Bob Carr Performing Arts Center

Ever since we moved to Orlando, FL from the United Kingdom in 1994, my Mum and I have made it a Christmas tradition to see a performance at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center. Once my daughter turned five-years-old, we started taking her to see productions from Phantom of the Opera and The Nutcracker, to Broadway’s The Lion King. It is so much fun and feels so much like Christmas as it’s usually cold and dark outside, so we park in a well lit parking garage and ride in one of the carts pulled by a cyclist over to the theatre. Once you get inside the lobby, you can smell roasted nuts, coffee, and hot chocolate. The theatre has a huge, beautifully decorated Christmas tree that touches the vaulted ceilings. We then find our seats and enjoy the show! During intermission, we listen to the music being played in the lobby while my daughter drinks hot chocolate and my Mum and I enjoy a glass of champagne. We really make a night of it by enjoying a wonderful dinner before heading home. There are so many restaurants located throughout the Orlando area, but usually our favorite stop is Chili’s!

If you’re traveling to Orlando, make sure you check out www.globalresorthomes.com for your lodging needs.

ICE at Gaylord Palms

One of the things that I enjoy most of all every Holiday season is visiting the Gaylord Palms ICE exhibit, which displays nearly TWO MILLION pounds of hand-carved ice. It is a frosty winter wonderland of interactive environments and larger-than-life, three-dimensional holiday scenes and sculptures, all hand-carved by renowned artists from Harbin, China. This year’s theme is “A Trip to the North Pole,” featuring a dramatic journey through the land of Christmas. Don’t forget to do the ice slides! My son and I usually race to see who has the fastest time. Of course, I always win!

We then get a hot cup of cocoa or coffee at Java Coast located right there in the Emerald Plaza.  If you time it just right, you will see the Majestic Christmas Tree ceremonial lighting, which towers right over the Emerald Plaza. Following the lighting, we take a trip down memory lane and enjoy favorite Christmas tunes of yesteryear A capella style, performed by the Florida Traditions. When my son was younger, we would go see Santa, be he is too old for that now…so he tells me anyway. (I think that one can never be too old for Santa!) Then we enjoy lunch/dinner at Sunset Sam’s Fish Camp and we always ask to sit in the 60’s  Sailboat. They have some of the best seafood around, and the crab cakes are wonderful! After a great meal, we go to the ice skating rink where we work it all off. We have been doing this for about 5 years now as a family tradition and we highly recommend it to all!

If you’re traveling to Orlando, make sure you check out www.globalresorthomes.com for your lodging needs.

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