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Tag: Trip On A Tankful

  • Florida farm brings unique Gypsy Vanner horses and their story to life

    OCALA, Fla. — Deep in the heart of Florida’s horse country, one farm is offering more than just beautiful pastures and photogenic horses — it’s giving guests a cultural and historical experience unlike any other.

    What You Need To Know

    • Gypsy Gold Horse Farm in Ocala is the first U.S. home of the rare Gypsy Vanner horse breed.
    • Visitors can take guided tours that provide education, history, and hands-on animal interaction.
    • The farm’s founder imported the first Gypsy Vanner after encountering the breed in Europe in 1995.


    Gypsy Gold Horse Farm is the first in the United States to introduce the rare and striking Gypsy Vanner horse breed to American soil.

    Known for their feathered hooves, flowing manes, and gentle temperament, these horses were originally bred by British and Irish travelers — often referred to as gypsies to pull their ornate caravans.

    “This amazing breed that Dennis has been preserving for over 30 years now. These are amazing, beautiful creatures, and a lot of people that come on these tours aren’t even familiar with the Gypsy Vanner breed,” said Eileen Mahoney, who works with the horses daily at the farm.

    Founded by Dennis Thompson and his wife, the farm is home to more than 30 Gypsy Vanner horses, each with a unique story and heritage.

    Thompson gives weekly tours where he not only introduces visitors to the horses but also shares the journey that brought them here.

    “My late wife and I, in 1995, saw one horse and learned it belonged to a gypsy,” Thompson told a tour group.

    “Spent that day in a gypsy camp and basically became obsessed.”

    The farm has earned TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence four times and remains one of the top-rated attractions in Central Florida. (Spectrum News)

    That encounter sparked a decades-long mission to preserve the breed and honor the culture behind it.

    For Thompson, it’s not just about the horses — it’s about correcting long-held misconceptions about the Romani people.

    “They don’t read and write — that is by choice because they don’t want to lose their culture,” he explained. “So, they have been treated with prejudice for a thousand years.”

    During the tour, visitors meet horses like “Little Big Man,” whom Thompson describes as “a grandson of Kushti Bok,” one of the original horses he imported.

    Guests can also interact with mules and exotic birds, like colorful macaws, all while walking the picturesque grounds.

    Visitors from all over the country have made the trip — some with a deep love for horses, others simply curious.

    “Yes, I’ve grown up with horses. I used to be a jumper — and then I got old,” joked Bonnie Mickley, a visitor from Georgia.

    “It’s so wonderful that people like Dennis are saving this animal,” added fellow visitor Chris Connolly.

    Thompson’s passion is simple.

    “When people come to Gypsy Gold, I hope they get a better understanding of the culture and a better understanding of the horses that they envisioned.” said Thompson

    The farm has earned TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence four times and remains one of the top-rated attractions in Central Florida.

    For more, visit the Gypsy Gold Horse Farm.

    Randy Rauch

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  • Discovery Flight gives everyone the chance to fly a plane over Orlando

    ORLANDO, Fla. — Thousands in the United States have earned their private pilot’s license, often after four to eight months of training — but you don’t need any of that to experience the thrill of flying a plane.

    What You Need To Know

    • Discovery Flights let people of any age, even without a license, take control of a small aircraft with an instructor
    • A 12-year-old named Simon recently flew over Lake Apopka and downtown Orlando during his hands-on aviation experience
    • The flight also includes a full pilot pre-check, teaching participants about safety and aircraft controls
    • Orlando Flight School offers these one-hour flights near the Orlando Executive Airport as part of an introductory flying program


    At Orlando Flight School, anyone can sign up for a discovery flight, which is a one-hour experience that lets you take the controls of a real aircraft, no license required.

    Flight instructor Parker Mayhorn recently helped 12-year-old Simon Rodriguez Gasca do just that.

    “I’m about to let a 12-year-old fly a plane,” Mayhorn said just before takeoff.

    Simon’s discovery flight began like any other — with safety checks and instructions through a headset.

    The two took off from Orlando Executive Airport, and shortly after, Simon was at the controls.

    “Some get a little bit nervous, but once you’re in the air for a good five minutes, you get used to it. And you know not many people can say they flew in a plane,” Mayhorn said.

    Simon piloted the plane over Lake Apopka and downtown Orlando, enjoying the view while learning to steer, turn and stay on course.

    “Flying the plane, there are some bumps that give you little goosebumps, but it’s actually very easy fun,” Simon said.

    Before ever getting off the ground, participants learn everything a licensed pilot does before takeoff.

    That includes checking fuel levels, control surfaces and safety protocols.

    “Take the flaps and put it all the way down. You remember how to check the quantity? Good. So right now, we’re taking a sample of the fuel to make sure we have the correct type of fuel and that there’s no contaminants,” Mayhorn said while instructing Simon during the pre-check.

    “You have to check everything to keep the plane and ourselves safe,” said Gasca.

    While flying may seem intimidating, Mayhorn says the controls of a small plane are actually simple to understand.

    “For example, over here you have your airspeed, which shows you how fast you’re going. Your altimeter, which shows you how high you are,” Mayhorn said while pointing to the control panel inside the plane.

    For Gasca, the experience was unforgettable.

    “I guess everybody should do it because it feels amazing,” he said.

    Orlando Flight School is next to the Orlando Executive Airport.

    For more information about discovery flights, visit Orlando Flight School.

    Randy Rauch

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  • Cedar Key Historical Society Museum reopens a year after Helene

    CEDAR KEY, Fla. — Cedar Key is a piece of old Florida. Home to spectacular sunsets and resilient residents like Anna White Hodges. 

    This is what recovery looks like one year after Hurricane Helene’s arrival.

    “With Helene it was so serious,” said White Hodges, Executive Director of the Cedar Key Historical Society Museum.

    As the storm moved north through the Gulf into the Big Bend region in late September 2024, waves covered the island.

    “Outside the building — eight feet,” said White Hodges.

    The reinforced historical building took in four.

    Volunteers moved the artifacts but lost everything else.

    In their recovery, they found new ways to share the story of the island.

    The museum shows remnants of the people who fished the island shores before colonizers arrived.

    And it tells the Civil War story with a model of the USS Fort Henry, part of the Union’s naval blockade off Cedar Key.

    “The union was going after blockade runners. And that’s when they got too close to the shoreline. And that’s when the militia, the southern militia, they shot at them,” said White Hodges.

    A wooden tombstone marked the grave of a Union soldier from the gunboat.

    Today, the peaceful waters are the subject of aquaculture at the museum, where the town stands now.

    The residents of this small island rebuilt this space.

    And, in turn, have become part of its history.

    Virginia Johnson

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  • Let’s Plant It teaches customers about plant parenthood in Brevard County

    VIERA, Fla. — Some 200 million Americans own at least one houseplant. That is 66% of the population, according to Statista.

    What You Need To Know

    • Let’s Plant It is a retail location where visitors come in and learn the proper way to pot, plant and maintain houseplants

    • Visitors can walk in, pick a pot, a plant and put it together themselves using a shovel and dirt and then decorate it with accessories

    • The store offers a wide variety of plant species from which to choose

    • There are two locations, including Viera and Melbourne


    Many people call themselves “plant parents,” a term that first surfaced from the millennial generation in 2010 often referring to their plants as children or pets.

    Laura Cage jokes about being the biggest “pot dealer” in Brevard County, referring to the number of potted plants she sells each month.

    “I love plants,” Cage said.

    She has turned a passion for potted plants into a place where anyone can come get their hands dirty.

    Guests can walk in without a reservation and go to work planting their favorite houseplant.

    “We do get a lot of first-time plant parents that come in. They want to get into plants, but they’re a little bit afraid,” Cage said. “So, they’re not sure. And this is a great place to get started.”

    Let’s Plant It has everything someone would need to build the perfect houseplant. 

    There are several stations where guests stand and scoop potting soil into pots they choose, along with accessories such as shells and rocks to bring accent to the final creation.

    Cage created the concept not only for her love of plants but also realizing that many people don’t know how to pot plants properly and keep them alive.

    “They all get to pick out their plants and pots and decorations. But in the end, everybody has created something that is unique to them,” Cage said.

    The plant lover tries to handpick as many plant species as possible that she sells in her shop. Cage visits nurseries across Central Florida looking for one-of-a-kind plants that will intrigue store guests to grow.

    One of her top sellers is the Swiss cheese plant known as Monstera deliciosa.

    “I think they like the uniqueness of the holes in them,” Cage said.

    The popular shop even has a candle bar for those who want to create something that smells good and needs no water.

    The shop is open to all ages.

    There are two locations, one in Melbourne and the other in the shops at the Avenue of Viera.

    For more, visit Let’s Plant It.”

    Randy Rauch

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  • Busch Gardens Tampa Bay welcomes a new president, new world and meerkats

    TAMPA, Fla. — Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is undergoing a $37 million upgrade that will bring new life to the 66-year-old theme park.

    What You Need To Know

    • Jeff Davis is the new president of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island, arriving in February from SeaWorld San Antonio

    • A $37 million investment at the 66-year-old theme park helped create a new world, new costumes and a new habitat

    • New world Wild Oasis is set to open in spring as a kid-centric immersive rain forest experience

    • A new colony of 20 meerkats will get a new and expanded habitat near Africa


    The funds helped create a new world called Wild Oasis, set to open this spring. The kid-centric immersive rain forest experience will replace Jungala.

    For guests who frequent the park, you will also notice new costumes matching the tropical birds who will live in the new world.

    Near the edge of Africa, a new and expanded meerkat habitat is under construction for a colony of 20 animals that are currently quarantining in the park.

    Adult guests are also getting a new bar at the entrance of the park.

    This comes all in part, thanks to Busch Gardens’ new president, Jeff Davis.

    Davis arrived from Sea World San Antonio in February, eager to do his part to ensure the park runs for another 66 years.

    “There’s, you know, park presidents before me. Park presidents are gonna come after me,” said Davis. “It’s just my time to help the park grow and be successful, and it’s an honor to be part of that.”

    Virginia Johnson

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  • View a time machine up close at the DeLorean Motor Company in Orlando

    View a time machine up close at the DeLorean Motor Company in Orlando

    ORLANDO, Fla. — Very few cars portrayed in films have had a bigger impact that the DeLorean. 

    The DeLorean made its public debut in 1981, with close to 9,000 of the futuristic cars produced.

    What You Need To Know

    • General Manager of DMC Florida Robert Gadocha said the car captured the public’s attention from the start, but the movie franchise took it to another level

    • The Orlando facility is one of three locations in the country that still deals, sells and maintains the one-of-a-kind vehicles

    • The company has over 40 classic DeLoreans on hand, all of which are in pristine condition

    • The tour is free, and you can call 407-203-2300 to reserve a time

    General Manager of DMC Florida Robert Gadocha said the car captured the public’s attention from the start, but the movie franchise took it to another level.

    “Well, the love for it stems from the ‘Back to the Future’ trilogy. Everyone that sees the car loves the car,” said Gadocha.

    The Orlando facility is one of three locations in the country that still deals, sells and maintains the one-of-a-kind vehicles.

    The company has more than 40 classic DeLoreans on hand, all of which are in pristine condition.

    “We get people in the shop that bring their children, 5 to 10 years old, dressed like Marty. They love the car and everything about it,” said Gadocha.

    Guests can request a tour of the shop to see — depending on the day — how the famous stainless-steel exterior is polished, engines being worked on, and visit a showroom that includes a completed time machine, like the one featured in the Back to the Future movies.

    “Yes, we welcome guests here. We give them a quick tour and show them what we do inside and out,” said DMC owner Tony Lerardi.

    They also provide historical videos so guests can learn about the car’s unique history, beyond the films, including the car’s famous inventor John DeLorean.

    James O’Brien visited DMC one day and decided to purchase a DeLorean and convert it into a time machine.

    “When I was 6, and I first saw the film, for me, that was the car. So, I ended up building a time machine from scratch,” said O’Brien.

    He said he had no idea when he started building the time machine, but he watched videos, consulted with DMC and sought advice from the DeLorean Club of Florida, an organization that has more than 200 DeLorean loving owners around the state.

    DeLorean Club members meet several times a year with usually a stop in Orlando.

    The British-born time machine owner said the biggest problem he has when driving the vehicle around Central Florida is people forcing him off the road to stop and take pictures.

    “There’s about 5,000 DeLoreans left in the world. So, when people see them, they love the car. They love the movie franchise, and people want to take videos and pictures,” O’Brien said.

    He now plans to rent out his classic time machine equipped with every working gadget, including a flux capacitor for time travel.

    Reservations are required to tour the DeLorean Motor Company in Orlando. The tour is free, and you can call 1-407-203-2300 to reserve a time.

    Randy Rauch

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  • St. Pete museum offers comprehensive look at 20th Century American movement

    St. Pete museum offers comprehensive look at 20th Century American movement

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Imagine being part of a museum as it begins. That’s how it happened for Andrea Morgan, the Director of Operations at the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement is at 355 4th St. N., St. Petersburg

    • Nearly 1,000 works are on display

    The Clearwater native traveled through half a dozen states before her studies and career landed her teaching Tampa Bay residents about decorative art.

    “So the Arts and Crafts Movement comes at the rise of the Industrial Revolution as an answer to not only factory made mass-produced objects, but also as an answer to highly ornate Victorian objects,” Morgan said.

    It was to be simplified designs inspired by nature and one-of-a-kind objects — functional as well as beautiful.

    “And so you can see that they have been used, whether it’s some staining on the top of a table or on top of the sideboard over here,” said Morgan. “And that really just shows that these pieces had a life before they came here with us.”

    Morgan says her return to town is framed by the continuing rise of the arts in St. Pete.

    “And to be part of this museum, which really is one of a kind. We are the only museum in the world dedicated to the American Arts and Crafts movement,” said Morgan. “So to be part of that, I think is really special.”

    Nearly 1,000 works are on display to honor this turn of the 20th Century American movement.

    Virginia Johnson

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