There are a number of small islands off the mainland coast of Florida. Located just north of Melbourne is the largest of these islands and on the southern tip of this island you will find Merritt Island. With the Indian and Banana Rivers located on either side, it is most well known as the location of NASA’s space launch program but it is also home to the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Established in 1963, the Refuge is 140,000 acres in size and provides habitat to over 1,500 plant and animal species. The land was originally acquired by NASA for the building of the Kennedy Space Center and other related facilities but much of the land wasn’t used and was eventually turned over to the Department of Interior.
Approximately twenty miles of the thirty-five mile refuge is open to the public to enjoy the local beauty and wildlife. The Refuge provides habitat for migratory birds, endangered and threatened species, along with an additional array of rare wildlife species. With upwards of 500 wildlife species and over 1,000 species of plants, it is no wonder it is called the “most unique wildlife refuge” and is full of things to do and see. The roads, trails, and boat ramps within the refuge are open daily from sunrise to sunset and the Visitor Information Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9am to 4pm.
You decided to bite the bullet, and get the surgery your doctor recommended. God knows, you don’t want the surgery, but it’s your well-being, and you need it. Your doctor says it will help you, and you believe him. You schedule the surgery, tell your spouse, and make arrangements with work. You’ll be out of commission […]
Running has been growing in popularity over the years with short 5k races to full marathons popping up all over the place. While running has always been great exercise, it has not always been the most fun sport to participate in or to watch. That is until fun runs were created and among those, paint […]
When you think of Orlando, thoughts of DisneyWorld and Universal Studios may be the first thing that come to mind. Along with those visions are kids, lots of them! While children are wonderful more often than not, a nice time out at an adult only venue can be just what the doctor ordered. Look no further than Mama’s Comedy Show, a comedy improv show for a mature audience and Sleuths Presents: Standup Comedy Nights! Both are located just east of Disney and south of Universal on International Drive in Orlando at the Sleuths Mystery Dinner Theater.
Modeled after “Whose Line Is It Anyway” with the audience acting as an active participant, every Mama’s Comedy Show is different and promises to be a good time. Admission is just $10 and shows are Fridays at 10pm. Reservations, while not necessary, are recommended to ensure you and your party will get seated. Calling themselves a family, there are twelve members involved with Mama’s. They have been performing for four years and have earned rave reviews from their audiences. With comments like “A+ super funny,” “wicked fantastic show,” and “soooooo funny” it is a sure bet for a great night.
Are you ready for some football? If so, you are in luck, even before the professional football season starts! Orlando will be hosting the Arena Bowl XXVI this year at the Amway Center on August 17th at 1pm. It will air nationally on CBS.
The Arena Bowl is the Arena Football League’s (AFL) equivalent to the NFL’s Super Bowl. The Arena Bowl was first held in Pittsburgh in 1987 and has taken place almost every year since except 2009 when the AFL filed for bankruptcy and was going through changes in management. Currently consisting of fourteen teams split into two conferences (American and National) and then into two divisions (North, Central, South, and West), the regular season, made up of twenty games, begins in the second week of March. Post-season begins in August with four teams from each conference, two division winners and two wild card teams, competing for a spot in the Arena Bowl.
If you are getting bored of the beautiful sunrises over the water, amazing beaches, and fabulous restaurants that can be found in and around Melbourne, hop in the car and drive just 35 miles north on I-95. Here you will find the Ace of Hearts Ranch, providing eco-tours on horseback!
The Ranch is available for riders age 10 and up. Visitors get the chance to ride and explore a forest trail. Open daily, the Ranch’s hours are 8am to 5pm, Monday through Saturday and Sunday from 2pm to 5pm. Rides are one hour in length and cost $30 per person. Reservations need to be made ahead of time to ensure the availability of the horses. Private rides are also available for up to four riders. Reviews from visitors have been wholly positive with the Ranch scoring five stars on Yelp. According to previous riders the horses are “well mannered” and “taken care of” and the experience was great, enjoyable, and relaxing. One reviewer even reported their ride lasting longer than the hour advertised making it well worth the cost.
In the heart of downtown Orlando you will find one of the most respected theatre companies in the area. Mad Cow Theatre opened its doors in 1997 as a two show project and has grown exponentially and now celebrating its 14th year. Located just off the I-4, the theatre is convenient and easy to find.While the 2012-2013 season is winding down there are still two productions you can catch this summer; Collected Stories and Death of a Salesman. Tickets generally run from $25 for regular seating and $32 for premium, however you can catch some discounted shows during weekday showings.
Collected Stories is running from June 21st through July 14th. The drama was written by Pulitzer Prize winning dramatist Donald Margulies. The story is based on the a student/teacher relationship between two women. The student is the teachers protegee and as she matures as a writer over the course of the play (a six year time span) she pens a novel based on the affair of her teacher with a well known poet. The drama examines relationships and what is fair game when it comes to the creative process. Described as both witty and powerful, it is a must see.
Barnes & Noble, one of the largest book retail companies in the world, operates their retail stores more like community centers than bookstores. They want customers to stay awhile and enjoy all that their store has to offer and B&N has more to offer than just books. Customers can enjoy food and beverage at their […]
Visitors travelling over the Hubert Humphrey Bridge on 520 in Cocoa slow to a crawl when their eyes rest upon the “Queen” perched at her dock. The Indian River Queen is truly a majestic sight to see. The Queen stands out with her bright red paddle wheel and shiny black chimney. When visitors see this […]
