If you are looking for an action-packed vacation, then travel to Universal Studios in Florida for the thrill of your life. Here you will not find those loveable Disney characters from childhood story books but rather the excitement and action of the movies in the form of rides and attractions. The place is huge with two theme parks, three hotels and a CityWalk complex. Because there is so much to be said about this place, only Universal Studios production will be covered in this article. The other theme park and CityWalk will be discussed in another article that I will write soon. With that said, here are some of the attractions you will find on your next Florida Travel to Universal Studios. (photo credit, ramada.com)

The minute you step through the gates at Universal Studios you will find yourself in the middle of a real working television and film production studio. You are the star at this movie and TV based theme park with its unique combination of thrilling rides, electrifying entertainment and the inside story of how your favorite movies are made. It is a real film and television studio where you will go behind the scenes and actually beyond the screen and into the action of all your favorite movies. You will feel the thrills of been in a real picture as you ride the movies. (photo credit, Orlando Villas)

Universal Studios is like no other place in the world for excitement all the time. For example, every few minutes you can experience the forces of nature at its worst moments as special effects recreate the explosive force of a tornado using full force air and a piercing sound system that is quite loud. Whether you are a fan of action filled movies, comedy shows or heart warming children’s tales, nobody puts you in pictures the way Universal Studios does and all major attractions are loud and full of action. All attractions are separated in sections and here are some that might interest you.

• Production Central – this is the place where you will find yourself inside a real working television and film production studio and you can live the excitement of how movies are made. In this area you can enjoy movies such as Shrek 4-D and Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast.
• New York – from a 1920’s alleyway to urban parks, even Manhattan residences, the studio’s New York street set recreates the background of big city productions. In this area you will find movies such as Revenge of the Mummy-the ride, Twister-Ride it Out, and The Blues Brothers with Jake and Elwood, the bad boys of blues.
• World Expo – come in contact with the magic of Hollywood as the movie making capital of the world is recreated here. You will find star covered sidewalks and landmark buildings and attractions such as Terminator 2 (3-D), The Simpsons Ride, Men in Black-Alien Attack and even see a Universal Horror make up show.
• San Francisco – here you can get transported to San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf and even the New England fishing village of Amity. You can also ride movies like Jaws and experience live shows like Fear of Factor live, Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Review and Disaster where you survive a shattering 8.3 on the Richter scale quake.
• Woody Woodpecker Kids Zone – find some of the most popular stars in children’s entertainment here along with various rides, shows and attractions that will appeal to all ages. Included here are A Day in the Park with Barney, E.T. Adventure, Curious George goes to Town, Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster, Fievel’s Playground and even find animal actors on location.

As I stated before, there is so much to see and do at Universal Studios in Florida that it is nearly impossible to cover all of it here. But the information above should be enough to help you plan your next Florida Travel vacation and keep Universal Studios in your plans.

Aquatica, the newest theme park which officially opened its doors on March, 2008, is part of SeaWorld in Orlando Florida. It has been said that SeaWorld knows water so they built the most exciting water park in the country. The 59 acre water park has become very popular amongst children and adults with all kinds of water rides for a day of sun and fun. It was constructed to resemble the Southern Island Seas of New Zealand and Australia. (photo courtesy of Flickr)

Aquatica located across the street from SeaWorld has something to offer for everyone with a combination of animal experiences, all sorts of water rides and slides, and relaxing sandy beaches where you can relax in the shade on your own personal cabana. There is also a separate children’s pool and even those not old enough to walk yet can still slide down in tubes with their parents in specially built rafts.

If your idea of a family vacation is spending time at a water park then Aquatica is for you as it is designed to be one of the biggest and most interactive water parks in the world. It offers the most thrilling water rides with 36 slides, 6 rivers and lagoons, and approximately 80 thousand square feet of beautiful beach area. You can also spend a day just swimming in one of Aquatica’s real wave pools and it will feel as if you were swimming in the ocean. (Photo courtesy of Orlando Sentinel)

The “dolphin plunge” is Aquatica’s most active ride which is a side-by-side body slide that sends riders through a pool with black and white playful friendly dolphins. Friends of mine who spent their family vacation at Aquatica mentioned that the lines for the “dolphin plunge” can be very long and you should expect a long wait. But, you can still see the playful dolphins by going over to Loggerhead Lane which is Aquatica’s lazy river attraction and usually there is no waiting here. At this beautifully landscaped attraction, you can go past an underwater window into the dolphin pool. It also passes through a grotto that displays a brightly colored African fish aquarium. (Photo courtesy of Disney Villa)

At Aquatica by SeaWorld, there is something for everyone. Here is a partial list of what to expect:

Dolphin Plunge – is the main attraction at the park
Taumata Racer – is an eight lane racing slide through enclosed and open sections
Whanau Way – is a tower with four double-raft slides
Tassie’s Twisters – funnel-like slides that you can ride in single or double rafts
Walhalla Wave – a slide that twists in enclosed dark segments
HooRoo Run – a triple dip slide that is short but fast
Roa’s Rapids – a fast and aggressive water ride that even has speed zones
Loggerhead Lane – a lazy river that passes through a grotto and dolphin exhibit

So, on your next Florida travel, you can plan your vacation at the most incredible marine life adventures found in the world, SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Aquatica, all adjacent to one another in Orlando Florida. (Photo courtesy of Flickr)

Discovery Cove located not far from SeaWorld in Florida is a secluded tropical get away where dolphins and birds welcome you to their home. It is the home of more than 30 species of exotic birds and you can touch, talk, feed and mingle with these birds. It is also the home of bottlenose dolphins where you have the opportunity to swim with them and become acquainted with these incredible creatures through hugs, kisses and rubdowns. You will experience an unforgettable personal connection with these amazing animals of the sea.

The choice is yours at Discovery Cove. You can choose to spend time swimming with the dolphins and playing with the birds or you can spend a relaxing day at one of the pristine beaches. You can snorkel in a coral reef with crystal waters full of rays and exotic fish of all kinds in park-provided snorkeling equipment. And while there, be sure to find an underwater tank with sharks and barracudas behind protective glass. Or, you can just float through beautiful landscapes into a peaceful tropical hideaway where the stresses of the day fade away.

Discovery Cove is a place where the fresh water pool is maintained at 80 degrees temperature year round and is complete with waterfalls. It is a tropical sanctuary, a paradise of rocky lagoons surrounded by lush landscaping, underwater ruins, unique coral reefs and heated tropical rivers. It is a place with sandy beaches and lots of Florida sunshine. And, if you are staying at Disney or SeaWorld, complimentary transportation will be provided to Discovery Cove.

I firmly believe that a visit to Discovery Cove will leave an unforgettable experience in your heart for years to come. Here are some of the many things you can do on your visit.

• Swim with the Dolphins – a one-on-one dolphin encounter that will teach you about their behavior and incredible communication skills. Hold on to its dorsal fin and this fascinating animal will take you for the ride of your life.
• Free flight Aviary – a hidden treasure where hundreds of beautiful birds soar around and above you singing to the sound of birdsongs that will inspire you.
• Serenity Bay – is the pristine freshwater pool which is kept at 80 degrees temperature year round.
• Tropical Reef – snorkel through this beautiful reef and explore countless species of tropical fish including fascinating rays. A visit here will give you a better understanding as to why people around the world are passionate about preserving coral reefs.
• Wind-away River – is a tropical river that winds past sandy beaches and into a dense rain forest beneath a rocky terrain of cascading waterfalls and even an underwater cave.

So there you have it, another beautiful place to keep in mind as you plan your Florida travel. At Discovery Cove, only a thousand guests are allowed per day so make your reservations early.