Guest Hook Travel Guides The Magic of Central Florida | Page 4

SARAH & KEN'S REAL CENTRAL FLORIDA...
It is a recognized fact that the majority of visitors to
Central Florida are there for the theme parks. It is, after
all, the theme park capital of the world and the number
one vacation destination in the USA attracting over 50
million happy, enlightened and probably exhausted
grandparents, parents and children every year.
BUT!!! It's not all about the Mouse and the Wizard, Mickey
and Harry! Central Florida has an enormous variety of
attractions to suit all ages.
For a start there are over 50 golf courses within a 25 mile
radius of Orlando. The closest to us is Mystic Dunes Golf
& Country Club. A beautiful course, it is situated just a
few minutes away. We have negotiated a preferred rate
for our guests, requiring only that you quote Serendipity
Vacations when you call.
You could even head over to Champions Gate, just 10
minutes away, or to one of Disney's 4 championship
courses. If that doesn't do it for you then Orange Lake
Resort, ten minutes in the other direction, has 4 distinct
signature courses to challenge players of all levels, plus
six restaurants and bars to discuss how close you really
were to that elusive hole-in-one!
Natural beauty abounds in the many state parks in the
area, one of the closest being Lake Louisa State Park,
about 15 miles North, which has great walking and

crystal clear water is your idea of heaven, then pack
your family and a picnic into the car and head West to
the bustling cities of Clearwater (winner of Best Beach
award), St. Petersburg (both just over an hour) or the
more reserved Anna Maria Island (2 hours).
Directly opposite Orlando on Florida's East coast is Cocoa
beach and it's olde worlde neighbor, Cocoa Village. At
60 miles and an hour's drive, it is the closest beach to
Orlando and well worth a visit even for the Village alone
with its picturesque center offering boutique stores and
quaint restaurants. Oh, and mustn't forget the ice cream
parlor.
Further North and another thirty minutes drive is
Daytona Beach, one of the few beaches you can still
drive your car on and is home, of course, to the famous
Daytona 500.
Bargain hunters will be thrilled by the retail outlets
giving you the opportunity to shop till you drop. Prime
Outlets are about 15 minutes away. There are also two
large malls - Florida Mall and Mall of Millenia, both within
easy reach and offering a huge array of retail options,
featuring majors like Macy's and Bloomingdales.
The endless list of Central Florida doesn't stop there,
we really do have something for everyone! You can
swim with manatees at Crystal River, dolphins at

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hiking trails, plenty of fishing, wildlife in abundance, a
beach with grill area, picnic facilities and safe swimming
for all ages. Dade Battlefield Historical State Park is
situated North West in Bushnell, 50 miles and an hour's
drive away, and is home to the Seminole War Museum,
an important part of the U.S.A.'s history.
Walt Disney was never one to miss an opportunity to
preserve or educate, and The Disney Wilderness Preserve
in Kissimmee does exactly that. In co-operation with The
Nature Conservancy, these 12,000 acres of restored
wetlands touching the tip of the Everglades ecosystem
are home to over 1000 species of plants, animals and
birds including bald eagles. A few miles further on is Tiger
Creek Preserve whose aim is to preserve endangered
plants and species, some of which are found nowhere
else in the world. Again, hiking trails through magical
scenery are there to be explored and enjoyed.
If sunning yourself on a talcum powder beach next to

Discovery Cove, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium or
the Marineland Dolphin Adventure in St. Augustine, the
oldest city in America and one of the most interesting
places in Florida.
Situated on the North East, just over a hundred miles
away, it is positively oozing with history and a hop onhop off guided tour on one of the local trams will keep
even the most discerning visitor enthralled.
Discover the delights of other small towns and thriving
cities, botanical gardens, water sports, zoos, eco tours,
airboat rides, horseback riding, aviation, arts & culture,
city nightlife and museums. Is that enough?!
The theme parks are absolutely top of the list, but do try
to take some time out to discover the natural beauty of
the deep south. Experience the Real Central Florida. And,
when you've done all that, you can go back and visit the
Mouse again, he's always thrilled to welcome you back!!