Make your Orlando travel plans now to attend the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.  Celebrating 15 years, the festival is one of the most popular events each year and is attended by thousands of locals and visitors alike.  The festival runs from October 1 – November 14, 2010.

Fall into a Paradise of Foods and Spirits from Around the World

The International Food & Wine Festival is held each fall and features foods, wines, and beers from all over the world.  Stop by the Festival Welcome Center when you first arrive to get all the information you need to plan a wonderful adventure through the festival.  You will find culinary demonstrations, wine seminars, tasting seminars, and more.  Hear some of your favorite cooking authors speak and grab their autograph while you’re there.  Famous chefs from each cooking cuisine will be scheduled throughout the festival as well as television personalities such as Cat Cora and Todd English.

Eat, Drink, Be Merry, and Save on Travel Expenses

OrlandoTravelHotels.com will get you to and from Orlando for the festival in budget-friendly fashion. Save on flights, hotels, and rental cars.  Booking your flight and hotel at the same time can save you $525 on average.  Make your travel plans now to see why the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is so wildly popular each year.
 

Get ready for the 25th Annual National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Pro Am Surf Festival in Cocoa Beach, FL.  Cocoa Beach is just a short drive from Orlando and it’s not too late to find budget-saving travel deals to the festival.  The festivities begin September 2 and continue through September 6.

Surfing for a Great Cause

The NKF Pro Am Surf Festival has raised a lot of money over the years, over four million dollars to be exact, and the money goes toward patient programs provided by NKF of Florida.  It is the largest charity surfing competition in the world and is attended by thousands of surfing enthusiasts each year.

A Fantastic Way to Spend Labor Day

There are many fun-filled activities leading up to the surfing finals on Monday, September 6th.  Of course you will want to see all the surfing leading up to the finals but you can also participate in the luau, silent auction, hear lots of great music, and sample foods from some of the area’s finest restaurants.

Make Your Last Minute Travel Plans Now

Use OrlandoTravelHotels.com to make all your travel arrangements to the NKF Pro Am Surf Festival.  Whether you choose to fly in/out of Orlando International Airport, Orlando-Sanford International Airport, or Melbourne International Airport, you will find great prices on flights, hotels, and car rentals.  Make your travel plans now and don’t forget to bring your surf board!
 

If you want to experience Orlando along with the surrounding area and save big, get your Go Orlando Card today. You will find reduced admission prices to 40 popular attractions in and around Orlando.

Lots of Attractions, Lots of Fun

There is something for everyone with the attractions accepting the Go Orlando Card.  Save up to 50% on the retail admission price for places like Kennedy Space Center, Daytona 500 Experience, Wet ‘n Wild, Congo River Adventure Golf, and Boggy Creek Airboat Rides.  You’ll also find savings at many restaurants and shopping venues.

Options Abound

You can purchase several options of the Go Orlando Card.  Select one, two, three, five, or seven day cards based on how long you will be in the Central Florida area and how many attractions you’d like to visit.  Learn more about Orlando before you visit and let the guidebook you receive help you plan your activity schedule.

Save on All Your Travel Needs

Use OrlandoTravelHotels.com to purchase your Go Orlando Card and find unbelievable savings on your travel needs to Orlando.  Book your hotel and flight together and save an average of $525.  See all that Orlando has to offer and get a discount on entrance fees to some of your favorite attractions with the Go Orlando Card.
 

It’s no secret that Orlando is a top tourist destination.  There are so many things to do  but it can get quite expensive with all the admission fees to theme parks  and water parks .  What many folks fail to realize is there are lots of activities, attractions and recreational opportunities in Orlando that won’t cost you one cent to get into.

Our Top 5 Free Activities

The weather is one of my favorite things about Orlando.  Even with the summer showers, there is plenty of sunshine on most every day to get out and do something fun.  Here is a list of our 5 favorite free things to do in Orlando:

1.    Lake Eola Park  – located in downtown Orlando, this is one of our favorite outdoor locations.  We love to picnic there and stroll around the lake.  Sometimes you can catch free flea markets, art exhibits, and concerts being held on the grounds.  While there are paid activities there such as paddle boats, it won’t cost you a dime to feed the beautiful swans who call Lake Eola home.

2.    Harry P. Leu Gardens  – if you find yourself in Orlando on the first Monday of any month, you can get in free to see one of the true gems of the city.  The foliage is just beautiful and Leu Gardens is home to the largest formal rose garden in Florida as well as the largest collection of camellias outside of California.

3.    Old Town  – this nifty location has unique shopping, dining, and rides but it’s a great place to just stroll around.  You can also catch lots of free band performances, car shows, etc. throughout the week and weekend.

4.    Central Park  – this is a lovely area set in the middle of Winter Park.  The host lots of free events during the year including the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival.  The park is alive with water features and beautiful plants and trees.  Take a picnic and then stroll down the brick-paved streets to see lots of unique shops.

5.    The Albin Polasek Sculpture Gardens  – also located in Winter Park on Lake Osceola, this 3 acre garden dates back to 1949.  Many of the plantings were originally placed by renowned artist Albin Polasek.  There is a fee to enter the museum to view Mr. Polasek’s work but admission to the garden is free.

Save on Travel Too

Save a little bit of money on your travel expenses by booking your travel through OrlandoTravelHotels.com .  You can save an average of $525 when making your flight  and hotel  reservations at the same time.  You can also find out lots of information about Orlando and the things to do and see while you’re in town.
 

Yes, the one and only Ron “Tater Salad” White is bringing his hilarious comedy show to Orlando on July 24, 2010.  He will be performing two shows that evening at Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre.  You can find great travel deals on sale to attend the show.

From Rags to Riches

Ron White struggled for many years honing his comedic craft in comedy clubs.  He then hooked up with the Blue Collar Comedy team and, well, the rest is history.  Ron along with Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, and Larry the Cable Guy turned the “Blue Collar Comedy Tour” into one of the highest grossing comedy tours in history.

Cigar Smoking, Scotch Drinking, Laugh-a-Minute

Ron is famous for his cigar smoking and scotch drinking while on stage.  It only adds to his outrageously funny performance.  Don’t miss out on this chance to see Ron in Orlando.  Get travel deals at unbeatable prices at OrlandoTravelHotels.com and see an unforgettable performance by Ron “Tater Salad” White and experience all the things to do in and around Orlando.
 

If you are looking for a little bit of Latin flavor, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Ybor City in Tampa, Florida.  Much like Orlando, Ybor City is a hub for shopping, dining, and exciting nightlife, making it a top tourist destination.

From Cigar Capital of the World to Multi-Cultural Epicenter

Ybor City was founded in 1886 and was one time referred to as the cigar capital of the world.  It was grown over the years to become central to Tampa’s historical district and a magnet for multi-cultural happenings and events. 
Stroll down La Setima, the main street of Ybor City, and take in great cuisine ranging from Cuban to French.  Browse through all the funky and eclectic shops and art galleries.  You’ll find some of the hottest bars and clubs around to satisfy any of your musical tastes.  And of course, they still hand roll some of the finest cigars in the land.

Take in All of Central Florida

A trip to Ybor City means you can take advantage of one of the more popular destinations in Central Florida.  Use OrlandoTravelHotels.com  to book your flight  into Orlando International Airport or Tampa International Airport.  Take advantage of unbeatable savings on flights and hotel accommodations in the Central Florida area when letting OrlandoTravelHotels.com handle all of your travel needs.
 

Of all the exciting things to do at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios  in Orlando, I wasn’t expecting the buzz to be all about the butterbeer. But there has been butterbeer mania sweeping the land and the internet.  People are wondering what the recipe is and who gets the best mustache after taking a sip? 

Butterbeer Recipe

It is reported that butterbeer is the most popular food item at Wizarding World.  But the recipe for the butterbeer served at the theme park is actually a secret and non-alcoholic.  You can find many recipes on the Internet, but the basis for most of them is cream soda.  This gives the drink its frothiness and hence, the mustache on your upper lip upon taking a sip. 

Mugglenet.com is a popular web site for all things Harry Potter.  They have listed a recipe  for butterbeer that is just delicious.  And let me add, there is nothing low-fat about it!  You have two choices for butterbeer, draft and frozen.  I’ve only tried the draft but it is just yummy. 

Visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and More

Be sure to include a trip to Universal Studios to see the latest craze of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  But Orlando has so much to see, you should definitely plan enough time to see the area.

You can find up to 65% savings on already discounted prices on hotels  and flights .  Book your flight and hotel accommodations  at the same time and save an average of $525 when making your reservations through OrlandoTravelHotels.com , one of Orlando’s premier travel services.

Busch Gardens  has a little bit of everything.  Maybe that’s one of the reasons it is one of the more popular attractions in Central Florida.  Located just an hour from Orlando in Tampa Bay, Busch Gardens can make a great day trip  from Orlando or a destination for a few days of vacation. 

Rides, Rhinos, and Restaurants

I think one of the most amazing things about Busch Gardens is the number and range of exotic animals that call it home.  Interacting with animals ranging from Bengal tigers to rhinos, you will feel as though you are in the middle of an African safari. 

Busch Gardens has thrilling rides and many opportunities for animal interactions.  My favorite ride is SheiKra, the floorless rollercoaster, but you will find all sorts of rides to meet varying levels of daredevilry. 

Jungala offers the opportunity for up-close interactions with beautiful animals as well as a ride through the rainforest.  There is no doubt all the exhilaration created with a trip to Busch Gardens will leave you with quite the appetite.  Have no fear because you will have many restaurant  options to keep your energy level up.

Memories of a Lifetime

There is little doubt that you will be able to create memories of a lifetime with a visit to Busch Gardens.  Take advantage of unbeatable savings  on flights  and hotel  accommodations in the Central Florida area by booking your travel through OrlandoTravelHotels.com .  You can find hotels conveniently located to Bush Gardens or anywhere else for that matter.  Book your travel  now and see all the Busch Gardens has to offer.    

Father’s Day is upon us and Orlando is the ideal place for treating dear old Dad to many wonderful and memorable experiences.  Here are a few ideas to help Dad feel special on Father’s Day:

1. Resort Hotel Weekend  – grab the family and scoot off to one of Orlando’s resort hotels .  Orlando has many wonderful all-inclusive resorts that will provide a relaxing place for Dad and the entire family.
2. Golfing Package – many area courses are offering specials for Father’s Day.  Orlando is internationally known for its golfing  facilities.  Give the man in your life a pre-paid day at his favorite golf course.
3. Spa Treatment – who says Mom is the only one who would enjoy a day at the spa.  Many Orlando spas  provide packages geared specifically for men.
4. Dining Extravaganza – give Dad a break from the grill by treating him to his favorite dishes at any of Orlando’s fantastic restaurants .  You’ll have no trouble finding steakhouses,   seafood , or any other type of cuisine.
5. A Day at the Beach – there are so many pristine beaches  located within a short drive of Orlando.  Go east to Daytona Beach or Ormond Beach.  Head west to relax on the shores of Clearwater or St. Pete.  Let Dad soak up some rays and maybe even do a little body surfing.

Treat your Father to something special this Father’s Day.  Orlando and Central Florida are the perfect travel destinations  for celebrating the guy in your life.  Find travel savings and special package deals  through OrlandoTravelHotels.com .  Dad will certainly appreciate the 110% Rate Guarantee  when you book travel through OrlantoTravelHotels.com.

Dear Fans & Loyal Readers of the Orlando Travel & Hotels Blog,

We strive to bring you the latest information on things to do in Orlando  and would love to have your vote for Best Local Blog on Orlando Weekly’s Best of Orlando Poll.

We hope you find us a valuable resource whether you’re an out-of-towner planning a trip to the Sunshine state or an Orlando local looking for new and fun ways to re-discover your home town.

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Thornton Park is probably my most favorite area of Orlando.  I love the brick-paved streets, the cool shopping , and the great restaurants .  It’s also located next to Lake Eola, one of the prettiest parks  and open air spaces in all of Orlando.

Classic Yet Trendy Orlando Neighborhood

Thornton Park is a mixed use development and is centered around one of those wonderful old Orlando neighborhoods with beautiful homes and architecture.  People traveling to Orlando love to visit Thornton Park.  There are plenty of hotels  within walking distance and the area is hopping with nightlife  and outdoor activities. 

I am an animal lover and Thornton Park is one of those great animal-friendly locations.  You will find watering bowls outside of restaurants and shops to make sure Fido doesn’t get thirsty from your fun-filled time in the neighborhood.

You can find unbeatable travel deals on flights  into Orlando and great hotel rates  in any area of the city.  Discover all the things to do in Orlando  in one convenient place – OrlandoTravelHotels.com .