| Teens and Tweens Discover Action, Adventure, Thrills in Orlando If a 55 mph (89 km/h) plummet down the side of a “snow-capped” Florida Mountain isn’t thrill enough for teens and tweens, then maybe F-16 fighter G-forces on a 60 mph (97 km/h) roller coaster would do the trick. There are thrills around every Orlando corner for teens and tweens, those 8- to 12-year olds who want in on the same fast-paced fun. Beginning with the high-speed flumes and slides at Disney’s Blizzard Beach and continuing with the cutting-edge coasters and simulators at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, tweens and teens won’t want to miss a moment of the action. Beyond the theme parks, Central Florida offers many opportunities for adventure on airboat rides, fishing excursions and alligator-spotting tours. Trail riding for horse lovers and glow-in-the-dark mini-golf for teen duffers further expand the options. And kids will have a hard time choosing which water sport they want to master, from water-skiing and surfing to parasailing and wakeboarding. Blizzard Beach rates high with teens for its “ski resort” theme, including its Summit Plummet speed slide down Mount Gushmore, and its many toboggan-, rapids- and flume rides. Wet ’n Wild - Orlando is another winner with multiple thrill rides and slides, including Black Hole and Disco H2O, a retro raft adventure. Typhoon Lagoon’s Surf Pool makes some of the best waves in town and surfing lessons can be reserved certain days before the park opens. Discovery Cove, another teen favorite, allows guests to swim with dolphins, snorkel with tropical fish and rays, and hand-feed exotic birds. Thrills are standard at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, where the 60 mph (97 km/h) Incredible Hulk Coaster roars through seven rollovers and two subterranean plunges and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man earns best high-tech, 3-D thrill-ride honors. At Disney-MGM Studios, the indoor, multiple-inversion Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror beg for several rides. Teens and tweens who insist on the un-dead and uncommon disaster will find heart-pounding fun at Universal Studios Florida, where Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride serves up darkness, fireballs and warrior mummies on high-speed rail. Earthquake – the Big One, Twister . . . Ride it Out and Men in Black Alien Attack are good for more hysterical fun. Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort appeals to older kids with its turbulent new Mission: SPACE thrill launch and “slingshot” around Mars, as well as Test Track auto-proving ground and high-speed finish. Exotic animals from several continents capture teens’ attention at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where the realistic Kilimanjaro Safaris traverses forests and savannas to spot rhinos, hippos, zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, lions and other exotic creatures in a natural habitat. Kids can also raft the raging waters of Kali River Rapids and time-travel at high speeds to a prehistoric adventure in DINOSAUR. SeaWorld Orlando features the edgy (tallest, fastest, floorless) coaster Kraken and the special-effects-filled, bobsled-like water ride, Journey to Atlantis, plus a park full of amazing marine mammals, including Shamu. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is known for its Great Ape reserve, Rhino Rally safari and super-wet water rides and clusters of roller coasters, including SheiKra, the world’s tallest dive coaster. An indoor attraction comes in handy on rainy days and DisneyQuest at Downtown Disney West Side provides five stories of virtual fun. Kids can design and ride a coaster, battle pirates and cartoon villains, learn how to animate a film and write a wacky song. An eco-safari on horseback or in a swamp buggy at Forever Florida explores many of this nature preserve’s nine ecosystems and gives an insider’s look at wildlife that may include an endangered Florida panther. Teens enjoy the loud, fast Boggy Creek Airboat & Swamp Buggy Tours that skim through swamps and across lakes with ease as the captain points out native birds, turtles and alligators. Airboat Rentals You-Drive lets families motor out on their own to explore the Florida wilderness. InuTrax Outdoor Adventures offers teens a chance to get up close to Florida’s wildlife including turtles, bald eagles and even manatees. The bass fishing at Bass Anglers Guide Service or A#1 Bass Guide Services intrigue teens and tweens who’ve yet to catch the big one. Kids can blaze new trails riding a thoroughbred at Horse World Riding Stables, Grand Cypress Equestrian Center, Westgate River Ranch or Disney’s Fort Wilderness; and a canoe trip down the unspoiled Wekiva River at Wekiwa Springs State Park reveals a natural wonderland of flora and fauna. At Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, teens can paraglide solo or tandem hundreds of feet above East Lake Toho or Disney’s Bay Lake; and, at Wallaby Ranch, they can hang glide 2,000 feet (610 meters) from the ground. Teens will gasp at the views from a hot-air balloon ride with Bob’s Balloon Charters LLC or Orange Blossom Balloons. Or, they can ride in a biplane at Fantasy of Flight, which captures the history of aviation through displays of the world’s largest vintage aircraft. Water-ski, jet-ski and wakeboard lessons at Kissimmee Water Sports give teens and tweens confidence to enjoy the water play on Lake Cecile. Orlando Watersports Complex features two cable parks that can be run at speeds for beginners or those more experienced in skiing, kneeboarding, wakeboarding, slalom or trick skiing. Buena Vista Water Sports offers jet ski rentals and will provide a boat and driver for teens to waterski, wakeboard or go tubing. In mid-2006, teens can learn how to surf or practice their current skills at Ron Jon Surf Park, an indoor surfing facility at Festival Bay Mall at International Drive. At Vans Skatepark, a huge indoor street course challenges skaters with ramps and bowls – an arcade keeps teens happy when not skateboarding. Miniature golf is a whole new experience at Putting Edge Glow-in-the-Dark Mini Golf at Festival Bay, and plenty of outdoor courses serve up themes ranging from pirates to the Congo. Teens can go skydiving indoors at SkyVenture Orlando. Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex, spring-training home of the Atlanta Braves, gives visitors a chance to compete in the Sports Experience which tests their speed and agility in football, baseball, basketball and soccer. DAYTONA USA at Daytona International Speedway, home of the world-famous Daytona 500 and Pepsi 400 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series races, offers exciting racing activities for teens. At the Richard Petty Driving Experience, teens age 14 and up can ride shotgun in a two-seat stock car driven by one of a professional instructor and experience a simulated three-lap NASCAR qualifying run at speeds exceeding 150 mph (241 km/h). To explore the oddest of the odd, a trip to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Orlando Odditorium is a must. Tweens and teens will think it’s a hoot to contemplate the Mona Lisa portrait created from toast, and they’ll laugh at the Dog-Gone Weird room too. Snake fans can see Reptile World Serpentarium owner George Van Horn extract venom from mesmerizing cobras, cottonmouths and rattlesnakes (call for times), then tour the house of 700-plus slithery creatures. For those up for fright and fun, Skull Kingdom provides unexpected encounters at every turn. Go-kart racing at Fun Spot Action Park or Magical Midway is a big draw with the tween set, and the video arcade adds further appeal. A concert at House of Blues or Hard Rock Live could be just the ticket to keep teens happy during their visit. And dinner at Race Rock Supercharged Restaurant, NASCAR Café at Universal Studios CityWalk, Sharks Underwater Grill inside SeaWorld Orlando, Planet Hollywood or Rainforest Café is a treat they won’t forget.  ORLANDO |
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Places, Cities and Towns of Florida / Features and Articles About Florida / Annual Events and Festivals in Florida / Florida Hotels and Resorts / Florida Spas and Wellness Oriented Destinations / 4 and 5 Diamond Hotels / Pet Friendly Hotels / Florida Beaches / Florida Theme Parks and Family Oriented Destinations / Waterparks / Zoos / Florida Parks / Wildlife in the Sunshine State / Florida Trails / National Historical Landmarks / Florida Museums / Golf in Florida / Fishing in Florida / Shopping in the Sunshine State / Dining in Florida image: Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.® |
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| About Us: Travel Tidings Florida features vacation travel information for the cities and regions of Pensacola, Destin/Ft Walton Beach, Seaside/Beaches of South Walton , Panama City Beach , Marianna , Apalachicola/Port St. Joe , Tallahassee , Live Oak/Lake City , Cedar Key/Steinhatchee, Jacksonville/Amelia Island, Gainesville, St. Augustine, Flagler Beach/Palm Coast, Crystal River, St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Tampa, Ocala, Orlando/Kissimmee, Lakeland,Daytona Beach/New Smyrna Beach, Cocoa Beach, Fort Pierce/Vero Beach, Sarasota/Bradenton, Charlotte Harbor, Fort Myers/Sanibel, Naples/Marco Island, Sebring/Arcadia, Florida Keys & Key West, Fort Lauderdale, Lake Okeechobee, Miami, and Palm Beach and more than 500 destinations throughout the state of Florida. Activities, entertainment and speciality interestes include everything from romantic getaways, spas and secluded parks to family themeparks and holiday resorts, busy places popular for adventure, sports and surfing. General topics covered include dining, lodging, shopping, travel accommodations, attractions, hotels and more. Do not hesitate to contact us for further information at info@traveltidingsflorida.com! |
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