Modern Travel - Harry Potter and Manatees: A Mother/Daughter Florida Adventure

There’s something special about a one-on-one trip with a child. The dynamic changes. Sibling rivalry and bickering disappear, and you have the opportunity to enjoy his/her company as an individual and indulge special interests and passions. So it was a thrill to watch the smiles on my Potterhead, animal-lover daughter on a recent trip to the Sunshine State.

Harry Potter

The Dream: A diehard fan, my Hufflepuff daughter has read the Harry Potter books and watched the movies countless times.

The Place: Universal Orlando, of course. At the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, we turned a corner and were transported to Diagon Alley, the story’s magical lane, complete with Ollivander’s Wand Shop and Gringotts Bank, run by goblins. We rode the Hogwarts Express at King’s Cross Station and arrived in Hogsmeade amidst the snow-covered buildings and the castle itself.

Highlights: A grown-up Ron Weasly set the stage before a heart-stopping journey into the vaults at Gringotts on the popular ride, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. The visuals were outstanding, and we were fully immersed into the magical adventure.

“Your loyalty will be much admired by your friends,” the wand purveyor declared as he handed my daughter a wand with a dragon’s heart string at the Ollivander’s Wand Shop. Other memorable moments were the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride and shopping at Knockturn Alley (the dark magic marketplace).

Stay: Loews Sapphire Falls Resort was one of five onsite properties on the resort. This Caribbean-themed hotel offered free water taxis to the park, early admission to the Wizardry World of Harry Potter and a massive 16,000 square-foot pool complete with water slides, sand beaches and play areas.

Eat: As much as my daughter enjoyed the butter beer and ambiance of the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade, her fave meal was at the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium. This massive steampunk-themed restaurant looked like a Willie Wonka factory on steroids; and its milkshakes topped with a cupcake was almost a meal itself.

Manatees

The Dream: Manatees’ friendly and gentle nature combined with their chubby cuteness has earned them a place in many a heart, including my family’s.

The Place: Crystal River, Florida, located approximately 150 kms northwest of Tampa, is the permanent home to about 40-50 manatees. This number increases 10-fold in winter months, when these elephantine marine mammals come for the warmth from the spring waters.

Highlight – Snorkelling with the manatees on an Explorida excursion was a memory I would cherish forever, endearing me to the forgotten mermaids whom Jacques Cousteau called curious, friendly and trusting. Choosing a reputable outfitter like Explorida was important to protect the manatees from harassment and stress. Slow movements and passive observation were emphasized. “The best way to observe a manatee is to act like one,” explained our guide and owner of Explorida, Kimberly Altman. And so we did our best to act like a manatee, floating on the surface, where below us two manatees lazily munched away. We could even hear the crunch, crunch of their chewing. At one point, when one of the manatees came up for air, I was suddenly face-to-face with her, and she looked into my eyes for a long moment before sinking down again.

Stay:  Crystal Blue Lagoon Bed and Breakfast was located on King’s Bay, right next to its own hot springs, and manatees could often be spotted in its waters. Inside, we stepped into a mermaid’s enchanted abode with a painted mural of the ocean on the floor, and rooms brimming with ocean-themed décor. Also fabulous were the complimentary bicycles and clear kayaks for guests, the rooftop patio and the outdoor fire pit. 

Eat: Though small in size, this town was big on seafood, and we had some outstanding meals here, including fresh fish and tasty Southern dishes at Vintage on 5th and fantastic crab cakes at the Louisiana-themed Seafood Seller café. Our last meal in Crystal River was at Katch Twenty-Two, where we enjoyed succulent seafood and key lime pie. But what delighted me most wasn’t the food but watching my daughter’s eyes light up, as she recapped all our adventures. Very special, indeed.

Websites:

www.visitflorida.com/en-us.html
www.universalorlando.com/web/en/
www.discovercrystalriverfl.com
https://explorida.com/
https://www.crystalbluelagoonbb.com/