THE PERKS OF BEING FLORIDIAN: Check out

the perks of being floridian

by Natassja Prose of @proseandcompany

Living in Tampa Bay, we’re fortunate that so many vacation-worthy spots are just a short drive away. A weekend can turn into a wonderful opportunity for exploring and family bonding. But is it safe to venture out yet?

Everyone’s situation and level of comfort will differ. However, I can tell you from the contactless check-in, enhanced cleaning and the increased safety measures in our hotel and in the attractions we visited, we felt extremely safe and had a great weekend getaway to Orlando.

Thanks to VisitOrlando.com, we found great Florida resident deals for attractions we could explore outside of theme parks. Did you know there’s a garden in Orlando that is often referred to as a dinosaur garden? With many plants dating back to the prehistoric age, the dinosaur garden inside The Harry P. Leu Gardens was just one of the neat discoveries that we made. It was easy to maintain social distance from others and enjoy the beautiful change of scenery. It quickly became my new favorite!

Another attraction we all enjoyed was The Crayola Experience. The kids made their own crayons and even mined for gems at Purple Mountain Mining inside the Trading Post. Every station was cleaned after each family, and while we waited, we learned Crayola trivia. Did you know that in 1903, the first 8-count crayon box was only 5 cents? We didn’t either!

Many offers are available now exclusively to Floridians, not only for attractions, but for hotels too. As moms, we often take on the added worry about safety, and I can honestly say as an avid worrier (raise your hand if that’s you too) I felt completely confident and safe with the enhanced cleaning and frequent sanitizing I witnessed while staying at the Hilton Orlando. I appreciated the capacity limits and social distance planning they put forth in the pool area especially. We loved floating down the lazy river at the Hilton. I was really able to relax and enjoy quality family time.

When the time is right for you, I hope you’ll plan a little getaway of your very own! It’s helpful to plan and purchase tickets online, as most attractions are going contactless at checkout. Of course, face masks are required at all times.

We make the best family memories when we travel. With the enhanced safety measures and the cooler temperatures coming in, it might be the perfect time to plan a weekend away for your family!

FLORIDA RESIDENT OFFERS THROUGH VISITORLANDO.COM:

Crayola Experience: Tickets for $19.99 are available on VisitOrlando.com.

WonderWorks Orlando: Florida residents tickets are $15 per person for WonderWorks All Access. The ticket includes over 100 interactive exhibits to explore.

Harry P. Leu Gardens: Tickets are $10 adult, $5 child (ages 4-17).

Hilton Orlando: Save up to 20% on your next getaway. This Dream Away rate includes early check-in and late check-out based on hotel availability and flexible cancellation and is valid for stays now through Dec. 31, 2020.

WonderWorks Orlando

Natassja with her husband, Mike, and sons Jack, 9, and Max, 6, at the Hilton Orlando.

The Crayola Experience

Harry P. Leu Gardens

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