With the beach just a short drive from Orlando, it’s easy to fill any trip to central Florida with some sunshine and surfing. But this week, Universal Studios Orlando can help bring that surfing experience to the theme park.That’s because the Mardi Gras celebration continues at Universal Orlando and this week’s special musical guest features the Beach Boys, live in concert on April 3 at 9:30 pm.

 Since their debut album in 1961, the group was originally comprised of the Wilson brothers - Brian, Dennis and Carl - plus cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine. Together they combined to knock out 36 Top 40 hits with their extraordinary harmonies and popular surf music.

The Beach Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and have had four Number One singles, including “Good Vibrations.”

Mardi Gras continues at Universal Orlando through April 17. For additional details, visit http://www.universalorlando.com/ or for details on discount Orlando vacation packages, to go http://www.orlandothemeparkvacations.com/.

Are you ready for some beads? Get yours this weekend by heading over to the Mardi Gras celebration at Universal Orlando.  The long-running event continues this weekend through April 17, 2010 with the usual array of great Cajun food, high energy street performers, an epic parade featuring some floats directly from the New Orleans parade and, of course, a top flight musical guest live in concert.

This week’s concert features 3 Doors Down. The quintessential rock band has achieved huge mainstream success while maintaining its small town Mississippi roots. Best known for the breakthrough hit “Kryptonite,” 3 Doors Down continues the Mardi Gras tradition of great music by hitting the Orlando stage at 9:30 pm on Sat., March 27.

You can read about it in history books. Or you can live it in Williamsburg, Virginia, where the concept of America was born.

In 18^th century Williamsburg, the largest and most populated of Britain’s original 13 colonies, there was a groundswell of colonial unrest for equality, freedom and independence that soon developed into a revolution that changed the world’s landscape forever.

Yet today, Williamsburg looks very much like that same colonial town. But better than history books, today’s Williamsburg remains largest real living history museum.  It’s a place where you can be absorbed by the sights, sounds and tales of those Colonial times. Colonial Williamsburg’s historic area includes 500 original and reconstructed public buildings, 40 exhibit buildings, plus myriad private homes, quaint inns and taverns and shops plus 90 acres of public parks and gardens. 

While history is a highlight, you’ll also find plenty of modern day fun, such as water parks, championship golf, shopping, dining, and attractions like Busch Gardens theme park.

For more information about Williamsburg’s history and discount Williamsburg vacation packages, go to http://www.historicwilliamsburgusa.com/.

There will be music aplenty throughout Orlando the next few days as the area’s theme parks present a trio of weekend concerts.

at SeaWorld Orlando, the annual latin celebration, Viva La Musica continues on Saturday afternoon with an appearance by special musical guest Oscar D’Leon taking the stage at 4 p.m.

At Disney’s Epcot, you can turn back the clock to the 1960s and 1970s during the Flower Power Concert Series during the International Flower and Garden Festival. All Flower Power concerts take place under the skies of the open-air American Gardens Theatre on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. & 7:45 p.m. This weekend’s musical guest is Paul Revere and The Raiders.

Meanwhile, at Universal Studios Florida, the extended Mardi Gras celebration continues on Saturday with plenty of New Orleans style fun. Enjoy a gala parade, street performers, lots of cajun food and the weekly concert at 8:30 pm featuring the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.

Meanwhile,

Get ready Disney fans. You can now double your Disney pleasure.   

Disney has announced that it is selling new annual passes good for admission to both Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando and Disneyland in Anaheim.

The new annual ticket, called the “Disney Premier Passport” costs $700 plus tax and includes admission to all four Orlando theme parks and both Orlando water parks, PLUS both Disney theme parks in California.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is ready to officially open for the 2010 season on March 26 and visitors will be able to enjoy two brand new theme park attractions.

First, fly away with Europe in the Air, an innovative high-tech simulator ride that rockets guests past some of Europe’s most famous sights, including Stonehenge, the Eiffel Tower in France, the spectacular Alps and even the Roman Coliseum.

A second new adventure is an exciting live show designed to put you in the middle of an exciting celebration of Irish dance, music, songs and storytelling.

The two new attractions provide a unique glimpse of Europe and the emerald Isle. Of course, you can also continue to enjoy the myriad of thrill rides, attractions, shows and special events featured within Busch Gardens.

So go ahead and visit www.HistoricWilliamsburgUSA.com for complete information regarding Busch Gardens theme park tickets and other Williamsburg, VA attractions. Or simply go to www.WestgateReservations.com/sweepstakes.cfm for details about discount Williamsburg hotel and resort accommodations and discount Williamsburg vacation packages.

The Mardi Gras party keeps on rolling at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando. The popular spring Mardi Gras celebration continues now through mid-April with a variety of rocking musical guests appearing each weekend. This week’s artist is the amazing Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.

Her list of achievements goes on and on, including a dozen million-selling singles, 20 Number 1 R&B hits, a cover story in Time magazine, the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 15 Grammy Awards with a lifetime achievement award in 1995, and a roll in the movie, The Blues Brothers.

Now the legendary singer brings her smooth voice to the big stage at Universal Studios Florida starting at 8:30 pm on Saturday, March 13, 2010.

You can go to http://www.orlandothemeparkvacations.com/ for additional details on Universal Studios, Mardi Gras and the many other Orlando area theme parks and attractions. Or check out the list of discount theme park tickets and money-saving Orlando vacation packages. If you would like information on discount Orlando resort and hotel lodging, you can also visit www.WestgateReservations.com/sweepstakes.cfm.

Major League Baseball is back and better than ever in Central Florida. Orlando might be the theme park capital of the world, but when it comes to Spring Training baseball, there’s no better place to catch all the Grapefruit League action.

A total of 14 different major league teams call Florida their home for spring training. As a result, baseball fans visiting Florida don’t have to look far for the next game throughout the month of March.

The Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros both feature training camps right in the greater Orlando area. The Braves play at Disney’s beautiful ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Lake Buena Vista while Astros’ fans can catch their team in nearby Kissimmee.

Just a short drive down I-4 from Orlando takes you to into Lakeland, spring training home of the Detroit Tigers. Meanwhile, there is a host of teams situated along the Gulf coast, including the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers, the New York Yankees in Tampa, the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota, the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin, the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte and the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater.

Back on the Atlantic coast side of Florida’s peninsula, you’ll find the spring training homes of the Florida Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter as well as the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie.

There’s no better way to see and interact with your favorite MLB stars up close than at a highly affordable spring training game. You can get spring training schedules of your favorite team, or for any of the Grapefruit League teams, by visiting www.MLB.com.  

For details on discount theme park tickets and discount Orlando vacation package specials, please visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com. For discount resort or hotel packages, go to www.WestgateReservations.com/sweepstakes.cfm.

The party goes on and on at Universal Studios Florida as the popular Mardi Gras celebration continues through mid-April. This week’s musical guest stara is Akon, the Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter and one of the music industry’s fastest-rising stars.

Akon’s special mix of hip-hop, R&B and rap includes a number of chart-topping hits like Lonely, I Wanna Love You, Don’t Matter and Dangerous. He’s the first artist to accomplish the feat of holding both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice.

A frequent guest on TV’s American Idol, Akon brings his act to Universal’s Mardi Gras at 8:30 pm on March 6, 2010.

Go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com for information on Universal Studios, Mardi Gras and other Orlando area theme parks and attractions, as well as details on discount theme park tickets and Orlando vacation packages. Or visit www.WestgateReservations.com/sweepstakes.cfm for information on discount Orlando resort and hotel lodging.