When I think Florida, I think Kissimmee

By on 9-29-2009 in Coupons, outside So Cal

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Kissimmee Tourism. All opinions are 100% mine.

When you mention Disney World, the first thought that comes to my mind is Kissimmee.

Sure the park is listed in Orlando another city, but the real heart of the place is right there in Kissimmee which is every bit the vacation spot that is perfect to explore.

Besides spending time at the big theme parks, Kissimmee is a great launch point to see the nearby Everglades with a swamp air-boat tour in Boggy Creek , take in the Atlantic “Space” Coast (travel time was about an hour driving) and tour the Kennedy Space Center (would have been great to catch the shuttle launch but the Space Center Tour was fun as well) or just take some time to unwind and relax.

Kennedy Space Center

During our visit, there was no shortage of things to do and see especially for the younger ones. If you get an itch to get away from one of the magnificent resorts, take a spin and visit many of the eclectic shops, magnificent lakefronts and quaint downtown area of nearby Celebration. We spent an hour driving through, peeking at the shops and taking in the village atmosphere.

visit kissimmee

The family and I are already planning the rerun trip to Disney World with another stay at the beautiful Radisson Orlando Celebration Resort, some time spent at Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Typhoon park. A great online tool to use is the Visit Kissimmee site — put together the best itinerary for your family.

Kissimmee was beautiful, we thoroughly enjoyed being able to finally see the area.  I only wish we would have been able to stay longer to take more of the sites in, 5 days was too short. One of the friendliest places we  have visited and it is one we will long remember.

Visit my sponsor: What's Your Kissimmee Story?

Play Around in Memphis

By on 9-29-2009 in Coupons, outside So Cal

This is a sponsored guest post written by Memphis Travel on behalf of Memphis CVB. Post powered by Sponzai.

More than just the home of the blues and barbeque, Memphis gives you plenty of ways to play around, with fun things to do no matter who you are or what you like. Of course, if you’re into Elvis, rock-and-roll and mouth-watering ribs, you’ve got to check out Graceland, Sun Studios, and the Rendezvous. But Memphis has much more to offer than this holy trinity of southern culture, with enough to see, do and eat to make it the perfect location for your next long weekend getaway.
The families out there (or the wild at heart) should be sure to check out the Memphis Zoo, one of only four U.S. zoos with giant pandas. Recently ranked the #1 zoo in the U.S. by TripAdvisor.com, the Memphis Zoo lets you get up close and personal with the animal kingdom. And with the recent addition the Northwest Passage, home to Polar bears in a see-through underwater exhibit, and the zoo’s newest section, Teton Trek, kids and adults alike are certain to have a blast.
Don’t let your midtown experience stop at the zoo; the Cooper-Young and Overton Square neighborhoods are just down the street. Ask a local Memphian where to find a tasty bite to eat, great local music and ice cold beer, and they will probably direct you here. Speaking of beer … the environmentally conscious visitor can enjoy a locally brewed beer by Ghost River Brewing or walk through the natural landscape and educational facilities at the Lichterman Nature Center.
Memphis has museums for just about everything. From the Civil Rights Museum, Cotton Museum and Fire Museum in downtown to the Brooks Museum, Children’s Museum of Memphis and the Pink Palace Museum further east, the number of places to have fun while you learn are as bountiful as the barbeque restaurants. Families, friends, sports fans, history buffs, self-proclaimed food critics – Memphis has everything you need to keep everyone happy.
So when you visit Memphis, stay a few extra days. Even the locals don’t run out of things to do. And to make it easy, memphistravel.com is launching a new travel guide to help you plan your next vacation. Simply choose from a list of interests and you’ll be given a sample itinerary with lots of great ideas. You can also register for a chance to win one of twelve trip packages that include tours, gift certificates to Memphis’ favorite restaurants, hotel stays and more. Go to itinerary.memphistravel.com to get started.

Orlando: Dining on a Dime

By on 9-29-2009 in Coupons, outside So Cal

Scenario: Family of four on a limited dining budget for 6 days. We have condensed it down for you, 3 spots to hit and 3 to maybe miss!

Dining Hits



Souplantation | Average pricing: $9-$11 p/person
While I feel Souplantation gets a bad wrap often (and I am not sure why), I hope this sheds some light on why I loved it while we were traveling. Healthy options, healthy options, and healthy options. I think you can understand by day three we were definitely craving greens, hearty soups and breads. Where else can you find a reliably fresh salad bar like theirs? What was even better, we mixed it up. The variety they offer, helped keep it from feeling redundant. And that is completely important on the road.

Bob Evans | Average pricing: $7 and up p/person
We dined here almost four times! What we liked most about the restaurant was their consistent freshness, prompt service and great tasting menu. Their menu consists of very yummy biscuits and gravy fair to the lighter menu items. We tried everything from the biscuit bowl to the spinach salad to the fish platter. We were pleased to find their restaurant so close to our hotel. Most of the food was as close to home cooked as you can get.

Cici’s Pizza | Average pricing: $6 p/person
Pizza, pasta and salad. Literally. Have you been to Chuck E. Cheese or a similar pizza buffet? Then you get the idea. What we liked about this place was the price. The food was similar to other buffets, not spectacular but for the price per person for lunch, it is definitely a hit for the budget minded. Just a side note, check around for discount coupons. I found BOGO coupons at local stores.

Dining Misses

Ponderosa Buffet
Do not follow the crowd on this one. Their buffet might be one of the least expensive in the area. I tried several items with much hesitation. Even the oatmeal made me regret stopping. Next time… well there will not be one. Lets just say that.

Magic Kingdom Restaurants
Disneyland has us spoiled. Most of my experiences dining at the park have been pretty good. Not the case in the Magic Kingdom. Over priced and an unfriendly employee left a bad taste in my mouth. Skip the long lines, pack a lunch in your backpack (we brought snacks, drinks and sandwiches). I am not sure their policy on taking in food but our bags were searched and they did not say anything.

Marriott, Pizza Hut
This is no dis on Marriott but Pizza Hut has to be one of the worst in general. Not only do we dislike our local PH but the one in the hotel very unappetizing. Overpriced for less than mediocre pizza. I will pass next time and skip the convenience of room service. This experience made us sorry we broke our pact (I have a blog post about that somewhere).

As a side note, I was not sponsored to write reviews for the above restaurants.

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