Florida Ecosafaris Ziplining I Never Thought I Would!
You will hear me talking about my recent trip to Florida on several of my posts but this is one post that you will want to read. The event was brandcation and the theme was adventure. If anyone, knows anything about me, I am less than adventurous. If I cannot rationalize it in my head I just don’t do it. But I figured I would bite the bullet and face my fears, that, and I couldn’t be a chicken.
Friday morning we headed off to Florida Ecosafaris, a 4700 acre wildlife preservation, for an experience of a lifetime. We were all going ziplining, and that meant jumping off of high places, and dangling from cables in mid air. I am the one who watches this stuff on tv and says “NO WAY would you see me doing that.” There were three groups of 12 and we all were assigned our particular times to head out to the zipline. We all had to get weighed in (no worries this is for safety), and then we were given our times to go. I was feeling calm, cool, and collected, then I realized we were the first group to head out…FIRST!!!! I can think of a million things I would love to be first at, first in line for free chocolate, first in line for a good show, or whatever thing that doesn’t involve heights and jumping LOL.
We arrived where we met our guides Alvin and Anna (love these guys!), got ourselves suited up in our harnesses, put on our helmets, and we were off. We arrived at this tower of stairs that felt like it was swaying in the wind and they assured us that 26 people could fit way up there on this tiny little platform. We climbed up this mini tower for what seemed like forever and we all stood there huddled together, all securely latched to out respective cables overhead. Then, one at a time we stepped up to take a leap of faith and put our trust in our guides, our harnesses, and all the gear that held us. Anna attached my pulley to the cable, and hooked up my harness and says off ya go to Alvin waiting on the other side. My instructions were to keep my feet up, and make sure I grab the rope on the other side. I had my momentary panic attack, and off I went, I was so worried about grabbing the rope on the other side that I didn’t even care that I was dangling in the air by some tiny cable. My landing was a little rough on my first zip, but it got a little easier as we went along. I can honestly say that I was having a good time, and felt a great sense of accomplishment that I was able to do it.
You can see my first zip, ignore the rough landing LOL.
Our last few zips were a little more challenging, and involved a much higher take off point, a couple of bridges over an alligator and then our final zip to solid ground. At the end I had a renewed confidence in myself and a great relief to be standing on grass. The experience was wonderful and the people at Florida Ecosafaris welcomed all of us crazy mommy bloggers with open arms, and I think that I might even try to go ziplining again.
Florida Ecosafaris, also offers many other things to do!
Coach Safaris
Your two-hour Coach Safari will take you on an adventure deep into the 4700 acre Forever Florida wildlife conservation area preserved just as nature intended. This pristine site boasts nine distinct Florida ecosystems and an endless array of natural flora and fauna including alligators, black bears, white-tail deer, nearly two hundred species of birds and the endangered Florida panther.
Horseback Safaris
Experience natural Florida just as the founding settlers did – on horseback. Forever Florida boasts some of the best riding in Central Florida featuring historic trails first used for horseback riding by Native Americans back in the 1500’s. Enjoy a one, two or three hour adventure through the 4700 acre wildlife conservation area which covers nine distinct Florida ecosystems.
Ziplining Safaris
See the wilds of Forever Florida like never before – from high up in the treetops! Our NEW Zipline Safari will take you on a two and a half hour adventure like none other, reaching heights of 55 feet and speeds up to 25 mph!
If you want to experience Florida in a different way outside of Disney, this is a great way to have a fun filled adventure with your family. Florida Ecosafaris offers you a wide range of experiences and programs worth exploring while you are visiting. Thank you to Florida Ecosafaris, for such a wonderful welcome, and for such a memorable first time adventure and experience for me that I will never forget!
Brandcation Im On My Way!
In just four short days, I will be hopping on a jet plane to head to Orlando to have an experience of a lifetime, and I will be sharing it with some of my fellow bloggers. What’s this you ask? I am going on a one of a kind Brandcation vacation! I cannot even begin to tell you just how excited I am to slip away and create some lasting mommy memories.
November 4th-7th, I will be spending fun filled days swinging from the trees and flying across the swamps (literally) and enjoying it in the company of 30 other bloggers. The theme of this Brandcation is adventure, and I must admit I am not the most adventurous person, when it comes to getting out, but I was very excited to see what is in store for me.
Our main sponsor of this fabulous event in Kissimmee, Florida is Global Resort Homes, who is providing us with some very beautiful homes to stay in. Global Resort Homes is a really great option for your family if you plan to stay in the Orlando/Kissimmee area and comes with some wonderful perks that a hotel cant offer you and at a pretty affordable rate. You have all the amenities of being at home like a kitchen, washer and dryer (makes packing light easier), your own private pool, and you are close to all the major attractions. This the house that I will be staying at, and I can hardly wait! Talk about a mommy oasis!
Friday
Our first full day we will be swinging from the trees and I will be screaming for my mommy in a one of a kind ziplining adventure on Florida EcoSafaries We will be above it all on an aerial nature tour – a network of cables designed so we can fly through Pine Flatwoods and over forested wetlands, home to native Florida wildlife including alligators, black bears, white tail deer and the endangered Florida Panther (just as long as I stay above it all!) This is where you need to pray for me, I am afraid of heights, but I’m so excited!
After a fun filled and exciting day we will head back to our wonderful vacation homes to get ready for an evening filled with mystery and who done it at Sleuths Mystery Dinner. I have always wanted to play detective, and it reminds me a lot of playing the game Clue when I was a kid. Either way it should be a complete blast.
Saturday
The following day we will gliding through the Florida wetlands on wildlife tour. I will be taking my first ever airboat ride thanks to Boggy Creek Airboat Rides. Our airboat tour will start with a quiet travel down a natural canal viewing exotic birds, turtles and the Florida alligator in their own natural environment. Then we will fly like the wind into the swamps traveling up to 45 miles per hour! Not only am I a lover of being out on the water, but I love the chance to view wildlife in their natural habitat. 
The day wouldn’t be complete without seeing one of Florida’s natives the Alligator! After our boat ride we will be heading to Gatorland. This is a 110- acre park, where you can get up front and personal with thousands of alligators & crocodiles. They have an aviary, breeding marsh with observation tower, petting zoo, nature walk, award-winning gift shop and one-of-a-kind reptilian shows including the Gator Wrestlin’ Show, Gator Jumparoo and the Up-close Encounters Show.
We cap off our night with yet another wonderful dinner at Arabian Knights. This theatrical production at Arabian Nights features riders and acrobats performing with more than 60 horses, including Walter Farley’s Black Stallion. I love watching horses, and I think they are so majestic, I can hardly wait to see this wonderful production.
Sunday
I will be heading off to Disney World with the remaining bloggers to get my fill of pixie dust and the magic that Disney has to offer, before heading back home from what will seem like a dream. I will get to experience Disney from a more adult perspective yet act like a big kid. I can hardly wait to get some of those chocolate dipped rice krispie ears. If you haven’t ever tried them, then you simply must!
Monday
I will be heading home to my wonderful family and will get to share more of my adventures with you.
Thank you to MomDot for setting up such a wonderful and creative event and to Global Resort Homes for helping to make our stay in Florida a wonderful one! See you all in Florida! Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
