Things to do in Orlando with Holiday Guests

So Christmas has come and gone and many of us are counting down to New Year’s. The theme parks are busy and shopping is still at full tilt, but I received a question via Twitter from @Orlando_FL_Rep asking what they could do with guests this week besides the theme parks. Many of us might be in a similar situation, so I thought I’d put together some suggestions, and I tried to think mostly indoors, as it is still pretty cold outside. I am sure there are other great things to do, so feel free to add your ideas in the comments section!

Kids/Family

• Pinocchio’s Marionette Theater
• Orlando Science Center
• Orange County Regional History Center
• Citrus Bowl Parade
• Monkey Joe’s
• Rebounderz
• Ice Skating at Light Up UCF, Winter Park Wonderland, or RDV Sportsplex
• Roller skating

Winter Park

• Winter Park Scenic Boat Tours
• Shopping and lunch on Park Avenue
• Morse Museum of American Art
• Cornell Fine Arts Museum

Orlando Arts

• Orlando Museum of Art
• Mennello Museum of American Art
• Fire Station Historic Museum
• Orlando Shakespeare Theater
• Orlando Repertory Theater

Mount Dora

• Mount Dora Canal Tour
• Shopping and lunch at the Garden Gate Tea Room

Antiquing/Thrift Shopping

• Renninger’s
• Ivanhoe Row
• Sanford Flea Market (America’s largest flea market)

Sanford

• Central Florida Zoo (Try the new Zoom Air!)
• Rivership Romance down the St. John’s
• Shopping in the historic district
• See a show at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center

Botanical

• Leu Gardens (Be sure to check out Leu’s Holiday House)
• Bok Tower Gardens

Sports

• Champs Sports Bowl (Tonight – West Virginia vs. NC State)
• Orlando Magic vs. New York Nicks (December 30)

Knights Prevail: Gators Cursed in the Amway Yet Again

Congratulations to the home team, the UCF Knights Men’s Basketball Team took on (and overcame) the #16 ranked Florida Gators tonight.  While we’re huge Gator fans, even we can recognize a great effort when we see one.  Over 13,000 fans cheered as UCF led Florida in a 57-54 victory.

Michael Jordan's son Marcus is a leader for the Golden Knights.

The two teams met in the Florida Citrus Sports Shoot Out and had the honor of playing the first collegiate game in the new Amway Center. This is actually a second for the Gators. Back in 1988, they also had the honor of playing in the first collegiate game in the old Amway Arena.  Top 5 editor Bess Auer was a cheerleader at that game and remembers it well.  ”We lost to Stanford,” she sighed. “I guess the Gators and Amway just don’t go well together.”

Perhaps not, but the Golden Knights sure do…congrats!

Florida Tuskers: Rooting for the Home Team!

I must admit I feel bad…I should have made the trip to the Citrus Bowl before this.  The Florida Tuskers are Central Florida’s home team, and so we all should be heading out for the game! So, my hubby, @SwimmerJoe, and I decided to do something about this… so we’ve gathered about 60 friends and are heading to seats on the 50 in order to root away…Yep, we’ll be with the Blue Dolfin Swim Team yelling, “Go Tuskers!”

Now why should you go see the Tuskers, too? Well, to see some quality football. The Tuskers are part of a quality professional football league whose players include many former stand outs in the NFL. (Think legendary UCF and then NFL starting quarterback Daunte Culpepper good!)

Tusker's starting quarterback Brooks Bollinger

And, on a personal note, I went to high school with Bret Munsey, fellow Winter Park High School Hall of Famer and former head coach of the Philadelphia Soul, who now helps out the Tuskers on the sidelines as Director of Player Personnel.  It is fun to see when a friend is making a go of something he loves. (And is pretty good at!)

So, even if you can’t make it tonight’s game, put the Tuskers down as something go root for and support this season. Yeah!