Orlando, Florida trip recommendations

[LC925]

Heading out Friday morning to Orlando for a Food Shippers Conference. Usually it’s at the end of Feb, but was schedule for March 3-5 this year. Wife’s bday is the 2nd so I said, kids are staying with my parents and you’re coming with. We are heading out a couple days early for some us time.

Thinking of renting a car to do something nearby, 1-2 hours drive max, maybe Saturday. Any pointers? We’ve already done the Universal, Disney world etc type visits in the past. She’ll do the spas during my conference days. Looking for good day of eating, people watching and maybe shopping near water. Anything good in the Tampa area, Daytona Beach?!

If we took a couple more days would have loved maybe a Key West day or maybe watch boats go through Jupiter or Haulover inlet to see the show first hand which she would love.

 

[RiverDave]

I went on one hell of an airboat ride down in Orlando.. god damn guy tried to put a gator in my lap. It’s a bit of a story and the phone is almost dead.. don’t stop at those tourist places.. keep driving deep swamp till ya see the stars and bars. That’s the one ya want.

 

[LC925]

I went on one hell of an airboat ride down in Orlando.. god damn guy tried to put a gator in my lap. It’s a bit of a story and the phone is almost dead.. don’t stop at those tourist places.. keep driving deep swamp till ya see the stars and bars. That’s the one ya want.

That’s one thing I was thinking about doing… might scare the out of both of us since I don’t see myself messing with or but I figure it might be an awesome experience.

I’ll look into that. Shoot over the name of the place if you happen to recall it between now and Friday.

 

[RiverDave]

That’s one thing I was thinking about doing… might scare the out of both of us since I don’t see myself messing with or but I figure it might be an awesome experience.

I’ll look into that. Shoot over the name of the place if you happen to recall it between now and Friday.

It was 20+ years ago.. I’m just telling ya goto the actual swamps and right past the tourist bullshit. Look for a hillbilly with big scars from rastlin gators.. that’s your guy.

 

[oldseddie]

In Davenport a buddy of mine has a glider port for hang gliders. They tow them up behind ultralight aircraft. If you weigh less than 180 lbs you can go for a tandem ride. Fun to watch if nothing else. Google Wallaby ranch!

 

[DLow]

From Orlando we’ve done airboat rides as Dave said and enjoyed it. You can also do a day at Cape Canaveral. Amazing history and displays and the tours are pretty cool. Daytona Beach is within driving distance as well. Long day but we’ve done it and had a great time.

 

[sonicss31]

A KW visit is a 7hr ride 1 way FYI. Cocoa Beach and the Space Coast are less than 1hr headed east on RT520. There are several Fish Camps on RT50 that have airboats for gator watching. Evening gator watching is really the best when their eyes are glowing when the guy hits them with the light. You will be amazed at how many are out there.

 

[17 10 Flat]

Southeast of Orlando in the country.

Camp Holly Airboat rides. On 192

Twister Airboat rides.
Across the street is Lone Cabbage Fish camp. On 520

Food & beverages. Both locations

Been to Camp Holly couple times to drink and eat. Railing by the bar usually coupe small alligators begging for food.

 

[C-Ya]

If we took a couple more days would have loved maybe a Key West day or maybe watch boats go through Jupiter or Haulover inlet to see the show first hand which she would love.

If you decide you want to go inlet watching……….

Just remember, you will need to know the when high and low tide is. You want to “inlet watch“ after high tide, so the water is leaving the ditch. It will then buildup at mouth of inlet, when it hits the ocean.

If you go after low tide……. The water will look like a typical day in Parker. Flat. A complete non-event. You will be questioning if this is actually the place where they shoot these videos.

Rent a boat at Mt Dora, Crystal River, or St John’s river. If you want to do “Old Florida” boating.

If you want to see Aligators, take an airboat ride on Lake Jessop. It is the most Aligator infested lake in all of Florida. It is very close to Orlando.

You can also do The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour. It takes an hour, then you can go shopping and eating in downtown Winter Park. Very upscale for the area.

 

[LC925]

From Orlando we’ve done airboat rides as Dave said and enjoyed it. You can also do a day at Cape Canaveral. Amazing history and displays and the tours are pretty cool. Daytona Beach is within driving distance as well. Long day but we’ve done it and had a great time

So far, I think I will end up doing an airboat tour for sure to start.

 

[LC925]

If you decide you want to go inlet watching……….

Just remember, you will need to know the when high and low tide is. You want to “inlet watch“ after high tide, so the water is leaving the ditch. It will then buildup at mouth of inlet, when it hits the ocean.

If you go after low tide……. The water will look like a typical day in Parker. Flat. A complete non-event. You will be questioning if this is actually the place where they shoot these videos.

Rent a boat at Mt Dora, Crystal River, or St John’s river. If you want to do “Old Florida” boating.

If you want to see Aligators, take an airboat ride on Lake Jessop. It is the most Aligator infested lake in all of Florida. It is very close to Orlando.

You can also do The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour. It takes an hour, then you can go shopping and eating in downtown Winter Park. Very upscale for the area.

All great recommendations. Wife loves anything boating so definitely wouldn’t object to renting a boat.

 

[LC925]

Made it to FL after a slight delay during my Dallas/Fortworth connection… delay is better than it being the plane I was on I suppose. Didn’t find a story on what happened.

Bitching view from our room. Getting up and heading towards Camp Holly as recommended for an Airboat tour then shooting over to Winter Park for scenic tour and some shopping for the wife.

 

[4Waters]

Made it to FL after a slight delay during my Dallas/Fortworth connection… delay is better than it being the plane I was on I suppose. Didn’t find a story on what happened. View attachment 1342112

Bitching view from our room. Getting up and heading towards Camp Holly as recommended for an Airboat tour then shooting over to Winter Park for scenic tour and some shopping for the wife.


View attachment 1342113

That kinda looks like a training prop to me.

My recommendation is to enjoy a little down time in any way you can. Kennedy space center is cool. The Saturn 5 rocket is so damn massive it's....well...yeah.

 

[LC925]

That kinda looks like a training prop to me.

My recommendation is to enjoy a little down time in any way you can. Kennedy space center is cool. The Saturn 5 rocket is so damn massive it's....well...yeah.

Sure hope it was. If not, hope everyone made it out safely.

Thought about swinging by there. But will depend on what all I’ll be attending the following days as well as how many meetings I end up having at the conference the start of the week. I’ll likely send the wife to the spa to give her some R&R.

 

[Backlash]

Southeast of Orlando in the country.

Camp Holly Airboat rides. On 192

Twister Airboat rides.
Across the street is Lone Cabbage Fish camp. On 520

Food & beverages. Both locations

Been to Camp Holly couple times to drink and eat. Railing by the bar usually coupe small alligators begging for food.

LMAO!! Grew up water skiing from Lone Cabbage! God what great memories!!!!

 

[4Waters]

Sure hope it was. If not, hope everyone made it out safely.

Thought about swinging by there. But will depend on what all I’ll be attending the following days as well as how many meetings I end up having at the conference the start of the week. I’ll likely send the wife to the spa to give her some R&R.

I think it was training

 

[DaveH]

cape canaveral is a MUST see if you have never been.

 

[LC925]

 

[Racey]

Heading out Friday morning to Orlando for a Food Shippers Conference. Usually it’s at the end of Feb, but was schedule for March 3-5 this year. Wife’s bday is the 2nd so I said, kids are staying with my parents and you’re coming with. We are heading out a couple days early for some us time.

Thinking of renting a car to do something nearby, 1-2 hours drive max, maybe Saturday. Any pointers? We’ve already done the Universal, Disney world etc type visits in the past. She’ll do the spas during my conference days. Looking for good day of eating, people watching and maybe shopping near water. Anything good in the Tampa area, Daytona Beach?!

If we took a couple more days would have loved maybe a Key West day or maybe watch boats go through Jupiter or Haulover inlet to see the show first hand which she would love.

Kennedy space center is pretty badass to see the rockets and shuttle atlantis.

Dixie Crossroads in Titusville for the broiled rock shrimp.

Fiddler's Green in winter park is a kick ass irish pub.

 

[bonesfab]

Don Garlits museum if you are into cool old cars and parts. Kermit Weeks air museum is another cool place not far away.

 

[boatnam2]

Made it to FL after a slight delay during my Dallas/Fortworth connection… delay is better than it being the plane I was on I suppose. Didn’t find a story on what happened. View attachment 1342112

Bitching view from our room. Getting up and heading towards Camp Holly as recommended for an Airboat tour then shooting over to Winter Park for scenic tour and some shopping for the wife.


View attachment 1342113

Stayed there last year, got it so waitress would bring me a beer as i passed by in the lazy river.

 

[LC925]

So, funny story about Camp Holly yesterday. We go out in the airboat tour and have a second mate on board. Seemed odd as most just had the captain. I’m checking out the 502 the airboat has and looked pretty new. Second mate says, “yeah that’s the motor from the Stingray Corvette” I’m like “ahhh don’t think that came in the Stingray but nice engine!” He continues to insist and I didn’t feel the need to argue, so said “Nice!”

More than half way through the tour…. I hear the engine sputtered, caught my ear… then stalls. Whoops out of ️. Sure enough!

This is where I find out the second mate, is the owner lol. Goes on a rant to the captain about how he is writing up all these notes because they are going too far off course, running the engines too high of an RPM, running through too much fuel and a tank should last 6 tours and we are on tour 5 and only half way through at that. Then I realized why he is frustrated, had to replace 4 engines in the last 2 months and is riding along to see WTF is going on. Calls his buddy with a CC twin 300’s who was at his docks to bring 5 gallons of fuel. Shows up, I say “have any beer on that cooler?” and handed us all a free ice cold beer!

Needless to say, it added to the experience!

 

[17 10 Flat]

So, funny story about Camp Holly yesterday. We go out in the airboat tour and have a second mate on board. Seemed odd as most just had the captain. I’m checking out the 502 the airboat has and looked pretty new. Second mate says, “yeah that’s the motor from the Stingray Corvette” I’m like “ahhh don’t think that came in the Stingray but nice engine!” He continues to insist and I didn’t feel the need to argue, so said “Nice!”

More than half way through the tour…. I hear the engine sputtered, caught my ear… then stalls. Whoops out of ️. Sure enough!

This is where I find out the second mate, is the owner lol. Goes on a rant to the captain about how he is writing up all these notes because they are going too far off course, running the engines too high of an RPM, running through too much fuel and a tank should last 6 tours and we are on tour 5 and only half way through at that. Then I realized why he is frustrated, had to replace 4 engines in the last 2 months and is riding along to see WTF is going on. Calls his buddy with a CC twin 300’s who was at his docks to bring 5 gallons of fuel. Shows up, I say “have any beer on that cooler?” and handed us all a free ice cold beer!

Needless to say, it added to the experience!


View attachment 1342705

Yup camp Holly is nice stop just for some beers and snacks.


IMO the airplane engines make for better power as opposed to car engines.

 

[LC925]

If you decide you want to go inlet watching……….

Just remember, you will need to know the when high and low tide is. You want to “inlet watch“ after high tide, so the water is leaving the ditch. It will then buildup at mouth of inlet, when it hits the ocean.

If you go after low tide……. The water will look like a typical day in Parker. Flat. A complete non-event. You will be questioning if this is actually the place where they shoot these videos.

Rent a boat at Mt Dora, Crystal River, or St John’s river. If you want to do “Old Florida” boating.

If you want to see Aligators, take an airboat ride on Lake Jessop. It is the most Aligator infested lake in all of Florida. It is very close to Orlando.

You can also do The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour. It takes an hour, then you can go shopping and eating in downtown Winter Park. Very upscale for the area.

Winter park was a major hit. I could only imaging living in this community, aside from these damn tourists rolling around

Houses on here are just bitchin, and almost teleports you back to the early 1900’s. A few new builds with a small 40,000 sq being built now… but aside from those of course lol

 

[LC925]

Finished the night off with the Space X astronaut launch definitely super cool experience in person. Now back to conference life tomorrow

Thanks everyone for the recommendations!