Leisure … more than a word, it's a lifestyle

Halloween is always fun in Orlando as we have some great events in Halloween Horror Nights, Mickey’s Halloween Party and SeaWorld’s Spooktacular but one of the best events in entirely free! That’s right…no admission tickets, no lines and no restrictions… everyone is invited to attend a Halloween Celebration.

Still wondering what I’m talking about? Well, visit the Town of Celebration, near Orlando and you’ll soon understand. It’s a place where local residents go crazy as they put together a unique show of decorating their homes in a spooky Halloween style. You can drive the streets or simply take a stroll and you’ll come across many homes decorated to the hilt as well as a real live pumpkin patch!

Take a look at more pictures on our Facebook.com/FloridaLeisure page and here’s some video for those who can’t get here today:

Thanks to the Smithsonian, hundreds of museums throughout the United States are participating in this year’s Museum Day by offering free admission to participating museums today.

In order to get free admission, you need to take the Museum Day Admission Card found in the current Smithsonian magazine or you can print one off from their website where you can also check participating museums by state.

Orlando area museums that offering free admission on Museum Day are:

• Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, Winter Park
• Orange County Regional History Center, Orlando
• Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando
• Maitland Art Center, Matiland
• Waterhouse Residence Museum, Maitland

You can read more about Orlando area museums here and here’s some video relating to the museums in Orlando & Winter Park.

Hot on the heels of Rory McIlroy’s fabulous win at the US Open came the chance to visit Grand Cypress Golf Resort in Orlando. Previously Grand Cypress was a private members club but that’s all changed now and the 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature golf are now open for guests of Florida Leisure Vacation Homes to play.

The resort truly has a diverse selection of Orlando golf with its 27-hole North/South/East Course providing the ultimate test of accuracy while the 18-hole New Course provides a Scottish links masterpiece. Within the 27 holes, the Jack Nicklaus Signature-designed North, South, and East Nines provide three distinctly unique 18-hole masterpieces. For the full round of 18, courses can be combined as the North-South, South-East, or East-North Course. Each combination provides a distinctive playing experience, which will challenge even the best of golfers.

Grand Cypress Golf Club is proud to host the LPGA for a tour event every year and this is your chance to play the same course that the top professional ladies play. The whole facility is both elegant and oozes class in every aspect. From the moment you walk through the club house door to the time you walk off the 18th green you’ll thoroughly enjoy an unforgettable Orlando golf experience.

If you’re looking to hone you game then there’s no better than the Grand Cypress Academy of Golf. It features a variety of golf school programs offering one to five days of unparalleled instruction and the most advanced teaching methods to improve your performance. The Grand Cypress Academy of Golf, has won countless awards for it’s high level of instruction and all of the instructors are among the best in Florida.

Grand Cypress is located just 15 to 20 minutes from Florida Leisure’s vacation homes and our staff would be delighted to book your tee time when you’re next in the Central Florida area.

More photo’s are here and if you enjoyed this blog post feel free to share it with your friends and family by clicking the “Send” button.

Orlando is home to three of the World’s most famous theme parks, with many wonderful and thrilling rides and attractions, but one of the smaller and oldest of the attractions has possibly unveiled the most thrilling ride of all. For over 50 years, Gatorland in South Orlando has been a family friendly, affordable natural attraction featuring thousands of alligators in an environment that is equal parts education and entertainment. That all changes on June 16, 2011 when they open their all-new Screamin’ Gator Zip Line Experience to the general public.

Florida Leisure were invited to have an early preview of this experience so we sent along our intrepid reporter, Colin Bowman, who sent in a great report and he says his heart is still pounding from the expeirence! Here’s his report:

Gator Zip Line Experience

by Colin Bowman

This 2½ hour experience begins with you meeting your guides for the trip, an orientation video with the hilarious and inept “Bubba” and “Cooter” and then time to truss you up in your safety gear. With all the harnesses on and your helmet you feel pretty good and invincible, a feeling that lasts right up until you arrive at the first tower and look up.

Tower one stands over six stories and has what feels like 100 stairs (it’s probably less, but believe me, counting steps was the last thing on my mind). If that fact takes your breath away, try and find it once you have actually climbed to the top. Your guide then informs you that the launch platform is over fifty feet above the ground and of course you are compelled to look down. He’s right … above the ground … concrete below and lots of people looking up at you, video cameras in hand … and you know what they want to have happen.. Having never ziplined before, it was a big test of intestinal fortitude to step off that platform and believe me I prayed that all these harnesses, which now seem extremely flimsy, are going to hold you in place as you travel almost 250ft at about fifteen miles per hour through the tree tops. Anyway, away we go …

And we land at tower two which is slightly bigger, standing at 56ft tall, but the launch platform is only 46ft off the ground. The line itself is only 265ft in length , so traveling at twenty miles per hour should be a doddle … except that this time you are going over a pool with about 30 alligators below you … oh joy … here we go again … backwards, because the cute little girl with the camera says she can get a better photo and of course you have to impress her … but stepping off a platform backwards wearing a piece of material and a couple of lanyards is an daunting experience for sure … whoosh … see you later gators …

This is getting easy … now for tower three. It stands at 65ft and has a launch platform 56ft off the ground. We will be traveling 230ft at over twenty five miles per hour. Wait a minute, that’s getting higher and faster … dammit … “Try running off this one,” says my guide … “Oops I can’t hear you,” I reply as I grab everything and use my trusty sit-down take off method … Then I hear drums … only to discover that it is actually my heart, because straight ahead I see an even bigger tower and with that I arrive at …

Tower four which looms over the park like King Kong. It stands over seventy five feet tall, the launch platform is sixty five feet off the ground and the line is 520ft long. This means I will be traveling at almost thirty miles per hour. Did I mention the breeding marsh below with 130 of the biggest alligators that you have ever seen plus one particularly angry crocodile. At this point, I also became aware of the fact that these towers rock and sway a lot in the wind. My mouth is also very dry and I am very grateful for the water provided at this station, although I am just praying that the contents of my bladder will remain there. “Don’t forget the photo op,” says my cheerful guide … I am just praying I am not going to become the latest YouTube sensation for all the wrong reasons … GERONIMO (I wish I had shouted something brave) …

And a few seconds later … touchdown … I feel like I have won the SuperBowl … one to go. “Just cross over the rickety bridge to get to the last zipline. “RICKETY BRIDGE?” How did I miss that? Bridges, why did it have to be bridges. I hate them. I hate rickety ones in the wind even more and being clipped to the safety line 31ft up in the air crossing this 150ft long bridge was not my idea of fun … even less when my companion decided it would be fun to start her crossing when I was halfway across and started bouncing … fortunately she weighs about the same as a bag of flour, so the effect wasn’t as great as she hoped … but still, the people below obviously thought it was funny. I am sure the smiles would’ve been wiped from their faces if I had used them as a landing mat.

Finally, after a nerve-wracking eternity I made it over to tower six (five is where the bridge starts). This is my favorite, side-by-side ziplines so you can drag race and attempt a measure of revenge on any companions who may have slighted you, by smoking them over the 340ft line traveling at speeds up to thirty miles per hour … or not!!!! Even though I did attempt to run off the platform, there was a definite stutter step at the end when I realized that is I didn’t reach the other side, I would be dangling over another lake chocked full of alligators … hopefully they haven’t mastered the art of acrobatic pyramids, but for some reason I couldn’t get Fantasia out of my head (the Disney movie, not the American Idol).

But I survived and this really was so much fun and should be added to your bucket list of things to do next time you vacation in Orlando and if you are fortunate enough to live here, what are you waiting for.

Known internationally as the “Alligator Capital of the World,” you can find out more about this experience and Gatorland in general at http://www.gatorland.com/ScreaminGator.php

A crowd of 5,934 saw Orlando’s unbeaten 11 game streak come to an end as opponents Antigua punished Orlando for not taking their chances.   The 2-1 scoreline somewhat flattered the visitors as Orlando had 19 goal attempts to Antigua’s 9 but it’s goals that matter and after an unexciting first half, things really came to the boil in the second.

The first half saw Orlando make 7 attempts on goal while Antigua relied on catching their opponents on the break with their 4 attempts all coming from loose possession and mistakes from Orlando players. The main culprit for Orlando was forward Max Griffin who wasted 3 first half attempts (not to mention 2 more in the second period), the most stunning of all, a one on one with the keeper when he stumbled over the ball.

The second half started well for Antigua though, as they took the lead on the 48th minute as a Quinton Griffith free kick was turned home by Barracuda striker Stefan Smith. Worse was to follow for City as on the 54 minute mark, Antigua striker Randolph Burton found himself in the clear and he found the net with a cool finish past Orlando’s helpless keeper Miguel Gallardo to make it 2-0.

Orlando responded and began to play better being rewarded on 59th minute as Griffin finally found the net with a tap in to make the score 1-2. Orlando then had the better of the play and went close as both Lewis Neal and Jamie Watson blazed over the bar when a calmer finish was needed.

The 70th minute saw the game explode as both sets of players ended up in a huge melee as City defender Roa Valentino was hacked down from behind by Lawson Robinson. Valentino didn’t take too kindly to that and pushed Robinson who promptly threw a punch back. Both sets of players then rushed in to scrap it out with each other with the end result being red cards to Antigua’s Lawson Robinson (pictured above left) and substitute Akeem Thomas who inexplicably raced onto the pitch to join in the fun. Orlando’s Valentino (pictured above right) also saw red and that effectively made the game a 10 player a side affair.

Orlando then pushed for an equaliser and again squandered numerous chances and despite over six minutes of extra time at the end of the second period, they just couldn’t find a way through the Antigua defence.  Overall, City can only blame themselves for losing this game. They were undoubtedly the better team but you simply can’t afford to waste chances at this or any other level. There’s much for Coach Adrian Heath to ponder on after this defeat but he can take heart from the fact that Orlando did create numerous chances.

More pictures here: Orlando v Antigua

Here’s some video:

Have you made your vacation plans for the Summer? If not, you’ll want to check out what’s going on in Orlando as there’s lots of new stuff going on at the theme parks this year. There’s a killer whale show, a new roller-coaster, a cheetah habitat, a zip-line ride over alligators and there’s also the chance to get close to sharks by wading through a coral lagoon with a special diving helmet

It’s a great place to be as Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, Busch Gardens, Gatorland and Legoland Florida – opening in October, all have a lot of new things to do.

SeaWorld

The home of Shamu the killer whale is now the venue for One Ocean, an incredible show involving all the park’s majestic orcas. Replacing the Believe show, One Ocean brings new staging, music and special effects to showcase the talents and special co-ordination of SeaWorld’s trainers and their killer whales. Fountains, video screens and clever lighting all combine for a spectacular 25-minute experience.

Discovery Cove

SeaWorld’s swim-with-dolphins sister park debuts it’s new Grand Reef attraction in June, giving its 1,000 visitors a day a chance to swim and snorkel with thousands of tropical fish and graceful rays. There will be an underwater walking tour, SeaVenture where for an extra $59 per person guests can don special diving helmets and venture beneath the surface to handle sea urchins and star fish, and stand among huge schools of feeding fish as well as observe some fierce looking sharks.

Busch Gardens

Just an hour away in nearby Tampa, Busch Gardens boasts America’s most dynamic and eye-catching ride this year, Cheetah Hunt. With a fast-launch start that blasts from 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds and more than 4,429ft of track that twists, turns and dives underground, it features a 130ft drop as well as a figure-of- eight loop in its three-and-a-half-minute duration.

Themed to feel like a cheetah hunting its prey, it will also offer a short stretch where the park’s eight cheetahs will be able to sprint alongside the ride as they chase a special lure as part of their exercise regime. The attraction is due to open on May 27.

Gatorland

Although it’s not one of the mainstream parks, this is Orlando’s oldest, dating back to 1949, and from early June it will offer the Screamin’ Gator zip-line ride, a high-flying adventure taking riders up and over the park’s residents – more than 1,000 alligators and crocodiles. The series of four zips, nature walk and swinging bridge take 45 minutes at a height of up to 56ft and speeds of 30mph to give a new perspective on this collection of flora and fauna. It costs $69.99 per person, including all-day entry to Gatorland.

Legoland Florida

Opening in October the latest member of the worldwide Lego family will offer 150 acres of fun and rides for the two-to-12 age group in classic brick-building style in ten distinct ‘lands’ but all with natural overtones as it is built on the site of the former Cypress Gardens, on the shore of Lake Eloise in Winter Haven, 40 minutes south of Orlando.

Walt Disney World

Star Tours II is Disney’s big offering for 2011, a revamped, version of the classic Star Wars simulator ride that now blasts off for Tatooine and Coruscant, plunging riders into the Boonta Eve Classic pod-race (from the film Star Wars I), in high-definition 3D from May 20 at Hollywood Studios.

The Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun is the new daily parade with all the favorites from films such as Up, Ratatouille, The Incredibles, Toy Story and others. Disney Junior – Live On Stage is now open for pre-school fans of programs such as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins and the new Jake And The Never Land Pirates. Finally, at the Animal Kingdom park, guests can enjoy a three-hour Wild Africa Trek, a small-group journey through the animal savannahs for an extra $189 per person.

You’ll also want to check out what’s going on at the smaller parks and attractions.

Fantasy Surf is a new opportunity to try surfing on an indoor FlowRider system. It is great for novices and experienced surfers alike. Check out this video :

In Orlando city centre you can check out the Skyline Tour (from the Visitor Centre on Orange Avenue) and learn about the 19th Century ‘boom-town’ from a 16th-floor vantage point while nearby, the Orange County History Centre has more insight into Central Florida’s past, some 12,000 years of it, including the area’s Native American heritage and the huge cattle industry, with its own cowboys known as ‘crackers’.

Check out the video below of the chic suburb of Winter Park which features more natural charms, with its own boat tour through the local lakes plus, for art lovers, the unusual Morse Museum of American Art, which boasts one of the largest glass collections by Tiffany in the United States.

Aviation enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to Fantasy of Flight which hosts an amazing collection of vintage aircraft and daily flying exhibitions put together with real artistry by millionaire collector Kermit Weeks.

And no one should leave without seeing something of the real Florida. Enjoy an airboat ride from Boggy Creek Airboats, the area’s specialists, offering a variety of trips that get off the beaten track for personal, up-close encounters to capture the spirit of the Sunshine State.

One thing’s for certain: you’ll never be short of something to do in Orlando!

If you love all things automotive, then Downtown Disney is where you need to be today, tomorrow, and Sunday. Sixty classic cars have lined up along the Downtown Disney promenade for Disney’s Car Masters Weekend,but as with most things that Disney does, don’t expect this to be just an ordinary car show. This time some very classic cars are going to meet their match as 4 time Piston Cup champion, Lightning McQueen, Mater and their new friend, Finn McMissile, roll into the weekend to celebrate the release of Disney Pixar’s “Cars 2″.

In celebration of Pixar’s 25th anniversary, the muscle cars will also be joined by the largest life-sized, radio controlled car replicas ever built – giving fans the chance to hang out with their favorite “car-acters.”The three day event begins today and runs through Sunday May 15th. The fun begins each day at 10:30am and will last until 6pm and your young ones will enjoy the “Race Into Reading” read and play log (pictured below) they’ll be given as they leave the “Cars 2″ area.

In addition to meeting your “Cars” favorites, NASCAR fans are able to take a look at Richard Petty’s race car, which is on display inside Ridemakerz and it’s also the location where you can “test-drive” some of the new “Cars 2″ Ridemakerz models.

Also featuring will be a variety of different activities throughout the weekend including games and giveaways as well as a  video kiosk. There’s also a sweepstakes as “Agents on a Mission” will give away some 18,000 prizes including a brand new car.

Taking place on Saturday and Sunday is the Classic Car show, which will be judged by Pixar Animation Studios’ “Cars” franchise guardian and resident car expert, Jay Ward.

Also, the 2006 Disney-Pixar “Cars” film returns to the big screen for a limited time at AMC Pleasure Island 24 Theatres throughout the weekend. Moviegoers can even catch a glimpse of the new movie trailer from “Cars 2,” which then comes to a theater near you on June 24th.

It promises to be a fun filled weekend so if you’re in Orlando why not pay a visit? If you can’t make it, then don’t worry as we have made a short video for you and we have plenty of pictures on our Facebook.com/FloridaLeisure page.

Today is the last day for voting in the Ultimate Fishing Town USA contest and currently Kissimmee is leading the way with 3187 votes (Click on picture below to see in more detail). It’s very important to us to maintain this lead so we are requesting your help by casting your vote for the City of Kissimmee to become the “Ultimate Fishing Town USA”.

In voting, we’re asking you to name Lake Toho and the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes as the “Ultimate Fishing Town U.S.A.” Yesterday we posted one video showing Lake Toho and today we have another video showing just why Kissimmee really is the Ultimate Fishing Town in the USA.

The Kissimmee chain of lakes is the only Central Florida location nominated in this national competition hosted by the World Fishing Network. The goal is for the City of Kissimmee to be included in the Top 20 ultimate fishing locations in the country. The competition is based solely on votes and it’s those votes that will make up the order to make it to the final round.

It takes less than a minute to cast a vote and each person can vote up to four times each day. So please click the banner at the start or below this blog post  and it will take you directly to the site where you can cast your vote. Thanks in advance…we really appreciate it!

If you’re after the catch of a lifetime, there’s no better place to find it than in Kissimmee’s bountiful lakes. Our famous Lake Tohopekaliga (a.k.a. Lake Toho), just south of Orlando, holds the current record for a one-day catch in a professional bass fishing tournament—45lbs. 2oz. for an average of 9 lbs. per bass! Amazing… and doesn’t that sound like a dream fishing trip to you?

Kissimmee is home to some of the best freshwater fishing in the State. The Kissimmee Chain of Lakes and Osceola County itself features water from 200 acres to 44,000 acres and attracts trophy largemouth bass fisherman from all corners of the world. That’s because from East Lake Fish Camp and Lake Kissimmee to Big Toho Marina, our fish stories are no lies.

Kissimmee is also the adopted home of the Barramundi, a legendary Australian sport fish. Until recently, North American anglers who hooked one of these ferocious fighters had to travel down under to do so. Now you can do battle with one of these beauties at private ponds right in Kissimmee. From sport fishing to pier fishing, and from West Lake Toho to charter boats on the coast, our Central Florida location puts you near a boatload of possibilities.

So bring your rod and reel or spend a day with a professional fishing guide to get you to all the hot spots. Then cast your bait, cross your fingers and spend the day fishing in the Heart of Florida.

Also, don’t to forget to vote for Kissimmee as the “Ultimate Fishing Town USA” by clicking the banner below.

If golf is your game, you won’t want to miss the experience of a round at Mystic Dunes Golf Club. Rated a 4 1/2 star course by Golf Digest magazine, Mystic Dunes is renowned as one of the most unique courses in all of Florida.

It’s located at the beautiful Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club, nestled on over 600 acres of rolling hills and lush tropical landscaping, just two miles from Walt Disney World® and minutes away from Orlando’s other major theme parks and attractions.

The course was designed by Champions Tour player and NBC golf analyst Gary Koch.  At 7,012 yards, the par 71 course is challenging yet fun for golfers of all skill levels.  It’s built on some of the highest elevations in the Central Florida area, and features two distinctly different layouts that take advantage of the resort’s unique topography.

The “low-country” style front nine is reminiscent of classic Carolina courses, meandering through native wetlands and marsh areas and bordering oak and cypress forests. The back nine features characteristics of a British Isles links course, with perimeter mounding, pot bunkers, and rolling fairways.

The unique greens at Mystic Dunes are reminiscent of Augusta National, with varying elevations that allow for an unlimited variety of shots and strategies.  Several of the par four holes rival the length of some of the longest seen in professional major championships, and a diabolical quartet of par threes seem to get more intense as the round progresses.  But don’t worry… the five sets of tee boxes offer golfers of all skill levels the ability to play from the distance that makes their round of golf enjoyable, and with just enough challenge to keep them on their toes.  And the meticulous course conditioning guarantees great playing conditions year-round.

The practice facility is a great place to warm up before your round, featuring a large driving range with grass teeing area and target greens, plus practice bunkers and putting and chipping greens.

All golf carts are outfitted with Par-View GPS to help golfers shape every shot and get the most out of their round, and the expansive Pro Shop offers the latest in golf equipment and fashion for men and women.

The friendly atmosphere of Kenzie’s, the restaurant and bar at the Mystic Dunes Clubhouse, is the perfect place to enjoy breakfast before your round, lunch on the outdoor terrace, or you can pick up an order to go at the turn.  After your round, it’s a great place to enjoy a cold beer or cocktail and catch up on the day’s sports, or stay for a casual dinner.

The clubhouse can also accommodate tournament and banquet events and weddings of up to 300 guests.  The outdoor verandah that wraps around the back of the clubhouse offers a spectacular view of the picturesque 18^th green and driving range; it’s absolutely gorgeous at dusk.

Whether visiting Orlando for a few days, a few weeks, or an extended stay, if you play golf you will want to make sure your itinerary includes a round at Mystic Dunes. If you’d like to see more photo’s…click on our Facebook page here. And here’s a short video tour…