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Florida: Orlando, Dueling Dragons, Art Discoveries and Skydiving - Have Fun with the Kids.59)rlandoDuelingDragons Knowing what’s new and fun makes planning the next family vacation a little easier. Still dominating the vacation scene Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal Studios but Orlando offers oodles of one-of-a-kind fun additions to any family getaway. Imagine the unexpected and it can be found in Orlando or nearby Kissimmee.

Ride the Dueling Dragons. Universal Studios Florida masters the art of thrills from rides to virtual reality, it's all fun. Play chase with a mummy or meet Dr. Seuss. The Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios Florida is based on the hit movie “The Mummy.” The indoor thrill ride combines roller coaster technology, space-age robotics and live pyrotechnic special effects. Passengers hurtle through authenticated Egyptian sets, chambers, passageways and tombs filled with deadly curses, powerful forces of nature, and vengeful creatures intent on wreaking havoc. At Islands of Adventure theme park can immerse themselves in the world of Dr. Seuss and his famous stories on the new “High In The Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride” located in – and above – Seuss Landing. It is the only place in the world where visitors can experience a whimsical world in which Dr. Seuss’ classics come to life on an entire island dedicated to Dr. Seuss and his beloved stories and characters.

Experience an adrenaline rush. Looking for extreme fun in Orlando? Now visitors can feel like an astronaut in space. Zero-G, Planet Earth's first Spaceline®, the first and only FAA approved zero gravity aircraft similar to that used by NASA to train astronauts. Remember Tom Hanks in Apollo 13. The full-day experience includes ground training; lunch; a two-hour flight with 20 parabolas (aerial maneuvers), each one creating 30 seconds of zero gravity; and a post-flight program with the ground crew. Discovery: Don’t worry, you will not be alone -the aircraft seats 27 passengers.

Make a difference. SeaWorld Orlando is offering a new 60-minute “Saving a Species” tour, which takes visitors behind the scenes for a look at the park’s animal rescue, rehabilitation and release efforts. Guests have the rare opportunity to hand-feed exotic birds in a free-flight aviary and see manatees, sea turtles and other animals receive state-of-the-art medical treatment in the rehabilitation facilities. Bonus points: One dollar of the tour admission will be donated to the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, a non-profit private charitable foundation, to support research, conservation and education projects around the world.

Believe it or not! World famous Ripley’s has an amazing 8,900 square foot Orlando Odditorium that looks like it’s falling into a Florida sinkhole. The building is filled with wild, crazy outrageous displays and interactive exhibits. Bored no more, themed galleries feature oddities, artifacts, pranks of nature, illusions and silliness. Step into the drawing room and meet the late Robert Ripley. His ghost is always on call to welcome guests. The interactive illusion gallery is wild and the 1907 Rolls Royce built with more than one million match sticks is, well unbelievable. See a dinosaur exhibit, complete with dinosaur skull and authenticated eggs, an Egyptian mummy, and a 10-foot section of the Berlin Wall. Bonus points: The website offers discount coupons for visitors.

Simulate skydiving. It’s almost as easy as flying a kite. 59SkyDiveFlying in the wind chamber offers the exhilarating feeling of skydiving without having to jump out of an airplane. With a little coaching and encouragement the fun part just happens. At SkyVenture instructors coach participants in the art of the fall and offer hands-on training to make the mini adventure effortless. No parachute is needed and no previous jumping experience is necessary to enjoy the fun of soaring on a 120-mph column of air. The average experience takes about one hour and everything but the memories last a lifetime. It is fun for all ages. Bonus points: Take advantage of the discount coupons at the website.

Attend an Italian wedding. The Rivership Romance and the theatrical producers of “Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding” have joined forces to offer The Rivership Romance Wedding Comedy Dinner Show. Guests enjoy dining, dancing and an outrageous Italian wedding while cruising down the beautiful St. John’s River. Discovery: They also offer brunch cruises along the scenic St. Johns River.

Transport yourself. Imagine moving along side International Drive on a Segway™ Human Transporter. From the Relay Transport Station at Pointe*Orlando, the new “Adventure Tour” takes riders by International Drive attractions and provides additional time for video instruction. Bonus points: At the same location bike rentals are also an option. Bonus points: There is a 30-minute kid’s clinic for ages 8-16 and they also rent scooters.

Visit Orlando Museum of Art Discovery Center. You’ll find hands-on things to do that enhance your visit and make it tons of fun. Activities are free with Museum admission. Each month the museum presents a fun, affordable morning where families explore art, music, stories and other activities together. 1st Saturday is geared to families with children ages 3 to 5. Orlando Museum of Art offers a variety of creative programs designed for children. The classes are geared toward encouraging students to be active participants in understanding and appreciating works of art. Permanent exhibitions include: American Art Collection, Art of the Ancient Americas Collection, and an African Art Collection. Visits to the galleries to study works of art in our current exhibitions will reinforce skills learned in the studio for them to apply in their own creations. Bonus points: The Creation Station - Drop In is scheduled for Thursday afternoons and inlcudes a shared creative project fun for both child and adult.

Skim the swamp. Experience the amazing world of the Florida Everglades on Boggy Creek Airboat Rides, a wind-in-your-face nature cruise across the lake’s surface that leaves visitors cheering for more. Half-hour airboat tours provide a close encounter with native wildlife and regular gator sightings. A fun-filled 45-minute tour of a working cattle ranch aboard a swamp buggy has recently been added to the options available for guests of Boggy Creek Airboat Rides. 59AirBoatThe narrated tour originating from its South Port Road location takes guests through gorgeous pastureland owned by one of Kissimmee’s pioneer families, viewing native plants and animals. Bonus points: Kissimmee’s own Boggy Creek Airboat and Wildlife Safari Rides alos offers a thrilling wilderness safari tour – a ride through an alligator pit aboard a a monster swamp buggy. As the monster swamp buggy with its 5 ½-foot tires slowly drives into the pit, passengers are increasingly surrounded by gators. When they reach the center, the driver will feed the alligators while passengers have a safe, bird’s eye view of the action.

Take a break from the parks - pet a donkey or ride a horse. A visit to Green Meadows Farm is an educational, hands-on experience with many of the farm animals typical of Florida. Shaded by "Grandfather" Oak trees covered in Spanish moss, Green Meadows Farm is a choice family attraction, decorated by flowers, strutting peacocks and other animals. Interactive tours allow visitors to handle the animals and learn more about them. Not far away from Green Meadows ollder kids may wish to saddle up and ride at Horse World Riding Stables offering trail riding adventures on 750 acres of beautiful sandy trails and quiet peaceful countryside. Horse World Riding Stables offers a variety of riding experiences for riders of every skill level, including customized riding lessons. Guests can also feed and pet farm animals, play volleyball, toss horseshoes, or bring your own picnic lunch to enjoy under a shady oak tree or picnic pavilion.
Planning Details

SkyVenture 6805 Visitor Circle, Orlando, FL 32819 Exit 75 A off I-4. 1(407) 903-1150 – 1-800skyfun1 or www.skyventureorlando.com

Zero-G, Planet Earth's first Spaceline®. 1(714) 628-0606 Relay Transport Station at Pointe*Orlando. 1(407) 351-4876 or www.RelayToGo.com

Rivership Romance Wedding Comedy Dinner Show. 433 North Palmetto Ave. Sanford, Fla. 32771. 1- 800-423-7401, (407) 321-5091 or www.rivershipromance.com

Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum. 8201 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819. 1(407) 363-4418, 1-800-998-4418 or www.ripleysorlando.com

Universal Studios Orlando. 1(407) 224-6222 or www.universalorlando.com

The Orlando Museum of Art. 2416 N. Mills Ave., Orlando Loch Haven Park, Orlando, FL 32803-1483. 1(407) 896-4231 or www.OMArt.org

SeaWorld Orlando. Intersection of Interstate 4 and FL 528 (the Bee Line Expressway), 10 minutes south of downtown Orlando and 15 minutes from Orlando International Airport. 1(407) 351-3600 or www.seaworld.com

Boggy Creek Airboat Rides 2001 E. Southport Rd. Kissimmee, Florida 34746. (407)348-2040 or www.bcairboats.com

Green Meadows Farm 1368 South Poinciana Blvd. Kissimmee, FL 34746 (407) 846-0770 or www.greenmeadowsfarm.com

Horse World 3705 Poinciana Blvd. Kissimmee, 34758 (407) 847-4343 or www.horseworldstables.com

Content created by FTF and images provided by Orlando CVB and FTF staff. Copyright 2008.

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