Orlando Florida

Joe Carney · April 19th, 2003, 08:17 PM

Dylan..only three feet?
I'm talking an average closer to 8 feet. A park ranger pointed the place out to me. It's easy to get to by car, so if you're afraid you can sit on the car and take pics.
It's east of Everglades City north on a dirt road off the Tamiami trail. When I said hundreds, I wasn't exagerating.

If you're interested, let me know, I have a pickup truck great for riding in the back of and taking great gator video. To high for the gators to jump into. hehehe. Bring a good zoom setup, you can tell your Canadian freinds you were right down by the water. instead of 20 feet away. I promise not to drive crazy... really.

Dylan Couper · April 19th, 2003, 11:42 PM

Sounds like fun actually!

I'm trying to get an exact shooting schedule, trying to decide between 10-14 days. Hopefully we can wrap it up in 8-10 days and I'll have a couple extra to do some fun stuff.
Can you guys reccomend the top 4 things I should do while I'm there? Besides hit Disneyworld?

John Locke · April 20th, 2003, 08:09 AM

Isn't it Florida where they have walking catfish that attack people?

Better bring your mosquito, fire ant, Bott fly, catfish, gator, and Jeff repellent, Dylan.

Jeff Donald · April 20th, 2003, 08:25 AM

It comes in a spray form John, it's called SmartA** repellent. I'm not sure if it still has my likeness on the can, though.

K. Forman · April 20th, 2003, 08:45 AM

John- The catfish do walk across dry land, but they won't attack... which is more than I can say for some of the natives :)

Dylan- As far as things to do, I recommend Universal and Epcot as theme parks to hit. Other than that, I have no idea what might peak YOUR interest. What would you like to do? Historical sites? St. Augastine, the oldest city in Fla? Fort Christmas is just outside of Orlando. Daytona Beach is always fun. It is up to you. I'm sure several of us would be happy to play the part of tour guide. Maybe all of us could get together and swarm the state in a drunken frenzy?

Dylan Couper · April 20th, 2003, 09:48 AM

I've been to St. Augustine actually, about 15 years ago.

Theme parks for sure. I planned on hitting Epcot/Disneyworld.
Other stuff would have to be within an hour or two of Orlando, since I might only get half-days free.
I'd like to make it out to the coast and do some snorkling, if there are any easliy accessible reefs in the area.

I've got lots of golf lined up already in the evenings.

I missed Spring Break so there's no point going to Daytona, is there? :)

K. Forman · April 20th, 2003, 09:59 AM

"I missed Spring Break so there's no point going to Daytona, is there? "

I can't help it if you don't know how to manage shooting schedules... Timing, timing, timing :) However, Daytona is still a fun place, even without the coeds gone wild.

As far as snokeling, I can't say... I don't dive. Besides... It's shark season. There are some springs out near Orlando that are supposed to be great for diving. Shark-free, even :)

Shawn McBee · April 20th, 2003, 11:44 AM

While theme parks are fun, there's a lot to do in Orlando that's a lot let expensive. There's a Ripley's Believe it or Not museum, an FAO Schwartz (so fun!) Church Street Station, a great Imax theater, a Hard Rock Cafe, Cirque du Soliel... hell, you name it.

And That's what I know with the limited amout of time I've spent there. I'm sure others could tell you more.

Uno's Pizza.....Mmmmmm....

-Shawn

Larry Vaughn · April 6th, 2007, 10:34 PM

If you are looking for gators closer to O-town than Miami, try Payne's Prairie near Gainesville.

Damn thaings are all over the place. There is one portion where after a short walk you can get closer to live alligators than you would want to. Right off the Gainesville end of the Gainesville-Hawthorne rail trail is a side adventure that will take you there.

Of course, there are lots of UF gators also, but that's a different story. I had the opportunity to help Nino G. videograph some of the UF type live gators yesterday. The experience was most illuminating, as was ESPN's Erin Andrews' smile. I had to wear polarized sunglasses most of the time to escape the dazzle.

Larry Vaughn · April 8th, 2007, 03:07 AM

Being that this post is nearly 4 years old, I'll assume that Dylan found what he was looking for.

In response to the Daytona question, since I went to photo school there, I'll add that in addition to spring break (which is going full blast now) you have Nascar Speed Week and related activities and Bike Week. You can't drive all the way up and down the beach as was possible when I worked as an Orlando Sentinel stringer there, but sections of it are open to vehicles for a fee. It's an all day parade of cars and people and entertaining to watch.

Most people don't think of Gainesville as a tourist destination but thousands of college students live here and it makes quite a party at times. You can also check out the sporting events, minus several extremely talented Gator basketball players who will soon go pro.

April 19th, 2003, 11:42 PM	#32
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Sounds like fun actually! I'm trying to get an exact shooting schedule, trying to decide between 10-14 days. Hopefully we can wrap it up in 8-10 days and I'll have a couple extra to do some fun stuff. Can you guys reccomend the top 4 things I should do while I'm there? Besides hit Disneyworld? __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

April 20th, 2003, 08:09 AM	#33
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Isn't it Florida where they have walking catfish that attack people? Better bring your mosquito, fire ant, Bott fly, catfish, gator, and Jeff repellent, Dylan. __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

April 20th, 2003, 08:25 AM	#34
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	It comes in a spray form John, it's called SmartA** repellent. I'm not sure if it still has my likeness on the can, though. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

April 20th, 2003, 09:48 AM	#36
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	I've been to St. Augustine actually, about 15 years ago. Theme parks for sure. I planned on hitting Epcot/Disneyworld. Other stuff would have to be within an hour or two of Orlando, since I might only get half-days free. I'd like to make it out to the coast and do some snorkling, if there are any easliy accessible reefs in the area. I've got lots of golf lined up already in the evenings. I missed Spring Break so there's no point going to Daytona, is there? :) __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

April 20th, 2003, 11:44 AM	#38
Shawn McBee Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 69	While theme parks are fun, there's a lot to do in Orlando that's a lot let expensive. There's a Ripley's Believe it or Not museum, an FAO Schwartz (so fun!) Church Street Station, a great Imax theater, a Hard Rock Cafe, Cirque du Soliel... hell, you name it. And That's what I know with the limited amout of time I've spent there. I'm sure others could tell you more. Uno's Pizza.....Mmmmmm.... -Shawn __________________ "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." -Mark Twain

April 19th, 2003, 08:17 PM	#31
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	Dylan..only three feet? I'm talking an average closer to 8 feet. A park ranger pointed the place out to me. It's easy to get to by car, so if you're afraid you can sit on the car and take pics. It's east of Everglades City north on a dirt road off the Tamiami trail. When I said hundreds, I wasn't exagerating. If you're interested, let me know, I have a pickup truck great for riding in the back of and taking great gator video. To high for the gators to jump into. hehehe. Bring a good zoom setup, you can tell your Canadian freinds you were right down by the water. instead of 20 feet away. I promise not to drive crazy... really.

April 20th, 2003, 08:45 AM	#35
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	John- The catfish do walk across dry land, but they won't attack... which is more than I can say for some of the natives :) Dylan- As far as things to do, I recommend Universal and Epcot as theme parks to hit. Other than that, I have no idea what might peak YOUR interest. What would you like to do? Historical sites? St. Augastine, the oldest city in Fla? Fort Christmas is just outside of Orlando. Daytona Beach is always fun. It is up to you. I'm sure several of us would be happy to play the part of tour guide. Maybe all of us could get together and swarm the state in a drunken frenzy?

April 20th, 2003, 09:59 AM	#37
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	"I missed Spring Break so there's no point going to Daytona, is there? " I can't help it if you don't know how to manage shooting schedules... Timing, timing, timing :) However, Daytona is still a fun place, even without the coeds gone wild. As far as snokeling, I can't say... I don't dive. Besides... It's shark season. There are some springs out near Orlando that are supposed to be great for diving. Shark-free, even :)

April 6th, 2007, 10:34 PM	#39
Larry Vaughn Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 201	Gators If you are looking for gators closer to O-town than Miami, try Payne's Prairie near Gainesville. Damn thaings are all over the place. There is one portion where after a short walk you can get closer to live alligators than you would want to. Right off the Gainesville end of the Gainesville-Hawthorne rail trail is a side adventure that will take you there. Of course, there are lots of UF gators also, but that's a different story. I had the opportunity to help Nino G. videograph some of the UF type live gators yesterday. The experience was most illuminating, as was ESPN's Erin Andrews' smile. I had to wear polarized sunglasses most of the time to escape the dazzle. Last edited by Larry Vaughn; April 7th, 2007 at 02:29 PM.

April 8th, 2007, 03:07 AM	#40
Larry Vaughn Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 201	Post it Being that this post is nearly 4 years old, I'll assume that Dylan found what he was looking for. In response to the Daytona question, since I went to photo school there, I'll add that in addition to spring break (which is going full blast now) you have Nascar Speed Week and related activities and Bike Week. You can't drive all the way up and down the beach as was possible when I worked as an Orlando Sentinel stringer there, but sections of it are open to vehicles for a fee. It's an all day parade of cars and people and entertaining to watch. Most people don't think of Gainesville as a tourist destination but thousands of college students live here and it makes quite a party at times. You can also check out the sporting events, minus several extremely talented Gator basketball players who will soon go pro. Last edited by Larry Vaughn; April 8th, 2007 at 08:45 AM.