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Summary: Explore some little-known attractions in the Orlando area
Review: "Take a break from theme-park madness."--Florida Today"A useful guide for both locals and tourists interested in enjoying something different." -- Daytona Beach News-Journal "Brotemarkle takes us on a leisurely tour of 15 of central Florida's most interesting towns and cities, offering much more than the standard thumbnail sketches of each place. . . . The book is full of gems, along with a useful appendix which includes listings of Florida's arts and cultural organizations, a listing of historic sites, and a calendar of events. This book is a keeper!" -- Travel Writers International Network "Brotemarkle shows there is much more to Central Florida than glitzy theme parks. He takes readers on a tour of 'real' Florida."--Tampa Tribune "A valuable resource for anyone planning to get acquainted with the center of the state"--Florida Times Union "What a great book! Every resident of and visitor to Central Florida should read Beyond the Theme Parks. It's a splendid introduction to the cultural heritage of our area."-Glenda E. Hood, mayor of Orlando "History, historic preservation, and our cultural organizations are all facets of the same jewel: the community of central Florida. Ben brings them together in a way that makes sense for those of us who live here and those who visit."--Sara Van Arsdel, executive director, Orange County Historical Society "Ben Brotemarkle is the ideal arts journalist-inquisitive, attentive to detail, insightful. His work is a much-needed guide to 'the other Florida.'"--N. Y. Nathiri, executive director of Preserve Eatonville and of the Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities This book invites you to visit the number one vacation destination in the world and see sights that tens of millions of people miss every year! Whether you're a central Florida resident or a tourist in the Orlando area, this illustrated guide takes you to attractions within easy driving distance, where you can enjoy and explore a rich real-life heritage more varied and extensive than any theme park: · cowboy culture and competition (a century in the making), · the London Symphony Orchestra at their official summer home, · Zora Neale Hurston's legacy in the oldest incorporated African-American municipality in the United States, · a hotbed of antiques and collectibles and the most comprehensive collection of Tiffany glass in the world, · a thriving spiritualist community (since 1894), · a working Pioneer Florida settlement, · the home of American space exploration, · the biggest stock car races and motorcycle rallies in the country, · art communities and festivals, architectural marvels, and examples of historic preservation throughout the region. Benjamin D. Brotemarkle, host and producer of "The Arts Connection" on radio station 90.7 WMFE-FM in Orlando, has won journalism awards for his coverage of central Florida history and culture. His features have been heard around the world on Voice of America radio, around the country on National Public Radio, and throughout the state on Florida Public Radio.
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Summary: Local culture and history done well
Review: Ben Brotmarkle has covered the local art/culture scene for Central Florida for the last 7 years on WMFE radio, so he has a good grasp of the material. This is a great book for locals who want ideas on other places to go besides the big theme parks, and for visitors to know the depth of the local scene. A good buy for anyone who lives here or plans on visiting....
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Summary: More than just Disney in Orlando... check it out!
Review: If theme parks just ain't your thing, here's an interesting book for the Orlando-bound traveler. Brotemarkle's uncovered hundreds of fascinating sites that most Florida visitors never even consider on their way to Space Mountain. Art festivals, unique architecture, and a fabulous historical legacy abound in central Florida; see them and support them before they're all paved over.
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Summary: There is so much more than Disney here
Review: Mr. Brotemarkle is an expert in what the arts have to offer in the tourist capital of the south. His knowledge of all kinds of sites is amazing from opera, to historic sites to museums. He does this with a breezy style that makes of good reading and is a must if you live here and have visitors all the time. I got sick of the big parks years ago, so now I take my friends places like Leu Gardens, and museusm.
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Summary: There's more to the Orlando area than Disney!
Review: This book invites you to visit the number one vacation destination in the world and see sights that tens of millions of people miss every year! Whether you're a central Florida resident or a tourist in the Orlando area, this illustrated book takes you to attractions within easy driving distance where you can enjoy and explore a rich real-life heritage more varied and extensive than any theme park. Beyond the Theme Parks also includes photographs, an easy-to-follow map, a cultural arts calendar, and lists of historic sites and arts organizations with brief descriptions, addresses, and phone numbers. More than a guide, this book offers a rich blend of heritage and history, a delightful primer for newcomers, and a homeowner's manual in which residents can (re)discover the delights of their own backyard. Benjamin D. Brotemarkle, host and producer of "The Arts Connection" on radio station 90.7 WMFE-FM in Orlando, has won journalism awards for his coverage of central Florida history and culture. His features have been heard on Voice of America radio, National Public Radio, and Florida Public Radio.
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