Flights To Orlando

"Humans have always envied the way that birds fly in the air, and though we now have airplanes to take us through the air to our destinations, sitting in a pressurized cabin is not quite the same as feeling the wind as you glide through the sky. Thanks to new developments in the sport of hang-gliding it is now possible for more people to have the bird-like experience of gliding through the air.

If you have always wanted to try out hang gliding then one of the best places to do it as at the Wallaby Ranch Hang Gliding Flight Park near Orlando, Florida. Wallaby Ranch is the ideal place to try out the sport of hang gliding as it offers the most up-to-date method of hang gliding: tandem aero-towing. The development of tandem aero-towing, where a two-place hang glider is being towed by a specially designed ultra-light tow-plane, has greatly increased the accessibility of the sport.

Previously it was only possible to learn hang gliding with months of training on a hill and then launching from a high mountain site. This arduous sequence has been eliminated at Wallaby Ranch. You ride with in tandem with an experienced instructor and are towed 2000 feet into the air. Once you are released from the tow-plane or "tug" you will free-fly for 15 minutes and your instructor will show you how to control the glider by shifting your weight and easing into a smooth rolling landing.

Because the flights are undertaken with the guidance of a skilled instructors it has been possible for people from age 4 to 90 to enjoy the experience. The weight range of participants has also been varied, going from 35 lbs. to 240 lbs.

Wallaby Ranch also prides itself in offering a number of other amenities in addition to the gliding facilities. They have tent camping, cabins, a 27,000 gallon swimming pool, a climbing wall and a children's playground complete with a Dr. Seuss tree house. Thee are also mountain bike and walking trails on the ranch.

A single tandem flight with an instructor will cost you $120. No experience is necessary. Also if you want to impress your friends back home, you can get a video of your flight for another $60.

Wallaby also offers multi- lesson packages for beginners and three, five and seven day training clinics for advanced pilots.

If you want to do more than just a single flight with an instructor then the lesson packages are what you need. During the lessons a highly experienced certified tandem instructor will fly with you and will teach you 'hands-on' - literally. During your first few flights, the instructor will do the take-off and landing, allowing you to concentrate on following the tow-plane and learning how to steer the glider without having to worry about landing approach and touchdown. Then you will be given more and more control each flight, in accordance with your rate of progress. Before soloing, you will be able to launch, aero-tow, free-fly, set up a landing approach and land the tandem glider, without your instructor having to do anything at all.

The best conditions for tandem flying are smooth air and calm winds, generally in the morning or late in the afternoon. Flying begins everyday at 8:00 a.m., weather permitting."

By Mark Whichard

"Orlando is one of the USA's most popular vacation spots. Tourists flock from all over the world to enjoy the many theme parks and attractions. The ever-popular Disney World has seen Orlando transformed from a small town in central Florida to a sprawling metropolis of fun.

But there's plenty more to the city than Mickey Mouse and white-knuckle rides. It's definitely worth a visit even if you're not a fan of theme parks - or if you're all Disneyed out.

History buffs should pay a visit to the Orange County Regional History Center at 65 East Central Boulevard for an overview of Orlando and its surrounding area. It's 20 miles from Disney World and occupies a historic 1920s building which used to be the Orange County Courthouse. The museum charts Orlando's progress from swampland, home to Native American tribes, through to citrus plantation, cattle station and finally theme park mecca

A stroll through the residential neighborhoods downtown offers another interesting view of Orlando. Developments over the past four decades have seen property prices soar, and many old boroughs have been regenerated. Thornton Park is an arty district with traditional Florida architecture. Wandering through the streets it's easy to forget that you're within mere kilometres of Disney World.

Another famous landmark in Orlando is Lake Eola, loacted not far from Thornton Park. The lake is so integral to the city that it appears in its official logo. Eola bridges the gap between urban life and rural tranquility. You'll see joggers, picnickers, families and city workers enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. The lake area was developed during the citrus growing boom in the 1800s.

Orlando is proud of its burgeoning arts scene. It's not quite on a par with the culture found in cities further up the East Coast yet, but it's getting there. You'll find theatres, opera companies, cabarets and festivals, as well as the usual spread of one-off comedy shows and revues. The Mennello Museum of American Art on East Princeton Street displays a selection of local and national art including pieces by folk artist Earl Cunningham, and is worth a look for art fans.

Orlando's multiculturalism is another draw. There was an influx of Vietnamese immigrants in the 1970s and their influence is visible in Little Saigon near the downtown district. Visit one of the many restaurants and cafés for a taste of Asia at a very affordable price."

By Kris Barnes