Many visitors enjoy the Magic of Magic Kingdom during their stay here in our vacation homes.  Children in particular find the characters familiar from the books and films that they watch , so to see these characters and places that they know so well up close and personal is  exciting for them.   One day at the park is usually more than enough for many of the little ones, but the older children and the adults alike watch in wonder at the night parade put on by the Magic Kingdom each evening.  There are two shows; one at nine o’clock and one at eleven o’clock, with fireworks at ten o’clock.

Certainly even on a mid week visit to watch the Disney Electrical Parade, a good many people were still there from the day, and the crowds were quite thick.   Small children were draped  over parent’s  shoulders, or asleep in their pushchairs;  their little faces flushed from the heat.

We wandered through some of the exhibits; one of my favourites is Cinderella’s castle; the interior walls of the archway are festooned with beautiful wall  paintings picked out with gold, azure and crimson, giving it a truly medieval feel.   This is just one of the examples of the artwork on those arched walls, and like myself, many guests were just standing and staring at the stunning artwork.    We all know just how creative the Disney imagineers can be, and this in particular is a prime example of their skills.

he time was getting closer for the Start of the Electrical Display Night Parade of Summer Nightastic, and crowds were already lining the streets of the Magic Kingdom.   One of the less populated spots to watch from is around the area of Frontier Land, so off we headed towards Splash Mountain.  Having found a suitable spot from which to watch , we settled in for a long wait.  It is best to find your place  and stay there, as the crowds make it difficult to see once the Parade starts, and the better viewing areas are already occupied by 7.30!

One of the interesting things that I noticed while waiting patiently, are the numbers of people being guided by the Disney helpers.   With the aid of lighted wants they were indicating the routes that visitors needed to take; and in doing so, were actually directing the foot traffic so that one side of the street was for those heading away from Frontier Land, and the other side was used for guests heading towards our area.

One of the other things I noticed is that to move visitors along, they play a large amount of marching band music; normally  without being in the position of people watching I would not have seen this, but marching music automatically makes people march in step to the cadences of the music; so not only do people have direction, they are also moving faster than an amble.    Very interesting, that!

Eventually the announcement that everyone was waiting for, came over the loudspeakers, and the lights were dimmed.   Excitement rose as the first characters dressed in lighted costumes came dancing along the street, followed by a selection of floats festooned in lights and colour.

Lots of photos were being taken, judging by the flash lights going off, and sometimes it was difficult to see every display in its entirety, due to the numbers of people crowding in front.  From Alice  in Wonderland to Captain Hook, from Cinderella to Pinocchio and Peter and the Dragon, they were all there in glorious techicoloured lights.  The larger floats were large indeed and towered over the audience so that everyone could see Cinderella waving from inside her coach, or Captain Hook on his ship, or Mickey Mouse perched high on his sparkling display. Smaller characters were dancing through the street between the displays, waving to the children in the audience.

The finale to our evening was the view and noise of the magnificent Firework Display that blossoms over the top of the Castle – and which can be seen from almost everywhere inside the Magic Kingdom.

Inside news from LEGOLAND Florida. Yes, it’s coming !   Fall of 2011 is definitely the target date.  We all know that it could run over  depending on weather conditions, ground breaking and construction issues, but the LEGOLAND staff are pushing hard for that to be the completion date; somewhere between October 1st and December 21st is officially what is called “Fall” or Autumn if you are from the UK.

The LEGOLAND Florida park is going to be the 5th LEGOLAND park , and the largest to date, being 150 acres of exciting shows and rides.  One of the most interesting things that has come out of the discussions is that for those of us who enjoyed visiting the Botanical Gardens at Cypress Gardens, the gardens will remain as part of the new park.   So will the Mansion and the Water Ski Show that  many visitors to Central Florida are familiar with.   This is wonderful news for some of our more mature visitors who like to come to Central Florida during the winter and spring months.

LEGOLAND emphasize the interactivity of their parks, and certainly the plans for the Central Florida park are going to provide that for the small “Heroes” who are their target audience.  There will be nine different themed areas, called Blocks.   A Block is what they call the themed zones, and a Brick is the LEGO piece that children use for their creative constructions !

From the first area to the right of the Entrance, called The Beginning, children can go to Castle Hill, where there will be a Dragon Rollercoaster which apparently runs through the castle, onward to Fun Town, then to the  Land of Adventure,with its dinosaur theme,  onward to the City, where there is the Firehouse , Police Stations, Fire Engines and water pumping hoses.  The Imagination Zone is next on the list, and is where creativity takes first place.  A wild Coaster ride is next at the Xtreme block, and finally the children reach Miniland, which is especially designed for the younger end of the spectrum, with Gamesville, and Duplo,  slides and smaller rides.

There will be restaurants, and one of LEGOLAND‘s favourite menu items can be found – “granny fries”  – this is a snack comprising slices of apple,( the healthy option), dipped in sugar and cinnamon (uh, oh) and deep fried ( oh dear, there goes the healthy bit).  Apparently those who have tried them absolutely adore them.

LEGOLAND takes pride in offering good healthy food, so it is unlikely that you or your children will be served burgers, hot dogs or fries.

The planning also includes the BIG Shop where LEGO merchandise can be found, including some pieces unique to the Florida park.     There will  be a Factory Tour for those who are interested where you can see how the bricks are made and designs created.

If your children or grandchildren are between the ages of two and twelve, let them know that “Heroes are Wanted” at LEGOLAND Florida.

As a footnote, some of our Florida visitors may recall the 40 foot tall open air dome that sheltered part of the entrance area of the old Cypress Gardens.  That has now been dismantled, since it didn’t fit into the plans of the LEGOLAND Florida park,.  The contractor who was hired to dismantle and haul it away is a member of a local church  and when he asked if the church would like it, they replied that they would.  The 125 foot diameter dome was re-engineered and installed behind the church in Lakeland.  It now protects the arriving and departing congregation from the sun and the rain.

After a busy day here in the office, it was decided to take our 15 year old grand-daughter out to eat, instead of staying in for dinner.   The decision involved a trip of about 10 miles through some of Central Florida’s back roads.   We were going to take her to a local  restaurant – I use that term very loosely.     Sometimes, the best and most authentic food can be found where the locals eat, and in this case, we were heading to a fish shack eaterie on the edge of Lake Pierce.  We have taken some of our vacation home owners there, and they have found it to be a fascinating experience – and the food’s not bad either!

The Cherry Pocket Seafood and Steak shack is reached via back roads through citrus groves, and along side canals.  You’ll see cattle ranches and horse paddocks; you’ll drive along roads where both sides of the road has watery ditches and overhanging oaks.

Cherry Pocket

We entered the atmospheric and rustic dining room; the first notice we saw was the instruction that says No Whining, and we took in the decor , which is full of quirky items such as old numberplates from cars, stuffed fish, and many others too numerous to mention.  Greeted by a very friendly waitress we were shown to our table and handed the menu, which turned out to be the Cherry Pocket Times, a printed newspaper with articles about the origins of the Fishing Camp on the front and back pages and the extensive menu on the inside.

The bar ceiling itself is covered in currency notes, and again looks really quirky

cherry pocket

The Cherry Pocket Times  can be retained as a souvenir of your visit, and if you wanted to take home further proof of your dining experience, you can purchase one of Cherry Pockets’ very own T shirts, some of which have inventive messages on the back of them.  Cherry Pocket was originally an Oyster Bar and still sells oysters on the shell, so your T-shirt will have images of oysters on the front under the logo.   Hence the messages on the back of the shirts!

The experience of dining at Cherry Pocket, quite apart from the food, is the clientele.  This Fish camp Seafood and Steak Shack has been around for many years.  Situated on Lake Pierce, and reached through the back roads of Polk County, or by boat across the lake, it is a popular spot for locals and fishermen to eat and drink .  You will see genuine fishermen and native Floridians.  You might meet cowboys – we did, on one of the occasions we were out there.

Casual and laid back, staff are friendly, and if eating outside appeals to you , they have a deck and  tiki bar where you can sit and eat, while watching the alligators in the lake. Occasionally you’ll be treated to some impromptu music as a local fisherman may pick up a guitar and start to play.  Local alligators do apparently know the place well, and can be sometimes persuaded to lie on the boat ramp for photo opportunities.  There was a gator just offshore, but obviously we weren’t flavour of the month, so it didn’t come forward for us or our cameras.

When we first went to Cherry Pocket some years ago, there was no glass in the shack windows at all, just mesh screening, with sheets of polythene that could be rolled down if it rained.  They seem to have upgraded a little, and now there is glass in the window frames, but the floor and the tables are the wooden originals.

This is not the place to wear your best outfit and posh shoes;  it is still a working fish camp, so there are small rental shacks among the oak trees, and the paths are sand, not tarmac or concrete.  The boat ramp still has its fish cleaning shed and  the  original “dunny” or  ” outhouse” on The Hill, as it’s called, is still in use.  This is original Florida as it used to be, and is worth a short trip for a dining experience you’ll rarely find in “tourist land”

Follow my grand-daughter’s blogs about her vacation experiences too on http://jetsettingteen.blogspot.com

LEGOLAND came to Winter Haven, Florida yesterday for their very  first Open House.   Especially arranged to show the people of Winter Haven and the surrounding areas what the future Legoland Florida will look like, the event was overwhelmingly popular with adults and kids alike.  So much so, that they had to bring in Traffic control officers to direct traffic due to the number of vehicles entering the car park at the Orange Dome in Winter Haven.

The Open House was designed to show how the former Cypress Gardens park will be transformed into LEGOLAND Florida, which will be the largest Legoland park to date.  The Florida park consists of 145 acres and will retain the original botanical gardens and water ski show.  Some of the existing rides that are age-appropriate will be kept and re-themed and the Mansion will be used for special events.

Winter Haven residents turned out in force and were welcomed by LEGOLAND staff who were on hand to answer any questions that arose from the displays.

I arrived at 3.45 p.m. for what was to be a 4.00p.m.  till 7.00p.m. Open House.  Thinking I would be early and be able to snap up an easy parking spot at the Orange Dome, which is one of Winter Haven’s landmarks, I was surprised  to find that the car park was already full and vehicles were being directed to park on the grass areas around the Dome.

Walking up to the main entrance were many people, adults and children, senior citizens and professionals , all of whom were queueing at the main entrance.  Television camera crews were wandering around with their cameras at the ready, and exactly at 4.00 p.m the doors were opened and we filed through.

Staff were on hand, giving out leaflets, and then everyone moved into the main hall of the Dome, to be greeted by the new LEGOLAND Florida logo.

Immediately the children, who are of course , the most knowledgeable about LEGO rushed across the hall to the Playland area, where tables were set up with the LEGO boards and bins of the building bricks.

I watched as one little girl spotted Thomas the Tank Engine and went across to hug  the model engine. 

A couple of boys looked in awe at the LEGO built  Darth Vader display standing towards the rear of the hall. And the copy in LEGO bricks of Rodin’s The Thinker drew some admiring glances and touches too.

One of the most interesting facets of the event, to me, anyway, was the fascination shown by the adults.  Around the outskirts  of the hall were TV screens showing what visitors to LEGOLAND could expect to see (obviously taken from othe LEGOLAND parks elsewhere in the world), and adults and children were standing spellbound, watching these demonstrations.

Many of the local visitors were able to see what changes or modifications will be made to the existing Cypress Gardens buildings, and Legoland staff were there to answer questions.  Such questions included when is the park due to open, what attractions will there be at the new park, how big will it be, what impact will it have on surrounding residential areas and roads.   Ons such question concerned the Lego store in Downtown Disney, and the answer was that while both give a great experience for children, the LEGO store is a Brand retail outlet, while LEGOLAND Florida will be a full- day theme park, with over 50 rides, shows  and attractions. There was huge applause when it was announced that the  Botanical Gardens would be retained.  Many of the older residents of the area have fond memories of the Gardens and were delighted to hear that they will remain a part of the Park.

John Jacobsen, managing director for Legoland Parks, was in fine form, wandering around the hall, talking to curious and concerned visitors  and then gave his introductory speech from the platform, answering questions from the floor afterwards.    I met with him and his Sales and Marketing Director, Kim Isemann, but it was really too busy to do anything but have a quick chat.  I also spoke  with Tom Patton, executive director of the Central Florida Development Council and Rodney Carson, Director of Economic development about the crowds  that they were seeing.  Tom was pleased that Legoland is getting the community involved so early.   He said, “It gives you an idea of what to expect when they get here officially” .  Certainly for close to three thousand people who turned up on a sweltering July afternoon to see what the future holds for Winter Haven and the area, this LEGOLAND Florida Open House provided some fine answers.   The new LEGOLAND Florida park is due to open in the fall of 2011.

Entrance to Circle B Bar Reserve

After a damp squib of a July 4th weekend ( yes, it rained for a good deal of the weekend) we felt in need of some fresh air and relaxation.   In other words, to get out and see some more of our county’s beautiful areas.

This time we headed south through Winter Haven to the Circle B Bar Reserve on Lake Hancock.  It is relatively easy to get to, being about 30 minutes drive from Winter Haven, and the Reserve  can also be reached by using the Polk Parkway.

Once through the main entrance, you drive down a long avenue of grand old and gnarled oak trees. draped in Spanish Moss and resurrection ferns.

fallen down during a storm

Driving down the avenue  we met a family of wild pigs and piglets trotting from one side of  the road into the undergrowth on the other side.   That was quite an introduction to the wildlife that we hoped to see today.

Continuing on to the parking area at the main Educational center, which provides information and educational eco-tours to many of the schools in the area,  we left the car,  and took one of the informative leaflets at the start of the trails.  The leaflets show a map of the various trails you can take, and the type of habitat that you will walking through.  Incidentally, sturdy and comfortable walking shoes are recommended for this trip, as well as a camera and insect repellent.

We noticed several families picnicking at the tables and shelters provided, and obviously enjoying the peace and quiet.  No pets are allowed in the reserve; they can be disruptive to the wildlife, and the alligators in the lake make it unsafe for dogs.

Setting off down the trail marked Shady Oak, we walked peacefully along the path;  soon we reached damper areas where it was a good thing that we wore sturdy footwear.  Remember we had had a wet weekend, so water was standing in puddles along the low areas of the trail.   Most of the trails are about half to three-quarters of a mile in distance, and level; therefore they are suitable for both walkers and cyclists.

The first half  of the trail is through open prairie and standing oaks, and quietly walking along the grassy path, we saw a family of wild turkeys. We stood watching them as they stalked through  the tall grasses, with their family of three chicks scurrying busily around the parents, who were murmuring softly to the chicks to keep them close.  After about 5 minutes they had wandered away from us and into the undergrowth, and we continued along the trail.    The open grassland transitioned into a more heavily wooded area, with large oaks draped in Spanish moss alongside the path.  Birds were trilling in the treetops, although we couldn’t see or identify them.  There are bald eagles, ospreys and woodpeckers to be observed.   The trails are well marked, and where they split off in other directions, there are information boards showing what you might expect to see on any particular path.   We continued on from the Shady Oak Trail into the Alligator Trail which took us along the margins of Lake Hancock.   Often when walking in areas like these , one speculates on how the Native Americans and Early settlers coped with the terrain and the problems.   The Alligator Trail is about seven-tenths of a mile long, and the lake is visible all the way

The lake is home to large numbers of wading birds, from the great Blue Heron to the small glossy Ibis, and the path is close enough to the margins of reeds and water plants to see many of these birds.

The lake is also home to numerous alligators;  we met one of the ecological scientists along our path, who told us that at the last count, there were over 4,000 alligators found.  In fact, we noticed they were pretty easy to spot, either just offshore or laying up in the reed beds.    For the record, the distance between the eyes usually indicates the length of the alligator; for instance if the distance between the eyes is about 6 inches ( do not try to measure this!!) the length of the ‘gator will be about 6 feet.  We did see one that we estimated to be about 15 feet in length, although unfortunately it was too far out to photograph.

Walking this path felt slightly like being  in early primeval conditions; there were strange noises off to the sides, rustlings in the undergrowth, the “crawks” of the herons as they flew away from our disturbance, deep throated gruntings – now what was making that noise?

Again, it is necessary to be aware of your surroundings – across the path from the lake is a swampy area, with shrubs, tree roots and moss obscuring the banks – something was moving in the undergrowth; fawny brown in colour, smallish, about the size of a muntjac deer, or a small dog.  We waited , holding our breath, to see what was rooting down amongst the roots and grasses.  Finally the creature emerged into into a little clearer view – wait!  it wasn’t just one, there were  two or three of them, and they were baby wild piglets.   Eventually momma hog came into view and they moved deeper into the swampy undergrowth and we lost sight of them.  Their grunting continued as we walked further along our path.

Deep amongst the moss draped trees and flowering grasses were butterflies flitting from bush to bush.   Can anyone identify this one;  I think it’s one of the Skipper varieties, but I can’t be positive.  We saw lots of the Swallowtail types, and many other varieties fluttering in the warm moist air.

We also sighted lots of ospreys and bald eagles perched in the tops of  dead trees with the results of their fishing expeditions.  Obviously the reserve is home to many varieties of birds, and the information boards at the start of each trial will give you identification information

The Circle B Bar reserve was originally a cattle ranch, and was acquired in 2000 by Polk County and the South West Water Management District, primarily to protect the valuable water and wildlife resources.   The Reserve is on the northwest shore of Lake Hancock, and covers 1,267 acres .  Lake Hancock is often referred to as the headwaters of the Peace River which flows 105 miles from Polk County to Charlotte Harbour and the Gulf of Mexico.    Due to its herbaceous and forested landscape, the Reserve supports a wide variety of mammal and bird species.

Tips to make your trip more enjoyable;  if you have binoculars, bring them;  also carry some drinking water; it can get quite warm hiking these trails, even though they are not difficult or overly long.     Take your time; do not rush this experience.  There is a lot to observe on the trails.  Finally do be careful when walking near  water, especially with small children.

Oak hammock at Lake Kissimmee State Park

One visit that everyone should make at least once is to Lake Kissimmee State Park. Situated just off State Road 60, about 15 miles East of Lake Wales, this is  nearly 6,000 acres  of oak hammock, floodplain, forest, prairie and flatwoods.   There are also three lakes in the state park;  Lake Kissimmee, Lake Rosalie and Lake Tiger.

Lake Kissimmee State Park was once used by Native Americans because of the abundance of fish and game in the area, making it an ideal place to live for thousands of years.

The park is named for Lake Kissimmee, the third largest lake in the state. The 5,930 acres of Lake Kissimmee State Park are teeming with plant and animal life. The park offers outstanding fishing, bird watching, picnicking, camping, boating and hiking on 13 miles of beautiful trails. For nature lovers and photographers few parks offer the variety of plant and animal life that Lake Kissimmee State Park has to offer.

European man arrived in Florida in the 1500’s but his presence was not felt here until the 1800’s. During the third Seminole War Fort Gardiner was built nearby as a temporary fortification. Later the area was widely used for timber and turpentine. The town of Rosalie was built and later abandoned after the turpentine industry pulled out of the area.

During the Civil War the area was used for raising cattle that were shipped to the Confederate Army or traded with Cuba for supplies. After the war, cattle were the main industry and this continues to the present day.

In 1969, the state of Florida purchased 5,030 acres of land from the William Zipprer estate for use as a state park. Lake Kissimmee State Park was opened to the public in 1977. An additional 900 acres were purchased in 1997 and added to the park’s western boundary.

More than 50  protected or endangered species of wildlife can be found here.

Many activities are available in the Park, including fishing, boating, kayaking and canoeing.      You can camp here in the special campgrounds, or horseback ride, or hike the thirteen miles of trails.  You may see whooping cranes, sandhill cranes, bald eagles, and hawks.

From floodplain forest to prairie hammock there is a variety of seldom seen plants. The ’spark botanical bounty includes delicate mosses, butterfly orchids, sawgrass, cutthroat grass, fetterbush and gallberry. Expansive, colorful fields of lotus and pickerelweed stretch towards the sun.

Scrubby flatwoods are host to the Florida scrub jay, scrub oak and longleaf pine. In fact Lake Kissimmee State Park hosts over two hundred species of birds making it one of the best birding areas in central Florida.

Other animals you may catch sight of are grey foxes, wild turkeys and deer.  You might even get really lucky and catch sight of a bobcat, although they are very reclusive..

Sandhill cranes are quite common here in Central Florida, although they are a protected species, and they are well known for their distinctive call.  The birds  can sometimes be quite aggressive if you enter their territory, especially if they are nesting or have young chicks around.  You will often see family groups of  up to two adults and three or four chicks.    They will definitely warn you off if you get too close!

Wild turkeys are very common in our parks and scrublands.  They forage for bugs and worms in our grassland, and frequently can be seen with many hens and one grand turkey cock lording it over his ladies.    The hens are a bit smaller than the male, who has a long wattle hanging down from his neck.  Do not look for a bird that looks like our Thanksgiving turkeys;  these are wild birds and are more streamlined, longer legged and less plump than their cultivated cousins.

If you are in the park in the early hours of the morning or later in the afternoon, you may catch a glimpse of the white tailed deer.  These are very shy animals and well camouflaged in the woodland habitat.  Very often, unless they move, you will not notice them.  Again, you may see younger deer as well as the adults.

sunrise over lake Kissimmee

FISHING

Located on the shores of Lakes Kissimmee, Rosalie and Tiger, the park offers some of the best fishing opportunities in the state. A variety of fish that can be caught include the largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, chain pickerel and bluegill. A boat ramp in the park offers direct access to Lake Kissimmee. For those without boats fishing opportunities from the canal banks, marina and dam offer the same variety of fish.

Freshwater fishing in Florida requires a license for those who are 15 years or older. You do not have to have a license to fish with a cane pole as long as you are fishing in the county of your residence.

Horse riders can use the 6 miles of riding trails, while fishermen have a treat ; with lots of fishing docks to cast a line from, they will thoroughly enjoy themselves.

There is a large picnic area located in an oak hammock near the bottom of the park. Large, sprawling live oak trees provide shade for those interested in picnicking at the park. There are numerous picnic tables and four pavilions available. At the edge of the picnic area is a 40 foot tall observation tower where you will be able to view the upper part of Lake Kissimmee.

There is also the Cow Camp to visit, which is a piece of living history that depicts an 1876 cattle camp, including Florida Scrub cattle.  These cattle are descendants of the cattle that were brought to Florida by the Spanish in the 1500′s, and which  bred without interference from local settlers.  They have developed natural resistance to the diseases and pests of Florida, and can survive on minimal vegetation.  Local cattlemen were commonly referred to as  Cracker cowboys.   The name came from the Crack of their long whips as they rounded up and moved the cattle through the brush and undergrowth.   The Cow Camp is open on weekends and holidays from October through May

Daniel Radcliffe and friends meeting and greeting at the Grand Opening of Harry Potter’s Wizarding World at Universal Studios. Thousands of people went to Universal Studios this morning to experience the Wizarding World Of Harry Potter.

Harry Potter fans

The books are so popular and the fact the J K Rowling wrote the last book three years ago ( Deathly Hallows) means that the followers of the stories have been tremendously interested in the progress of the building of the Wizarding World  here at Universal Studios, Orlando.

The parking garage was opened at 5.30 a.m. this morning to cater for the expected influx of vehicles.   The gates to Universal opened at the normal time, and had to shut at 11.00 a.m. due to the capacity crowds waiting in line for the visit to Hogsmeade and Hogwarts School. There were some unhappy people who were turned away.   Those who were lucky enough to get in before the gates were closed needed all their patience and stamina.

It was reported that there was a four to six hour wait from Toon Lagoon, and certainly aerial photos of the crowds would bear that out;  the crowds were stretching all the way from City Walk waiting to get on the ride Forbidden Journey.   At one point it was reported that the Forbidden Journey ride had broken down, but that rumour was later denied, and at this time the rides are working.

Executives at Universal were somewhat surprised by the numbers, and some guests were unhappy with the long lines, especially with the heat today.   Many of the other rides and restaurants within Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios benefited from the large numbers of guests, with some longer than normal wait times as well.    Despite the lines and the temperatures, many fans came dressed as their favourite characters, and a general feeling of goodwill prevailed – although one or two guests grumbled at the delays.

Many of the guests who stay in our vacation rental homes on a regular basis, frequently ask what they can do once they have been to all the major parks. Everyone loves to visit Disney or Seaworld, Universal and the other major theme parks. But sometimes it’s good to take a break from them.
Some of the suggestions we make can include off road driving, trophy fishing, scuba diving and beachcombing; occasionally we suggest shopping, but away from the main malls and brand names.
We also like to suggest to our vacationing guests that they take a drive tour away from the main tourist areas and explore some of the unspoiled and natural towns that can still be found in this diverse State.
You can visit small towns with the charm of “old Florida”, lazy days and rocking chairs on front porches, or go gambling at a casino in Tampa and experience the nightlife.

Ocala is one of those “old Florida” towns, where small local shops line the main street, alongside the courthouse and city hall. It’s a town where time seems to stand still; you will be greeted with a friendly smile and a warm welcome.

Ocala was established in 1846 by Matthew Edward Hall near the site of Fort King, a military outpost of the Seminole Wars. Ocala is a derivation of the Timucua word “Ocali” which is believed to mean the “Big Hammock”.
Hernando de Soto passed through a Timucua village or province named Ocali or Ocale near the present site of Ocala during his famous expedition through what is today the southeastern United States in 1539. Greater Ocala is known as the “Kingdom of the Sun”. Ocala itself is know as the City of the Horse, and rightly so.
The first thoroughbred horse farm in Florida was created by Carl G. Rose in 1943. Earlier, in 1916, Rose had come to Florida from Indiana to oversee the first asphalt road ever constructed in the state. When he ran into problems with the asphalt, he improvised and experimented with one of Florida’s abundant resources: limestone. He also realized that the Limestone would be a good source of nutrition for raising strong horses, so he took a gamble in 1943 and bought acreage along State Highway 200 at $10 per acre, which became Rosemere Farm. The next year one of his horses, Gornil, won at Miami’s Tropical Park, making him the first Florida-raised thoroughbred to win a Florida race. Close on Rose’s heels, the entrepreneur Bonnie Heath soon set up his own thoroughbred horse farm and produced the state’s first Kentucky Derby winner. Both of these men have prominent Highways named after them in Ocala. Bonnie Heath Farm is now owned and operated by his son Bonnie Heath, III, and his wife Kim. Rosemere Farm was sold long ago, and Ocala’s Paddock Mall and Central Florida Community College were built on the site.

In 1956, the Ocala area Thoroughbred industry received a boost when Needles became the first Florida-bred to win the Kentucky Derby. In 1978, Marion County-bred and -raised Affirmed won the Triple Crown. Today, Marion County is one of the major thoroughbred centers of the world, with over 1,200 horse farms in total and about 900 thoroughbred farms totaling some 77,000 acres. Ocala is well known as the horse capital of the world, one of only five cities (four in the USA and one in France) permitted under Chamber of Commerce guidelines to use this title based on annual revenue produced by the horse industry.

Driving through the countryside towards Ocala , one can see the numerous horse ranches that abound in the area.

Ocala is also known for nearby Silver Springs, Florida, site of one of the largest artesian spring formations in the world and Silver Springs Nature Theme Park, one of the earliest tourist attractions in Florida. We have always enjoyed visiting Silver Springs ; it’s easy to find, quiet and peaceful for families to visit, and the glass bottom boat rides are great fun. Watch the fish swimming below you in the crystal clear water.

The 110 mile long Ocklawaha River flows north from Central Florida until it joins the St. Johns River near Palatka, Florida.

Marion County is also home to the Ocala National Forest which was established in 1908 and is now the second largest national forest in the state. The Florida Trail, also known as the Florida National Scenic Trail, cuts through Ocala National Forest.

Silver River State Park was established in the early 1990s to preserve the areas around the Silver River to the east of Ocala near Silver Springs.

Only 70 miles from your Central Florida vacation home, Ocala is an easy town to visit in a day, and will give a totally new experience for even the seasoned Florida visitor.

Traveling with dogs

If you own a dog, like me, you’re always looking for places to visit, to stay and to enjoy along with your pet.  Because  I too try to find suitable accommodation for our family and our pet, we find ourselves in the same predicament as many loving pet owners.  Where can we go, where can we stay, where can we eat outside and where can we take our dog for walks.??

That’s why we have great pleasure in being able to offer pet friendly vacation homes! The biggest advantage of staying in a home rather than an hotel is the sheer ease of settling in with your pet.  Dogs are far happier in a home than a hotel room – there is less unfamiliar noise, for one thing.  My dog has a habit of barking at unfamiliar noises, like other guests passing along the corridor outside our room.  She hates the sound of vacuum cleaners, so that’s another problem;  they’re always cleaning the hallways of hotels.  And in a vacation home, we can bring her own bed, blankets, and food bowls.  The outside is easier to access, so taking our pet for a walk is less stressful; most homes are in quiet developments with sidewalks, and open areas that we can walk to and from.

Florida has just been confirmed as having one of the top five dog friendly areas in the United States.  We are fortunate enough to have Fort De Soto beach on our doorstep.  It takes about 2 hours easy drive from Central Florida to reach the famous Fort de Soto doggy beach, where dogs and humans mingle happily on the sands and in the calm Gulf waters.

Jilly on Fort de Soto beach

There are two fenced dog runs for off leash play;  one for smaller dogs and one for the larger breeds, complete with water bowls and showers to wash the sand and salt off.  Shaded seating areas for owners are also provided.

With miles of sandy beach to run along, and soft and gentle waves, dogs of all ages and sizes have great fun .  Obviously all dogs must be kept under control, and sometimes if the larger dogs appear to be too boisterous we tend to walk further along the beach to provide ourselves and our little one some peace and quiet.

The end result of a trip to Fort De Soto is a happy and tired pet, with a grand vacation home to return to, with all the comforts of home.  Their own blanket, doggie bed and food bowls.  What more could a pet on vacation want?

Once, many years ago,  we managed to get down to Titusville to watch one of the Night Flights of the Space Shuttle. There have been very few experiences since then to rival it.

The long wait for the countdown, the murmurs of other people who are waiting just like you, dark shadows moving around you while all eyes are on the launch pad  far off in the distance, radios pressed to ears, listening for the latest news, and hoping and praying that there will be no last minute stand-down.

When the start of the 10 second countdown commences, eyes and ears strain to see and hear the first of the blast-off;  people craning to get their first glimpse, fingers on camera shutters ready to go………….9,  8,  7,  6,  5 .…………. now the time is getting so close, you can  feel the tension…………….you can feel everyone willing it to be a safe lift off………

.4, 3, 2,

ONE!!!

and a tremendous cheer erupts at the same time as the fiery steam billows out of the ground, and the shuttle lifts off.  Going so slowly at first, then gaining speed as it lifts away from the launch pad.  Trailing a huge cloud of orange vapour behind it like a cloak, and speeding up , up into the night sky.   Our eyes are blinded by the vision, cameras are clicking as the shuttle passes in front of the moon, and onwards, and  then comes the roar; the noise of the blast off – we didn’t expect that!   The sheer volume of sound compresses the chest,  pulses through the body, feels as though you can’t breathe for a moment  and makes you feel as though the earth itself is trembling.   We clap our hands in sheer delight and relief that everything has gone smoothly; we turn to people around us and express our amazement and awe at the sight and sound we have just experienced; we watch till we can’t see the Space Shuttle any longer…….. then everyone drifts away to their vehicles and moves on with their lives.

No matter how many times I watch the Space Shuttle take off from Kennedy, that one experience will never leave my memory, and this morning I watched another Space Shuttle take off with its crew bound for the International Space Station.   A Space Station that we could see with the naked eye in the dark hours of this morning!.   Our TV was on, showing the countdown, as it has so many times before, and we watched the incredible sight of the  lift off, then rushed outside into the dark, to see the sky lightening from the blast, then the sight of the Space Shuttle lifting about the tree line to speed across the dark skies.  We watched it till it had gone over the horizon, and walked back indoors to a hot cup of coffee.  Yes, we did take more photos, and yes, we did wish, briefly, that we had been really there at the Cape to witness this wonderful sight.

You have to admire those crew members who board this amazing piece of machinery for the ride; there are never any guarantees of safety on this ride!   STS 131 is carrying a full complement of seven crew to the International Space Station.

Discovery and Crew Delivering Science Hardware to Station
Commander Alan Poindexter is leading the STS-131 mission to the International Space Station aboard space shuttle Discovery. Joining Poindexter are Pilot Jim Dutton and Mission Specialists Rick Mastracchio, Clay Anderson, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson and Naoko Yamazaki of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

Discovery is carrying a multi-purpose logistics module filled with science racks for the laboratories aboard the station. The mission has three planned spacewalks, with work to include replacing an ammonia tank assembly, retrieving a Japanese experiment from the station’s exterior, and switching out a rate gyro assembly on the S0 segment of the station’s truss structure.

STS-131 is the 33rd shuttle mission to the station.

Team Applauds Beautiful Launch for Discovery

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 08:21:27 AM EDT

During a postlaunch news conference at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the 6:21 a.m. EDT liftoff of space shuttle Discovery was hailed as a great success.

Calling the launch, “a great start to a great mission,” Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations, said the successful liftoff was a tribute to the team at Kennedy that got the vehicle ready to fly.

Mike Moses, chair of the Mission Management Team, said it was, “a spectacular launch and picture-perfect countdown.” He outlined a few minor technical issues that were recorded, but that the spacecraft and crew were ready to start an action-packed mission.

Expressing his happiness that they were able to launch on the first attempt, Pete Nickolenko, STS-131 launch director, said he was proud of the teams that make such a difficult job look so easy.

Also on hand was Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency President Keiji Tachikawa, who noted that this will be the first time two Japanese astronauts will be in space at the same time, as Discovery’s Mission Specialist Naoko Yamazaki joins Expedition 23 crew member Soichi Noguchi for the STS-131 mission.

Discovery and crew will spend 13 days in space on their mission to the International Space Station.

With only three more  Space Shuttle missions planned,  this was the last mission planned for a night-time take off, and what a fantastic sight for those of us who were fortunate enough to either be there to be able to watch it from our homes.    My thoughts go to those brave astronauts and I make the same comment I made all those years ago, when I saw my first live launch;  Good Luck and God Bless!