Orlando Gems

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COVID-19

Hey everyone!

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, I have been unable to visit any more places I have discovered in Orlando.

Social distancing is very important during this time. Although you may not have traveled and are not considered at risk, you can still contract and transfer the virus. Symptoms don’t appear the second you contract the virus. The point is, social distancing isn’t for those that are considered healthy. It is for the immunocompromised, the elderly, and children. Please stay inside and take your vitamins.

During this period of social distancing, small businesses may suffer. Many places have to shut down and they may not recover from it. I work at Chroma Modern Bar + Kitchen and unfortunately it is closed indefinitely. Tavistock is a very wealthy, established company so we won’t take a hit but many others will.

Please visit your local mom & pop shops. They really need it. After this quarantine is over I will be writing on all of the places I was planning on visiting before this all happened. Staying home may be an inconvenience to you but it seriously affects small business owners. Order take out from small restaurants and order online from other shops.

I know this is difficult for us all but we’ll make it through. I can’t wait to see you all out in the wild again! Always remember, it’s great to live like a local.

P.S.: WASH YOUR HANDS AND STAY IN YOUR HOUSE ♡

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Lukas Nursery & Butterfly Encounter!! 🦋

Welcome if you’re new here and welcome back if you’re not! This week’s hidden gem of Orlando is the Lukas Nursery and Butterly Encounter!

I love gardening and being outside so I’m always on the hunt for some new plants to add to my collection. I was at a friends house so I was looking up nearby nurseries I could visit. I stumbled upon Lukas’ and visiting was the best choice I’ve made this week!

Firecracker plants are great for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies!

After browsing the plants for a bit, I went into the little garden knick knack shop they had on site. Inside the shop I saw pinwheels and cute garden gnomes. What really interested me was the butterfly encounter. Open from 9 am to 4 pm each day, the butterfly encounter is an opportunity to have a personal experience immersed in nature for only six dollars.

Waterfall at the entrance of the butterfly encounter

Right when you walk in there are a tons of beautiful plants and butterflies to be seen. To the right, there is an area where button quails and doves roam free, and beautifully colored finches that thrive in their aviary.

It was a bit chilly so a bunch of the finches were hidden away in their bird houses. I can’t blame ‘em!

After spending a while in the aviary, I walked into the main butterfly area and began my quest for the day: to hold a butterfly in my hands.

Butterflies I saw were so gorgeous and I even got to see some tiny caterpillars! The majority of the butterflies I saw were painted ladies or monarch butterflies. Upon entrance you’re given an identification guide but I was way too focused on trying to touch a butterfly. Butterflies are very delicate so I had to be careful! After trying in the main area for about an hour, I walked over to a screened area where I found my saving grace. I could dip my fingers into gatorade & put it near a perched butterfly’s feet. IT WORKED.

I finally got a butterfly to hang out with me! It was getting pretty late for the shop & the encounter was closing soon so I had to leave. There is no doubt in my mind that I will be returning to Lukas’ Nursery.

Always remember: it’s great to live like a local.

Featured

My First Post!

“Exploration is really the essence of the human spirit.”
— Frank Borman

Hey everyone!

My name is Gishjel but friends call me Gish and others call me Gigi. I’ll take any of the three. I was born in Brooklyn, New York but I’ve lived in Orlando since the summer of 2006. I go to Valencia College and will transfer to UCF in Fall 2020. I’m nineteen years old and I feel as if I haven’t lived out my teenage years properly. I’m working on adding a little bit of adventure to my everyday life and it can all start out here in the City Beautiful.

Orlando is a hot tourist destination and let’s face it: touristy things get boring. I figure that if I’m going to live here for the remainder of my college career, I might as well have some fun doing it. This blog is here to document my progress in finding Orlando’s hidden gems. This can be helpful to locals that would like a change of scenery and inquisitive tourists that want to step away from the Disney glitz and glamour. Orlando has endless options for entertainment, food, music, and shopping. The City Beautiful is more than theme parks. I can’t wait to experience these weekly adventures and share them with you all. It’ll be a nice break from our usual routines. Always remember: it’s great to live like a local.

Avalon Beyond !!

For this weeks hidden gem I went to Avalon Beyond: Metaphysical Supply store. Avalon is located on 1211 Hillcrest St in Orlando, Florida.

I went to Avalon to try out the tarot reading opportunities they had to offer. I took advantage of the Sunday special where you can spend $25 for a 15 minute reading. The other offers are $50 for 30 minutes and $90 for an hour.

The reader’s name was Meka and she was an absolute sweetheart. She makes you feel super welcome. The room is bright and airy. She offers you florida water and begins the reading. The reading was personal so I won’t get any more into it but she did comment on things she wouldn’t have known unless I told her.

The store also has crystals, books, herbs, oils, and divination tools. I have purchased tarot and oracle decks, a pendulum, crystals, and books from this shop.

I love this spiritual side of Orlando. I will be returning to Avalon and trying out more readings. Meka definitely has me as a future customer for an hour long reading. I will also be visiting for a psychic reading.

This shop is incredible. I have yet to discover more spiritual shops in Orlando but this is most definitely a hidden gem. I love finding new places to visit. If you visit, be sure to get a reason. Always remember, it’s great to live like a local 🙂

Boxi Park!

For my first hidden gem of Orlando, I’d like to take a trip down to Lake Nona and show what this community has to offer. Lake Nona is a relatively new addition to the City Beautiful. When I was in elementary school, Lake Nona Middle school didn’t even exist! The Tavistock company is developing Lake Nona into what is now known as The Medical City.

Hidden away towards the end of Narcoossee Road is the Lake Nona Town Center. The Lake Nona Town Center is home to several establishments owned by the Tavistock Restaurant Collection. Out of all the Orlando Tavistock restaurants, Boxi Park is by far the most welcoming and entertaining. The lively outdoor experience is full of shipping containers repurposed into restaurants. There is something for every kind of person. From seafood and vegan food to ice cream and pop up dessert food trucks, Boxi Park has an option for every craving.

After about thirty minutes of deliberation, I decided on eating at the Cañonita: Street Taqueria container. I had three carne asada tacos and let me just say: Oh. My. God. The tacos were a bit small, so three seemed like a good amount. They’re more snack sized than meal sized. These tacos were incredible, though.

Tacos not pictured due to technical difficulties.*

* (I got too excited and started eating before i could take a picture)

The line for The Naked Cupcake food truck was waaaaaaaay too long so I went to the Before It Melts container instead. To be honest, I’m not the biggest ice cream fan. It was average. The presentation was super cute! It had a little chocolate disc that said Boxi Park on it. This ice cream was also a little expensive. This little cup of ice cream had no business being $5.50.

Exotic Fruit Surprise!
Vanilla soft serve, tropical fruit sauce, passion fruit, mango, coconut flakes, and meringue shards.

Boxi Park was super busy but it was also the Saturday after Valentine’s day, so I understand. It was fun watching local performers on the stage they had there. Overall, it was a great experience. I can’t wait to go back and try out the other containers. Maybe next time I’ll use their little beach volleyball court. I might even bring some kids that I babysit so they can have fun at the playground.

I’m super excited to visit a bunch of other locations in the Lake Nona area. I’m eager to try out all of the Tavistock restaurants around here. Orlando blows my mind every day. There are always hidden gems in the City Beautiful. See you guys next week with a new hidden gem! Always remember: it’s great to live like a local.