Adventures in Walt Disney World, FL: Fun outside Orlando

Showing posts with label Fun outside Orlando. Show all posts

Saturday Snack at Buca di Beppo

For those who are willing to try something not on WDW property, Buca di Beppo is a great choice. In the Italian tradition of dinning among family and friends, they serve their food family style. Make sure you go with a group of hungry family and friends. They are located at the Florida Mall on south Orange Blossom trail.

For the snack of the day I choice the Tiramisu. It taste homemade. The ladyfingers are soaked in rum and espresso, layered with mascarpone cheese and topped with cocoa and crumbled hazelnut biscotti. It is so yummy. Warning: the rum is very strong, and if you eat enough I think you could get drunk.

I do not like many restaurant's Tiramisu, I enjoy Buca di Beppo's and would go back just for this dessert alone.

Our Table also order the cheesecake, also excellent.

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BioWorks Butterfly Garden - Tampa, FL

With summer ending, I start to feel a little sad, for many reasons. One being, the butterflies will not be around much longer. Living here in Florida you get to see an array of colorful butterflies and moths. Each summer I look forward to their fluttering by and floating to flower to flower in the yard. This year, Jason and I visited BioWorks Butterfly Garden at MOSI in Tampa.

First let me say that the BioWorks Butterfly looks impressive, from the outside. Whatever you do, do not buy tickets for admission. If you are going to see another exhibit at MOSI, you can get in with that ticket. On it's own the House is not worth the expense. Inside is a small man made marsh with a few turtles and native plants.

There is a screened in area where the butterfly cocoons, are hanging waiting for the wing wonders to hatch. You can not get a good at this. Instead, stick to the outside garden. Its free to wondering the trails and see the beautiful blooming flowers with butterflies everywhere. This area inspired me to grow our own home butterfly garden.

I will miss the butterflies and will await for their return next summer. Will I visit BioWorks again? Yes, but only the outside gardens.

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The Back Woods Forest Preserve - Tampa, FL

I know this is not Disney, but if you are in the area and love nature take a walk in The Back Woods Forest Preserve. My husband and I went to the Museum of Science and Industry to see the Da Vinci exhibit. It was the last days of the show and the Museum parking area was filled. Lucky for us, having to park in a back lot lead us to the discovery of these great hiking trails. We walk the trails and got to see some native Florida plants.

Located in the Southeastern portion of the MOSI campus, the Back Woods is a forest set in an urban development. Packed into 25 acres is a notable array of many Central Florida habitats, complete with distinct sandhill, hardwood wetland, mesic pine flatwoods, and upland hardwood hammock communities.
Work is being done to these habitats, remove invasive species, refurbish trails and boardwalks, and create new interpretive signage and guides to make this area a better educational experience for all of our guests and the surrounding community.

The Back Woods forest is open to the public 365 days a year during the Museum’s operating hours (9-5 M-F, 9-6 Sat/Sun). There is no admission fee to the Back Woods and Museum admission is not required for use visit. You can bring your dog, they just have to be on a leash, please pick up there waste. (information provided for MOSI website)