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Central Florida’s Lakes Country
‘Gardens and Groves’
January 7-11th, 2007
Hosted by
Central Florida Visitors & Convention Bureau
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Had breakfast in a wonderful local favourite this morning called the Cypress
Café. Fresh orange juice, the best pancakes…delicious! The tables had all
this advertising all over them, what a cool idea.
Then it was off to Cypress Gardens Adventure Park. This famed landmark put
Winter Haven on the map many years ago. In fact Tom and I were last there in
1984 and remembered how nice the gardens were. Now you should see what the
gardens look like…lush and beautiful. After many necessary and positive
changes the attraction has retained the Ski Show, botanical gardens and
Southern Belles that helped make it famous, while adding family fun rides,
roller coasters and a new water park. Standing sentinel in the historic
gardens is the giant Banyan tree, which was planted in 1939 from a seedling
during the Gardens’ early years. While the adults are strolling along the
quiet gardens the children can let loose in the more than three dozen rides!
www.cypressgardens.com
Lunch was at Taste of Florida and where we also got to enjoy a tour of Lang
Sun Country Groves. Now this was the first place that I have ever tasted the
Honey Bell tangelo and we were sure lucky. They are only available for a
very short time and Lang ships these oranges all over the U.S. I have never
tasted anything so sweet or juicy. It has an easy to peel skin with very few
seeds. Lang Sun Country Groves started in 1951 by Mary Lang, who is now 94
years old and is still family owned an operated today. Originally a small
roadside citrus stand, the business expanded to include citrus shipping and
packing and now a gift shop and restaurant. Taste of Florida has been
featured on both the Food Network and Travel Channel for their unique,
grapefruit pie but I must tell you that the fresh strawberries and ice cream
was the best. www.langsuncountry.com
perhaps I should have skipped the sandwich and had three desserts instead
because I also spotted Honey Bell pound cake!
If you have a sweet tooth, you must visit Davidson’s of Dundee. Not only do
they grow, pack and ship Florida's tree ripened fresh fruit, but they also
make these wonderful jelly candies (which you can sample and see what you
like best) and jelly. Honey Bell marmalade…yumm! Established in the SunRidge
area of Central Florida since 1967, they have been shipping the best Florida
citrus to customers across the USA and Canada for over 35 years. Also
featured on the Food Network!
www.davidsonofdundee.com
This evening we were in for a very special treat as we were going to have
dinner at Chalet Suzanne Restaurant and Country Inn. Step back in time when
you arrive for dinner at the world-renowned Chalet Suzanne Restaurant and
Country Inn. Owned by the Hinshaw family since the 30’s, this enchanting inn
of 30 rooms nestled on 70 acres is an oasis welcoming guests with fine food,
delightful guestrooms and quiet ambiance. Eating had to take a back seat to
all the pictures we wanted to get before it got too dark outside. It’s a
great place to stay in, the rooms are all different and welcoming…outside in
the patio area they have tiles that people who have stayed there have signed
– wonderful little memories of times past. Then it was time to eat and what
a meal – Gourmet Magazine called the food ‘glorious’…I loved the fact that
all the table place settings were set with mismatched china and glassware
and even the cutlery…excellent meal and along with that the owner and head
chef told us all kinds of wonderful stories while we ate…thank you! Did you
know that their soup has even made a trip to the moon?
www.chaletsuzanne.com
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