Back to Nature - Swimming with the Manatees

Having previously swum with dolphins and enjoyed the thrill of the airboat ride to see the wild life of the Everglades up close and personal, we decided to do something different on this last visit and go swimming with some of the most relaxed and peaceful mammals on this planet...the Manatee...or as they are sometimes called...the Sea Cow.  The photo below is one that I took using a waterproof camera which you can hire for $20 from the organisors (just take your own SD card to save the images on, it also shoots video) and gives you an idea of how close you get to the wonderful creatures.

We booked this as a day trip with Snorkel with Manatees: located in Crystal River, around a 70-90 minute drive from 'Magic Dreams' depending on the traffic.  The organisors provide you with a wet suit, snorkel and mask so all you need to bring is a towel and change of clothes for after.  The trip itself lasts for approx 3 hours and each boat is made up of small parties (6 on ours) so you get plenty of space onboard and personal attention from the Captain (ours was Captain Tom).

In addition to the manatees we were also lucky enough to get followed by a dolphin, leaping in and out of the wake from the boats propellor.  We visited several locations and had plenty of time in the water (no one makes you hurry), in our 2nd location we found 3 that were sleeping, including 1 huge one that must have been close to 4-metres long.

Our playful Dolphin

The manatee is very gentle and naturally curious and the way in which they come up close to you is for you to simply float, very still and with no sudden movements or swimming motions.  They will then just swim right up to you and take a look...they are completely unfazed by your presence.

This is a natural experience within an outdoor tropical environment so be prepared with sunscreen, comfortable clothing and a supply of bug spray (you will get mosquito bites when on and around the river).  The organisors did have plenty of insect repellent on the boat but we'd recommend taking your own and being protected as you arrive.  All in all a totally different experience and great day out...one that we would highly recommend.

Shopping in Orlando - Retail Heaven!

Apart from visiting the theme parks and enjoying the other many and varied attractions which makes Orlando one of the top holiday destinations, it also offers an incredible choice of shopping experiences, from the flea markets to the huge shopping malls.

'Magic Dreams' is close to the 192 and 27 and only a short drive to the I4 and International Drive, so all the well known shopping destinations are within easy reach. By the entrance to Glenbrook we have both a Walgreens and a CVS and these are within easy walking distance of our villa. Last year saw the opening of the new Sweetbay supermarket, which offers an excellent choice of fresh produce, bakery and deli items, right on our doorstep:

Around 1-mile south of the Glenbrook resort is the new community of Cagan Crossing, which has a variety of shops and restaurants together with a 250,000 sq ft Walmart supercenter, which sells just about everything!

Cagan Crossings Town Centre

Just 5-miles from 'Magic Dreams'
is Downtown Disney, the ideal venue to do some 'Disney' shopping for clothes, gifts and souvenirs or just to spend an evening to stroll around? Close by to Downtown Disney is Lake Buena Vista, which has a great choice of restaurants and bars.

Downtown Disney itself is made up of 3 sections, these are West Side, Pleasure Island and Downtown Disney Marketplace (which offers many unusual shops) and is also where you will find the largest Disney store in the world! West Side is home to the amazing Cirque du Soleil show and also offers a 24-screen multiplex cinema and the DisneyQuest interactive indoor park (great fun for kids and parents)...

Pleasure Island is where the nightlife can be found, with a mix of clubs, bars, restaurants and shops. Our favorite there is Fulton's Crab House, built into a replica riverboat it not only looks stunning but also serves some great seafood.

Orlando has an incredible choice of shopping malls to choose from, the most poular of these are:

Orlando Premium Outlets - located on the northern end of International Drive this mall was originally known as the Belz factory outlet center. It had a multi-million dollar refurbishment in 2007 and now offers an amazing 180 stores. This is a large sprawling complex made up of 4 different sections so be prepared to do some walking...

Wander along to the South Orange Blossom Trail and you can't fail to notice the Florida Mall, with its almost 2-million square feet of retail therapy...heaven to some! With over 250 stores and all of the famous fashion brands to choose from this mall is a day out on its own.

Venture further north up the I4 to Conroy Road and you have The Mall at Millenia. The 150+ stores here are for the fashion conscious amongst us and offers some of the best upscale brands. The Mall is built on 2 levels and houses 3 very famous department stores, Macy's, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales.

If you like fashion but are also shopping on a budget one of our favorite destinations is a bit closer to home, the Orlando Premier Outlets on Vineland Avenue (close to Lake Buena Vista so a good place to visit after you've been to Downtown Disney). With 150+ factory outlet stores covering all of the well known fashion brands, good prices and a wide choice we've never been disappointed...

Orlando Premium Outlets

Enjoy your shopping...Lucien

Why Rent a Vacation Home?

There are many good reasons to consider renting a vacation home versus a hotel or prepackaged holiday. Consider the following:
You choose your location - Many tour operators use an 'allocate on arrival' system. Orlando is a large metropolitan area and has many short term rental communities (of varying ages and quality) that range from 'close to Disney' (10-30 minutes drive) to easy access to Disney (could take you 1-hour or more). By renting your own vacation home you get to choose an exact location and can find out something about the community and the home before you arrive.
Space to call your own - A vacation home offers you the same level of freedom that you expect in your own home. Florida homes are generously proportioned. No sharing facilities or trying to get 4 kids and 4 adults into one hotel suite! You can eat when you want and come and go when you want.
Choose a Pool home - There is nothing to beat having a private pool (and preferably a spa as well) after a long day at the parks or out shopping and this simply cannot be compared to sharing a hotel pool/changing facilities/finding the best spot to sunbathe etc...
Value for money - At todays rental rates most decent sized 4 or 5 bedroom villas rent for around $120 to $180 per night and can easily accommodate groups of 8 to 10-people. That's equal to $12 to $18 per person per night including all utilities and taxes to stay in a large luxury home!
Safety and Security - Vacation homes are always on 'short term rental' communities and they are either gated or accessed only by guests and visitors. Under Florida Statute they have to be licensed as an hotel and this means that smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, pool safety fences, carbon monoxide detectors, emergency lighting etc have to be provided and regularly maintained by law. In common with a lot of owners who are proud of their homes we have also added an electronic security safe and a fully monitored ADT alarm system. In addition to this these homes can easily house 2 or 3 cars on their driveways and/or garages so you are never concerned about where your car is parked for the night.
Fun and Games - Virtually all Orlando rental homes will provide a TV in every bedroom plus at least one large screen TV in the main living space and a good cable or satellite TV package. Many also include a Playstation or Nintendo Wii. Many homes also have a Games Room (pool table, air hockey, fooseball, table tennis, darts, music etc) and again these facilities are for the exclusive use of the guests in that home....no sharing or waiting around to use the next free pool table. If you have teenage children you will soon appreciate the absence of the 'I'm bored' comment.
Free Perks - It is quite common for Orlando vacation homeowners to package in FREE perks for guests, such as free telephone calls, free internet access, free wi-fi, free use of a computer. Imagine checking out of your hotel and asking the receptionist not to bill you for those phone calls to home or for the wi-fi acess because you had to check your work emails ...it isn't going to happen!
Resort facilities - Many of the newer short term rental communities include resort facilities such as a clubhouse, tennis courts, community swimming pools, staff on hand to help out with some local advice...facilities which are as good as, if not better, than you get at some hotels.
So for that perfect family or group vacation in Florida put the villa rental option to the top of your list!