Along Florida's Expressways - current edition This page brought to you by
"Along Florida's Expressways"

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Meet your favorite Disney characters, "Ride the Movies" at Universal Studios Florida, be splashed by a five-ton killer whale at SeaWorld Orlando, meet an alligator close-up, or commune with nature . . . all surprisingly close to the action of Central Florida . . . the world's playground.

To explore the area, click on one of the topics below:

Tourist Resources Current Weather Forecasts
Special Vacation "Deals" Weather Radar
Accommodations Road Construction
Attractions & Museums Shopping - Malls, Outlets
Golf Courses/Facilities Links to other area websites

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Tourism Resources and Information
Most counties and cities maintain Convention & Visitor Bureaus (known in the travel business as CVBs) or Chambers of Commerce (COCs) to provide local tourism information. We have listed those with websites in this area so you can visit them and view their information online.
Bartow COC, Polk Co.
Central Florida CVB
Lake Eustis COC
Kissimmee/St. Cloud CVB
Lake Co. CVB
Lake Placid
Lake Wales COC
Lakeland COC
Mount Dora - a Dave Hunter recommendation - antique shopping, bed&breakfast lodging
Ocala, Marion Co.
Orlando, Orange Co. CVB
Sanford COC
Sebring COC
Seminole Co. CVB
South Lake COC

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Special Deals for Vacationers
Let's face it, would you rather be digging snow out of your driveway this winter, wearing a heavy coat and awkward boots . . . or wandering along a sandy, palm fringed beach in your shorts, letting the sea wash between your toes?       I know what I would rather be doing.
To encourage you to head to the Sunshine State this winter, a number of local tourism offices have met with the hotel, motel and restaurant managers in their areas and put together special deals and discounts just for you.

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Hotels, Motels and Resort Lodging

Arguably, the state of Florida has more available accommodation for its visitors, than any other state of the Union . . . and these can range from a simple Kampground Of America (KOA) cabin to a full service resort. Here we offer some alternatives for this section of the "Sunshine State."

Darst Victorian Manor (Mount Dora)

Lakeside Inn (Mount Dora)

La Quinta Inn Lakeside (Kissimmee, close to WDW)

Magnolia Inn (Mount Dora)

Mount Dora Historical Inn (Mount Dora)

Mulberry Inn (Clermont)

Simpson's B&B (Mount Dora)

Swan and Dolphin Resorts (Epcot, Walt Disney World, Orlando)

If you have a website address for a favorite Florida hotel, motel, B&B or resort property in this area, please e.mail the information to Dave Hunter at mile_oak@compuserve.com

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Attractions and Museums
There are so many fascinating things to see and do as you travel around Florida. From prehistoric archaeological sites to the space age technology of the Space Coast; from "native" Florida to the theme parks of Central Florida . . . there is something for everybody. Here we have provided links to the websites of the attractions in this area.
  Arabian Nights Dinner Theater (Kissimmee) - Without a doubt, the best dinner theater in the Orlando/Kissimmee area is the Arabian Nights Dinner Theater. I've seen the show 3 times and never tire of it. It's a remarkable show enhanced by beautifully colored costumes, fog, imitation snow and magic lights. Add a cast of 70 highly talented horses sharing billing with 30 skilled performers . . . and you have a show better than anything on Broadway.

Central Florida Zoo (Sanford) - spend a few hours and come face to face with the wildest animals from around the world. As you stroll along elevated boardwalks, discover Florida's natural beauty; there's a new adventure around every turn.

Citrus Tower (Clermont)

Continental Acres (Weirsdale) - an equine vacation resort

Cyprus Gardens (Winter Haven)

  Discovery Cove (Orlando) - This is one of my very special places in this area. Here you can swim with the dolphins ... snorkel in a large warm pool among thousands of beautifully colored reef fish, underwater grottos and even a shipwreck ... wade and play in a pool with gentle rays ... float in a river which meanders through this park paradise, under waterfalls and through an exotic bird aviary ... or just relax on some of the finest man-made beaches beneath palms and lush plantings. This is truly a wonderful tropical paradise.

  Fantasy of Flight (Polk City) - if you love aircraft, this is a "must." The cleverly designed museum leads you through very effective dioramas where you follow the history of flight. From a C47 "night jump" to the cobblestones of hot-air balloon days in early Paris. And then into World War I trenches and on to a WWII bomber base "somewhere in England." Finally out into the main museum with its wonderful flyable machines. Don't miss the fighter flight simulators where you can actually fly against your friends in a 1940s "dog fight." Highly recommended.

Forever Florida (south of Holopaw) - visit this "cracker" ranch, set in the "prehistoric ecosystem" of south central Florida.

Quest Airforce (Groveland) - if you enjoy hang gliding and soaring, you've got to visit this website - it's awesome!

Show Case of Citrus (Clermont)

Silver Springs (Ocala)

  SkyVenture (Orlando) - just when you thought you had seen it all, along comes SkyVenture, a vertical wind tunnel where you can safely "ride the air" just as if you were on an actual skydiving jump. "Virtual" film projection give you the actual sensation of a dive . . . you can even chose your landing spot!

Soaring & Flying Gliderport (Lake Buena Vista)

State Parks in the Central Florida region

Universal Studios (Orlando) - you'll find all the information you need about Universal Studios's major Orlando attractions here; Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, Wet ‘n Wild and CityWalk.

Walt Disney World - Magic Kingdom (Lake Buena Vista) - as a "big kid" (with 59 years of kidhood experience), I can understand why this is a "must do" in the life of every child - big or small.

Walt Disney World - Epcot (Lake Buena Vista) - my favorite of the big theme parks. There is much here for the adult mind to get its "teeth" into.

Walt Disney World - MGM Studios (Lake Buena Vista) - go behind the scenes of some of the Studios popular movies. This park is a combination of rides and entertaining shows built around popular MGM movie themes, and behind the scene looks at the techniques used to produce today's mega films and TV shows.

Walt Disney World - Animal Kingdom (Lake Buena Vista)

  Warbird Adventures (Kissimmee) - Have you ever wanted to fly a WWII/Korean War fighter . . . or perhaps a M*A*S*H Bell 47 Helicopter is more your style? If so, then the Warbird Adventure experience at Kissimmee Airport is for you. Once in the air and after instruction with your instructor pilot, you get to take over the controls.

Read about how I flew the M*A*S*H helicopter in my book, "Along Florida's Expressways." It was a wonderful experience I will never forget. See you in the air!

Wild Waters Park (Ocala)

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Shopping Malls and Outlet Centers
Like many other "Snowbirds," I enjoy trips to Florida shopping malls . . . especially if I know that snow is swirling in the north.

There's a perverse pleasure in being able to leave your car (no heavy boots, coats, snow shovel or ice scrapper) in the warm, sunny parking area and heading into the air-conditioned mall.

Fashions are always "summery" - even in January and everything always appears clean and fresh.

Here are some of the retail shopping malls (and let's not forget the factory outlets or antique malls) in this area of Florida.

Kissimmee,   -  Kissimmee Manufacturers Outlet Mall.
Lake Buena Vista,   -  Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores.
Orlando,   -  Belz Design Outlet Center.
Orlando,   -  Belz Factory Outlet World.

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Golf Courses and Facilities

The sun . . . golf . . . fresh air . . . Florida. They all seem to go together making the "Sunshine State" a golfers paradise.

Here you'll find links (pun definitely intended) to the area's golf courses and facilities. Enjoy!

Mission Inn Golf - (Orlando)

Deer Island Golf - (Mount Dora)

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Other Useful Sites for this Area
Here I list other area websites which didn't seem to fit in the heading topics on the home page. I hope you find them interesting and useful . . .  

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