i had a great time walking around this garden located in winter park. there was a wedding…read morehappening, a family gathering elsewhere by the river, & the whole space was buzzing w/ summer energy. there is a whole area of the garden i have yet to explore but good thing is - it's free! i was a little lost on the map, it would have been nice to have a more clear distance gauge because some of the lines look like the trail is super long when in reality it's not and just the placement of buildings/parking too. i'll be back to conquer that map !! or maybe i'll stay a while and smell the roses.

The Gardens are beautiful and a great place to reconnect with the world. We went to see the…read moreNight-Blooming Cereus. It's a once a year blooming that is amazing. The trails are an easy walk and quite beautiful. I highly recommend it.

The Festival of Fantasy Parade has the best floats ever! They're not only colorful, but there are…read moredancing performances by Disney characters on each float. It's the best opportunity to see your favorite Disney characters up close. Just take your seat along the curb in front of Cinderella Castle (the best view) along Main Street, or hang out further away on a bench in the shade on Main Street. It all depends on how close you want to get to the characters. This specific parade started in 2014. I originally thought it was the parade of my childhood. The one that I remember getting a nose kiss by one of the chipmunks as a teenager while standing by the curb. Was it Chip or Dale? I have no idea. It was cool how they all interacted with everyone on the street. I didn't see as much of that. It was mostly waving, blowing kisses, and singing. Yep, I was thinking of a totally different parade without the fancy floats. However, this one is way better. The floats actually perform. Peter Pan's galleon ship shoots cannons. Not real ones. Don't be silly. The Tangled boat was so cool with it's moving oars, and tools that swing up high with Flynn Rider onboard. But, the coolest float of all was the Maleficent dragon that's breathing fire throughout the route of the parade. Beauty and the Beast, as well as Mickey & Minnie provided some cute moments. Get to your parade location by 2:45 pm so that you get a good spot. The parade starts at 3 pm at Frontierland. It moves past Liberty Square, Cinderella Castle, and then on to Main Street. Everyone on Main Street will be the last to see it. It takes time for it to get there, but just be patient. Oh, and definitely be sure you have sunscreen because you'll be frying like an egg in a skillet (unless it's overcast). Most people aren't used to the intense afternoon sun in Florida. If you burn easily, you need to be protected. Other than that, enjoy the parade. It's absolutely magical!

Finally!!! On my latest Disney World Trip to Magic Kingdom over Memorial day, my family and I had a…read morechance to watch the Festival of Fantasy Parade! We ended up stopping on our way from Tony's Restaurant to the Haunted Mansion ride. There was plenty of viewing spots, standing up, to watch the parade. It's such a fun parade! There were all sorts of characters from the dragon in Maleficent to Alice in Wonderland. The characters and costumes were absolutely stunning. You could see several characters also interactive with the guests! The music that accompanies the parade is great and really brings the experience to life! This is a must see parade while you're visiting Disney World!

There's a lot going on here, and it's a great classic tourist version of this part of Florida,…read morepre-mouse. Plenty of ways to spend money but there's no admission fee and you don't feel like you're constantly being hassled, there's a lot that can be done for free including seeing the animals, a menagerie of Americana -- like a bunch of old tractors and statues of things like Bob's Big Boy -- and playing in the largest sandbox I've ever seen. We did try the Key Lime pie which was tasty. And pick your own fruits would be great but I guess that's a winter thing.

I am SO glad I decided to stop in here today on our way down to Orlando! There is so much to do…read morehere, if we ever are in this area again we're definitely stopping in! I believe this place recently moved, so Apple Maps has the location about a half mile up but I just followed the signs and it was easy to find! Every employee we encountered was so kind, welcoming and just amazing! They were all so detailed in their answers if you asked questions and just wanted to help and be informative. The monster truck tour was AMAZING! Ranger Jack was really funny, informative and so kind to my 8 year old who has autism that I came here with. We learned so much about all the different animals they have here, it is a great fun, learning experience for kids. The whole experience overall is one my daughter will remember! It's definitely a great stop and worth the money!

I have walked the mile path surrounding Lake Eola many times and I always stop for a moment at this…read morepeaceful garden with its distinctive red bridge. The Japanese Rock Garden along Lake Eola contains a 12.5 ton and 19,5 foot long piece of black marble donated by Su-Nan Chong, Mayor of Tainan, Taiwan. The rock was given in 1983 as a gift of friendship between the sister cities of Tainan and Orlando. The marble is said to have been discovered in the mountains in Hua-Lien at an altitude of 1,600 meters and was sculpted by wind over 10,000 years. The Mayor requested the following to be inscribed on the stone. "Loyal To Country Filial To Parents." When the rock was delivered Orlando it was requested to be placed "in your great Walt Disney World". Disney World however is not in Orlando and Disney declined the gift leaving Orlando to figure out what to do with it. While waiting for permanent placement it was called the Mayor's pet rock. When Lake Eola Park was renovated in 1988, the Japanese Rock Garden was created and the rock finally had a home. Today you can see the famous rock and take pictures on the pretty bridge. The story of the marble has become a quirky part of Lake Eola history.

A total gem! Delicious peaches, produce and jams! Definitely worth a visit. Cash only, easy to find…read moreand great selection. Will be visiting many more times this season.

A close and friendly peach orchard also with beans, squash,cucumbers and sunflowers. Nesteled…read morebetween SR 561 and SR 33 in Groveland. Two varieties of tasty peaches $2,$3 per pound. Wear sunscreen and a hat. No bathrooms.

Come for the A/C, stay because Ty Burrell just made climate change sound like a sitcom plot…read more Awesome Planet is EPCOT's way of saying, "We're still educational, dammit." Nestled inside The Land Pavilion, this 10-minute film opened on January 17, 2020, replacing the long-running Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable (1995-2018). You remember that one -- Timon and Pumbaa lecturing you about recycling while you tried not to fall asleep in the air conditioning. Disney retired it after two decades, deciding it was time to update the message and the visuals (and, let's be honest, cut the fart jokes). History check: before Circle of Life, the theater housed Symbiosis (1982-1994), which was pure 1980s EPCOT -- equal parts earnest science lesson and school field-trip snoozefest. Awesome Planet continues that tradition but with a 21st-century facelift: gorgeous IMAX-style cinematography, sweeping time-lapse shots, and narration by Ty Burrell (yes, Phil Dunphy from Modern Family, which somehow makes saving the planet sound both funny and slightly neurotic). The show is a mix of jaw-dropping aerial shots, underwater footage, and computer graphics that make you realize just how insane Earth really is. It hits the big notes: oceans, forests, deserts, storms, climate change. There's a section where you're basically watching Earth flex its muscles while you're sitting there with a churro wondering what you've done with your life. Is it a thrill ride? Nope. But it's pure EPCOT DNA -- infotainment with enough Disney polish to keep you from checking your phone. And the air conditioning? Let's be real, that's the real five-star feature in Florida summers. "It's a commercial for Planet Earth, but at least it's a good commercial."-- it's slick, beautiful, and makes you want to go recycle something immediately... or at least feel guilty about your plastic poncho. Bottom line: Awesome Planet is short, smart, and surprisingly moving. It's the quiet conscience of EPCOT -- reminding you that the most impressive attraction here isn't a ride, it's the rock we're all spinning on.

Awesome Planet is a show located in World Nature at the Land Pavilion. It's right next to the…read moreGarden Grill restaurant, and you'll see the show off to your right as soon as you enter the Land Pavilion. It's been a few years since I watched the show. It's a 10-minute film featuring the earth and the environment from across the globe! This show is for all ages. The film does use in-theater effects such as wind, scents, and water. It tells the story of life on our planet! If you're looking to take a break from the summer heat, this is a great spot to stop at. It's in a air conditioned building. The images are stunning! There usually aren't many people that queue up for this attraction. The theater is relatively large though with lots of seating! If you haven't watched this film yet, you should check it out while you're visiting Epcot!

America Gardens Theatre is a nifty little outdoor music venue at Epcot that's used for various free…read moreconcerts throughout the year. It's located in the American Adventure Pavilion in World Showcase. The open air theater combines shady landscaping with live entertainment, making it a perfect place to relax and enjoy some music or a show (when the fickle Florida weather is cooperating, that is). I love seeing concerts here because you can't beat the price! The theater has plenty of communal bench seating that gives a great view from almost anywhere (watch out for those trees that block part of the stage). There's ADA seating in the back, although the views aren't as great back there. What really makes it shine is the variety and overall quality of the shows. During the EPCOT festivals, like the annual Flower & Garden, Festival of the Arts, or Food & Wine Festival, the theater hosts a lineup of great musical acts. I've seen so many bands and famous Broadway performers here over the years, from Hanson and Boyz II Men to the Pointer Sisters and New Found Glory. The sound quality is really good, the lighting is top notch, the performers are talented, and the shows are family-friendly while still appealing to adults. You can often find yourself dancing along or just chilling while soaking in the atmosphere. All music lovers will agree: you can't beat a free concert! Because it's outdoors it can get a little hot in the summer, and seating is first-come, first-served so arriving early is a good idea if you want a front row spot for the more popular acts. The venue is not covered so you will get wet in the rain and may burn in the midday sun, and watch out for birds that rest in the trees above or you may get pooped on (this has happened to me more than once). All in all, this is a pretty cool live music venue in a theme park!

The American gardens theater sits directly across from the American Adventure. Is is a larger part…read morecovered theater which is basically open air. There are normally two entrances that are used. First is the one near the Japan pavillion. This is usually for people who had a dining reservation in order to secure seating. The other is near the Italy pavillion which is for the general public. It is primarily bench seating. The base of the theater is level and then raises up for better viewing. Acoustics are great. The venue is used each year for festival celebrity concerts and during the Christmas season-the candlelight processional. Since the theater is small there is standing room only outside the venue. I'm not sure if they permit this during the Candlelight processional since lines tend to build up fairly early for each of their 3 scheduled daily shows. Even if a show is not performing here it is still worth a look at this beautiful concert hall. Adding the cool breeze off the lagoon also helps keep you comfortable on a hot day.

When you visit Japan in Epcot, head to the rear of the pavilion to find this small museum. Look at…read morethe exhibits and listen to the music. Nice respite on a hot day!