There comes a point in every Orlando vacation when you just need to take a break from Mickey, Minnie, and the rest of the gang. You want to do something a little different, but you don’t want to spend a ton of money. Well, consider heading over to Old Town in Kissimmee, Florida.
Old Town is an entertainment complex, complete with restaurants, shops, and even rides. But, that isn’t the reason you should go. Each week, the largest weekly car cruise in the country takes place here. Every Saturday, hundreds and hundreds of classic cars and hot rods line the streets of Old Town. Classic cars must be from 1974 or older. Cruisers start rolling in around 1PM, but the main action is at night. Around 7PM some of the best classic rock bands in the Orlando area rev up the crowd before the main event. Then around 8:30PM, get ready to be transported back in time as classic cars cruise the streets of Old Town.
Saturday nights aren’t the only cruise nights. Wednesday nights offer the Little Darlin’s Street Party and Cruise In. You can dance to your favorite American Bandstand songs as classic cars roll by. Friday nights are reserved for American Classics and Muscle Cars. This cruise features show quality cars from 1964 – 1979. Cruisers start lining up at 4PM, before the big cruise down the strip at 8:30PM.
Plus, there are plenty of special events that take place throughout the year. The National Corvette Restorers Society will be holding their winter national event here from 1/28/11 – 1/30/11. Future events will feature Edsels, Studebakers, and Model T’s.
The best part – there is no admission to enjoy the cruise-in. Plus, you don’t have to shell out $15 to park. Parking is free too. Yes, believe it or not, there is something free you can enjoy in the Orlando area!
For more information about upcoming events, visit their website: www.old-town.com
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Fantasy of Flight
Have you ever wanted to board a B-17 Flying Fortress? Take a ride on a Legendary Boeing Stearman? Fly in a vintage airplane complete with goggles and a flying helmet? All this and more is available at Florida’s Fantasy of Flight. Fantasy of Flight, billed as the World’s Greatest Aviation Attraction, is a must for aviation buffs of all ages.
Our favorite part: the immersion environments. These environments put you right in the middle of all the action. Get the sensation of jumping out of a plane right in the middle of a fire fight during World War I. Enter a World War II camp and board a real B-17 Flying Fortress. Be careful walking the length of the plane. You get a sensation that bombs are being dropped as you walk through the bay. Quite an experience!!
The aircraft display is phenomenal. Many of the planes displayed are extremely rare or have historical significance. See an immaculately restored P-51 Mustang.
Get up close and personal with a Red Baron Tri-Plane. Not all the aircraft displayed are military aircraft. Remember the plane used in the movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom? You can see it here.
The aerial demonstration of the day is a must see event. One of the planes from the aircraft display area is taken out and flown. Yes, they fly some of the rarest vintage planes you will ever see. Plus, you get to take pictures and ask the pilot questions about the aircraft.
There are a variety of tours you can take too. The Tram Tour will take you to restricted areas including hangers and maintenance shops. Planes were not always made of metal. The original airplanes were made of cloth and wood. The Wood Shop Tour shows you projects they are working on and interesting facts about the history of aviation. Our favorite tour – the Restoration Shop Tour. Fantasy of Flight does not just display aircraft; they restore planes to flyable condition. You get to see first-hand the process used to restore vintage aircraft. It does take years!
If that isn’t enough for you, why not take a ride in a Boeing Stearman or a Standard? For an additional fee, you can take the ride of a life time. No flying experience is required, but you may get a little “hands-on” flight experience. The Stearman has dual controls in both cockpits!!
Plan on spending an entire day here. Fantasy of Flight is located off I-4 between Orlando and Tampa. For more information, visit their website: www.fantasyofflight.com
Our favorite part: the immersion environments. These environments put you right in the middle of all the action. Get the sensation of jumping out of a plane right in the middle of a fire fight during World War I. Enter a World War II camp and board a real B-17 Flying Fortress. Be careful walking the length of the plane. You get a sensation that bombs are being dropped as you walk through the bay. Quite an experience!!
The aircraft display is phenomenal. Many of the planes displayed are extremely rare or have historical significance. See an immaculately restored P-51 Mustang.
Get up close and personal with a Red Baron Tri-Plane. Not all the aircraft displayed are military aircraft. Remember the plane used in the movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom? You can see it here.
The aerial demonstration of the day is a must see event. One of the planes from the aircraft display area is taken out and flown. Yes, they fly some of the rarest vintage planes you will ever see. Plus, you get to take pictures and ask the pilot questions about the aircraft.
There are a variety of tours you can take too. The Tram Tour will take you to restricted areas including hangers and maintenance shops. Planes were not always made of metal. The original airplanes were made of cloth and wood. The Wood Shop Tour shows you projects they are working on and interesting facts about the history of aviation. Our favorite tour – the Restoration Shop Tour. Fantasy of Flight does not just display aircraft; they restore planes to flyable condition. You get to see first-hand the process used to restore vintage aircraft. It does take years!
If that isn’t enough for you, why not take a ride in a Boeing Stearman or a Standard? For an additional fee, you can take the ride of a life time. No flying experience is required, but you may get a little “hands-on” flight experience. The Stearman has dual controls in both cockpits!!
Plan on spending an entire day here. Fantasy of Flight is located off I-4 between Orlando and Tampa. For more information, visit their website: www.fantasyofflight.com
Friday, January 14, 2011
America’s First Public Museum
Where do you think American’s first public museum is located? Is it in Boston, New York City, or Washington D.C.? No, it’s located in the genteel city of the South, Charleston, South Carolina. On January 12, 1773, America’s first public museum opened its doors. You can still visit it today.
Charleston, South Carolina is a city filled with plenty of things to see and do. There are boat trips to Fort Sumter, aircraft carriers to see, historic districts to tour, shopping at the historic city market, and plenty of delicious seafood to enjoy. The history of this city is immense. From historic plantations to the Civil War to a massive earthquake, this city has seen it all. And one of the best places to learn about Charleston's history is at The Charleston Museum.
The Charleston Museum has gone through some changes since it first opened its doors in 1773. Today, museum visitors can learn the history of South Carolina’s low country and see how it became one of the South’s largest agricultural producers in the country. The story is told through pictures and artifacts, including the famous Charleston rice spoon. The Civil War began in Charleston and the museum does a terrific job recounting how the city endured. There is plenty of weaponry on display, plus torpedo mines and gunboat china. George Washington was a visitor to Charleston and the museum pays homage to him. There are George Washington inaugural buttons to see, along with his silver christening cup.
Children will also enjoy The Charleston Museum. Ancient marine beds, some more than 28 million years old, have been discovered near Charleston. This means plenty of fossils have been discovered. At the museum, kids love to see the 18 foot fossilized crocodile and the plant eating dinosaur displayed in the Natural History gallery. Plus, there are interactive exhibits just for kids to learn about the area’s history.
The museum also operates two of the city’s historical houses. The Joseph Manigault House, a National Historic Landmark, has one of the city’s most famous staircases. You can tour this fully furnished house, impressive gardens, and outbuildings. The Heyward-Washington house is known as Charleston’s Revolutionary War House. George Washington stayed here when he visited the city in May 1791. Today, you can tour this house, which was the city’s first historical house museum.
For more information on The Charleston Museum, visit their website: www.charlestonmuseum.org
Charleston, South Carolina is a city filled with plenty of things to see and do. There are boat trips to Fort Sumter, aircraft carriers to see, historic districts to tour, shopping at the historic city market, and plenty of delicious seafood to enjoy. The history of this city is immense. From historic plantations to the Civil War to a massive earthquake, this city has seen it all. And one of the best places to learn about Charleston's history is at The Charleston Museum.
The Charleston Museum has gone through some changes since it first opened its doors in 1773. Today, museum visitors can learn the history of South Carolina’s low country and see how it became one of the South’s largest agricultural producers in the country. The story is told through pictures and artifacts, including the famous Charleston rice spoon. The Civil War began in Charleston and the museum does a terrific job recounting how the city endured. There is plenty of weaponry on display, plus torpedo mines and gunboat china. George Washington was a visitor to Charleston and the museum pays homage to him. There are George Washington inaugural buttons to see, along with his silver christening cup.
Children will also enjoy The Charleston Museum. Ancient marine beds, some more than 28 million years old, have been discovered near Charleston. This means plenty of fossils have been discovered. At the museum, kids love to see the 18 foot fossilized crocodile and the plant eating dinosaur displayed in the Natural History gallery. Plus, there are interactive exhibits just for kids to learn about the area’s history.
The museum also operates two of the city’s historical houses. The Joseph Manigault House, a National Historic Landmark, has one of the city’s most famous staircases. You can tour this fully furnished house, impressive gardens, and outbuildings. The Heyward-Washington house is known as Charleston’s Revolutionary War House. George Washington stayed here when he visited the city in May 1791. Today, you can tour this house, which was the city’s first historical house museum.
For more information on The Charleston Museum, visit their website: www.charlestonmuseum.org
Friday, January 7, 2011
The Big One – Barrett Jackson Scottsdale
January just might be a car lover’s favorite month. First, they get to use all those auto themed Christmas gifts their family and friends gave them. Then, one of the biggest and best car show/auction in the world occurs. We are taking about the Barrett Jackson event in Scottsdale, Arizona. For 40 years, car lovers have flocked to the Arizona desert to watch some of the most beautiful, coveted cars cross the block.
Sure, there are other Barrett Jackson events. There are events in Las Vegas, Palm Beach, and Orange County, California. But, this one is special. It’s their biggest event with (in our opinion) the best cars and lasts for an entire week! This is quite possibly a car lover’s heaven on earth.
Barrett Jackson is a car auction. We are not talking about your neighbor’s minivan or the clunker you pass by on your way to work. We are talking about Cobras, Shelby Mustangs, one of a kind Corvettes, first edition Thunderbirds, classic Packard’s, and muscle cars!!
So, you are probably thinking how much fun can a car auction really be? Well, you never have to bid on a car to be part of the action. All the cars that cross the block are on display. Yes, you can walk right up and check them out. In fact, most people who come to the auction never actually bid. They just want to see tent after tent filled with some of the finest automobiles on the planet. Plus, there are plenty of vendor displays and automobile memorabilia to see. Chevy and Ford come to tout their latest offerings. You can sit in a brand new 2011 Mustang GT Convertible or learn more about their newest concept vehicles. And there is plenty of food and drink to enjoy as you see the displays.
Make sure to walk into the auction hall just to get a feel for the auction action. If you decide to bid, you will have to pre-register beforehand (see below website). If you are looking for deals, the auction’s first few days will be for you. If you have hundreds of thousands of dollars to spare, the last few days (especially Saturday) will be more to your liking.
This year’s auction takes place between January 18th and January 23rd. A general admission ticket will allow you access to the display areas and general seating in the auction hall. Ticket prices vary based on the day you want to attend.
For more information, visit www.barrett-jackson.com
Sure, there are other Barrett Jackson events. There are events in Las Vegas, Palm Beach, and Orange County, California. But, this one is special. It’s their biggest event with (in our opinion) the best cars and lasts for an entire week! This is quite possibly a car lover’s heaven on earth.
Barrett Jackson is a car auction. We are not talking about your neighbor’s minivan or the clunker you pass by on your way to work. We are talking about Cobras, Shelby Mustangs, one of a kind Corvettes, first edition Thunderbirds, classic Packard’s, and muscle cars!!
So, you are probably thinking how much fun can a car auction really be? Well, you never have to bid on a car to be part of the action. All the cars that cross the block are on display. Yes, you can walk right up and check them out. In fact, most people who come to the auction never actually bid. They just want to see tent after tent filled with some of the finest automobiles on the planet. Plus, there are plenty of vendor displays and automobile memorabilia to see. Chevy and Ford come to tout their latest offerings. You can sit in a brand new 2011 Mustang GT Convertible or learn more about their newest concept vehicles. And there is plenty of food and drink to enjoy as you see the displays.
Make sure to walk into the auction hall just to get a feel for the auction action. If you decide to bid, you will have to pre-register beforehand (see below website). If you are looking for deals, the auction’s first few days will be for you. If you have hundreds of thousands of dollars to spare, the last few days (especially Saturday) will be more to your liking.
This year’s auction takes place between January 18th and January 23rd. A general admission ticket will allow you access to the display areas and general seating in the auction hall. Ticket prices vary based on the day you want to attend.
For more information, visit www.barrett-jackson.com
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