One of the pledges I made to myself when I got to Orlando was that I would go the entire month without spending any money in any of the big theme parks. But if you just can’t go that long without a dose of Disney, there is a way to get your mouse ears without … More Disney Springs

OK, this is, without a doubt, the oddest place I have ever been to….. Imagine, if you will, a mating between Walt Disney and Tammy Faye Bakker. And after you have scrubbed that image out of your brain with a scouring pad (sorry about that), imagine the offspring of their blended DNA. The showmanship and … More Walt Jesus World: The Holy Land Experience

Whenever people find out that I live fulltime in my camper van, their first question is always either “where do you take a shower?” or “where do you poop and pee?” Yes, my van does have a bathroom, though it is a mini-version of one, and is based on functionality, not on aesthetics. Many of … More My Bathroom

Before the Mouse moved to Florida, Orlando International Airport was McCoy Air Force Base, home of the 306th Bombardment Group of the Strategic Air Command, which flew B-52D’s over Vietnam and also practiced for nuclear war. Today, a lone B-52 stands in a corner of the airport as a memorial. B-52D number 687, manufactured in … More B-52 Memorial Park

Most cities have a hands-on science center that features interactive exhibits illustrating basic science. Most of them are geared towards schoolkids, and for me the big draw is usually the IMAX films. But the Orlando Science Center also had an exhibit of live Florida wildlife and a pretty nice dinosaur exhibit. Here are some photos … More The Orlando Science Center

  The “Titanic” museum in Orlando The Titanic Exhibit, in Orlando FL, displays a collection of artifacts that have been recovered from the wreck site. Alas, the museum does not allow any photography inside, so I cannot provide any pics. When Robert Ballard found the Titanic in 1985, he had the legal right under maritime … More The “Titanic” Museum in Orlando

  The Guang Ming Temple in Orlando FL is part of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order, headquartered in Taiwan and with over 200 temples located around the world. Here are some photos from a visit:

Gatorland is one of the oldest tourist attractions in Orlando. In addition to captive-breeding American Alligators for their meat and hides, they do live animal shows for the tourists. Here are some photos from a visit to Gatorland. The gator-mouth entrance-way. The original was destroyed in a fire in 2006. Gators And more gators. The … More Gatorland, Orlando FL

The Skeletons Museum has a display of several hundred—you guessed it—skeletons. Everything from whale skulls to complete field mice. They also had a nice exhibit demonstrating human evolution with casts of hominin fossils. Here are some photos from a visit: The Skeleton Museum. That’s an African Elephant skull out front. “Lucy”, Australopithecus afarensis Bonobo, our … More Skeletons Museum, Orlando FL

  The Sea Life Aquarium just opened about half a year ago. It’s a nice aquarium with a pretty good collection—though the sharks are still younglings, so if you want to see big sharks you’ll have to wait a few years.  😉 The Sea Life Aquarium The Indian Ocean tank A “bait ball” of sardines … More The Sea Life Aquarium, Orlando FL