Adventures at Busch Gardens

The Captain and I went to Busch Gardens today, where they were busily working toward next Friday's opening of their newest attraction, Cheetah Hunt.  It is unbelievable how fast these projects progress.  We last visited a few months ago and couldn't believe it is almost ready to open.

It was a hot and humid day in Central Florida where we kept going back to take a break around the Sheikra attraction where you can get wet just by being close to the water portion of the ride.  The little kids hanging out and getting drenched over and over again were so entertaining.

It was fun to hang out in "Stanleyville" today.  We really enjoyed our lunch at the Zambia Smokehouse where we were served a huge portion of pork ribs and french fries . . . well worth the $12.49 they charge for the platter.  We decided to eat outdoors so we could take in the sights and sounds of Stanleyville, goof on the people around us and be amused by the birds who would descend on the area after a table was cleared.  It is pretty cool that they stay away from the people who are still eating at the tables . . . at least they are polite :)

The disappointment of the day is when the camera batteries died and we had to stop taking photos.

Here are some photos we took of Cheetah Hunt . . . I'm working on a new video of today's visit.  We took lots of landscape photos and The Captain got some awesome shots of turtles riding on the back of the gators.  

The landscapers were putting the finishing touches at the base of the new ride.

Looking up from the base of one section of the ride.

More views of the ride, which stretches through a large part of the park.

Click here for my blog post on the introduction of Cheetah Hunt which includes videos from Busch Gardens.  

We are tentatively planning to be there for the opening of the new attraction and will take lots of photos of the completed ride.

What an awesome and beautiful day!

My home town . . . Tampa

Tampa is such a cool place to live with so much to do and see.

It is where I have lived most of my life . . . it is home!

Rather than write another post, I thought I would post videos

that I have gathered from YouTube to show Tampa from

the perspective of others.

A tourist's video view of Tampa

 

 Visit Tampa/St Petersburg video

 


Destination . . . Tampa Bay

 

 Travel Guide - Tampa Bay

 

 Tampa Bay, The Movie ~ History in Tampa
 

Tampa Video and Audio Tour
 

Space Shuttle Program 30th Anniversary @ Kennedy Space Center

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, located on the east coast of Florida in the Orlando area, marked the 30th anniversary of the space shuttle program this week. NASA officials and astronauts featured the accomplishments of the shuttle fleet and Kennedy Space Center workers.  A shuttle-themed cake was presented by Buddy Valastro, a baker featured on the Food Network's “Cake Boss.”  

NASA's launch headquarters is the only place on Earth where you can tour launch areas, meet a veteran astronaut, see giant rockets, train in spaceflight simulators, and even view a launch.  The following is an excerpt from the Kennedy Space Center website, detailing a typical tour . . .

"Your exploration starts with one of our world-renowned tours, where you depart Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to see NASA’s awesome facilities, including the massive launch pads, gigantic Vehicle Assembly Building, and the awe-inspiring Apollo/Saturn V Center.

There is so much to do at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex – from live-action theatrical shows like “Star Trek Live,” to the Astronaut Encounter where you can meet a veteran NASA Astronaut. During your Kennedy Space Center tour, you’ll see 10-story-high rockets from all eras of space exploration in the Rocket Garden, walk through a full-size Space Shuttle mock-up, see IMAX^® space films on gigantic five-story screens, and see an actual Gemini program capsule on display in the Early Space Exploration exhibit."

For information on Kennedy Space Center events, click here or call 877-313-2610.

Nature's Fury

March is usually a pleasant and dry month in Central Florida, sometimes too dry, but it is a beautiful, peaceful time before the tropical weather interrupts every afternoon with thunder, dangerous lightning and torrential rain.

It started yesterday with an all day storm that was welcomed after so much dry weather.  I even commented on my personal blog how I love those rainy days as long as I don't have to get out in it and the joy of hearing the rain hitting the awnings on the windows, making it so inviting to sleep the day away and catch up for all those late nights with no sleep.

Sightings of a funnel clouds and resulting tornadoes began early this morning and didn't end until early evening, pounding the area with heavy rain and hail escorted by torrential winds that did widespread damage in Central Florida.  The neighborhood is littered with fallen limbs, but thankfully no serious damage.  

We personally spent most of the day with no electricity or running water that is generated by an electrical pump.  It is the price we pay for living in paradise . . . the seasonal storms that result in electrical outages. 

The rest of spring will hopefully be normal for this time of year with low humidity and comfortable temperatures . . . today was just a preview to prepare us for the upcoming summer rainy season.

  

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention dodging tropical storms and hurricanes in between the daily storms . . . that is a normal summer in Central Florida.

It doesn't matter where you live . . . we all get a taste of nature's fury.

How does nature's fury affect you

 in your part of the world?

My new home page

My home page is back!  Now you can keep up with all of my blogs, websites and places on the web in one place.  Click here to go to the blog, where you can follow via Blogger, Google Friend Connect, Networked Blogs, my new Facebook Fan Page or through RSS feed via your favorite reader or email.  You can also follow me on Twitter where all my blog posts are automatically tweeted.

For my Adgitize and Entrecard blogging friends . . . within the next couple of days, I will be setting up Adgitize and Entrecard . . . so you will have one more place to click!

My apologies for not being around as much . . . there are not enough hours in the day for everything I have been working on, but I should be back to "normal" soon.

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!

A taste of kitschy cool Florida . . . Weeki Wachee Springs

WOW! I never thought I’d get a request for a post . . . but . . . this post is by request for one of Florida’s oldest and natural attractions . . . 

Weeki Wachee Springs

The attraction was a childhood favorite of mine and I remember visiting the attraction many times.  In fact, somewhere in my mom’s archives are photos from the visits.  I’ll include them in the future if she can find them.

Pre-Disney World tourist attraction days of the 1950s/60s were the glory days of Weeki Wachee Springs, boasting attendance of 500,000 people per year.  It is said that Elvis Presley and Esther Williams were among those who visited and/or made films and television shows there . . . naturally . . . it was owned by ABC, the American Broadcast Company, who heavily promoted the attraction. 

The feature attraction?  Live underwater mermaid shows!  The ladies came from all over the world for a chance to audition for the role of a Weeki Wachee Mermaid, who were dressed in fancy outfits complete with fins . . . and considered celebrities throughout Florida.  They perform in an aquarium-like setting set in the spring of the Weeki Wachee River.  The current theater was built in 1959, embeded in the side of the spring 16 feet below the surface . . . it seats 500 people.

The show was originally based on underwater air hose breathing techniques created by a former Navy man, Newton Perry, who trained SEALS to swim underwater in World War II.   

Weeki Wachee Springs, known as the City of Live Mermaids, is located on the Gulf Coast of Florida at the crossroads of US 19 and State Road 50, about an hour north of Tampa.  It is currently owned by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and a part of the Florida State Park System.

The spring is the only one of its kind in the world with the deepest fresh water cave system in the United States.  The park itself is 538 acres . . . the only water park that is completely fed by freshwater springs.

Along with the mermaid show, they offer canoe and kayak rentals, volleyball and swimming at Buccaneer Bay which is a water slide attraction with a beach-like setting of white sands and relaxing covered picnic areas. You can also have your picture taken with the mermaids or take a riverboat ride down the Weeki Wachee River and enjoy a taste of untouched Florida.  They even offer a summer Mermaid Camp for the kids. Visitors can join the Sea Diver Program and swim in the springs

Hours of operation vary by season . . . check their website for the schedule.

A quote from the Weeki Wachee website . . . The City of Live Mermaids is more than just mermaids . . . it’s a truly original piece of Florida’s rich heritage.

Spring has arrived in Florida!

One of the things I love most is sitting outdoors and watch nature in action.  The weather has been gorgeous and I have spent more time outdoors this week than I have in a very long time.  Maybe they were here before, but I wasn't paying attention . . . the robins have arrived!  They are the sign for me that Spring has arrived and I couldn't be happier!!


We actually reached the 80's last week and the air conditioner has already been off and on for a week or so.  I really love open windows!  The Captain and I have been busy cleaning up the property . . . he finished off the fence, so now the back yard is totally private :) . . . YES!!!  I AM HAPPY :)


Humidity has not arrived and I am very grateful for that . . . I can handle the heat without it.


I love living in Florida :)

Wordless Wednesday . . . Cool Canines!

As usual . . . almost wordless!

I'm venturing away from the Florida theme for this week

because I felt like having a tribute to my babies who have

 departed to Rainbow Bridge . . . and because I am craving

a sweet fur baby doggie to love . . . 

a look at some cool canines!

these are not my photos

Grab my button!

<a href="http://myfloridaparadise.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Gina's Wordless Wednesday" src="http://www.donitaworld.com/blog/Logo/WordlessWednesday125.jpg" /></a>

Wordless Wednesday . . . Pink Flamingo Reflections

As usual . . . almost wordless!

The pink flamingo are awesome!  

The photo is from Busch Gardens at one of the pink flamingo sections.

The following video is my creation made from photos of our visit
on New Year's Day.  I misplaced some of the photos when my external drive
started acting up on me, so I will be making another one when I find them all.

I'm linking up at these Wednesday Blog Hops . . .

Wordless Wednesday . . . Lovely Lemurs!

Almost wordless!

These photos were taken at Busch Gardens,

 Tampa, Florida on New Years Day.

I love the lemurs!

I've posted this video before, but here is

Lemur Love again . . . just because I love them!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!