Carter's BBQ and Soul Food - Mulberry, Florida

Today, we decided to try a corner eatery in Mulberry - Carter's BBQ and Soul Food...not realizing it had actually been around 24 years.

Founded in 2001 by father and son, Johnny B Carter Jr and Johnny Carter III, they have graduated up to their current location, located across the street from the future home of Mulberry City Hall, complete with newly opened indoor dining.

The "Do Not Enter" sign leads to the unique drive thru located between the kitchen itself and the dining area.

Today, we tried the chopped pork and chopped beef sandwiches, along with a generous side of fries and beans - but forgot to take a picture. Their sauces have been award recipients many times throughout the years.

Next time we visit, we will be trying the soul food.

Find their website, complete with menu HERE.

To be continued...

Green Meadows Petting Farm, Kissimmee, Florida

Green Meadows Farm, Kissimmee, originally opened in 1988 and operated for 30 years before losing their lease in 2018.

Seven years later, April 1, 2025, they re-opened in the City of Kissimmee’s Lancaster Ranch Park - a new 150-acre city park, which is scheduled to open in phases through about 2030.Located less than 5 miles from their prior location, there were plenty of animals ready for some petting and plenty of humans ready to pet them.The pigs were friendly...There were plenty of bunnies...And some newly hatched chicks too.The goats, and most of the animals, are eager to eat the heads of lettuce available for puchase - plan on a weekday visit and buy lettuce for $3 - $6 on the weekend.Since we were close to Easter, the farm has multiple dates with Candy Hunts - treating all kids fairly and allowing each to collect their own candy.The Easter Bunny supervises the activities.The cattle were all standing like statues...but this one was prepared for a little loving.Adults will enjoy the duck races as much as the kids will.It was a nice morning out with old friends.Green Meadows Petting Farm - affordable family fun in Central  Florida.

To be continued...

The Bodyguard at Theatre Winter Haven, Winter Haven, Florida

Tonight, we attended the next to final performance of The Bodyguard: The Musical at Theatre Winter Haven.

The curtain call for the four main performers: Jensen Hurd as Whitney Houston's iconic Rachel Marron, Jeremy Chase as Kevin Costner's Frank Farmer, Cici Elise as Michele Lamar Richards's Nicki Marron and Mace King’s Fletcher Marron.

The curtain call for the entire talented cast.

A shot taken from the production's Facebook page.

To see more pictures and videos, click HERE

To be continued...

Florida Strawberry Festival - Plant City, Florida

Today was our first visit ever (having lived nearby since 2007!) to the Florida Strawberry, Festival held in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World, Plant City, Florida.

FUN FACT: Watsonville, California is considered THE Strawberry Capital of the World.

This event has been held annually (except during WWII) in Plant City since 1930.

Entertainment included talented dogs...

and swimming pigs, who also raced to the finish line.

Robinson's Racing Pigs have entertained at State Fairs and Festivals since 1985, when they first appeared at the Florida State Fair. They have since been featured on many talk shows nationwide, including those hosted by Mr. Carson and Mr. Leno.

The Strawberry Shortcake, and every other food you can imagine, is aplenty at the Festival.

Plant City is also home to the Robert W Willaford Railroad Musuem. Closed the day of our festival visit, it is located at Union Station Depot and features a two-story Train Viewing Platform.

Seemingly endless entertainment, included in the price of admission, was comprised of magicians, dancers, musicians and many other forms of entertainment.

Here's a taste of entertainer Dennis Lee

Here's a short video of magician Aaron Radatz

To see more pictures and videos, click HERE

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To be continued...

Who's Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience @ House of Blues Orlando

Tonight we visited The House of Blues Orlando at Disney Springs for the first time ever for Who's Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience 20th Anniversary Tour.

The show start time was ambiguous - stated as differing times on differing sources - but the crowd had more energy as the wait time increased. The crowd was ready when the show started.

Taalib York, one of the founding members of Who's Bad, has been mimicking Michael Jackson most of his life.

Watch highlights of the show below.

Here's a short of Billie Jean.

Tickets on Groupon were $12 plus tax. The entertainment was well worth the money

We will probably visit The House of Blues Orlando, which opened in 1997, again.

To see more pictures and videos, click HERE

To return to the blog home page, click HERE

To be continued...

Krewe of Highlands Mardi Gras Parade, Shreveport, Louisiana

We spent the weekend in preparation for the Shreveport Mardi Gras celebration. We enjoyed good food out.we enjoyed some good food at home,we enjoyed the good company of friends,and we enjoyed the decorations of Mardi Gras.

Sunday was the Mardi Gras Parade for the Krewe of Highland. It is a tradition which has taken place in the Highland neighborhood for the last 30 years.

Luckily, the weekend rain stayed away for the parade.

After the parade, we enjoyed a little football...

To see more pictures and videos, click HERE

To return to the blog home page, click HERE

To be continued...

Some Sights of Saint Augustine

Today we spent the day in St. Augustine, Florida. The oldest continually inhabited city in the United States, St. Augustine was discovered by Ponce De Leon in 1513 while searching for the Fountain of Youth and later founded as a city in 1565 by Florida's first governor, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés.

This is Old City Gate. Built in 1808 as a line of defense again attacks, it is the north entrance to St. George Street, the multi-block long pedestrian-only shopping district in St. Augustine.

The oldest masonry fort in the continental United States, Castillo de San Marcos, is more than 320 years old and is now a national monument built, originally by the Spanish to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route.

Admission is $15 for age 16 and over and free for those under 15.

With a National Park pass being $80 a year and allowing three adults in with the passholder, it is a no-brainer what a great deal the pass is. Bonus for those over 62 - the $80 fee gets you a lifetime pass.

Our St. Augustine Santa's Red Express Nights of Lights Tour by Ripley's (Believe it or Not) was preceded by a showing of The Polar Express. We watched the last half in English as they started it earlier than scheduled and then the first half in Spanish. Luckily, we were able to stream it on our phone in perfect synchrony to hear the dialogue in English.

It was now time to board the train.

It was one of the first chilly nights in Florida and we were about to embark on a Christmas Sing-A-Long train ride with our special magic glasses (not shown).

Watch a video of Santa's Red Express Nights of Lights Tour by Ripley's by clicking HERE

To see more pictures and videos, click HERE

And don't miss these blog entries from our visit to St. Augustine in 2008!

The Fountain of Youth, click HERE

Old Jail of St. Augustine, click HERE

Old St. Augustine Village, click HERE

More Sights of St. Augustine, click HERE

To return to the blog home page, click HERE

To be continued...

Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom with Alan and Susan

Hollywood Studios opened on May 1, 1989 as Disney-MGM Studios and was the third of four theme parks built at Walt Disney World.

The Hollywood Tower of Terror rises in the background.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, the Star Wars themed area at Disney's Hollywood Studios opened 08/29/2019. The area's main attraction, Rise of the Resistance opened shortly thereafter on 12/05/2019. The ride utilized the first-ever Virtual Queue at Walt Disney World and had no stand-by line for almost two years - the Virtual Queue ended 09/22/2021. The Virtual Queue is currently being used at Walt Disney World as a way of eliminating extremely long lines for popular new rides.

Watch a video of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance by clicking HERE

October 16, 2023 Marked Disney's 100th Anniversary

Cinderella's Castle at Christmas

To see more pictures and videos, click HERE

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To be continued...

2023 Lakeland, Florida Christmas Parade

Tonight was the 42nd annual Lakeland Christmas Parade. The first parade was held in 1981. This year's theme was Christmas in Candy Land.

What? An airboat Christmas float? Only in Florida.

Watch a two minute video of the parade below.   

    

Rudolph leading Santa and Mrs. Clause at the end of the parade.

To see more pictures and videos, click HERE

To return to the blog home page, click HERE

To be continued...

Pima Air & Space Museum and Rincon West RV Resort, Tucson, Arizona

The Pima Air & Space Museum is one of the largest non-government funded aerospace museums in the world.

The Museum features six hangars comprising over 250,000 square feet of indoor display areas.

For an $8 fee, in addition to the approximately $20 admission, you can take a Public Tram Tour. If you like privacy, a Private Tram Tour is $350.

Here's a video clip of Pima Air & Space Museum Tram Tour. To come.

We enjoyed the sprawling Rincon West RV Resort for a decent $40 per night plus tax price.

See a video of Rincon Country West RV Resort by clicking HERE

To see more pictures and videos, click HERE

To return to the blog home page, click HERE

To be continued...