Re: OT: Growing Minds, advice please!

[Guest guest]

Di,

A couple of summers ago I was N of the Orlando area - Lake . It

was not too difficult to find gfcfsf. Chamberlains is one place I

recall to grocery shop. I don't know of places to eat out though as

we always take food along. Usually we stayed in an apt type setting

with kitchen, baths, washer/dryer etc. It was not much more $ that a

hotel/motel room and so much more convenient. The ones @ Disney

usually required a 5-7day stay. When our children were younger they

liked downtown Disney - free! of course they hawk their stuff so you

have to go with firm resolve not to buy. They have a fun area of

legos and biotics, race cars - and who knows what else as it's been a

couple of years now. If you have a vehicle, there is a welcoming

center up on International Drive not far from the convention center

that has maps, coupons, hotel discounts, etc. We try to stop there.

We were talked into International studios ONCE. It was not worth the

$. Our children were ready to bail out after a couple of hours.

Welcome to the US. Warm sounds good as I'm in Iowa-weary of the snow

and ice and VERY weary of the political drama going on here for the

caususes. Have fun and good luck with treatment.

>

> Hi

>

> I know quite a few of you have been to Florida for Growing Minds,

we

> are going in 4 weeks, OMG!!! Now starting to panic, mainly about

> stupid things like how do you find your way around, yes I know, buy

a

> map! which I have but has anyone used sat nav systems there, do

they

> work if you buy them here!

> Also other main concern is getting decent food, when we went to

Chicago

> it was quite hard to get normal food but we did find one which was

like

> an organic supermarket and was great on the last day!

> Any helpful hints on these things gratefully appreciated. We are

in

> Orlando for a couple of days but not doing Disney so any ideas on

> anything else you have found that was good and then driving down to

> Jupiter.

> We are trying to get some videoing of Sam at the moment and so long

> since we last did any he has gone all shy which in a way is good as

he

> is obviously much more aware of what we are doing.

> Sorry for immensely silly questions, a mixture of excitement and

dread!!

>

> Happy New Year to you all, hope 2008 is a really good one.

> Di x

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Di

Don't panic - it's all very nice and Florida is immensely child

friendly (let's face it, unlike most of the UK!)

Jupiter is easy to find with a map, the directions they send you are

pretty fool proof. THere is one main road down from North to South -

the Florida Turnpike, you pass various exotically named areas and when

you see Port St Lucie you know you should start looking out for signs

to Jupiter and then it's half an hour so along straight and well

signed roads.

If you're at Jupiter appartments they are pretty well equipped. We

never got Tom in the very nice communal pool sadly but it's lovely and

has a jacuzzi and a bar that sells very reasonably priced and lethal

mojitos.

Gardens Mall (20 mins drive at most, nearer 15) has the Whole Foods

Market. Beware - this place is heaven on earth, packed with organic

produce, fresh nut butters, supplements, skin care, locally reared and

aged meats, god it's fantastic but it aint cheap. We spent almost

$400 there getting enough food for half a week oh and some Dr Hauscka

skin care. Quite a good a gf range. Lots of cinemas within an easy

drive. Wihtin a walk of the appartments is a PUblix (has most things)

and one small block on a multi screen cinema. At the Gardens Mall

there's another big cinema, mostly empty when we were there. THe beach

is fab, very unspoilt, lots of wild life, waves are a bit impressive

but Tom sat quite happily watching them break and having his feet

squeezed. It'll be 80 degrees or so when you go (what actual dates

are you there?) so really nice, not too muggy but like a really

lovely early July day here.

Jupiter is quite upmarket really, full of skinny ex New Yorkers in

their eighties jogging at ungodly hours. Or running away from death as

Mark put it. So you can find yoga, chiropractors on every corner,

it's pretty safe (or feels that way), it's very clean, everyone is

pretty friendly and there are a few children's playgrounds. also a

free wildlife sanctuary a short drive away that is incredibly laid

back and unspoilt. NOt forgetting the world famous Burt Reynolds

museum which we've never got round to visiting for some reason!!!

Make hte most of it, go with loads of issues to resolve, send them a

long list. Send your worst video including you getting stuff wrong.

It's not a beauty parade they can help. THey are both so lovely - as

is Kaitryn, 's wife who offers counselling. THis time she was

lumbered with me for 2 and a half hours in total. Well, she did ask!!

Orlando is much more full on but still very straightforward. It's full

of people out to enjoy themselves so really it's not that stressful,

the villas tend to be clean, well equipped, a bit bland, wipe clean

(hurrah). Fast food is a no go for diets but you'll find a Walmart or

PUblix somewhere and they sell everything. You can stick to diets

fairly easily although you might want to consider taking gf flour with

you if that's vital. depends how broad his diet is - TOm's mostly

into nuts, fruit etc so that's fairly straightforward.

One thing about Jupiter appartments is that it's quite busy at this

time of year, it's actually high season in February. When we were

there in early December it was almost deserted. Josie at the

appartments is pretty good at putting families going to GM on the

ground floor (not that it really matters, they'd have a job escaping

through the mosquito mesh which is everywhere)

You'll enjoy yourselves so much, although it is full on, make sure to

ask and Stefanie any silly questions about what to buy wehre

before you fly. They really don't mind, they told Mark how to find the

nearest guitar shops, about where to buy trainers, they lent me a

juicer... they're lovely

Steph xxx

>

> Hi

>

> I know quite a few of you have been to Florida for Growing Minds, we

> are going in 4 weeks, OMG!!! Now starting to panic, mainly about

> stupid things like how do you find your way around, yes I know, buy a

> map! which I have but has anyone used sat nav systems there, do they

> work if you buy them here!

> Also other main concern is getting decent food, when we went to Chicago

> it was quite hard to get normal food but we did find one which was like

> an organic supermarket and was great on the last day!

> Any helpful hints on these things gratefully appreciated. We are in

> Orlando for a couple of days but not doing Disney so any ideas on

> anything else you have found that was good and then driving down to

> Jupiter.

> We are trying to get some videoing of Sam at the moment and so long

> since we last did any he has gone all shy which in a way is good as he

> is obviously much more aware of what we are doing.

> Sorry for immensely silly questions, a mixture of excitement and dread!!

>

> Happy New Year to you all, hope 2008 is a really good one.

> Di x

>

[Guest guest]

--- Jane Hogan wrote:

Hi Jane, and Sal

thanks so much for your replies, very reassuring and

helpful!

hopefully I will relax more about it all and we will

get the push forward that we need with Sam at the

moment!

Di x

> Hi Di,

>

> We have been a few times. We seem to learn

> something new everytime.

>

> In Orlando we always stay in a villa. They are

> quite luxurious and most have their own pool.

> Although I am not sure what the temperatures will be

> when you are there. We have spent Christmas and New

> Year there and found it a bit cool (70 to 80

> degrees). Okay for the Disney Parks but not really

> warm enough for the water parks. If you do get

> good weather the water parks are superb. Blizzard

> Beach or Typhoon Lagoon. They do chips in most of

> the parks.

>

> We tended to take our own food out with us, cooked

> chicken, crisps, fruit etc., I packed lots of

> loaves of gfcf bread, seabrook crisps and rice

> cakes. I took some food on the plane with us - but

> do get rid of it before you land - the customs are

> not happy if you bring fruit, veg in and you can end

> up with a big fine!

>

> Last time we were there which was 2007 - we got a

> sat nav with the hire car. It was the first time I

> have used one and it drove me mad! If you are going

> to use one make sure you know what you are doing

> before hand. Arriving after a long flight, tired

> is not the time to start learning!

> We have always managed with maps before that. Where

> are you staying?

>

> There are lots of supermarkets - Wal-Mart is huge.

> We used Publix in Orlando - they do have a good

> selection of healthy foods. You just need to get

> your head around some of the labelling and get used

> to different brands.

>

> Jupiter is lovely and buy the coast. It is about a

> three hour drive from Orlando - quite a boring

> straight road all the way. You just get on the

> Florida Turnpike and off at Jupiter - toll roads on

> the way - it cost around ten dollars. Are you

> staying at the accommodation recommended by GM?

> It is on a nice resort with two swimming pools and a

> club house. It has been quiet everytime we have

> been. There is a running track and children's play

> areas. The beach is great, but a bit choppy for

> young children. There are some inlets in Jupiter

> that are much safer for them to have a dip!

>

> Once in Jupiter there is a huge food mall at

> Gardens. Ask Stefanie for directions - it is really

> easy to find. It sells all kinds of healthy foods.

> Gardens Mall is also good for buying clothes etc.,

> They have got all the main department stores like

> Bloomingdales, Macey's etc.,

>

> While you are at Growing Minds you will get a light

> lunch - we asked for something gfcf for . We

> also took snacks with us.

>

>

> Hope you have a great time!

>

> Jane

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> OT: Growing

> Minds, advice please!

>

>

> Hi

>

> I know quite a few of you have been to Florida for

> Growing Minds, we

> are going in 4 weeks, OMG!!! Now starting to

> panic, mainly about

> stupid things like how do you find your way

> around, yes I know, buy a

> map! which I have but has anyone used sat nav

> systems there, do they

> work if you buy them here!

> Also other main concern is getting decent food,

> when we went to Chicago

> it was quite hard to get normal food but we did

> find one which was like

> an organic supermarket and was great on the last

> day!

> Any helpful hints on these things gratefully

> appreciated. We are in

> Orlando for a couple of days but not doing Disney

> so any ideas on

> anything else you have found that was good and

> then driving down to

> Jupiter.

> We are trying to get some videoing of Sam at the

> moment and so long

> since we last did any he has gone all shy which in

> a way is good as he

> is obviously much more aware of what we are doing.

> Sorry for immensely silly questions, a mixture of

> excitement and dread!!

>

> Happy New Year to you all, hope 2008 is a really

> good one.

> Di x

>

>

>

>

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