Dinosaur World: Get up Close to the Big Critters

Ever since the first dinosaur fossils were discovered in the early 19th Century, humans have been fascinated by these large creatures of the past. These days, kids in particular love dinosaurs, and if you are in Florida you can treat your kids to a trip to Dinosaur World where more than 150 life size dinosaur replicas are on display.

At Dinosaur World the large replicas are set out in a park-like environment with explanatory plaques providing all the vital information about each species. Some of the star attractions are the long necked seventy ton Brachiosaurus, the horned Chasmosaurus, the three horned Triceratops which has somehow gained a reputation as being “lovable” and the ferocious Tyrannosaurus rex, which is the most popular exhibit at the park.

The explanatory signs are fascinating and capture the imagination of children and grown-ups alike. Going deeper into the lore of dinosaurs and paleontology is possible by participating in the park’s Fossil Dig. Children from the age of 3-12 can dig through sand searching for authentic fossils and they can even keep three fossils as a souvenir of their visit to the park. Fossils that can be found include shark teeth, trilobites, ammonites, sea urchins and more. Fossil Dig tickets are included in the child admission tickets, and anyone else who wants to sift through the sand has to pay two dollars extra.

Speaking about prices Dinosaur World is modestly priced (when compared to some of the other attractions in Florida.) The price for adults is currently $12.75, and children from three to twelve are $9.75, seniors over the age of 60 can enter for $10.75. Also, active duty U.S. military personnel receive free admission to Dinosaur World if they are carrying active military identification documents.

If you enter as a group of 12 or more then you can take advantage of the group rates that have been set up for schools, scouts, church groups and other groups who come with prior reservations. Also, if any of your kids is having a birthday you can also arrange a Prehistoric Party, and the rates are $6 per person for groups of 12 or more with advance reservations.
Unlike many other Florida attractions Dinosaur World does not have a food service but it has picnic tables and you can enjoy a picnic dinner under the trees. You can bring in pizza from nearby take-away restaurants, or you can even have it delivered to the park’s picnic area.
Dinosaur World, Florida is located on Interstate 4, Exit 17 in Plant City. This is approximately 20 minutes from Tampa and 1 hour from Orlando. The address in Florida is Dinosaur World, 5145 Harvey Tew Road Plant City, FL 33565

Dinosaur World also has branch locations in Texas and Kentucky and if you are looking for an attraction that is sure to please and fascinate your kids then Dinosaur World is definitely worth visiting when you are near any of its three locations. You can get more information at their website: http://www.dinoworld.net/

Mark and Susan Whichard are Orlando tourism experts and write frequently about attractions in and around Orlando. He and his wife Susan are the proprietors of Disney Rents Vacation Homes and you can get great deals on Orlando Vacation Home Rentals at this website http://www.disneyrents.com

Dinosaur World: Get up Close to the Big Critters

Ever since the first dinosaur fossils were discovered in the early 19th Century, humans have been fascinated by these large creatures of the past. These days, kids in particular love dinosaurs, and if you are in Florida you can treat your kids to a trip to Dinosaur World where more than 150 life size dinosaur replicas are on display.

At Dinosaur World the large replicas are set out in a park-like environment with explanatory plaques providing all the vital information about each species. Some of the star attractions are the long necked seventy ton Brachiosaurus, the horned Chasmosaurus, the three horned Triceratops which has somehow gained a reputation as being “lovable” and the ferocious Tyrannosaurus rex, which is the most popular exhibit at the park.

The explanatory signs are fascinating and capture the imagination of children and grown-ups alike. Going deeper into the lore of dinosaurs and paleontology is possible by participating in the park’s Fossil Dig. Children from the age of 3-12 can dig through sand searching for authentic fossils and they can even keep three fossils as a souvenir of their visit to the park. Fossils that can be found include shark teeth, trilobites, ammonites, sea urchins and more. Fossil Dig tickets are included in the child admission tickets, and anyone else who wants to sift through the sand has to pay two dollars extra.

Speaking about prices Dinosaur World is modestly priced (when compared to some of the other attractions in Florida.) The price for adults is currently $12.75, and children from three to twelve are $9.75, seniors over the age of 60 can enter for $10.75. Also, active duty U.S. military personnel receive free admission to Dinosaur World if they are carrying active military identification documents.

If you enter as a group of 12 or more then you can take advantage of the group rates that have been set up for schools, scouts, church groups and other groups who come with prior reservations. Also, if any of your kids is having a birthday you can also arrange a Prehistoric Party, and the rates are $6 per person for groups of 12 or more with advance reservations.
Unlike many other Florida attractions Dinosaur World does not have a food service but it has picnic tables and you can enjoy a picnic dinner under the trees. You can bring in pizza from nearby take-away restaurants, or you can even have it delivered to the park’s picnic area.
Dinosaur World, Florida is located on Interstate 4, Exit 17 in Plant City. This is approximately 20 minutes from Tampa and 1 hour from Orlando. The address in Florida is Dinosaur World, 5145 Harvey Tew Road Plant City, FL 33565

Dinosaur World also has branch locations in Texas and Kentucky and if you are looking for an attraction that is sure to please and fascinate your kids then Dinosaur World is definitely worth visiting when you are near any of its three locations. You can get more information at their website: http://www.dinoworld.net/

Mark and Susan Whichard are Orlando tourism experts and write frequently about attractions in and around Orlando. He and his wife Susan are the proprietors of Disney Rents Vacation Homes and you can get great deals on Orlando Vacation Home Rentals at this website http://www.disneyrents.com

Going to Orlando - Bring Your Golf Equipment!

Thanks to Disney World, Universal Studios and other theme parks and family attractions, Orlando has become one of the top vacation destinations in the USA. But vacationing in Orlando offers a lot more than theme parks. Orlando’s favorable climate also makes it a great place to play golf, and if you are bringing your family on an Orlando vacation, make sure you also bring your golf clubs and take advantage of the fine courses in the area. Here is a brief guide to some of the best golf courses in the Orlando area.
Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Grande Lakes Orlando
The 18-hole "Ritz Carlton" course at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Grande Lakes Orlando facility in Orlando, Florida features 7,122 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. The course rating is 73.9 and it has a slope rating of 139 on Bermuda grass. Designed by Greg Norman, the Ritz Carlton golf course opened in 2003. You can find out more about this course at their website http://www.ritzcarlton.com or by telephone, (407) 393-4900
Shingle Creek Golf Club, Shingle Creek Course
Located nine miles from Orlando, this highly rated course offers 18 holes over 7,213 yards with a par of 72. The course was designed by David Harman and is located in an amazing natural setting along the historic Shingle Creek, the headwaters of the Florida Everglades. You can learn more about the course at their website http://www.shinglecreekgolf.com/ or can call them for information: Toll Free: (866) 996-9933
Walt Disney World Golf Courses, Osprey Ridge Course
This is an award winning course located at the Disney World Golf Courses facility in Kissimmee, Florida. It has 7,101 yards with a par of 72. The course was designed by Thomas Fazio and is managed by Steve Harker. You can find out more about this course at the Disney website: http://www.golf.disneyworld.com/ or call them at: (407) 939-4653
Country Club of Orlando, Orlando Golf Course
This is an 18 hole course located two miles from the center of Orlando. The course dates back to 1911 and it features 6,591 yards with a par of 72. The course was designed by Donald J. Ross. More information is available at (407) 425-2319 or through their website: http://www.countrycluboforlando.com
Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando
Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Lodge has been long recognized as one of the best courses in the state. If you like challenges then this is the course for you. Four sets of tees stretch it from 5,235 to 7,207 yards. Bay Hill has everything Arnold Palmer admires in a golf course: Wide open fairways that provide plenty of room to swing the driver, risk/reward options that will tempt you to “go for broke” and multiple rows of bunkers protecting spacious and well-defined greens. Their website is http://www.bayhill.com/ and you can phone them at: (407) 876-2429
Celebration Golf Club, Kissimmee
This is a Robert Trent Jones designed golf course. The course is rated 4 1/2 Star in Golf Digest and ranked #12 by the Florida Golf News. The renowned father-son team of Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and Jr. sculpted a park-like atmosphere within the natural wetland environment, creating a truly serene golf experience. The course boasts rolling terrain that weaves through a series of pristine lakes and periodic clusters of native oak, pine and magnolia. For more information call them at Toll Free 888-2Play18 or visit their website: www.celebrationgolf.com/ These are just some of the golf courses available in the greater Orlando area, but they will give you an idea of the treats that await you here. By all means plan your vacation allowing yourself time to take advantage of the world-class golf facilities in Orlando
Mark and Susan Whichard are Orlando tourism experts and write frequently about attractions in and around Orlando. He and his wife Susan are the proprietors of Disney Rents Orlando Vacation Homes and you can get great deals on Orlando Vacation Rentals at this website http://www.disneyrents.com

Orlando Vacation Condos and Townhomes: Affordable Orlando Short Term Rentals

The city of Orlando is a very popular part of Florida, largely because of Disney World. Through coincidence or design, it is a strange fact that Disney World is sited in Orange County Florida while Disneyland is sited in Orange County California. Perhaps Walt Disney liked oranges - who knows? Irrespective of this coincidence, partially because of Disney and partially due to the climate and for other reasons, vacation accommodation and its business counterparts are in great demand in Orlando.

Both businessmen and those seeking vacation rentals in Orlando tend to look first to hotels. Although hotels in Orlando are of the highest quality, they can be expensive both for short-term business needs and for those of large families or groups of people going on holiday together. In such cases, inexpensive accommodation would be desirable - for the businessman to keep his expenses to a minimum, and for families and groups for obvious reasons, particularly in this current financial situation.

In Orlando, short-term Orlando vacation rentals in the form of condos and townhomes offer extremely attractive alternatives to hotel accommodation. Not only for price but also for the relative standards of accommodation and facilities provided

Mark Whichard is an Orlando tourism expert and writes frequently about attractions in and around Orlando. Mark and his wife Susan are the proprietors of Disney Rents Vacation Homes and you can get great deals on Orlando Vacation Home Rentals at this website http://www.disneyrents.com

Orlando is for Shopping, Not Just Theme Parks

This title says it all, sort of. You can find just about anything you want in Orlando, and any time of year (unless you like snow and cold weather; sorry friend) The superb shopping in Orlando can be just as much of a tourist attraction as the world famous theme parks and other regular tourist attractions.
Called by some writers ‘the ultimate family holiday destination’ this small but vibrant city is home to a large number of excellent shopping malls, and is known for its vibrant nightlife and renowned sports centers. In sum, a visit to Orlando means a phenomenal number of outstanding shops and stores. You’ll find a vast range of designer outlets, classy department stores, countless fashion boutiques and sprawling shopping malls.
Something for everyone, indeed. Let’s check out a few of them now, so you can have an idea of what to expect in this tourist mecca. Starting at the top end, there is the Florida Mall, Orlando’s largest shopping center. With 245 stores, including eight department stores, well, you’re more than likely to find what something you want here. The location, naturally, is convenient as it’s near International Drive, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World.
Not so large, but hardly ‘small’ is Alamonte Mall, near the downtown area. More than 150 stores beckon you to a great shopping experience which is very much Florida, including indoor palm trees and native vegetation in the mall. And if shopping is your thing, or even if you just need a couple of personal items or a gift or two, or three, don’t miss The Mall at Millenia. Reputed as very big and very complete, it’s centrally located and close to major theme parks. The mall offers such conveniences as valet parking, discounted hotel reservations, gift wrapping, and a U.S. post office; and that’s just the beginning.
And with all that shopping, eating has to fit in there somewhere. There’s quick and easy food for the family at the food court. There are also plenty of upscale restaurants and their famous cheesecake factory.
The variety of shopping in Orlando is not just in the number of malls. There are various styles also. For example, outlet malls are known for great deals. Orlando has several outlet centers. Two are located right on International Drive: Belz Designer Outlet Center and The Belz Factory Outlet are convenient to get to and the Belz Factory Outlet is the largest outlet center in the United States. The designer outlet includes brands such as Ralph Lauren, DKNY and many others.
Another outlet mall is The Orlando Premium Outlet, featuring discount merchandise. There are good deals at just about every store. And Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores, located near Disney World, has a great variety of stores and products for everyone in your family, including a playground for the kids. Completing the shopping cycle, International Drive has two large, open air markets. The Mercado has several stores featuring a wide variety of designer clothes. There are also various places to buy the art work of local artists as well as other Floridian merchandise. The ambience of an open air market is emphasized by the cobblestone walk ways throughout.
The Pointe Orlando is a large open air market with sixty stores, but is not only for shopping. One can have a great time dining and enjoying their evening entertainment. Its seven restaurants and two night clubs assure you a fine time.
And to get more of a sense of locality, another open air market, The Farmer’s Market, features fresh produce, locally made crafts and a variety of other merchandise. So, yes, it’s true, Orlando really does offer the visitor a full experience. After the theme parks, don’t forget your shopping. You’ll find it all here!
Mark Whichard is a frequent writer on Orlando tourism. He and his wife Susan are the proprietors of Quality Orlando Villa Rentals. Visit his website for more information on Orlando Florida Vacation Homes. http://www.qualityvillarentals.com

Enjoy an Orlando in a Beautiful 3 Bedroom Condo

Take 6 family members to Disney World in lavish comfort and spend only $17 per person per night!. Thats correct, you can stay in the areas best resort community within 10 minutes of Disney World starting at $99 per night! Take a look at this 3 bedroom condo rental and see what you get for your money. You don't live in one room, why vacation in one?