Thoroughly Modern Mimi

Over the years I’ve learned a day at a theme park is improved when my group takes time to sit down and eat in a restaurant versus snacking at fast food vendors.  So, when lunchtime rolled around on our first day at Sea World, we chose Voyagers close to the sea lion and otter stadium. 

My grandchildren naturally wanted the kid’s meal; one chose chicken fingers which came with French fries; the other wanted macaroni and cheese with baby carrots. Both included a little box of raisins and a blue Shamu souvenir lunch box. Price $8.00 (I think?)

I ordered baked barbeque chicken, which was yummy.  My son had pizza and his wife had a wrap.  All the plates were filled high and the food appeared fresh and healthier than expected.     

Soon we were exploring the park again and ran into Shark Encounter- a 700,000 gallon aquarium containing a walk-through acrylic tunnel for viewing. Gulp.  

One wall of the huge tank adjoins Sharks Underwater Grill, an upscale restaurant with a good bite. Dim lighting, coupled with illumination from the fish tank creates an eerie atmosphere, not to mention the flashing teeth on hundreds of sharks.

We stopped to make reservations and returned at 6:30 PM to dine eye-to eye with the scary demons of the deep.

Seems rather astonishing, but upon entering the room a quiet and unrushed feeling prevails; enough to make you forget the frenzied theme park outside the door.  The swaying movement from the array of creatures is mesmerizing.  Many of the predators swim rapidly back and forth while others, a saw tooth shark, for example, arose from the deep only occasionally. A mammoth grouper seemed to hover near our table. 

If you arrive early, check out the sleek bar– another living seascape.  The lobby contains a glowing glass cylinder filled with small neon fish that propel themselves forward or float backward.  Do fish ever get dizzy? 

The menu touts “Floribbean-style” food, a blend of fresh Florida and Caribbean fare.  I ordered salmon filet and was extremely pleased with a tangy yet sweet sauce over the fleshy serving.  A spicy side of peppery mashed potatoes and fresh vegetable medley completed my plate. 

My husband enjoyed the Citrus Caesar salad, which surprised me, as he is finicky about his choice of dressing.  He was disappointed, however, in the Steak en Croute, which he said lacked punch and tasted too much like hamburger. 

The grandkids, ages 4 and 6, ordered popcorn shrimp and fries from the children’s menu. A large gummy shark adorned their dinner plates, a cute touch.  We paid $2 extra for a shark cozie to surround their juice glasses - a real hit.  In fact, I almost purchased a few of these clever drink coolers for an at-home pool party! 

I admit I wasn’t expecting gourmet food but our dinner turned out to be the catch of the day. The food was delightfully tasty and certainly the surroundings produced an unforgettable thrill.  If you go to Sea World, you owe it to yourself to dine with sharks at, none other than Sharks Underwater Grill .

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Day Two

We ate a hearty breakfast at our hotel before returning for day two at Sea World, hence were able to bypass the Cypress Bakery- which smelled divine.  We didn’t even feel hungry at lunch time.  Instead, the kids had an ice cream at the Polar Parlor – a dolphin- shaped treat. 

Of course, a bit later my teenage daughter was “starving,” so I took her into the Seafire Inn for a Greek salad.  It was big enough to share. 

And that’s it for our dining; however, I commend the management for offering Mama’s Kitchen Healthy Alternatives - a cafe serving whole-wheat bagels, turkey chili and sweet potato chips. 

Overall –A thumbs up for food in the theme park. 

www.seaworld.com

I last visited Sea World in 2001 and am pleased to report that much has improved (although I didn’t think it bad at the time.)  As I walked along I found well-signed walkways, cleanliness up to Disney standards, meticulously-manicured gardens and a fresh overall look to the shops and restaurants. 

The main improvement appeared in the quality of the shows.  They were much more theatrical, featuring flamboyant costuming and vibrant lighting; performances resembling spectacular Cirque de Soleil acts.  The Blue Horizon extravaganza is a combination of the “O” show from Las Vegas, exotic birds, and Sea World trained animals.  This performance alone was worth the price of admission.

Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island is the longest running show, as I remember seeing it in 1983.  The actors make fun of themselves, while seals and otters steal the show.  The grandkids thought it was hilarious. 

A’Lure, The Call of the Ocean is an undersea fantasy staged with acrobats, high-definition film on a screen about the size of an IMAX, and neon costuming.  No live animals here, but again, similar to a show you might individually pay to see.

Since Anheuser-Busch manages the park and is connected with Sesame Place, we saw an adorable skit called Elmo and Abby’s Treasure Hunt.  My 4-year-old granddaughter was totally in awe.  Her Mom claimed it was like the Elmo Live show they had seen in Philadelphia. 

The Shamu show , Sea World’s claim to fame, highlights not just one, but five killer whales.  More on this in another blog.

You’ll also find Shark Encounter- a 700,000 gallon aquarium containing a walk-through acrylic tunnel for viewing. Gulp.

Penguin Encounter is an up-close look at the arctic animals above and below the water.  OK—we mimicked their behavior.

The Polar Express (available from Thanksgiving to New Year’s) is excellent, and runs as the Wild Arctic ride the remainder of the year.  You exit through an underground cavern and see polar bears, a walrus and beluga whales. 

The park additionally offers theme-park rides: Atlantis, a wild water plunge and the huge scary, Kracken- a roller coaster which has no floor, so feet dangle.  A kiddie ride and a play area, much like Sesame Place in Pennsylvania, are also popular.

Manatee Rescue is an interesting walk through exhibit and my grandson got soaked touching the stingrays at Pacific Point Preserve. We did not ride the pink flamingo-shaped paddle boats or ride the Sky Tower. 

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For more information: www.seaworld.com

This week’s blog entries will feature Mimi’s trip to Sea World Orlando :

Dolphin Spotlight Educational Tour

Exploring the Theme Park

Restaurant reviews

 The Shamu Show

Renaissance Hotel  review (across from Sea World)

Mimi’s Tips & Suggestions-  2^nd day free, ponchos, links, etc

DOLPHIN SPOTLIGHT TOUR

 Dolphins seem to have as much interest in people as we do in them.  From ancient times, these sleek mammals have been revered. Poseidon rode a dolphin propelled chariot; Aphrodite and Apollo considered them sacred; Hindu’s call Ganga, the Ganges River Dolphin, a deity.

 My husband and I refer to a favorite snapshot of my youngest daughter as the one with the dolphin smile. Laura’s eyes sparkle, her mouth is open, almost laughing, yet she is too young to have developed that behavior.  Every inch of her tiny being radiates bliss. And to me, a bottlenose dolphin’s face brings the same delight and happiness.

       I snapped this picture of a trainer and her slippery student during unrehearsed practice.  The two-some paused for an intimate minute, a bond of love, a near embrace.  I, too, know that feeling, an emotional connection between animal and human; I share it with my dog.  We snuggle together on my bed; it’s sheer contentment, lost in the moment. 

So, it was with great excitement that I celebrated New Year’s Day by taking two of my grandchildren and their parents to Sea World Orlando.   I wanted to share my love of aquatic life with them and subconsciously inject an appreciation of nature.

We enrolled in the Dolphin Spotlight Tour for an up-close encounter with the playful sea creatures.  The session began with our guide teaching us about positive reinforcement training. Then, we watched the method in action as trainers worked with the animals between shows. (That was when I snapped my photo.) 

Next we visited the hospital area.  Sea World vets are called out to rescue animals, especially Florida manatees.  They nurse back to health and then release them into the wild.  However, the dolphins and whales performing in the park were born there. 

Finally the time came for small group hands-on participation. Kelly, a dolphin-care expert, assisted my son, daughter-in-law, two grandchildren and me.  She used a special whistle to call Hekili, a male, and his girlfriend, Griffin, poolside.  She then talked to them and … they talked back, a clicking throaty sound.  

 The dolphins radiated joy just like Laura’s snapshot.  They seemed to wiggle with glee, like a dog wagging his tail, panting and begging you to throw the ball. They acted like they couldn’t wait to perform.  We were able to touch them (they felt like rubber) and examine their bodies. The grandkids were totally involved, except, they didn’t like feeding them fish, claiming it felt yucky. 

We learned hand signals and gave them a try. Kyra, who is only four, got a bit frightened when Griffin jumped straight up to touch her Dad’s outstretched palm. Kelly gently instructed him to lower his arm.  

We hated to leave, our time gone so quickly.  I felt envious of the staff’s long-term relationship with their special friends.  Our connection was fleeting, but priceless.  We left realizing we just lived a Kodak moment.     

Check out www.SeaWorld.com. 

Look under the heading Exclusive Experiences- Educational Guided Tours.

Seems the Obama girls went on a late-night scavenger hunt designed by White House staff to help them get acquainted with their new home.  As a surprise, the final clue revealed pop-idols, the Jonas brothers, hiding behind a curtain. Forget celebrity, the basic idea sounds like fun.    

Mimi will borrow that theme the next time the grandkids visit.  I’ll make it into an exciting, but educational game.  The children could be asked to find the table that used to belong to my grandmother, the table with the carved face of Mr. Wind. 

Perhaps the youngsters could locate a specific baseball in Poppa Jay’s collection and later learn about the player.  They could be sent to get leaves from the palm or orange trees; species that don’t grow up north where they live.  Once you start scheming, the ideas seem endless. 

To help with plans, Mimi discovered two terrific websites that offer free scavenger hunt directions, lists and tips.  They even offer age appropriate games, some with drawings, others just text.  Check them out:

www.scavengerhuntforkids.com

www.chiff.com/entertain/scavenger-hunt.htm

A while back, a magazine ad hung in Mimi’s office that read: “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”

I believe it’s true, and the advertisement would still be posted had it not faded and crumpled off the wall. 

Whether you choose to go to a local museum or take an international tour, travel opens our eyes, our hearts and minds.  You gain an understanding of the past and an appreciation for different cultures. Perhaps you will connect with someone and create a lasting friendship or take on a new cause because you realize the urgent need.

The US dollar has strengthened and gas prices are at their lowest levels in four years. Yet, the Travel Industry Association predicts a 1.3 percent drop in 2009 leisure travel. If you can afford a vacation, 2009 will likely be a year of travel deals.  Take advantage of this opportunity. 

Last April, when I traveled in Italy, a euro cost about $1.60-$1.75.  Currently a euro is valued at $1.36, meaning the dollar goes farther.  (Universal Currency Converter: http://www.xe.com/ucc)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, travel to Europe by Americans was down 4.8 percent in the first eight months of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. If prices fall and the dollar continues to gain, this may be the right time to plan a European trip.The dollar is also doing better elsewhere. An Australian dollar costs just 67 cents in
U.S. currency, down from nearly $1 this past summer, and Canadian dollars are worth just 80 (U.S.) cents now. Earlier in 2008, the Canadian dollar was worth more than a U.S. dollar.

If the recession is hitting you and your travel budget, look for free offerings.  Most museums and some zoos open their doors a few hours every week.  Mimi loves to visit the library to borrow guidebooks instead of buying them.  Ask at the tourist information center for free walking tours; some provided as printed handouts and others are guided. 

Consider home exchange programs (www.homeexchange.com). If you are staying a few days or longer, investigate the possibility of renting an apartment. 

Villa rentals (vacation homes) usually save over hotels or look for lodging with a  kitchen or kitchenette to keep meal costs down.  Use consumer reviewed websites like www.travelocity.com or www.expedia.com to get the honest scoop on what other travelers have experienced.

In the past few years something called couch surfing has taken off.  The website www.couchsurfing.com defines  themselves as  volunteer-based worldwide network connecting travelers with members of local communities, who offer free accommodation and/or advice. I worry about the safety issues, so have not tried this service.  Anyone who has, feel free to comment.  

Drop down a notch, skip the taxi and try local restaurants or street food, i.e., the hot dog vendor. While Mimi is no longer up for youth hostels, her 2-star hotel in
Rome was quite adequate for 5 days.   Arthur Frommer (remember his book
Europe on $5 a Day) recalled his best travel experiences happened when he spent the least. ( His current publication: www.budgettravel.com.)

A new slogan hanging on Mimi’s wall reads: “There are places you leave. And places that never leave you.”  Get out there and join me.  Whenever possible, travel this year.  

Mimi is a thoroughly modern blogger who also happens to be Mom to 4 children, grandmother to three (two more on the way), wife, daughter of two elderly parents, dog owner and avid traveler/photographer.  This blog will give you a peek into her busy world.