| Everyone has heard of spring breaks for | | | | of American life through ethnic traditions, |
| college students in Florida, but now spring | | | | contests, and top-name entertainment, |
| break is becoming an event for the whole | | | | together with an abundance of juicy |
| family. The Orlando Family Spring Break (R) | | | | strawberries. The Central Florida Zoo & |
| offers families the perfect atmosphere to | | | | Botanical Gardens presents "Hippity Hop |
| take a break from busy work and school | | | | Adventure" March 22-23, when kids receive a |
| schedules and features major new attractions, | | | | free bunny tail, win prizes, enjoy face |
| special events, and family-friendly cultural | | | | painting and more as they discover clues |
| activities. The family spring break for 2008 | | | | along an adventure trail leading them to the |
| is the sixth one in this series and several | | | | Easter Bunny. Orlando's cultural scene has |
| new theme park attractions will be open when | | | | plenty of offerings to enlighten and |
| visitors come to Orlando. Seaworld is opening | | | | entertain the whole family. A classic |
| "Aquatica" and the park also offers close | | | | children's book comes to life when the |
| animal experiences with thrilling rides and | | | | Orlando Shakespeare Theatre presents "If You |
| whimsical underwater adventures, and journeys | | | | Give a Mouse a Cookie" February 23 - March |
| from serene to extreme. Universal Studios has | | | | 16. Or, you can embark in an interactive song |
| a new ride which promises a uniquely | | | | and dance extravaganza by connecting the |
| hilarious journey through Springfield with | | | | clues with Steve, Blue, Goldilocks and many |
| the Simpson family and Simpson family fans | | | | other favorite storybook characters in |
| are sure to be delighted by it. "Block Party | | | | "Blue's Clues Live! The Most Spectacular |
| Bash," an interactive parade featuring over | | | | Place" presented by the Orlando Repertory |
| 20 Disney-Pixar characters and the latest | | | | Theater March 7-30. Engage young travelers in |
| "Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage" show, | | | | the enchanted land of make believe and |
| featuring characters from "Mickey Mouse | | | | happily ever after when the Orlando Ballet |
| Clubhouse," "Little Einsteins," "Handy Manny" | | | | presents "Fairy Tale Princes and Princesses" |
| and more will open at Disney's Hollywood | | | | March 15. The event, part of the Family |
| Studios (formerly MGM Studios) Jungala at | | | | Series, provides the ballet experience in |
| Busch Gardens Africa is a new 4-acre | | | | less than an hour and offers |
| attraction set in a lush landscape, featuring | | | | behind-the-scenes interactions including |
| exciting signature rides, a family climbing | | | | learning how a tutu is made and a ballerina |
| area and exotic animal interactions. In | | | | meet-and-greet. The Orlando Spring break is |
| addition to the attractions at the theme | | | | the perfect way for families to spend quality |
| parks Orlando has a number of spring | | | | time together and enjoy themselves in sunny |
| festivals and special events that are ideal | | | | Florida. For helpful hints to plan an Orlando |
| for families. Your can enjoy the Annual | | | | vacation, along with attraction information, |
| Central Florida Fair at the Central Florida | | | | visit orlandoinfo.com/springbreak While in |
| Fairground, April 17-27, where the carnival | | | | Orlando, visitors may stop by the Official |
| like midway is packed with games and rides | | | | Visitor Center located at 8723 International |
| for the whole family. Do you like pies? Then | | | | Drive, at the southeast corner of |
| go and devour endless samples of pies April | | | | International Drive and Austrian Row. The |
| 19-20 at the Great American Pie Festival in | | | | Official Visitor Center is open daily from |
| Celebration. Festivities include cooking | | | | 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. |
| demonstrations, children's pie making, | | | | |
| pie-eating contests and the Never-Ending Pie | | | | Mark Whichard is a frequent writer on Orlando |
| Buffet. Spring is strawberry season and the | | | | tourism. He and his wife Susan are the |
| Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, | | | | proprietors of Orlando Disney Villas, an |
| February 28 - March 9, celebrates the fabric | | | | agency that rents villas near Disney World. |