SeaWorld and Sesame Workshop have announced they plan to build a second them park in Orlando by 2022.
​
​SeaWorld already has one Sesame Place theme park in Langhorne, PA near Philadelphia.  It offers roller coasters, water rides, parades, shows, games and interactions with Sesame Streets characters.  The new attraction at Orlando's SeaWorld will be an overhaul of the Shamu's Happy Harbor play area. SeaWorld's current licensing agreement allows it to use Sesame Street characters in its parks.  For Sesame Workshop, the non-profit behind the "Sesame Street" children's educational show on PBS, the park expansion allows it to spread its brand via theme parks.

​​*information from Bus & Motorcoach News - June 15, 2017*

Vacations are coming up and we hear many of our friends are going on cruises, having Nassau, Bahamas as one their stops.  If you have previously been there, you might not even want to get off the ship.  The stores, the straw market and Senor Frogs... what else is there to do?  Here is our recommendation for a fun day in the island without spending much money.

​You can spend a wonderful day at the beach to experience one of the most beautiful scenes of white sand and clear, light blue water you have ever seen. 
​

1. First, plan ahead, before the cruise, and take a cooler for your drinks and food.  Best kind is the ones that look like a purse, since you can fit them in the luggage and they don't stand out while walking through the ship.  Also take some plastic cups so you don't have to buy them there.
2. The night before arriving in Nassau, start preparing the food for your lunch at the beach.  Normally late at night, around 10 pm, there are nice sandwiches in the casino or in the top deck of the ship.  Grab some and keep them for the next day.
3. The morning of, during breakfast, grab some more food, cookies, fruits, make more sandwiches.  Take them all in a bag with enough napkins.
4. Get off the ship and go to the downtown area.  If you want some drinks, find one of the liquor stores and get your rum or beer.  Then go to the super market which is on one of the side streets, not far from the port exit.  Here you can buy coke for your rum, some chips to complement your sandwiches and a bag of ice.  Here is where the cooler comes in handy.  Put your ice in your purse cooler to carry to the beach. 
5. Take a taxi or water taxi to paradise island. You are looking for Cabbage Beach, a public beach next to the Atlantis hotel.  If you do take the water taxi, which we recommend you do at least once for the fun experience and stories about houses of the rich and famous, be aware that you will have quite a walk to the beach from where they let you off.  If you are walking, go through the stores toward the Atlantis hotel.  Enter hotel and walk past the lobby to the convention area.  Once you get there, exit off the convention area and the beach entrance will be on the left of the hotel.  If you take a taxi, take it right at the port exit, usually $4 per person since you share the ride.  If you try to take a taxi from the downtown area, they might ask for more money.
6. Once at the beach you can rent an umbrella to set up your picnic area underneath.  Enjoy the water, the sun, the scenery.  Make your drinks, eat your food, and enjoy a great day at the beach with minimal expenses!

You will come to Orlando to see the attraction parks for sure.  Yes, there are so many options.  However, one of the attractions you can't miss is the shopping outlets.  In the tourist areas of International Drive and Lake Buena Vista, you will find two outlets that are well known to the visitors and promoted in the hotels.  However, there are other outlets in the greater Orlando area that are not in the tourist section which offer excellent discounts that you might not believe.  I love checking out the discounts here, to get quality stuff at bargain prices!

​Here are three of my Secret Shopping Outlets you can check out:

​1. Victoria Secret Outlet at Premium Outlet on International Drive (4951 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819) -   Although this is one of the outlets in the tourist section and well know, we suggest you go here for the ONLY Victoria Secret outlet!  Yes, the coveted Victoria Secret has an outlet here in Orlando where you can find excellent discounts on everything they sell, such as lingerie, perfumes, lotions, and more.

​2. Dillard's Clearance Center (3403 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803) - Who knew Dillard's had an outlet?  There are a few of them around the country, but you would never know just by driving by.  The store looks like any other Dilard's store from the outside.  This one is located in the Fashion Square Mall.  Here you will find rows and rows of clothes organized by color and style.  Sometimes they have specials such as buy one, get two free or any shoes for $10.  You can find brand names such as Polo and Michael Kors here, but you have to put in the effort to search through everything to find your treasure.  Store opens from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm only and specials change daily, sometimes, hourly.  Call (407) 896-1211 to find out what is going on that day.

​3. A brand new option is Macy's Backstage! (451 E Altamonte Dr, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701) - Backstage is a section of the regular Macy's store inside the Altamonte Mall.  They have allocated a portion of the second floor to this outlet/clearance center.  They have great discounts on clothes for men and women, shoes, gadgets, housewares and even decorative furniture.  Worth checking it out while visiting the mall.

Let me know if you find some good bargains!!  Happy Shopping!!

​Allison