I mean the “sloppy” part makes sense, but the “Joe?” Well… that has never made much sense to me. The answer to this quandry is, as is so often the case, a bit unclear.

Sloppy Joes History – 1917

There’s lots of theories regarding the origin of the sandwich and the earliest of them goes all the way back to sometime between 1917 and 1919. Most interesting about this theory is that not only does it go back more than 100 years, it also definitively leaves the US. The story goes that Jose Abeal y Otero made a sandwich of ground beef stewed in tomatoes at his bar in Havana, Cuba.

The theory continues that the dish was likely influenced or inspired by ropa vieja, a Cuban dish with similar construction. Ropa vieja is made with shredded beef, as opposed to ground, and tomatoes, which makes the comparison to sloppy joes rather obvious. Now, it would be rather criminal to call ropa vieja a dish of meat and tomatoes, so let me be clear that it’s also typically made with a white wine or sherry, a delicious blend of pimentos and olives, various herbs (like cilantro and bay leaves), and often peppers, commonly of the bell variety.

At some point, the bar was apparently renamed to “Sloppy Joes”, not for his signature sandwich, but because that was the nickname bestowed upon Jose by English speaking regulars. The story goes that the “Joe” portion comes from a sort of anglicization of the name Jose and the “sloppy” portion was simply a reflection of the way he worked. I suppose that neatly explains the name, but what brought the sandwich from Havana to the States? This is where the theory takes a very more unexpected turn. Ernest Hemmingway.

Even the Sloppy Joe’s Bar’s location is part of the history. Capt. Tony’s claims to be the original location of the Silver Slipper bar.

Apparently, Hemmingway was a common presence at the Sloppy Joes bar in Havana, as he was at many bars. The famed author lived in Key West at the time and also frequented the Silver Slipper, a bar owned by Joe Russell. This theory states that Hemmingway convinced Russell to rename the bar to Sloppy Joe’s, just like the bar in Havana. The new Sloppy Joe’s also served a sandwich that was inspired by the Cuban counterpart. However, in Key West, the dish was Americanized to what we recognize today as Sloppy Joe. In fact, the restaurant still exists and they still serve the sandwich.

Other Contenders in Sloppy Joes History

Although the links to Havana and Hemmingway are certainly compelling, they are not the only theory that exists. Some research has pointed to Sioux City, Iowa and a cook named Joe as the originator of the dish. There’s also the Town Hall Deli in New Jersy that claims they created a sandwich of messy sliced ham and turkey with Russian dressing. That sandwich was also named Sloppy Joe, supposedly copied from the Havana bar just like the situation in Key West, but without any Hemmingways involved.

Given the fact that I was able to dedicate quite a space to the story of a Havana bar and a famous author, one might think that the origin is definitive. However, that’s not exactly how history works. A compelling story doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what happened. Rather, it’s often the case that history isn’t so neatly tied up in a fairly quick and quirky tale but involves more boring and iterative steps.

Still, there is a great deal of evidence that the chain of events that lead a sandwich from Havana, Cuba to Key West, Florida, via a Nobel Laureate is at least somewhat accurate. Although we may not ever be able to say that the story is definitely true, it’s certainly compelling, and tasty. Perhaps most fun, though, you can visit here and indulge in the history yourself.

The post Sloppy Joes History and Their Surprising Origin – Traveling History appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Set to sail out of New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, and Seattle, the Brilliant Lady will be set to traverse the coasts of North America. As the first ship in the fleet that can pass through the Panama Canal, she can explore areas that Virgin hasn’t yet sailed.

There is more excitement as the Brilliant Lady will be sailing Alaska in 2026.

The newest sister ship arrives for Virgin.

New York and Miami

The Brilliant Lady starts her new voyages in New York City, setting out to Bermuda, Bahamas, Boston, Canada, and the Carolinas, bringing Virgin Voyage energy to whole new regions.

Finally, as winter arrives, Virgin’s new Brilliant Lady will make her way down to Miami to do some Caribbean sailings before making her way through the Panama Canal, a very popular itinerary.

Don’t miss out on her MerMaiden Voyage!

Los Angeles and Seattle

In 2026, the new Brilliant Lady will settle arrive at the west coast, doing sailings out of Los Angeles to Cabo and other western Mexican ports. As the Alaska sailing season kicks off, she’ll make her way up to Seattle where she’ll travel among whales and glaciers for the 2026 season.

While the Brilliant is exploring Alaska in 2026, the Valiant Lady will move into the Northeast U.S. ports.

The Brilliant Lady’s New Dining

The soon-to-be four Virgin ships are all built on the same model, with fairly small differences. The biggest change with the Brilliant Lady is the new take on the Razzle Dazzle restaurant. Scarlet Lady wowed us with Lucky Lotus, Virgin’s take on Chinese cuisine. On the Brilliant Lady we will be introduced to Rojo, Virgin’s new Spanish-inspired restaurant.

Classic Spanish fare like croquets, churros, and more take center stage with this new restaurant. Additionally, look out for Virgin’s new dinner show, Up With a Twist, that will be debuting on the new Brilliant Lady

You can never go hungry on Virgin Voyages

Entertainment on the Brilliant Lady

The shows on the different Lady ships are all different, and the Brilliant Lady is no exception. Expect new shows like Red Hot and Out of Time. As well as new pop-up entertainment around the ship.

Additionally, there are new parties to get excited about. Their new Electric Party will be a glowstick-inspired romp, complete with UV lighting to get that electric glow going. Additionally, there will be big changes to Scarlet Night, so get ready to experience something truly magical.

Cabin Changes on the Brilliant Lady

To squeeze through the Panama Canal, Virgin needed to move the lifeboats inward on the Brilliant Lady. As a result, there is a new category of cabin, the Slightly Smaller Sea Terrace. The balcony is considerably smaller. The comparative cabin sizes for a regular sea terrace and a slightly smaller sea terrace is the same. The difference is the balcony on a regular is 40 square feet but will be only 9 to 10 square feet on a slightly smaller. All slightly smaller sea terraces are on deck 8.

To make up for this shortcoming, Virgin put a second hammock on each slightly smaller balcony. A change that the hammock-lovers among us are very excited about. The price will be lower than a regular sea terrace.

If you are interested in booking a cruise on the new Brilliant Lady, feel free to reach out to us anytime!

The post Virgin Voyage’s New Brilliant Lady – What We Know So Far appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

What if I told you, it doesn’t have to be, and you might even be able to save some money?

Airline Prices Are High

Airfare ticket prices are up, there’s no doubt about that. Ticket prices are often even higher when you are flying out the day a cruise ends, and you can see why. Thousands of people, often multiplied by 3-8 cruise ships arriving in a port at the same time, all want to leave the city the same day. If you look at prices the day before or after, they’re often a lot cheaper.

When we were booking our most recent cruise on Celebrity, which wasn’t great, we were blown away by airfare prices. Tickets to Tampa from a large Michigan airport were more than $1000 apiece. That would mean that our airfare would be almost as much as our cruise. Then I got to thinking about how tickets are often cheaper the next day.

What happens if you move the departure date to one day forward? In my case, it saved more than $1000 dollars – even after paying for a hotel for the extra night.

So, that was a no-brainer decision. We waited till the next day.

Should I Just Wait a Day Then?

That’s an option, yes. You can book a hotel, grab some lunch and dinner, and relax for the day. We were planning on doing exactly that as we didn’t really care much about trying to squeeze anything more out of our trip. But then, fate took us down another path.

A client reached out to Nichole about booking a day at Discovery Cove in Orlando. If you aren’t familiar with Discovery Cove, it’s a water park of sorts, but not just any water park. Instead of twisting, turning water slides or wave pools, there’s an aviary and snorkeling. What Discovery Cove really is, is an interactive animal rescue and rehabilitation program. Its signature feature is that you can swim with Dolphins – the only place in North America where you can do so.

The snorkeling pool at Discovery Cove.

Clients, as a matter of fact, regularly ask about the park and it’s always a bit of a struggle because neither Nichole nor Gretchen have ever been there, and I was last there nearly twenty years ago. That makes answering questions challenging because there’s nothing more valuable than firsthand experience.

That’s when we thought of using the extra day in Tampa to visit the Orlando area instead.

A Nearly Perfect Day

We still needed to get off the ship as quickly as possible, so we booked ourselves into the earliest disembarkation time. Once off the ship we grabbed a Lyft and… still went to the airport. We had to do that because on a Sunday it was the only car rental place open.

Still, once we had our rental for the day, we quickly threw our bags in the back and drove the hour and a bit to Discovery Cove.

We couldn’t get to the park right as it opened, which was 7AM, instead we arrived just before 10, which still gave us 7 hours in the park. Food is included there, so we grabbed something to eat and then changed into swimwear and got into the water.

The hours flew by. Between the aviary, the snorkeling, and the dolphin encounter, we spent the day in amazement. By the time 5PM rolled around and the park closed, we were getting rather hungry. Then another idea struck us, and instead of immediately driving back to Tampa, we stopped at Disney Springs for dinner.

I’m a sucker for Italian, and there’s something about Enzo’s that hits just right.

I love Enzo’s Hideaway and haven’t been in years, mostly because Disney World is so expensive, so I was glad to go back. We spent the evening wandering around Disney Springs, taking in the entertainment, stores, and food.

We did run into a bit of a construction backup on our way home, which delayed us an hour, but it wasn’t a problem, not really. When we got back to the hotel in Tampa, we were tired, full of delicious food, and ready for bed.

Savings?

I admit, the initial savings from delaying our flight was wiped out after we did all that. I would argue that I got more value from it though. Instead of handling Delta a pile of cash to be crammed into a seat, I got to spend the day swimming with dolphins and eating delicious Italian food.

Of course, you can choose to save the money and just relax in the hotel, that’s up to you. No matter which way you slice it, though, if you can manage it, you might be better served by delaying your flight home by a day. I know that I’ll be looking at that option from now on and I suggest you do the same whenever you travel.

The post Is there a better way to end your cruise? appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

First thing first, it is beautiful. The ocean views and sea breezes are the obvious draw for everyone who lives here. I, personally, have never been a fan of the balmy climates of the south eastern states, but I get why many people like it. My first steps into the city were on a humid evening outside the airport and, by comparison to my home in a northern state, it was practically a sauna.

Truth be told it’s not actually my first time here, but it also kind of is. In spring of 24 I took a cruise that ended in Miami and then flew out from Fort Lauderdale. It is my first time in the Miami airport and I can say with certainty I prefer FLL over MIA.

The Miami Airport Kind Of Sucks

Don’t get me wrong, most airports suck. Newark is terrible. Charles DeGaulle is a labyrinthian hell. LAX is less of a mess than it was, but it’s still not great. Long story short, airports are rarely the highlight of a journey.

MIA isn’t as bad as some places I’ve been (I’d flown frequently through Detroit when they still had the smoker fishtanks), but Miami wasn’t a nice experience. The bathroom I used was dirty and, yes, I mean dirty by airport bathroom standards. There was (I hope) water all over the floor and it didn’t seem to come from flushing the toilet, not that that would have been an improvement over other possibilities. Although I’m nitpicking here, by my estimation, every surface just looked rough, like it needed a fresh coat of paint. It just made everything feel rundown and neglected.

On a positive note, I can say that the signage was good. I never felt lost or confused in the airport. That’s an important element of any airport, so it’s a good thing that everything is clearly marked here. Travelers won’t get led astray or wind up confused by twists and turns.

Fortunately, if you’re taking a Virgin Voyages cruise from Miami, you have a choice of airports. Fort Lauderdale, FLL, and Miami International, MIA, are both close to Miami’s downtown. MIA is a little closer, but FLL is not much farther and, like I said, is nicer to fly through. My advice is, use FLL if the price makes sense, because it can be quite cheaper to fly into, and even if it isn’t, consider it an option anyway.

The worst part of my stay in the city is what happened next though.

Beware This Common Scam When Taking A Virgin Voyages Cruise From Miami

If you aren’t a frequent traveler, you may not know this pathetic ploy, so look out. Here’s the scam: the cab driver will fake like their meter is broken and then charge you an arbitrary amount at your destination. A driver tried to pull this on us, but we travel regularly, so it didn’t work. I pushed back on his claim that the meter wasn’t working and only paid him what I calculated was the rate – remember that mileage rates are posted clearly and you can do the same thing.

This is a common scam, both on you and on the cab company that the driver works for. It’s also likely a tax dodge, just to make you a little extra irritated. If you see a driver trying to pull this, you should ask to be let out. You can also calculate the rates yourself, using that little calculator you have in your pocket and Google Maps. For safety, we always recommend that you plot your destination from the airport so you can keep track of drivers and make sure that they are going where you expect them to.

An old scam like this is a sad attempt at bilking travelers and you shouldn’t fall for it. I haven’t seen someone try this in years, so it surprised me. Obviously, it also left a bad taste in my mouth about this city and the airport. My recommendation, take an Uber or Lyft where you can see the fare beforehand. Scamming cabbies can take a hike.

Downtown Hilton

Any seasoned cruiser knows to arrive the day before your cruise departs, and we agree with that advice. That meant that before we got on our Virgina Voyages Cruise from Miami, we needed a hotel. In Miami there’s a downtown district that caters explicitly, if not exclusively, to the port. We chose to stay at the Hilton in that district, known as the Downtown Hilton. We booked a decent rate of around $200 for the night, which isn’t exactly budget, but it is a typical rate for the area. The room was nice, and the beds were comfortable. The flooring was in good condition, and frequent travelers know how important clean flooring is.

However, it wasn’t all good news. I know it’s common in hotels, but the furniture was fairly scuffed up. There was also a lamp on the desk which was, put politely, crap – it flickered and seemed to work only when it felt like it. I would turn it on and it just… wouldn’t. Then I would walk away and it would turn on without any intervention from me. Lamp and scuffs aside, the room was a decent enough place to sleep.

The hallways, though, were marred, and marred badly. Well beyond what I think is normal. Take a look at these pictures.

Putting on my Poirot mustache (if you don’t get that joke, you’ve missed some good books and movies), I think it’s either the housekeeping carts or the luggage carts, possibly both. No matter the case, it does raise a few concerns for me about how well cared for the hotel is. If scuffs on the wall are not addressed, what else might be ignored? I get it, they’re just scuffs on the wallpaper in the hall. The room conditions are more important than the hallway, but seeing the hallways like this doesn’t inspire confidence, no matter how you look at it. What it suggests to me is that management is either inattentive or cheap. Guard rails or new carts could fix this long term and some new wallpaper and staff training could fix it short term.

Jumping back to the good news, the hotel restaurant was nice. The menu wasn’t exactly daring, but it had something for every traveler and the food was pretty tasty. Prices were high, because of course they were, but not excessively so – nor were they higher than the surrounding area restaurants. The staff was extremely attentive and our server, a lovely woman from Macedonia, spent time talking with us about her country. We discussed history for about twenty minutes together, I think she was happily surprised that a couple of Americans knew about her country, its past, and its present. In any case, she made the evening for us and she is almost enough to recommend the location all on her own. Alas, one amazing staff member does not make up for poor management. I’d stay somewhere else in that area when I inevitably book Virgin Voyages from Miami again.

Virgin Port Terminal

If you weren’t aware, if you book a Virgin Voyages cruise from Miami, they have a dedicated port terminal. Anytime a cruise line has their own terminal at a port, things are bound to go more smoothly than when they don’t. I’m happy to report that there’s no exception here.

Is this a marketing image of Virgin Voyages from Miami? Yes, it is. But, I can’t get that sort of picture myself and it gives you a good idea of the terminal. It really is nice!

Terminal V, because of course it’s “V”, is easily accessible by car. If you’re the type of person who thinks, “I don’t mind a bit of a walk from the hotel,” let me dispel any illusions of that. You cannot walk to this terminal. Plan for an Uber or Lyft to take you there (I can confirm that the Lyft app has an option for Terminal V). I also recommend that you don’t plan on getting there too long before your boarding time, here’s why.

1. Virgin’s staff is excellent, and they run a… tight ship! So when you’re boarding time says 4:00 PM, it means that’s when your boarding group starts the process. Get there thirty minutes beforehand at the earliest.
2. There is precisely zip to do at the port. There are no restaurants, no shops, no entertainment. Nothing. Okay, that’s not entirely true, but what is there is inconvenient to get to. So, unless you just love, love, love, standing outside in the humidity of Florida, find another thing to do between checkout time at your hotel and boarding the ship. We met some folks at Gunbae who went and got massages while they waited for their boarding time, so there’s an idea for you.

Once inside the terminal, everything is as smooth as velvet. Bags get handled easily. Your personal check-in is like clockwork. Once you’ve passed security, the upstairs waiting area is comfy and, if you’re a Rockstar (that means that you’ve booked a suite), you even get your own lounge with complimentary food and beverages. I didn’t book a suite so I can’t say if they were good or not, but it looked nice from the outside!

Truly, a dedicated port terminal makes the whole process much easier for everyone involved. The staff know where everything is for that terminal and how it works. Each line has their own boarding process and bespoke terminals are built around accommodating that process, rather than trying to adapt a generic space to it. I’ve sailed from several other ports that are not bespoke, and it’s always been rougher going than any time I’ve sailed from one that is.

Is having a dedicated port terminal a reason to pick one cruise line over another? Maybe not, but I can say that it doesn’t hurt! Virgin remains my favorite of the major cruise lines. Their service is just a bit better. They have an atmosphere that’s just a bit more chill. And those Lady Ships, they’re just a bit cooler.

The post Virgin Voyages from Miami – A Beautiful City, But Watch Out for This Common Scam appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

If you have never been to Universal Studios and Island of Adventure in Orlando for the Holidays, you need to go! You will step into an exhilarating world of holiday magic as soon as you step into the park!  

Your yuletide journey starts as soon as you enter your hotel. From Christmas to Hanukkah to New Year’s, each Universal Hotel is adorned with festive décor that sparks holiday cheer. Hotel guests will enjoy exclusive theme park benefits as well.  

The enchantment intensifies as you walk through a canopy of shimmering lights in both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Witness the spectacular transformation, as every corner mirrors the joy of the holiday season. You will feel as if you’ve been transported to the town of your favorite classic holiday movie.  There will be ice skating, carolers singing and fairy lights everywhere.  

The Park doesn’t disappoint with its holiday treats. There will be exclusive food and drinks available throughout the parks as well as Universal CityWalk.  There will be specialty Holiday Cocktails as well.  Make sure you try an Earl’s Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate Acorn bomb! 

Minions!

Universal Studios Florida Holiday Parade

If you can’t get to NYC for the Macy’s Parade, don’t worry. In the evening you can enjoy Universal’s Holiday Parade. The holiday parade features Macy’s larger than life balloons. You will see your favorite characters from Shrek and the Madagascar films. As well as Minions from Despicable Me. You can see the parade each night along the streets of Universal Studios Florida. And you don’t have to bundle up in your winter coat!

Harry Potter!

Christmas with Harry Potter

Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will make you feel like you have been transported to Hogsmeade when Harry when Harry Potter celebrated his first Christmas at Hogwarts with friends. The streets of Hogsmeade in Universal Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida are brightly decorated. Ride the Hogwarts express between the two parks (a Park-to-Park pass is required). The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle  will mesmerize you with the evening light show and fireworks display. Don’t forget to enjoy a Butterbear while listening to the Frog Choir! 

Universal Studios Seuss Landing

Seuss Landing in Universal’s Islands of Adventure is decorated with the charm of Dr. Seuss’s WhoVille where you get to hang out with the resident Whos. Don’t miss the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular, a live show featuring The Grinch and his story.  The show is full of music, dance and Grinch “who-jinks”. You might be able to meet The Grinch himself for a photo opportunity. 

A visit during this season promises nothing less than a spectacular, unforgettable festive treat at Universal Studios Orlando! 

Jurassic Park

While it might not be as Christmas-y, don’t miss the new Jurassic Park Velocicoaster Roller Coaster!

Universal Studios Resorts

Universal has many resorts, from budget to luxury. All include easy access to Universal Studios Orlando. Certain resorts offer free Express Unlimited passes for everyone in the party, making them an exceptional value. The Universal Express Pass can range in price from $135 to $330 per person per day. The $330 is for Saturdays during the holidays and during high season. 

Save money when we help you find the perfect package of resort and park tickets for your family.

Take a free water taxi to the Parks from Select Resorts

We at Far Far Away Travels are here to help you in making your Holiday vacation at Universal Studios Florida memorable for your entire family.  

Ready for More Great Travel Tips?

We share our favorite travel secrets and tips every week. You can see them all here.

The post Universal Studios Holidays 2024 appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Planning to cruise soon? Storms and strikes both might end up causing issues with your cruise.

Stormy Weather and Issues in Cruising

After Hurricane Helene, you might be hoping that we are clear of storms causing chaos this year. Unfortunately, two more storms look to be on the horizon. While cruise ships usually move around the storms, a storm can cause delays or port changes. However, one of the biggest causes of disruptions in cruising is actually airports.

Most people arrive to the cruise port by air. As we just saw with Helene, to avoid dangerous weather situations, airlines need to delay, cancel, and change flights. A big weather event can cause hundreds of would-be cruise guests who are flying in the day of the cruise to literally miss the boat.

To avoid issues in cruising follow our two simple recommendations.

First, arrive at least a day early. The stress of trying to get from airport to port on the same day as the cruise, hoping the airline doesn’t delay, or worse, cancel can be bad. The price of one night in a hotel near the cruise port is definitely worth it. We keep lists of desireable hotels near most of the major cruise ports if you would like a recommendation.

Second, buy trip insurance! We always recommend it, not just to avoid disruptions in cruising, but also for any and every trip. Even if your cruise leaves on time, a lot of health insurance doesn’t cover everything overseas, and trip insurance can be lifesaving if something goes wrong. Also, airlines are not required to provide compensation for weather-related delay expenses, but many insurance plans provide this coverage.

Strike May Cause Issues in Cruising

The International Longshoremen Association (ILA) is currently in negotiations with various companies in the cruise industry to ensure that their members are paid fairly in the face of global inflation. On October 1, they began a strike that affects ports on the entire East Coast and the Gulf Coast.

Longshoremen are the workers who prepare the ship for departure and handle the cargo, such as delivering the food you eat on onboard. There is a chance this will cause schedule delays may be the primary fallout for the average cruiser.

If you have any further questions about possible disruptions in cruising, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

The post Possible Upcoming Disruptions in Cruising appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Between March and November, when most manatees venture out into the world, guests at Blue Spring State Park are welcome to slip into the river to feel the comfortable 72-degree water for themselves. While you are not allowed to swim directly with them, you can swim near them. We have, and it is delightful.

The park also offers two-hour boat tours that the family can enjoy.

Manatees are vegetarians

Multitudes of Manatees

Manatees in Florida are a popular attraction. Be sure to check out the daily manatee count at the ticket booth! The current record counted nearly a thousand manatees visiting at once. You will also spot many birds, large fish, and alligators thriving alongside them.

During select dates in the spring, the park allows guests with an after-hours permit to stay after closing to see beautiful fireflies glow in the twilight hours.

So Much to Do at Blue Spring State Park

Don’t want to get wet? No problem! The park also boasts several miles of hiking and biking trails, allowing you to get in touch with Florida’s unique scrub habitat. There is scuba diving and snorkeling. Tube rentals are also available.

During the peak migration months of November to February, you can reserve a snorkeling kayak tour with a naturalist. You paddle up to the edge of the protected refuge and wait for the hundreds of manatees to wake up and float under kayaks to the river in search of a morning meal.  

Beyond the Manatees: Camping

Guests wanting to enjoy the park for longer may make reservations for one of over 50 campsites within walking distance to the spring, each with electricity and accommodation for recreational vehicles up to 40 feet in length. Six two-bedroom cabins are also available for a minimum two-night stay, fully equipped with central heating, air conditioning, kitchen, and outdoor grill.

Thursby House at Blue Spring State Park

Beyond the Manatees: Florida History at Blue Spring State Park

Those who want a glimpse to Florida’s past will enjoy visiting the Louis P. Thursby House, a 19th century home still standing in its original condition after nearly 150 years. It was once part of a larger property including an orange grove and steamboat dock and today it remains a museum showcasing the life of European settlers like the Thursby family. The house itself sits on top of an ancient shell midden, a type of mound typical of the area, built by native Americans not only to consolidate food waste but also act as a support for buildings on top.

Practical Matters

Blue Spring State Park is a convenient 45-minute drive directly north of Orlando and offers an amazing look at spectacular wildlife along with a variety of activities fit for the whole family. Parking tickets are only $6 for each vehicle of up to eight guests, making your visit affordable.

Be aware that the park is very popular so you might experience long lines to enter. It is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to sundown.

Swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving are all allowed, as are bringing your own tube, kayak, canoe, or paddle board. Rentals for canoes/kayaks and tubes are available. Guided boat, scuba, and snorkeling tours allow guests to get some of the best views of all Blue Spring State Park has to offer. There is a concession with food and gifts.

More Tips and Ideas For Orlando Area Attractions

Universal Studios

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