VRAI Magazine Holiday Travel Issue -- November 2017 by VRAI Magazine

November 2017

Animal Kingdom Magic Kingdom

Holiday Travel Issue: Destination Orlando

World of Pandora 1

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Holiday Travel Issue Volume 3 / Number 5 Editor’s Letter. . . . . . . . . 4 Disney Overview. . . . . . 6 Disney Springs. . . . . . . . 8 Animal Kingdom. . . . . 22 Magic Kingdom. . . . . . 58 Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Danny de la Cruz Travel Editor Jim O’Donnell NYC Editor Ksenia Skvortsova Food Editor Karista Bennett

Universal Orlando: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. . . . . . . . . . 86

Creative Director MJ Cadiz

Universal CityWalk . . 124

Off the Beaten Path: Leu Gardens. . . . . . . . . . 132

On the cover: Pandora—The World of Avatar Photo by Danny de la Cruz

General Inquiries editor@vraimagazine.com Advertising Inquiries advertising@vraimagazine.com

VRAI Magazine is a digital lifestyle publication that delivers food, fashion, travel and home & garden inspiration. With a team of creatives, storytellers, authors and talented contributors, we curate stories that represent the Style of True Living. © VRAI Magazine LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means including photocopying, recording or other electronic methods without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in digital and print reviews.

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he holidays are here whether you’re ready for them or not. And for some, it’s that small window where a getaway is in order with that special someone or with the whole family in tow. If holiday travel is on your mind, then start planning sooner rather than later to make it as magical as possible. Hotels and airfare book up fast especially for popular destinations. Whether you’re spending the entire holidays away or planning some time before or after Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year, there are so many options from which to choose. For many, jetting off to warmer climates is a popular choice as winter sets in. And one destination that everyone should definitely consider is Orlando, Florida. There’s just so much that this city has to offer for everyone of all ages. So even if you don’t have little ones, it’s a great place to feel young at heart. In this special Travel Issue: An Orlando Holiday, we’re taking you to the theme parks of Disney World and Universal Orlando as well as to related venues and a place that’s off-the-beaten path if you need a little break from the theme park crowds. And if you’re looking for a great resort hotel, we’re showcasing one of the newest hotels at Universal Orlando, the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, our home base while exploring. The holidays are here so it’s time to start planning if you’re going to do a getaway, or use this guide as you plan for next year’s adventures. All my best and happiest of holidays,

Danny de la Cruz

@Fotolia / photobyevgeniya

Disney Overview W

ith four theme parks (not to mention water parks), there is simply a lot to see if you’re going to visit Disney World for the very first time. If you’re a Disney newbie, spending a full day at each park is ideal so that you’re not rushing and can explore each park at your leisure. And, experiencing the parks after the sun sets is another experience that you don’t want to miss with special light shows, fireworks and other special events geared specifically for each park. As far as the theme parks, here’s my recommendation (if you have to prioritize and can’t visit them all): 1. The Magic Kingdom is a must see for any first-timer just to experience the magic and the classic rides. There’s nothing like strolling through Main Street USA and catching your first glimpse of Cinderella’s Castle. 2. Animal Kingdom is the other must see park with the new Pandora area and rides. 3. For all you fans of Star Wars, Disney’s Hollywood Studios gives you a glimpse of what’s to come in 2019 when Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens up at that park. There are currently a few Star Wars attractions and shows to wet your appetite. 4. And finally, there’s Epcot, which is undergoing changes, and so we’re anxious to see how it will evolve in the coming years. One part of Epcot is the World Showcase where you can experience 11 different countries and save yourself a lot of air fare if traveling around the globe isn’t on your agenda in the near future. But for those of you who have done a lot of travel and have already visited most or all of the 11 countries on display, it’s one area you can easily skip (for now). Tips: • If you’ve been to the Disney parks before, consider the park hopper pass so that you can jump from one park to another in the same day if you’re only there to see newer attractions since your last visit. • Once you pay for parking in one park, just show your parking receipt at the next park upon entering so save those receipts! • Start planning early and familiarize yourself with the Walt Disney World website. Once you secure your tickets, get to know the FastPass+ system which is included with every ticket. This is especially critical for new and popular rides like those in Pandora—the World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom where the lines can be several hours long. And, be sure to link your tickets/reservations with everyone in your party to ensure that you’ll get on the same rides. • Try to go on “Value” days if your schedule permits for cheaper ticket prices and less crowds. With the holiday schedule, if you can plan a visit the week before schools let out, you’ll be in for less crowds and a much more peaceful Disney experience. Weekends and the week of a holiday will always be crowded so avoid those if you can.

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Animal Kingdom

Magic Kingdom

Hollywood Studios 7

Disney Springs welcome to

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e’re starting off with a touch of Disney magic, but without the Disneysized crowds. Head on over to Disney Springs, previously known as Downtown Disney. You’ll find plenty of shopping, dining and entertainment venues here for the entire family spread out across four different areas: Marketplace, The Landing, Town Center and West Side. We decided to explore the area during the day and discovered plenty of things to see and do. There are water taxis that can take guests to the area from select Disney resorts. Since we weren’t staying at a Disney property, it was a quick drive from our hotel and we parked in one of the free parking garages. We dined at the Hanger Bar for appetizer-sized creations and drinks on the back patio overlooking the lake. We sampled some beautifully created sweets at Amorette’s Patisserie and tried to behave and not sample every treat we saw as we passed by numerous food places. There’s a Lego store and of course a large Disney store and countless other shops from familiar retailers to unique shops for everyone in the family. With a movie complex, bowling alley, House of Blues, Cirque Du Soeil and even a water landing for a ride in an aqua car in the lake, there’s a lot to keep the family entertained, Disney style.

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ÂŠ Ksenia Skvortsova

Savory Eats

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& Delicious Treats

Care for a ride? 14

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The Wild Side of Disney

or this trip to Disney the focus was to experience Pandora—the World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom. I’ve been fortunate to experience Disney twice before, as a teenager with my family and then later on with young nephews and the whole extended family. This latest trip was to check out the buzz on Pandora and catch up on some favorite rides at the Magic Kingdom. Special thanks to Disney for providing us with tickets to explore the parks! We were at the gates a half hour before they opened to the general public and had studied the map to know exactly which direction we needed to go once the gates flew open. We made a bee-line for Pandora and quickly found the line for Avatar Flight of Passage. The line stretched through parts of the park that weren’t in the Pandora area so we knew this was going to take a while. Fortunately, the line continued to move and we eventually found ourselves in the Pandora area surrounded by exotic greenery and the flying mountains with waterfalls overhead. It’s visually stunning and you immediately feel transported to another planet. The line made it’s way through Pandora, up the mountain, into the caves and eventually into the lab areas where we’d be linked with our Avatar to ride the banshee. By the time we got onto the ride, we had waited almost three hours in line. The FastPass+ line was significantly shorter but alas, we weren’t able to schedule it for this attraction in time. Despite the long wait time, I have to say that the ride was amazing, breathtaking and like nothing I’ve ever ridden before. I had flown on a banshee across the planet of Pandora! And though I closed my eyes a few times (since I’m deathly afraid of high places), I wanted to go back and experience it one more time because there’s just so much to see as you’re flying over the planet and various areas. Once we exited, we found ourselves in the gift shop and staring at the Avatar doll maker—this was our chance to have Avatar dolls made with our faces. In order to do so, we had to make an appointment for later in the day, but in the meantime, we raced off to the next Pandora adventure—the Na’vi River Journey.

Tip: If you’re staying at select Walt Disney World resort hotels, you can enjoy extra time at the parks before they open and after they close. This is great if you want to beat the crowds and the lines to see Pandora. 22

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What do you see? 23

Tree of Life

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Welcome to Pandora

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Inside the Mountain

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Along the way to the Flight of Passage ride

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The ride will leave you breathless

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@Disney—Avatar Flight of Passage on Pandora—The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

he Naâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;vi River Journey was a short walk away and we once again found ourselves standing in a long line. This line was shorter in terms of distance and was just a mere two hours long. The problem with this line was that we were eventually funneled into a space under a large alien hut and during the next two hours, we found ourselves winding back and forth in a confined area seeing the same faces at every turn. Unlike the line for Avatar Flight of Passage, the scenery for this ride was severely lacking. Once we finally got to the ride, we boarded boats and sailed through the darkened river in a bioluminescent world all around us. The ride was incredibly beautiful and calming, but with a two hour wait, I would have rather stood in line again at the Avatar Flight of Passage ride. Click here to see the Naâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;vi River Journey video that I filmed.

Tip: Make sure to use your FastPass+ to secure a spot for any of the Pandora rides as soon as you book your tickets!

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Experience the Na’vi River Journey Ride

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The style of true living: Food, Fashion and Travel vraimagazine.com

ÂŠ Janet Rokosz

Discover Na vâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; i cuisine

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Fter nearly five hours in line for two rides, we were hungry and so we headed to the Satu’li Canteen to taste Na’vi cuisine. The setup is efficient where you place your food order and pay the cashier and then move to the pick up window to grab your order. I had the Cheeseburger Steamed Pods or Bao Buns. If you’ve had Asian food, this dish is simply a steamed bun with filling—this time cheeseburger. It’s accompanied with a crunchy vegetable slaw and some colorful vegetable chips which were tasty and all together, a colorful way to bring Na’vi cuisine to life. There’s plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, but be prepared for long lines and trying to find a table on the weekends and holidays.

Time to get an Avatar doll

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fter our meal, it was time for our appointment to have our Avatar dolls made. The process would take about 10 minutes: your face is scanned and then you select a doll body type (male, female or child), pick your eye color, hair style and tattoos. Once this process was completed, it would take another hour for the doll to be created. Rather than waiting, we set off for the Kilimanjaro Safari in the Africa portion of the park. Fortunately, that was only a 20 minute line and we were able to see many animals. We even found ourselves staring face-toface with a rhino! After completing our safari, we headed back to pick up our Avatar dolls. We were brought to a control panel along the wall, had our hand scanned and after a few seconds, a doll emerged from the wall. I stood there looking at my Avatar doll and aside from the dark brown eyes, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think it looked anything like me. But, I have to say that the entire creation process and anticipation was fun. Hopefully one day, they can actually create dolls that truly resemble the buyer. It was mid afternoon and so we decided it was time to check out another park. With our Park Hopper Pass in hand, we headed next to the Magic Kingdom where we had until midnight to enjoy the park on this particular day. 49

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Time for a safari 53

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The Magic of the Magic Kingdom

e hopped on the tram and were whisked away to the monorail entrance. You can either take the monorail or a ferry boat over to the Disney entrance but we opted for the monorail ride instead which seemed like a much faster option.

Tip: The parking lot at the Magic Kingdom is one of the largest in the country so to make sure you don’t forget where you park, snap a photo of where you board the tram.

As the monorail drew closer to the entrance, I could feel the magic setting in. I felt like a kid again—excited and anxious to walk through the gate and see Disney World. Even though there really wasn’t anything new since the last time I had set foot at the park years ago, I couldn’t wait to get on some of my favorite rides. The sun was setting, the lights on Main Street USA were being lit and in the distance, I could see the beauty of Cinderella’s Castle. But before making our way onward, we quickly got sidetracked and wandered into several stores to check out the souvenirs and various eateries along the way. We eventually pulled ourselves away from the shopping and made our way to Liberty Square for the Haunted Mansion—one of my favorite rides in the park. I immediately flashed back to my days as a child when my brother and I would play the soundtrack on the stereo during Halloween and I couldn’t wait to set foot in the mansion and hear the haunting tune. Once the ride was finished we made our way to Tomorrowland to grab a bite and hopped on a few rides. It was soon time to make our way towards Cinderella’s Castle to see the 9 pm Happily Ever After lighting of the castle and fireworks show. The light display that ‘s projected on the castle is spectacular and when paired with the music and fireworks, it’s a magical way to end your day. As soon as the show was over, we rushed back and hopped on more rides until we decided to call it quits around 11 pm. It was a long day, but one I’ll forget which started out in Pandora and ended as we walked through Cinderella’s Castle and then down Main Street USA.

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A classic ride for all ages

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The glow of Main Street US A

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Sapp Loews

A Caribbean Paradise at

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Resort 67

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omebase during our stay in Orlando was at the new Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando. With a Caribbean theme, it’s one of the newer hotels connected to Universal Orlando via shuttle bus or the scenic water taxi. Upon entering the lobby, you’re greeted with a giant, light and airy space with a striking light fixture of woven balls suspended overhead. With a fast and easy check-in area to the left upon entry, there’s an area to the right to purchase tickets to the Universal theme parks and then a convenient food shop, the New Dutch Trading Co., and souvenir shop in the same wing. Further down that way, you’ll find the meeting areas. Towards the other end the great lobby is large “library/ lounge” style area with giant TV and scenic views to the lake area outside. There’s the Strong Water Tavern nearby for late night gatherings and eats. Since we had arrived in Orlando early, our room wasn’t ready and we were told that we’d get a text to be alerted when it was. We grabbed some food in the New Dutch Trading Co. right by the lobby area and while eating, were notified that our room was ready. We arrived to the room only to find out that our key cards didn’t work. We checked back into the reception area and found out that we were given the wrong room information via our texts and eventually made our way to

the right room in Tower 2 on the fifth floor. Our room with two queen beds, was at the very end of the wing and had a great view overlooking the sprawling pool area. We could also see the top of the volcano of Volcano Bay water park from our room. The Caribbean theme definitely was carried into the room decor with pale blue hues and tropical styled furniture and artwork adorning the walls. The bathroom area had the sink area separated from the shower/toilet room by a heavy, sliding barn door. In reading reviews prior to our arrival, I knew that there were many who disliked these types of doors that don’t really close, but we had no issues at all. Aside from the relaxed and airy feel of the hotel, one of our favorite aspects was the water taxi service which would whisk us to the Universal theme parks and CityWalk for late night entertainment. The water taxis would arrive approximately every 10–15 minutes throughout the day and were so convenient. If you didn’t want to wait, there was also a clearly marked path that guests could take to the parks. Another benefit of staying at a Universal resort was that we were able to purchase our tickets at the hotel and we got an extra hour to Universal Studios before regular park guests—to explore the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley, bright and early at 7 am.

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Island charm 72

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Water taxis to adventure

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A lush resort oasis 82

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The Thrills of Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure S

ince we were staying at a Universal resort, we had early access to Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. We jumped on the water taxi shortly after 6:30 am and were at the gates ready to experience the park as soon as they opened. But on the way to Diagon Alley, we noticed that the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride was already open and this was one we had never ridden before. With no line, we got on the ride and loved it so much that we did it again! Twice was enough and we still had plenty of time to head over to Diagon Alley and explore. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing to have the park to yourself and the extra hour before the regular crowds appear makes a big difference. We had to cut our exploration of Diagon Alley short since we were meeting friends over at Islands of Adventure when it opened at 9 am. We were on a mission to see Skull Island: Reign of Kong. But before we exited the park, we hopped on board the new Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon ride. It was another exciting 3D, motion simulator ride and a great way to see New York (and more) from a totally different perspective. We caught up with our friends at the entrance of Islands of adventure and this time, we were off to see a Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;King Kong.

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The calm before the gates open (to the general public)

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When you have the entire park to yourself 93

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Welcome to Diagon Alley 95

nce the gates opened, we quickly made our way to Skull Island. Fortunately, there was no line and we raced through the long and dark tunnel passages before eventually boarding long jeeps with our goggles in hand. It was such a great ride that we had to do it again. Next up was Hogsmeade as we headed to the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction. Note, you can’t bring any loose items or bags on the ride, so you’ll have to check your items into the free lockers nearby (if you use it less than an hour). The wait time was listed as 20 minutes but in reality, most of it was the amount of time needed to walk from the entrance to the ride itself. Wandering through Hogwarts totally immerses you into the world of Harry Potter and there’s just so much to see along the way in the dark hallways. Once we finally boarded the ride, it was time to take off and fly! With twists and turns and a combination of effects, it’s a thrilling ride that we totally loved. Once we left the ride, we wandered through Hogsmeade in search of Butter Beer Ice Cream. A staff member from our hotel had mentioned it and so it was on our to-do-list. We’ve had Butter Beer before and so we wanted to see how the ice cream was different. We found our way to the Three Broomsticks and unfortunately, their machine wasn’t working and we were told that we’d find it back in Diagon Alley. Good thing we were headed back there later in the day. After Hogsmeade and then passing through The Lost Continent, we ended up in Seuss Landing where things were a little more calm (in thrill level) and just a bit more light and whimsical. For a different perspective of the park, hop on board The High In the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride. Even though it’s geared towards younger riders, this train ride covers Seuss Landing from a great, elevated perspective so everyone should ride. Our last stop in Islands of Adventure was in Marvel Super Hero Island where we got on the Amazing Adventures of Spider Man ride. It was another 3D motion simulator ride and a lot of fun. It was time to head back to Universal Studios and hop on a few more rides as well as getting some Butter Beer ice cream in Diagon Alley.

Tip: Download the Universal Orlando Resort App to stay up-to-date on wait times and other information to maximize your day.

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Do you dare enter Skull Island ?

Welcome to Hogsmeade

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Take a stroll through Hogsmeade

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The Lost Continent 108

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A world of whimsy: Seuss Landing

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Get playful at Toon Lagoon

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nce back inside Universal Studios, we walked through the Hollywood area and stumbled across a street show featuring the Minions. We then hopped on the Transformers 3D ride, similar in style to the Spider Man ride, then rode on the Men in Black ride and then found our way to the Simpsons Ride before finally reaching Diagon Alley (for Butter Beer ice cream). After a full day, we were ready for something cold and Butter Beer ice cream was on the menu at Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour. Butter Beer ice cream did not disappoint—just the right about of sweet and perfect for a warm October day. After having our fill of Diagon Alley, we checked out the wait time for the Hogwarts Express at King’s Cross Station to get us back to Hogsmeade, but at a two hour wait time, it wasn’t worth it. We hoofed our way back to Islands of Adventure and back to Hogsmeade for one more ride on the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This time, the line was 30 minutes but well worth the wait. After a long day bouncing between both theme parks, it was time to take it easy and enjoy dinner at Universal CityWalk with friends.

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Can you find the entrance to Diagon Alley?

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Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss the fire-breathing dragon

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Finally, Butter Beer ice cream

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NIGHTTIME THRILLS 124

Universal C

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CityWalk

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ince our hotel was a Universal resort, getting back and forth to Universal CityWalk was a breeze with our on-site water taxi. After a long day at both Universal theme parks, we sailed back to the hotel before freshening up to head back and have dinner at Universal CityWalk with friends. On prior evenings, we had dined at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium for late night appetizers and chocolate treats, we dined at Cowfish for some creatively delicious burgers and then decided to go back to Toothsome Chocolate Emporium for one final meal with more chocolate treats to cap off our stay. There are numerous restaurants for all budgets and taste buds so thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something for everyone. There are also plenty of souvenir shops and specialty stores throughout the area and late night venues to entertain the whole family. With water taxis running until 2 am each night, CityWalk was always a great way to wind down our evenings while staying on the property.

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Check out Cowfish for sushi and burgers!

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Chocoholicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paradise: Toothsome Chocolate Emporium 131

Off the Beaten Path

Leu Gardens W

hen you need a little break from the theme parks and crowds, take a short drive to the northern part of Orlando to Leu Gardens. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find 50 acres of beautiful greenery and colorful blooms year round. With just a $10 admission charge and free parking, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bargain and a great way for some tranquility while communing with nature. Explore the Butterfly Garden, the Rose Garden and all the nooks and crannies the paths take you. Take a rest at the Lake Rowena overlook or be mesmerized by the gigantic bamboo in the Palms, Cycads & Bamboo area. Unfortunately during our visit, there were several areas of the grounds blocked off, including the Leu House Museum, as a result of the recent hurricane, but despite the cordoned off areas, there were still plenty of other areas to see and explore, even if just for several hours away from the touristy areas and theme parks of Orlando.

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Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Get Social and discover another side of

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