House ricotta and crab cavatelli
I like food. A lot.
I like food that is fresh, exciting and innovative. I like food that surprises me with it’s complexity of flavors in the same bite. Food that goes well with wine. And beer. Food that is bright and colorful. And fun. Food that is slow, and moseys to my plate without having to ride cross country with an Amtrak ticket in it’s back pocket.
So when I’m able to experience all of this, I jump at both the opportunity and the chance to tell others. Napa is a new restaurant located in The Peabody Orlando and describes itself as “drawing on inspiration from Wine Country” while having a menu that is”comprised of organic, sustainable farm-to-fork selections”. Intrigued, my friends and I enjoyed a fantastic lunch over at Napa a few weeks ago.
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Sea Of Trees at SeaWorld, Orlando
If you’ll be in Orlando this hoilday season, I can recommend two wonderful holiday events to check out, both at theme parks. Both “SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration” and “Holidays at Universal Studios” have numerous attractions that are special for the season. There are two that I particularly enjoyed, that I believe are can’t miss experiences.
Universal Studios Orlando has an extra special treat in store this year. Mannheim Steamroller are the masters of Christmas music. Their music is powerful and compelling. On December 11th and 18th they will be performing your instrumental favorites and also providing the music for a The Grinch Who Stole Christmas reading. Actual actors from the Grinchmas show (currently on stage at Universal Islands of Adventure) provide their voices (out of costume) for a heartwarming show that people of all ages are sure to love. Read More »
Sea World Orlando's Halloween Spooktacular
Sea World’s Halloween Spooktacular is a fun Halloween event geared towards young children. Special candy stands are set up throughout the park, and children are given a map to help find all of the Treasure Stations, each offering a different type of goody. Read More »
Crepes at Brio Tuscan Grille
Trivia Question:
Where can you get a good Italian meal, a nice glass of wine, partake in some good people watching, and do a little window shopping at some of the swankiest stores in Orlando?
Answer: Brio Tuscan Grille at the Mall at Millenia
The setting: Brio has multiple locations around Florida, and while I’ve been to two of them, I think I’ve officially decided on the Mall at Millenia location being my favorite. The ambiance is, well, perfect in many different aspects. The dining room is large and open, but segmented into different dining areas with half walls and a variety of seating options. Read More »
Monkey Joe's at the Festival Bay mall
You’ll notice a lot of shopping malls as you drive around Orlando. One of the more recent additions in the International Drive area is Festival Bay located near Universal Studios. The mall has the usual suspects (clothing stores, restaurants), but there are also three attractions that children big and small will absolutely love.
1) Monkey Joe’s is an indoor bounce house pumped full of fun (and, well, air). For less than $10 per child, children (only those 12 and under) can bounce all day long. Parents are unfortunately not invited to jump, but can accompany children 3 and under into the bounce houses. The large room where everything resides is a mecca of large slides, climbing walls, and inflated bridges and tunnels. And for parents? There’s an arcade where parents can sit in massage chairs, watch the big screen TV, or surf the net on the free Wi-Fi connection.
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Leu Gardens
Harry P. Leu Gardens is a beautiful 50-acre escape, miles away from the intensity of the theme parks. If you’re looking for something relaxing yet entertaining to do while in Orlando, Leu Gardens is a great choice. You’ll have to travel a little further from your hotel if you’re staying in the center of Orlando, but these gardens are worth the drive. Here are three don’t-miss spots to explore inside the gardens.
1) Rose Garden
Take a stroll through the different types of flora and fauna and you won’t miss the Rose Garden. It is the biggest formal rose garden in Florida, boasting over 1,000 blooms a year. Have a seat on one of the iron benches and let your senses take over as you listen to the beautiful Italian fountain and breathe in the sweet scent of roses.
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Boma - Flavors of Africa at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Where are the best Disney World buffets? It’s a good question with a yummy answer. I know what you’re thinking: A buffet, yuck. But reserve your judgment until you’ve tried one — Walt Disney World’s buffets may surprise you.
The most interesting of the Disney World buffets is the breakfast and dinner at Boma in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Boma offers African inspired dishes like Couscous Marrakesh and FuFu (sweet and mashed potatoes with coriander and cinnamon). This is a meal is for the adventurous palate. It has flavors that aren’t your typical American meat and potatoes.
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The fireworks show at Disney's Magic Kingdom
It’s without a doubt that one of the ‘must-dos’ in Walt Disney World is to find a perfect spot to watch Epcot’s Illumination Show or the Magic Kingdom’s Wishes Show. But the perfect spot doesn’t have to be inside one of these parks. If you stay at any of the Disney Resorts, there are several spots you can enjoy these fireworks without having to pay admission. Read More »
Universal Studios offers annual park passes for $140
Being a Florida resident definitely has its perks. Besides oodles of sunshine and great temperatures year round, residents are privy to irresistible offers for deeply discounted theme park fun in their home state. Most notably, cheap annual passes or multi-day theme park passes make a spontaneous trip to Orlando that much easier and hassle free. In order to get these tickets, you must be able to show a Florida driver’s license or student I.D. from a Florida school. Read More »
Disney's Blizzard Beach
Though most associate Orlando with heat and sun, a few locales offer both genuine and synthetic escapes to the frigid cold. Three permanent winter wonderlands are highlighted below.
Disney’s Blizzard Beach (1500 West Buena Vista Drive): Florida’s first ski resort cum water park, Blizzard Beach debuted in 1995 and has since grown wildly popular, welcoming nearly 2 million guests in 2009. The kitsch blizzard motif is found throughout the park’s dozen-plus rides, including Snow Stormers, Toboggan Racers, and Meltaway Bay. There is free transport to Blizzard Beach from all Disney properties. Read More »
