Leisure Markets

Are you planning on visiting the Overland Park, Kansas area soon? If you are you must read this article. It will tell you about one of the best places to visit in Overland Park. That place is the Arabia Steamboat Museum. Keep reading to learn a little more about this great destination.

The Arabia Steamboat Museum is a museum dedicated to preserving a steamboat by the name of the Arabia which traveled the rivers until 1856. In 1856 it sank and was lost only to be rediscovered 132 years later with its cargo still intact. It is an interesting destination to say the least. So what is there for you to see and experience at the museum? The museum will give you a glimpse into the life of the frontiers of the past. When you arrive you will be taken on a guided tour which will tell you about this steamboats history. It will tell you about its history, its sinking and its resurrection. The tour even includes a short video of the excavation process which will show you what went into reclaiming the vessel. You will then be taken to the actual ship which is quite a sight for any history buff. The museum is not only about the vessel though. It is also about the contents of the steamboat which were also recovered. Case after case was recovered from the vessel. This includes glass bottles, fabrics, sewing supplies and a number of different personal belongings which are of great interest. There is for example tools, dolls and more items that belonged to those aboard the ship. And since the museum is still a work in progress more items are being offered every day. Items are still being painstakingly restored behind the scenes. This means that the museum is constantly changing and expanding so even if you have been to it before you might want to take a return trip.

Hopefully this article has give you enough information to convince you to add the Arabia Steamboat Museum to your list of things to see in Overland Park. You can find the museum at 400 Grand Boulevard in Overland Park. For more information call (816) 471-1856 . Enjoy.

This title says it all, sort of. You can find just about anything you want in Orlando, and any time of year (unless you like snow and cold weather; sorry friend).

The superb shopping in Orlando can be just as much of a tourist attraction as the world famous theme parks and other regular tourist attractions.

Called by some writers the ultimate family holiday destination this small but vibrant city is home to a large number of excellent shopping malls, and is known for its vibrant nightlife and renowned sports centers.

In sum, a visit to Orlando means a phenomenal number of outstanding shops and stores. Youll find a vast range of designer outlets, classy department stores, countless fashion boutiques and sprawling shopping malls.

Something for everyone, indeed. Lets check out a few of them now, so you can have an idea of what to expect in this tourist mecca.

Starting at the top end, there is the Florida Mall, Orlandos largest shopping center. With 245 stores, including eight department stores, well, youre more than likely to find what something you want here. The location, naturally, is convenient as its near International Drive, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World.

Not so large, but hardly small is Alamonte Mall, near the downtown area. More than 150 stores beckon you to a great shopping experience which is very much Florida, including indoor palm trees and native vegetation in the mall.

And if shopping is your thing, or even if you just need a couple of personal items or a gift or two, or three, dont miss The Mall at Millenia. Reputed as very big and very complete, its centrally located and close to major theme parks. The mall offers such conveniences as valet parking, discounted hotel reservations, gift wrapping, and a U.S. post office; and thats just the beginning.

And with all that shopping, eating has to fit in there somewhere. Theres quick and easy food for the family at the food court. There are also plenty of upscale restaurants and their famous cheesecake factory.

The variety of shopping in Orlando is not just in the number of malls. There are various styles also. For example, outlet malls are known for great deals. Orlando has several outlet centers. Two are located right on International Drive: Belz Designer Outlet Center and The Belz Factory Outlet are convenient to get to and the Belz Factory Outlet is the largest outlet center in the United States. The designer outlet includes brands such as Ralph Lauren, DKNY and many others.

Another outlet mall is The Orlando Premium Outlet, featuring discount merchandise. There are good deals at just about every store. And Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores, located near Disney World, has a great variety of stores and products for everyone in your family, including a playground for the kids.

Completing the shopping cycle, International Drive has two large, open air markets.

The Mercado has several stores featuring a wide variety of designer clothes. There are also various places to buy the art work of local artists as well as other Floridian merchandise. The ambience of an open air market is emphasized by the cobblestone walk ways throughout.

The Pointe Orlando is a large open air market with sixty stores, but is not only for shopping. One can have a great time dining and enjoying their evening entertainment. Its seven restaurants and two night clubs assure you a fine time.

And to get more of a sense of locality, another open air market, The Farmers Market, features fresh produce, locally made crafts and a variety of other merchandise.

So, yes, its true, Orlando really does offer the visitor a full experience. After the theme parks, dont forget your shopping. Youll find it all here!

Orlando – Off The Beaten Path: Discovering Central Florida Without Visiting Any Theme Parks… Can It Be Done?

One of my husband’s favourite places is Florida, since he is an avid golfer and likes to get away from the cold Canadian winter for his birthday in early December.

For a while now we had planned to visit Orlando, but neither one of us are into theme parks. So there was the challenge for me: would we be able to visit Orlando without setting foot into Disney or Universal Studios? For someone as curious as me this was a suitable challenge and I had been doing weeks of searches on the Internet and communicating with the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau to find out about interesting destinations off the beaten path.

Well, I am happy to say, we arrived back safely yesterday from our trip, and the trip itself was quite an adventure since we decided to drive from Toronto to Orlando, about 2100 km each way! Actually, the drive was not as painful as I expected. The drive through Pennsylvania and West Virginia was nice and hilly, and I particularly enjoyed coming over the ridge of the Appalachians, right where Virginia and North Carolina meet, where you get a beautiful view of the piedmont area around Winston-Salem that spreads out towards the Atlantic in front of the mountain chain.

And I am even happier to say that in the 14 or so days that we spent in Orlando, not only did we get to play a lot of golf (to make my husband really happy…;) – including Mystic Dunes, Champions Gate, Royal St. Cloud Links, Hawk’s Landing and Timacuan Golf and Country Club, not to mention the Walking Hall of Fame experience of the PGA Father Son Challenge at Champions Gate, but I also got to explore some really interesting places, destinations I would not have expected in Orlando and its surrounding region. I also had a chance to do an interview with GolfOrlando to get a much better idea of why Orlando is called “The Ultimate Golf Theme Park”.

We started off our first week with a visit to the Orange Country Regional History Center, which gave us a suitable historic background of Orlando and Central Florida. Then, for some sociological and cultural insights, we visited the Well’s Built Museum for African American History and Culture in Orlando. To top off our first day of exploration we enjoyed a walk around picturesque Lake Eola in downtown Orlando.

The next item on my off-the-beaten path agenda was a discovery of the City of Winter Park, a beautiful suburb of Orlando, reminiscent of Old European towns. I also went on the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour, which was an entertaining, informative and visually appealing excursion.

The adrenaline revved up significantly on our next outing: a very high-speed airboat ride at Boggy Creek, that was followed up by a much lower speed swamp buggy ride in a custom-built monster truck that took us through authentic Florida landscape.

After our golf outing at the Royal St. Cloud Golf Links we enjoyed a wonderful picnic by the waterfront in sunny downtown Kissimmee. Then, on a beautiful Sunday morning we drove about an hour outside of Orlando to reach the quaint town of Mt. Dora, where I hopped on the “Herbie Express”, part of the Mt. Dora – Lake Eustis Scenic Railway.

From midweek in the second week onwards the weather took a turn for the worse. While planes were sliding off runways in Chicago and record temperatures were registered in the mid-western states, we were freezing in Florida where the mercury hovered around 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (around +20 degrees Celsius). So I bought a rain jacket, and determined not to let the freezing cold interfere with our plans, we headed out to continue our explorations.

On a day that was forecast to be rainy, but just ended up being a bit grey and clammy, we went out to discover Loch Haven Park, Orlando’s center of science, art and culture. We then continued our explorations further south to discover some of Orlando’s historic neighbourhoods and parks such as Lake Cherokee and Lake Lucerne.

As the drizzly weather continued, we went on to visit Florida’s Natural Visitor Center in Lake Wales, about an hours drive south of Orlando, where I got a really good understanding of Central Florida’s citrus industry. I spent the afternoon in another famous attraction in Lake Wales which holds two National Historic Landmarks: the Historic Bok Sanctuary, where I got to see the beauty of the Bok estate and its historic carillon tower, combined with a tour through the historic Pinewood Estate, which was decked out in full Christmas decorations.

During these 2 weeks in Florida, we got exposed to a lot of its plants, flowers and wildlife, much of which you run into casually even while playing golf or picknicking by the waterfront. Florida has a surprising amount of natural diversity and I enjoyed watching the various types of birds, lizards, and squirrels. The only thing we didn’t get to see was a live alligator (with the exception of the well-hidden rear end of a small alligator during our swamp buggy tour – unfortunately I couldn’t even get a good picture of that one..). Apparently winter time is too cold for these creatures to come out of the water…

On our drive home, on a bright sunny day (of course…), we stopped off in St. Augustine, a historic town founded by the Spaniards in the 1500s, and the oldest continuously inhabited town in the United States – a mighty photogenic place, I should add.

So, you ask, is it possible to spend 2 weeks in Orlando without even setting foot inside a theme park and still have a good time? Well, based on the above itinerary I’d say that my plans to explore Orlando off the beaten path came to full fruition.

Mission accomplished.

This entire article including photos is located at http:www.travelandtransitions.comstories_photosorlando_off_the_beaten_path.htm

Will you be visiting Ontario, California in the near future. If the answer is yes you might be looking for something for you and your family to do while you are there. Shopping is always fun while on vacation so you should consider visiting Ontario Mills. Read this article and learn a little about this premiere shopping center.

Ontario Mills is one of the best shopping centers in the state of California. It has over two hundred different retailers and countless entertainment venues for you to enjoy. If you love to shop this is the place for you and you can easily spend the entire day enjoying this shopping mall. For the women you have stores like Anne Klein, Banana Republic, Guess Factory Store, JC Penney’s and much more. For the guys you have Foot Locker, Finish Line, Nike and to name a few. There are also countless home stores and stores for teens and children. Shopping is not the only thing you can do at the mall however. You also have a variety of dining options from their extensive food court. Restaurants range from fast food to sit down dinging to snack shops like Cinnabon and Auntie Anne’s Pretzels. When you get tired of shopping you can even catch some great entertainment at the mall. Catch a movie at the thirty screen AMC movie theatre or go play some games at the Gameworks. This just scratches the surface of what is available at the mall. It is a place where you can take the whole family and enjoy a nice day.

I hope this article will convince you to check out the Ontario Mills shopping center while you are in Ontario, California. If you have decided to go you can find it at 1 Mills Circle, Ontario, CA 91764. For more information or to check on current hours call the malls information line at 909-484-8300. Have fun shopping.

The state of New Jersey is a mix of a variety of different attractions including beaches, gambling, gardens and historic landmarks. The largest city in New Jersey is Newark which has the famous Newark Museum which has a large collection of fine art to enjoy. Then there is Jersey City which has the Liberty State Park and the Liberty Science Center. Jersey City also offers a number of amusement piers and shoreline scenes. For the arts scene an excellent option is the city of Asbury Park. The largest gambling town in New Jersey is Atlantic City. Or you can visit the state capital at Trenton. For skiing and hiking an excellent option is the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

Located just across the Hudson River from Manhattan is Jersey City. There are some excellent attractions that you should see when staying in Jersey City. Among these are the Washington Rock State Park and Liberty State Park which have over a thousand acres and many recreational activities to choose from including walking, horseback riding and boating. Located within these parks is also the Liberation Monument, Liberty Walkway and Liberty Science Center. A large attraction is the Colgate Clock which faces towards the bay with a 2,200 pound minute hand that moves twenty-three inches every minute.

Since the late seventeen hundreds, Trenton has been the capital of New Jersey. Visitors can select a number of activities in this city, but the most attractions are for those who love history. Two of the most popular museums in this city is the New Jersey State Museum and the Old Barracks Museum. To visit preserved colonial buildings and historic sites you can take a walk through the State House and the Mill Hill Historic District. Or you can tour the William Trent House which is believed to be the oldest in the city and is still decorated with many period furnishings.

When it comes to hotel in New Jersey there are two excellent hotel options. The first of these is the twenty-six story W Hotel in Hoboken which features a five thousand square food spa, a fitness center and excellent view of Manhattan across the river. Another option is the Appalachian Hotel which is near the Vernon ski area for those who are traveling in the winter. This hotel is actually a part of the Mountain Creek Village ski resort and has an all season pool, two hot tubs, a fitness center and an excellent location right at the foot of the ski slopes. You can easily find an accommodation to meet your needs in New Jersey by going to http:www.njinns.com where you can find the location of every hotel in New Jersey as well as a schedule of the visiting attractions open during your travel period.

When you think New York, you imagine a city, full of taxis and blaring horns, right? Besides all of the skyscrapers, clubs and people in a giant city, New York has a whole other part to the state. New York is full of small towns, farmland and beautiful scenery that are often overlooked.

New York is home to many unique attractions, without having to load the kids up on the subway to tour. Here are some fun stops outside of the big city:

North Pole No, you read that right. There is a North Pole in New York. It may seem like the North Pole since it is so close to the Canadian border, but it is in the New York boundaries. What is the North Pole without Santas Workshop? An amusement park by that name was built and opened in 1949 for kids to enjoy all year long. There are shows, gift shops, an arcade and costumed characters and a parade for all to see.

Albany A giant statue of a white dog sits atop the RCA Building. He was placed there in 1954 and is named Nipper. Nipper has appeared as a real dog in versions of commercials for RCA on television. RCA has offices in Albany.

Oneida Need a quick prayer to help get you through a family road trip? Stop in to Oneida, where the Worlds smallest church is located. The church is actually a chapel, and sits on a small platform in a pond. It was built in 1989 and seats two people and a minister.

Jamestown Lucille Balls hometown. There is a museum full of memories from her and Desi Arnazs life together. Her wedding dress, a hairbrush, TV set items and other personal effects are on display for the public. There is also a gift shop to take home little bits of Lucy history as souvenirs.

LeRoy Whats that wiggling on your spoon? J-E-L-L-O? A museum dedicated to the history of Jell-O sits in LeRoy New York. It is full of all the promotions used by Jell-O in the past, as well as TVs that constantly air commercials. Jell-O happened to be manufactured in the town of LeRoy for sixty four years.

Lake George – Does Uncle Sam have an overwhelming presence in your life? In Lake George, a 36 foot tall statue of Uncle Sam will make that feat a reality. The statue was built in honor of Samuel Wilson, who became known as Uncle Sam. He spent his adult life in Troy New York, and is buried there.

Cherry Valley What is a vacation without buying a bunch of rubber tomahawks for the kids? Rubber tomahawks, in case you need a definition, is a term for cheesy, easily-falls-apart, memorabilia that the kids must have before going home. The TePee in Cherry Hill is full of such trinkets for every age. The fifty foot metal teepee replica signals to those highway bound pull over! We have what you need to remember this vacation!

It’s easy to forget how massive Walt Disney World Orlando actually is. Even the most frequent of visitors to Disney World are impressed by what changes each year when they return to the parks. If you think about it though with the scale of Walt Disney World, with it’s host of theme parks, water parks, hotel resorts and restaurants it isn’t really that surprising.

So where has the most change taken place recently. I think you don’t have to look any further than Disney’s Hollywood Studios to see a park being rejuvenated. Formerly known as MGM Studios has a number of new rides and shows that have been added to in the last year. The biggest introduction has to be the opening of Toy Story Mania. This is an exciting 3D ride where you take part in shooting arcade from your car as you make your way around a Toy Story themed shooting arcade. The ride has been opened within the Pixar Place area of the park, so we can expect more Pixar themed attractions in that area. Parades and shows have also been introduced, including Block Party Bash which is a parade featuring characters from the Toy Story movies. Another movie franchise is a High School Musical show which also takes part in the park. Another permanent feature is the Jedi Training Academy. Originally only at the park during Star Wars Weekends, this is now a full time attraction at the park.

On the resort front, the Contemporary Resort has been going through one of the biggest remodelling phases since it opened. The Contemporary is one of the original Walt Disney World hotels, opening along with the Magic Kingdom back in 1971. A recent addition to the hotel is The Wave restaurant, which is focusing on the healthy-eating conscious visitors to the resort. Another resort that has gone through a lot of change is the Animal Kingdom resort, with the addition of the up market Animal Kingdom Villas.

San Diego has lots to offer. On the one hand it is home to state-of-the-art amusement parks and museums and on the other hand, the place boasts of first Spanish mission in California. Whether you are on a family vacation in San Diego, or a beach vacation with your beloved, make sure you dont miss the following attractions to make your trip exciting.

Balboa Park

Balboa Park is Americas largest urban cultural park. It contains diversified museums ranging from horticultural to astronomical. The place is home to Botanical Building’s sublime lily pond, El Prado etc. Balboa Park is also home to Children’s Museum, and the Fleet Science Center.

Sea World

Sea wWorld is home to the famous killer whale named Shamu and several other stunning marine animals. Watch the acrobatic skills of Shamu and her buddies. There are various exciting and spine-tingling rides too like Journey to Atlantis, Shipwreck Rapids, and many more.

San Diego Zoo

The world-famous zoo has two parks in San Diego: one located in Balboa Park is a traditional Zoo, and the other is Wild Animal Park located north of the city. Spare one full day to explore the zoo. The entire San Diego zoo accommodates more than 4000 creatures ranging from giant pandas, kangaroos, and gorillas all housed in natural environments.

La Jolla

The charming seaside town of La Jolla has lots to offer. The town is expensive, and filled with stunning mansions. Shopping malls and dining restaurants are situated along Prospect Street. Stroll along Coast Boulevard or the La Jolla Cove for the most scenic views.

Old Town

If you are a history lover then head to Old town. Its full of traditional Mexican restaurants and shops. Enjoy the mariachi players strumming the sounds of Mexican music.

The Gaslamp Quarter

Enjoy the nightlife of San Diego at Gaslamp Quarter. It is lively and always buzzing. Enjoy live music after dinner at restaurants which are mainly housed within restored Victorian commercial buildings.

Cabrillo National Monument

A restored lighthouse and the statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the first Portuguese explorer to land in San Diego rest here. Its an amazing vantage point to see migrating gray whales or enjoy magnificent views of San Diego’s harbor and skyline. During winters you can also spot Mexico in the distance.

Mission Beach Boardwalk

Check out Belmont Park, an amusement park at the Mission Beach boardwalk. It features two major landmarks: the Plunge and the Giant Dipper.

Coronado Beach

Take a leisurely walk along Coronado Beach and enjoy the sunset.

Embarcadero

Roam around the Embarcadero, home to watercrafts, aircraft carrier, Seaport village, and a maritime-themed shopping area.
San Diego is full of activities and thrills. When planning a trip to San Diego rest assured, it has something for both adults and children alike. You can check out online the hotels which provide affordable vacation packages. Its best if you check into San Diego motel or a hotel which is near by to all these attractions, so that you dont waste much time in commuting.

Florida is one of the most popular states to vacation in due to the fact that Florida has the most popular vacation attractions. Disney World, Universal Orlando and Sea World are the most popular and sought after vacation spots, but Floridas attractions go far beyond these. Kissimmee, Florida has multiple attractions in itself that are not related to Disney World.

Kissimmee has its own popular and family oriented attractions that entice thousands of tourists into returning each year. When planning your next visit to Florida, check out a few of these top rated attractions in Kissimmee that has had visitors boasting and eager to return.

1. SkyScapes Balloon Tours specialize in private hot air balloon rides for couples and groups. Advance reservations are required because they only schedule one flight per day. Flight amenities include a Champagne Toast, when you will learn about ballooning and how it all got started. The After Flight Celebration will include a light snack of fruit and cheese and a First Flight Certificate to commemorate your first flight. Weekends fill up fast so its best to reserve at least two weeks in advance.

2. Flying Tigers Restoration Warbird Museum has a fabulous collection of restored WWII planes. There are many aircrafts on display and available for flight. Some of the aircrafts include: B-52, B-25 Mitchells, P-51 Stearmans, C-47 Dakota, a Vampire and many more. This would be a wonderful and educational experience for everyone.

3. Reptile World Serpentarium invites you into a world of creepy crawlies. Featuring a large collection of snakes from around the world and kept in their own natural environment. You can attend a venom harvest demonstration, where you can learn about the process of harvesting venom that benefits international medical research.

4. Gatorland is fun for the entire family and is located near the border of Kissimmee and Orlando. Come visit Alligator Island and observe the alligators as they live and nest in a natural environment on this 110 acre theme park and wildlife preserve. Gatorland is also home to several crocodiles, flamingos and a variety of other animals as well. Come enjoy the train ride, petting zoo, nature walk, shows and so much more!

5. Old Town is home of the largest weekly car cruises with over 300 classic cars. Old Town is a great place to visit for shopping at 75 specialty stores, taking on 18 thrilling ride and dining at 8 delicious restaurants. Old Town has had visitors raving about their phenomenal experiences and eager to come back.

6. Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament where you can experience life as it was in the 11th Century. Enjoy feasting on a hearty dinner that is served to you by a wench, as you watch a Princess profess her love for her Knight and a betrayal is unveiled as the King addresses his audience. During intermission you will see an outstanding performance of horse tricks and falcon show.

7. Arabian Nights, the most honored dinner attraction in the world. You are invited to a wedding of a Prince and a Princess. Come into the Palace of Horses and meet your humble servant that will cater to your every desire. Enjoy a bountiful meal as you watch the story unfold as the wedding is threatened by an uninvited guess. The show is filled with many surprises and full of majestic costumed horses and riders.

8. Fun N Wheels Fun Park provides the best value for go-cart racing and arcade fans of all ages. There is a snack bar loaded with food and beverages. Best of all the admission is always free.

9. Water Mania is a water park full of fun for the whole family. Attractions include swimming, rafting and golf. This water park is great for the younger children in your family.

10. Green Meadows Petting Farm is a fantastic place to take the kids for a two hour guided tour through the farm of over 300 animals. Milk a cow, ride a pony or go on a hay ride. Expect plenty of fun and education for all ages.

All these attractions are suitable for families and are deemed very affordable. You can always make the most out of a vacation in Florida without going to Disney World. Kissimmee is truly a wonderful place to be all year round.

Florida is one of the most popular states to vacation in due to the fact that Florida has the most popular vacation attractions. Disney World, Universal Orlando and Sea World are the most popular and sought after vacation spots, but Floridas attractions go far beyond these. Kissimmee, Florida has multiple attractions in itself that are not related to Disney World.

Kissimmee has its own popular and family oriented attractions that entice thousands of tourists into returning each year. When planning your next visit to Florida, check out a few of these top rated attractions in Kissimmee that has had visitors boasting and eager to return.

1. SkyScapes Balloon Tours specialize in private hot air balloon rides for couples and groups. Advance reservations are required because they only schedule one flight per day. Flight amenities include a Champagne Toast, when you will learn about ballooning and how it all got started. The After Flight Celebration will include a light snack of fruit and cheese and a First Flight Certificate to commemorate your first flight. Weekends fill up fast so its best to reserve at least two weeks in advance.

2. Flying Tigers Restoration Warbird Museum has a fabulous collection of restored WWII planes. There are many aircrafts on display and available for flight. Some of the aircrafts include: B-52, B-25 Mitchells, P-51 Stearmans, C-47 Dakota, a Vampire and many more. This would be a wonderful and educational experience for everyone.

3. Reptile World Serpentarium invites you into a world of creepy crawlies. Featuring a large collection of snakes from around the world and kept in their own natural environment. You can attend a venom harvest demonstration, where you can learn about the process of harvesting venom that benefits international medical research.

4. Gatorland is fun for the entire family and is located near the border of Kissimmee and Orlando. Come visit Alligator Island and observe the alligators as they live and nest in a natural environment on this 110 acre theme park and wildlife preserve. Gatorland is also home to several crocodiles, flamingos and a variety of other animals as well. Come enjoy the train ride, petting zoo, nature walk, shows and so much more!

5. Old Town is home of the largest weekly car cruises with over 300 classic cars. Old Town is a great place to visit for shopping at 75 specialty stores, taking on 18 thrilling ride and dining at 8 delicious restaurants. Old Town has had visitors raving about their phenomenal experiences and eager to come back.

6. Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament where you can experience life as it was in the 11th Century. Enjoy feasting on a hearty dinner that is served to you by a wench, as you watch a Princess profess her love for her Knight and a betrayal is unveiled as the King addresses his audience. During intermission you will see an outstanding performance of horse tricks and falcon show.

7. Arabian Nights, the most honored dinner attraction in the world. You are invited to a wedding of a Prince and a Princess. Come into the Palace of Horses and meet your humble servant that will cater to your every desire. Enjoy a bountiful meal as you watch the story unfold as the wedding is threatened by an uninvited guess. The show is filled with many surprises and full of majestic costumed horses and riders.

8. Fun N Wheels Fun Park provides the best value for go-cart racing and arcade fans of all ages. There is a snack bar loaded with food and beverages. Best of all the admission is always free.

9. Water Mania is a water park full of fun for the whole family. Attractions include swimming, rafting and golf. This water park is great for the younger children in your family.

10. Green Meadows Petting Farm is a fantastic place to take the kids for a two hour guided tour through the farm of over 300 animals. Milk a cow, ride a pony or go on a hay ride. Expect plenty of fun and education for all ages.

All these attractions are suitable for families and are deemed very affordable. You can always make the most out of a vacation in Florida without going to Disney World. Kissimmee is truly a wonderful place to be all year round.