by Elsa Soto | Sep 2, 2016 | Local Events, Theme Parks and Attractions
Orlando’s Dining Scene Takes Center Stage for Magical Dining Month
By Kristen Manieri
Just in case you’re hungry, Magical Dining Month is back with Orlando’s annual time to shine a spotlight on the area’s best restaurants and chefs. This year, more than 90 restaurants will participate from August 29 through October 2, each serving an appetizer, entrée and dessert for a delicious $33.
Once again, new Orlando restaurants have jumped on board, adding to the continuous excitement of this annual epicurean celebration. And while buzz-worthy newcomers (including 2016 additions STK, Morimoto Asia, Urbain 40 and Cask & Larder) help to keep the program fresh, they join a long list of excellent Orlando-area restaurants, a few of which have been participating in Magical Dining Month since the very beginning.
That list includes Emeril’s Tchoup Chop, a beautifully bedazzled restaurant inside the Loews Royal Pacific Resort where an artful array of fusion cuisine takes diners on an epicurean expedition through Asia and Polynesia. This year, Tchoup Chop will present a series of whimsical dishes, including a Kalua Pork Poutine, and Hawaiian Style Paella.
Another longtime favorite, Everglades Restaurant at the Rosen Center Hotel joined Magical Dining Month in its first year and continues to wow diners with its nod to native Florida cuisine through dishes like Alligator Bay Chowder and Key Lime Pie, both of which are offered on its Magical Dining menu this year.
It’s worth noting how many spectacular participating restaurants are located in hotels and resorts, where chefs rival those cooking in independent, boutique restaurants in downtown Orlando and Winter Park.
A few standouts include The Kitchen at the Hard Rock Hotel, Mama Della’s Ristorante inside Loews Portofino Bay, Todd English’s Bluezoo at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, deep blu seafoodgrille at Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort and Urban Tide inside Hyatt Regency Orlando.
Not only do these restaurants regularly receive dining awards and praise from local critics, but they are some of the most beautifully designed restaurants in the area, making them an ideal choice for date night. And of course, for those staying in Orlando’s hotels and resorts, it makes enjoying a Magical dinner out all the more convenient.
So, definitely use Magical Dining Month to explore Orlando’s’ newest culinary superstars. But don’t forget to discover some hidden gems that may have escaped your notice. With prix-fixe menus priced so affordably, it’s your chance to savor Orlando’s burgeoning culinary scene and decide for yourself which ones rise to the top.
Source: Visitorlando.com
by admin | Mar 22, 2016 | Local Events, News, Theme Parks and Attractions
Orlando tourism honored with TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award
Orlando Tourism Honored – Orlando honored with Trip Advisor TripAdvisor announced the winners of its Travelers’ Choice awards for destinations, and Orlando came in among the top three on the list.
Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants and attractions in destinations worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period, as well as traveler booking interest on TripAdvisor.
The top 10 U.S. Travelers’ Choice destinations include:
- New York City
- Las Vegas
- Orlando
- Chicago
- San Francisco
- San Diego
- Honolulu
- Washington, D.C.
- Charleston, S.C.
- New Orleans
Orlando jumped up 15 positions from 2015 to land at No. 3 this year. Here’s what else TripAdvisor had to say: “Travelers in need of a respite from Orlando’s exhilarating theme parks can enjoy a slower pace with a ride on the recently-opened Orlando Eye, a 400-foot Ferris wheel that offers spectacular panoramic views. To experience lush golf courses and lavish amenities, travelers can book a stay at the Villas of Grand Cypress, which has rooms available on TripAdvisor for an average of $374 per night.”
And TripAdvisor’s reason to book a trip to Orlando now: The “Frozen Ever After” ride at Epcot, which will open this summer.
Source: Orlando Biz Journal
If you are thinking of purchasing a vacation home, look no further. We have a team dedicated to service all of your real estate needs. From brand new construction homes to resale vacation/investment homes, Bardell Real Estate has specialists to help you find the perfect home.
Orlando tourism honored by Trip Advisor
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by admin | Mar 18, 2016 | News, Theme Parks and Attractions
Orlando LEGOLAND Resort Announces All-New Additions
ORLANDO LEGOLAND Resort announced earlier this week an unprecedented slate of projects that will deliver additional on-site accommodations, an immersive new theme park land with a cutting-edge, interactive attraction, the first-ever expansion of its water park, a new, action-packed “4D” theatrical attraction and an all-new summertime event filled with fireworks and special entertainment, giving guests even more reasons to play – and stay – at the place #BuiltForKids:
NEW! LEGOLAND Beach Retreat – opening mid-2017
This whimsically themed vacation resort combines the fun of surf, sand and sun with the creativity of LEGO® bricks on a picturesque site next to Lake Dexter, adjacent to the theme park. Distinguished by a colorful LEGO lighthouse, the village-style, lakefront resort will feature 83 single-story duplex units, offering 166 separate accommodations that sleep up to five.
Designed with the same combination of imagination and kid-centric detail that made the 10-month-old LEGOLAND Hotel an immediate hit, the all-new LEGOLAND Beach Retreat offers a great way for larger families and friends to vacation together. Amenities will include a themed pool, a sandy play area, a buffet-style restaurant and complimentary transportation to and from the theme park.
NEW! LEGO NINJAGO World – opening early 2017
Inspired by the popular series of LEGO building sets and the long-running TV show “LEGO NINJAGO: Masters of Spinjitzu,” this all-new, fully immersive theme park land invites guests to step into a magical, martial arts kingdom where they’ll experience a first-of-its-kind attraction that blends eye-popping, 3D computer animation, “4D” atmospheric effects and groundbreaking technology by Montreal-based Triotech.
On LEGO NINJAGO The Ride, up to four guests per vehicle blast animated fireballs, lightning, shockwaves and ice using nothing more than their hands as they travel through dojos mastering their skills before teaming up to defeat a powerful villain. Riders collect points and scores are displayed when each quest is complete. The thrilling attraction is the epicenter of a new area featuring multiple hands-on, interactive experiences that will hone kids’ physical skills like NINJAGO heroes Kai, Jay, Cole, Zane and Nya, before their ultimate test on LEGO NINJAGO The Ride.
NEW! Creative Cove featuring Build-A-Boat – now open
A fun expansion area at the Orlando LEGOLAND Water Park adds a brand-new attraction, Build-A-Boat, where kids can create and race LEGO watercraft through fast-flowing rivers alongside cheering crowds in a setting inspired by the popular LEGO City Coast Guard sets. Nearby, the existing Imagination Station lets little ones build and play with colorful DUPLO® bricks in a water-filled activity center. Additional dining offerings, increased seating capacity and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the entire water park round out the all-new offerings for 2016.
NEW! “LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS 4D: The Book of Creativity” – opening May 26, 2016
Set in the futuristic Kingdom of Knighton, this all-new theatrical attraction pits five young knights against the evil Jestro and his sidekick, the Book of Monsters, in a battle for control of a rare book of magic that gives its owner tremendous power. Based on the new LEGO series of building sets and the just-launched TV show, the 12½-minute, immersive experience combines 3D computer animation with “4D,” real-world effects that bring the high-tech action bursting off the screen and into the audience.
Elsewhere in the theme park, kids will discover six exclusive shields that unlock unique NEXO Powers within the LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS: Merlok 2.0 mobile app for iOS and Android devices.
NEW! LEGOLAND Night Lights – Summer 2016
The resort will debut its latest all-new event in June, a celebration of summertime fun featuring extended park hours, meet-and-greet opportunities with favorite LEGO characters, exclusive opportunities to build alongside LEGO Master Model Builders and a spectacular, brick-tacular NINJAGO fireworks display that will light the night above Lake Eloise with brilliant colors and triumphant music. Held exclusively at the Orlando LEGOLAND Florida Resort, the party is included with park admission and will take place every Saturday and Sunday from June 18 to July 31.
The exciting new projects represent the largest period of growth in the nearly 4½-year history of the Orlando LEGOLAND Florida Resort, a rapid trajectory of expansions that has included the Orlando LEGOLAND Water Park (May 2012), LEGO STAR WARS™ Miniland Model Display (November 2012), LEGO World of Chima™ (July 2013), DUPLO Valley (May 2014), the Orlando LEGOLAND Hotel (May 2015), Heartlake City (June 2015), and phased restorations of the historic Cypress Gardens botanical wonderland, which recently celebrated its 80th anniversary.
Source: Orlando Biz Journal
Orlando LEGOLAND Resort
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by admin | Mar 2, 2016 | Homes, Villas and Condos, Investment Property in Florida, Real Estate News, Theme Parks and Attractions
Florida Dept. of Transportation plans to cut travel time
The Florida Department of Transportation is working on plans to better transport Central Florida’s talent pool to where the jobs are — or visa versa.
Loreen Bobo told a crowd of business executives during Orlando Business Journal’s recent Business of Transportation event that the department is talking about some future roadway corridors that will either help establish new employment areas or help more efficiently create links between some of the major job centers and communities where the working population lives.
Bobo, who is FDOT’s construction program manager for the $2.3 billion I-4 Ultimate highway project, said these are some roadway priorities for Central Florida:
- Searching for options to better connect southeast Orange County, the home of Lake Nona’s 600-acre Medical City biotech hub, and Florida’s Space Coast in Brevard County.
- How to plan roadways for the new Wellness Way corridor south of State Road 50 in Orange County into Lake County, a corridor that’s expected to give rise to a high-wage, health care-focused employment hub
- Creating transportation options with a new bus-rapid transit project on U.S. Highway 192, one of the region’s busiest tourist corridors
With these plans to decrease travel time residents and tourists alike will reap the reward. With travel may be shortened investment homes for either short term rental or long term rental will get a bit more lucrative.
Your Travel may be shortened by these 3 planned new roads
Source: Orlando Biz Journals
by admin | Feb 29, 2016 | Homes, Villas and Condos, Investment Property in Florida, New Construction, Theme Parks and Attractions
Great Investment Opportunity
Like Orlando, Florida can barely keep up with all the tourists wanting to visit and spend their vacations in the Sunshine State.
According to the Associated Press, Florida welcomed more than 105 million tourists last year— well above the 100 million tourist goal Florida Gov. Rick Scott wanted to see happen for the state. Scott is expected to be giving an official announcement for the figures today at Epcot.
Obviously, Orlando plays a huge role in the state’s tourism appeal by drawing more than 62 million visitors each year. The theme parks, hotel amenities, convention market and more all help to keep the region as the top leisure destination on the planet.
That’s also good for the $60 billion tourism and travel industry that services tourists and business travelers and will help to further make the region a prime investment spot for anyone wishing to get a piece of the tourism pie.
Source: Orlando Biz Journals
The tourism industry of Orlando, Kissimmee, and Davenport provides a great investment opportunity for seasoned as well as first time investors. This is no secret as Orlando recently was voted Number 2 for Top 10 2015 Real Investment Cities. If you are interested in purchasing a vacation rental home, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We also specialize in new vacation home sales as well.
by admin | Jan 28, 2016 | Homes, Villas and Condos, Investment Property in Florida, Local Events, Long Term Rental, Mortgages, New Construction, New Listing, News, Property for Sale, Property for Sale in Orlando, Real Estate News, Retirement / 55+, slider, Testimonials, Theme Parks and Attractions
“SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR”
BARDELL REAL ESTATE
Back From left: Broker Associate Kevin Anderson; Broker Associate Jim Merganthaler; Agent Mona Sutphin-O’Niell; Managing Broker/President/Owner Steve Silcock; Office Manager/P.A. to Steve Silcock Hannah Garrity; Sales Administrator Bobby Gonzalez; Senior Property Manager Tim Hack
Front From Left: Broker Associate Cheryl Laymon; Founder Betsy Bardell; Co-Owner/Agent Anne Silcock; Admin Marjorie Silcock (Not listed above: Agent Audrey Bahrman; Broker Associate Michael Anker)
The Osceola Chamber of Commerce awards Bardell Real Estate with the 2015 “Small Business of the Year”
It has been a pleasure to work for this family owned and operated company for the last 2 years. With just 10 closely knit employees, an extended family is what Bardell Real Estate has grown to be. That camaraderie, coupled with the eagerness to help each other pours over to our customers and our community. Our customers range from international investors and snow birds flocking down to escape the cold winters of the north to residential home buyers seeking the home of their dreams and long term rental property management.
A great majority of our business comes from repeat customers and referrals. We all here at Bardell Real Estate would like to thank all of you for this award. Our relationships with our customers and clients have developed into friendships. We are honored that you have allowed us the opportunity to assist you in all of your real estate needs.
