Daytona 500 NASCAR race event 2012

How time flies! This weekend, Feb. 26th 2012 will once again be time for the Daytona 500 NASCAR races in Daytona beach! For those race car fans this is not news as they have been following it closely.

But for others that don’t follow it or are here on vacation they may be a little surprised at how packed the traffic is around Daytona beach this weekend. In fact even in Orlando it’s going to be a very busy weekend.

That’s because many race fans stay at hotels in Orlando and take in some of the theme parks while they are here. So just about everywhere in the Central Florida area it will be packed with people and traffic.
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Jack Hanna weekend at SeaWorld

If you love and appreciate “critters,” mark your calendar for March 24 and 25, 2012 for the Jack Hanna SeaWorld weekend event. Pack your duds and head to SeaWorld in Orlando, where you’ll get to see the legendary Jack Hanna live and in person.

Jungle Jack will be hosting shows each day in the Nautilus Theater, at 1:15 and 3:15 p.m. Attendees will learn about nature, birds, animals, and conservation.

As you probably already know, Jack Hanna always has some feathered or furry pals with him. Sometimes these co-stars are eagles, sometimes they’re leopards, and at other times, he’s been joined by noisy kookaburras from “Down Under.” No matter which creatures try to steal the limelight from Jack, the show is sure to be educational and entertaining.
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Universal Studios new daily parade, events and shows

Universal Studios new daily parade and shows

Universal Studios will be coming out with a lot of new things this spring. Most of them will be in the Universal Studios park, not Islands of Adventure. They have enough new things in that park and need to add more to the other park.

One thing that will be very cool is the first daily parade at Universal Studios. Called “Universal’s Superstar Parade” it will feature very large floats and characters from the Universal movies and shows.

Like characters from the Despicable Me movie, “Hop,” “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “Dora the Explorer”. Plus lots of other street performers and dancers. The parade will stop several times to interact with the crowd.
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Paws in the park, downtown Orlando pet fundraiser Feb. 11th 2012

Downtown Orlando pet event, paws in the park

It’s not often I talk about a local Orlando event, normally I talk about the theme parks and tourist news. But I wanted to let you all know about what’s going on this weekend in downtown Orlando.

This Feb. 11th, 2012 in Downtown Orlando at Lake Eola will be the 18th annual Paws in the Park pet fundraiser event! Like the name says it will be for people to come out with their dogs, walk around Lake Eola and raise money for the local Orlando SPCA.

The Orlando SPCA, otherwise known as the pet humane society, helps many homeless pets of all kinds each year. It does a vast amount of services for pets that need a good home as well as helping pets of low income families.

This years Paws in the Park pet event will be from 9:00 AM to noon. There will be live music and entertainment, a kids zone, great food and drinks, many pet vendors, raffles and much more.

All proceeds benefit the Orlando SPCA and there will be many pet lovers out there raising money for this great cause. So come out to Orlando’s Lake Eola, have fun and help out homeless and needy pets! :)

Disney Epcot GM test track ride getting makeover

Disney Epcot GM test track ride getting a makeover

If you’ve kept up with the news at Disney for the past couple of years, you probably know that General Motors, the huge auto maker, has had some financial problems.

Also, if you’ve been to Epcot, you’re most likely familiar with the GM Test Track ride attraction. In light of GM’s woes, many Test Track fans were concerned about the fate of the premier attraction. Not to worry – GM and Disney have made a new deal!

Test Track is currently scheduled to close in the spring of 2012, but it’s going to reopen in the autumn, better than ever. The Chevrolet will be the new star, and guests to the theme park will have the chance to design and create their own custom Chevies.
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SeaWorld Orlando Bands, Brew and BBQ concerts, shows 2012

SeaWorld's Bands, Bew and BBQ shows for 2012

SeaWorld in Orlando has hit a major homerun with this event – Bands, Brew, and BBQ. Three of America’s favorites – what’s not to love? The fun starts on February 12, 2012, and takes place every Saturday and Sunday from then through March 4.

Listening to the live performances is even better when it’s accompanied by tasty food and great beer, and SeaWorld has taken care of these details. Scores of beers from some twenty international and American breweries will keep everyone’s thirst quenched.

And as for food, it’s all about barbecue and items hot off the grill. Guests can travel from tent to tent sampling the offerings, or they can relax in the beer garden. The BBQ will be prepared by some of the best grillmasters in the area, along with some of SeaWorld’s own skilled chefs.
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Enjoy a fun holiday vacation to Egypt!

Fun Egypt holiday vacations

If you’ve been thinking of going to someplace exotic for your next vacation, you might want to check out Egypt! There are many great tourist spots, resorts and things to do in this wonderful land.

When most people think of Egypt they think of sand, deserts and the Pyramids of Giza. Sure it has all those, but fun Egypt holidays are much more than that. How about staying at a beach resort with fantastic snorkeling, boating and more to do.

Egypt borders the Red Sea coast, a beautiful body of water that is clear and inviting. You can find many great tourist resort places along this coast with some of the best hotels around. Sharm el Sheikh is a popular place to visit, with great nightlife and casinos next to the sea.
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Mardi Gras parade and concerts at Universal Studios 2012

Universal Studios Mardi Gras 2012

If you’ve always wanted to attend the world-famous Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans, but haven’t been able to do so, head to Orlando, instead. From February 11 through April 14, Universal Studios in Orlando will be throwing a Mardi Gras party that will rival the one in the Crescent City.

In fact, parents will much prefer the Orlando version, as it’s much more kid-friendly. During the celebration, an extravagant parade will amaze guests every Saturday night, with beautiful floats, street performers, lots of beads, dancers in fantastic costumes, and music. And here’s something the Big Easy doesn’t have – a special parade just for little revelers!

Universal is going all out for Mardi Gras in 2012. Visit the French Quarter and enjoy some real Cajun food prepared by real Cajun chefs. As you dive into some jambalaya, red beans and rice, or beignets, you can hear some music provided by bands and artists straight from New Orleans.
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Holidays to Tenerife in the Canary Islands

Vacations to Tenerife, Canary Islands

Every once in a while I like to showcase a great vacation spot outside of Florida. So today I want to tell you a bit about a fantastic holiday spot I know you’d love to visit, called Tenerife.

Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, is located in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Africa. Tenerife has an amazing and varied geography, with mountains, ancient volcanoes, cliffs, desert, green slopes, forests, valleys, caves, and tunnels.

Mount Teide, the tallest point on the island, rises almost 13,000 feet above sea level. Tenerife also has more than 200 miles of coastline, ranging from the black-sand beaches in the north to the golden beaches in the south. Because of the tropical tradewinds, Tenerife has a year-round warm climate and is often referred to as the Island of Eternal Spring.

At this point, you might be thinking, “I want to go to Tenerife!” And we’ve just begun our virtual tour of the island. Tenerife has unique microclimates that support some fascinating plants and animals. In all, there are more than fifty bird species, thirteen mammal species, five reptile species, and two species of amphibians that call the island home.

In the waters surrounding Tenerife are whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and hundreds of fish species. There’s lots for visitors to do on Tenerife. The beautiful beaches and turquoise water in the south are especially inviting, and swimming, fishing, and water sports are popular, including kite surfing, windsurfing, snorkeling, and diving.

There are also plenty of historical towns and villages to explore, along with larger cities and shopping venues. Of course, you’ll also want to check out a volcanic mountain or two while you’re on the island. Visitors can travel by rail almost to the top of La Rambleta, which provides stunning views of the countryside.

You can get great deals on flights to Tenerife if you shop around on some of the best online travel agencies. So if your thinking of taking a vacation to someplace really exotic, try Tenerife in the Canary Islands! :)


Things to see and do on your Florida Vacation

Things to do in Florida

People from all over the globe enjoy great Florida vacations. The Sunshine State has just about anything you’d want in a warm vacation spot. Visitors to Florida can enjoy famous theme parks, world-class shopping, awesome seafood, exciting shows, and the pulse of vibrant nightlife.

Of course, Florida is also rich in history and wildlife, including many historic sites and eco tours into swamps, maritime forests, and the Everglades. The main attraction of Florida holidays however, is its beautiful water and beaches, and every beach town or city has its own unique charm. For example, on the Panhandle, you’ll find quiet family beaches like Mexico Beach, St. Joe Beach, and Cape San Blas.

Further west are Panama City, Destin, and Pensacola, with tons of things to do and see. Tampa has all the amenities of a big city, with the added bonus of nearby beaches. South of Tampa, visitors can enjoy the calm, blue-green waters of Anna Maria Island, Naples, Ft. Myers, and Marco Island, along with the fascinating history of the Greek sponge docks of Tarpon Springs.

On the Atlantic, you’ll find Amelia Island, a sleepy shrimping town that’s become a popular destination for Florida holidays. South of Amelia Island is Jacksonville, with miles of beach and lots of attractions. If you prefer stepping back in time, visit St. Augustine. Daytona has wide beaches and great surfing. Ft. Lauderdale, the original scene of the spring break tradition, shouldn’t be overlooked, either.

Miami and Miami Beach are in a class all their own. With its international culture, it’s almost like visiting a foreign city. And then there are the keys, a long chain of islands that served as the home of poets, novelists, and scallywags.

Even if the beach isn’t “your thing,” Florida is still a wonderful destination. In the interior are the rolling green hills of horse farms and citrus groves, thriving metropolitan areas, and huge lakes that provide amazing fishing and boating opportunities. :)

Cheap vacation packages to be found for the new year

Cheap holiday deals

Now that the new year is here and many people are dealing with the cold of winter, it’s a great time to find vacation deals. There is a lot of competition out there among travel agencies for vacation tourist so they all have some cool holiday packages at discounted prices.

Winter vacations are very popular with many people who have had enough of the cold and want to get away to someplace warm. You can score some great cheap holidays right now and save a lot of money on your winter vacation.

Major airlines often have many discounted flights to popular warm weather vacation spots, like Orlando Florida, the Bahamas and more. Often you get get as much as half off a round trip flight!

Winter cruises are also popular and you can find many great deals with the major cruise lines such as Disney cruises, Carnival, Norwegian cruise lines and others. Winter cruise sales can be discounts on the overall price or free upgrades, or a combination of both.

Winter Caribbean cruises are a great way to get away from the winter blahs and soak up the sun and fun. You can find some cruise deals as low as $179.00 for a 4 night cruise plus other discounts!

In many tourist areas the busy season is in the summer, like at Walt Disney World in Florida. Because of that the hotels, rental cars and other vacation oriented services have big discounts in the winter as they try to fill up their quotas.

Also the crowds are lighter so ride lines are not as long, meaning you can do more of them. Summer months in places like Florida are also a bit too hot for people not use to it, while the winter weather is just right!

So not only do you get great discounts in the winter months but also the best weather and can enjoy yourself more without the big crowds. Book your cheap vacation today and enjoy the fun and sun this winter at discounted prices! :)


Biggest Disney store, World of Disney at Disney’s downtown marketplace

The biggest Disney store, World of Disney at downtown Disney marketplace

If you ever wondered what and where the biggest Walt Disney World store is, it’s The World of Disney store, located in the downtown Disney marketplace at the Walt Disney World resort in Florida.

The downtown Disney marketplace has many other Disney stores, but none compare to the 50,000 square foot World of Disney store, both in size and sales. Inside this store you can find just about everything Disney.

From plush Mickey Mouse dolls, Princess dresses, Disney key chains, Disney snow globes and more you can find it here. Every Disney character in some form can be found inside.
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