10 Must-Do Activities at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

 

I admit I’m not much of a theme park person, but since I live with two Harry Potter obsessed kids, a stop at Wizard World of Harry Potter at Island of Adventure was on the top of our list during our Florida vacation.  From the second I saw Hogwarts Castle and walked around the streets of Hogsmead, I was hooked.  I’m not sure who had more fun because I was pulling them in all directions.  Here are 10 activities that you must do while you’re there:

DRINK BUTTER BEER:  Before I go any further…I’m not promoting underage drinking pals…butter beer is a frozen piece of heaven that does not have alcohol in it (but boy…that would be good too!).  It tastes like a root beer float combined with butterscotch and caramel. We actually tried to make our own once, but it turned into a Pinterest fail.  It’s a great treat at the end of a hot Florida day.

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Clearwater Marine Aquarium

My girls are big fans of Hope and Winter, the dolphins portrayed in the movies Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2.  Winter is a great role model of strength and determination. If you don’t know their story, Winter was 3 years old when her tail became entangled in a crab trap line that cut off the circulation of her tail flukes.  She was brought to Clearwater Marine Aquarium and, with the help of the staff, was given a prosthetic tail and fluke and relearned how to swim. Unlike a typical aquarium, Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a working animal hospital and marine life rescue center. 

We started our day with a tour of the aquarium with Julia, who was knowledgeable of all the animals and answered all our questions.  What struck me most was how committed the staff is to the well-being of all of the animals brought here.  They were all quick to answer questions my girls had and if you were looking at an exhibit they would come over and give you facts about the animals like what led them to need help.   It was a welcoming environment and we walked away with tons of knowledge about marine animals.  The girls couldn’t stop telling my husband all about it over dinner. 

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Itinerary for a Perfect Week in Sarasota

Why choose Sarasota, Florida? 

When I think of Florida, I don’t picture Disney. I envision walking across powder white sand collecting shells and shark teeth on the gulf coast.  We spend our days doing an excursion for half of the day and enjoying the sunshine at the beach or by the pool for the other half. It really is the perfect vacation scenario and our town of choice in Florida is Sarasota.  It has diverse dining, cute boutique shopping, bustling arts and culture, and some of the best beaches in the US.

Where do you fly in?

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport

Tampa International Airport (It is usually cheaper to fly here.) (1 hour drive)

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (1 hour 15-minute drive)

CLICK HERE TO FIND SOME GREAT FLIGHTS 

 Here is our itinerary for 5 full days in paradise:

DAY 1

Mote Marine Laboratory

Spend the morning at our favorite place in Sarasota! The best thing about this aquarium is the fact that it’s a working research facility.  You’ll love meeting our two favorite manatee…Hugh and Buffett.  Also, say hello to our pal Hang Tough, a blind green turtle that lives at Mote because he couldn’t survive in the wild.  The aquarium is filled with fish, sharks, eels, otters, crocs, ands more.  

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A Perfect Day on Amelia Island

Beautiful Amelia Island is located just off the coast of Florida, about 30 miles from Jacksonville.  This barrier island has 13 miles of sandy beaches and true southern charm.  There are plenty of family activities that will keep everyone happy.  Here is one way to spend a perfect day on this unique island.

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Florida Aquarium

Florida Aquarium mytravelingkids.com

The Florida Aquarium is a fun way to spend a few hours while visiting Tampa, Florida.  There is so much to explore within the aquarium as well as additional tours and experiences.  Let’s take a tour of the aquarium as I tell you about our fun day.  With over 200,000 sea creatures this is only a glimpse.

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