This week Universal Studios unveiled the name opening date of the new Harry Potter themed roller coaster at Universal's Islands of Adventure.  So we thought we'd take a look at both Harry Potter themed areas and compare them in another edition of Florida Face-off!

In this Episode:

• Florida Face-off - Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter; Hogsmeade vs. Diagon Alley

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• We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports!

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• Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron

This week we stumbled across an article from Travel & Leisure Magazine that ranked each and every Walt Disney World attraction, and thought we'd take a crack at ranking ours.  In this episode we discuss that list, and each of us rank and talk about our Top 25 attractions at Walt Disney World.

In this Episode:

• We'll be at Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota on February 23 to volunteer for a 4Ocean beach cleanup.  Here's the link if you're interested in joining one near you.

• https://4ocean.com/pages/cleanups-event-calendar

• https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/disney-vacations/best-worst-disney-world-rides

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• We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports!

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• Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron

It's that time of year again!  Time to eat some deep fried food on a stick and test your endurance on rides designed by madmen.

In this Episode:

• We talk about our weekend trip to the Florida State Fair in Tampa, the foods we tried, the rides we rode, and the stuff we saw.

• http://www.floridastatefair.com/

Contact Us!

• We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports!

How to support the show

• Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron

Nearly 18 years ago, one of us decided to make the move from the Midwest to warm and sunny Florida.  With this winters brutal temperatures and snow across much of the northern part of the country, a lot of others might be thinking of doing the same.  In this episode we talk about what it's like to move to and live in Florida, and cover some of the misconceptions and realities of living here.   

In this Episode:

• We are now part of the Podcast Florida Network.

• https://podcastfl.com/

• https://www.good.is/articles/florida-man-sunshine-laws-transparency

Contact Us!

• We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports!

How to support the show

• Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron

This week we talk about our trip to the Epcot International Festival of the Arts, where we did an "around the world" scavenger hunt that forced us to explore deep into all of the countries pavilions at World Showcase.  We also found out more details on the recently announced Jurassic World roller coaster at Islands of Adventure, the upcoming Millennium Falcon ride at Hollywood Studios, and a possible look at what might be coming to Animal Kingdom in the future.

In this Episode:

• More details on the just announced Jurassic World roller coaster coming to Universal's Islands of Adventure

• https://www.wftv.com/news/local/new-jurassic-park-roller-coaster-headed-to-islands-of-adventure-documents-show/906446496

• https://variety.com/2019/biz/asia/zootopia-land-shanghai-disneyland-1203115032/

Contact Us!

• We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports!

How to support the show

• Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron

This weekend we took a day trip up to Crystal River to a part of Florida dubbed "the Nature Coast" that is world famous for it's manatees.  We visited the Florida Manatee Festival, then headed over to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park to see wild manatees, a famous hippo, and other Florida wildlife up close.

In this Episode:

• New Jurassic World roller coaster coming to Universal's Islands of Adventure

• https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201901/6554/

• https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/ellie-schiller-homosassa-springs-wildlife-state-park

Contact Us!

• We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports!

How to support the show

• Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron

We were recently invited by the great folks at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa to come check out their new exhibit "Waves of Wonder", have a penguin encounter, and go out on a wild dolphin sightseeing boat tour.  We also interviewed Kari Goetz, the Florida Aquarium's VP of Marketing, who told us all about the Florida Aquarium's mission and the idea behind "Waves of Wonder" that focuses the aquariums efforts on conservation and animal welfare.

In this Episode:

• Florida Aquarium penguin encounter

There is a LOT of new stuff planned this year for 2019 and beyond.  We all know that Star Wars Galaxy's Edge at Hollywood Studios is hugely anticipated, but there's a lot more coming soon to get excited about.  This week we run through all the new stuff we're excited about for the new year.

• http://www.newstpetepier.com

Happy New Year everybody!  We launched this podcast back in the Spring of 2018, and it's been a lot of fun so far.  Thanks to everybody who has made us a small part of your life!  This week we take a quick trip to Cuba (sort of) and then talk about some of our favorite things we've seen, done, and experienced all over Florida in 2018.  

In this Episode:

Contact Us!

• We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports!

How to support the show

• Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron

If you're visiting for the week, or enjoying some Florida "Staycation" time, there is a LOT going on around the state to keep the holiday cheer alive between Christmas and New Years Eve. 

In this Episode:

Contact Us!

• We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports!

How to support the show

• Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron