April 14, 2008 
Silver Springs Nature Park photo uploaded by
Earth Day is coming up on April 22, and these days it seems like everyone in the travel industry is buzzing about ways to make vacations more eco-friendly. The City of Orlando is also concerned about environmental conservation, so late last year they launched an initiative called . The plan calls for increasing the number of trees and green spaces in Orlando, investing in green buildings, and conserving natural resources.
This Earth Day, why not visit some of the Orlando attractions that let you experience nature first-hand. From animal petting zoos to rides along the Florida everglades, here are some of our picks.
- Silver Springs Nature Park features glass bottom boats, giving passengers unrivaled views of marine life in the Silver River. Other highlights include the Big Gator Lagoon, Panther Prowl, and other animal exhibits.
- Gatorland is a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve. The park opened in 1949 and continues to provide inexpensive family fun with educational wildlife programs, one-of-a-kind reptilian shows, and more.
- Green Meadows Petting Farm offers a two-hour guided farm tour aimed at teaching children and adults about farm life. Kids have the chance to milk a cow and touch pigs, turkeys, chickens, ducks, and more.
- Boggy Creak Airport Rides takes visitors deep into the Everglades to discover parts of Florida that remain untouched by man. The half hour airport ride is led by a certified U.S. Coast Guard captain and features views of turtles, bird, and other animals in their natural environment.
- Florida Eco-Safaris at Forever Florida covers 3,200 acres of pristine Floridian wildernes, along with the 1,500-acres Crescent J Ranch. Visitors experience life as a Florida pioneer with horseback safaris, nature trails, pony rides, a petting zoo, and more.
Anything we’ve missed? Leave a comment and let us know!
April 8, 2008  Girl at water park Photo uploaded by
What could be better than a trip to a water park on a hot Florida day? How about a trip to a water park that’s included with the Go Orlando Card? That’s right - we’ve added Wet ‘n Wild Orlando as a bonus offer when you buy a 3, 5 or 7-day card. You can boogie to hits from the 70s at Disco H20, take a relaxing ride through waterfalls on the Lazy River, or cool off with a refreshing water ride on The Blast. Your bonus offer includes free admission and one free tube rental.
If dinner shows are more your speed, then you can also choose Pirate’s Dinner Adventure Show, Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show, and the Arabian Nights Dinner Show. Bonus offers are not valid on 1 and 2-day cards and must be used on one of your card days.
April 3, 2008  March of the Peabody Ducks Photo uploaded by
Aside from our Go Orlando Card that saves you big bucks while traveling to the sunshine state, there’s a ton of great ways to ’stretch your vacation dollars’ in Orlando. The Orlando Visitors Bureau points out some of their tips in the article
They offer tips on finding the best budget hotels, attractions, the cheap transportation with the I-RIDE Trolley, and how to pack for your trip. Additionally, they advise parents to take advantage of those “kids eat free” signs, and to seek out free attractions. These include the Lego Store at Downtown Disney, the Harry P. Leu Gardens, and the March of the Peabody Ducks at the Peabody Orlando Hotel.
Good luck with your quest for bargains on your Orlando vacation!
April 1, 2008 
Orlando International Aiport photo uploaded by
I live and work in Orlando and fly 5-6 times per year for both business and pleasure. The airport does a commendable job at herding all those theme park families through on a daily basis but it seems to never be a consistent wait time for the same time of day. One morning for a 7:30 flight to Boston I got from the curb to my gate in 14 minutes. Last week, for the same flight it took me almost 45.
As the number of passengers continues to increase at the Orlando International Airport there is help-a service called which is like a fast pass for airport security. Clear members are prescreened and provided a high tech card which allows them “fast lane” (essentially you skip the line) access at designated airports nationwide. This allows you to pass through security with a much more predictable wait time and takes much of the stress away as well. Clear’s year 1 price is $128.
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