Some Rides at Epcot So Real Even though Virtual.

Travel Ape and I happened to be discussing the changing nature of amusement and rides found at some of the best and brightest theme parks in the world. Much of the conversation was how much the evolution of virtual reality rides.  I happened to mention, and this was from over ten years ago, the incredible realistic feeling the Back to the Future Ride at Universal Studios Orlando was to me. Travel Ape, being the man that he is, had to one up me. The story he told blew me away and has me wanting to get a trip to Florida just to take a ride on the "Mission to Mars".

The Mission to Mars ride is located at the Epcot section of the Walt Disney World Resort. The ride was unofficially opened to test the likes and dislikes of users in August 2003. Since then the ride has, for lack of better words and no pun intended, skyrocketed to being one of the most sought after theme park rides to try.  An excerpt from a press release by Disney themselves have the description as "Guests who accept the mission will engage in a one-of-a-kind astronaut experience that launches them into a simulated space adventure -- from pulse-racing liftoff to the sensations of traveling though outer space on a mission to Mars. The new attraction is the most technologically advanced ever created by Disney. In association with former NASA advisors, astronauts and scientists, Walt Disney Imagineering developed Mission: SPACE as the first ride system ever created to take guests straight up in simulated flight."

This description doesn't do the ride any justice. Travel Ape went on to tell me that the reality of the scenides that get the hair on the back of your neck standing up and your stomach doing tumble saultses, the way the ride moves, the propulsion felt was worse than any real life roller coaster he'd ever braved to partake. Travel Ape really is a pain in the back rear when it comes to giving away to many secrets of fun he'd like to have his friends try, but what he did say was that if you've ever seen one of those centrifuge machines they have in movies where astronauts are training, I'd have a pretty decent idea of one of the things I'd be getting myself into by going on the ride. The final assessment was he'd never come close to feeling like he was about to vomit, but by the end of the ride, had it gone just 5 more seconds, that would have inevitably happened. A glowing endorsement or a stark warning I still can't tell. All I can say is that if you are an action junky and love rides that get the hair on the back of your neck standing up and your stomach doing tumble saults

Find Hotels in Florida.

Sticking with a little bit of a theme due to the excessive cold that old man winter is sticking it to the North East of the United States we at Travel Ape have been looking into options to get to warmer weather. It appears that the best bet, as it were, for vacations is either in Southern California or Sunny Florida. Today we'll give some options for Florida. 

A great site that we've noticed and have had some communication with is State of Florida Hotels.  Now before we go any further just one note. The site is very simple, but trust us it's chock full of complete information related to hotels and the cities all over Florida. That being said, let us be completely clear so you really see the full value of this site. State of Florida Hotels doesn't just offer information and hotel information for the major destinations, but to almost every city in the state that has a hotel, motel or some kind of commercial accommodations.

Sure you can find great information for Orlando Hotels, Miami Hotels and Fort Lauderdale Hotels, but there are many other great cities that you can check out. Just so we continue to offer solid info here are some featured hotels and pricing for these major destinations. If you're looking to escape to the American Riveria of Miami and it's famed beaches we'd like to suggest one of the best hotels in the entire area, the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort and Club Miami Hotel located at 19999 West Country Club Drive in Miami. Ok, the rates I'm about to quote may seem excessive, but this is one incredible hotel located in the heart of paradise. If you book a hotel room there rates are about $400 a night. If you have the cash don't miss out on this fabulous hotel. If you head a little North of Miami to Fort Lauderdale we suggest getting right on to the beach. The hotel of choice, the Sheraton Yankee Clipper Resort. When we checked for rates at this hotel for this coming week the average price seemed to vary in the hundreds. Definitely worth a look.  Last if you want to maybe get to Florida but have some family you need to bring along obviously Orlando is the choice. The Buena Vista Suites Orlando Hotel is the perfect choice. Here you get great quality, your near the main gates of Disney World and the price is perfect at about $140 a night. That's fantastic.

Of course there are many other destinations worth checking out if you get the chance to go to Florida, and the site offers equal the information about Tampa Hotels, Fort Myers Hotels, Key West Hotels and Naples Hotels. 

Whatever you do if Florida is on the map for a trip this site is very much a great place to check out. 

Getaway to Florida before the Snow Hits - A Message to the Northeast United States.

Ok, maybe the title to this blog post is not fair, but if you have the means and money heading to Florida, and doing it soon is the right move. Travel Ape sure is doing it. On Monday morning Travel Ape will be heading to the West Coast of Florida to visit places like Naples, Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Springs, Marco Island and other great places along the coast.

If you haven't heard, the Northeast is about to be socked with some dreary weather adding to it possible snow fall. It is fortuitous though, because Travel Ape hadn't planned on leaving on a whim, he had his trip booked for over a month now. It just looks like genius.

To that end here are some cool places that Travel Ape plans on visitng while on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

First to Naples Florida. Of course we have to give out the gratuitous pointers to Naples Hotels and one Featured hotel in Naples, Florida being the Quality Inn and Sainte Golf Resort located at 4100 Golden Gate Parkway. To that end while in Naples Travel Ape will definitely be making his way to the famed Fifth Avenue Block of Naples. This really is a wonderful place that he's dubbed the mini-rodeo drive of the Gulf Coast. You'll find hip places to drink plus any number of great restaurants. From European style dining to eclectic fare you'll find it on Fifth Avenue.

Next to Fort Myers Beach, where again, we'll offer some Fort Myers Hotels suggestions and this one featured Fort Myers hotel, the Hyatt Coconut Plantation Fort Myers Hotel located at 1800 Coconut Plantation Drive, which is actually in Bonita Springs, but if you know the area they are right near each other. Now when Travel Ape heads to Fort Myers he loves to go to this little out of the way place called Junkanoo on the Beach Bar and Restaurant. If you look at the link provided you'll see that this place has what Florida is all about. An open bar to the beach and some of the best sites you'll see. You'll think you're in heaven.

If you don't have the time, money or resources to get to Florida, that's ok. Travel Ape will have plenty to tell you about so you can plan very soon to get down there.