Month: December 2013

Believe it or not, there is another theme park besides the big three in Orlando – Walt Disney World® Resort, Universal Orlando® Resort and Sea World Orlando® – that actually made one of the city’s top annual entertainment announcement lists this year: FUN SPOT’s EXPANSION!  The name says it all, but the fabulously “fun”  “spot” and popular locals’ hangout is expanding to three times it’s size by spring 2013, and to kick things off it has already launched and debuted the city’s first wooden roller coaster that plays and rides right along with the” rivaling big boys,” delivering die-hard coaster lovers a thrilling, chilling and hair-raising ride for locals and visiting Orlando travelers ready to take on Fun Spot with Best Vacations Ever’s low-cost vacation packages.

Besides Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida, there’s probably no greater cast of character to enhance your spring or summer vacation – colorful toucans, scarlet macaws, howler monkeys, the most abundant and varied  jungle and mountain wildlife, crocodiles and even, the coffee bean, which has a fragrance and taste that dances on your taste buds regaling from Costa Rica’s famous plantations. Costa Rica is a treasured vacation destination, a paradisiacal region holding a privileged spot in Central America and a close proximity to California and the Unites States, making it one of the top traveler destinations.

When your taste buds start dancing for a wine-tasting vacation, Napa Valley is on the top of the destination menu. Decades ago, Napa’s Beringer Vineyards did a promotional vacation, inviting nearby silver screen sirens into the vineyard hills, with the enticement that “All Roads Lead to Beringer.” It drew the likes of Marliyn Monroe and Clark Gable – a hugely booming success that put Napa Valley on the map as a wine aficionados dream destination and lead to promotional vacationing on a much higher and respected level. Italianesque, Medieval, Contemporary yet with its own distinct and sophistication, Napa Valley is a desired destination for travelers – admired for its beauty, lush vineyards, wineries, activities, culture, cuisine and aesthetically pleasing and varied architecture. This quaint, historic California city features a charming downtown district with unique shops, restaurants, galleries, live theater, historical buildings, nightlife and entertainment, all on the banks of the beautiful Napa River – so much for so many traveling personalities.

If you’re going to dream of a beach vacation, dream BIG!  And DO IT EVEN BIGGER! Shut down the laptop, put in the time off, let go of your stresses and get yourself to the ultimate beach destination of Daytona Beach, Florida. I bet you’re already feeling the sunshine and conjuring up the most amazing and relaxing images: The soothing sounds of the surf, crashing waves, dolphins playing in the calm early morning waters, sparkling golden sands, beautiful sunsets, wind-brushed palm trees, echoing soulful sounds of music and joyful laughter, therapeutic sea-salt air and off shore breezes, and also seemingly endless and hypnotic coastal horizons. But Daytona Beach is also refreshingly action packed with a diverse and hearty bounty of adventures for those who crave alternative activities.

I remember the day my dad told our family we were moving to Orlando. I was in second grade and thought, “Wow, I’m moving to Walt Disney World!” As the decades passed and Father Time ticked away, I grew to call it home, and to know and love “The City Beautiful” and how much it has to offer—way beyond the phenomenal Orlando theme parks and nearby beaches. Of course those are the top and most wondrous reasons tens of thousands of traveling families and cohabitating couples vacation in Central Florida year-round. But not everyone is all about pixie dust and Mickey Mouse. Some travelers in the group want more – something more cultural, outdoorsy or adventurous in more unique ways. They want to find their “magic” and satisfaction in activities beyond the theme parks, and they can. I’ve managed to uncover just about every treasure and activity that Orlando has to offer and say with certainty that Central Florida is truly America’s playground and the ideal vacation for everyone in the family.