Sombrero Beach in Marathon Key

No matter what hotel we end up staying at, we always make it a point to go to Sombrero Beach. We happened upon this man-made beach one year as we prepared to return home. It had just been opened to the public, and it was quiet, peaceful, and perfect. We were sure we had found a gem, and agreed to return the following year. We did, and every year after it has grown in population; our perfect hidden beach had become everyone’s favorite Spring Break spot. So rather than sulk, we grill our food when a grill is available, soak up the sun, hit the ocean, and enjoy a nice beverage. When it’s all said and done, Sombrero Beach in Marathon Key has provided so many of my fond memories that it will always be my favorite place for Spring Break.

Spring Break in Shenandoah Crossing

That’s right; this spring break hot spot is in Virginia—who knew?! Spring Break, usually associated with beaches and wild parties, doesn’t always apply to parents looking to enjoy a great family getaway. So for those of you who want a fun-filled family Spring Break, Shenandoah has all the makings of a memorable vacation. Just ask owner Megan Trainor, who loved her family trip to the Crossings so much she felt inclined to let Bluegreen know about it on our Twitter Page. Her family enjoyed swimming, kayaking and fishing—sounds like a pretty good Spring Break to me. If family time is your forte for Spring Break, consider Shenandoah Crossings.

Las Vegas for Spring Break

Las Vegas is best known for its slogan “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” Can you think of a better place to celebrate a more *ahem, “grown up” Spring Break? What Vegas lacks in traditional Spring Break fare, it makes up in extravagance and decadence. That being said, you don’t have to be wealthy to enjoy the wonders of Sin City. This guide gives you all you need to know about taking a Vegas Spring Break vacation on a tight budget.

Florida is famous for its popular Spring Break destinations like Ft. Lauderdale, South Beach, Daytona, and the Keys, but that doesn’t mean you have to be in the southern-most state to enjoy the best of Spring. Whatever you do, Use your imagination and get creative. Spring Break can be as exciting, fun, and memorable as you want it to be!

What’s your favorite Spring Break vacation spot or memory? Let us know in the comments.

Everyone knows Florida has beautiful beaches and fabulous theme parks to enjoy during vacations. But one of the state’s best-kept “secrets” is its wealth of natural springs. North and north-central Florida are brimming with amazing crystal-clear rivers and pools, each fed by one or more of its own natural springs. One such spot is beautiful Silver Springs Park, a perfect day-trip during your Orlando Bluegreen vacation to Orlando’s Sunshine Resort or The Fountains.

About Silver Springs

At the Silver Springs wildlife park, these springs pump out enough sparkling clear water to supply the entire city of New York. Of course, this abundance of fresh water attracts a plethora of wildlife as well as visitors eager to see her beauty. The park has made a mission of sharing all it can about the fascinating variety of underwater, land dwelling and winged creatures that make their home near the springs.

Take a Silver Springs Boat Tour

A boat tour is the best reason to visit Silver Springs during a vacation, and there are several from which to choose. There’s no better view than from a glass-bottom boat. This mesmerizing tour slowly glides through water that is 99.8% pure, and clear as a bell all the way to its depths where 70 million year old fossils lie quietly. Glass-bottom boat passengers get to visit all seven spring formations at the headwaters, gazing down upon alligators, crawfish, shrimp, dozens of fish varieties, turtles and clams. These boats have seating for everyone and overhead awnings to protect from the sun.

Many Bluegreen owners and guests gravitate toward the Lost River Voyage, which showcases Florida of thousands of years ago, “untouched and untamed.”  Magnificent flora and fauna, including towering bald cypress and massive oaks, serve as the backdrop for this eye-opening nature tour. Photographers will want to have their cameras charged and ready, in case they spy alligators, herons, osprey or other indigenous species at feeding time. This tour includes time with a naturalist, who talks about Silver Springs’ wildlife breeding and rehabilitation programs.

See Silver Springs Wildlife

You don’t have to board a boat to enjoy Silver Springs wildlife exhibits. There are many, from the rare albino alligator (what Florida bluegreen vacation would be complete without seeing this?) to the Florida Panther Prowl.  Kids will especially love the Kritter Korral petting zoo, where they can make friends with farm animals.  Sheep, rabbits, donkeys, turkeys, and goats are all just waiting to pose for pictures and be hand-fed.

What about Silver Springs for Families?

Kids will also want to while away the hours at the Kids Ahoy! Playland in Silver Springs, where a shallow lagoon holds a replica of an1800s riverboat. A wildlife-themed carousel is ready for boarding, as are miniature motorboats, a Ferris wheel, slides, crawl tubes, fireman’s pole and more. Want to wear them out before the car ride back to Orlando?  Make this your last stop.

The gardeners in your vacation group will be taken by Silver Springs beautiful botanical gardens. Over 138 varieties of exotic and native and exotic plants adorn the shores of the Silver River. A winding pathway through the gardens offers the perfect place to meander or take photos.  Many a wedding are held in this gorgeous spot.

Rising above it all – eighty feet, to be exact – is The Silver Springs Lighthouse Ride. It’s telescoping tower quietly rises from ground level to full height, featuring six-passenger gondolas which afford a panoramic view of everything below. This “aha” moment really underscores the clarity of the springs, as well as the beauty of the gardens.

There are plenty of eateries and an open-air mall within Silver Springs. Ocala may be the place your little boy starts asking to sleep with gators for the foreseeable future. Don’t worry: they have soft, furry ones you can safely take home and commemorate your bluegreen vacation adventure.

Legoland in Winter Haven, FL

On October 15th, in Winter Haven, Florida, the newest theme park attraction is opening, Legoland!  Legoland is 150 acres on the site of the old Cypress Gardens, which interestingly enough, was Florida’s first them park in 1936.   Cypress Gardens closed in 2009 when after years of financial battering, a hurricane battered the grounds.  Legoland incorporated the Lego structures around the remaining beautiful trees and gardens that remained.  Sixteen mature live oak trees were transplanted to save them and a majestic Banyan tree, planted in 1939, is still there.  Two of the four rollercoasters are in tact including the only wooden coaster at a Legoland park anywhere.   “Island in the Sky,” a 100 foot rotating platform ride that offers a bird’s-eye view of the entire park is still there as well.

“Every Lego model you see in the park is made with standard Lego pieces,” says Bill Vollbrecht, who designed the park. “We don’t have special pieces made; they are standard brick sizes, the standard colors that kids can buy in the kits at the store. We don’t modify, change or do anything different. Because we want to show what you can do with them. This is the ultimate toy box.”  The only difference is that the Lego structures in the park have been glued together to be able to handle children and adults alike climbing on them.

We know we all love Lego’s, but did you know there are actual benefits to playing with Lego’s?  There is a lot of creativity into taking those colorful blocks and building what you can imagine.  There are also problem-solving skills involved trying to get the pieces to match up and look the way you need them to. And then finally, once you have imagined and created your piece, you then get to admire it, show it off and actually play with it.

Legoland is geared towards kids aged 2 to 12  and is 45 minutes from Disney.   A one day pass is $55 for those under 13 and older than 59, and $65 for everybody else. Bluegreen Corporation resorts are between Legoland and Disney and are a great, economical resort to stay at.  For more information on Legoland, go to Bluegreen