Kings Island just outside of Cincinnati, OH:
This is one of the most thrilling amusement parks I have been to. I have been to many. However, I have not been to Sandusky, OH. Soon, very soon. At King’s Island, the Vortex and the Beast are must ride rollercoasters. There is also a decent water park where you ride a tram over. Cool Slides.
Universal Studios Florida:
This place is actually quite neat. The first few times I went, I honestly didn’t like it. There wasn’t enough to do for my money. The lines were long and the actors on the rides were tired and boring. I have given it a 2nd and 3rd chance and even a Mardi Gras night. It was better; however, for me, there wasn’t enough to do. Given this, Back to the Future is by far the the neatest simulator ride ever.
Dollywood, Tennessee:
It has been quite a while since I have been here, but let me first say that Dolly Parton is one of the best, most respected, and delightful country singers of all time. With that said, the amusement park was extremely boring. At the time I was there, there was actually one ride that said “if you have a heart problem, please do not ride this ride.” It was called the Blazing Fury and was a decent roller coaster. I need to go back to see if it is any better.
Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida:
I didn't expect this when I asked for a longneck
In my opinion, this is the best thrilling amusement park in Florida and Zoo all in one. There is plenty to do here for both kids and adults and the price is very inexpensive, especially for Florida residents. For amusement park standards, shopping and food is relatively cheap inside here. You can feed animals here, but there is a big price on this one. Better to check out other Florida zoos.
Six Flags, Chicago, Illinois:
If I remember correctly, this is just outside of Chicago. Anyway, the rollercoasters here are great. The problem is that I waited in line for every roller coaster at this park and it took forever. This place would be fun on a slow day.
Six Flags, Atlanta, Georgia:
No complaints here. Plenty of coasters for adults and kids. They have an awesome wooden roller coaster. This one is worth the wait.
Sea World, Orlando, Florida:
Whether you like shows or not, Seaworld is a place you have to go. It is unbelieveable how animals of the sea and humans interact. Despite what many think, these animals are treated very well. The only thing I don’t like about Sea World is that the shows really rarely change. Also, both roller coaster at Sea World are awesome. I rode The Manta before its Grand Opening and this coaster is undescribable. This may be the best ever. They also have the best log flume – Journey to Atlantis. It is a heck of a drop.
Theater of the Sea, near Key Largo, Florida:
As far as shows and education is concerned, this place is better than Sea World. The shows are actually more comical as well. It’s a very small place, but they do have things to do. You can swim with dolphins, sea lions, and stingrays, but it is quite pricey. However, you can snorkel in a real lagoon with colorful fish. I really enjoyed this place and it was only around $20 bucks. They actually let you hold a shark. You can also ride a bottomless boat where a dolphin will be your companion. No extra charge for this either.
Wonder Works, Orlando, Florida:
If you pass up this place on International Drive, you’re not paying much attention to anything. This place is nicknamed “the upside down house.” Yes, Wonder Works looks upside down from the outside and is a very impressive architectural structure. This is a great place for kids around 10,11,12 years old. It’s an interactive science museum. Wonder Works also has a magic show and this is hillarious, especially for kids. All you can eat pizza, too.
Wet & Wild, Orlando, Florida:
Best water park by far. Ok, I am biased. I’m just very familiar with this park. Over the last 10 years, they did change a rapid ride which is now quite boring.
Ruby Falls, Near Chattanooga, Tennesee and Dalton, Georgia:
This was about an hour tour in a cave. You can’t see the waterfalls unless you go down in this cave. No one has yet to discover where the falls are coming from. This is an intriguing tour. They actually give kids a hard hat and some exploring gear to go check out undiscovered territory. Need to know more or want to get a group together? Email me.
Carrie B Cruises, Fort Lauderdale, Florida:
I went on this river cruise because all of the customer reviews enjoyed it and said it was comical. Honestly, I didn’t care much for it. Yes, the people were nice and it was relatively educational, but it was really boring.
Jungle Queen, Fort Lauderdale, Florida:
I have been on this twice. The first time was ok, but the second was much better. Many people suggest not to go on this during the day. I go on the sunset cruise, which takes you down the New River in Fort Lauderdale. The guide tells you about the rich houses down the river, then lets you off on an “island” for an all you can eat chicken, ribs, and shrimp. I had a good experience with them. Now, after dinner, there was cheesy comedy magician and a ventriloquist. The ventriloquist was better and he was good with kids. Buying anything on this “island” would be stupid because it is very expensive.
Ghost Tours in St. Augustine, Florida:
The orby ghost kept followin me. So sexy I must be.
They are all pretty good as there are many to choose from. If you want a run down of them all, please email and I’ll assist. There are 2 I have yet to endure: the midnight sheriff tour, and the catamaran tour out in the bay. I have 2 favorites: Ghosts and Gravestones which is an educational theatrical tour, which is both a riding and walking tour. Plus, you go inside buildings including the jail. My second favorite was a new one. The tour guide only takes 8 people on his tour. It is about a 1 1/2 hour walk. The reason I like this one is that our tour guide was willing to look at our pictures and willing to listen to our stories. Also, everyone gets to carry an EMF detector. Yes, mine did go off along with everyone else’s at the Hugenot Cemetery and a few times behind the Castillo San De Marcos. This guy had some pretty interesting photos himself.
Ghost tour, Key West:
We started at the La Concha Hotel in Key West. Our guide was horrible. If I wasn’t standing up I’d have fallen asleep. This was definitely not worth my trip to Key West. They do have another tour down there that I have not been on yet.
Ghost Tour, Savannah, Georgia:
Click the photo to see the orb.
This was a riding and eating tour. I did get an orb from supposedly the most haunted house in Savannah. We also ate at The Pirate’s House where we were allowed to only have one of 5 things on the menu with this tour. Amazingly, I was satisfied. We went down in the basement and took pictures. I’m pretty sure all the “orbs” around me were dust particles. I enjoyed this tour and our tour guide was very knowledgeable.
Airboat Tours, Everglades, Florida:
If you have never been on an airboat, it is worth going on. They are fun, but for a very limited time. You may or may not see alligators. Most of the time you will. However, if you want an alligator guarantee, go down Tamiami Trail (Hwy 41) until you see Loop Rd. Take this road until the end and you will see more alligators than you’ve ever seen. Caution: Alligators in the Everglades are not scared of you. Do not taunt them. The cliche “alligators are more scared of you than you are them” is true in most places, but I promise you, not in the Everglades. For me, the faster the airboat, the better.
Hardrock Seminole Casinos:
The 2 most popular are Hollywood and Tampa. My personal favorite is Tampa. You can see the hotel for miles on Interstate 4. It is a huge purplish hotel. I haven’t lost at this casino in over 4 years. Need to know what to play? Email me. Hollywood is a great setup. There are clubs and an outside shopping area. It’s worth checking out. I have never won in this casino, though. I do not play table games at these casinos because their lowest minimum is $15. The others I have been to are Immokalee, Brighton, and Miccosukee. The latter was the worst one.
Casino Cruise Boats, Florida:
I will mention the ones I have been on here instead of separating them all. The ones I like the best are The Sun Cruz in Port Canaveral and The Palm Beach Princess. I used to hate them. The Sun Cruz has $5 minimum on table games and their slot machines are somewhat consistent. They don’t win a lot, but they do give out $100 or more quite often. The Palm Beach Princess also has the same minimum except on Craps and if the boat is full, they’ll raise it. With that said, this boat probably has the loosest slots in the state. You can win and win big on this boat. Recently, they have changed their games. Actually, most casinos have changed their games throughout the country, which I actually hate. They don’t win as much. The Sterling out of Port Canaveral is also a popular ship with low minimums, but their slots aren’t that great. Other boats I have been on are the Sun Cruz out of Madeira Beach, the Big M Casino out of Fort Myers Beach, A Russian ship that you must take a catamaran out to. This moves, but the last place I was on it was out of St. Petersburg. There was also a boat out of Jekyll Island, Georgia. This place was strange and no I didn’t win off of this boat.
Old Town, Kissimmee, Florida:
This place is wonderful for kids. It’s ok for adults because it’s a small area and they do have a one price wristband for all rides. This place can be cheap if you know what to do. Some hotels nearby give you a free number of tickets just for staying at their hotel. Do you want an inexpensive vacation in Kissimmee, Florida? Email me at info@thetravellingtravelagent.com
Lift offs, Cape Canaveral, Florida:
Whether it’s the Space Shuttle or rockets, this is a big deal. People and cars are lined up for miles on the side of St. Rd 528 also known as the Beachline (formerly Bee Line). You can actually camp on the side of this Rd. Bring some fishing poles, too. Don’t like camping and wanna be in a hotel? Head south to Cocoa Beach to get some great deals. You might want to email me on this one, also, as I have been here a lot. By the way, Cocoa usually does have waves.
Canoe trips, Florida:
My favorite place to take a canoe trip is in a very secluded place called Palmdale. The name of the creek is Fisheating Creek which runs from an area in Venus / Lake Placid, Florida all the way to Lake Okeechobee. Oftentimes at certain places, the water is nonexistent. However, their is an abundance of fish and wildlife here. This is one place I have had a very scary encounter with a 14 ft. alligator. The reason it’s my favorite is that I have been to this creek many times since I was a kid. There are trips on the creek where you can camp overnight; there is also a campground. Another place I enjoyed was Ocklawaha River in Ocala. This was a crystal clear river and the water was moving at a faster pace than normal. It made canoeing easy. There are many places to camp down this river, including 2 campgrounds. There was also an abundance of fish. You can see them. There was a couple that went on a camping trip the same night as my wife and I. When they finally caught up to us, we were rolling from laughter as the man did not know how to canoe. The Everglades are supposed to be quite popular as well. I’ll let you know how it goes when I return there. I can’t believe I forgot about Peace River. From Zolfo Springs in Hardee County to a small area called Gardner is great for canoeing when the water is up. If you wanted, you could continue to Arcadia. Plenty of flat ground to camp on this river and plenty of places to fish.
Boomers, Fort Lauderdale, Florida:
Got kids? This is how entertainment should be. All in one. There are 2 go cart tracks, a laser tag, outside kiddy rides, a miniature golf course, batting cage, small ball bowling alley, 2 places to eat, and hundreds of arcade games. There are different prices for a collection of different things. Most of the time, it’s better to buy points. Email me if you are confused and you want to go here.
Stone Mountain, Atlanta, Georgia:
This place was really neat. They had a skylift to the top of the mountain for us lazy people. At night, there was a laser show where people sat on blankets outside. I haven’t been here since I was a kid, but I do plan to go back real soon.
Wild Adventures, Valdosta, Georgia:
Nice place. This is an amusement park, zoo, and water park all in one. It has a few not so kiddy rollercoasters and some extraordinary ones. You can feed giraffes here. It’s a small park and everything can be done in a day.
Cypress Gardens, Winter Haven, Florida:
This used to be the most boring place on Earth unless you loved to watch waterskiing or you are a Botanist. In recent years, this place has changed dramatically. The waterskiing shows have actually always been wonderful here. Now, you have something for everyone. There are kiddy rides, and there are rollercoasters that are simply “fun.” They are not huge or fast by any means. They are like practice roller coasters before you hit the big ones. There is also a water park. It’s not bad and they have something that looks like the old board game “Mouse Trap” as one of the water rides. They also have their gardens like they did before and the landscaping is emasive. They also still have their Southern Belles.
Midway, Orlando, Florida:
It’s not as great as it used to be, but if you like thrilling rides, they have 2. They also have a go cart track with a bridge and downhill, which can be fun with friends.
Al Capone Dinner Show, Kissimmee, Florida:
I have to say this is the best dinner show I have ever been to. I am not a really picky eater, but I do not like vegetables and everywhere I go for shows seems to only have vegetables and then prime rib for the only meat. Al Capone had variety that I could actually choose from. This show was hillarious. It was well scripted, well set up, and the theme of the entire place was fabulous. What about the price you may ask? It’s the cheapest dinner show and going through me will be even cheaper.
Medieval Times, Kissimmee, Florida:
It’s a well themed arena and the food was ok. Honestly, I don’t know why this place gets good reviews. I didn’t like it. Maybe it’s a way to get kids out of school and the kids enjoy it. It’s more or less a contest amongst different colored knights and their horses. It has audience participation, but very little. It could have been a lot better, especially for the price.
Pirates Dinner Adventure, Orlando, Florida:
It took me a while to want to see this because of the price. I finally went. I was not impressed. For kids below the age of 13, it may be fun because they do interact a little. The food was not delightful by any means. Unless a group wanted to be escorted here, I’ll pass on this one.
Sleuth Mystery Dinner Theater, Orlando, Florida:
The comedy was ok. One of the actors was rude to me when I was there so it made my night uncomfortable. If you correctly guess the murderer, you’re prize is a piece of crap. I will give them another chance as they have moved and have new actors.
Mystery Dinner Train, Fort Myers, Florida:
I studied the reviews for this and most of them were really impressive. This is a cool concept; however, it could have been far better. Everything took too long….there were sometimes 20 minute intervals before you saw actors again. There was a 5 course meal and this took forever, too. The price was really high. This was a one time thing.
Hershey Park, Hershey, Pennsylvania:
I was here on Thanksgiving and it was snowing. It was too cold to have the rides open, but they still had the small ride through the chocolate factory. Obviously, if you like chocolate, this place is awesome. Um…bring a toothbrush and some floss. I don’t think any place is any sweeter than this.
SideSplitters Comedy Club, Tampa, Florida:
Fun place and they have the top comedians here. The night I was there I saw Larry Miller. I will be there again July 23rd, 2009. Great staff, great drinks, great time.
Disney World:
This is Julie posing
Apparently this is where “dreams come true.” I can’t mention attractions without mentioning Disney World. If you want to be a kid again, you should visit. Of course, if you are a kid, you’ll have a great time. However, it’s hard to see all of Disney in one day. Actually, it’s impossible. The best thing to do is get a 3-4 day park hopper if you want to see everything. Magic Kingdom is the best if you like thrill rides. Space Mountain is still a cool roller coaster. Epcot is extremely boring. Hollywood Studios (formely MGM) is great to see how movies are made. Is this overwhelming? Email me to get the best deals at info@thetravellingtravelagent.com or scott.short@cwcruises.com.
From the above attractions, you can probably guess what state I live in. I can help you go anywhere in the world and if you need an escort, all you have to do is ask. I will make your trip the most enjoyable possible and on any budget besides free of course. There are a list of things I still want to do and I will list them as I do them. People may think it’s better to plan vacations yourself, but travel agents still have better resources. If you need help, planning a vacation, email me at info@thetravellingtravelagent.com or scott.short@cwcruises.com. If I don’t know the answer to something, I’ll find it. Need more things to do? Check out the Zoos and Nature sites.
Obviously, all of these are just a shade of experiences and more or less a quick review. Upon returning to these places, I will post separately and give you an in depth analysis and review.
It seems like I have been a lot of places, but really I haven’t. There are so many places I want to go. Hopefully, people who read my blogs will send me there.
Goodness you’ve been everywhere it seems! I agree that St. Augustine has some awesome ghost tours. They are my favorite by far. Also, Savannah is a beautiful city. I’d go back for a longer visit in a heart beat.
Some of us even don’t realize the importance of this information. What a pity.
Nicely written article