It happened. Walt Disney World succumbed to the sparkly appeal of modernity and abandoned the nearly 35-year-old attraction Muppet*Vision 3D and its surrounding courtyard to make way for the upcoming Monsters, Inc. land. It was a hard pill for theme park (or Muppets) obsessives to swallow, as many viewed the attraction as key to maintaining the Hollywood Studios mission: highlighting the nostalgic magic that is Disney moviemaking. Luckily, these cultural icons of puppeteering aren't leaving for good; they'll be taking over the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster sometime in 2026. Movin' right along ...
One of the most regrettable aspects of summer in Florida for those who enjoy outdoor activities is the increasingly brutal heat. But during the cooler — or, let's say, milder — months, one of the activities we've found most restorative, particularly as media workers in the current political climate, is taking a long hike along the St. John's River. If you're a regular on the local trails, you're probably already familiar with the 7.1-mile Black Bear Wilderness Area trail up in Sanford. If you're not — you're welcome. Just make sure you're in good company (it would be a terribly awkward hike with the wrong person), or else be prepared to enjoy your time in nature in comfortable solitude.
seminolecountyfl.gov/locations/location-info/black-bear-wilderness-area
In an effort to mitigate the usual Black-Friday-circa-2008 crowds of antsy outdoorsers waiting for entry to our natural springs systems, the Florida State Parks system this March kicked off a new reservation program right here in Central Florida at Wekiwa Springs. It's orderly, it's lawful, it makes for an easier day in the sun. What it doesn't do is appease the last-minute planner or the spontaneous springs-goer. You have to wake up pretty early to beat out a dedicated sunbather, and at Wekiwa, you really have to wake up early days in advance to nab one of these reservations.
Fire up that Merlin app and get ready for a heavy data usage day — the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is a drivable 11 miles of birding nirvana. Open on weekends and holidays only, the drive takes anywhere from one to three hours through one of Florida's top three birding areas, home to 377 different bird species. During the winter months, more than 150 species regularly use the property, "from showy herons and egrets to numerous tiny warblers and flycatchers," according to the St. John's River Water Management District. Audubon Expert certification is within your grasp!
2850 Lust Road, Apopka, sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/lake-apopka
Getting trapped in a seemingly endless theme park queue makes you question a lot of things. Am I in too deep to back out now? Why does J.K. Rowling have to be such a thoroughly horrible and irredeemable person? Is it the best idea to waste my phone battery to distract myself by watching the first two Harry Potter movies and still not be at the front of this line? Nonetheless, Epic Universe's star attraction is an unbelievable achievement and a terrific thrill ride. If you have to lose your mind somewhere, what a magical place for it to happen.
Universal Orlando Resort, universalorlando.com