On Thursday night we went to the Longhorn Steak House for Keith's choice in our Come Dine With Me competition. We had a short wait but the food made up for it. Three of us ordered steaks, the boys going for large T-bones, while I had a more modest sized sirloin and Sophie went for chicken. We started with french fries smothered in bacon bits, chillies and cheese which was a bit naughty, but very nice!
The steaks were very tender and juicy, the waitress extremely friendly and efficient, but the restaurant lacked atmosphere. It was the sort of place to be fed well and that was all. There were various cowboy things hanging on the walls (leather chaps, bridles, cattle horns) and a lot of people tucking into the hearty food!
On Friday morning we decided to go to Gatorland and had breakfast first at a Golden Corral. This is a buffet restaurant and it was understandably busy. The food was OK, with a huge amount of choice and the children had a great time picking and choosing the things they wanted to eat. Keith was not that impressed and I wouldn't make a habit of going, it was just nice to let the children roam around and decide what they wanted. As we were leaving, I saw some Brussels Sprouts being put out - not my idea of breakfast food!
We found Gatorland easily and this time went for the normal entrance. Last time, when we visited with Mum and Dad, we were persuaded to have the "Grunt Package" which included wieners for the alligators, a train ride and the chance to sit on the back of an alligator. We had done all that so we didn't need to do it again!
We spent a very pleasant few hours wandering around and I particularly liked the walk through one of the lakes to see all the birds nesting. Well, I was enjoying it until one of them pooped on me... We also did the "Swamp Walk" which was very peaceful. Gatorland lies at the headwaters of the Florida Everglades and the plants were very impressive. Several of the trees had been beheaded by Hurricane Charley when it swept through the area in 2004 and lots more were lying drunkenly at an angle from where they had been tossed by the wind. I'm just glad it wasn't Hurricane season in April!
We managed to see two shows and had another look at the famous white alligators who looked back at us with menace in their eyes. I could see them thinking, "If only I could get at them"! Along with parrots, huge turtles and a petting zoo where we fed the goats, we had a great time in a park very much removed from the big players in Florida. There's a real sense of Gatorland being a family run park, with a serious side as it provides a natural habitat for nesting birds (some of whom like to poop on visitor's heads!).
We left the park and headed back to the villa, driving the longer way back via the 192 as Mikey wanted to see the brightly coloured houses that had caught his attention the last time. It was a bit sad to see them all boarded up so I don't know what happened there...maybe the impact of the recession?
Back at the villa we soaked up the late afternoon sun for a couple of hours and then drove to our local shops and ordered a Chinese take-away. It was delicious but, as with all things American, there were huge portions. I wonder what we'll be eating for lunch tomorrow!
PS - Keith won the Come Dine With Me competition with his choice - the Longhorn Steak House. The children were a bit miffed, but they have paid up!
2 comments:
sophie should have won :D
Really? Hmmm...;)
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