There are a lot of quirky roadside stops on I-4 between Orlando and Tampa. When I take visitors along this route, especially with little ones, I play a little "I Spy" with some distinct landmarks to pass the time. Play along!
Exit 44: Fantasy of Flight
It's not everyday you get to see an airplane that looks like it's about to take off from the shoulder of the highway as you drive by. Be on the lookout for a few oil pumps nearby too!
It's not everyday you get to see an airplane that looks like it's about to take off from the shoulder of the highway as you drive by. Be on the lookout for a few oil pumps nearby too!
Exit 41: Florida Polytechnic University
This futuristic structure, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, is actually quite familiar to me and holds a little piece of "home" in my heart.
This clean white building for Florida Polytechnic University is unmistakably a Calatrava masterpiece, by the talented architect and engineer, Santiago Calatrava.
I know this because another structure from my last home of Milwaukee WI - the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) - is also one of his creations. (New Yorkers might recognize his work from the new World Trade Center transit hub.) Each building has a roof that opens and changes shapes. The MAM has two "wings" that open and close throughout the day, like a bird greeting the morning sun. Florida Polytech's roof raises different cantilevers based on the intensity and position of the sun.
This futuristic structure, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, is actually quite familiar to me and holds a little piece of "home" in my heart.
This clean white building for Florida Polytechnic University is unmistakably a Calatrava masterpiece, by the talented architect and engineer, Santiago Calatrava.
I know this because another structure from my last home of Milwaukee WI - the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) - is also one of his creations. (New Yorkers might recognize his work from the new World Trade Center transit hub.) Each building has a roof that opens and changes shapes. The MAM has two "wings" that open and close throughout the day, like a bird greeting the morning sun. Florida Polytech's roof raises different cantilevers based on the intensity and position of the sun.
Exit 17: Dinosaur World
Stop and play on some life-sized plastic dinosaurs! Some friends of mine have an inside joke that they tag themselves here when they are coming home from a long trip out-of-town. Watch out for the TRex!
Stop and play on some life-sized plastic dinosaurs! Some friends of mine have an inside joke that they tag themselves here when they are coming home from a long trip out-of-town. Watch out for the TRex!
RIP Airstream Ranch, the RV Stonehenge of Florida
When I first moved to Florida, the trip to Orlando was always dotted with 7 (and a half) shining silver Airstreams planted in the ground off Exit 14 - "RV-henge" or "Airstream Cemetery" I fondly nicknamed it.
I later found out that it had a real name and that it was originally built in honor of the 75th anniversary of Airstream trailers. Unfortunately, I found this out when it was announced that the infamous landmark was going to be removed!
Thankfully, about 2 months before, I had caught this immaculate glimpse of the "Airstream Ranch" on one of my trips home to Tampa. I will not tell you how fast I was going when I rolled down my window, pointed my phone camera without looking to the side, avoiding ANY oncoming traffic in the frame, and this perfect horizon shot - a single ray of sunshine lighting the monument, centered in the photo - was captured! It was just meant to be.
When I first moved to Florida, the trip to Orlando was always dotted with 7 (and a half) shining silver Airstreams planted in the ground off Exit 14 - "RV-henge" or "Airstream Cemetery" I fondly nicknamed it.
I later found out that it had a real name and that it was originally built in honor of the 75th anniversary of Airstream trailers. Unfortunately, I found this out when it was announced that the infamous landmark was going to be removed!
Thankfully, about 2 months before, I had caught this immaculate glimpse of the "Airstream Ranch" on one of my trips home to Tampa. I will not tell you how fast I was going when I rolled down my window, pointed my phone camera without looking to the side, avoiding ANY oncoming traffic in the frame, and this perfect horizon shot - a single ray of sunshine lighting the monument, centered in the photo - was captured! It was just meant to be.
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