Orlando, Florida (2014)

Our holiday trip to Orlando, Florida started off pretty chaotic. Upon arrival at O'Hare airport in Chicago, Illinois we were told the traffic control tower had caught fire and all flights were grounded. As it is one of the busiest airports in the United States this meant that thousands of travellers were stranded, just like we were. Trying to find a hotel for the night wasn't easy but we finally managed to find a room in Downtown Chicago.

The following morning we got up early and went for a walk in Grant Park, opposite the Hilton hotel. The 8th Street fountain looked quite pretty at sunrise.

We'd like to visit Parrish Park in Titusville, Florida on a regular basis. We love to hang around there for a while trying to spot the dolphins that are regular visitors. It was quite the rainy day but that made it all the more special. The water was high so we were surprised to see this fisherman trying to catch something. Even though he had a roof over his head, his feet must have been standing in the water.

It's quite a drive from our holiday home in Orlando, Florida to Parrish Park near Titusville but it's always a pleasure to be there. The small park is located in between the main land and the outer islands and is host to many birds and dolphins can be spotted regularly. It was quite rainy when we arrived which gave quite the special atmosphere for photography. In terms of a lucky shot this is as nice as it gets; fast moving flying fish.

It was a gorgeous day when we decided to do the Blackpoint Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island, Florida. It's an amazing wetlands area and anyone with a normal car can take the wildlife drive for a small fee. Perfect piece of nature with lots of birds, alligators and yes, butterflies too.

The Blackpoint Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island, Florida is a truly amazing wetlands area as there are so many bird species to be enjoyed. It's an easy drive that can be done by a regular car and many stops are provided along the way. Here we were admiring a tricolored heron on the prowl.

It was supposed to be a beautiful sunny day and it started like that too, so we decided to go to PlayaLinda beach near Cape Canaveral. When nearing the coast it became clear that the coastal area was quite clouded. It still turned out to be good as we had a nice walk on the beach enjoying the wind in our hair. The only ones there were some fishermen.

During our stay in Orlando, Florida we like to visit other towns in the state. Clearwater Beach on the Mexican Gulf is a perfect place for a nice day out. The beaches are incredibly clean and white and it's very enjoyable to walk along the boulevard on a quiet day like this one was.

While in Orlando, Florida we stay in a house owned by Dutch friends of ours. The house is in an area called Wedgefield which is surrounded by nature. One morning when we were looking out of the kitchen window we noticed a deer in the garden. Curiously it looked straight back at us.

The area around Orlando, Florida hosts many wetlands. While on a tour on Airboat Rides at Midway to explore a part along the St. Johns river we came across a lot of cows. We were definitely not expecting to see cows while we were looking out for alligators. Quite an unusual sight to see cows in the water.

We booked a tour on Airboat Rides at Midway to explore a part along the St. Johns river. Beautiful wetlands area near Orlando, Florida. Spotting alligators is one of the goals on trips like these and we did see a few, like this mean looking one. Luckily we were quite safe on the boat.

The area around Orlando, Florida hosts many wetlands. We booked a tour on Airboat Rides at Midway to explore a part along the St. Johns river.

Our airboat ride eventually reached the cypress forests where we looked for alligators. It was really cool to see the cypress trees that are always standing in the water.

Our friends told us that is was worthwhile to visit the Lakeridge winery in Clermont, Florida. Especially on a special day whene there would be a special event. We looked it up and went on a Sunday for an exposition of classic cars. We were really surprised by the setup. There was great food, great entertainment (Elvis was there) and lots of classic cars. The owners really keep their cars in top-notch condition.

Spending the day in Daytona Beach, Florida. It was only an hour drive from Orlando and it's great to walk along the beach, enjoy the ocean and eat at the pier. This girl on the beach had the same idea and took her bike with her onto the beach.

While staying in Orlando, Florida it is just a short drive to Daytona Beach. It's always a fun day out, eating at the pier and walking along the beach. On this particular day it was very hot and humid so I ended up under the pier hiding from the sun.

We both love a good pizza which is almost guaranteed if it is made on a stone floor in a wood-fired pizza oven. We had this one in a beautiful Italian restaurant near the Old Town in Kissimmee, Florida. From the looks of it it's almost done.

While staying in Orlando, Florida we went to visit the posh neighbourhood of Winter Park. Great town for some upscale shopping and eating. We also hopped on an excellent scenic boat tour covering three lakes: Viriginia, Maitland and Osceola. Great views on some of the million dollar homes surrounding the lakes. I loved this lonely cypress in Lake Maitland.