Travel Jamaica mOn

Imagine a theme park with no lines and no crowds. Really. This novel concept is at the heart of the Discovery Cove experience, where only 1,000 lucky guests are allowed admittance to the park each day. The point is that you didn't come all the way here just to see more people. Instead, you get to interact with a wide variety of marine animals, up close and personal. Among the many adventures are swimming with playful dolphins and harmless stingrays, snorkeling at the park?s coral reef-filled lagoons, exploring tropical jungles and rivers, or interacting with brightly feathered birds in the aviary.

Personalized service ensures that everything you need is at hand--they even provide you with specially formulated sunscreen (designed not to harm the animals). All ages are welcome, although you must be age six and over to enjoy the dolphin swim.

With all the talk today about global warming and wild climate change, it's not too much of a stretch to believe that maybe once upon a time, a freak winter storm led to the creation of a full-service ski resort in Orlando, Florida. It's even less of a stretch to imagine that when the ice started to melt, the ski lifts and toboggan runs were converted into really fun water rides.

At Blizzard Beach, the ski jump doubles as a waterslide and the flume functions as an inner tube speedway. Cool off from the Florida sun in an ice cave or swim past icebergs. There are even areas of snow for kids to play in. Lazy rivers amble from attraction to attraction, including the park's Summit Plummet, the tallest waterslide in the U.S. Hint: the best time to visit is after 3pm.

For "swamp stompin'" adventures, just walk through the massive concrete alligator head--teeth and all--for entry into the "alligator capital of the world." The park consists of over 100 acres of wildlife preserve, including jungle crocodiles, pink flamingos, giant turtles, and of course, all gators great and small. On Alligator Island, see if you can spot Alf, the largest gator in the pack at 15 feet long and a hefty 1,000 pounds. Or pay a visit to Cobalt, a rare blue alligator (the result of a genetic mutation).

While you're here, be sure to catch a show. Gator Wrestling pits Gator Wranglers (professionals, of course) against thrashing reptiles, and during a Jumparoo Show, you can watch the giant animals leap out of the water up to five feet high to snatch up a snack. This is a great way to appreciate their size and jaws from a safe distance. If you want closer contact, there are areas to interact with snakes, bats, and rainbow-plumed lorikeets, if you so choose.

If you feel the need, the need for speed, then get your daredevil racetrack thrills during this unique chance to really put pedal to the metal. Ride shotgun in a stock car with a 600 hp engine and leave the steering to an expert NASCAR instructor. Or, sign on for the three-hour Rookie Experience, which gives you eight gloriously solo laps around the track. If you want even more Experience than that, you've got many options on how to enjoy your ride, but remember, additional speed and a longer track come at steeper prices. No matter what you choose, you get 40 minutes of instruction on the track and in the car.

Note: reservations are required, as are close-toed shoes.

Perhaps the inspiration for those strategically-placed dollops of wasabi aioli could be traced to Chef Roy Yamaguchi's childhood, which was seasoned with visits to the Hawaiian islands. His grandparents lived on Maui, and the sea-based meals and fresh ingredients he shared with them left an indelible impression on his memory. Today, his distinctive cooking style fuses elements of Hawaiian and Japanese cuisine with European sauces and award-winning wines, resulting in entree choices like macadamia nut mahi mahi and misoyaki pot roast; desserts like melting hot chocolate souffles and caramel macadamia nut almond tarts; and drinks like the exceptional Hawaiian martini.