Happy Holidays

by Adele Woodyard

Ready for Christmas Day? Except for buying such essentials as food, my table will be set for the few members of my family still living in Florida. What about you? Are your kids home for the holidays? If you’re on vacation in Florida or just looking for a getaway day, here’s some special treats still around for family fun, at several area Theme Parks. (Gate prices shown do not include tax; tickets bought online and/or in Advance will give your wallet a break).

Orlando
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is an after-hours celebration with Mickey’s once Upon a Christmas Time Parade, fireworks, stage show and “snow” on Main Street. Select dates; 7 p.m. to midnight. $59.95 adult, $53.95 ages 3-9. 407-624-4321

Epcot celebrates Holidays Around the World with a nightly Candlelight Processional, massed choir and guest narrators retelling the Christmas story, until Dec. 30. Included with daily admission, $82 adult, $74 ages 3-9, Free 2 and under. 407-824-4321. http://www.disneyworld.com

SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration features 74 lighted, massive trees set to holiday music, fireworks, comedy shows with marine animals, and more. 9 a.m.-11 p.m $79.99 adult, $69.99 ages 3-9 407-363-2259. http://www.SeaWorld.com

Universal Studios has a couple of celebrations going on , beginning with Macy’s famous Thanksgiving Day Parade. The huge balloons and festive floats are followed by Santa Claus lighting the Christmas tree.each day through New Year’s Day. Included in regular park admission: $82 adult, $74 ages 3-9.

Grinchmas at Universal’s Islands of Adventure is based on the award-winning hit, “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. The whole Seussian-themed island is decorated for the season and there’s a live stage show. . You can meet the Grinch in his lair, maybe join him at breakfast (extra $’s, make reservation). Included in park admission; $82 adult, $74 ages 2-9. 407-363-8000. http://www.universalorlando.com

ICE! At Gaylord Palms Resort can be quite an experience for native Floridians more used to sun-warmed waters. This dose of winter is made from nearly 2 million pounds of ice. .Mon-Thurs. $21.99 adult, $17.99 (55+) $9.99 (ages 4-12), Fri.-Sun. $25.99, $22.99, $11.99. 407-586-2000. Advance tickets: 407-586-4423; http://www.gaylordhotels.com

Tampa
Lowry Park Zoo presents Little People Live Show, a 40-minute musical featuring Little People costumed characters in the Safari Lodge. Seating first-come, first served. 7-10 p.m. Dec. 28-29. Included with admission to Wild Wonderland; $13 adult; $11 ages 3-11. 813-935-8552. http://www.lowryparkzoo.com

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Next week’s blog: places to go for a Happy New Year

Cool Kids In Hot Weather

by Adele Woodyard

The summer of 2010 with it’s record-breaking heat is about half over. By now even the kids are growing bored with vacation and looking forward to school. Middle grade and high school age can pretty much take care of themselves. But what can you do with the small fry when they’re hot, sweaty, cranky and whining they have nothing to do? How about cooling them off with

WATER
No pool? One recent addition to some town parks are water playgrounds where even toddlers can get wet without fear of drowning. Here are a few, that at last count are FREE.

One of the newest in the Tampa Bay area is the Kiwanis Sprayground in Dunedin. Opened a year ago in Highlander Park, the interactive 3000 square feet play area features a tall green dragon spouting water instead of flame. From 9 a.m. to sunset, Moms can sit and visit in the shade while their young ‘uns run through sprays, or mists. Water dumps from a circle of buckets, or pours in sheets from a blue domed “mushroom”. For older brothers and sisters, the standard swimming pool is within walking distance.
727-812-4530.

Kids Kampus in Jacksonville, is one of the oldest—in fact, it’s currently undergoing renovation. Said to be a playground with an educational twist, the splash pool features geysers and sculptures, with mini replicas of Jacksonville landmarks.904-630-5437.

Panama City Beach Aquatic Center in Frank Brown Park features a Splash Park with slides, mounted water guns, misting arcs and a water wheel. 850-236-2205.
Gainesville has Alachua Splash Park where there are sprinklers, fountains, and buckets that dump water on hot heads. 386-462-1610.
Motion sensor water spouts, similar to ones in Lowry Park Zoo, form Interactive Fountains in Punta Gorda’s Laishley Park. Miami has a fun splash park playground in the A.D. Brown Park. 305-666-5883.

ICE
It may be hard to think of Florida in terms of ice and snow but the state has both ski clubs and ice skating rinks. Perhaps it’s the presence of NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, but the area has four rinks for public use. Even Tampa’s Ice Sports Forum, the official training center for the Lightning, allows public skating with lessons for youth and adults.
813-684-7825.

Tampa Bay Skating Academy , Oldsmar has two NHL regulation rinks in 67,000 square feet of space. Hockey leagues and lessons share ice with figure skating sessions and a dance studio. 813-854-4010. Another branch (same name) has a 5600 square feet public rink on the lower level of the Westfield Countryside Mall, Clearwater. The kids can be on ice while you shop. 727-723-7785.

Clearwater Ice Arena offers weekday public sessions from noon to 3 p.m. Evening sessions on weekends have a DJ. Home of the Tampa Bay Junior Lightning, it also features figure skating sessions 727-536-5843.