Going to Florida....anybody home?

[Oscarman]

Whoo-hoo! I am going to Florida April 14-19/07.

Registered for a chocolate course at the Notter School of Pastry Arts in Orlando.

Anybody have some recommendations on what to see and do? Great places to eat?

[cb977]

Very cool, Dave!

You'll be about 2 hrs from me but Cheryl can probably get you some area info.

The weather will be fantastic when you get here...it's fantastic already!

[sjMagoo]

Whoa! Cheryl !!! Opportunity is knocking !!!! He's going to a CHOCOLATE class!

a CHOCOLATE class....surely there will be samples

[Tindomul]

Yea, uhmmmm. Disney World???? Universal Studios, Sea World, MGM, Epcopt(however its spelled), etc... etc... etc.....

[cb977]

Those are all nice tourist attraction type restaurants. Our friends in the Orlando area should be able to come up with a g-o-o-d restaurant for our resident culinary master

I'll ask around and let you know, Dave

[Faerygirl]

Emeril has a restaurant at Universal that's great.

We always stay at the Hard Rock hotel at Universal because we like it and its easy to get to Islands of Adventure (my 12 year old's fave park). We only go to a theme park maybe twice a year. I can't think of anything else to do actually in Orlando. Leu Gardens is down there somewhere...if you want to go a little further South for a daytrip there's lots of stuff

[sailor]

DOZENS of great orchids growers within an hour of Orlando. If you can't get out of the Orlando area, there is actually a place called "World of Orchids" in Kissimmee. Interesting convervatory and they have lots of orchids for sale. Just Google "Orchids Florida" and you'll have all the free attractions you can handle.

[justatypn]

Yummm Yummm, chocolate class...Nottles is south of Orlando, tourist attraction city. You are close to Kissimmee "World of Orchids" never been there but hear it's an awesome place. Harry P. Leu Gardens is where CFOS meets, you will be in complete awe with this tropical stylish path. How many days will you be in the land of chocolate and days of leisure? You will most definitely thaw out here, our weather is perfect this time of year 60's at night, 80's during the day . Being a culinary chef it will be hard to suggest resturants. If there is something off the normal beating path (type of food), cuisine that would spark your interest?

[Oscarman]

I am going to be staying at The Florida Hotel and Conference Center, 1500 Sand Lake Rd, Orlando, FL 32809, as it is walking distance to the school - but I will have wheels!

I love Thai, Euro-Pacific, Indian, Sushi........heck I never met a food I did not like! How about a great steak? How about something that is typical Floridian cuisine?

Some attractions may be hard for me to see, as I will be in class until 4 pm each day. I am hoping to have the 19th free all day. Not sure yet though.

[Mahon]

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens... only 4 hours away

If interested, there are many orchid habitats up there. Chances are you will see some Spiranthes species along the roadsides...

-Pat