Mermaids Are Real in Weeki Wachee

It's been 20 or more years since I've watched a special on the Travel Channel on the mermaids of Weeki Wachee. For those of you who don't know, this is in Florida and it's a kitschy roadside attraction that's been a landmark since the 1960s. I was so interested in these ladies who could stay underwater and do tricks and swim like mermaids that it was put on my life list of things to see. I had no idea where Weeki Wachee was, but since we were doing a fall trip to Florida, I decided to look at it on the map. I was amazed that it was somewhat on the way from Orlando to St. Petersburg, so we planned to use our day driving between the two to make a stop there. 

There's nothing much that sets Weeki Wachee apart from other small Florida towns. It's bigger than I expected and had quite a few big box stores, but right at the edge of town you'll see big signs for the "Live Mermaids" turn-off. Had you not known it was there, you'd probably think it was a little odd. There's no missing this attraction though. 

When we rolled up, there were hardly any cars in the parking lot, but walking up, it was hard to understand why, as the beautiful fountain in the front was very beautiful and welcoming. I was really excited to get inside. Unfortunately, much of the park was under construction, which was not specified on the website, and the activities inside didn't run as often as the schedule available before we arrived. This didn't deter me though, because I was here to see mermaids. 

We had just missed the first mermaid show, so we decided to see what else was available. Usually, there is a beach and small waterpark that you can visit, but they were refurbishing that. For a straight $13 admission price, that seems pretty cool to be included. There was also an animal show, which I was not about to leave without seeing. It ran about 20 minutes and the guy running it brought out several animals native to the Florida area and was highly knowledgeable and funny. It was a great show for kids and even I learned some things. At the end, you have the chance to touch an alligator, which I eagerly waited for with a few of the kids. They're very soft, but you can feel the power in their tails, even a small one like the one you see above. 

One of the big draws of Weeki Wachee is the included river boat tour down the Weeki Wachee River. It runs all day and lasts around 20 minutes. On the boat you will see fish and beautiful scenery. You may also see gators, manatee, kayakers, eagles and other cool stuff. 

We were lucky to catch a glimpse of a pair of bald eagles. How awesome, right?

The water is crystal clear and you can see almost everything in it.

There are a few places to sit and get something to eat. The Galley was the one open when we were there, so in between shows we went inside and ordered a drink and some nachos while we relaxed, looked at a map to see what was in between Weeki Wachee and our final destination and if there were any discounts we could use on the rest of our trip. There's a decent variety of foods, drinks and desserts available at the Galley at reasonable prices. When it's warm out, there's also outdoor seating.

We couldn't pass up a fun photo op, especially when it was becoming a mermaid! How can you not? I'm not saying we make great mermaids, but it was hilarious and we had a good time doing it and goofing off.

And then it was time for the mermaid show!

The mermaid theater was small, but could seat several hundred people. All seats are good and have the ability to see everything going on in the water. While you wait, you can enjoy videos of the older shows that have been performed there, including the original shows in the 60s.

Because we were visiting in the off-season, the show was fairly short (around 20-30 minutes) and only featured two ladies and a man. You can see the mermaids perform in tails and also in other costumes. In between the separate themed performances, you learn (and see) how the "mermaids" are able to rise, sink and stay in one place while underwater. They tell you about the tank, the air hoses and the changing station (kind of like the backstage area where the mermaids change outfits). Then you are treated to some of their visual tricks, like drinking a bottle of soda while underwater.

The skill it takes to be a Weeki Wachee mermaid is pretty involved. I could never do it, but then I'm not great at underwater things and am not fond of things like diving. It's impressive seeing them do their shows while not freaking out and not getting tangled in their breathing hoses. Here's a quick video of the mermaids in action:

Even though I was disappointed with the length of the show, I can't complain since I was the one who visited during the off-season. We were blessed with little to no crowds throughout the park though, which I doubt would happen anytime during the summer. It's something I can cross off the list of awesome things I've wanted to see in life and I would even go back again. For the price of admission, I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you're traveling with little kids who would be amazed by seeing a "real live" mermaid. At the end of the show, they can visit with a mermaid and get their picture taken with her.

Have you been to a cheesy roadside attraction that you loved?

Coffee, Cranberries and Chocolate

If you thought Epcot's Food & Wine Festival was just about getting your extra money for trying all the fun foods from around the world, you might be surprised. While that is the big part of the festival, they also want to educate visitors on nutrition, growing and harvesting. Each year they tend to focus on different things, but they tend to present things that are universally appealing. The great thing about these extras are that they are included in your admission and often give out freebies.

I love learning new things, especially about food, because...FOOD! If I eat it, it's fun to know where it comes from. Epcot knows that education and awareness helps people make better and more informed decisions about the things they buy, so even though you're excited to get to the Greece kiosk to get all that delicious baklava in your face, take a few minutes to check out these other areas and wander around the Festival Center, too.

I'm a fan of a great cup of coffee. Of course I was going to check out this little set-up that takes me from plant to cup. Not only is the area beautiful looking, but you can also get up close and personal with actual coffee plants to see what your beans look like. And there's that guy standing there to answer any questions you may have. He knows all about the coffee-growing process, so ask away.

There are always great signs with a bunch of cool info on them, which will probably answer a lot of questions for you if the expert on the scene is otherwise engaged - I find this is hardly a problem, since most people are too busy eating and drinking to stop at these areas. 

Here are a few things I learned here: All those green sprouts on the map above are where coffee is grown in the world. it shouldn't be surprising that almost all of it is on, or close to, the equator. The darker the roast, the less caffeine you're actually getting, because it takes longer to roast. So, when you order your double-espresso to wake up in the morning, just know that it's not hugely different from decaf. This is also why the dark roast cost more than the lighter roasts. Want to taste it for yourself? There's a coffee stand nearby and the expert is more than happy to give you a coupon to make it little cheaper.

What do you know about cranberries? They're sweet and tart and taste good in vodka? Sure, but if, like me, the most you know is that and whatever you see on those cranberry commercials, this set-up was fascinating. Apparently, cranberries grow on bushes (the very bushes you see growing around this bog) and the bog is only flooded for a few days when they are ripe. The water causes the ripe berries to float to the top, so they can be easily harvested. I don't like cranberries, really, but I was insanely interested in the growing process. Nearby was a kiosk that would give you more info if you wanted and bags of samples of dried cranberries and covered cranberries, so you could enjoy what you just learned about.

Chocolate. Who doesn't love it? I barely know anyone and am a bit sad for the few people I know that are allergic to it. Inside the festival center there was a spot set aside for learning about the growing and harvesting processes of chocolate and cacao plant. Obviously, there is a Ghirardelli guy on-hand to answer your questions and give you some samples and coupons (because who doesn't want free chocolate?). 

This past year had a wonderful display of chocolate Disney scenes which were amazingly detailed, including this one from Frozen. It's all chocolate. Pretty amazing, right? There were several Star Wars themed ones, as well as the Jungle Book and others. I wouldn't even be able to do this with clay, but these masters could bend chocolate to their will and were talented enough to make it look like something awesome. It was crazy impressive and detailed. I wonder who gets to eat the mistakes. 

So, while you can spend your days at the Food & Wine Festival in Epcot stuffing your face and getting drunk (there is a never-ending supply of beer, wine and other libations), don't forget that these other freebies are there and can save you money, give you a great education on foods/beverages and are a fun way to pass the time while you wait for your small plates to digest. I love the chance to ask an expert about things, especially when there's not another line to stand in. Extra tip: The Festival Center has nice bathrooms that you usually don't have to wait for in the evening, plus it's usually deserted, so you don't have to fight the crowds to do a bit of shopping of festival merchandise and wine-related products.

Have you ever been to the Epcot Food & Wine Festival? If so, what was your favorite part?

Planning a Budget Spring Break Getaway

Thinking about taking a grown-up (or family-friendly) Spring Break trip? Believe it or not, you can make it affordable. Because Spring Break can vary between early-March to mid-April, there are a good 6 weeks when things are more expensive than normal. Unfortunately, Spring is a great time to travel, because the weather is warm, but not too warm and most kids are still in school, so the crowds are small if you avoid typical Spring Break destinations like Miami and Cancun. So, let's take a look at how to be a grown up and take a vacay that doesn't look like those old MTV shows full of sloppy-drunk, loud-partying, half-naked 20-somethings. 

Choosing a destination

Set your budget

Here's a thought. Instead of picking a place and planning your trip around it, decide on your budget and work around that. You may find that there are places you hadn't thought of before, but are just as awesome (or better) than where you first thought you might go. 

• Scour deals on Groupon, Living Social and other daily sites for affordable vacations that might work for your time off. 
• Use Kayak's Explore feature to find destinations that fit within your budget for the month/season of your choice.
• Look at BookIt's promos for vacation packages that are awesome and budget-friendly.

Visit non-beach destinations

There are a lot of places that don't really fluctuate in price for travelers throughout the year. Some even have beaches nearby, even if they're only lakes (which can be fun in themselves). 

• Washington, DC
• Phoenix/Tempe
• Palm Springs
• Austin, Texas
• Los Angeles
• New York City
• Quebec, Montreal (has a great European feel, with a much lower price tag)

Travel to less-popular beaches

Some destinations just draw college kids. You can avoid those large crowds so you can at least get a little strip of sand for yourself and not have to fight people to get to the bar for a drink.

• Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
• Daytona, Florida (the small size makes it perfect for those looking for a bit of quiet)
• Puerto Rico (cheap accommodations and dining)
• Myrtle Beach (rent a condo for as little as $50)
• Costa Rica (stay way from the touristy spots)
• St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (no passport required!)
• Willemstad Curacao (stick to the all-inclusives here)

When to buy airfare

Usually, the perfect time to buy your airfare for domestic flights is right around 5 weeks out, but because the deals for Spring Break travel might be few and far between, look to book your flights 6-8 weeks out. If you have a stash of airline miles, this is the time to cash them in, even if it's just for one way of your trip. 25,000 points and $5 (on average) is hard to beat for a flight, but the earlier you book, the more likely you will be to find a reward seat. Start looking now. 

• Book airfare on Tuesdays, and Sundays for lower fares.
• Fly on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturdays for the best rates. These are the least busy days to fly.
• Fly early in the day. The earliest flights out are generally a bit cheaper and have less of a chance of getting delayed.
• Travel light and skip baggage fees. 

How to choose a hotel

As nice as some hostels are becoming, I still don't recommend them for grown-ups and the U.S. doesn't really have many. Look into hotels that offer extras: a kitchenette, free breakfast, kids stay free, etc. I'd also suggest looking at both Airbnb and HomeAway at vacation rentals. You'll have a bit more space, the prices are comparable to hotels and you usually have both a kitchen and laundry facilities. If you're traveling as a group, this can really save you money.

• Sometimes paying up-front can score you an awesome deal on a room.
• If you haven't pre-paid, keep checking prices up to the day you leave, in case the price drops and you can rebook.
• Skip online booking and call the hotel to see if they can give you a better rate than what you see online.

Alternate choices

Not all vacations are traditional. If you can plan a great trip, but the airfare seems out of reach, look into driving instead. Is it possible that there are really sweet destinations within driving distance from home that you haven't been to yet? I'd be surprised if there weren't.

Looking for more tips? Check out this article that I contributed my expertise to on Cosmopolitan.com.

What are your Spring Break plans?