1/21 - Albin Polasek Museum

Went to Polasek museum, the garden isn't very big but there are a lot of sculptures.

Most of the sculptures are done by Albin Polasek the museum was his home before he pass away.

There is also a small exhibit of 17th to 20th century religion's artwork from Russia.

The place isn't very big, but it is quaint.

There's a tour of the main house at 3pm, I recommend it, it tell you a lot about the man behind the sculpture.

1/15 - Blue Jacket Park

After I went to Harry P Leu Garden, I went a small park --- Blue Jacket Park to fly some kites.

Blue Jacket Park is basically grass field next to a school and it's perfect for flying kites!

1/15 - Harry P Leu Garden

Today I went to Harry P Leu Garden. Even though there are a lot flower in bloom but I don't think it's the peak season yet. It has a lot of big trees, giving you the feeling that this place has been here forever. So even though it isn't peak season it's still pretty to look at.

The Leu house is a must see, the tour is very informative, it's better than most of the house tour I had. There are two guides, mine is an elderly gentleman, and knows the place well. The house tour takes about 30 min.

Here are a vegetable garden and citrus trees, all the food grown there will be given to a local food bank, which is a nice gesture.

The garden is smaller than I imagine, though there are a lot to see, like the rose garden, vegetable garden, flower clock, the house museum and the dock. I say it's about a half day attraction.

I'm looking forward to coming here again, when it's in peak season.

1/14 - Osprey Park

When I went to to Osprey Park, there are signs that said the park is for Hunter's creek resident and their guests only. Since I am not a resident, I turn around the car and did not stop there, though I don't think there's anyone checking any I.D.s. 

It look ok from the road.

1/11 - Van Fleet Trail

I read about Van Fleet Trail on bike Florida. It's used to be a railroad track now it lost its wooden beam and steel track, and in its place is a long straight asphalt trail.

I think this place is perfect for jogging and biking. the road is wide, long and straight. Flank by swamp it's also lovely to look at.

I went to the trail head at green pond and went north. It's not very far from Disney (about 36 minute). There are many farm around the trail, I saw a lot of cows and horses.

There are mile markers on the center of the trail, so you'll always know how far you gotten.

I know there are alligator in the swamps and I looked very hard for one. They aren't easy to find, but on one of the bridges I found a smallish one, when I got back it's still there!

There are sign forbid vehicle on the trail, but I saw a red pickup truck using the trail, probably as a shortcut. First I thought it was a park management car, but I met one those today, it was a white pickup truck with a logo on the side, and he pull the car to the curb and waited for us to go pass. Though he drive to the curb, the red truck didn't stop or slow down!  There are so many roads and so little trails, I think the driver should let the trail be.

Over all I'm very much looking forward to come here again.

1/10 - Pioneer village and Kissimmee welcome center

I thought Kissimmee welcome center and Pioneer village is at the same place, but evidently it isn't. They moved the welcome center across shingle creek, but it's still close by to the pioneer village.

The welcome center is free of charge but the village cost $5 dollar.

I went to pioneer village first. There's a nice lady, Dink, at the village, she gave me a tour. There's are 4 houses donated by 3 families, two residential house, one big one small; one orange packing house, one school house that was formerly a bunkhouse for the orange pickers.

At the end of the tour, Dink told me that they will be moving the village to shingles creek park at barbb landing. I asked her will the village charged for tickets or like the houses at barbb landing, be fenced in and you can only look from the outside. She said she's not sure how it will work.

The welcome center is a small museum, it's nice and new.

It won't take much time to walk through the museum. There are exhibit of Florida plants, animals and artifact from the 1800s. And there's a big fish tank with a baby alligator in it! It's fun looking at a alligator as if it was a pet fish!

There's a little gift shop inside the museum, I brought a little trinket and put the change into the donation box next the the cash register :)

1/9 - Lakefront to Brinson Park

I was going to fly a kite, but it's rainy so I went to Kissimmee Lakefront park again.

It's a weekday so there hardly anyone around, the place feels quiet and serene.

I walk alongside the lake to the north, there's another park there --- Brinson Park.

It's much smaller than Lakefront, it has a small playground, parking on both side of the road, a restroom, some picnic tables and a fishing pier.

Beyond Brinson Park, it's residential area.

When I went back to Lakefront and beyond the gray clouds there's flashs of pink as the sun is setting. Then the cricket started chirping.

All in all a good day. :)

1/6 - Biking in Disneyworld

I read on bike orlando that you can bike in Disney at Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness. So I brought my bike with me to the Disney resort.

They only need to see your photo ID and you park there for free.

Both resort's bike path starts at the bus stop, personally I think the path at Wilderness Lodge is better than Fort Wilderness'.

Today was a bit chilly, but when you ride and the cool wind blow across your face it's a great feeling.

No matter where you look Disney keeps its grounds nice, there are many people walking and biking there and no matter where you look people are happy.

It's not a long ride but along the way you will see Disney's horse stable - Tri-Circle-D Farm, next to it is a small beach and motorize boat rentals. At Meadow trading post there are canoe, kayak and bike rentals. There are many playgrounds throughout.

It feels very safe inside Disney, even deers aren't skittish. But the 'wilderness' it has feels tamed, unlike state parks which has a 'untamed wilderness' feel.

 You can ride on the walking trail or on the road, the trail is more winding, and you have to look out for people; the road is wide and easy going but there is some traffic, especially on the main roads.

1/5 - Kissimmee Lakefront Park

Went to Kissimmee Lakefront Park for a walk today, first time visiting this park.It is located at the heart of Kissimmee.

It has a lovely view of Lake Tohopekaliga. It's a sunny day, the water blue and you could see seaweed floating under the waves.

It's Sunday so there are many families around, a lot of children but it didn't feel overcrowded.

I walk along the lake, there are many species of bird, even though there are signs saying don't feed the birds people still do it, albeit outside the park boundary. When people feed the birds it's a frenzy! All the birds flock together fighting for it.

There are also wild brown rabbits mingling with the birds on the lake's edge. They aren't very afraid of people, and I find them cute.

The sunset is beautiful and the walk very pleasant.

There are parking spaces all along the road next the park, there is also a parking lot next to the center of the park. I like the fact that all the roads next to the park are made of red bricks, it made the park feel a little bit special.

There are many tables and chairs, a few barbecue grills and a concession stand in the center of the park. There's a large playground and there's a grass field that people play on.

The south side of the park is under construction, but over all it doesn't matter. The only downside is there are some plastic cups and garbage in the water. I think we should all do are part to keep all the park nice, that means no littering!