Over the years I have had the distinct pleasure of visiting Florida multiple times. I have spent several days in Key West, multiple cruise vacations departed Cape Canaveral, Miami, FL for a summer vacation, Clearwater, Florida for a summer vacation, and Orlando for both vacations and tradeshows for work. Depending on what part of Florida you visit it can feel like a different country each time. There are the Everglades to see nature and alligators, Orlando as a tourist destination with amusement parks galore, along the coast you can visit so many beach and resort towns, and the further south you go you can delve into tropical climates and sample Latin and Caribean cultures.
Universal Orlando & The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
In 2011 I traveled to Orlando to vacation with my wifeâs family. We visited Universal Studios and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a spans two theme parks, Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida, in Orlando, Florida. The area is themed to the Harry Potter media franchise with the famous Diagon Alley, Hogwarts Castle, and more. The parkâs main attraction is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, which takes visitors on a 3-dimensional journey through the castle and immerses you into the fantasy world. The park also has a roller coaster, Flight of the Hippogriff, a family ride, along with another coaster, Hagridâs Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. The amusement park features a re-creation of Hogsmeade containing many gift shops and cafes from the novels including Dervish and Banges, Honeydukes, Ollivanders, the Three Broomsticks, and the Hogâs Head. My wife and I enjoyed picking out our own wands to purchase (I chose the Elder Wand of course) and sampling butterbeer (very tasty but donât take down a huge glass before a coaster as I did).
The Worldâs Largest McDonalds
While in Orlando, we decided one morning to get breakfast at McDonaldâs. But not just ANY McDonaldâs. The Worldâs Largest McDonaldâs (aka Epic McD) opened in 1976 in Orlando. The restaurant has a floor area of 19,000 square feet, making it the largest McDonaldâs in the world by square footage and offers unique menu items you canât find anywhere else along with an arcade, play place, and even a Create-Your-Own menu. In addition to the standard menu, Epic McD offers over 50 additional items, including brick-oven pizza, Belgian waffles, pasta dishes, omelets, along with an expanded dessert menu.
Lastly some of my favorite Florida tidbits:
- Florida Man- Almost every weird or unbelievable story I have heard in the news seems to come out of Florida. That is why âFlorida Manâ is now and has been an INternet meme and poplar joke because of so many sensational stories leading off with âFlorida Manâ. Just ask resident Florida Man, @SP31 . Also, our orange president owns and wants to permanently reside in Florida at Mar-A-Lago so our president fittingly is a Florida Man.
- For a fun time Google âFlorida manâ + âYour birthdayâ (aka Florida man march 21 yields this gem âFlorida Man Shoved Woman Because He Wanted to Eat Egg Rolls in Her House, Claims She Slapped Himâ
- Florida has a museum of poop. The South Florida Museum has the worldâs largest collection of fossilized poo.
- In 1994 a 75-pound bag of cocaine fell out of a plane and landed in the middle of a Florida crime watch meeting.
- Once a year, thousands of Floridians stand at the state line and toss dead fish into Alabama. Itâs the annual Mullet Toss hosted by Flora-Bama Beach Bar in Pensacola. Itâs just âa silly excuse for a huge beach party.â
Happy to be a part of #TeamUSA
This post is part of the #StateChallenge organized by @Kwiksatik and @Denise_Barlock. If you want to find out more, check out the State Challenge index, and you can also find other submissions by searching the #StateChallenge hashtag.
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