Orlando, Florida, is a children's paradise with Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Universal Studios.
But what makes Orlando a real vacation for the parents is easy travel along with comfortable and affordable accommodations. Thankfully, the Blue Heron Beach Resort proved the perfect place to keep both children and parents smiling.
Little ones who love the ocean and its creatures will love SeaWorld Orlando, which offers lots to learn for children of all ages in a truly interactive environment. An animal expert guide led us to Discovery Cove for an up-close visit with dolphins, belugas and penguins. It wasn't all educational fun; we had a great time on the "Manta" and "Kraken" roller coasters, saw the Shamu show and cooled off at the Aquatica water park.
Disney World really is a whole world of adventures to explore. Animal lovers will adore Animal Kingdom, which is the largest animal theme park in the world with more than 1,700 creatures. Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, Disney's water parks, are both great mid-day attractions for cooling off and kicking back. I particularly loved the Magic Kingdom, which brought me back to my childhood with all the classic Disney characters and signature rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and Splash Mountain. You can even have dinner with your favorite characters! After dinner, the fireworks at EPCOT really are worth seeing. The best part about visiting these theme parks when you stay at the Blue Heron Beach Resort is they have regularly scheduled shuttles, and you can buy your tickets at the resort rather than waiting in line at the park.
I had a great shopping experience at the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets, just a five-minute drive from the resort. From Nike to Gap, Prada to Burberry, there are 150 stores that have just about any clothes, shoes or jewelry that might be on your shopping list.
The Blue Heron Beach Resort was the perfect family place for extended stays with its one- and two-bedroom condominium suites with two full bathrooms. Full kitchens mean you can save a lot of money instead of dining out; if you want to venture out, though, there are more than 60 restaurants within about three kilometers. It was incredibly convenient to have a washer and dryer after all the water park fun. Beyond just being practical, the resort was peaceful and right on beautiful Lake Bryan, which I enjoyed from my private balcony. The pool and hot tub area was the perfect spot to relax after a busy day of attractions.
It's not a great family vacation unless the children and parents are relaxed, and I think staying in a convenient location, with the amenities of home, make a theme park vacation that much more pleasant. Add in the affordability the Blue Heron Beach Resort offers, and you've got a winning vacation.