Tag: Travel

Exploring SeaWorld Orlando: A Fascinating Journey into Marine Wonder

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Welcome back to the blog! Previously, in my last post, I began reviewing my experiences from Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure while on my vacation in Florida. Today we are once again back in the fabulous Sunshine State and we are enjoying the sights and sounds of SeaWorld Orlando!

About The Park:

SeaWorld Orlando, located in Orlando, Florida, is a theme park and marine zoological park. It is associated with neighboring parks such as Discovery Cove and Aquatica, all falling under SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. The park is also affiliated with Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. In 2022, SeaWorld Orlando welcomed around 4.45 million guests, making it the 10th most visited amusement park in the United States. This high visitation highlights its status as a major attraction, drawing visitors to experience its entertainment and marine life conservation.

SeaWorld Orlando has been a significant part of the Central Florida entertainment landscape since its opening on December 15, 1973. Joining the ranks of the SeaWorld chain as its third park, it quickly became a pivotal attraction, effectively transforming Central Florida into a multi-park vacation destination. Notably, the park’s establishment followed closely on the heels of the opening of Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom by a mere two years. This proximity in timeline solidified the region’s status as a premier global destination for diverse, world-class theme park experiences.

Following its initial introduction, SeaWorld Orlando experienced changes in ownership that further shaped its trajectory. In 1976, the park was acquired by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, marking a pivotal shift in its stewardship. Subsequently, Anheuser-Busch, renowned as the owner of Busch Gardens, assumed ownership of SeaWorld, adding another layer to the park’s rich history. This transition in 1989 not only altered the park’s ownership structure but also contributed to the evolution of its offerings and strategic direction, reflecting the dynamic nature of Central Florida’s entertainment landscape.

Busch was more experienced with theme parks and thus developed SeaWorld in a competitive and aggressive manner, moving the park from a show-based to a ride-based park. The park joined in the Disneyland-started simulator ride wave in 1992 with Mission: Bermuda Triangle (later rethemed into Wild Arctic). The nation’s first combination roller coaster and flume ride, Journey to Atlantis, was installed in 1998. In 2000, the Kraken, a Bolliger & Mabillard floorless roller coaster, was added to the park. The flying coaster, Manta, came to the park in 2009 and won the Theme Park Insider Award as the best new attraction.

After being in business for almost 30 years, Busch Entertainment expanded by adding two parks next to each other. Discovery Cove opened in 2000 and Aquatica water park opened in 2008. The company was sold to a private equity firm in 2009 after Anheuser-Busch was purchased by InBev. This led to the closure of the Hospitality Center in February 2009. Over the years, Sea World has introduced several new attractions such as Mako, Ice Breaker, Sesame Street Land, Infinity Falls, and the latest one this year: Pipeline.

SeaWorld’s commitment to marine conservation and education has been a hallmark of its brand, with initiatives aimed at promoting awareness and understanding of marine life. However, throughout the years while trying to achieve this goal, SeaWorld has faced hefty backlash for serval incidents, including safety violations and significant fines related to one of its main orcas. However, despite some of these challenges and issues, SeaWorld has successfully created a harmonious balance between enjoyment and education, providing visitors with a deeper appreciation for the oceans and the creatures that inhabit them.

The acquisition of SeaWorld by new ownership has brought about significant changes in the park’s operations, with a renewed focus on guest experiences and environmental stewardship. This shift has seen the introduction of innovative attractions and experiences, aimed at captivating audiences while also fostering a greater understanding of marine ecosystems.

In recent years, SeaWorld has continued to expand its attractions, with a keen eye on incorporating cutting-edge technology and immersive storytelling. The addition of rides like Mako, Ice Breaker, and Infinity Falls has enhanced the park’s appeal to thrill-seekers, while Sesame Street Land has delighted younger visitors with its vibrant and interactive offerings.

Moreover, the introduction of Pipeline, the latest attraction unveiled this year, underscores SeaWorld’s ongoing commitment to providing fresh and exciting experiences for its guests. This thrilling new addition is set to further elevate the park’s reputation as a premier destination for entertainment and adventure, solidifying its position as a leader in the realm of marine-themed attractions.

SeaWorld’s journey reflects a dedication to evolution and adaptation, embracing new opportunities to captivate audiences while remaining steadfast in its mission to inspire conservation efforts and foster a deeper connection with the natural world. As SeaWorld continues to chart its course into the future, it stands poised to continue delivering unforgettable experiences that blend entertainment, education, and environmental awareness.

SeaWorld Orlando’s fascinating transformation in the summer of 2014 marked a significant milestone for the renowned company as it celebrated its 50th anniversary. The park underwent a reorganization, dividing into distinct areas known as “seas,” each meticulously crafted to embody a unique thematic essence. This innovative approach invited visitors to embark on a captivating journey, starting from the lower center and unfolding seamlessly in a clockwise direction, offering an unparalleled adventure at every turn. This reconfiguration helped to enhanced the guest experience, and also exemplified the commitment to continuous evolution and creativity that has been synonymous with SeaWorld’s legacy.

Port of Entry

The main entrance of the park features a Florida-inspired theme with tropical landscaping and a large artificial freshwater marina with a Shamu-themed iconic lighthouse.

Sea of Shallows

This area showcases most of the shallow water sea animal exhibits at the park as well as the Dolphin Theater. In addition, the Manta roller coaster travels through this section and the former Turtle Trek, A 360 degree dome film, which featured the story of a turtle. All of the Key West at SeaWorld area is inside of the Sea of Shallows. It is designed to mimic the appearance of the city of Key West, Florida with architecture and landscaping reminiscent of the area. Animal exhibits in this portion of the park include lesser devil rays, cownose rays, southern stingrays, green sea turtles, hawksbill sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, greater flamingos, West Indian manatees, American alligators and brown pelicans. The stingray and dolphin habitats offer opportunities for guests to feed the animals.

Sea of Legends

The Journey to Atlantis is a captivating boat ride that incorporates thrilling roller coaster elements, creating an unforgettable experience for visitors. This attraction draws inspiration from the mythical legend of the lost city of Atlantis, adding an intriguing and immersive narrative to the adventure. Additionally, visitors can also enjoy the adrenaline-pumping excitement of Kraken, a remarkable floorless roller coaster that further enhances the overall thrill of the theme park. The combination of these exhilarating experiences ensures that visitors can look forward to an action-packed and unforgettable time at the park.

Sea of Ice

Sea of Ice, originally named Antarctica, is themed around the Antarctic continent. Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin is the sole attraction in this area as a penguin exhibit. This is where the brand new ride will be based, named Penguin Trek, in 2024.

Penguin Trek is being promoted as an unforgettable family launch coaster adventure capable of reaching speeds up to 43 miles per hour. The ride is themed around viewing the breathtaking vastness of Antarctica from a snowmobile while dodging and narrowly escaping the crumbling hazards of an icy cavern. The ride ends with the rider discovering a real penguin habitat.

Sea of Delight

The Sea of Delight is truly a captivating section of the park, offering visitors a delightful experience reminiscent of a seaside Mediterranean village. The charming sub-area called The Waterfront is a picturesque representation of this, complete with quaint architecture and serene views. One of the highlights of this area is the iconic Sky Tower ride, seamlessly integrated into the theme of The Waterfront village when it made its debut in 2003. This merging of thrilling attractions with the thematic essence of the village adds a unique allure to the overall experience.

Moreover, within this enchanting enclave, guests can also enjoy the captivating Pets Ahoy show, which was hosted in the Seaport Theater. This engaging animal show provided a memorable experience for visitors, becoming a cherished part of their time in The Waterfront. Notably, just beyond The Waterfront lies the Sea Lion and Otter Stadium viewing area, offering a perfect vantage point to observe these fascinating marine animals in their natural element.

The Sea of Delight, with its exquisite blend of attractions and thematic elements, truly stands as a testament to the park’s artful curation of immersive experiences.

Sea of Mystery

The Sea of Mystery is where you’ll find the Shark Encounter exhibit and the Sharks Underwater Grill, as well as the Nautilus Theater, which they use for seasonal shows and events. Mako, a Bolliger & Mabillard steel hypercoaster, was introduced in the area on June 10, 2016. They spruced up the current shark exhibit and the surrounding area, turning it into Shark Wreck Reef. By 2018, they also added the rapids ride Infinity Falls in this area, set in the sub-area of Sea of Infinity. This spot has a rainforest vibe and also features a food spot called Waterway Grill.

Sea of Power

The Sea of Power is where SeaWorld puts on its killer whale shows. Right in the middle, you’ve got the Shamu Stadium, and right next to it is the Wild Arctic indoor pavilion. Inside the Wild Arctic, you can check out some cool animals like beluga whales, Pacific walruses, harbor seals, and there used to be polar bears, too. Right now, the Shamu Stadium is running the “Orca Encounter” as its main show, but you can catch “Shamu Celebration: Light up the Night” and “Shamu Christmas Miracles” during the holiday season.

Sesame Street Land

Formerly named Shamu’s Happy Harbor and Sea of Fun, Sesame Street Land is a kids’ area right next to Shamu Stadium. Here, you’ll find fun stuff for the whole family, like Super Grover’s Box Car Derby (a mini rollercoaster) and a cool water play area. This is the only part of SeaWorld Orlando inspired by the educational TV show, Sesame Street.

My Rating: 6/10

While I enjoyed my time at SeaWorld, my main complaint was the crowd level as the theme park was hosting the Madi Gras celebrations as well as its Seven Seas Food Festival. I am kind of disappointed I didn’t get to try any of the foods but decided it would not be worth the price, but all of the stalls were uniquely themed and the menus did look interesting. A big complaint I have for SeaWorld is their locker policy or their usage of the locker system. You do have to put items in a locker for most of the thrill rides, but they are not free like Universal’s sadly. The system was a bit more confusing to use and took a bit for me to understand fully. I wish they would use the ticket or something similar to Universal, then offer the free lockers that are smaller and paid lockers for bigger items. I loved the different walk-thru exhibits and educational posters that helped teach kids about the animals and how to save the animals. That is something that I think really makes SeaWorld a good place to visit with kids. The live action shows with animals were cute and I did enjoy watching the shows, though I think they missed out by not making the screen at the Orca Encounter in the shape of a whale tale… but eh, that is just my opinion. I did learn that the SkyTower is a charge of fee ride, so that was a bit disappointing. When I did get to the SkyTower, it was either closed or the line was too long.

My biggest disappointment was the meal ticket plan I had gotten. The restrictions of where to eat and what to eat are utterly ridiculous. I feel they could expand this a bit more to include some of the better restaurants… I didn’t really get the bang for my buck with this item and I dont not suggest it.

Tips & Tricks

Just like Universal, Sea World does have an app you can download that will help you keep track of ride times, show times, and more. I suggest just like Universal to see if you look up a calendar to show when Sea World expects a crowded time and try to avoid going to the park during those times. For the small kids, I say you really need to check out Sesame Street Land. It’s a really cute and interactive land for the younger ones, while the thrill junkies can go ride the coasters. It even has a parade of characters, but you can imagine that it causes a bit of a backup even if you are trying to get from one part of the park to the other.

And with that, the review is officially done! Though, we did go to Disney Springs before heading home on the 4th day… I feel it was unnecessary for me to give a full review on the shopping district area as we didn’t spend much time there. Again, the main complaint, the crowds were utterly ridiculous. The line for the Lego store wrapped around the store itself, if that gives you an idea on how busy it was during that weekend. 

I thank you all for joining me on my great adventure. I look forward to hopefully sharing more with you all again next time. For now, here are some more pictures from my trip! Enjoy!

Exploring The Sunshine State (Part 3) – Universal Studios Orlando

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Welcome back to the blog! Previously, in my last post, I began reviewing my experiences from Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure while on my vacation in Florida. In today’s continuation post, I’ll be reviewing more of the park and rating my dining experience at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen. So without further ado, let’s get back to Florida!

Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen

Located in the CityWalk, Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Kitchen (yes, that is the full name) is a steampunk-themed restaurant that makes you feel like you are stepping into an inventor’s lab. There is even a backstory that I have included below for your enjoyment. 

‘From the Alps to the empire of the Aztecs, from Mongolia to Madagascar, Professor Doctor Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome learned new and fascinating methods of infusing chocolate into the most extraordinary recipes, making friends and receiving honors everywhere she went. Upon returning home to London, Penelope determined that she would share her love and knowledge of chocolate with the world. She set about building The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen, an enchanting 19th-century themed, Steampunk-inspired dining establishment with a façade of towering smokestacks and an interior adorned with intriguing gadgets and gizmos.’

Aside from the stunning look of the exterior and interior design, there are the two main characters of Penelope Toothsome and her loyal robot companion Jacques who love to interact with the guests as they eat. The Restaurant is two levels with a stunning bar so you can get different experiences depending on where you sit. The main menu items are, of course, the delightfully delicious milkshakes featuring chocolate, peanut butter, vanilla ice cream, and more. The price range for the milkshakes is between $13.50 – $15. I ordered myself the Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake, which included Sour cream ice cream, cheesecake, graham crackers, fresh whipped cream, and chocolate dipped strawberry. I was even able to keep the cup as a souvenir of my dining experience! 

While those may satisfy your sweet tooth,  Toothsome also offers a great variety of options from the Savory Kitchen side. They offer appetizers, salads, soups, flatbreads, sandwiches and burgers, pasta, and delicious entrees. For those who are early birds, they even have a whole Brunch menu as well! The price range for the menus is considered between $10 – $33, so I would say a moderately priced restaurant. For my lunch, I ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo which I found to be absolutely delicious!

My Rating: 10/10

What can I honestly say more about this place? The theming: 10/10. The service: 10/10. The food: 10/10. The desert: 10/10. The interactions: 10/10. This is probably one of the best-themed dining experiences in all of Universal in my opinion. I loved watching the screen as the steampunk robots flew around with ingredients, meeting the characters, and the overall feel of the restaurant. There is nothing I would suggest to change here, it’s absolutely perfect! Which makes this rating review probably the easiest and shortest review.

Tips & Tricks

When planning my trip to Universal, I asked my travel agent to add a reservation for Toothsome specifically for the lunchtime period. While you are allowed to go at any time, it is probably best to make reservations ahead of time. The busiest times seem to be late afternoon time (3 pm) and of course, dinner time around 6 pm to 7 pm time frame. Keep in mind that weekends and Fridays may also have a higher crowd level as well. You can also make reservations by calling ahead of time or via the website as well. Another tip I suggest is to take a look at their menu before you arrive to eat. You can find their menus listed on the website as well. 

Well, lunchtime is over and I am quite full. Let’s head back into the parks and continue our fun day at Universal Orlando. Keep in mind, you will have to go through the security check at the front gates at the parks even if you had already done so when you first arrived. That is the only grip I had is that I wish there was a way for easier re-entry. I understand though it is for security reasons that we have to re-enter at the gates.

Heading Back To The Park

I went back into the Islands side of the park, this time going counter-clockwise from the Port of Entry. I was able to experience (before its closure this summer) Poseidon’s Fury. I found the indoor special effects show to be quirky but you can definitely tell it was aging since it had been in the park since opening day in 1993. It’s sad how empty Lost Continent is now compared to the original opening-day experience, I can only hope that maybe in the future this land gets a much-needed facelift and rethemed. There are many rumors spreading of the land being replaced by Lord of the Rings or Zelda, but Universal has made no such announcement as of yet. 

After Poseidon’s Fury, I was able to catch a ride on the VelociCoaster. Talk about an adrenaline rush. There were several airtime moments that I felt like I was about to come out of my seat. I continued on my journey back into Hogsmeade to ride Forbidden Journey and check on the wait time for Hagrids. However, when I arrived, the wait time was 120+ minutes, and the queue line was stretched into the Lost Continent section. I decided to skip Hagrids and ride the train over to the Studios portion of the park.

Universal Studios Orlando

Universal Studios Florida is split into nine themed lands situated around a lagoon. The nine surrounding themed areas, clockwise from the entrance, are Minion Land on Illumination Ave, Production Central, New York, San Francisco, London/Diagon Alley, World Expo, Springfield USA, Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone, and Hollywood. Each area features a combination of rides, shows, attractions, character appearances, dining outlets, and merchandise stores. The newest area, based on Despicable Me, will be added to the park in Summer 2023.

Minion Land on Illumination Ave

This is the newest land which has replaced a portion of Production Central located at the main entrance of the park. This new ‘mini-land’ includes the attraction of Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem and the upcoming Villian-Con Minion Blast attraction.

Production Central

This land is mostly themed to music with the rollercoaster of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and the Transformers the Ride 3D dark ride. There is no real clear theme to this area, especially with a portion of the land now being rebranded and rethemed to the Minions area coming this summer.

New York

This land is mostly themed to New York City, including many facades of some of the New York Public Library and some other landmarks from the city that never sleeps. This land hosts the attractions of the Jimmy Fallon ride, the Revenge of the Mummy indoor coaster, as well as the preview center and a Blues Brother stage show.

San Francisco

This mini-land is themed to the San Francisco bay area and hosts its only attraction: the Fast & Furious Supercharge dark ride. I have to say that this land is probably one of the weakest ones at Universal Florida sadly. Many guests state that the ride, which had replaced Disaster and Earthquake, is a horrible retheme. Though, many guests do enjoy the queue line that has some props and cars from the Fast & Furious franchise.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley/London

This second half of The Wizarding World is themed to the Diagon Alley / London location from the films. You literally get to step through the brick way into Diagon Alley, where you can not even see the rest of the theme park. This land includes the Kings Cross Stations for the train ride to Islands, a Gringotts-themed ride, and several shops and restaurants themed to the Harry Potter franchise. This is the most popular area of the park and is usually the most crowded. Don’t forget to watch the dragon on top of the Gringotts bank which is set to spit fire every 15 minutes or so.

Springfield

This area used to be part of the World Expo which originally housed the Back to the Future Ride. In 2017, this area would be rethemed to the popular Simpsons television series. The ride would be rethemed into the Simpsons Ride. There is also a spinning ride resembling the title aliens (Kang and Kodos) on The Simpsons. There is no word of what may happen to this area after the leasing of the Simpsons is over.

Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone

On January 15, 2023, the majority of Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone, including its rides Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster and Fievel’s Waterslide, the play areas Curious George Goes to Town and Fievel’s Playland, and the Shrek-themed meet-and-greet style attraction which was opened the year before after the closure of Shrek 4-D, was permanently closed to make room for an unannounced area rumored to be themed to DreamWorks Animation. E.T. Adventure and Animal Actors on Location were kept, as well as SpongeBob StorePants, a SpongeBob SquarePants-themed merchandise store, and KidZone Pizza Company, a seasonal pizzeria located by the area’s entrance. The only two remaining attractions at KidZone are the Animal Actors show and the E.T. Adventure ride.

Hollywood

There are no major thrill rides in the Hollywood section. However, it is home to the updated Bourne Stuntstactular which replaced the Terminator attraction. Hollywood’s two dining outlets are recreations of actual Hollywood outlets. Schwab’s Pharmacy and Mel’s Drive-In offer guests a variety of food and beverage options. A third outlet, named Cafe La Bamba, operates seasonally. Guests can purchase magic-related items from Theatre Magic.

My Rating: 6/10

While I normally give this a rather good rating, I was rather rushed as I only had 1 day to enjoy the Universal parks. My rating was also lowered due to the rather large crowds as it was a holiday weekend plus the Mardi Gras event at Universal. I feel that the Studios side of the theme park is rather lacking compared to the Islands side. Though, Diagon Alley did help the Studios upgrade its lineup and theming to stepping into the movies. I look forward to what could be replacing KidZone in the coming future, but there are no official announcements. The only area that I feel really needs to be replaced or redone is San Francisco. The ride (Fast & Furious Supercharged) is not really a good ride compared to what is offered in the park. I hope that Orlando decides to replace the dark ride with the coaster like they are in the Hollywood park.

Tips & Tricks

I don’t have any additional tips or tricks that I haven’t already covered in the Islands portion of this review. While you’re in Diagon Alley, I suggest taking a look around to find subtle nods to the Jaws ride that used to be in the area but was replaced. Additionally, I really enjoy all the spell-casting spots in Diagon Alley, though Knockturn Alley does have an interesting effect on the map via the dark light. Another tip, if you haven’t already, is to download the Universal app to keep track of show times, ride wait times, and character meet and greets. The locker system is similar to the Islands of Adventure locker system and uses your ticket to unlock the free small locker. While I don’t think it is required, you can also consider buying the Universal Express Pass, which can sometimes help reduce wait times.

Exploring The Sunshine State (Part 2) – Islands of Adventure

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Universal Studios Florida is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida that opened on June 7, 1990. Owned and operated by NBCUniversal, it features numerous rides, attractions, and live shows that are primarily themed to movies, television, and other aspects of the entertainment industry. Universal Studios Florida was the first of three theme parks to open at Universal Orlando Resort, joined later by Universal’s Islands of Adventure in 1999 and Volcano Bay in 2017. In 2019, it ranked eleventh in the world – sixth in North America – for overall attendance among amusement parks with approximately 10.9 million visitors.

The success of its sister location, Universal Studios Hollywood, in the 1980s fueled the desire to build a similar park in the Orlando area to compete with Walt Disney World. Two of its early projects were partially developed by famed Hollywood director Steven Spielberg, and many themed attractions over the years were developed in close collaboration with the directors, producers, and actors of the films they are based on. An early layout and design of the park also incorporated active production studios, similar to the Hollywood location, which provided guests with a behind-the-scenes look at film and television. As the interest to produce films in the Orlando area quickly faded, the design of the park transitioned to a more immersive, first-person perspective.

Universal Studios Florida operates a well-known annual event during the fall season called Halloween Horror Nights, where the park transitions to a Halloween theme featuring haunted houses and scare zones on select nights. One of the park’s biggest draws is Diagon Alley, a Harry Potter-themed portion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter that opened in 2014. Other notable attractions include E.T. Adventure, which debuted with the park’s grand opening in 1990, Men in Black: Alien Attack, as well as roller coasters Revenge of the Mummy and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.

To make it easy for our readers, I will split the day according to how I spent it at the parks. So our review will begin at Islands of Adventure, then have a lunch review from the Toothsome Chocolate Factory, and end the day at Universal Orlando. Here are a few things to keep in mind: During my time visiting, Universal Orlando was celebrating Madi Gras. It was also President’s Day weekend so the crowd level was moderately higher than I liked. So without further ado, let our Journey begin!

Islands of Adventure

Universal Islands of Adventure (also known as Islands of Adventure or IOA), originally called Universal Studios Islands of Adventure and later Universal’s Islands of Adventure, is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It opened on May 28, 1999, along with CityWalk, as part of an expansion that converted Universal Studios Florida into the Universal Orlando Resort. The resort’s slogan “Vacation Like You Mean It” was introduced in 2013.

Islands of Adventure is modeled after a journey of exploration, where guests embark on an adventure to visit a variety of themed islands. Initially, the park featured six islands. A seventh, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, was added in 2010, themed to the highly successful Harry Potter franchise. It was Universal’s largest investment since the resort’s founding in 1990. The expansion led to a significant increase in attendance, and in 2013, Islands of Adventure ranked seventh domestically and eleventh internationally after hosting approximately 8.1 million guests. The eighth island, Skull Island, opened on July 13, 2016, and is themed to the King Kong franchise.

Islands of Adventure is split into eight themed islands: (going clockwise around the park)

Port of Entry

Port of Entry is the park’s main entrance and is home to many shops and services including Guest Services aptly named The Open Arms Hotel. The park’s centerpiece, Pharos Lighthouse, is also located within the Port of Entry. Each night, this functioning lighthouse sends out a bright beam to lead visitors to and from the park’s gates. Like many theme parks using the “hub and spokes” format, this entry Island contains no rides.

Marvel Super Hero Island

Marvel Super Hero Island is based on the superhero characters featured in Marvel Comics. The area features comic book-styled architecture, with many building interiors created from a comic book perspective, characterized by exaggerated lines and angles. The exteriors of the buildings are painted with a special paint that appears to change color depending on the viewing angle; sometimes purple, sometimes orange. This island consists of four attractions: one tea-cup-themed ride featuring Storm from X-Men, one freefall tower themed to Doctor Doom from Fantastic 4, one 3-D dark ride themed to Spider-Man from Spider-Man, and one launch coaster themed to Hulk from The Hulk.

Toon Lagoon

Toon Lagoon is based on cartoon and comic strip characters from King Features Syndicate and Jay Ward. The area’s main focus is water-based rides. This island holds three attractions: one log flume ride themed to Dudley Do-Right, one river rapids ride themed to Popeye the Sailor Man, and one interactive kids’ playground themed to Popeye the Sailor Man.

Skull Island

Skull Island is the newest island at the park, having been opened in the summer of 2016. The area’s sole attraction, Skull Island: Reign of Kong, opened on July 13, 2016. The attraction and island mark the return of the King Kong character to the Universal Orlando Resort after the Kongfrontation attraction closed at Universal Studios Florida in 2002 to make way for the Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride. The only attraction on this island is the dark trackless ride based on the Kong films.

Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park is themed around the film series of the same name. Set after the events of the first film, the area takes on the guise of John Hammond’s dinosaur theme park featured in the series. As such, the area is filled with attractions and exhibits one would find in the “real” Jurassic Park, including thrill rides and discovery-based exhibits. There are five attractions located on this island: A children’s play area named Camp Jurassic, A river ride named Jurassic Park River Adventure based on the film and book of the same name, A suspended steel flying coaster named Pteranodon Flyers themed to the dinosaurs of the same name, A launch coaster named VelociCoaster themed to velociraptors and the Jurassic World franchise, and the interactive play area of the Jurassic Park Discovery Center based on the film and book of the same name.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade is themed around the Harry Potter universe, authored by J.K. Rowling. It officially opened to the public on June 18, 2010. On May 31, 2007, Universal announced that it had secured the licensing rights from Warner Bros. and Rowling to incorporate the Harry Potter franchise into Islands of Adventure. The 20-acre (81,000 m2) island features attractions, shops, and restaurants set inside locations such as the Forbidden Forest, Hogsmeade Village, and the iconic Hogwarts Castle. Groundbreaking began in 2007, with the official opening scheduled for June 18, 2010, as announced on March 25, 2010. As part of the promotion for the upcoming area, a behind-the-scenes documentary on the production of the park section is included on the Blu-ray and DVD release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

The Lost Continent

The Lost Continent is themed to ancient myths and legends, and is divided into two sub-sections: an ancient Arabian marketplace called Sinbad’s Bazaar, and a Grecian-Atlantis-esque Lost City. Formerly, the Lost Continent included a medieval section called Merlinwood, but the majority of that area was re-themed for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This land is also home to Mythos, which is one of two full-service restaurants in the park and was voted the winner of the best theme park restaurant by Theme Park Insider for six successive years between 2003 and 2008. As of June 1st, 2023, there is only one remaining attraction on this island: The interactive Mystic Fountain.

Seuss Landing

Seuss Landing is based on the works of author Dr. Seuss. The island features several Seuss-themed attractions, especially geared towards small children, as well as a Green Eggs and Ham Cafe and Circus McGurkus restaurant. As in the books, one of the unique characteristics of this area is that there are almost no straight lines anywhere. Palm trees bent by the winds of Hurricane Andrew were even planted in the area to continue this theme.

My Rating: 8/10

I am a bit biased when it comes to the Islands of Adventure rating. This theme park is one of the most brilliantly themed parks in the Orlando area, behind the Disney Parks. Every island has its own character and charm that you can see in the buildings and the views. You feel like you are stepping into your favorite comic strip, whether it be Spider-Man or Popeye. Or you can feel like you are stepping into your favorite book, whether it be Cat in the Hat or Jurassic Park. There are a few reasons why my rating is a bit lower, mostly due to the crowd level. I also am rating this experience on this trip instead of my previous trips before. Another reason why it is not perfect is just the fact that I was rather time-restricted due to the fact that I only had one day in both parks. I also am very lucky to get a chance to experience Poseidon’s Fury before its closure, but my main gripe about the Lost Continent is the lack of attractions since the Wizarding World takeover. This island is one of the remaining islands that have not received anything new since opening day nearly 30 years ago.

Tips & Tricks

As mentioned in the Dockside review, you can catch a shuttle bus from the hotel to the Resort for free. That eases the burden of having to worry about paying for parking at the resort or trying to find a spot in the parking lot if it’s a busy day. One tip was my use of a fanny pack that I carried with me. I kept my wallet, my phone (while on rides), and my glasses (while on rides) inside of the fanny pack and felt it was just easy to keep track of my personal items. 

Keep in mind that almost all rides do require you to place items into a locker before boarding the ride, though there are a few that don’t have that rule in place. The major thrill rides, the coasters, will all have a locker system that is provided to you for free or for a paid fee for use of the day. The water rides do offer lockers for guests to use, however, they are paid lockers and there are no free lockers to rent.  There are air dryers, which once again are paid, that you can use located near any water ride. 

My second tip, download the Universal Orlando app. This app allows you to keep track of wait times for rides, and times for experiences like characters or shows, and allow you to mobile order for food at many of the restaurants.

Stay tuned for part two of my Universal Studios Orlando & Islands of Adventure experience where I’ll review more of the park and review the Toothsome Chocolate Factory restaurant!

Urbex Journey – New Marriott Hotel Under Construction (Pictures + Video)

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In today’s unique blog post, we will be exploring a new Marriott hotel that is under construction, situated in the heart of the Virginia mountains and just steps away from amazing natural trails and popular tourist attractions. I happened to stumble upon this location since it was directly behind the hotel I was staying at on my recent vacation to Virginia.

There was not much information available regarding this hotel, nor were there any signs promoting it around the site. I actually asked the front desk of the hotel I was staying at, as well as a few locals, and I was told that this property was going to be a new Marriott hotel.

Prior to exploring, I walked the property from my hotel’s parking lot, and there were no fences, trespassing signs, or any other barricades blocking access to the site. Because of this, I decided to go ahead and photograph and film the property. I did not enter the interior for safety reasons as I was unsure of the condition of the building in its current phase of construction and did not want to trespass. The sole purpose of this video is to explore and document the property as it was and enjoy the rare sights of actually getting this close to a hotel under construction. No property was damaged, vandalized, or stolen during this exploration.

If you are planning on urban exploring, please note exploring abandoned or buildings under construction can be extremely dangerous and result in serious injury. This exploration was filmed a safe distance away from any major hazards and was done so safely. 

So without further ado, let’s take a look at this new Marriott hotel in the heart of the Virginia mountains and just footsteps away from amazing natural trails and popular tourist attractions.

Photo Gallery

Video Exploration

Discovering this hidden gem of a Marriott hotel in the Virginia mountains has been an extraordinary journey. From the first glimpse of its construction to capturing the beauty of nature in the background, this experience has been filled with wonder. This hotel, set amidst the Virginia mountains, offers a unique blend of tranquility and luxury. The photos and videos showcased here provide a glimpse of its allure. We explored responsibly, showcasing its grandeur while respecting the property.

I hope you all enjoyed our very first YouTube video and this blog post! Stay tuned for more content on it’s way soon.

Farewell Mirage Las Vegas. Hello Hard Rock LV.

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Very interesting news has been unfolding in Las Vegas these past few months as Hard Rock International purchased The Mirage from MGM Resorts International for a whopping $1.08 Billion! While it is sad to see such an iconic and revolutionary Vegas resort go, the Hard Rock plans are just stunning. Join us today as we venture into the history of this once beloved resort and what Hard Rock has in store for Vegas.

History of The Mirage:

The Mirage was the vision of Steve Wynn who was a visionary that forever changed the landscape of Las Vegas and Atlantic City, NJ. Wynn early in his career oversaw the construction and operation of several notable Las Vegas and Atlantic City hotels, including the Golden Nugget, the Golden Nugget Atlantic City, The Mirage, Treasure Island, the Bellagio, and Beau Rivage in Mississippi, and he played a pivotal role in the resurgence and expansion of the Las Vegas Strip in the 1990s.

The site where The Mirage site was previously home to a motel during the 1950s then the motel was torn down to become the Polynesian-themed Castaways Hotel and Casino. Wynn acquired the property 1987 from its owner Howard Hughes. After the purchase, Wynn was quick to demolish Castaways and begin construction on the Mirage. 

At first, the resort was announced under the name Golden Nugget after the existing Golden Nugget property he owned on Downtown Fremont Street at the time. After careful consideration, he later changed the name from Golden Nugget to “The Mirage” and purchased the name from the La Mirage Hotel and Casino and the Mirage Motel, which was renamed to the Glass Pool Inn and Key Largo after the purchase for $250,000.

The Mirage officially opened its doors on November 22, 1989. The Mirage remained under Wynn’s ownership until 2000, when his company was acquired by MGM Grand.

Mirage’s Legacy:

The Mirage, being one of the first heavily themed hotel and casinos in the Las Vegas Valley since Caesars Palace in 1979, began a period in Las Vegas’s history known as the “family-friendly era” where previously mob-run hotels and casinos were replaced by heavily themed resorts that catered mostly to families and children. This included the Excalibur in 1990, Treasure Island, MGM Grand, and Luxor in 1993, New York-New York in 1997, the Bellagio, and the Mandalay Bay, Venetian, and Paris in 1999.

Original Hard Rock Hotel & Casino:

Prior to Hard Rock International purchasing The Mirage, the company had another resort on the strip where the current Virgin Hotels Las Vegas sits today. The original Hard Rock Hotel & Casino was the first ever Hard Rock hotel ever to be built in the country. As of today, there are about 24 hotels not including 17 hotels under development and construction. 

The Las Vegas location was a trend setter and was known for its party scene, vast nightlife, entertainment and famous performances. LV opened its doors in March of 1995 and over the years expanded the property to include multiple hotel towers and additional expansions to accommodate the vast nightlife scene.

However in 2018, this all changed as in early January of that year, rumors floated around that Sir Richard Branson was going to be buying the Hard Rock hotel-casino and sure enough on March 30 an official announcement was made. This ended Hard Rock’s Las Vegas Hotel presence until 2022 when Hard Rock purchased The Mirage from MGM Resorts International for a whopping $1.08 Billion!

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino’s Planned Return:

So what exactly does Hard Rock have planned for their big Las Vegas return? Hard Rock is planning on demolishing the iconic Mirage Volcano to make way for a massive 800 – 1,000 room guitar shaped hotel tower. The guitar-shaped hotel will also include a casino with 200 slots and 12 table games.

Specific details have been very sparace and difficult to come by. As of now, there is no definitive decision as to whether the property is going to be closed during construction, partially open, etc.  

However, according to several sources, Hard Rock is planning a renovation and expansion of event and meeting space at the Mirage, a renovation of villas and the private gaming room, plus an “enhanced pool experience.” The planned renovations will also add 80,000 square feet of casino space and 83,000 square feet of convention space to the former Mirage. That’s accompanied by an addition of 1,164 slot machines and 161 table games. Renovations are expected to add nearly 3,000 theater seats, plus 596 hotel rooms and three food and beverage outlets to the property. 

No additional news, details or information have been shared at this time nor is there a specific timeline for the project. Currently as Hard Rock finalizes plans, seeks approvals and prepares for construction, The Mirage name will remain. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, according to the Dec. 2021 release, MGM Resorts will retain The Mirage name and brand, licensing it to Hard Rock royalty-free for a maximum period of three years while it finalizes its plans to rebrand the property.

There are also no plans or details announced regarding The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil show that has been a Mirage staple for many years. It is highly likely this show could remain as it fits perfectly within the Hard Rock theming.

Overall, this is definitely a wise business decision and investment as there are no guitar shaped buildings on the strip which will help make the property stand out. Many of the resorts on the strip look nearly identical with the exception of the heavily themed resorts, or well established resorts. Additionally, there is no other existing guitar shaped hotel except for Hard Rock’s Hollywood, Florida casino resort. While it will definitely be sad to see some classic strip icons go, in the long run it will definitely be worth it as new icons are being created.

One Last Look Inside The Mirage:

Before we say farewell to The Mirage, let’s take one last look inside the famous property.

Genius Business Decision?

Wow! What a gorgeous and well kept property. When MGM Resorts was asked for the reasoning behind the sale they stated it was to shift focus on their existing properties in Las Vegas and build on those experiences. Additionally, shortly after the sale, we saw MGM Resorts buy the famous and most popular strip resort Cosmopolitan for $1.6 billion. MGM is also allocating capital in preparation for the billion dollar investment for a new casino resort located in Osaka, Japan.

Overall I think this was a smart business decision by MGM Resorts since it allowed them to purchase the Cosmopolitan while allowing them to allocate funds for future projects, expansions and new construction. I personally can not wait to see the new Hard Rock property and the guitar hotel tower rise above the Vegas strip. 

What are your thoughts on The Mirage and upcoming changes to the resort? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts!

Exploring The Sunshine State. Theme Parks, State Parks & Travel Tips! (Part I)

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Greetings friends! I am back with a new blog for all of our friends! I will review the four-day vacation that I took recently, highlighting each day with reviews and thoughts on each park. I will also add my suggestions and tips so that you can make your vacation planning easier! So sit back, relax, and enjoy the review!

My family left our home in North Georgia at about midnight, Friday morning. Our deal was that I would pay for every other refill of gas in the car, as well as half the grocery bill and the parking fees at the hotel. We would stop around 8 am to eat some breakfast at a Pilot Travel Center for a restaurant named Iron Skillet. After our Breakfast, we would head to our first destination on our vacation… Weeki Wachee!

Weeki Wachee Spring State Park

Weeki Wachee was started by a US Navy named Newton Perry, who was looking for an interesting spot for a new business. Newton would experiment and invent a method of breathing underwater from a free-flowing air hose supplying oxygen from an air compressor. This would give the appearance of thriving twenty feet underwater with no breathing apparatus. They would build an 18-seat theater built into the limestone so viewers could look right into the natural beauty of the ancient spring submerged. On October 13th, 1947, the first showing at the theatre would open. In the 1950s, Weeki Wachee was one of the nation’s most popular tourist stops.

By the 1960s, girls were coming from Tokyo to try out for the privilege of being a mermaid at Weeki Wachee. The mermaids would perform eight shows a day to sold-out crowds and as many as half a million people would come to the Springs to see the mermaids. The city of Weeki Wachee would become incorporated by 1966, putting the small town on the map. By 1982, the waterpark “Buccaneer Bay” would open with waterslides and white-sand beaches. Weeki Wachee is celebrating 75 ‘fintastic’ years right now, with some beautifully painted mermaids along the main paths.

Now, it is time for my thoughts, reviews, and tips for Weeki Wachee. While we were at Weeki Wachee, we were able to catch the show in the lagoon but the room was rather full already so we didn’t get the best seating to see some of the action. The show they performed was the Little Mermaid, which my sisters enjoyed greatly. My first tip is to arrive at the theatre about 30 minutes before showtime if you wish to have a good seat, as it fills up quickly. Weeki Wachee also offers a boat ride but sadly it was already full for the next three trips, so we skipped the tour. I love walking down the trail as the flora is somewhat beautiful but the shade was much appreciated in the heat that day.

My Rating: 4/10

The reason my rating is so low is just due to how little there is to do at the state park. I think it is a cute pitstop, but with only three mermaid shows and a boat ride. You can easily get bored at the park. I thought they could have done more flora on the trails, though some of the flowers were beautiful. My biggest complaint was the fact that the boat rides filled up rather quickly and made the rest of our visit rather boring. There is some theming around the park, but it is sparse and mostly used for photo ops. The statues they had out for the 75th anniversary could have spread out the park, maybe like a treasure hunt in my opinion.

Tips & Tricks

My first tip for visiting Weeki Wachee is to try going for a boat ride first. Head straight to the boat docks. While many will be watching the mermaid show in the morning, the line for the boat ride will be low. However, after the first show is over, the line and queue fill up for boat rides. My second tip is to keep an eye on the times for the mermaid shows. The park opens the theater for seating 30 minutes before the show and keeps doors open until the theater is full or the show is in progress. When we arrived, the theater was rather full but we were still able to get a seat. However, when the action scenes in the middle took place, it was hard to see much. 

Now, for a trick for those who have young kids. The state park does have a Ranger show towards the back that will teach kids all about beautiful animals, there is also a playground for them to burn their energy out on. My biggest trick is that we also took a child harness to help keep the youngest from running off, but allow her to still run around for fun.

Universal Endless Resort- Dockside

Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn & Suites and Dockside Inn & Suites are a pair of hotels located in Universal Orlando in Orlando, Florida forming a single resort. The resorts are built on the former site of Wet ‘n Wild Orlando, which closed in 2016. The hotels were built as value-level hotels for Universal Orlando.

We stayed for 3 nights in a two-bedroom suite on the 4th floor of the 1st tower, with our room in the middle of the tower itself. Each 440-square-foot suite has 2 bedrooms, separate bath and vanity areas, and a kitchenette. Each suite can sleep up to 6 people with two queen beds in one room and one queen bed in the other. Each suite came with two TVs, a mini-fridge, a microwave, a coffee maker, and other guest amenities including a safe. Staying at a Universal property does come with perks, including Early Park Admission alongside free transportation to CityWalk and back.

My Rating: 8/10

I was blown away at how big the hotel was, having only worked in hotels with 100 rooms at most. The lobby was really beautiful with its design and the theme of a beachside getaway. I do have to dock some points for the fact that they didn’t have enough luggage racks to handle so many guests which were rather disappointing. I didn’t include the marketplace or any of the dining options in my review as I didn’t experience it. The pool looked nice but I never got the chance to swim as I was exhausted after each day. My family said that the pool got cold easily so they didn’t stay in the pool for long. The room was really clean and I loved the location with a rather nice view of ICON Park and good views of the sunrise in the morning. Our room keys even had our names on them, with different characters from the Universal parks pictured on them. The room was straightened out each day with beds made. The checkout process was also rather simple and easy, plus we got to keep our keys as souvenirs!

Tips & Tricks

If you are staying at a Universal Resort, I would suggest that the first tip, once you are settled in, is to talk to the Universal Vacations desk in the Lobby. The guest services will be happy to answer any questions, make reservations and help you plan your day at Universal Resort. If you are going to SeaWorld (Like I did), you will need to make a reservation for the shuttle at least a day ahead at the desk as well. Another tip, while you are at the Vacation desk, is to go ahead and buy the PhotoPass. It was $70 plus taxes but cheaper than if you wait to buy the pass once you are in the park. The Photo Pass is well worth the money spent and I will explain it in the next part. When you check in, be warned that you will have to pay for parking ($15/night). 

Stay tuned for the next part where I review my experiences at Universal & SeaWorld during my trip!

Kicking Back Hampton Style – Sweet Eats, Chill Vibes & More!

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We’re officially back after being on the road experiencing even more of what Pennsylvania has to offer! This time we are in the Harrisburg Hershey area. From chill vibes in the hotel to the sweet eats, to exploring caverns, this trip had it all. So without further ado, let’s dive into today’s review!

Hampton Inn Harrisburg-East (Hershey Area)

Customer Service – 5/5

I’ve got to say Hampton Inn is starting to become one of my favorite Hilton brands and my go to hotel brand. Much like Holiday Inn Express, every time I visit a Hampton location the service is always on point and I never have issues with the service I get. Unlike Holiday Inn Express, Hampton always seems to go that one extra step and really blows you away. I’m not sure if it’s just because Hilton standards are different from IGH, but I’m seeming to like Hilton more and more every time I go.

Upon checking in, the front desk agent was very polite, respectful, talkative (in a good way) and overall on point! I’ve mentioned this in previous reviews and I’ll say it again. I absolutely love seeing fellow front desk agents out there just doing amazing at their jobs! It was honestly nice to be on the receiving end this time instead of the giving end.  

Later on in the evening, the room next to ours (we had the adjoining door so we could hear into the next room slightly) went out for a while. While they were out, the alarm clock in their room kept going off for about 30 mins. I waited a bit to call since I wanted to give the neighbors the benefit of the doubt and I also didn’t want to be that person that complains. When I did call, the front desk agent was once again on point and came upstairs and took care of it right away. 

Sadly for this front desk agent, he would later have to come back upstairs again around 10:30pm. The neighbors when they got back were blasting their tv all night long, talking overly loud (almost to the point where it was screaming) and making a lot of noise. Being I work at a hotel, I know what it is like having to deal with situations like these all the time. When I did call, the front desk apologized and shortly after, I heard them in the hallway knocking on their door. I heard them ask the room to politely turn the tv down and keep the noise down a bit. After that, I didn’t hear a peep out of them the rest of the night. The front desk handled that like a champ!

Rooms – 4.8/5

Out of all the rooms I have stayed in so far, this has been one of the best rooms I’ve stayed in. From top to bottom everything in the room was brand new being the hotel was recently renovated. One thing I love about this brand is their attention to every detail in their room designs. In addition to being very well kept and updated, the rooms were also spotless! As someone who works in the hotel industry, one of the first things I always look for and expect is cleanliness. Got to say, Hampton never disappoints when it comes to this. Only minor issues I noticed with the room were a few small areas that were just cosmetic and didn’t affect the room at all (just two tiny areas that had wallpaper peeling & the back of the bathroom door needed a bit of touch up paint). Other than those few very minor things, this room was perfect and well worth the price!

Amenities – 5/5

Of course what’s not a hotel stay without the free breakfast in the morning. I do have to say Hampton Inn’s breakfast is definitely far superior than Holiday Inn Express since it’s more consistent, the food selection is larger and their breakfast is always cooked and prepared perfectly.

I always make sure I hit the waffle maker section of the breakfast area. There’s nothing better than a fresh waffle topped with a vast amount of toppings. I always make chocolate chips, peanut butter or sprinkles. Usually I top half with chocolate chips then the other half with peanut butter. Of course I can’t resist the maple syrup either!

On a quick side note, I totally found it pretty cool and astonishing how the staff wrote positive messages on the bananas for the guests! This is the first hotel I have stayed at that did this. It just goes to show the level of care the staff have for guests and providing excellent guest service. Nice touch Hampton!

Final Thoughts & Rating

Overall, this entire stay was flawless and perfect just like I expected it to be. Customer service was beyond excellent, the rooms were nearly perfect and breakfast was on point as always. 

Rating the hotel on a scale of 1 to 5, I would rate this location a 4.9/5! But hang on, that’s not the end of the review! Up next, we’ll be covering all the restaurants I stopped at during the trip as well as a brief review on Indian Echo Caverns.

Restaurant Reviews

The Original Golden Eagle Diner – 2/5

This was definitely an interesting diner from slot machines, a full bar and weird decor stuck somewhere between the 1960s & 1970s. Yes you heard that correctly, this diner has a full service bar which operates around lunch time and diner. However, I believe they do use it at breakfast only for mimosas and other breakfast cocktails.

Overall, the experience was not very good and I honestly wouldn’t recommend this diner. Cleanliness was a major issue from the very start. The silverware I got was not clean so I sent it back and got another set, only another dirty set. I once again asked for another set and it too was dirty. I had to combine pieces from the sets. I had to have a completely clean set. The issues didn’t stop there with cleanliness, the table I was seated at was a bit dirty to the point I had to take the sanitizing wipes they had on the tables for Covid, to reclean my table. Lastly, being I was on the road, I used the restroom prior to leaving and it was totally disgusting! It was as if nobody ever cleaned it for a long time. It was so gross! 

As far as food goes, don’t expect much either. The food was really bland, and didn’t taste that good. I was expecting better because the reviews were so good for this place. Sadly, that was not the case as I ordered what I expected to be pancakes but instead got overly sugary, cake like “pancakes” which did not even taste like pancake batter.

Lancaster Brewing Company – 5/5

This honestly wasn’t my first time eating at Lancaster Brewing Company. It was back during (year) when I stayed at Holiday Inn Express in Lancaster, PA. One thing I enjoy about LBC is the wide selection of food available and their large drink selection (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic).

Check out their menu here: https://www.lancasterbrewing.com/dine/lbc-harrisburg/

I’m not much into drinking alcohol however, I did try their Peanut Butter Beer they had on tap as well as bottled. It actually tastes a lot like peanut butter and isn’t overpowering like I thought it was. 

During my last visit, I ordered the LBC burger which is 1/2 pound of our signature chuck/sirloin house blend, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and house-cut fries. LBC has very good cuts of meat and burgers. One thing I also enjoy about their burgers is when you ask for it to be cooked well done, they cook it perfectly. Sometimes when they cook them well done, they tend to overdo it and cause the burger to have a burnt taste. This visit however, I didn’t go for a burger and went with a thin crust pepperoni pizza which was absolutely amazing!

Indian Echo Caverns

Our last stop of our trip found us at Indian Echo Caverns just outside of Hershey with beautiful sights hidden within plain sight thousands of feet underground. The caverns have a long history dating all the way back to the 1700s. The temperature in the caverns is a consistent 52 degrees which feels absolutely amazing on a hot summer day or freezing winter day. Let’s take a look at some photos:

And with that, this officially concludes our PA road trip in the Harrisburg Hershey area. Thank you for your patience during the past few weeks with no new content. Stay tuned for loads of new content on its way. I recently started a new job in the casino industry working on the hotel side, so expect lots of casino related content, more crazy hotel stories and travel tips. Additionally, (Zach) Hyrax recently went on a Florida trip. From Universal Studios to SeaWorld, his trip had it all. Stay tuned for the blog posts all about it!

Wyndham Prototypes: Expectations vs. Reality

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Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. is a hotel company headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey. The company is known as the largest hotel franchiser in the world, with 9,280 locations across 22 unique brands. Some of those brands include the well established Howard Johnson, Days Inn, Ramada, Super 8, Travelodge, Baymont, La Quinta, and Wyndham. There is partially a brand for every market out there (economy, extended stay, full service, luxury, etc.)

So what’s the problem with Wyndham? Well, many of these brands are very established meaning many locations are very old, outdated and are becoming less appealing. Throughout the years as Hilton, Marriott, IGH and many others rolled out new designs, updated their brands and upped their standards, Wyndham just fell silent and kept on going. So, now many of these brands across the country are becoming less appealing due to this. Another reason for this is with these brands being franchises, it also means on top of being outdated, some locations aren’t run very well giving Wydnham a bad image. Lastly, the standards Wyndham has are very soft compared to what other companies have. They are jokingly called the “relaxed” hotel company which ties into the first point made above. 

All these factors give Wyndham a poor image. However, it is worth pointing out that not all locations or brands are terrible. It all boils down to the ownership and management at that particular location. Between 2018 and 2021, Wyndham finally woke up and came out with new concepts, updated designs and rolled out new standards. In today’s post we will be taking an in depth look into Wyndham Hotels & Resorts most recent brand prototypes and what the future holds for some of these brands. So without further ado, let’s jump into our first brand!

Days Inn – Bask in the Sun

The Days Inn brand was founded in 1970 by Cecil B. Day, who opened the first location in Tybee Island, Georgia. From the very start, this brand was innovative and creative with playing with new concepts and ideas. For example, when the second location was constructed, it featured a restaurant and gift shop combination called Tasty World. In addition to this, the hotel also had on-site gasoline pumps to sell unbranded fuel to motel guests. Days Inn was one of the first hotel chains to offer discounts to senior citizens. It was also among the first to locate its properties along suburban and rural exits on the Interstate Highway System, as opposed to more urban locations.

The brand is now a part of the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey. As of December 31, 2018, Days Inn includes 1,728 locations worldwide with 137,678 rooms.

Throughout the years under Wyndham’s control this brand has fallen from its roots and just sat quite with no new room designs or innovations done. Pair this with very loose and poor quality control measures, the brand really has fallen to a cheap, hit or miss roadside motel brand. Finally, after many years in 2018, the brand announced it would be refreshing everything from room designs, branding and more.

As someone who works for this brand, I have to say this new room design really excites me as it really embraces the original spirit of the brand and takes the color scheme of Days Inn and really builds on it. As someone really into marketing, I love when companies make subtle references to their brand by using their color scheme or logos in creative ways. I can definitely see, at least in my hotel, the rooms going for a higher rate once we roll out this design.

Howard Johnsons – Go Happy. Go Hojo.

The history and story behind this brand is actually very interesting and a cool story to really take a look at. The Howard Johnson brand actually started as a chain of famous restaurants that were the first to sell 28 flavors of ice cream and create the classic diner experience we all enjoy today. Continuing to build on the very successful concept, Johnson began pairing new restaurant locations with lodging to target more travelers and families. 

Sadly, much like many of Wyndham’s economy or mid-tiered brands, this brand has also suffered the same fate of falling far from its roots and developing a poor brand image. Perfect example, the Howard Johnson location not far from my hotel I work at is notorious for police activity, drugs, prostitution, and other questionable activities. The hotel really is a hive for all these troublesome people and activities. However, just because this one location is like this doesn’t mean they are all exactly like this. My point is many of these locations suffer similar issues while some locations are much better off. It honestly all depends on the operators and owners of the property.

I have to say out of all the prototypes released, this is one of my favorites since it really takes the classic Howard Johnson style and brings it into the 21st century. It really reminds me of something you would see from HGTV or from one of those renovation shows. Like I mentioned above, the past few years this brand really has strayed far from its roots. I feel like this design really shouts Howard Johnson. One thing I do dislike about the design is I feel like there is way too much going on with the first design with the blue accent walls while in the other room there is too little going on. I feel like these designs clash with each other since one room has too much furniture, accents and decorations while the other is slightly too simple. Regardless this is 100% a major improvement over what the brand currently has.

Super 8 – See You On the Road

Ron Rivett and Dennis Brown created the new Super 8 Motel corporation with each of them owning 50% of the stock in the new company. Super 8 got its iconic name from how much a room used to cost back then, $8.88 which is about $50.00 in today’s money. The first Super 8, with 60 rooms, opened in Aberdeen, South Dakota, in 1974, built near a Holiday Inn with just some drawings made by Rivett as blueprints. The stucco exterior with an English Tudor style was inspired by Rivett’s father-in-law, who was a stucco; the English Tudor style and placing of Super 8’s near Holiday Inns was an established procedure for setting up new Super 8’s for years to come.

Out of all the prototypes I looked at that Wyndham released, these were by far my least favorite by a long shot. I feel like all they really did was take dull, drab and outdated and tweaked it barely. It really feels like these rooms are just more updated versions of old dated rooms. I feel like there could have been more effort put into these rooms. The color pallet in each variation feels too dark and clashes with everything else in the room.  

Not only did I feel like the interior was not amazing, the exterior was no better. If you look at the images of what new locations would look like, they look like an office building and not a hotel. While I do give them credit for trying to stand out from the standard box like design, I feel like they could have done a better job of making it look less office-like and more welcoming and relaxing like a hotel should be. Even the lobby also has an office building and commercial like atmosphere to it. Regardless, it is definitely a step in the right direction for the brand over what exists now.    

Ramada

Like many of the brands we already discussed, Ramada also had very humble routes and was innovative from the very start. Founded by Marion W. Isbell with the investment help of Michael Robinson and Del Webb, the brand started in 1953. 

Ramada opened its first hotel, a 60-room facility, on U.S. Route 66 at Flagstaff, Arizona in 1954 and set up its headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, where the chain built the Sahara Hotel on North 1st Street downtown in 1956 (which later became the Ramada Inn Downtown) and a 300-room Ramada Inn in the 3800 block of East Van Buren in 1958 that would become the chain’s flagship property and headquarters. 

Inspired by rival hotel chain Holiday Inn, Ramada seeked to develop a chain of roadside motor hotels conveniently located along major highways which would provide lodgings with hotel-like quality at near-motel rates plus amenities such as TV, air conditioning, swimming pools, and on-premises restaurants.

I always found Ramada an odd brand because it’s so widespread. Some locations have ballrooms, event space and are full service. Those are generally the nicer locations. Have an old school Hilton feel to them. Meanwhile there are also the select service locations that are just dumpy roadside motels. 

One thing I find interesting about Ramada is how much nicer the locations are in Europe, Canada and Asia. It just speaks volumes of where the brand currently is and what it hopes to be. Overall, I find the rooms are pretty much copy and paste from the Days Inn prototype. For Days, it works all the colors and the design. I think here it’s just too similar to Days. Also the design for Days Inn works since that is a select service/economy brand whereas Ramada is more of a full service midscale brand. I think Ramada is trying to be something it’s not. It’s trying to become like a Hilton, Marriott or IGH brand which it will never come close to.

AmericInn

The AmericInn Franchise was founded by Jim Graves, and the first location opened in 1984. By 1990, there were more than 20 AmericInn properties located in Minnesota and Wisconsin. In 1994, AmericInn began franchising with the help of Wyman Nelson, an entrepreneur known for expanding the Perkins Restaurant and Bakery chain in the 1960s and 1970s.

Expansion outside the Midwestern United States began in 2000. AmericInn has 240 motels, with more than 80 percent of its locations in the Upper Midwest.

All AmericInn properties include a recreation area with pool and whirlpool, as well as fourteen different types of guest rooms. A complimentary hot breakfast, called “AmericInn Perk,” is also offered at each hotel and includes bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy, waffles, pastries, cereals, juice, and fruit. Rooms are built with masonry block, sound deadening foam and heavy drywall between rooms, as well as concrete slabs, to minimize noise within rooms.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts acquired the brand in July 2017.

This honestly does not look like a brand Wyndham Hotels. It honestly has more of a Holiday Inn, Hilton or Marriott feel to it. We mentioned throughout this post, the contestant problems Wyndham has across its portfolio from poor cleanliness, bad management, outdated standards and more. AmericInn feels like the total opposite to all these issues. This is honestly the way Wyndham should be going portfolio wide. These rooms are definitely a good way to repair their damaged image from many of their brands without moving too far over to the luxury side. Genius move by the brand acquiring this chain back in 2017.

La Quinta

Just like all of these brands, La Quinta also started out as a separate independently owned and operated hotel company. The brand got its start in 1968 from a pair of brothers Sam and Phil Barshop. However unlike most of these brands, where many locations are poorly run, not clean or maintained, La Quinta has actually been setting the standards for new Wyndham brands and renovations. The brand is actually looked at as one of their top brands and is often compared to a Hilton or Marriott brand. Think about that for a second, most of the brands we have talked about, are not even remotely close to or comparable to Hilton or Marriott. This brand actually did such a good job, it’s now even helping the brands up their game and up their standards. 

The brand has also been so successful that it is now beginning to be used in dual branded hotel prototypes. A dual branded hotel comprises two similar hotels from the same brand family – such as a Residence Inn and Moxy by Marriott – in a single building. The brands share the same back of house areas and oftentimes share common areas.

Sadly, it is very difficult to find many development plans, images or renderings for the rooms that are publicly available. However on Wyndham’s franchising site, there are images showing what current locations look like.

https://development.wyndhamhotels.com/brand/la-quinta/

Overall, this is honestly Wyndham’s best and strongest brand they currently have in their portfolio. I would honestly love for all of their brands to get on La Quinta’s level. I think if Wyndham got their economy and mid-scale brands to this level, they could easily compete much better with the top hotel companies like Marriott, Hilton or IGH.

Final Thoughts

With Wyndham scrambling to play catch up to the competition, I think these new prototypes and standards will go a long way to improving all the brands and the experiences guests will have. 

Will these prototypes be enough though? I honestly don’t think so since Wydnham has such lax standards as it is. Many locations are poorly run and not maintained so in locations like this, I think this would just be a waste of time. You can make a hotel look as nice as you’d like but it won’t hide the problems of the hotel as maintenance wise or management wise. In locations like that, it’ll just look nice for a few months to a few years before it is back to where it is. However, in locations where management is good and the ownership cares, these upgrades can definitely go a long way. I honestly think Wyndham needs to step it up and follow in La Quinta’s footsteps since that is honestly their best brand (of course not including the luxury brands or resorts). 

What do you think of Wyndham Hotels and these new prototypes? Will these new changes convenience you to stay at a Wyndham Brand? Let us know your thoughts down below.

Behind The Scenes Tour – Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino

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I recently had the fabulous pleasure of having the ability to take a field trip to the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City with my college’s hospitality club. Join me as I take you with me on a full behind the scenes tour. We’ll get a sneak preview of the 770 room hotel tower, banquet spaces & more!

Starting The Day:

Our tour kicked off at the lobby where we met the Director of Sales for the property as well as a Sales Coordinator. We began the day inside the beautiful meeting room upstairs poised above the lobby. We all introduced ourselves and got a sense of the property, how Covid has affected the day to day operations and how the city has seen an increased competition from more neighboring states legalizing gabling over the past few years.

Hotel Tower Tour:

After this, we were shown around the 770 room hotel tower where we got to tour a basic standard room, a junior suite, a normal suite, and a VIP/Penthouse suite. These rooms were just stunning and mind blowing! The views of the entire city, the ocean and bay were stunning! 

Would you believe me if I told you the last time the rooms were renovated was in 2012? Yes 2012! These rooms are in fantastic shape and well kept for being long overdue for a renovation. All of us students were all mind blown when we were told this. We were told there are plans to soon renovate one floor of the tower at a time shortly after the holiday season. If the rooms looked this good now, I can’t wait to see what they will look like after all the upgrades and improvements are made.

Casino, Restaurants & Marina Tour:

From here, we went downstairs and got a tour of the casino floor, as well as all the restaurants on the gaming floor. Unfortunately, we were strictly prohibited from taking photos or videos on the casino floor. From what I can tell you, the casino floor is definitely smaller than the other casinos in the city but it still offers plenty of slot and table games. Personally, I think less is more for the space they have. The way the casino is set up, it’s not overcrowded or empty. It’s perfectly designed for the space there is and it works. It doesn’t dominate the property or is up in your face which is perfect. The property markets itself as a boutique casino hotel that goes more for a luxurious resort feel. With the casino set up in the manner that it is, it works perfectly to achieve that goal and feel they are going for. 

After taking a brief tour of the gaming floor, we were granted a sneak peak inside the Chart House which is one of their top restaurants in the resort. The restaurant overlooked the entire marina and had stunning views across the entire dining room. Most of not all the walls were covered with floor to ceiling windows.

From here we descended down a spiral staircase and were taken down to the lower level where the Marina is and one of many of their outdoor patios/decks. This outdoor space was personally my favorite since you had stunning views of the city, ocean as well as the neighboring Borgata and Harrah’s resorts. Besides this outdoor space, there are also two outdoor rooftop decks one near the pool and one directly next store to that. These roof top decks are so massive, that they have the ability to host events for a couple thousand people! Speaking of events, our guided tour headed there next.

Ballroom & Event Spaces Tour:

At this point, everything I saw on the tour was impressive enough but my jaw dropped even more when we were taken into the grand ballroom and The Wave nightclub. My first thought was how many of my hotel ballrooms could fit inside the grand ballroom (most likely between 4 – 6) and the sheer capacity it had. When I heard the kinds of events they have there, it honestly made sense. We were told the ballroom hosts anything from large dinners, fundraisers, conventions, weddings, concerts, shows and more. I’ve seen first hand at my hotel what goes into running large events but it’s mind blowing to see that on a far larger scale. 

From here, we were shown The Wave nightclub which as the name implies, is Gold Nugget’s night club and premium nightlife spot. Ironically enough, the club is marketed towards an older, middle aged crowd instead of a younger crowd. The club hosts a lot of cover bands and well established DJs. I think the coolest thing about this space is how when the club is closed during the day, it is used as an event space. You wouldn’t think a nightclub would be a good fit for an event space but honestly the space works very well.

Lunch & Guest Speakers:

After this, we took back upstairs off the lobby where we started the day to take a lunch break. We were not only welcomed to a great lunch but also guest speakers from the property as well. We got to meet the Director of Food & Beverage, Human Resources Team, the Executive Director of Player Development & Front Desk Operations and of course the sales team who was showing us all around. 

This honestly was one of the best parts of the tour in my opinion since we got to ask questions about the property, casino operations, career advice and any other questions we had. One thing that amazed me was the one human resources lead worked in Atlantic City for 40 years! She told us her experiences at all of the casinos she worked at and shared insights with us on how to help our careers. This was really eye opening and inspirational. I recall telling my professor after the fact, how it was so cool to get a taste of the culture and the morale just in a short 2-3 hour span.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I got to say I was super impressed the entire time while on the tour. From the rooms, hotel operations, employee culture and more. It honestly really won me over and gets me excited for the future. I am extremely thankful for the hospitality we received during our tour and glad to have met everyone. This was the first casino hotel I took so far down in Atlantic City and now that I will be going to school down in the area, I can’t wait to go on more tours like this.

Germany in the Georgia Mountains? – Oktoberfest Celebration Guide

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Imagine if you will, you are driving down a road when suddenly you see a bavarian-style village on the other side of the hill. Before you panic and try to grab your passport, let me explain that you are still in the United States. You have just stumbled upon a city that looks like it belongs on a postcard… the Alpine Village of Helen, Georgia. Willkommen Freund (Weclome friend)!

What is Alpine Helen, Georgia?

Helen was platted in 1912, and named after the daughter of a lumber official. The town was incorporated in 1913.

Formerly a logging town that was in decline, the city resurrected itself by becoming a replica of a Bavarian alpine town, simply in the Appalachians instead of the Alps. This design is mandated through zoning first adopted in 1969, so that the classic south-German style is present on every building, even on the small number of national franchisees present (such as Huddle House and Wendy’s).

In 1975, DOCUMERICA photographer Al Stephenson documented the life, recreation, and economy of the Helen area before and during the construction of Alpine Helen. The City of Helen does have a sister city:  Füssen, Bavaria.

Modern Day of Alpine Helen, Georgia

Tourism is a key economic activity in Helen, catering mostly to weekend visitors from the Atlanta area and also motorcyclists who enjoy riding the roads in Helen and its surrounding areas. Helen can be crowded in late October when autumn leaves typically peak. It also hosts its own Oktoberfest during September, October, and November. Events and festivals are held throughout the year, including the “Southern Worthersee”, which is a stateside Volkswagen and Audi event that pays tribute to the Worthersee Tour in Austria. An annual hot-air balloon race is also held here on the first weekend in June.

The main road through town is north/south Georgia 75. The Helen stream gauge (HDCG1) is located on its bridge over the Chattahoochee in the middle of downtown. A parallel route to the west is labeled Georgia 75 Alt to identify it as a bypass route around the town and its traffic jams in the autumn and on some weekends.

Unicoi State Park and Lodge, spanning 1,050 acres (420 ha), is located immediately northeast of Helen on Georgia 356. The park encompasses Unicoi Lake, a 53-acre (21 ha) freshwater lake, offering outdoor activities for all seasons. Among these are a swimming beach, trout streams, wheelchair-accessible fishing docks, seasonal canoe, kayak, and paddle boat rentals, seven picnic shelters with charcoal grills, three playgrounds for children, spots for birding, 7.5 miles (12.1 km) of hiking within the park (with adjacent trails in the Chattahoochee National Forest), 8 miles (13 km) of mountain biking trails within the park, and several places to enjoy the natural environment of the lake and park. Unicoi State Park also offers lodging in several forms, including in its unique barrel cabins. Access to Anna Ruby Falls, part of the Chattahoochee National Forest, is through the park.

Hardman Farm State Historic Site is also located near Helen, along with the Sautee Nachoochee Indian Mound and the beautiful Mount Yonah for those hikers who wish to challenge themselves.

Oktoberfest in Helen

The Oktoberfest is the world’s largest Volksfest, featuring a beer festival and a traveling funfair. It is held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It is a 16- to 18-day folk festival running from mid or late-September to around the first Sunday in October, with more than six million international and national visitors attending the event. Locally, it is called d’Wiesn, after the colloquial name for the fairgrounds, Theresienwiese. Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since the year 1810. Other cities across the world also hold Oktoberfest celebrations that are modeled after the original Munich event. However, things are much different in the town of Helen. 

Celebrate the start of Oktoberfest with a parade at noon on Sept. 10, 2022, in downtown Helen. Helen’s Oktoberfest runs from Thursday to Sunday through September and daily from Sept. 29 to Oct. 30, 2022. 

Like its German counterpart, the celebrations are different from weekday to weekend. Weekends are popular with tour and college groups, while weekdays tend to be a bit more family-friendly. The event is open to all ages. Admission is $8 during the week, $10 on Saturdays, and free on Sundays, with food and drink available for purchase. The doors open at 6 p.m. throughout the week and 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Unlike its counterpart in Germany, Helen continued its Oktoberfest celebrations during the COVID pandemic, though all guests were required to wear face masks and many of the events were postponed till the next year.

Where to Stay in Helen for Oktoberfest

Accommodations book up for Oktoberfest quickly, so make plans in advance. Alpine-inspired hotels like Valhalla Resort Hotel and The Heidi Motel are popular options for their amenities and quirky suites, respectively. There are also outposts of national chain hotels in town.

If you’re traveling with a group, a rental cabin can better accommodate you, which you can find in Unicoi State Park and Smithgall Woods State Park or with companies like Cabin Rentals of Helen, Georgia Mountain Rentals, and Pinnacle Cabin Rentals. Some have hot tubs and others have full kitchens.

Campgrounds are another option, whether you’re looking for basic tent sites or RV sites with all the bells and whistles. You can also stay in nearby communities like Cleveland, Dahlonega, and Blairsville. Helen is an easy drive from Atlanta, less than two hours, and only an hour from the Lake Lanier area.

What to Do in Helen for Oktoberfest

Enjoy live music and dancing

The event has a rotating group of musical acts, playing traditional German tunes and modern favorites. Dance the polka and others with festival regulars. Sing along with the songs like “Ein Prosit.”

Eat and drink

The Festhalle has the ceremonial tapping of keg like you’d see at the Munich version of the celebration. The tents have a selection of German and American beers for those who are of age.

You can’t visit Helen for Oktoberfest without trying some German food! Hofer’s of Helen is where to start your day with delicious pastries or, later in the day, Reuben sandwiches made by Germans who immigrated to the town in the 1950s. Cafe International and The Troll Tavern are also lunch options. Bodensee has authentic favorites like spaetzle, goulash and wursts. The Heidelberg German Restaurant, Old Bavaria Inn Restaurant & Lounge, Muller’s Famous Fried Cheese Cafe, and Hofbrauhaus are additional options.

The bars and restaurants in town have Oktoberfest specials. It should go without saying, but if you’re going to imbibe, make a plan to get home safely via taxi or designated driver.

Explore nearby attractions

While you’re in the area, take advantage of the natural surroundings with a hike to Anna Ruby Falls or visit one of the many nearby vineyards for a tasting. Test your putt-putt skills on one of the many mini-golf courses in Helen or take a ride down the mountain on the Georgia Mountain Coaster. Maybe you want to take a boat out on the nearby Unicoi Lake or try to make your mark in the Archery range at Unicoi State Park. There is so much to do in the city and surrounding area for everyone of all ages! Who knows… maybe you will find some gold while panning.

In Conclusion

As you can see, the city of Helen is so much more than a town. It’s a celebration, a festival, and a party. It may not be the biggest alpine village in the United States- but in my opinion, it is one of the best. With some much to offer year-round, maybe it is time to make plans for a visit. So pack your lederhosen and practice your yodel. We will see you in the Mountains! 

Prost, mein Freund <Cheers, my friend>