Posts Tagged ‘Florida’

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Looking For Stomething Different? TryCamping At Disney World

March 9th, 2010

Camping at Disney World might sound like just another way Disney is trying to make money off its guests. After all, the Fort Wilderness Resort doesn’t offer a fully authentic camping experience. All campsites include electricity and water, and for an extra fee you can even get high-speed Internet access. Buildings are air-conditioned and you can easily access Disney World itself.

Now there is another option: a safe, modern camping environment at Disney World. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort offers campsites just ten miles from the Magic Kingdom, complete with water canals, ducks, deer, and rabbits, and forest trails. Unlike traditional campsites, Disney also offers cable television, air conditioning, and even high speed Internet. Pets are allowed in some parts of the campgrounds.

Disney Fort Wilderness offers plenty for the entire family to do during the camping  experience. You can go hiking on a forest trail or fish and swim in one of the many water  canals on the campgrounds. You can also take your kids on a horse and wagon ride or to the  archery range. In addition, every evening, you can watch a Disney movie under the stars in  an outdoor arena.  There are hook-ups for tents and RV’s, and log-cabin style buildings dot the premises.

Finally, the outdoor atmosphere at Disney is beautiful. The campsites are situated in a forest full of pine and cypress trees and there are log cabins or other rustic-looking buildings on site. Best of all, camping at Disney World is not expensive; you can rent your campsite for as little as $43 per night plus tax.  Of course, take warning to avoid shock: Florida will soak you on the taxes.

If your children are camping purists, they might object to the Disney campsites because you have modern conveniences such as electricity and water. However, there is so much to do on the campgrounds that they will probably completely forget about this issue.

Disney Fort Wilderness offers horse and wagon rides, bike rentals, swimming, fishing, archery, and even an outdoor movie every night.

If you have a dog, you can bring him or her to selected areas of the campsite. Your dog will enjoy walking through the campgrounds and will have an air-conditioned place to sleep. Cats are presumably also welcome on the campsite, although most cats are not leash trained so this may not be a good idea.

In short, if you are looking for a camping experience to complement your vacation, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort may be the place for you and your family. You can experience camping with modern conveniences, explore Disney World, and find plenty to do on your vacation.  There are private bathroom and shower facilities on site, as well as laundry facilities. Some campsites are being renovated this year; check with Disney for availability.

Florida has so much to offer anyone interested in camping.  Consider visiting other Florida campgrounds during your visit to the state.

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Snorkeling near Key West, FL

February 4th, 2010

So where is Dry Tortugas, and how did such a natural treasure get such an odd name? About 70 statute miles off the coast of Key West, Dry Tortugas is a group of tiny islands known for the abundant sea life, including sea turtles. Since tortugas is Spanish for turtles, that explains a portion of its unique name.

But what makes it dry, given that Dry Tortugas National Park is surrounded by the waters of the crystal clear blue Caribbean? The name actually comes from the days when the Spanish settled the islands, and they soon found out that there were no fresh water springs available. So the islands eventually became known as the Dry Tortugas, or “dry turtles.” To this day, as a major tourist attraction, boaters and tour operators must bring in their own water for visitors.

First named a National Monument in 1935 by FDR, Dry Tortugas was designated a national park in 1992 at the end of George H. W. Bush’s term. As the home of the unfinished Civil War era Ft Jefferson (a brick structure which came to be used as a prison housing accused conspirators in Lincoln’s assassination), the strip of sandy beaches and colorful reefs is now a destination for the 80,000 tourists who visit each year. All leave in amazement at the intriguing history of the former based originally conceived as a defense against – you guessed it – the (real) pirates of the Caribbean.

Now, visitors to Dry Tortugas Park can enjoy a host of fascinating and leisurely activities, from a historical tour of Fort Jefferson, to a lazy day on the beach, to an astounding snorkeling or scuba diving expedition to witness the spectacularly colorful sea life.

Of coures, one can only get to the islands by boat or sea plane. So if you want to book a trip, a Dry Tortugas charter will be necessary. There are some great discounts available on Dry Tortugas charters, Key West hotels, Key West snorkeling, and other recreation packages at Gold Card Key West.

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Getting big travel discounts for your vacation

January 26th, 2010

No matter what the economy is doing, we all still want to take our families on vacation. In fact, spending during recessions often goes up for family entertainment budgets, probably because we all need an emotional break from the pressures of life.

But when the entertainment dollars get squeezed due to family budget cutbacks, everyone searches for ways to get more fun for less money – whether that’s dollars or Euros. There are some great ways to stretch your vacation – whether that includes a Key West fishing trip or jet ski rentals – and have more fun with each dollar. But you do have to do some digging to find the deals.

One of the best ways to find those deals and get far more sightseeing for less money is to buy a discount card in the area you want to go for your vacation. These often provide wonderfully inexpensive ways to get more out of your vacation budget – often putting hundreds of dollars back in your pocket. Most of us would rather have that money back in our pockets to use for a better vacation?

A discount card works like this: A local company negotiates discounts with a pool of local vendors in return for publication in an exclusive list of businesses. The amount of each discount varies by vendor, but 10% to 20% is common. For instance, for one Key West discount card, Key West hotels and accommodations are discounted 10%. Whether you’re vacationing for a few days or a few weeks, the money you save can be substantial. On the same discount card, a fishing charter is discounted by 0 for a day trip that would normally be at least 0.

As you can see, the cash you can save on your travel arrangements can add up fast by seeking out a local discount card program. Typically, discount cards can cut 0 to 00 off your vacation if you plan to a significant amount of sightseeing on your next vacation.

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