Yeah, so I know it's a little early to be looking forward to Spring Break, but I can't help it. My stepdaughter is attending college in Florida and we have decided to go pay her a visit!
I have always wanted to go to Florida, but a plane ticket to Florida from Nevada is almost as much as one to Europe! THis small factoid has prevented me from thinking too seriously about such a vacation, but now is the time! So, to offset the expense of traveling half way around the globe to Orlando (ok, slight exaggeration) I have been looking for less expensive ways to entertain two teenagers, two adults, and a toddler. Crazy, I know!
Today, though, I stumbled across a great place that has FREE admission and parking! It's the Tampa Electric (TECO; http://www.tampaelectric.com/manatee/) Manatee viewing center. They have a beautiful elevated walkway through the mangrove and tidal forest out to the bay where herds of manatee flock during colder months to take advantage of the warmer waters spilling out of the electric company's facility (clean waters, BTW) into the gulf coast waters. The manatees are there from mid-November until mid-April, so if you happen to be in the area stop in...if not they have interactive webcams on their site (I just spent over an hour watching the manatee swim around on these cool cams).
Anyway, just thought I'd share one of the FREE family activities to be had within an hour's drive from Orlando and all the hubbub of Disney World. Also near here is the Clearwater Aquarium where they house and rehabilitate the now famous Dolphin, Winter, from a Dolphin's Tale. They also have sharks, turtles, and other critters too! So another inexpensive option, and it's fully approved by my Marine Biology majoring Stepdaughter!
I have always wanted to go to Florida, but a plane ticket to Florida from Nevada is almost as much as one to Europe! THis small factoid has prevented me from thinking too seriously about such a vacation, but now is the time! So, to offset the expense of traveling half way around the globe to Orlando (ok, slight exaggeration) I have been looking for less expensive ways to entertain two teenagers, two adults, and a toddler. Crazy, I know!
Today, though, I stumbled across a great place that has FREE admission and parking! It's the Tampa Electric (TECO; http://www.tampaelectric.com/manatee/) Manatee viewing center. They have a beautiful elevated walkway through the mangrove and tidal forest out to the bay where herds of manatee flock during colder months to take advantage of the warmer waters spilling out of the electric company's facility (clean waters, BTW) into the gulf coast waters. The manatees are there from mid-November until mid-April, so if you happen to be in the area stop in...if not they have interactive webcams on their site (I just spent over an hour watching the manatee swim around on these cool cams).
Anyway, just thought I'd share one of the FREE family activities to be had within an hour's drive from Orlando and all the hubbub of Disney World. Also near here is the Clearwater Aquarium where they house and rehabilitate the now famous Dolphin, Winter, from a Dolphin's Tale. They also have sharks, turtles, and other critters too! So another inexpensive option, and it's fully approved by my Marine Biology majoring Stepdaughter!
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