Summer is the perfect time for reconnecting with family and friends and making memories that will last a lifetime. And now, SeaWorld Orlando is rolling out an offer that comes at the perfect time for vacations and allows families the chance to make a real difference for wildlife conservation.

Now through December 31, with each full-paid, SeaWorld Orlando single-day, adult admission purchased online, any child age 12 and under gets a .00 admission, all of which goes to fund non-profit organizations that are working right now on wildlife conservation projects. Families even can choose which wildlife conservation effort receives their donation.

“This offer makes it easy for families and friends to reconnect during a vacation, a getaway or even just a day trip to one of our parks,” said Jim Atchison, President and Chief Executive Officer for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. “At SeaWorld, families experience amazing up-close animal connections that can’t be found any place else. And we believe a greater respect for the world we share follows a visit to one of our parks.”

“We know the economy’s been tough for everyone, but more than ever before, everyone needs to spend time together,” Atchison said. “We think families also will have fun deciding which wildlife conservation project gets their donation, too. It’s a wonderful way for kids to learn about the work that goes on to save animals in the wild.”

For important details on this offer and to buy tickets, go to SeaWorldCares.com.

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I have always had a problem with taking photos. Don’t get me wrong, I love them, and since the advent of the digital camera, I take a huge number of them everywhere I can. The problem with me always taking them is that I am not in many of them. Disney’s Photo pass is a great way to remedy the situation.

To take full advantage of the service, the first thing to do when you get to one of the parks is find a Photo pass cast member and get your ID card. They’re not hard to find, there are always some at the entrances to the parks, waiting to get a shot of you and the family as you start a new Disney adventure. It only takes a moment or two as they snap away, then you can head off into the park and fun that waits.

Photo pass cast members are all over the parks at the best photo op positions. Sure, I have a ton of pictures of the Castle, but I need new ones every trip. The photo pass cast member got a great shot of my family in front of the castle. We also happened to find a cast member set up on the Tomorrowland side of the Castle, and that shot was a nice change in perspective. I have some great shots in some really interesting locals around the parks that I might have missed. And with cast members being as friendly as they are, they worked with my family to get great, creative shots that really gave my photo album a different kick. Best of all, they will even take photos with my personal camera, so I always have a spot in my vacation photos (as if all my souvenirs didn’t prove I was there!). They also have photo pass cast members at most of the character meet and greets, so you’ll never miss a special moment. Just be sure to hand them you photo pass ID card every time you stop.

The fun with the photo pass doesn’t end when you leave the park. You can view, edit and purchase any shots from the comfort of your home computer. The website has different options for photo boarders, you can even add in your favorite characters in case you missed them in person. If you don’t want to purchase individual prints, you can get a photo CD which includes the original and photo shopped pictures. You can even upload your own photos and create a scrapbook style photo album they print and send, which saved me from doing it!

Even if you don’t buy anything from the PhotoPass, it’s fun to play with the pictures and relive the wonderful memories. It’s also nice to get someone else to take the picture for a change.

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A mere 45 minutes from the parks awaits a lush paradise that is an unexpected surprise. Wekiva Springs State park is a different kind of Florida, the closest you can come to what things were like centuries ago, long before theme parks and interstates and Starbucks. Wekiva is part of the Florida State Park system and it prides itself on being ” a glimpse of what Central Florida looked like when Timucuan Indians fished and hunted these lands.”

Wekiva is a wonderful break from the ordinary, often hectic rush of an Orlando theme park vacation. Wekiva has acres and acres for you to explore at your leisure. There are trails for hiking, walking, bicycling, and horseback riding. You can take a kayak or canoe (rentals available at the park) ride on the often crystal clear water for glimpses of wildlife both on land and beneath the shimmering surface — animals like Alligators, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Limpkins, Little Blue Herons, Tricolored Herons, Woodpeckers, Swallow-tailed Kites, Florida Black Bears, White-tailed Deer, River Otters, and Fox are just some of what you may see. Swimming and snorkeling is available year-round as well, since the spring maintain a natural temperature of 72 degrees no matter what the air temp is–that’s refreshing in the hottest Florida summer and still comfortable during cool Orlando winters. Just remember this is a State Park, not a theme park — all animals are wild animals and you always swim/snorkel at your own risk. I’d stick with the kayaks, myself, but the more adventurous out there might think differently.

Wekiva is one of my favorite places in the Orlando area. It’s a peaceful, beautiful haven, the perfect place to relax and get away from all stresses, even the ones vacations sometimes bring. And at a carload, it’s a real bargain. This is a day trip well worth making time for, especially with the new Nature Center where you can learn about Florida history as well as local flora and fauna. There are even live wildlife specimens if you’re not brave enough to hit the trails on your own. You can bring your own food to Wekiva too, so grab a picnic basket or a loaded backpack; there are also a few concession stands serving snacks and basics.

If you go to Wekiva, be sure to pack plenty of sunblock, bottled water and insect repellent; the Florida sun is strong and the bugs can be plentiful. A small first aid kit isn’t a bad idea either, especially for inexperienced hikers. In my opinion, the best way to spend time at Wekiva is relaxing near the big spring swimming hole, stretched out on a blanket with a good book, with perhaps the occasional walk along the 18-mile boardwalk to try to spy some lurking wildlife. Bring your camera, bring a blanket, bring the family. This is the Orlando area at its most unexpected. Make time for it if you can.

Wekiwa Springs State Park\

1800 Wekiwa Circle

Apopka, Florida 32712

(407) 884-2008

Wekiwa Springs State Park


*Photographs credit of The Florida Department of Environmental Protection

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Sea World Orlando is known for more than just shows, when it comes to animal welfare and conservation efforts. Recently, they had two fantastic landmark events occur. Julyl 2010 saw the hatching of Tawny Frogmouth chicks — six in total have hatched this year and all the babies are thriving. Tawny frogmouths had been nearing extinction, even in carefully-monitored zoo environments. Breeding programs were not as successful as had originally been hoped. Sea World decided to work with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in order to create a program to sustain populations and encourage breeding. The program has been a success - in the past decade, Sea World has welcomed 24 chicks. The babies were initially hand-fed by trained aviculturists in order to make sure nothing went wrong but thanks to the program and the efforts of researchers, the newest chick was able to be raised by its parents — check out the pic!

Sea World conservation efforts happen in the water, too. This past May, they rescued their 303rd sea turtle, a massive 270-lb male loggerhead. The turtle had been seen floating on his side for several days before Sea World aquarists got him to the rehabilitation center. He was emaciated and covered in barnacles; it has been assumed that his condition was caused by ingesting a foreign object. The big male was cleaned, treated with antibiotics, and checked with x-rays in case of internal injury. The Rehab Center is happy to report he eventually started eating on his own. They hope to release him back into the waters of the San Carlos Bay near Ft. Myers, FL, soon.

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Some of my favorite Orlando experiences revolve around food and the Walt Disney World Resort has more than a few entries on my list. From the posh perfection of Victoria and Albert’s to the fixin’s bar at the old Pecos Bill’s. If you’re anything like me, you love Disney for their many dining experiences as much as you do for their rides and shows. So good news! Four cool new dining treats are coming to the Mouse House.

First is Raglan Road, the awesome Irish Pub at Downtown Disney. During the World Cup, Raglan Road will be opening at 10am every day so you can watch the game. While you’re watching, you can enjoy a real, full Irish Breakfast - known most often as simply a “full Irish. This is a delicious, carb- and fat-laden heart attack on a plate, and it is worth every calorie (as long as you’re not indulging every day!). Two fresh eggs, bangers (Irish sausages), black pudding, grilled tomato, sauteed mushrooms, and rashers of thick, meaty bacon. It’s and more than enough to share, so watch the football and dig in.

If the Irish pub is not your thing, but you’re still looking to nosh while you watch the soccer action, the ESPN Club serve food from 10:30 a.m. for early games June 11-29 and July 2-3, while the ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill will start serving limited breakfast menu at 7am for the REALLY early games. From June 26-July 10, they’ll offer a buffet with guaranteed seats to see the games, ending with a special viewing area and full menu on July 11. Call 407-WDW-DINE for more info and reservations. World Cup is a HUGE event, so reservations are always a good idea.

Sweet tooth? Get ready for September, when EPCOT’s Germany pavilion will open up its newest shoppe, Karamelle -Kuche. That means Caramel Kitchen and it will be the one-stop sticky shop of your candy-coated dreams. You can indulge in fresh caramel popcorn, caramel apples, caramel-covered strawberries and marshmallows, real Werther’s Original Caramels (created by German candy-maker Storck), plus the kind of gourmet caramels, cookies, brownies, fudge and cupcakes you expect from the amazing EPCOT kitchens. Rumor is there will also be special Storck goodies you can’t find anywhere else, so if you’re a caramel fan, this will be the place for you.

Artist Point at the Disney Wilderness Lodge is one of the best restaurants on property and now it’s gotten just a little better. Artist Point has premiered a new, beautiful wooden cordial cart for after-dinner drinks — they are the only Disney restaurant to offer this rolling luxury. Indulge in a selection of fine brandies, cognacs and cordials, including the top-top-TOP end treat, Louis XIII de Remy Martin. This limited edition cognac routinely fetches thousands of dollar per bottle (only 789 ever made), so if you’re willing and able, this is as splashy an after-dinner drink as you can get. If you try it, come back to the blog and tell us what you think!

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., August 1st, 2010 – The elephant herd at Disney’s Animal Kingdom just expanded – by about 288 pounds. That amount represents the weight of the newborn female calf born late last night.

Twenty-two-year-old Donna gave birth to the herd’s fifth offspring after gaining more than 400 pounds during a 22-month gestation. This latest addition, which has yet to be named, is the second calf for Donna, which gave birth to a female calf, Nadirah, in 2005. This birth raises the number of elephants in the Disney’s Animal Kingdom herd to thirteen, including five males and eight females.

“Elephant births are among the most amazing and complicated processes in the animal kingdom,” according to Jackie Ogden, Ph.D., vice president of Disney’s Animal Programs. “A team of dedicated animal professionals have worked with the expecting mother attentively throughout the course of her pregnancy. At this point, we’re optimistic for the calf’s likelihood of survival and are thrilled that both Donna and her calf are doing well.”

With assistance from the animal care team, the newborn, whose first tentative steps are becoming stronger and more confident, is now successfully nursing from her mother. Donna has been getting to know her calf, gently touching the young animal with her trunk. The next critical milestone is for the calf to continue the bonding process with her mother who will teach her important lessons and protect her as she is introduced to the rest of the savannah herd in several weeks.

Donna became pregnant through artificial insemination in July 2008 and received extensive pre-natal care throughout her pregnancy. Zookeepers added more exercises to her daily routine, hoping to strengthen the muscles needed during the birthing process. In addition to regular ultrasounds, veterinarians and elephant managers monitored her hormone levels on a daily basis to help them determine when she would give birth. Labor appeared imminent last night and the animal care team remained with her to provide round-the-clock care until the female calf was born May 20 around 11:30 p.m.

This is the fifth elephant born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. In addition to Donna’s first female calf, Nadirah, Tufani, a male, was born in 2003; Kianga, a female, was born in 2004; and Tsavo, the youngest male, joined the herd in 2008. All remain on the savannah at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Disney has been at the forefront of efforts to better understand and care for endangered elephants. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is part of a breeding program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) that is focused on sustaining the elephant population in North America. AZA’s Elephant Species Survival Plan has called for a five-fold increase in African elephant reproduction efforts - using both natural and artificial breeding methods - in order to create a self-sustaining elephant population among North American zoos and wildlife centers

Baby Elephant Facts

· Depending on the calf, it could take several days for the calf to coordinate trunk movements. Initially, it may only be able to wave it in the air, suck on it or trip over it. Typically within a week the calf has gained enough control to begin picking up small objects and food.

· Suckling up to 12 liters a day, baby elephants may depend on mother’s milk for up to three years, although they can be weaned at two years of age.

· By the time a calf is nine months old, 40 per cent of its diet is vegetation. The calf learns how and what to eat by watching the older elephants.