Fun Vacation Ideas in Florida

We were just in Florida in early April. We took a day away from Disney and went to the Kennedy Space Center. It was great! Seeing the space shuttle Atlantis was probably the highlight for me. The bus tour of the launch pads got a little long, but it was interesting to be that close to the launch pads and to see the Apollo display that is out by the launch pads. You can pay a little more to eat lunch with an astronaut. We didn't do it this time, but definitely want to do it next time. They also have some 3-D IMAX movies. We saw one about the space station that was really good.

When my brother lived in Florida we went to Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park. It is a small park that you can probably see all of in about half a day. All of the animals are native to Florida, except for a hippo that was purchased from I think a circus that went under. My favorite part was the manatees. You can get pretty close to them.

My kids liked eating at Joe's Crab Shack.

We love to visit Florida. Some of our favorite things to do is visit the beaches. Clearwater Beach is close to Tampa and is beautiful. Fishing on the pier is a great way to spend the day if you like to fish. They have a place where you rent poles, buy bait, etc.

Cocoa beach is close to Orlando. It's a nice place too. Kennedy Space Center is there too. Ron Jon's is in Coco beach and I haven't seen a kid yet that didn't like to look around in that store.

One thing we would like to do that we haven't done yet is zipline. There are zipline tours in Orlando. My husband and daughter also did a helicopter tour of Orlando and really enjoyed it.

I love to look at www.tripadvisor.com to look at different things to do. I've gotten lots of good tips on new places to eat.

Have fun and enjoy the sun.
Blessings!
L.

There are many things to do in the area where you are staying and it is in the heart of the tourist area.

You can check out Gatorland in Kissimmee, Dinosaur World in Plant City off of I-4 on the way to Tampa/Clearwater (both are half day). If you do a google search or check out Orlandosentinel.com you will find loads of other stuff as well. It really depends on what you like.

There is a really good restaurant chain called Manny's Chophouse (Haines City) which has the best steaks but beware it ALWAYS has long waits with mostly locals. If you are down that way you can check out Bok Tower gardens. I wouldn't recommend LEGOLAND for your kids since they are too old to go on most stuff there. This area is the heart of orange groves as well as cattle ranches.

Remember that it is super hot in July and crowded.

Tampa area, 4ths street Shrimp Store _great place to eat.
http://theshrimpstore.com/

We love Johns Pass, we went wave running and was with in 20 feet of a dolphin in the ocean. My kiddo LOVED it.

PJs Oyster Bar in Indian Rocks beach, We eat there, then make a right on LSD and go up to hte Cooky coccunut (Might be spelling that wrong). Get desert and watch the sunset.

Mediera beach is very nice.. _ all the above are not to far from each other, but they are just south of Tampa. :)

have fun!

Check out the CSI Experience! My boys are little but we have a teenage cousin who went with her friends and loved it. It right on International Drive. http://orlando.csiexhibit.com/ and there is a ton of other stuff to do there. When we go to tampa we love Sunset Beach near tampa.

Brevard county zoo, on the space coast. Affordable, great zoo.