Lost in Time: The Hidden Paradise of Rainbow Springs & The Withlacoochee

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Long before Walt Disney visited central Florida, and long before Disney Springs opened a couple of years ago, a tiny fishing town north of Orlando was one of the top Florida tourists attractions. The town, Dunnellon, Florida, is relatively unchanged since its heyday. The town of fewer than 2,000 residents is not filled with hipster stores or farm-to-table restaurants. There are no quaint bed & breakfast inns, but instead – very dated but functional 1950s fish camps and motels. What Dunnellon does have is two natural wonders that are superior to anything that man (including Disney) can make. I often wonder if Walt had visited this area if Walt Disney World might have been located about 90 miles northwest of Orlando. Perhaps it is better that it remains off-the-beaten path.

Rainbow springs

fla springsThere are many springs to enjoy in areas north of Orlando, but Rainbow Springs is a true paradise. With crystal clear water that goes down 250 feet, the springs are now a popular watering hold and part of the River Springs State Park. In the 1930s, the springs became one of Florida’s first theme parks (along with Silver Springs and Cypress Gardens), complete with a hotel and a zoo. Continue reading “Lost in Time: The Hidden Paradise of Rainbow Springs & The Withlacoochee” →

Looking Back at WDW 25 Years Ago – Beginnings of a Shift to Marketing Disney as an Adult Destination

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Cinderella Castle Front View Magic KingdomIn 1994, Disney officials were worried about a decline in attendance, after peaking at 33.7 million visitors in 1990. Today the number of visitors exceeds 56 million (uscitytraveler.com), and the resort far exceeds any other as the most visited in the world. But in 1994, the honeymoon period for 5-year-old Disney-MGM Studios (now Hollywood Studios) was over. And, we were well into a backlash of the materialistic 80s. The economy was no longer booming, and people were tightening up.

rising ticket prices change demographic

According the the Orlando Sentinel (1994), the primary factors driving the decline were the Gulf War (and subsequent decline in international visitors) and a surge in costs. Rapidly rising prices made a WDW vacation out of reach for many families. In 1984, a one-day ticket to the Magic Kingdom was $18 and had risen to $38 (dang, that sounds nice) in just 10 years under Chairman Michael Continue reading “Looking Back at WDW 25 Years Ago – Beginnings of a Shift to Marketing Disney as an Adult Destination” →

1900 Fare Broccoli Salad

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This is very similar to the beloved dish at 1900 Fare at the Grand Floridian. Their version of broccoli salad has cashews, but the classic version does not, and is just as good. broccoli saladMy version also uses 1/2 cup mayo and 1/2 cup plain yogurt for a deeper flavor (instead of 1 cup mayo), and I sometimes substitute Craisins for raisins. This is an easy dish with few ingredients that makes for a refreshing side to a sandwich, and will last a day or two in the refrigerator.

If I were making this for myself, I would leave out the bacon, and probably find it even better for my own tastes. Obviously, this is not going to happen on a Fort Wilderness trip with Captain Bacon, or he would probably get all emotional and drone on about how the smell of frying pork takes him back to his childhood and how much more his momma loves him than I do.  And then he would start loudly wishing for the freshly cut bacon at the Trail’s End brunch, and we will have a camping food fail.  Continue reading “1900 Fare Broccoli Salad” →