Sunshine State of Mind

Latest Episodes:

Gatorpalooza May 20, 2019

Show notes

Gatorland turned 70 years old this week! To help celebrate Gatorpalooza we learn some fun and interesting facts about Florida's official state reptile in a game of Alligator trivia. Listen and play along!

In this Episode:

Gatorland turns 70 years old.
- https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2019/05/17/classic-florida-attraction-gatorland-celebrates-70th-anniversary-with-gatorpalooza-on-saturday
Gatorpalooza alligator trivia

We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports!
Website: http://www.sunshinestatepodcast.com
Twitter: @FloridaPodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast
Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com

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Orlando is smashing tourism & thrill ride records May 13, 2019

Show notes

This weekend we stopped by a great little hidden gem of a restaurant in small town Florida, and went to see the new Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy show at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Also, news about Orlando's record breaking tourist numbers and new attractions on the way.

In this Episode:

Review of Kafe Kokopelli in Dade City
- https://www.kafekokopelli.com
- Yummy Chicken & Waffles
Review of The Burg in St. Petersburg
- https://theburgbar.com/
Review of the new Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy show at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Orlando sets new tourism record in 2018
Two new record breaking thrills rides coming to ICON Park in Orlando
- http://sunshinestatepodcast.com/two-big-new-attractions-coming-to-orlandos-icon-park/
Free electric vehicle rides in South Florida.
- https://tinyurl.com/SF-freeEV-services

We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports!
Website: http://www.sunshinestatepodcast.com
Twitter: @FloridaPodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast
Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com

How to support the show

Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron

Disney's Hollywood Studios Trivia May 06, 2019

Show notes

Disney's Hollywood Studios celebrated their 30 year anniversary this week, so we thought it would be fun to explore some fun facts and secrets about Disney's third park in a fun game of trivia.

In this Episode:

Welcome to our new listeners from Podcoin!
Use referral code "SUNSHINE" for 300 bonus points - https://www.podcoin.com
A visit to the 47th Annual Amateur Sand Sculpture Contest at Siesta Key Beach.
- http://sunshinestatepodcast.com/siesta-key-sand-sculpture-contest/
Listener call from Brandon from the Florida Focus podcast
- http://www.floridafocuspodcast.com/
Disney's Hollywood Studios turns 30.
Hollywood Studios Trivia

We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports!
Website: http://www.sunshinestatepodcast.com
Twitter: @FloridaPodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast
Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com

How to support the show

Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron

Fantastic Florida Beasts and Where to Find Them Apr 29, 2019

Show notes

Florida is full of wild places, from the Panhandle to the Keys, with critter encounters and locally famous animals you can see in person. In this episode we talk about some of the best places around the state to find some of Florida's favorite fantastic beasts.

In this Episode:

Historic birth of a baby rhino at Zoo Miami
- https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/24/us/rhino-born-artificial-insemination-trnd/index.html
Florida couple catches enourmous, record swordfish
- https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/florida-keys/article229534754.html
We talk about some Florida animal encounter experiences and famous Florida animals
Seacrest Wolf Preserve - https://www.seacrestwolfpreserve.org
Big Cat Rescue - https://bigcatrescue.org
Winter the Dolphin - https://www.seewinter.com
Chester & Pearl - https://www.gatorland.com
Scarface the Tarpon - https://robbies.com
Skunkape Research Headquarters - http://www.skunkape.info/

We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports!
Website: http://www.sunshinestatepodcast.com
Twitter: @FloridaPodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast
Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com

How to support the show

Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron

New coaster, new water park, and Disney dining tips. Apr 22, 2019

Show notes

We're back and with a lot of new stuff on the way to talk about this week. A new roller coaster, a new waterpark, and a new cruise ship will soon be sailing from Florida. And then let's talk about some quick service Disney dining tips.

In this Episode:

Tigris, the tallest launch coaster in Florida, opens at Busch Gardens
New waterpark opening at Margaritaville Resort
Huge new cruise ship, the Carnival Mardis Gras, announced and on the way to Port Canaveral
Quick service Disney dining tips

We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports!
Website: http://www.sunshinestatepodcast.com
Twitter: @FloridaPodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast
Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com

How to support the show

Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron

Busch Gardens turns 60...so it's Busch Gardens trivia time! Apr 08, 2019

Show notes

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay just celebrated their 60th birthday this past week, so let's learn some history and some things you might not have known about this iconic Florida attraction by playing along with us in game of Busch Gardens trivia.

In this Episode:

Summer is back (already) and it's hot!
Busch Gardens turns 60 and announces new roller coaster, Tigris.
Busch Gardens trivia and discussion

We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports!
Website: http://www.sunshinestatepodcast.com
Twitter: @FloridaPodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast
Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com

How to support the show

Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron

Spiders, Smoking Bans, and Springtime Scoops Apr 01, 2019

Show notes

This week Shannon talks about her worst fear in the world, we go pin trading at Magic Kingdom, then we talk about a full week of news coming out of the Central Florida theme park scene. New stuff at Legoland, Sea World, Busch Gardens, and some controversial rule changes at Disney World.

In this Episode:

How we feel about spiders, snakes, and palmetto bugs
Cheap fun playing Disc Golf
Pin trading and riding the Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom
Florida theme park news - Busch Gardens turns 60, new lands open at Legoland & SeaWorld, and new rules at Disney have angered some.
- http://sunshinestatepodcast.com/three-new-rule-changes-for-guests-coming-to-walt-disney-world/

We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports!
Website: http://www.sunshinestatepodcast.com
Twitter: @FloridaPodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast
Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com

How to support the show

Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron

Florida Man goes on Spring Break Mar 25, 2019

Show notes

This week we enjoyed a week of "Staycation" in the Sunshine State for Spring Break. We rundown and review everything we did this week, and take the Florida Man Challenge for ourselves.

In this Episode:

The Florida Man Challenge
Listener Mail
We recap and review what we did on our Spring Break "Staycation".

We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports!
Website: http://www.sunshinestatepodcast.com
Twitter: @FloridaPodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast
Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com

How to support the show

Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron

Florida Spring Break "Staycation" Ideas Mar 18, 2019

Show notes

With so much to do aimed at tourists, it turns out Florida is a great place for a "Staycation" for those of us who live here. This week we run down a list of things to do that you might not have thought of.

In this Episode:

Florida Spring Break "Staycation" Ideas discussion

We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports!
Website: http://www.sunshinestatepodcast.com
Twitter: @FloridaPodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast
Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com

How to support the show

Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron

Florida "Wow!" Moments Mar 11, 2019

Show notes

Every now and then we all have those fleeing moments we'll never forget that that make us say "wow!". In this episode we each list and talk about some of those moments that could only happen in Florida.

In this Episode: