Another (Busy!) Weekend in Orlando

This blog is about sharing all the fun stuff I do in Orlando, so here it is!

My weekend started early (since I decided to take the day off of work on Friday and spend some time with my mama). She drove down early Friday morning from Gainesville, which is about 2 hours north of Orlando. We ran a few errands, then headed over to Bahama Breeze on International Drive for lunch. We ate out on the patio, enjoying the gorgeous weather while sipping on our tropical beverages.

After lunch, we went straight to the Premium Outlets on International Drive. We shopped at Kenneth Cole, Gap, Banana Republic, Polo Ralph Lauren, Ann Taylor, and more! I think my mom only likes to visit me when shopping is involved.  :)

Saturday morning, I woke up bright and early to run a 5k in College Park. After the race and a little nap back at home, we went to Panera Bread for lunch before heading off to the Mall at Millenia. We didn't stick around for long, though, because I was eager to go to Epcot to check out the International Flower & Garden Festival. We spent a few hours walking around the World Showcase, admiring all the beautiful flowers and topiaries. (You can find more photos on my Facebook page).

Sounds like a pretty busy Saturday already, right? But oh no, that is not the end of it! After Epcot, we went to Universal Studios to check out Mardi Gras (going on now through April 23rd). We ate jambalaya, grabbed a beer, and snagged a spot near the concert stage so we wouldn't miss the show after the parade. After catching beads from the parade floats as they passed by, we stuck around for an amazing concert by The Roots (check out a short video clip from the concert below). Your Mardi Gras ticket gets you in free to the clubs at CityWalk, so we made a stop at the Red Coconut Club before heading home for the night.  

On Sunday, we decided to make a visit to the 52nd Annual Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival. I love visiting the city of Winter Park, and it was a perfect day for walking around and admiring all the different types of art that was on display. While we were there, we noticed that the Morse Museum on Park Avenue was having a free open house. The museum boasts one of the most comprehensive collections of Tiffany windows, lamps, jewelry, pottery, paintings, and more. We really enjoyed exploring the museum for the first time. It was a great way to unwind from the busy weekend.

So, there you have it! Just another weekend in Orlando! A lot of activities crammed into one busy (and fun!) weekend.  :)

St. Patrick's Day Parade in Winter Park

 

It was a lazy Sunday. My husband and I had both slept in, and were lounging around the apartment when we decided to go to Winter Park for lunch. I love spending an afternoon on Park Avenue, strolling the shops and people-watching in the park. There is always something to see or do. This Sunday was no exception! After parking the car and walking over to Park Avenue, we realized we had arrived just in time to catch the 32nd Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade (even though St. Patrick's Day was really almost 2 weeks away). What a surprise! Apparently it is the only St. Patrick's Day parade in Central Florida, and there were tons of people lining the streets to celebrate. The parade lasted about an hour, and included floats, dancers, marching bands, fire engines, and even a Storm Trooper in a kilt. There was also Irish music and step-dancing on the main stage. Lots of fun for all!  :)

 

After the parade, we were really starving and walked over to Pannullo's to have lunch on the patio. The lunch prices are very reasonable, and we enjoyed a nice meal in the cool breeze as we watched people walking by on Park Avenue. All in all, a great way to spend a lazy Sunday!