Category Archives: Orlando

In Florida, I stepped out of a plane 5.5 kilometers up – Silvija Travel Tips 

I like adventure, and the opportunity to experience the World’s Highest Tandem Skydive from an aircraft at 18,000 feet/ 5,486m, almost five and a half kilometers, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience I could not miss out on. 

On a recent road trip to the sunshine state, I had the opportunity to visit Titusville on the Space Coast, close to Kennedy Space Center. The Skydive Space Center specialises in high-altitude sky diving. It was exciting and scary as I thought about what lay ahead. What would it be like for one and a half minutes of free fall? What if the parachute didn’t open?

The Skydives usually occur in the morning as the sky is clear, with few clouds and less wind to blow you off course. I checked into the Skydive Space Center. After signing my life away in pages of medical, danger warnings, and indemnity paperwork, I was instructed and trained in the safety of parachute jumps, body position, hand signals, and what to expect.

Next, it was time to get kitted out in a harness to attach me to my tandem skydive instructor. Mick? was Italian and had jumped many times and assured me I was in safe hands. Eye goggles on, I made my way to the King Air aircraft with my instructor, wearing double belts to keep us attached during the jump.

In a matter of minutes, we were up and away with four other crazy jumpers. A 7-minute flight brought up to a height of 18,000 feet. There was no turning back as we moved through the aircraft on our bums toward the door. In seconds, it was my turn to jump. I was sitting at the door over five and a half kilometers up, looking out at the beautiful clear blue sky. 

GO – we were out and falling at 120mile an hour. I imagined it was like a movie screen from MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. It was incredible, face felt like the skin as been pushed around the side of the face and behind my ears. One and a half minutes of freefall straight down. The gound was coming up very fast.

Then the moment the parachute opens. It caught me by surprise as the parachute deployed and slowed our descent. It felt like I was getting pulled softly upwards as I transitioned from the horizontal on my belly free fall position to sitting vertically in my harness. Once the parachute opened fully, I enjoyed the breathtaking scenery, and it was time to enjoy a 7-minute parachute flight.

The landscape of Florida was scenic, spectacularly beautiful, and unbelievably fantastic. In the distance was Orlando, and under my feet were breathtaking views of the Indian River and Kennedy Space Center.

The touchdown was so soft, gentle landing. An EPIC experience of pure adrenaline. I would do it again. 

VIDEO

Skydive Space Center website: info@skydivespacecenter.com

Skydive Space Center
476 N. Williams Ave.
Titusville, Florida 32796, USA

Universal Studios Hollywood Reveals Details of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD’s Signature Ride,“Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge”

Inspired by the Popular MARIO KART Video Game Series
and Featuring Cutting-Edge Augmented Reality, this All-New Technologically-Advanced Ride
Raises the Bar on Interactive Theme Park Attractions

Click 
Here for a Sneak Peek of the “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge” Ride

Universal City, California, June 2, 2022 – When “Mario Kart™: Bowser’s Challenge” opens in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™ at Universal Studios Hollywood in early 2023, guests and fans will find themselves immersed in one of the world’s largest, most interactive rides they have ever experienced. It seamlessly fuses augmented reality with projection mapping technology and actual set pieces along a moving ride track to debut a ride that’s unparalleled anywhere within the theme park industry.

The highly-anticipated opening of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD at Universal Studios Hollywood represents the first SUPER NINTENDO WORLD to debut in the United States, designed to transport theme park guests and Nintendo® fans into the world of Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach to be part of the Mushroom Kingdom.

Guests will access SUPER NINTENDO WORLD via the iconic Warp Pipe to enter the land where they will find the “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge” ride located within Bowser’s Castle.

This innovative achievement will propel guests into a multi-dimensional experience that recreates iconic environments from the Mario Kart games and where no two races are alike. “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge” is also one of the most complex rides ever built within the entertainment industry.

The sophisticated ride is a multi-sensory cornucopia of color, sound and movement that invites guests to navigate familiar environs through the creative use and integration of head mounted augmented reality (AR) goggles—a key point of differentiation that distinguishes this ride from other theme park attractions.

From the depths of the dungeon within Bowser’s Castle, guests will climb aboard stadium-style, four-seat Mario Kart vehicles inspired by the video game, put on their AR goggles …and then with a 3-2-1 GO! signal from Lakitu, they will be off to the races.

The premise is simple but equally inspiring and challenging and will appeal to guests of all ages regardless of gaming experience. As part of Team Mario, guests will steer through courses underwater and in the clouds to compete for the Golden Cup while collecting coins to defeat Team Bowser and win.

“Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge” raises the stakes for guests as an intriguing and repeatable ride with a variety of outcomes.

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is conceived in partnership with Nintendo and the visionaries at Universal Creative to deliver exhilarating entertainment with innovative technological achievements inspired by characters and video games that have appealed to Nintendo fans for generations.

The immersive land will be a visual spectacle of vibrant colors and architectural ingenuity located within a newly expanded area of Universal Studios Hollywood that will feature the groundbreaking ride, “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge,” and interactive areas, to be enjoyed by the whole family, along with themed shopping and dining to enhance the entire experience.

Universal Studios Hollywood and guests continue the countdown to the land’s early 2023 opening with the Feature Presentation retail store, well stocked with SUPER NINTENDO WORLD merchandise such as Mario and Luigi themed apparel and iconic character hats and a selection of plush characters, including Mario, Luigi, Yoshi and Bowser.

More information and details will be shared soon. In the meantime, guests can visitwww.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com for theme park updates. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and Twitter.

10 New Orlando Experiences for Summer 2022 

ORLANDO, Fla. – As one of the most sought-after destinations in the U.S., Orlando maintains its popularity as one of the top places for summer vacationers and promises an array of new experiences for visitors planning their next trip to the Theme Park Capital of the World. In addition to new attractions at Orlando’s theme parks, the destination is offering up even more new adventures ranging from a new golf entertainment venue from Tiger Woods to an alcohol-free speakeasy concept.

“Orlando is ready to welcome summer travelers with unforgettable new experiences,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO for Visit Orlando. “Whether you’re a theme park expert or a first-time visitor, there’s always something new to discover in Orlando with a variety of new hotels, unique restaurants and one-of-a-kind attractions to explore and create new vacation memories.”

Continuous updates on what’s new in Orlando can be found at VisitOrlando.com, the official visitor information source for the destination. On the website, visitors can also make an appointment for a complimentary, personalized one-on-one Vacation Planning Service with one of Visit Orlando’s vacation planning experts for advice and guidance on building the perfect itinerary.  

  1. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic RewindEPCOT‘s first “other-world” showcase pavilion opens May 27, featuring a new storytelling coaster that rotates 360 degrees to focus on the action, including the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster.
  2. Ice BreakerSeaWorld Orlando‘s first launch coaster features four launches, both backwards and forwards, culminating in a reverse launch with a 93-foot-tall spike with 100-degree angle, the steepest vertical drop in Florida.
  3. Aquatica Orlando‘s newest water slide, Reef Plunge, offers eye-catching translucent cutouts and rings with twists and turn though 330 feet of fiberglass. A vibrant array of marine life, Commerson’s dolphins, leopard sharks and a variety of other cold-water fish are also part of the new dynamic habitat.
  4. PopStroke, a golf entertainment venue created in partnership with Tiger Woods, will offer a menu of handhelds and pizzas to enjoy from the indoor-outdoor dining room overlooking two 18-hole miniature golf courses. PopStroke even has an app to automatically keep track of scores on the course and is set to open in May at Waterford Lakes Town Center.
  5. Take a short drive to explore Orlando’s local neighborhoods and experience The BANDBOX – Orlando, Central Florida’s first alcohol-free speakeasy cocktail tasting lounge and vintage shop, will open this summer at Ivanhoe Village in Downtown Orlando.
  6. Immersion at London House, a new boutique restaurant by Chef Rikku Ó’Donnchü, features a tasting menu-only concept with a sensorial dining experience focused on science, climate change, sustainable farming and zero waste, where texture, scents and sounds are as important as taste.
  7. The New York Beer Project, set to open this summer in Winter Garden, will resemble an indoor beer garden complete with a gastropub, sidewalk bistro and up to 20 craft beers on tap.
  8. Three-time James Beard Award semifinalist and “Top Chef” contestant Chef John Tesar has brought his concept Knife Burger to the JW Marriott Orlando. Featuring a slightly more expanded menu than the original Texas location, the poolside restaurant offers classic, high-quality burgers as well as seafood burgers and salads, all made with the finest ingredients.
  9. The Tuscan-inspired, 126-room ette Hotel Orlandoopens in June near Disney World. Focusing on wellness as an alcohol-free property, the hotel offers culinary experiences in partnership with Michelin Star Chef Akira Back, along with The Spa at ette, with services for everyone from the modern minimalist to the unruly naturalist.
  10. AC Hotel by Marriott Orlando Lake Buena Vista will offer a state-of-the-art, 24-hour fitness facility, inventive chef-tailored dining and signature cocktail service. The property is set to open June 2022.

About Visit Orlando

Visit Orlando is The Official Tourism Association® for Orlando, the most visited destination in the United States and Theme Park Capital of the World®. Visit Orlando connects consumers with every segment of Central Florida’s travel community, whether for a vacation or meeting. Home to seven of the world’s top theme parks — as well as refreshing water parks, outdoor thrill rides, activities to connect with nature, and a dynamic dining and entertainment scene — Orlando is welcoming to travelers of all ages. With 450 hotels, visitors have choices that span multi-acre resorts to themed boutique hotels. Orlando’s trusted theme parks, attractions, hotels and businesses have developed comprehensive safety measures and worked closely with medical experts to create safe travel experiences. Find more information at VisitOrlando.com.

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Editor’s Note: For additional press information or high-resolution downloadable images, 
please visit VisitOrlando.com/media.

What’s New in the Bradenton Area of Florida 

Only an hour’s drive south of Tampa and two hours west of Orlando, the Bradenton Area is an unspoiled slice of Florida people don’t often realise exists. With the perfect combination of wide-open spaces, uncrowded beaches and low-rise accommodations, this is the perfect destination for those looking to unwind when returning to Florida. Recently the area has opened a first of its kind hotel, as well as new restaurants and a revamped pier, ready to welcome international visitors.

Compass by Margaritaville, a brand-new concept in the USA, opened their first property on Anna Maria Sound in July 2020. Offering casual luxury surroundings, stylish guest rooms, a pool, a cocktail bar and stunning views across the water, this is a perfect pit stop for those looking for comfort and style, nestled perfectly in between the beaches and downtown Bradenton.

Two stylish new restaurants have recently opened their doors on Longboat Key; with Shore having opened in late 2019 offering an upscale and sophisticated feel right on the water, and Whitney’s having opened early 2020 offering a more laid-back atmosphere with trendy décor and live music nights.

To add a touch of class to any trip, the first luxury beach set up company opened on Anna Maria Island in the autumn of 2020. Beach Suites takes the hassle out of the holiday by having cabanas, tables, games and more all set up right on the beach. Perfect for friends get togethers, multi-generation families or romantic beach break.

The Anna Maria City Pier is back open after almost a three-year closure. The old-style wooden pier has been given a stylish revamp with floor-level lighting and at the end of the pier, a tasty fish restaurant awaits, as well as the perfect spot to reel in a catch.

The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature in downtown Bradenton celebrates its 75th anniversary this year with the Year of Light, exploring how visible light shapes our world and how harnessing invisible energy expands our scientific understanding of the cosmos.

Bradenton Area and Anna Maria Island is focused on sustainability and efforts to reduce carbon footprint and the impact of exponential tourism.

Ed Chiles, a local business owner, is prominent proponent for several important sustainability initiatives including All Clams on Deck. Ed’s portfolio includes three local restaurants and two farms, one of which is an underwater farm, from which he sources fresh produce including seafood, for his restaurants.  

All Clams on Deck is a Gulf Coast restoration initiative focused on restoring seagrass and high-density clam sites and oyster beds to conserve the health of the eco system and water quality around Bradenton and Anna Maria Island and the surrounding coastline.

Ed pioneered the initiative to restore Pine Avenue, the mile-long main street at the heart of Anna Maria Island, retro-fitting it to achieve Platinum status, the highest green standard you can achieve in the US, leading Pine Avenue to become known as the ‘greenest little main street in America’.

Love It Like a Local is a continuous, evergreen campaign to educate tourists on how to visit the area responsibly, giving consideration to protecting the sea and coastline, the natural habitats of sea turtles and other creatures, use of multi-modal transport, recycling etc. Tourists are also encouraged to take local classes, such as arts and crafts which help them to experience life in the local community during their visit, learn about the local inhabitants (both human and animal) and feed back into the local economy.

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For images please visit this dropbox folder

For more information visit bradentongulfislands.com

For UK media enquiries contact Barry Johnston on barry@goshpr.co.uk

About the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau promotes tourism to Bradenton, Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key through domestic and international advertising, public relations and marketing efforts.  The destination is known for its unspoiled beaches, rich history, the easy pace of island life and a downtown energized with arts, culture and more. For more information, please visit www.bradentongulfislands.com.

THINGS TO DO IN ORLANDO 

Whether it’s a trip for familiescouples, single travelers or a group of friends, Orlando is the perfect destination thanks to wondrous diversity that ensures an unforgettable vacation filled with unique experiences for every visitor. In short, you’ll never run out of things to do in Orlando — and you’ll make a lifetime of cherished memories while you’re at it!

For instance, if thrill-seeking is your style, you won’t be able to get enough of our open-air theme parks, expansive water parks and amazing attractions. There’s a lot more for you to discover, though, including diningshoppingecotourism and other things you won’t want to miss. So, get out and explore it all — there’s no wrong way to experience Orlando!

Take a trip to the city made for thrill-seekers Orlando 2022

The heart of Florida is home to world-famous theme parks, Disney delights and exhilarating studios. Venture to Orlando – made for family-fun and grown-up giggles.

holiday to Orlando is an adventure for the senses. Let your laughter out, feel the wind ripple through your hair on rollercoaster rides and watch wildlife with wonder when you arrive in Florida. Orlando is the ultimate hub of excitement, bursting with fly high rides and make-a-splash water parks – with entertainment for everyone. Find fairy tale magic in Walt Disney World, meet the most loveable characters and watch fireworks light up the night over Cinderella’s Castle. Discover the energy of Universal Orlando Resort, with its white-knuckle rides and memorable movie moments.

See the vibrancy of International Drive. Start with Denny’s for a mammoth breakfast of oversized pancakes, then venture through the enthralling upside-down world of Wonderworks. Shopaholics can lose themselves in Orlando International Premium Outlets, with its discounted designers and oodles of frozen yogurt stalls. Or head over to glistening Lake Eola’s downtown, for the colourful Sunday farmer’s market and free yoga on the lawn. If taking a swing on golfing greens is more your thing, you’ll be spoilt for choice in Orlando. Soft sand banks, palm trees and crocs in the water hazards – watch out.

Enjoy different activities every day of your Orlando experience.