Steam train with a black and red engine car
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Checking out the Wizarding and Surreal Worlds

December 22, 2022 /

Having accomplished eating ALL the food at Thanksgiving dinner and running the Space Coast Half Marathon, we were ready for a change of pace. We didn’t have much set in stone for our second week in Florida. Stephen would be running a trail Ragnar with some friends. I planned to work all week but schedule was relatively open on Friday. Seizing the opportunity, I took Momma for another adventure. We landed on checking out the Wizarding and Surreal Worlds in Florida! (The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the Surreal World of Salvador Dali, that is.)

Inauspicious Beginnings

Monday through Wednesday were sort of “business as usual” for our crew. Anise and I worked during the day. Chris and Stephen were both off, so they got to watch the World Cup while Momma split her time between watching Harry Potter films and chasing Gizmo and Lucky around the house.

Man holding a bag of peanut M&Ms
Stocking up on supplies
Two women walking on a path surrounded by grass and trees
Daily walks with momma
Woman sitting on a lounge chair under a red umbrella, working on a crossword puzzle by a pool
Crossword in the sun
A glass dish with bacon wrapped asparagus
Bacon wrapped goodness

On Thursday, Anise headed north for a family wedding, while Stephen headed west for the Ragnar relay race.

Hoot, Hoot…Hogwarts Next!

Friday morning, Momma and I made our way to Universal and made our way to Diagon Alley. For those not up on all things HP, Diagon Alley is a cobblestoned street with wizarding shops and restaurants. Children who study magic at Hogwarts can get all their school supplies and uniforms here.

Large suit of armor hanging in a medieval shop
The giant suit of armor
Dragon sitting on top of a building breathing fire
The Dragon in the Alley
Animatronic snake coiled in the window of a shop
Snake for sale

Off of Diagon Alley, is a very dark corridor that leads to Knockturn Alley. This cobblestone street specializes in shops that cater to darker forms of magic. I found it so disorienting, that I made my mom hold my hand so we wouldn’t get separated. Because I’m five. Obviously.

Old fashioned shop at night with its windows lit
For all your dark magic needs
Window with several shrunken heads hanging
The Shrunken Head Chorus

We left the Alleys and headed to the King’s Cross train station to grab the Hogwarts Express. This ride actually takes you between Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

Sign reading 9 3/4 next to a brick wall
Platform 9 3/4
Woman wearing a mask sitting in a train
Ready for the ride
Steam train with a black and red engine car
Hogwarts next!

We walked the queues at Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure and the Hogwarts castle. Though neither of us can do motion rides, the park does a great job of recreating items from the movie and they provide holographic scenes for everyone to enjoy.

Two buildings with peaked roofs and large pumpkins in the yard
Where Hagrid lives
Wall full of portraits at Hogwarts
Hall of Portraits
Interior of a castle with Dumbledore speaking
Dumbledore’s address
Hogwarts castle
Hogwarts

Around 4, we decided to head back to Hogsmeade Station to head back to Diagon Alley. We found out there were actually two different rides on the Hogwarts Express – depending on the direction you were taking. The one to Hogwarts included images of scary, racing demons – known as Dementors. While the ride to Hogsmeade included a fun release of spiders and a chocolate frog.

Meanwhile – On the Trail

While this was going on, Stephen and his team took the trails to compete the 200 mile race in 24 hours.

Interior of a tent with Christmas stockings and Christmas lights hanging from it
The Christmas Tent
Woman running through an arch that has a sign that reads "Ragnar" on top
Coming in hot
Man holding a glazed donut with a bite out of it
Donuts are life
Man sitting in an orange tent with a person sleeping on a cot behind him
Glamping
Group of people at a race
Team “Dude – Where’s Our Van”

My favorite story was that an announcement was made that an angry rattle snake was blocking one of the trails, so an adjustment had to be made.

My least favorite story was that in the middle of the night, Stephen fell 5 times, lost his glasses and potentially broke his toe. I don’t know, I sort of think Universal was the better way to go.

St. Petersburg and Dali

Saturday morning, Momma and I hit the road early for the 2.5 hour drive to St. Petersburg to visit the Surreal World of Salvador Dali.

Woman standing in front of a large sign that reads "The Dali Museum"
Bucket List
White square building with two huge windows that are shaped like blobs
The Surreal Exterior

Although I took a picture of every work on display, I’ll just share a few of my favorites here.

Painting showing a egg that looks like the world with a man coming out of it. To the right is a woman pointing at the egg with a child holding onto her legs
Geopoliticus Child Watching the Birth of the New Man
Woman looking intently at at a painting
Momma with Dali
Self portrait of Salvador Dali
Self Portrait
Painting showing women and men hear and archway which also looks like a face
The Disappearing Bust of Voltaire

After a couple hours, we headed to lunch at Doc Ford’s on St Pete’s Pier.

Plate with two fish tacos and a bowl of fresh fruit
Lunch at Doc Fords
Woman sitting in a blue Adirondack chair with another woman sitting on the arm of the chair
Momma and Me

Reunited and It Feels So Good

We picked Stephen up at a Buffalo Wild Wings in Lakeland before heading back to Casselberry for our last Florida night.

Breakfast was home made potato pancakes and adult beverages, thanks to our lovely host.

Black cat standing in front of window
Lucky saying “Hello”
Woman and man with bloody Marys
Bloody Mary morning
Red Shouldered Hawk in a Tree
The Red Shoulder Hawk

That afternoon, we took our last walk through the trails and visited with the critters outside and inside.

The Voyage Home

Flight home was around 7pm and we were back in our beds by 1:30am. It made Monday a little tough but it was so worth it. When else would we be able to help my mom cross some big items off her bucket list!

Man with two women sitting in an airport lounge
Breakfast at the Delta Lounge

It was still gray and cold back in Michigan. But I know we will be to Florida soon. (The first week in January, in fact.) I heard Stephen telling the kids that our next year of travel will make 2022 seems like we were a couple home bodies.

Up Next

Here are the travels we know for next year:

  • Orlando – January
  • Jacksonville / Tokyo – February
  • Tokyo / Louisville – March
  • Boston / London / Big Sur – April
  • Cincinnati / Zion National Park / Cleveland /Traverse City – May
  • Ann Arbor / Charlevoix / Grayling – June
  • Berlin – September
  • Chicago / Dublin – October
  • California – December

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