Things to Do in Orlando

February is coming to a close this week, and spring is on the way! If you're looking for something to do, Orlando is celebrating the warmer temperatures and balmy breezes of the season with several fun events, many of them outdoors.

Flogging Molly Concert - Feb. 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Head to House of Blues in Downtown Disney to see this Celtic punk band blow the roof off! With St. Patrick's Day in just a couple of weeks, it's great way to get in the Irish Spirit and celebrate Leap Day. Tickets are going fast at $75 each- get yours now!

Florida Strawberry Festival - March 1 to 11 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
It's finally strawberry season! This year the festival is celebrating 77 years of fun with music, contests, rides and of course, a lot of strawberries. Headline acts include Gretchen Wilson and Hank Williams Jr. In addition, the festival features more than 80 thrilling rides and 400 vendors, exhibitors and delicious food concessions (fried strawberries, anyone?) Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children.

1st Thursdays - March 1 from 6 to 9 p.m.
The Orlando Museum of Art offers a fresh way to take in some amazing artwork on the first Thursday of each month. With food, music, and of course, featured art, you can make a date or a friend's evening out with class and culture. This month's theme is Fervent for Flora: Art in the Botanical Realm. Tickets are $10.

Central Florida Fair - March 1 to 11 beginning at 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. on Saturday; and 11 a.m. on Sunday. Closing times are flexible.
Experience the thrill of the midway with more than 100 rides and attractions. Serious thrill seekers can take advantage of Ridebands - pay one price of $20 to $25 depending on the day, and get unlimited rides for that day! Sample the fair food, including favorites like corndogs, funnel cakes, Italian sausage snow cones, pretzels and cotton candy, just to name a few. After all, a little splurging isn't so bad! Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for kids. Children five and under are free!

Date Night at Leu Gardens - March 2 - Gardens open at 6 p.m., movie starts at 7:30 p.m.
Take your honey out for a picnic and movie under the stars in a romantic garden setting. Bring a blanket or chairs and a picnic basket and enjoy this month's feature The Adjustment Bureau. Garden Admission is $5 plus tax for adults and $2 plus tax for children.

Orlando Chili Cook Off - March 3 from 12 to 5:30 p.m.
More than 10,000 chili lovers and 60+ chili cooks are expected to heat up Baldwin Park. Live music, celebrity judges and a kid's play area guarantee a full day of savory activities. Tickets are $7 in advance and $12 at the gate. Children 12 and under are free.

33rd Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade - March 4 at 2 p.m.
Wear your green and kick off the month of leprechauns and luck at the only St. Patrick's Day parade in Central Florida.This free celebration will feature Irish music and step-dancing at the main stage in Central Park, in addition to the parade.

Leap Year Deals in Orlando

This year offers the unique opportunity of an extra day tucked at the end of February. Orlando is not only a special choice to create Leap Day memories, but an affordable one too.

Hotel Deals

Visiting Orlando for at least two nights? Rosen Hotels & Resorts has a leap year deal that allows guests staying at least one night February 28 at the special rate of $79.99 plus tax to get the night of February 29 at no charge. This includes Quality Inn International, Rosen Inn closest to Universal, Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando and Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista. What an inexpensive way to see Orlando!

Take a few days off and relax at The Doubletree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld, offering a One More Day Promotion.  Stay two nights and receive 50% off the third! You can visit the L'Esprit Day Spa, relax by the pool or visit the area attractions to make the most of your stay.  Hurry and book your One More Day by February 29, 2012.

If your birthday falls on leap day, Doubletree has a surprise for you:  spend the night of February 29th at the Doubletree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld and you will receive a complimentary birthday cake, room upgrade, and breakfast for two the following morning! 

Special Experiences

Let your hair down with a few drinks and some relaxation at the Martinis & Massages event at the Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek. From 5:00 to 7:00pm guests can indulge in cocktails and light fare from deep blu seafood grille (the resort's signature restaurant) while sampling Blue Harmony Spa Services including massages, wrinkle erase infusions and brow lifts. Raffles and free gifts will also be included in the fun! Entry is only $25 per guest and reservations can be made in advance.

The big event causing excitement for Disney fans all over is enough reason alone to come to Orlando! For the first time in Walt Disney World's history, the theme park will be open to guests for 24 consecutive hours for what the company calls "One More Disney Day." The Magic Kingdom will be open beginning at 6 a.m. on Feb. 29, 2012, to enjoy select attractions, entertainment and services. Bring your family closer together and celebrate this magical event alongside Mickey and all your favorite characters. Ride Splash Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain in the wee hours of the morning, or visit your favorite attractions like Cinderella Castle or Pirates of the Caribbean. Don't waste a minute of your "extra day." Take advantage of this very special opportunity.

Orlando is the perfect location for All-Star excitement!

Orlando is in the middle of NBA excitement this week as the 2012 NBA All-Star festivities begin! And we're not the only ones who think that Orlando is the perfect place to play host to All-Star Weekend . . . Forbes magazine does, too!

This week, Forbes wrote an article highlighting why Orlando is a premier city for NBA fans, citing our exciting nightlife in downtown Orlando at hot spots like Ember and One80,  restaurants for sports lovers such as Kres Chophouse, prized for top-notch steak, gourmet cuisine and a nouveau atmosphere and Dragonfly , along Orlando's popular "Restaurant Row", featuring premium sushi selections and an open-fire robata grill.

For sports lovers and fans who want to get active during their stay, Orlando also has plenty of championship golf courses, such as Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill, and the 45-hole course at the Villas of Grand Cypress Golf Club.

According to Forbes, other major pluses for Orlando are our high-end, luxury hotels. The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes features a 40,000 square-foot spa and nine restaurants, plenty of room for 7-foot tall athletes who love to eat and be pampered. The Waldorf Astoria Orlando features beds fitted with Egyptian cotton sheets and Italian marble counters. Orlando is action-packed, exciting and a guaranteed paradise for NBA fans and visitors alike!

Check out the full story in Forbes magazine as well as a full listing of the top 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend events.

Wordless Wednesday – Margaritaville Edition

Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville at Universal's CityWalk

                                       Volcano Bar

Your Guide to the NBA All-Star Weekend

Lineup of the All-Star Events

Thursday, Feb. 23 - Sunday, Feb. 26

- NBA Jam Session - Thursday to Friday: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Be a part of NBA All-Star 2012! Meet your favorite players, get basketball tips from NBA legends, and play all day at the Orange County Convention Center. This is your chance to experience it all like never before.

Friday, Feb. 24

- BBVA NBA Rising Stars Challenge - 9 p.m.

The best of the sophomore and rookie players battle it out on the court! But this year, instead of playing against each other, rookies and sophomores will be mixed together on teams for the first time.  TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal will serve as the general managers of the two opposing teams - TEAM CHUCK and TEAM SHAQ - each with nine man rosters from a draft selected by the NBA's assistant coaches, with each team submitting one ballot.

Saturday, Feb. 25

- The Haier Shooting Stars Contest - First Event, beginning at 8:30 p.m.
Basketball fans will get geared up with this first event of the evening. One current NBA player, one current WNBA player and one TNT on-air talent/NBA legend will make up each team. There will be six numbered shooting locations of increasing difficulty, with each team attempting to make all shots in numeric order and in the fastest time. Each team will select a specific player rotation to follow throughout the competition. Each shot must be made before the next player begins shooting in succession. Teams have up to two minutes to complete the entire shooting course and the team that completes all six shots in the least amount of time is declared the winner. It's a fast, thrilling exhibition of shooting skills!

- Taco Bell Skills Challenge - Second Event

Plays have to get creative without breaking the rules in this challenge. Featuring a two-round timed "obstacle course," players in this event must dribble, pass and shoot while observing basic NBA ball-handling rules. The two players with the fastest times from the first round advance to the finals. Who do you think will win?

- Foot Locker Three-Point Contest - Third Event

Reigning champion James Jones of the Miami Heat will defend his title in this year's Foot Locker Three-Point Contest.

The players will compete in the two-round competition with the top three finishers from the first round advancing to the finals. Five shooting stations will be set up around the three-point line, with four Official Spalding NBA game balls worth one point each and one Spalding NBA All-Star 2012 commemorative red, white and blue "money ball" worth two points at each location. Each player will have one minute to shoot as many balls as he can. In the final round, players will shoot in ascending order of first-round scores. The competition is fierce, but only time will tell if James Jones can hold onto his title.

- Sprite Slam Dunk Contest - Fourth Event

This exciting final event of the night will feature a series of firsts, including four first-time participants, a new single-round format in which the winner will be chosen solely by fan vote, and the introduction of fan voting via Twitter.

The four players who will vie for the Sprite Slam Dunk championship include the Houston Rockets' Chase Budinger, the Indiana Pacers' Paul George, the New York Knicks' Iman Shumpert, and the Minnesota Timberwolves' Derrick Williams. Make sure you vote for your favorite player!

Sunday, Feb. 26

- The 61st All-Star Game - 7:30 p.m.

Finally, the 2012 NBA All-Star Game! This long-awaited night will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league's history for a global celebration of the game. This is the second time Orlando has hosted the All-Star Game -- the city played host in 1992 when Magic Johnson came out of retirement to win the MVP in one of the most memorable moments in NBA history. Will this year top all the rest? Buy your tickets for all the All-Star events at nba.com/allstar2012 and come find out!

Musical Guests

Sports not your thing? The All-Star Game offers enough musical talent in one weekend to make any audiophile ecstatic.  Official performers include Pitbull and Ne-Yo, who will team up for the All-Star Game halftime, while Nicki Minaj will perform during the All-Star Game introductions. Mary J.Blige has been tapped to sing the U.S. national anthem prior to the game, with pop group Neverest delivering the Canadian anthem. Performances by Will.i.am. and Flo Rida, are scheduled to accompany Saturday's events, along Gym Class Heroes and J. Cole for the pre-game show.

Just wait, it gets better: The All-Star Game is known to attract "special guests" to join in the fun, and this year Orlando is hosting an incredible series of parties from Thursday, Feb. 23 - Sunday, Feb. 26 called We Are All-Star Weekend. Celebrities and artists such as Drake, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, and R. Kelly will host these exclusive events all over Orlando. Tickets and more information can be found on their website at weareallstarweekend.com.

Where to Eat

You might want a place to grab some grub when you're tired of arena food, but don't worry, Orlando has plenty of awesome options nearby. Just a five-minute walk west on Church Street offers delicious local fare, such as the classic American menu of Hamburger Mary's, top-quality sushi at Amura, or a perfect steak at Kres Chop House. Don't forget to stop by the Dessert Lady for a slice of cheese cake!

Parking Tips

The NBA All-Star Weekend will be an unforgettable Orlando event you won't want to miss. But with so many people coming in from across the nation, not to mention the NBA fans native to Orlando, parking might become a problem. Luckily, there are a few tricks to getting a space that don't involve getting there hours in advance or paying a fortune. Several downtown garage lots offer convenient parking just a little further than the arena garages, often at a fraction of the cost. Try parking at the Orange County Courthouse, Orlando Public Library, Bank of America or Central Parking. The courthouse lot might be the best option. It only costs $5, and you can take a free shuttle from the northeast corner of Amelia and Orange or walk about three blocks to the arena. Parking prices at the other lots vary, but expect to pay around $10. You can also check out the map of nearby parking provided by the Amway Center at amwaycenter.com/parking-map.

Wordless Wednesday: New in Orlando for 2012 Edition

Sneak peek of some of the new things coming this year...

TurtleTrek at SeaWorld Orlando

Universal Orlando Resort

Last Minute Valentine’s Day Ideas on a Budget

Valentine's Day has a way of sneaking up on you, and even the best made plans don't always work out. But whether you forgot, your plans fell through or you simply don't have the extra cash to shower your Valentine with expensive gifts, Orlando has several ways for you to enjoy some romance with your lover on a low budget and stay out of the dog house!

Lake Eola
Observe the natural beauty of Lake Eola in the heart of Downtown Orlando. Hold your lover's hand as you walk around the lake, enjoy the fountain light show preformed nightly at 8 and 9:30 p.m., dine at one of the local acclaimed restaurants, and even rent a swan paddle boat for around $15 per half hour. A simple evening of spending time together might be the best Valentine's gift of all.

California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort
Savor the delicious West Coast-inspired fare offered atop one of Disney's most elegant hotels and enjoy excellent views of the Magic Kingdom. With a reservation timed to catch the 8 p.m. fireworks show "Wishes," you and your valentine can enjoy both a delicious meal and a beautiful free show. For dessert, hop over to the romantic Disney's Boardwalk and take the complimentary boat transportation to the Yacht and Beach Club for ice cream.

Harry P. Leu Gardens
Enjoy an outdoor romantic movie in a beautiful garden setting on Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Patrons may bring a blanket or chairs and dinner picnic basket. Garden Admission is $5.00 plus tax.

It’s the Deal Season for Florida Residents!

Take advantage of Orlando's many unique attractions and incredible discounts. With many Orlando-area hotels, shows and attractions offering Florida resident deals, there is no better time to visit Orlando and experience the adventure everyone is talking about!

Here are some awesome Florida Resident Deals for Orlando-area attractions!

• Gatorland - Step into the wild world of Central Florida's wetlands with a special admission price of only $9.99 through Feb. 26.
• Cirque du Soleil La Nouba - Experience this incredible production at Downtown Disney for 20% off admission any Tuesday through Friday until March 30.

• Kennedy Space Center - Feel what it's like to blast into space all year long with an annual pass available for only $50 through March 7.

• Walt Disney World Resort - Visit three Disney theme parks or pick your favorite and keep going back with the special $99 Wild for 3 Pass available for purchase until May 21 (must be used by May 24). For those hot summer days, an after 2 p.m. annual pass to the water parks is also available.
• Universal Orlando Resort - Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter every week with a Weekday Annual pass for only $114.99.
• SeaWorld Orlando - Feed all your favorite sea animals this year with an Annual Pass for $119.99 that includes free parking plus in-park discounts.

 

Need somewhere to stay when visiting your favorite Orlando attractions? We got you covered with these hotel accommodation discounts!

•  Save 35% on Walt Disney World hotel reservations through March 7.
• Save 36% on Universal Orlando hotel reservations through early June.
• Register online for the Florida Residents Club at the Nick Hotel and receive a variety of discounts including 20% off accommodations in a family suite, $50 off an Ultimate Sliming Experience, 10% off Food and Beverage during your entire stay, 10% off 4-D Experience films and 10% off cabana rentals.

 

Wordless Wednesday: Valentine’s Day Adventure Edition

No fancy outfits required for these dates, get ready for an action packed adventure!

Hang Gliding at Wallaby Ranch 

Horseback Safari at Florida EcoSafaris 

Airboat Ride at Boggy Creek Airboat Rides 

ATV Ride at Revolution The Off Road Experience 

Music Makes the People Come Together

Rock out and dance as Orlando becomes the unofficial music capital of the springtime. Featuring many of music's biggest names performing at Universal Studios and SeaWorld Orlando, there is bound to be an act or two that you cannot miss! Universal Studios is throwing parties every weekend with Mardi Gras while SeaWorld Orlando is celebrating with great food, drinks and music during Bands, Brew and BBQ. Both events kick off Feb. 11.

Universal Studios Mardi Gras

The beads and music of The Big Easy are on their way to Orlando for Universal Studios Mardi Gras 2012! As the sun goes down, see 14 of music's biggest names performing live at the Universal Music Plaza Stage. The best part about the event is that admission is included with your entrance ticket or year pass. Each week a limited number of pass holders have the chance to take special part in the festivities and ride through the park as part of the parade! Space is limited, so make sure to register as soon as possible. http://www.universalorlandoresort.com/mardigras/evite2012/ Check out the following concert lineup:

• Saturday, Feb. 11, B-52's
• Saturday, Feb. 18, Kelly Clarkson
• Sunday, Feb. 19, Boyz II Men
• Saturday, Feb. 25, Diana Ross
• Saturday, March 3, Goo Goo Dolls
• Saturday, March 10, Big Time Rush
• Friday, March 16, J. Cole
• Saturday, March 17, Sugar Ray
• Friday, March 23, Hot Chelle Rae
• Saturday, March 24, B.o.B.
• Friday, March 30, Plain White T's
• Saturday, March 31, Prince Royce
• Saturday, April 7, Cyndi Lauper
• Saturday, April 14, KC & the Sunshine Band
  
  

SeaWorld Bands, Brew and BBQ

2012's Bands, Brew & BBQ will be twice as fun this year with rockin' concerts being hosted both Saturdays and Sundays. Top classic rock and country music artists will have you entertained with incredible concerts all weekend long. For sizzle and flavor, SeaWorld partnered with favorite local restaurants to bring a rich variety of BBQ and great grilled food to the theme park. There's a thirst-quenching beer garden featuring nearly 50 craft beers from around 20 different domestic and international breweries. Bands, Brew & BBQ is also included with park admission! Check out the following concert line up:

• Saturday, Feb. 11, Foreigner
• Sunday, Feb. 12, Gary Allan
• Saturday, Feb. 18, Trace Adkins
• Sunday, Feb. 19, Kenny Rogers
• Saturday, Feb. 25, Doobie Brothers
• Sunday, Feb. 26, Ronnie Dunn
• Saturday, March 3, Sara Evans
• Sunday, March 4, Scotty McCreery