Double Day

Today a double post, as we headed back to Orlando from Tampa and did not have internet in our hotel room the first day.

But let me start with day 8 of our trip. We had to check out from our hotel room in Tampa. It’s a great hotel, very close to the Tampa Bay Times Forum, where we had a great time at the Katy Perry concert. Today we woke up in time to check out and ate breakfast in the hotel at The Bar. After breakfast, we put all our belongings in the car and drove off.

On our way from Tampa to Orlando, we stopped at Dinosaur World. We have been here before a couple of years ago, but Xandrine likes it a lot and would like to visit it again. Since it is on our way from Tampa to Orlando, we do not have to drive a lot for it. This would be a good opportunity to visit the park again and check out what has changed. So instead of following the I4, we took a different road to the park and when we arrived, it was hot, over 100 Fahrenheit.

We took the chilly pad with us and needed it today. In the park most of the dinosaurs are the same as on our last visit. What has changed is, that there are more activities than the last time. There is still the fossil dig, but new to us was the dino gem excavation. We also got the chance to view a show about the excavation this time. Last time it was not there as I can remember that they were rebuilding the structure.

So we did the whole tour this time again. Saw hundreds of dinosaurs and Xandrine did both the fossil dig and the dino gem excavation. Besides that she also played at the boneyard, where kids can play in a sandbox excavating a dinosaur. The show was also very entertaining and learning experience. Very well done. After a couple of hours, we had seen everything and it was time for us to move further east towards Orlando.

Between Plant City, where Dinosaur World is located, and Orlando, where our hotel is located, is a place called Clermont. We have stayed in Clermont several times in the past, in a rental home. This time we visited Uncle Kenny’s BBQ restaurant, down by the Clermont Citrus Tower, for dinner. We have had BBQ here before and that was very good, so why not support the locals and do it again. Xandrine’s choice was not very BBQ. She had chicken tenders with fries, but she ate them with BBQ sauce, so a bit BBQ is in there. I took the pulled pork egg rolls and a meat combo of ribs and brisket. And they were very very good again.

After dinner we moved to Orlando and got at the hotel late that evening. We spent some time watching television before going to sleep.

The next morning, we both slept until after 10AM. We stayed at our hotel room the morning watching Food Channel. After that we went out for some shopping. We first stopped at Publix and bought a few things, but saw the whole store. Still amazing how big the stores are and what can be bought. After that we went to the shopping mall around the corner and before going shopping, we ate a bite at food court. Then we spent the rest of the afternoon and part of the evening at the Orlando Premium Outlets before leaving the mall for dinner. Today’s choice was made by Xandrine and we ate at Golden Corral. It’s packed in there and even when we left, after 10PM, there were still people coming in. From the Golden Corral we stopped at Walgreens for some afterbite as we were bitten by some insects a couple of days ago and those bites itch. Then around the corner of Walgreens, we were back at the hotel, where we quickly got ready for bed.

Double Day