VACATION DAY 9:
Date: 10-20-95, Friday, Trip Day 10.
Hotel: Blue Tree Resort
Car: White Plymouth Acclaim
Weather: Cool, Sunny (Not Humid!)
We started the day off at Cypress Gardens. While it is quite a beautiful place, it is not an amusement park by any means. They do try, however.
We saw a Bird show about Predators, like Hawks, Falcons, and Owls. It was interesting, and the birds were quite impressive.
Next we rode a motor boat through the gardens. They are quite extensive, so you can not really see them just from the boat.
After the boat ride, we watched a pretty good show featuring Russian Circus Performers. We followed that with lunch and a walking tour of the gardens.
Next we boarded Kodak's Island In The Sky, a really huge counterbalanced platform which rises about 30 stories in the air over the park, giving an incredible view of the gardens and the surrounding landscaping.
After that we unfortunately watched the day's last performance of their water-ski show, which while featuring some cool kites, and really good water ski stunts, is enshrouded in a hideous cover of a Mardi-Gras theme, which basically drags the show down so badly it is impossible to enjoy it at all.
Following the Water Ski show, we checked out the Butterfly Conservatory. This is almost worth admission by itself. They have this large glass building with an indoor garden, and it is filled with literally thousands of butterflies. All colors, shapes, and sizes.
Finally, we caught the last Feathered Follies, a trained bird show, featuring mostly parrots. The Parrots were well trained, but the people could use some work. Their performance mostly fell flat. I think they were bummed out `cause they have to be associated with the pitiful Mardi-Gras Water Ski show...
Next, our plans called for us to stop at Blue Tree, and get ready for a last night at Pleasure Island, which we were going to start off with dinner at Planet Hollywood. This did not happen. I instead developed a headache driving back from Cypress Gardens, and by the time we were to leave for Pleasure Island, I was sick to my stomach. I urged Michelle to go on without me, but she said she was tired anyway, so we just called it a night, at only 8:00pm!
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