Iceplorations at Busch Gardens

During a recent visit to Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida, The Captain and I enjoyed one of the best ice shows I have ever seen in my life that features dazzling, sparkly and colorful Broadway-style costumes from a Tony Award-winning designer. 

Daily performances are held in the Moroccan Palace Theatre.  Check the Busch Gardens website for show times.

Along with the awesome show filled with world-class skaters, more than 75 original costumes, amazing aerial performances, master puppetry and live animal stars, the audience is treated to effects that seem to bring you into the stage production.

Some facts about the production from the Busch Garden website . . .

Iceploration® incorporates 21 live animals including an African ground hornbill, sun conures, Siberian lynx and Siberian huskies. 

Among the award-winning individuals lending their talents to the creation of Iceploration are a Tony Award-winning costume designer and an Olympic gymnast.

Creating the four tons of ice for the Iceploration stage required 10,000 gallons of water.

Iceploration's 77 featured costumes took more than 10 months and nearly 500 yards of fabric to construct.

This video is a sampling of the awesome show . . .

Greetings from Florida!

Back when the Captain and I went to Punta Gorda this Spring, it seemed like it was a promising start to a busy and adventurous Florida summer since we have both retired and have all this time on our hands.  We both had all kinds of ideas for Florida adventures we could experience and share on this blog.
Nature had another thing in mind.
I don't remember a summer when the weather was so nasty and rainy with storms every day to where it was difficult to do anything outdoors and have a good time.  No hurricanes this year, but more waterlogged than ever!  We haven't even been back to Busch Gardens since the beginning of the year.
It has been an eventful season of hardship that doesn't seem to end.  The huge tree that fell on our big storage shed is still there, crushing the building more every day.  All my treasures and memories are in there and it breaks my heart!
Big bummer and lots of work needs to be  completed before the adventures begin again.
But wait . . . after the tree incident, our water well system broke down.  The municipality we live in . . . within the city limits of the City of Tampa . . . does not even offer water hookup in our neighborhood.  Imagine that in a big city like Tampa . . . we pay city taxes!  But they will do the necessary prep work for a modest $15,000 just for the pleasure of having the option to hook up to city water . . . oh yes, and three others in our neighborhood have to pony up $15,000 too before they will even consider it.  They spend millions of dollars on crap stuff, yet don't provide basic infrastructure to all the tax paying citizens who live within their city limits.  Amazing!  Don't buy a house with well water!
Sorry for the rant!
It is nearly impossible to get the well people to fix our well . . . too many trees and obstructions have to be removed before they can get the truck to where the well is.  The Captain has had to troubleshoot the well problem and will be the one doing the repairs manually.  The experts are not forthcoming with helpful hints since they are all about making money.  It is a learning situation and a lot of work!  All of a sudden, in comparison, that one tree smashing the storage shed is like an ant in the forest. 

The removing of the tree adventure

will not begin until we have

running water again.

Anyway, that is why there have been no happy adventures in Florida posts!
All in all, we are still so grateful for what we do have and it is not the end of the world . . . we have each other.  Just a little inconvenience to remind us to be grateful for every little thing we have been blessed with.  
The autumn weather has been awesome and we are looking forward to spending a warm Thanksgiving with family.
Happy Holidays everybody . . . keep us in your prayers!

Punta Gorda . . . a jewel in the sun

Although the Sarasota area is by far my favorite Florida destination, The Captain and I were pleasantly surprised with a sweet jewel in the sun, Punta Gorda, located approximately one hour south of Sarasota.

The Captain's parents and brother invited us on their spring break adventure to the southwest Florida resort . . . the guys wanted a deep sea fishing adventure and I was very pleased to find a beautiful little town to relax and take in some sun with our dog Kiki.

We stayed at the Four Points by Sheraton Punta Gorda Harborside which is located on the edge of the Charlotte Harbor waterfront in beautiful Punta Gorda.

The grounds were beautifully landscaped in a tropical setting, the hotel itself was decorated with a pleasant nautical theme, the rooms were super comfy with especially comfortable beds/fluffy pillows and the staff was friendly and helpful.  I was very surprised that they accepted dogs and Kiki was very happy in her familiar kennel in a new room.

A huge complaint about the hotel is that it is 100% non-smoking, which can be a form of torture for two smokers who had to escape to the vehicle in the middle of the night and in the midst of a rainstorm for a smoke (even though we tried to go smoke free with patches).  If we return to the area, that one inconvenience may be the thing that keeps us from staying at the hotel again.  It is my belief they could accommodate both smokers and non-smokers with their own areas.

Another negative was no microwave or refrigerator, but available for an additional charge.  A nice coffee/tea bar was included in the room.

The pool area was very relaxing and perfect for what we were looking for . . . relaxing in the sun . . . the surrounding landscape was awesome!  I appreciated that our dog Kiki was welcome at the pool area.

This photo of Dean's South of the Border is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Dean's South of the Border was another pleasant surprise!  The Captain and I ordered an overflowing plate of Nachos Supreme loaded with meat and cheese that was reasonably priced and very tasty and delicious.  The portions were so generous that we took home a doggie bag to enjoy later.  The service was friendly, but slow.  The atmosphere was awesome and so festive!  A live band was playing in the outdoor dining area.  I would definitely recommend this restaurant and dine there again and again.

Laishley Crab House advertises waterfront dining and the freshest seafood available.  The atmosphere was absolutely awesome . . . sadly, the food was very pricey and not so great . . . the service was less than desirable.  

For example, I ordered the Fried Shrimp plate which was just OK at the steep price of $18.00 for a moderate amount of shrimp.  It included a skimpy portion of french fries and a shriveled little piece of frozen corn on the cob . . . no salad included.  Others dining with us left most of their food because it lacked flavor.  Huge disappointment!  I do not recommend this restaurant!

Unfortunately, it rained all but one day of our stay, so we did not take our own photos and we didn't get to venture out much to explore this wonderful little town.  However, I would love to return and explore more!

The guys chartered an all-day deep sea fishing boat and came back with what equated to a freezer full of fish . . . it was worth the trip and the guys had an awesome time out on the Gulf of Mexico.  They wanted to do it again another day, but the weather did not permit another fishing adventure.

Most of the photos were taken from The Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce website.

Blooming Busch Gardens!

The Captain and I took advantage of an early morning special for Busch Gardens passholders, and we really enjoyed having the park pretty much to ourselves for quite some time, so I took advantage of the unusually peaceful time at the park to take landscape photographs.

While much of the country is buried in snow, check out these beautiful blooms that reminds me that Spring is here in Tampa.  I especially enjoyed this section of the park with all the color!

Sheikra reopened this month for those adventurous and brave enough to hang from the ride and get flung upward, upside down, sideways and even through the water from this huge roller coaster.  For a taste of the ride, click on the photo for a video The Captain made . . . he's a bit obsessed with the ride!

We really enjoyed the concert featuring Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., formerly of the Fifth Dimension and multiple grammy winners.  They put on a fabulous show that was part of the Real Music Concert Series. We plan on going back next week to see Herman's Hermits featuring Peter Noone.  Their music specials are getting better and better . . . The Doobie Brothers will be there tomorrow!

It was a gorgeous February day with temps in the 70's-80's!

This is why we love living in Florida :)

Coming soon to Busch Gardens!

I'm so excited that one of my favorite cartoon characters, King Julien, will be a part of a new original live musical show featuring singers, dancers and rock/pop music performed by a live band!

"Madagascar Live! Operation: Vacation" coming to Busch Gardens Tampa in May 2013, will bring exciting changes to Stanleyville Theater, which will be refurbished and become enclosed and air-conditioned.

Click here for more details.

Wonderful Florida Winter

Winter in Florida can be wonderful!

The Captain and I recently spent a leisurely day at Busch Gardens Tampa.  This is one of our favorite spots to enjoy a cup of coffee while snapping photos of the lovely landscaping that surrounds this area.

The weather was typical for what we have been experiencing this winter . . . temps in the upper 70's with no humidity and no threats of afternoon storms.  Paradise!  As we relaxed and took in the sights and sounds of the park and enjoyed the wonderful weather, my thoughts went to my friends in other parts of the country who have been bombarded with snow.  I've lived in Florida all of my life and have never experienced snow, and although we have had to ensure some colder winters, this is a typical winter in Central Florida.  

I would not want to live anywhere else!

What gorgeous landscaping!  This is another view of the same area where we were sitting.  Bromeliads, orchids, tropicals and everyday houseplants are featured in this area.

These landscape photos are just a taste of one of our favorite relaxing spots at Busch Gardens.  The landscaping throughout the theme park are varied and equally as impressive.  They will be featured in future posts.

There is so much to do at Busch Gardens!  It can't all be seen in one day for sure.  In addition to the regular features of the park, there is the occasional concert series and special presentations.  This is one of the lineups for this year!  Another series features The Doobie Brothers and the Goo Goo Dolls!

If you are visiting the Tampa Bay area, 

don't miss out on a visit to Busch Gardens!

Tropical storm woes

Barely into the hurricane season, the Tampa Bay area has been slammed with the most rain we have had in a long time by Tropical Storm Debby.  So far, this area has experienced the worst part of the storm.


At the moment, we are in Tropical Storm Warning/Watch mode, in and out of tornado watches/warnings and severe thunderstorm watches/warnings have become normal.  The forecast calls for a couple more days of more of the same and we have already had 10-15 inches of rain throughout the area.


The photo comes from our local cable news channel, Bay News 9, who have provided awesome 24/7 coverage of the storm.  Bayshore Boulevard is virtually unrecognizable . . . they describe it as "non-existent" . . . I'd hate to live in that area right now!  I've posted photos of that area before . . . this is what it looks like on a normal day . . .

Many areas of Tampa are flooded, making a drive in traffic a nightmare!  There are stalled vehicles all over the place!  I wonder how many people are having a "mental health day" from work?

This photo comes from WFLA Channel 8, a local network affiliate . . .

Tropical Storm Debby looming, before the flooding.

Although the weather service has deemed Tropical Storm Debby unimpressive, those living in the Tampa Bay area will disagree!  

Normal life has been majorly disrupted!  How about the owners of this home?  OMG it is one of my nightmares with all the trees on our property!

Photo source:  Bay News 9

Even the local gators are enroute to safety . . . at least this one is using the crosswalk!

Photo source:  Bay News 9

For more photos . . . click here

Last night's sleep was intermittent . . . I kept waking up to the sound of fierce winds whipping through the trees with the heaviest rainfall I've experienced in a long time.  We slept with the television fixed on the 24/7 storm coverage.

With the storm stalled out in the Gulf pounding areas of Florida, there are many more stories yet to be told.  Let's pray that it weakens and goes away soon!

This is just the beginning of hurricane season . . . the one reason I hate living in Florida!

Back to normal?

The Captain is back to work after a lengthy recovery from surgery.  

Life is returning to normal for us.

Through the past couple of months, we have been all over the area making new discoveries and enjoying old favorites.

We ventured through the wilderness and the concrete jungle as well . . . many more trips to Busch Gardens and Adventure Island Water Park . . . continued discovering MacDill Air Force Base, Downtown Tampa, Ybor City and surrounding areas.

Now that life is returning to normal, I hope to chronicle our adventures in this awesome area of Central Florida we call Tampa Bay.

Why we love living in Florida!

The weather has been awesome with gorgeous blue sky days!  So far it has been a warm winter . . . 70-80's during the day, 50-60's at night . . . NO SNOW . . . NO AFTERNOON STORMS . . . NO HUMIDITY!!  It has been a great time to enjoy the beauty of Florida and explore the outdoors.  Great time to visit this part of the world . . . no wonder the snowbirds descend upon us this time of year!


The Captain and I have been getting out more and experiencing the outdoors . . . often enjoying an early morning adventure of fishing, exploring local parks and the historic culture that Tampa has to offer.


As a result there are a ton of photos I have yet to process, but I have not forgotten!  I also haven't forgotten about the series on Vintage Disney.  We haven't even scratched the surface of exploring Busch Gardens and the area beaches.  I promise to get to these projects soon!


The Gasparilla pirates will invade Tampa at the end of January and we plan to be right in the middle of it this year.  We will be taking lots of photos and reporting on the festivities.


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Come on down to Florida!

Merry Christmas

From our family to yours

Merry Christmas!

Hope your day is happy, festive

and full of love :)

Fishing Adventure at Ballast Point ~ Tampa, Florida

The Captain and I started in the middle of the night . . . beginning with a trip to the 24/7 Walmart to buy some last minute items we needed for our adventure.

This is the view that greeted us as we walked upon the pier.  The photos don't do the early morning sky justice . . . it was overwhelmingly breathtaking.  What was really beautiful is the downtown Tampa skyline at this time.  What you are looking at in this view is the Port of Tampa.

Click on any of the photos for a larger view with greater detail.

It surprised me that this early in October, it was freezing out there (well, what this Florida girl calls freezing).  The winds were whipping around and I was chilled to the bone!  Good thing we still had blankets in the van from our trips to the beach.  Once I got wrapped up in a blanket, I was fine.

I just sat there gazing at the sky for the longest time . . . the changing colors were amazing.  The water was choppy from the wind and took on a spectrum of colors.  The sights and sounds of the morning stillness, along with the beachy smells conjured up those awesome childhood memories for me again.

We had the whole pier to ourselves except for a few people at the very end and some people in the park area enjoying the changing colors of the sky.  I would be so very happy to grab a cup of coffee on the way over there and just watch the changing sky.  Being on that pier gives a panoramic sky view . . . just AWESOME!

This is a part of the downtown Tampa skyline . . . not the greatest photo, but I love the way the sun bounced off of the sides of the buildings.  Next time I'll get better photos of this view!

All of a sudden, the birds started to appear . . . a few at first . . . 

. . . and more appeared . . .

The night skies turned to day . . . with a smidge of orange skies.

The little guy was not too happy with the intrusion of the bigger bird!

As more and more birds appeared, so did the fishermen.

A view of Bayshore Boulevard . . . notice the beautiful pinkish sky!

The big rock bulging out of the water is full of little birds . . .

The sun begins peaking up from the horizon . . .

I love the way the sunlight reflects against the pier!

Well . . . we proceeded to fish throughout the morning and a chilly early morning turned into a hotter mid-morning at which time we had enough of feeding the fish and decided to drive around and take more photos of Tampa.  We did catch two little fish, but nothing substantial to bring home.

The fun was being in the midst of it all and experiencing night turn into day on Tampa Bay.

Hope you enjoyed the photos!