlando. National Geographic.
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/city-guides/free-orlando-traveler/
Colosseum's Secrets Lie Below the Surface
From the Smithsonian magazine:
The floor of the colosseum, where you might expect to see a smooth ellipse of sand, is instead a bewildering array of masonry walls shaped in concentric rings, whorls and chambers.
Heinz-Jürgen Beste of the German Archaeological Institute in Rome, has spent much of the past 14 years deciphering the hypogeum — from the Greek word for “underground” - the extraordinary, long-neglected ruins beneath the Colosseum floor.
“The hypogeum allowed the organizers of the games to create surprises and build suspense,” Beste says. “A hunter in the arena wouldn’t know where the next lion would appear, or whether two or three lions might emerge instead of just one.” This uncertainty could be exploited for comic effect. Emperor Gallienus punished a merchant who had swindled the empress, selling her glass jewels instead of authentic ones, by setting him in the arena to face a ferocious lion. When the cage opened, however, a chicken walked out, to the delight of the crowd. Gallienus then told the herald to proclaim: “He practiced deceit and then had it practiced on him.” The emperor let the jeweler go home.
References:
Secrets of the Colosseum. Smithsonian magazine. 01/2011.
The floor of the colosseum, where you might expect to see a smooth ellipse of sand, is instead a bewildering array of masonry walls shaped in concentric rings, whorls and chambers.
Heinz-Jürgen Beste of the German Archaeological Institute in Rome, has spent much of the past 14 years deciphering the hypogeum — from the Greek word for “underground” - the extraordinary, long-neglected ruins beneath the Colosseum floor.
“The hypogeum allowed the organizers of the games to create surprises and build suspense,” Beste says. “A hunter in the arena wouldn’t know where the next lion would appear, or whether two or three lions might emerge instead of just one.” This uncertainty could be exploited for comic effect. Emperor Gallienus punished a merchant who had swindled the empress, selling her glass jewels instead of authentic ones, by setting him in the arena to face a ferocious lion. When the cage opened, however, a chicken walked out, to the delight of the crowd. Gallienus then told the herald to proclaim: “He practiced deceit and then had it practiced on him.” The emperor let the jeweler go home.
References:
Secrets of the Colosseum. Smithsonian magazine. 01/2011.
Polasek Sculpture Gardens in Orlando, Florida
The Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens is a historic site in Winter Park, Florida. It is frequently featured among the "free attractions" of Orlando, however, the access to most areas requires a fee.
It is located at 633 Osceola Avenue on 3 acres overlooking Lake Osceola. On May 2, 2000, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
The museum includes Albin Polasek's former retirement home, studio, galleries, and chapel, as well as surrounding gardens containing figurative sculpture and mythological pieces. The permanent collection of approximately 400 pieces includes sculpture by Polasek, Charles Grafly, and Ruth Sherwood, as well as antiquities from Polasek's collection.
Special areas to visit in the garden include the butterfly garden, two water gardens, the cycad collection along the museum’s front drive and the many individual container gardens found throughout the property.
View Larger Map
Just nearby is Rollins College, a liberal arts college, along the shores of Lake Virginia. Visiting the small park surrounding the lake is suggested.
Free Things to Do in Orlando:
- Big Tree Park
- Disney's Boardwalk
- Downtown Disney Marketplace
- Lake Eola Park, located in the heart of the city - a small park
- University of Central Florida Arboretum
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albin_Polasek_House_and_Studio
http://polasek.org
Free Things to Do in Orlando. National Geographic.
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/city-guides/free-orlando-traveler
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollins_College
Fort De Soto is among the Gulf Coast barrier islands, Florida
Fort De Soto Park is located just outside the city of St. Petersburg, Florida. This park, operated by Pinellas County, is made up from 5 offshore keys, or islands:
- Madelaine Key
- St. Jean Key
- St. Christopher Key
- Bonne Fortune Key
- the main island, Mullet Key
All 5 islands are now connected by land to each other.
Fort De Soto island group is accessible by toll road from the mainland.
The park is a 'gateway site' for the Great Florida Birding Trail. The 2000 mile (3200 km) long Great Florida Birding Trail (GFBT) is a collection of more than 400 locations in the state of Florida (http://floridabirdingtrail.com).
History of Fort De Soto
In 1849, Brevet Col. Robert E. Lee (the famous American Civil War commander) surveyed the area and recommended Mullet and Egmont Keys become fortified. Both keys could only be reached by boat. Union troops were stationed on the two keys during the Civil War (1861–1865) to aid in the Union blockade of Tampa Bay.
A quarantine station for aliens was established on Mullet Key in 1889. By 1925 the station operated with fifteen buildings.
The main operation on Mullet Key became Fort De Soto in 1900, named for Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto. The Army post was officially a subpost of Fort Dade, which was constructed on Egmont Key. These posts contained batteries of artillery and mortars to protect Tampa Bay from invading forces. Construction of Fort De Soto began in 1898 and was completed in 1906.
The post consisted of 29 buildings - large barracks, a hospital, a guardhouse, a blacksmith and carpenter shop, an administration building, and mess hall with kitchen, a bakery, and a storehouse. The post was active from 1898 to 1910. Mosquitoes were a constant problem and the post was very hot in the summers.
Tropical storms and hurricanes severely damaged the buildings on the post. The Army attempted to sell the post, but there was little interest. In 1938 Pinellas County bought the areas on Mullet Key for $12,500. Two years later the War Department decided it wanted Mullet Key back for use as a bombing range. In 1941 the key was purchased back from Pinellas County for $18,404. In 1948 Pinellas County again purchased the key and it permanently remained county property.
In 1962 a toll road, the Pinellas Bayway (state road (SR) 682), was completed to the mainland, enabling island visitors to arrive by car. Fort De Soto Park opened the same year.
The quartermaster storehouse was reconstructed to become the Quartermaster Storehouse Museum.
As of 2011, the historic fort is undergoing restoration and is closed to the public.
In 2005, Fort Desoto's North Beach was named the top beach in America by "Dr. Beach".
View Larger Map
Egmont Key
There is a ferry from Fort De Soto to Egmont Key, site of Egmont Key State Park.
Most barrier islands continually change shape, like shifting sandbars, but Egmont is different. A firm bed of limestone supports the north end of the land mass and keeps the shape of the key relatively stable. Egmont Key also has historical significance. During the Third Seminole War, captured Seminoles were imprisoned there.
References:
http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_ft_desoto.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_De_Soto_Park
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egmont_Key_State_Park
http://www.sptimes.com/News/050500/Outdoors/Egmont_Key.shtml
Fort De Soto Park: Traveler Reviews
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34690-d548329-r89844024-Fort_De_Soto_Park-Tierra_Verde_Florida.html
The Men Who Stare at Goats (Netflix)
Available for streaming from Netflix: The Men Who Stare at Goats (film), 2009, 94 minutes.
The Men Who Stare at Goats is a 2009 comedy war film, if such genre exists.
Journalist Bob Wilton latches onto an unbelievable story in Iraq when he meets Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), a man of mysterious origins who reveals he was a "warrior monk" trained by the U.S. Army to develop psychic powers. Jeff Bridges co-stars as Lyn's mentor, the man who dreamed up the top-secret operation.
The movie is very different from the book: the book has 16 separate chapters whose only link is their connection to the use of unusual approaches that the army and intelligence services have employed, whereas the movie has a linear plot.
The Men Who Stare at Goats (2004) is a book by Jon Ronson about the U.S. Army's exploration of New Age concepts and the potential military applications of the paranormal. The title refers to attempts to kill goats by staring at them.
The movie is not that great actually. It is funny at times but overall it lacks a cohesive concept.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Men_Who_Stare_at_Goats_(film)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Men_Who_Stare_at_Goats
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Earth_Battalion
The Men Who Stare at Goats is a 2009 comedy war film, if such genre exists.
Journalist Bob Wilton latches onto an unbelievable story in Iraq when he meets Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), a man of mysterious origins who reveals he was a "warrior monk" trained by the U.S. Army to develop psychic powers. Jeff Bridges co-stars as Lyn's mentor, the man who dreamed up the top-secret operation.
The movie is very different from the book: the book has 16 separate chapters whose only link is their connection to the use of unusual approaches that the army and intelligence services have employed, whereas the movie has a linear plot.
The Men Who Stare at Goats (2004) is a book by Jon Ronson about the U.S. Army's exploration of New Age concepts and the potential military applications of the paranormal. The title refers to attempts to kill goats by staring at them.
The movie is not that great actually. It is funny at times but overall it lacks a cohesive concept.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Men_Who_Stare_at_Goats_(film)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Men_Who_Stare_at_Goats
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Earth_Battalion
"The Three Broomsticks Inn" Restaurant at Harry Potter Universal Park
"The Three Broomsticks Inn" is a restaurant with typical British dishes where you can sip on spirits and drinks inspired by those in the Harry Potter stories. It was highly recommended in most reviews of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Park but I found it somewhat disappointing.
The Great Feast ($49.99) is the most promoted dish and it feeds a party of four. The Great Feast consists of 4 ribs, 4 pieces of chicken, 4 ears of corn, potatoes and steamed vegetables, and a salad.
I ordered Fish and Chips which was again highly recommended in the online reviews but I found it and its batter unimpressive.
The ButterBeer was too sweet and of somewhat strange vanilla taste.
Menu items as of December 2010:
Shepherd's Pie with Garden Salad $9.99
Fish and Chips $11.99
Cornish Pasties with Garden Salad $7.99
Rotisserie Smoked Chicken Platter $9.99
Chargrilled Ribs Platter $13.99
Chicken and Ribs Platter $11.99
Smoked Turkey Leg $11.99
References:
Harry Potter studio tour - 3-hour walking tour through the Warner Bros. studios in London http://goo.gl/aTZU7
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islands_of_Adventure
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_food_blog/2010/06/dining-review-three-broomsticks-at-universal-orlando-resorts-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter.html
The Great Feast ($49.99) is the most promoted dish and it feeds a party of four. The Great Feast consists of 4 ribs, 4 pieces of chicken, 4 ears of corn, potatoes and steamed vegetables, and a salad.
I ordered Fish and Chips which was again highly recommended in the online reviews but I found it and its batter unimpressive.
The ButterBeer was too sweet and of somewhat strange vanilla taste.
Menu items as of December 2010:
Shepherd's Pie with Garden Salad $9.99
Fish and Chips $11.99
Cornish Pasties with Garden Salad $7.99
Rotisserie Smoked Chicken Platter $9.99
Chargrilled Ribs Platter $13.99
Chicken and Ribs Platter $11.99
Smoked Turkey Leg $11.99
References:
Harry Potter studio tour - 3-hour walking tour through the Warner Bros. studios in London http://goo.gl/aTZU7
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islands_of_Adventure
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_food_blog/2010/06/dining-review-three-broomsticks-at-universal-orlando-resorts-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter.html
http://www.aaatravelviews.com/category/Universal.aspx
Visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando http://bit.ly/1CGPwL8
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Park, Orlando, Florida
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a part of Universal Parks and Resorts' Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando, Florida. It opened in June 2010.
The waits to enter the Harry Potter area of the park are long, often in excess of 2 hours in the stand-by line (as of December 2010-January 2011). I would recommend picking up a "return ticket" that is usually distributed at an offsite location (e.g. Toon Lagoon) and coming back 2-3 hours later. In the meantime, you can enjoys some of the areas of the Islands of Adventure (other "islands"). Suggested parks areas to enjoy during the wait to enter the Wizarding World of Harry Potter:
Jurassic Park
- Camp Jurassic, a children's play area in Jurassic Park
- Jurassic Park River Adventure - it looks like a fun ride but "you will get wet, probably soaked, just like getting a shower". They sell ponchos ($8 each) but the employees are not sure how effective they are.
- Pteranodon Flyers, a children's low-speed, suspended roller coaster which takes 2 riders at a time around the sky above Camp Jurassic. It looks nice but it has a long wait (45 minutes).
- Triceratops Encounter/Triceratops Discovery Trail - only 10 minute wait but many people find it boring.
Seuss Landing
Dartmouth medical school named for Dr. Seuss creator, Theodor Geisel (1925 Dartmouth graduate), and his wife (http://goo.gl/a7Kvv).
- One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, a spinning ride with a musical riddle that will help riders escape water-spitting fish. This ride is quite enjoyable actually.
- The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride, a twin-track tour above and around Seuss Landing. This is one of the best rides for younger children.
- Caro-Seuss-el, a carousel - a classic ride.
After you enter the the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you will likely find that the area is very crowded, with long lines for the rides, and to enter many of the shops. The shortest wait for a ride is for the Dragon Challenge (5-10 minutes) shortly after the entrance (on the right). However, this ride is not very pleasant and is out of limit for younger kids, hence the shorter lines.
A recreation of the Hogwarts Express locomotive lies at the entry to Hogsmeade.
The Owl Post is a working post office (where postcards and letters will be delivered with an authentic Hogsmeade postmark) that sells stationery, writing implements, stamps, and owl-related gifts.
The Three Broomsticks is based on the inn and pub from the Potter series, and offers a variety of food and beverage items from the Harry Potter books and movies.
The Hog's Head is based on the pub from the Potter series owned by Aberforth Dumbledore
Honeydukes is a sweet shop.
Dervish and Banges is a store selling "magical" items, as well as Quidditch supplies, and Hogwarts clothing.
Zonko's is a toy and joke store
Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods is a general gift shop offering Hogwarts souvenirs.
Ollivanders is a re-creation of Ollivanders wand shop, the store where Harry purchases his wand in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Unlike other shops in the park, visitors are admitted in groups of 20 to experience the premise from the Potter series, that "the wand chooses the wizard".
The rides include:
- Dragon Challenge - a roller coaster with 2 tracks that overlap and intertwine with each other. This really is a rough ready and it is not recommended for younger children or adults who have significant disease or anxiety. Few people enjoyed it among those I asked for an opinion. You must leave your bag in the designated lockers before boarding the roller coaster.
A dueling roller coaster features typically 2 roller coasters, built close to each other. The rides are designed to do just as the name indicates: to duel. The coaster's layout consists of maneuvering to produce near-misses between the two coaster trains, designed to induce a greater "adrenaline rush" for the rider than a stand alone roller coaster. As of 2010, the only inverted dueling coaster in the world is at Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Florida. The Dragon Challenge coasters reach a top speed of about 60 MPH (95 km/h) and pass within 12 inches (30 cm, or 1 foot) of each other at some points.
The accelerations accepted in rollercoaster design are generally in the 4-6Gs range for positive vertical (pushing you into your seat). Despite safety measures, accidents can, and do, occur. California requires amusement parks to report any ride-related accident that requires an emergency room visit, while Florida exempts parks whose parent companies employ more than 1000 people from having to report any accidents at all.
In 2003, a 34-year-old woman from Jensen Beach, Florida suffered a heart attack while riding the Incredible Hulk coaster. She was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where she was later pronounced dead.
- Flight of the Hippogriff - a roller coaster designed for families.
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey - a ride simulating a tour of the castle and its surrounding grounds. Visitors initially walk through the castle, interacting with various characters before boarding a "magical bench". This is probably the best ride but it also has the longest wait, often in excess of 45 minutes.
The wait for the rides is often longer than 60 minutes. Universal uses a system for advanced checking similar to to Disney's FastPass but charges $40 for it (FastPass is free).
Steve Fuehne: Terrified dad goes on rollercoaster - as his daughter was not allowed on without him | Mail Online - http://goo.gl/F2PKA:
References
Harry Potter studio tour - 3-hour walking tour through the Warner Bros. studios in London http://goo.gl/aTZU7
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_potter_park
http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/
http://www.universalorlando.com/Amusement_Parks/Islands_of_Adventure/harrypotter/wizarding_world_of_harry_potter.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roller_coaster
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dueling_roller_coaster
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Challenge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incidents_at_Universal_parks
The waits to enter the Harry Potter area of the park are long, often in excess of 2 hours in the stand-by line (as of December 2010-January 2011). I would recommend picking up a "return ticket" that is usually distributed at an offsite location (e.g. Toon Lagoon) and coming back 2-3 hours later. In the meantime, you can enjoys some of the areas of the Islands of Adventure (other "islands"). Suggested parks areas to enjoy during the wait to enter the Wizarding World of Harry Potter:
Jurassic Park
- Camp Jurassic, a children's play area in Jurassic Park
- Jurassic Park River Adventure - it looks like a fun ride but "you will get wet, probably soaked, just like getting a shower". They sell ponchos ($8 each) but the employees are not sure how effective they are.
- Pteranodon Flyers, a children's low-speed, suspended roller coaster which takes 2 riders at a time around the sky above Camp Jurassic. It looks nice but it has a long wait (45 minutes).
- Triceratops Encounter/Triceratops Discovery Trail - only 10 minute wait but many people find it boring.
Seuss Landing
Dartmouth medical school named for Dr. Seuss creator, Theodor Geisel (1925 Dartmouth graduate), and his wife (http://goo.gl/a7Kvv).
- One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, a spinning ride with a musical riddle that will help riders escape water-spitting fish. This ride is quite enjoyable actually.
- The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride, a twin-track tour above and around Seuss Landing. This is one of the best rides for younger children.
- Caro-Seuss-el, a carousel - a classic ride.
After you enter the the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you will likely find that the area is very crowded, with long lines for the rides, and to enter many of the shops. The shortest wait for a ride is for the Dragon Challenge (5-10 minutes) shortly after the entrance (on the right). However, this ride is not very pleasant and is out of limit for younger kids, hence the shorter lines.
A recreation of the Hogwarts Express locomotive lies at the entry to Hogsmeade.
The Owl Post is a working post office (where postcards and letters will be delivered with an authentic Hogsmeade postmark) that sells stationery, writing implements, stamps, and owl-related gifts.
The Three Broomsticks is based on the inn and pub from the Potter series, and offers a variety of food and beverage items from the Harry Potter books and movies.
The Hog's Head is based on the pub from the Potter series owned by Aberforth Dumbledore
Honeydukes is a sweet shop.
Dervish and Banges is a store selling "magical" items, as well as Quidditch supplies, and Hogwarts clothing.
Zonko's is a toy and joke store
Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods is a general gift shop offering Hogwarts souvenirs.
Ollivanders is a re-creation of Ollivanders wand shop, the store where Harry purchases his wand in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Unlike other shops in the park, visitors are admitted in groups of 20 to experience the premise from the Potter series, that "the wand chooses the wizard".
The rides include:
- Dragon Challenge - a roller coaster with 2 tracks that overlap and intertwine with each other. This really is a rough ready and it is not recommended for younger children or adults who have significant disease or anxiety. Few people enjoyed it among those I asked for an opinion. You must leave your bag in the designated lockers before boarding the roller coaster.
A dueling roller coaster features typically 2 roller coasters, built close to each other. The rides are designed to do just as the name indicates: to duel. The coaster's layout consists of maneuvering to produce near-misses between the two coaster trains, designed to induce a greater "adrenaline rush" for the rider than a stand alone roller coaster. As of 2010, the only inverted dueling coaster in the world is at Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Florida. The Dragon Challenge coasters reach a top speed of about 60 MPH (95 km/h) and pass within 12 inches (30 cm, or 1 foot) of each other at some points.
The accelerations accepted in rollercoaster design are generally in the 4-6Gs range for positive vertical (pushing you into your seat). Despite safety measures, accidents can, and do, occur. California requires amusement parks to report any ride-related accident that requires an emergency room visit, while Florida exempts parks whose parent companies employ more than 1000 people from having to report any accidents at all.
In 2003, a 34-year-old woman from Jensen Beach, Florida suffered a heart attack while riding the Incredible Hulk coaster. She was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where she was later pronounced dead.
- Flight of the Hippogriff - a roller coaster designed for families.
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey - a ride simulating a tour of the castle and its surrounding grounds. Visitors initially walk through the castle, interacting with various characters before boarding a "magical bench". This is probably the best ride but it also has the longest wait, often in excess of 45 minutes.
The wait for the rides is often longer than 60 minutes. Universal uses a system for advanced checking similar to to Disney's FastPass but charges $40 for it (FastPass is free).
Steve Fuehne: Terrified dad goes on rollercoaster - as his daughter was not allowed on without him | Mail Online - http://goo.gl/F2PKA:
References
Harry Potter studio tour - 3-hour walking tour through the Warner Bros. studios in London http://goo.gl/aTZU7
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_potter_park
http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/
http://www.universalorlando.com/Amusement_Parks/Islands_of_Adventure/harrypotter/wizarding_world_of_harry_potter.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roller_coaster
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dueling_roller_coaster
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Challenge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incidents_at_Universal_parks
http://www.aaatravelviews.com/category/Universal.aspx
Visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando http://bit.ly/1CGPwL8
Disney's BoardWalk - Among the Free Things to Do in Orlando
Disney's BoardWalk Resort is a hotel and entertainment complex at the Walt Disney World Resort. First opened in 1996, the BoardWalk Resort lies alongside Crescent Lake and is situated between Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios.
You can park at, and visit the BoardWalk for free. To get there by car, you need to let the security guard know that you are visiting the BoardWalk and they will let you in. It is also a quite enjoyable way to enter Epcot from the side of the Word Showcase. Considering the free parking, this probably one of the good ways to visit the Showcase if you will be focused predominantly on this area of Epcot. The entrance is between the pavilions of England and France.
BoardWalk Inn offers decor inspired by the seaside districts of the Northeastern United States in the 20th century. The BoardWalk entertainment district lies along a 1/4-mile long authentic boardwalk, reminiscent of Coney Island, New York. It was built to be reminiscent of the boardwalks that were famous along Atlantic City and Ocean City, New Jersey in the 1920s-1940s.
Guests can rent pedicabs or bicycles to travel around the Epcot resorts, enjoy classic midway games and street performers, go dancing at the Atlantic Dance Hall or enjoy a "dueling pianos" show at Jellyroll's.
The BoardWalk is a short walk or FriendShip launch ride from the other resorts around Crescent Lake, as well as Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. The boats provide free transportation between the BoardWalk and Epcot.
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Free Things to Do in Orlando:
- Big Tree Park
- Disney's Boardwalk
- Downtown Disney Marketplace
- Lake Eola Park, located in the heart of the city - a small park
- University of Central Florida Arboretum
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney's_BoardWalk_Resort
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/disneys-boardwalk/
Free Things to Do in Orlando. National Geographic.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4824167_park-disney-world-orlando-florida.html
Trip Advisor reviews
http://www.perfectfloridavillas.com/main/disney-boardwalk.aspx
Related:
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts around the world - Telegraph.
Melbourne Beach, Florida
Melbourne Beach is a coastal town in Brevard County, Florida, on the Atlantic ocean.
The Ais Indians resided in the area in pre-Columbian times. When Ponce de Leon landed near Melbourne Beach in 1513, he became the first European to set foot in Florida.
The town was established in 1883 by a retired Union general. Pineapples were grown until 1895, when freezing weather wiped out crops and ended commercial farming.
In 1921, the Melbourne Causeway was built, connecting Melbourne Beach to the mainland via the town of Indialantic.
Melbourne Beach is located on an (apparently unnamed) barrier island that separates the Indian River Lagoon from the Atlantic Ocean. This island, approximately 35 miles (56 km) in length, stretches from Cape Canaveral to the north to the Sebastian Inlet (see The Sebastian Inlet State Park) to the south. Melbourne Beach is neighbored by the town of Indialantic to the north.
Sebastian Inlet State Park, 9700 South A1A is located 15 miles south of Melbourne Beach.
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References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne_Beach,_Florida
http://wikitravel.org/en/Melbourne_Beach
Cocoa Beach, Florida
Cocoa Beach is a coastal town in Brevard County, Florida, on the Atlantic ocean.
Cocoa Beach started its major growth during the 1960s (1000% population increase from 1950 to 1960) due to America's space program. NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center is located approximately 15 miles (24 km) north of the town. Many people moved to Cocoa Beach due to their jobs involving the space program. Today, Cocoa Beach is a retirement area, with the average age being 54.
Many of the homes in Cocoa Beach are built on dredged mud and sand from the Banana River.
One of the city's highlights is Ron Jon's, a surf shop, that receives 2 million visitors a year.
The beach sand is darker in color (as opposed to the sugary white sand of some of the Gulf Coast beaches), but I am not sure if this relates to the "cocoa" in the city name.
Road A1A stretches along the barrier islands on the Atlantic Coast and is also named "Atlantic Avenue". There are popular t-shirts with the sign "I''ll never live west of A1A". A1A parallels the coast and provides access from the north and south.
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References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocoa_Beach,_Florida
http://wikitravel.org/en/Cocoa_Beach
Condiment culture
From Chicago Tribune:
Did you know that ketchup, that all-American dunk, was created in Asia, with nary a tomato in sight, at least for a century or two.
These flavor boosters add the taste of home to everyday meals around the world:
Dijon mustard - Made by mixing powdered mustard or mustard seeds with a liquid, often vinegar, water or wine, and adding herbs, spices.
Olive oil
Pickapeppa sauce - Called "Jamaican ketchup," it is aged one year in oak barrels for a taste.
Fish sauce - As ubiquitous in Southeast Asian cooking as salt is in the West. Made from fermented, salted fish, the sauce is intensely briny and smells pungent.
Hot red pepper sauce - Latin hot sauces give heat to all sorts of dishes, from chili stews to tamales.
Harissa - From North Africa, a spicy blend of oil, chilies, garlic, cumin, coriander, caraway and other spices.
Piri-piri sauce - from the small, incendiary bird's eye chilies of Africa. That gives you a clue to the fire in the sauce.
Major Grey's Chutney - Salute Major Grey, whoever he was, for though the sun long ago set on the British Empire, this Raj-era condiment remains popular around the world.
Sriracha sauce - A thickish hot chili sauce from Thailand.
Worcestershire sauce
References:
Jazz up your cooking Condiment crazy Condiment culture. Chicago Tribune, 10/2010.
Did you know that ketchup, that all-American dunk, was created in Asia, with nary a tomato in sight, at least for a century or two.
These flavor boosters add the taste of home to everyday meals around the world:
Dijon mustard - Made by mixing powdered mustard or mustard seeds with a liquid, often vinegar, water or wine, and adding herbs, spices.
Olive oil
Pickapeppa sauce - Called "Jamaican ketchup," it is aged one year in oak barrels for a taste.
Fish sauce - As ubiquitous in Southeast Asian cooking as salt is in the West. Made from fermented, salted fish, the sauce is intensely briny and smells pungent.
Hot red pepper sauce - Latin hot sauces give heat to all sorts of dishes, from chili stews to tamales.
Harissa - From North Africa, a spicy blend of oil, chilies, garlic, cumin, coriander, caraway and other spices.
Piri-piri sauce - from the small, incendiary bird's eye chilies of Africa. That gives you a clue to the fire in the sauce.
Major Grey's Chutney - Salute Major Grey, whoever he was, for though the sun long ago set on the British Empire, this Raj-era condiment remains popular around the world.
Sriracha sauce - A thickish hot chili sauce from Thailand.
Worcestershire sauce
References:
Jazz up your cooking Condiment crazy Condiment culture. Chicago Tribune, 10/2010.
A Viking Mystery in Oxford
From the Smithsonian magazine:
Before construction could begin on new student housing at one of Oxford University’s 38 colleges, St. John’s, archaeologists were summoned to investigate the site in January 2008. After just a few hours of digging, one archaeologist discovered the remains of a 4,000-year-old religious complex—an earthwork enclosure, or henge, built by late Neolithic tribesmen, probably for a sun-worshiping cult.
After one month of digging at the grave site and two years of lab tests, the researchers concluded that between 34 and 38 individuals were buried in the grave, all of them victims of violence.
Out of a total population of around two million in England, perhaps half were of Scandinavian or partly Scandinavian origin.
The Danes ultimately conquered England, in A.D. 1016, and Canute, the son of Svein, was crowned the nation’s king in London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral in January 1017. Twenty-five years later, the Anglo-Saxons would regain the crown, but only for a generation. The Scandinavians, who had refused to renounce the throne, embarked on yet another onslaught against England in September 1066—less than a fortnight before William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy, launched his own invasion of the country.
Although the English pushed back the Scandinavian invaders, the effort so weakened the Anglo-Saxons that they were defeated by William at the Battle of Hastings, also in 1066. The Norman Conquest consolidated the unification of England, as the new rulers introduced a more centralized, hierarchal government. The Anglo-Saxons would rise again, their culture and language merging with that of their oppressors to produce a new nation—the predecessor of modern England, and eventually an empire that would span half the globe.
References:
A Viking Mystery. Smithsonian magazine, 10/2010.
Before construction could begin on new student housing at one of Oxford University’s 38 colleges, St. John’s, archaeologists were summoned to investigate the site in January 2008. After just a few hours of digging, one archaeologist discovered the remains of a 4,000-year-old religious complex—an earthwork enclosure, or henge, built by late Neolithic tribesmen, probably for a sun-worshiping cult.
After one month of digging at the grave site and two years of lab tests, the researchers concluded that between 34 and 38 individuals were buried in the grave, all of them victims of violence.
Out of a total population of around two million in England, perhaps half were of Scandinavian or partly Scandinavian origin.
The Danes ultimately conquered England, in A.D. 1016, and Canute, the son of Svein, was crowned the nation’s king in London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral in January 1017. Twenty-five years later, the Anglo-Saxons would regain the crown, but only for a generation. The Scandinavians, who had refused to renounce the throne, embarked on yet another onslaught against England in September 1066—less than a fortnight before William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy, launched his own invasion of the country.
Although the English pushed back the Scandinavian invaders, the effort so weakened the Anglo-Saxons that they were defeated by William at the Battle of Hastings, also in 1066. The Norman Conquest consolidated the unification of England, as the new rulers introduced a more centralized, hierarchal government. The Anglo-Saxons would rise again, their culture and language merging with that of their oppressors to produce a new nation—the predecessor of modern England, and eventually an empire that would span half the globe.
References:
A Viking Mystery. Smithsonian magazine, 10/2010.
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
From Chicago Tribune:
"For generations — since the Ute American Indians lived on the land — the springs have been said to have healing powers ("Pagosah" is Ute for "healing waters"). The sulfur, chlorides and magnesium have been said to cure everything from arthritis to paralysis."
References:
Winter plunge: At Colorado hot springs, it's swimsuit weather even as snow flies. Chicago Tribune, 10/2010.
"For generations — since the Ute American Indians lived on the land — the springs have been said to have healing powers ("Pagosah" is Ute for "healing waters"). The sulfur, chlorides and magnesium have been said to cure everything from arthritis to paralysis."
References:
Winter plunge: At Colorado hot springs, it's swimsuit weather even as snow flies. Chicago Tribune, 10/2010.
Nature books for kids and parents
From Chicago Tribune:
- Nature Explorer" (DK, $14.99)
- The Nature Connection (Storey, $14.95)
- The Practical Naturalist (DK, $19.95)
- Natural History: The Ultimate Visual Guide to Everything on Earth (DK, $50) - Starting with an overview of Earth and climbing the evolutionary ladder for 648 glossy pages, this hefty reference book presents the thousands of plant and animal species we share the planet with. In addition to a photo, a short copy block gives descriptions of the items and tells where they're found.
References:
Exploring the world, one book at a time. Chicago Tribune, 10/2010.
- Nature Explorer" (DK, $14.99)
- The Nature Connection (Storey, $14.95)
- The Practical Naturalist (DK, $19.95)
- Natural History: The Ultimate Visual Guide to Everything on Earth (DK, $50) - Starting with an overview of Earth and climbing the evolutionary ladder for 648 glossy pages, this hefty reference book presents the thousands of plant and animal species we share the planet with. In addition to a photo, a short copy block gives descriptions of the items and tells where they're found.
References:
Exploring the world, one book at a time. Chicago Tribune, 10/2010.
"Parking guru" Prof. Shoup believes inexpensive space for cars is at the root of urban problems
From Chicago Tribune/LA Times:
According to Shoup, free parking is at the root of many urban ills: congestion, sprawl, wasteful energy use and air pollution.
City governments contribute to all these ills, he says, by requiring too many parking spaces for all development. The high cost of the required parking increases the prices we pay for everything else, including housing. "We have expensive housing and free parking," he says. "We have our priorities the wrong way around."
The city of Ventura's meter rates were set at $1 an hour for the first two hours and $1.50 for each hour after that, with the aim of achieving 85% occupancy. Put another way, 85% occupancy — which Shoup considers ideal — would leave one or two open spaces per block. The city said it plans to adjust rates as needed. If parking use drops below 80%, the prices will be lowered until the 85% goal is achieved.
References:
He puts parking in its place. Chicago Tribune/LA Times, 10/2010.
According to Shoup, free parking is at the root of many urban ills: congestion, sprawl, wasteful energy use and air pollution.
City governments contribute to all these ills, he says, by requiring too many parking spaces for all development. The high cost of the required parking increases the prices we pay for everything else, including housing. "We have expensive housing and free parking," he says. "We have our priorities the wrong way around."
The city of Ventura's meter rates were set at $1 an hour for the first two hours and $1.50 for each hour after that, with the aim of achieving 85% occupancy. Put another way, 85% occupancy — which Shoup considers ideal — would leave one or two open spaces per block. The city said it plans to adjust rates as needed. If parking use drops below 80%, the prices will be lowered until the 85% goal is achieved.
References:
He puts parking in its place. Chicago Tribune/LA Times, 10/2010.
The Trouble with Tuna - TIME Video
An exporter in the Philppine port of General Santos City, says big yellowfin tuna is getting harder to catch because of overfishing. Read more in TIME.
Related reading:
Quick & Simple Meals with Canned Tuna by Whole Foods blog http://goo.gl/csOKQ - Did you know that canned tuna has been around for 110 years?
What's Killing the Bees - TIME Video
Honey bees across the country have been drastically dying off since 2007. A recent study explains why. Read more in TIME.
Chianti wines
From Chicago Tribune:
"Italian wines still make me nervous, with all of the country's regions and subregions; the plethora of hard-to-pronounce grape names; inconsistent labeling, with some wines named for the region, others for the grape.
"Chianti can reflect the essence of Tuscan wine". Chianti is a region in central Tuscany, roughly from Florence to Siena. Chianti Classico is an area in the central part of the Chianti region; its wines are generally considered to be superior.
To be called Chianti, the wine has to be a blend of grapes with at least 75 percent sangiovese. Traditionally, other indigenous grapes were blended with the sangiovese.
References:
The essence of Tuscany. Chicago Tribune, 10/2010.
"Italian wines still make me nervous, with all of the country's regions and subregions; the plethora of hard-to-pronounce grape names; inconsistent labeling, with some wines named for the region, others for the grape.
"Chianti can reflect the essence of Tuscan wine". Chianti is a region in central Tuscany, roughly from Florence to Siena. Chianti Classico is an area in the central part of the Chianti region; its wines are generally considered to be superior.
To be called Chianti, the wine has to be a blend of grapes with at least 75 percent sangiovese. Traditionally, other indigenous grapes were blended with the sangiovese.
References:
The essence of Tuscany. Chicago Tribune, 10/2010.
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