Florida — MomStart

Soring Over Florida Alligators Zip Lining at Florida Eco Safaris

February 7, 2012 By Momstart 22 Comments

If it’s not enough that my very first time zipling at speeds I’m not used to traveling at heights I’m not used to standing at we were also soring over Alligators. As far as Alligators go I would say he’s pretty sweet, if you talk to him he’ll move closer to you. I’m not sure he’s hungry, I think he enjoys the conversation, at least that’s what I was telling myself as I was praying that my lines wouldn’t give.

When asked if I wanted to go on a trip to Kissimmee, Florida, I said yes, of course. I was expecting Disney World, I’ve never been there before. Next thing I know, I’ve signed myself up for ICE, bi-plane riding, and zip-lining. UHHH, the nerves kicked in at the words ziplining and bi-plane riding. Hmmm. Ok, here we go, I wasn’t going to back out. I put on the gear and felt quite adventurous.

Then we climbed the stairs, the rickety stairs up to our first line. Now we’re talking rules and don’t touch this and don’t’ do that, my hearing glosses over as I’m noticing how high we are and that we have to be unhooked for a brief time as we get ready to jump/fall/sit into our glide across the trees. My nerves kicked into high gear and I wasn’t sure what to do.

As I watched everyone go before me I was wondering if I could really do this? The thrill seeker in me won out. I did it, I flew through the trees like a bird and loved it. It wasn’t until about four lines into it that I was actually able to really enjoy it. I’m pretty sure I’m afraid of heights but I have a closet thrill seeker in me that rides mechanical bulls, runs through the streets of New York in a ball gown, and fly down zip lines over Alligators.

Florida Eco Safaris take care of everything you need. They provide tour guides who help you along the way. They are quite prepared for any and all occasions and ours even provided some quick witted much needed humor to lighten the tension of something so adventurous. They of course provide the gear and keep up with all ziplining standards. I had an amazing time and can’t wait for round two. At Florida’s Eco Safaris you can choose from four amazing ways to explore Forever Florida: Coach Safari, Horseback Safari, soar over it all on Florida’s biggest and All New Zipline Safari™, or pedal through the treetops on the New Cypress Canopy Cycle. We also did the Cypress Canopy Cycle, it’s a lot of work and I was a little too close to really large spiders for my taste but I did really enjoy the workout.

Travel Expenses were covered by Kissimmee CVB, Global Resort Homes and Florida Eco Safaris. Special thanks to Kas pictured above for helping to organize the event.

Filed Under: personal, travel Tagged With: Cypress Canopy Cycle, Florida, florida eco safaris, Forever Florida: Coach Safari, Horseback Safari, or pedal through the treetops on the New Cypress Canopy Cycle, soar over it all on Florida's biggest and All New Zipline Safari™, travel, ziplining

Awed and Amazed by Fantasy of Flight

January 22, 2012 By Momstart 8 Comments

Sometimes I get lucky and have so many fabulous photos of a place I visit that the entire review can be in photos and Fantasy of Flight was breathtakingly photogenic. In Seattle we have The Museum of Flight where we can take all kind of photos of airplanes. It’s walking through a museum. Fantasy of flight takes you on an adventure while showing you all the airplanes over the years. You not only get to see the planes you feel the life they lived. You have to see it to completely understand what I’m saying. You live the fantasy!

Fantasy of Flight is in Polk Florida very close to Kissimmee. It’s worth the drive over to see a unique display of the history of planes. They offer a variety of guided tours including visits to their working restoration and maintenance areas. My favorite part was the tour we took. Walking through areas of war actually made me nervous.

Some of the aircraft we saw has been carefully restored to represent the same dignity they possessed when they ruled the skies. They were beautiful planes. I think because my son has such a fascination with airplanes it gave me a fascination. Seeing everything through the eyes of a child makes me feel young again. This is defiantly a place I want to take Miles to one day.

One area that we didn’t try was the Fun with Flight Center. There you can take a spin on a state-of-the-art hang glide simulator and climb on board a real B-17 Flying Fortress in a WWII bombing mission.

Travel and Expenses were covered by Kissimmee CVB and Global Resort Homes

Filed Under: personal, travel Tagged With: airplane musuem, Fantasy of Flight, FL, Florida, Global Resort Homes, Kissimmee, Museum of flight, review, travel

The Fly Girls: Waldo Wright’s Flying Service

January 21, 2012 By Momstart 5 Comments

Just outside the Fantasy of Flight in Kissimmee Florida is Waldo Wright’s Flying Service. There you get to fly above Florida in a little bi-plane and relive adventures of the 1930’s.

That’s what we did back in December of 2011. Thanks to Kissimmee CVB, Fantasy of Flight, Global Resort Homes and Waldo Wright’s Flying Service, I got to dress the part of someone who took a little joy ride in a bi-plane. We heard the history of the plane, as it was used to smuggle alcohol at one time, a fact I found to be really cool. Plus flying through the air in bi-plane was much easier and much more fun that I ever thought it would be.

I was a bit scared because I’m used to small planes being quite shaky, this wasn’t it was a smooth ride and the weather was perfect for us. I loved the wind in my hair and seeing the water and orange groves below me.

So here are the fly girls.

Kas – Southern Bellas Ways To Save

Crystal – Simply Being Mommy and Becca – Mamabblog

Jen – The Mom Reviews

Now here are the planes. Waldo Wright’s Flying Service offers a variety of vintage biplane experiences. Travel back to the 1930s to enjoy an authentic barnstorming ride in a New Standard D-25, or the 1940s for a more hands-on WWII adventure at the controls of a Boeing Stearman N2S-3.

Here’s a little history:

The New Standard airplane was designed specifically for barnstorming at the request of Ivan Gates, the proprietor of the famous Gates Flying Circus. Gates, with Clyde Pangborn, formed and operated one of the largest groups of barnstorming airplanes from the middle 1920s and into the 1930s. Carrying 4 passengers in a large front open cockpit, the airplane was instrumental in introducing hundreds of thousands of people to their first airplane ride, when aviation was in its infancy. Many still remember flying out of a pasture near their hometown when they were young. There are very few of these magnificent airplanes still operating today; in fact, Waldo owns two of the seven presently airworthy and flying.

My husband had told me a while back that he was going to take our son up and I said. NO WAY. You are not taking my son on a bi-plane. Now that I’ve been on one as soon as I know my son can stay in his seat, he’s allowed to fly with his dad and a professional pilot of course. Waldo Wright’s Flying Service is located in Polk City just outside Fantasy of Flight. If you ever are in the Kissimmee area you should consider going up in one of his planes.

Travel expenses were covered by Global Resort Homes and Kissimmee CVB.

Filed Under: personal, travel Tagged With: bi-plane review, bi-plane ride, Fantasy of Flight, Florida, Global Resort Homes, Kissimmee, Kissimmee CVB, review, travel, Waldo Wright’s Flying Service

Finding Alligators In Florida Wetlands Boggy Creek Airboat Rides

January 20, 2012 By Momstart 20 Comments

My adventures in Kissimmee Florida weren’t only holiday excursions, we also had lots of adventure. One of the adventures felt like an episode out of CSI Miami and as we went around every turn in the wetlands, I was expecting to find a body floating in the water. You know what TV does to the imagination right? Happy to report no bodies found, just Florida Wildlife.

We were taking an adventure with Boggy Creek Airboat Rides. On this adventure with Boggy Creek Airboat Rides we took a tour through the wetlands looking for alligators, can you guess how many we found. I only expected to see one, and thought we’d be lucky if we saw one. instead we found 18. Most of them were itty bitty babies but it was still so much fun finding and counting them up. The tours started with a leisure idle down a natural canal viewing exotic birds,

turtles

and the 18 Florida alligators we found in their own natural environment.

Ok, we found them as we went along our 30 minute tour of the wetlands, not all in one spot. We found babies in groups and as the alligators got larger they were found in smaller numbers.

We flew down into the wetlands experiencing the wind and water whisping our faces as we traveled on the airboat reaching up to 45 miles per hour. Boggy Creek Airboat Rides is the best way to experience the beautiful Central Florida Everglades. Our tour guide was great at finding the wildlife and explaining everything to us. We saw and eagle and I have to warn you there are a few spiders here and there and even though I’m terrified of them I would ride the airboat again in a heart beat. I had a great time. I’d never seen a collection of shells like this before.

The Boggy Creek Airboat Rides offer 4 airboat tour choices. A 30 minute or a 1 hour scenic airboat ride on 17 passenger airboat, 45 minute airboat tour on 6 passenger boat & the 1 hour night airboat ride. They suggest that In the warm seasons the best time to see alligators is at night. If you are not able to go at night they suggest coming first thing in the morning. Our tour took place in the morning.

I got to drive too, ok, I’m just pretending to drive, I would have run over something I’m sure or tipped the boat over.

And at the end of the tour we had a lesson on alligators and all had the chance to hold one. I gave him a kiss. I guess Alligators don’t turn into princes like frogs do.

This tour was made possible by Global Resort Homes and Kissimmee CVB.

Filed Under: personal, travel Tagged With: airboat ride, Boggy Creek Airboat Rides review, finding alligators, Florida, Kissimmee, travel

Celebration Dinner Snow & Ice Skating In Florida

December 20, 2011 By Momstart 20 Comments

As part of our exploration of Kissimmee and Central Florida we visited the town of Celebration. Celebration looks like a quaint little town right out of a movie. The buildings are all colorful and as they look different they all blend in to each other having the same picket fence appeal. First off we had dinner at Columbia Restaurant.

Columbia serves a taste of Columbia, which is something I’ve never experienced before. I tried the sangria and I had an excellent dinner with rice, sausage, beef and pork, it was called Paella “Campesina”. The flavors were fantastic. I had a hard time stopping because it was delicious. I was actually full before it even arrived because we had the original “1905: salad. YUM. My friend didn’t like what she ordered and since the serving sizes were huge I had plenty to share with her. I also tried the Sangria and we had a fabulous lime dessert. After dinner we hurried over to Celebration for the SNOW! It snows in central Florida and they have an ice rink. (although the ice rink looks like it’s made plastic.)

The Snow comes down at different scheduled times and it’s actually soapy bubbles. Somehow even as bubbles the snow captivated all the people there and feel as magically as real snow does. Watching all the people gave me joy. You could see people in the streets just lifting up their arms looking straight up into the sky with their arms outstretched. I had a great time.

I recommend visiting the picturesque town of Celebration built by Disney. They know how to do food and fun!

All travel and expenses were paid for by Global Resort Homes And Kissimmee CVB.

Filed Under: personal, travel Tagged With: Celebration FL, Columbia Resturant, Florida, Gobla Resort Homes, Kissimmee, personal, review, travel

Capone’s Dinner Theater Kissimmee Florida: Holiday Edition

December 20, 2011 By Momstart 4 Comments

On my trip to Kissimmee Florida I experience a lot of things I wouldn’t normally do on my own but now that I’ve tried them I can’t wait to do them again. Dinner theater, I’ve heard so many mixed reviews on people having a good experience at a dinner theater. Yeah they’re fun but the food isn’t usually very good. Capone’s was fun from the minute we entered the place. Their gift shop has cute “cheap junk” as they even referred to during the show. We’re all wearing the hats from the gift shop.

pictured Crystal from SimplyBeingMommy, Me, Tara from Global Resort Homes, Becca from Mamablog , Jen from The Mom Reviews, Kas from SouthernBellasWaystosave.

At Capone’s Dinner Theater the mashed potatoes are to die for and the rum runners are even more deadly. We were seated at the VIP table and Vido was our waiter, he promised to fill our drinks if they were ever empty, umm they never were empty because he kept filling them if they went an inch below full so I actually have no idea how much I had to drink that night.

pictured Vido and Bill from Global Resort Homes

Entertainment starts as soon as you’re seated as the talent walks around and talks to you. They tell you their names and part f their storyline. Everyone gets dinner from the buffet line and then after everyone has a chance to eat the real entertainment on the stage begins.

As the curtains go back be prepared to be included in the show and be prepared to laugh out loud. The comedians on the stage are quick witted and kept me laughing and no it wasn’t the alcohol. I was impressed with the ability they had to make up jokes as they gathered information from the audience. Since it’s Christmas time our show had lots of Christmas songs and a holiday theme.

We had a blast and I would do this again with my husband. I would not take my children as many of the jokes were not appropriate for little ears.

All travel and expenses were paid for by Global Resort Homes And Kissimmee CVB.

Filed Under: review, travel Tagged With: Capone's Dinner Show, Dinner Theater, entertainment, Florida, Kissimmee, review, travel

Shrek The Halls ICE at Gaylord Palms Kissimmee Florida

December 19, 2011 By Momstart 11 Comments

Christmas in Florida is a nice balmy 80 degrees more or less, and I’m quite happy with that kind of weather so I love visiting Florida in the winter time. But if you’re a Kissimmee native and in need of some cooler weather you can find it inside the Gaylord Palms ICE exhibit

Christmas at Gaylord Palms is super cold I wanted out as soon as I got in, but I hate being cold and 9 degrees is cold. So bundle up, bring gloves and wear your coat.

They do provide parkas but you might want even more, I did. Inside the ICE exhibit is Shrek The Halls, where you’ll see 4.5 acres of carved ice Shrek sculptures.

As you enter the exhibit you can watch a quick introduction and informational video on where ICE came from. I found it fascinating that ICE is over 10 years old and that the blocks of ice are colored. I would have thought that lights gave the colored effect but nope, the ice is dyed and carved and pieced together to make such a fun exhibit.

My kids, Zoe and Miles both would have loved this exhibit. They wouldn’t have felt cold at all. Kids are so much more weather resistant than us sappy adults. Ok, I was the only pansy in the group. Everyone else made it all the way through!

I forgot to mention that you also get to watch the Shrek The Halls short before you enter the ICE exhibit and there are slides for everyone to go down inside the exhibit. I didn’t go down the slide because I was worried about getting my butt wet on the ice. I didn’t want to get any colder than I already was.

I was amazed at the talent displayed in the exhibit.

And for the final portion was the manger scene made out of white ice. It was beautiful

Ice at Gaylord Palms lasts until January 2.

All travel and expenses were paid for by Global Resort Homes And Kissimmee CVB.

Filed Under: personal, travel Tagged With: Christmas, FL, Florida, Gaylord Palms, ICE, ICE Exhibit, Kissimmee, review, Shreck The Halls, travel

Importance of Meaningful Memories in Your Morning Routine

May 21, 2011 By Momstart 5 Comments

You know, once upon a time before children, I had the luxury of sleeping in. Even before that once upon a time way back in college and high school, I found getting up in the morning easy and I got up EARLY. Now, sleeping in just doesn’t happen because my two little preschoolers have a morning routine that can not be altered. It’s very important for both of them for things to be almost completely the same every day.

Our routine during the week starts off with getting up really early to get dad off to the bus stop, because we only have one car. My kids have to get dressed first, otherwise I would have ten more minutes to sleep in every morning, and I really enjoy sleeping now that I have kids. So we get dressed, take dad to his bus, and get back home for breakfast. Breakfast varies every morning depending on their mood, we have cereal, oatmeal, bananas, milk and I have coffee. At breakfast, sometimes I’m not that good at sitting at the table with the kids. I like to use that 20 minutes to get the dishes done, clean the counters or check my e-mail. We usually have a much better morning if I put everything down and start off our day talking to them. Helping Zoe prepare for her day at preschool by asking her what she’s going to learn about is much more productive then not spending time with her. Even Miles loves to talk and I really enjoy his conversation skills. He’s quite the conversationalist these days. So I’m working to have more meaningful memories in our morning routine.

Florida Orange Juice suggests that meaningful memories be a part of every morning routine. Families spend too much time rushing to get things done and aren’t connecting as much before they start their day. But despite the hustle and bustle that weekday mornings often bring, finding time to briefly connect over regular activities can set the tone for the day ahead. I’ve certainly found that to be true with my children and their moods. To help families get the emotional and physical fuel needed to start their day off right, the Florida Department of Citrus recently partnered with parenting expert and author, Dr. Michele Borba and nutritionist and author, Elizabeth Ward, to offer simple and healthy morning solutions.

One of the biggest suggestions is to use the morning time as “unplugged time”. And as you read above that’s difficult for me. Putting down my e-mail to give my children more of my time should be an easy thing to do, but it’s actually quite a challenge, but I am trying and I urge you all to try with me. We’re also working on not turning on the TV when breakfast time is over. Additionally, a nutritious breakfast has been associated with weight loss and weight maintenance, as well as improved nutrient intake, so sit down with your family around the breakfast table – you’ll help each person get a good start to the day.

To learn more about adding g a meaningful morning to your daily routine check out Florida Citrus’s Facebook Page

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the Florida Department of Citrus and received an OJ Gift Pack and a promotional item as a thank you for my participation

Filed Under: personal Tagged With: Florida, Mom Central, Orange Juice, parenting

Florida Department of Citrus Free Meaningful Morning Checklist Magnet

April 11, 2011 By Momstart 2 Comments

To help you start each day on the right foot, the Florida Department of Citrus created a Free “Meaningful Morning Checklist” refrigerator magnet. Not only does the magnet provide quick tips to make each morning more special, but you can personalize it with a family photo or fun image of your choice. Plus, it goes right on your fridge to serve as a daily reminder to make the most of your mornings!