October Orlando Florida trip

[Bogiron]

I will be going with my wife and daughter to Orlando in October but plan on skipping the Disney activities. Would any CP enthusiasts like to do a little visiting and show off your collection (big or small)?

I plan on exploring the State parks, perhaps rent a touring kayak and see all I can see. If I get bored I will have my metal detector and hit the beaches for some Spanish Gold.

[jwdunn5]

i am in the general area --- PM or e mail me if you like

[quogue]

I'm all about Gatorland & the Skyswing when I'm down there....
Seaworld too.

[Michael Catalani]

I would recommend World of Orchids, but only if it is still worth going to. I went there about 10 years ago. The guy had a really beautiful display of orchids. (His CP collection was on par with that of Home Depot though ) But the orchids were magnificent.

I have read some posts on other forums that the place is in fairly rough shape now. Does anyone have any recent experience with this place? It would be a shame if it is not in good shape, because he had a really nice setup 10 years ago.

[Deleted]

you should definately go to sea world and then to disney + universal but before you leave you have to go to the pan handle and do some exploring for some cp's ......i would love to go to florida right now it would be so much fun....i guess ill just have to settle for going to seaworld here in california

[Tanja]

When will you be in Florida? There's the Fall Plant show in Tampa at the USF Botanical Gardens on the weekend of the 13th and 14th, and there are always nice plants there. One vendor generally has quite a great variety of plants. I have picked up N. "Red Beauty" and N. "Red Leopard" from him, and a bunch of amazing Sarracenia and Drosera species. His plants are amazing. www.cas.usf.edu/garden/ He also knows where there are stands of wild Carnivorous Plants in Florida. If you pm me, I'll see ig I canc onnect you to him. I'd show you my collection, but it is in pretty rough shape after going through the heat this summer. 99% of my plants are outside.

Unfortunately, the only wild Sarracenia (minor) stand I know of in Tampa was recently replaced by a highway. Augh!

If you make it to the west coast, a few parks I can recommend are Flatwoods (in North Tampa -- a 11-17 mile biking/walking/ roller blading loop with some drosera in the wilder areas), Hillsborough River State Park (north of Tampa), Lettuce Lake (in Tampa -- had drosera in the past, but they dried up), Honeymoon Island (off of Dunedin north of Clearwater if you want to go to a beach without condos) and Ft. Desoto (south of St. Pete). If you like Greek food go to Tarpon Springs.

I always tell people to skip Disney (unless they have children under 12), and go to Universal/Islands of Adventure. If your daughter is a little older you have to go to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios, if you like Halloween -- get your tickets before you come. Busch Gardens (Tampa) is also a better value than Disney since you get animals, plants, shows and rides in one park. They have Hallowscream which is generally tamer than HHN.

The springs in north Florida are awesome. Merrit Island north of Kennedy Space Center is awesome -- that area would be very cool for metal detecting, but make sure you don't get too close to KSC. www.fws.gov/merrittisland/ I had a friend roam the beach and walk up to a shuttle (not that close, but close enough). Didn't notice (looking for shells) until a few people showed up in a helicopter and told her to turn around. www.space-coast.com/SpaceCoastToDo/Beaches/
Probably can't get that close now after 9/11. The space center is amazing, and you can spend two days there, easily.

While you are kayaking in rivers (or if you make it to any springs) look for fossils. Teeth, bones and even jaws are pretty easy to find in certain areas. On the beach look out for shark's teeth and other fossils. I found a beauty at Cocoa Beach.

Tanja (in Tampa) -- I used to work at a science museum where I took people on tours of Kennedy, fossil hunting, shell collecting, kayaking in rivers, swimming in springs, looking for plants and animals. Hence the bizarre collection of Florida experiences.

[Deleted]

wow tanja seems you had/have a very fun life in florida

[bowmag]

I visit The world of orchids, a few years ago, and it is not like it was it needs a little work, and just a thing to do if you are bored.........

[Brian Barnes]

Hi! Feel free to contact us at the FCPS site...
We'd be happy to show you some neat stuff!
Happy Growing,
Brian.