The very first trip we made was on Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise…. You can not miss this one on the dock as it looks just like a real pirate galleon and from the moment you step on board you are immersed in the folklore of a pirate. There is plenty to keep the kids amused with face-painting,water gun fights and tales of pirate adventures and they get very excited on seeing the dolphins leaping along side the boat. Adults are also entertained with free beer,wine and soft drinks but remember go easy on the drinks if you are driving. This is a great way to spend a couple of hours on a hot day and one which we have done more than once.

Our next trip is on the Sea Screamer…A monster power boat which zooms through the waves with a huge wake which attracts the dolphins .This is one trip where you may need to sit tight as it can get a little bouncy on occasions but you cannot beat the exhilaration of the wind  in your  hair  …breathtaking !

If however you are looking for a slightly  more relaxed atmosphere,then try the Dolphin Encounter Sunset Trip ..this was one of our favourites as we cruised the bay and toasted the sunset with a glass of fizzy stuff !  We took some great photos of the sunset from the upper deck.This trip and the Sea Screamer guarantee you dolphin sightings or you get another trip free.

Finally our latest excursion was on Little Toot a forty foot tugboat.We had an amazing encounter with a mother and baby dolphin and a protective show of dolphin displeasure.Little Toot has a shallow draft and so can go closer in to the shore allowing it to cruise past the beautiful homes of the rich and famous of Clearwater Bay.

All that sailing makes you hungry and just the excuse that you need to round the day off with a delicious meal of fish and chips at Britt’s restaurant……..Great!

What was even more amazing was that this place had a huge menu that had me thinking we should have started off here in the first place!  Well, we have dined there on several occasions since then and I have to say that The Cheesecake Factory is not to be missed.  The only problem I have on each visit is deciding what to order.  Perusing the vast menu is like reading a book!   Actually, it really is a book and with choices to suit absolutely everyone.  They serve everything from pizza, seafood, steaks, and pastas to Mexican, Thai, and Cajun (and more)!  And so many of the dishes are so unique, you really will want to try them all!

Take the pizza for example - you will find everything from the ordinary, like pepperoni pizza, to the extraordinary, like pesto chicken pizza!   You can play it safe and order a traditional pasta dish or go out on a limb and try the Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta!  If you love a good filet and are not very adventurous at heart, you will find that here, but if you want to try something unusual, go for the Steak Diane.  I’m a seafood lover and particularly love shrimp.  There were several choices and I’m usually not really very adventurous but the first time we had dinner there, I decided to try the Jamaican Black Pepper Shrimp.  This was an excellent dish and the sides of  jasmine rice, black beans, mango salsa and fried plantains were excellent compliments to this entrée!   This dish has become one of my favorites.

If you really have a hard time deciding, they do offer “Factory Combinations” with 2 of their specialties on one plate.   My husband has ordered one of these on more than one occasion!  And don’t forget to leave room for dessert!!

Sak Comedy Lab perform improvisation (usually known as Improv); there are no scripts, no lines, no teleprompter, just sketches made up on the spot.  Just like on “Whose Line is it Anyway?“.

Improv comes in several forms. With long form improv an entire play or story can be enacted.  With short form improv, songs, scenes and soliloquies are made up on the spot, mainly with some unusual ‘rule,’ ‘game,’ or restriction added to it. Examples of ‘games’ or ‘hoops’ as some improvisers call them:

Word at a Time Story - 2-4 improvisers take it in turns to say a word, that in whole tell a story. Each improviser only gets 1 word. The next improviser adds the next word, and so on…

Scene 3-Ways - A short simple ‘neutral’ scene is improvised. Then the audience suggests 3 unique styles or genres, and the scene is replayed three times, once in each of those styles. The styles might be movie styles, styles or genres of books, or even musical styles.

Forward/Reverse - Someone randomly calls out directions or cues that signal the scene to change. In forward/reverse, whenever the caller says “forward,” the scene moves forward. When “reverse” is called, the scene moves in reverse until forward is called again.

The comedy shows are held each evening, Tuesday to Saturday, with 2 performances on Fridays & Saturdays.

Ticket Prices (correct @ Mar 2009)

Thursday 8pm                                      $15

Friday, Saturday 8pm & 10pm             $15

Saturday 12midnight                             $10

Tuesday (Lab Rats) 9pm                      $  2

Wednesday (Gen S) 9pm                     $  5

Box Office: Tel, 407-648- 0001 for reservations, and show information.

Tuesday nights see the SAK Lab Rats on stage.  The Lab Rats are made up of selected graduates from the SAK University Improv Classes.  They have a workshop on a Tuesday night, and perform for the public later that night.   They use audience suggestions as the basis of their performance.  Occasionally they compete in a contest to win the Stanley Saucer’, but currently they are playing out a Duel of Fools format, with two teams competing for audience laughter and audience judges marking each team.  The winning team can boast of their achievement all week until the next performance.

Wednesday nights see Generation S, consisting of the best of the Lab Rats, together with seasoned improvisers.  One of the Generation S improvisers will appear alongside 5 professional improv comedians on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. They have a weekly study workshop at the venue and also perform their weekly show.

Address & Directions

SAK Comedy Lab
380 W. Amelia Street
Orlando, FL32801
(407) 648-0001
(407) 648-1333 FAX

From the SOUTH (Disney, Universal, Kissimmee, Tampa)
1-4 East
Exit #83A - Amelia St.
Left of Amelia St.
Left on Hughey Ave.
Immediate right into Centroplex II Parking Garage

Parking is available in the Centroplex II parking garage, right where SAK is situated.  Here, parking costs will be between $8 and $10, and all $10 parking stubs can be redeemed at the concessions stand for $4 towards snacks during a SAK event.  Restrictions may apply.

One of the treats if you were up for making the effort was to visit the coast.  Of course Cocoa Beach, Melbourne Beach and the world famous Daytona Beach were always the favourites due to the close proximity and ease of driving.  Clearwater was the only real option on the Gulf coast and despite the beautiful beaches, idyllic sunsets and super relaxed laid back atmosphere it always seemed to be much more of a beach excursion than a chance to really sample and enjoy the Florida culture.

It was just like this for our family that was before we discovered that Tampa Bay had a baseball team and wait for it… the Tropicana indoor dome stadium (the locals call it the Trop) was only minutes away from the beaches of St Petersburg, Pass-a-Grille and Fort De Soto State Park. What is so special about this stadium is that the temperature inside is always comfortable at a fresh 76oF. So before or after the beach, afternoon or evening it is always a pleasant environment to spend a few hours. For years now we have visited the beaches left around 6pm and been in the stadium enjoying a beer, hot dog or nachos in plenty of time for first pitch. 

For anyone has never attended a game it is an American institution and for a miserly 10 dollars you can usually find a seat in 302 section with a perfect view of all the action.  Talking of action there is always plenty of it, from the spectacle of the National Anthem through to the end of the game there is always something happening.  My wife hates sports, of every kind, but she is happy to sit 3 hours in this superb family friendly arena.  Everyone participates and the coverage on the huge screens encourage even first timers to feel part of the family. Throughout the season the innovative team at the Tampa Bay Rays organise free giveaways, family days, kids base running and even Saturday night concerts after the game. 

For years this has been a pleasure for us but when we are next in Florida we will enjoy the pleasure even more knowing we will be watching the team that made it all the way to the world series final in the 2008/2009 season.

 Place to go when in Kissimmee

A good place to go when you come to Kissimmee is to visit The Farmers Market on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday and not just the tourist ones on the 192.

All you need to do is, head out to St Cloud east 192 between Kissimmee and St Cloud, go under the bridge, left onto the slip road and it’s on the left. OSCEOLA FLEA AND FARMERS MARKET with over 900 booths to choose from. It is all under cover so no need to worry when its 80’ degrees in Florida, as it’s pretty cool in there.

We like to get there early as we can as they have a large area for new, used merchandise and every time we go, we always come back with a bargain. They also have a food area where you can get coffee, tea cold drinks and good snack foods. The highlight of this area is the karaoke stage where local singers get up and sing country and Dixie songs. They are very talented as well and somehow we always end up singing along with them.

Christmas they have a very good Santa with a sleigh this is where the kids can have their photo’s done with Santa he also gives all the children a present.

There are antique and collectables booths as well as Florida souvenirs at very good discounted prices.

We bought some carving knives form there around 10 years ago, at the time I remember the stall holder, boasting that they would always remain sharp. I have to say that every one is as good as when we 1st bought them. Of course if you wanted to bring items like these home to the UK they would have to go in your hold luggage and not your hand luggage, if you are flying out from America.

Go have a singsong at the Farmers Market, even just for a stroll along to see what is on offer, we have found that things that can be bought at the Disney Parks, seem much cheaper at the Farmers Market & you will enjoy it.

The landscape has definitely changed since my annual walk last August in 2008. The two huge lakes are a cluster of five to six smaller lakes which make walking around them a lot easier. You can see all the lakes by taking the sand foot paths which surround them and dissect their locations, this was not possible last year.

The woods were great to walk through, and the wild life was very rewarding. I saw lots of species of birds including a wood pecker with a red head. I saw my first Armadillo, a young one I think, it scurried away when it saw me, it must have been more frightened of me than I was of it.

On the first lake we came to we saw a pair of nesting cranes. Their nest was on the ground on an island in a small lake. We walked within thirty yards of the nest and could see quite clearly two young chicks. There were two types of herons, white ibis and lots of waders.

I had a camera with me, but the thing that I missed most was a pair of binoculars, my next trip will include these as well as a bird field guide. I must say I see something different on each walk, it is so relaxing and rewarding to be up close to Central Florida bird and wild life within a few minutes walk from the villa.

This was the perfect escape from the theme parks and a perfect way to watch the Florida sun go down. This is just one of the many benefits when you book at

www.mickeyswoodlandretreat.co.uk

Please come and try it for yourselves, Florida is not just full of theme parks!

After we had gone through the formalities, over a beer I asked Bob where I could pick up tools and other DIY equipment (I was oblivious to Home Depot and LOWES).

After a few more beers Bob asked if I would like to go fishing.

I had not been fishing for 35 years since I was 8 years old but because I was in Florida on holiday and Bob was obviously good company I decided to accept his offer.

I quickly felt I had been a bit to eager to accept his invitation when he then informed me he would like to be in the water for 6am, that I should be at his house for around 5am which is in Oviedo (near Sanford) meaning I would have to be up and out for around 4am.

The following Sunday morning Carol (thinking I was mad) made sure I had the obligatory sun blocks and creams before I went on my way.

Upon arrival at Bobs he informed me we would need to pick up supplies on our way to the boat ramp. We called into a supermarket and unbeknown to me Bob picked up 2 sandwiches (subs 18inches long and 6in wide) Diet coke and a pack of beer.

At about this time I again began to feel a little uneasy about what I had let myself in for.

The boat was in the water for just after 6am.

We motored around for a while looking for a good spot to cast our lines.

We ended up on Indian River just north of the astronaut hall of fame on SR 405.

By 7:30am we had opened our first beer (Bob assuring me it was 5pm somewhere in the world) and were eating the first half of our sub. We were passing the time of day in conversation just getting to know one another and Bob instructing me on the finer points of fishing when I was suddenly struck by the tranquillity of the occasion.

Here we were sat in the Florida sunshine in almost silent surroundings eating a sandwich and drinking beer. The time just disappeared.

By 3 o’clock in the afternoon the boat had been visited by 3 Manatee and an alligator. In addition 4 dolphins had decided to shadow the boat for most of the day.

To use an American term it was awesome. I just sat in the boat and watched these creatures in their natural habitat. What I had previously seen only in captivity I now had the privilege of seeing in the wild.

Bob could not understand why I sat so long in silence he had thought I wasn’t well. I was so involved in what I was witnessing I didn’t even remember to take any photos.

In the space of a few hours I had seen and done things I had never done before.

Not the mad rides or the enormity of the theme parks but the simple pleasure of sitting in a boat, drinking beer and observing the natural world, not being interrupted by anything or anyone. Bob and I have become very good friends and have been fishing and drinking together on many occasions but that day was definitely a day to remember.

Brian Pearson

2.      Unless otherwise stated, you may turn RIGHT at a RED traffic light providing of course that it is safe to do so. When crossing the road on foot, make sure that you look LEFT first.

3.      When going to petrol stations, you may be required to pay before filling up. All cars use regular unleaded petrol and it is cheaper to use Self Service stations.

4.      If stopped by the police you must stay in your vehicle until the officer comes to you. Do not attempt to get out of the car. If you do not have both your driving license and rental agreement with you, you can be fined.

5.      Should you have an accident, you MUST report it to the local Police. You must not leave the scene of an accident and you must ask for a copy of the report for your car rental company. You should then telephone your car rental company and advise them of the situation.

6.      NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE: It is illegal in the State of Florida to visibly carry alcohol or to have an opened container of alcohol in the vehicle. If you are found guilty of Driving Whilst Intoxicated, you will go to prison.

7.      On multi-lane roads, vehicles in both the outside and inside lanes can overtake you. American drivers in general will not allow you to cut in so make sure that you are in the correct lane at junctions.

8.      Roads are much wider than in the U.K. and driving tends to be easier.

9.      Rush hour is normally between 7:00 and 10:30 in the morning and between 15:00 and 19:00 in the afternoon.

School Buses

You are required to STOP if a school bus stops, even if you are on the other side of the road.

1. It is illegal to overtake a school bus when it is stopped for loading or unloading passengers.
2. You should remain stationary until all the children are clear of the road and the bus has moved off.

When entering a school district, watch out for reduced speed signs.