I always have a lot of questions about accommodati I always have a lot of questions about accommodation when we stay anywhere as a family so I thought I’d share this little tour of our room at @windjammerlanding which was a pretty perfect place to stay.

It’s the ‘Ocean View Two Bedroom’ which was like a little house, with an upstairs and downstairs, built into the hillside. Both rooms had outdoor space and their own shower rooms. Such a great option for a family.
A little photo dump from our holiday in St Lucia. A little photo dump from our holiday in St Lucia. We’ve been back a few days now but still miss the heat, the food, the pool, the constant sounds of wildlife and the lovely people. It was such a great holiday and I’m sure we’ll be back one day.
And just like that, Athena is 12! What a joy it is And just like that, Athena is 12! What a joy it is watching her grow and what a wonderful young woman she is becoming. We could not be more proud. Love you Pickle, have a great birthday.
We’ve just got back from two glorious weeks in S We’ve just got back from two glorious weeks in St Lucia staying at @windjammerlanding and it was just the holiday we needed. Two weeks of sunshine and relaxation in what must be one of the most beautiful islands in the world. 

We can’t wait to go back again in the future. Here’s just a little snippet of our trip.
AD - Press Tickets | We had such a nice day at @na AD - Press Tickets | We had such a nice day at @national_motor_museum despite the rain! The children loved the Little Beaulieu play area and we loved exploring the National Motor Museum and Top Gear exhibit before having a ride on the monorail! We went on an old open topped bus, explored the Beaulieu Manor House and loved the gardens. 
Beaulieu is always a great day out - whatever the weather. This summer they have a whole ‘Summer of Fun’ planned, with activities most days - parades, bird shows and hundreds of sculptures within the grounds too. If you’re looking for a day out this summer definitely think about heading to Beaulieu.
AD - Press Tickets | Tonight we took the kids to t AD - Press Tickets | Tonight we took the kids to their first concert - but it was so much more than just a concert! @abbavoyage is incredible. With CGI ABBA and a live band, it’s like being at an ABBA concert 40 years ago but with modern lighting, effects and sound. ABBA look and sound real, it’s a mind blowing experience.
The set includes all the songs you know and love as well as a few less familiar ones.
You can’t take photos during the show which actually made a refreshing change. A whole arena focused purely on the show and soaking up the moment. It’s definitely something the four of us will always remember.
Now, I’m off to sing Dancing Queen all the way home.
AD - Press Trip | We had such a great day at @phdo AD - Press Trip | We had such a great day at @phdockyard today. They have a fantastic Ultimate Explorer ticket that lets you visit all the attractions as many times as you like for 12 months - and after a day at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard we can see that you need more than one day to really do everything!

We explored HMS Warrior, HMS Victory and the Mary Rose Exhibition - which is incredible! We also saw where ships are built and restored and spent time in Action Stations where the kids climbed and did an assault course.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is such a fun, educational day out with something for all ages - we can’t wait to go on their harbour tours next time we visit!
AD | WIN!! Would you love to win a holiday? To cel AD | WIN!! Would you love to win a holiday? To celebrate #100YearOfARoads National Highways have launched their #ARoadsToSummer competition! It's all about celebrating summer holiday moments, time together, fun in the sun, days out and more.

So why not be in it to win it? To enter, all you have to do is send @nationalhways a DM on here with a photo or video of your favourite holiday moments. You can also comment on their Facebook or Twitter #ARoadsToSummer posts with your holiday photos. I've shared a few of our favourite photos to give you some inspiration.

The best six entries will each win a £500 @nationaltrust holidays voucher! SO what are you waiting for? Dig out your favourite holiday photos or take some new ones to share!

The #ARoadsToSummer competition runs from 24 July to 10 September 2023. Winners will be announced in September 2023.

Good luck!
Oh these two! Every day I feel lucky to have them. Oh these two! Every day I feel lucky to have them. As school draws to a close at lunchtime, I’m looking forward to a whole summer with them. My favourite people.

They’ve both had a great year at school this year. Troy’s first without his sister by his side and Athena’s first at secondary school. 

They both had great reports, always did their best and have made some really lovely new friends this year. I could not be more proud of them.

Now, let’s go and enjoy the next six weeks before school starts all over again!
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Days Out and Attractions/Events, Florida, Reviews, Travel · November 22, 2022

Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review

One of my favourite places on our recent trip to Orlando was Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek. It’s somewhere I came across randomly online and knew we just had to visit. We love a living history museum here in the UK and it felt only right to take a little step back in time when we were in Florida too.

Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review

What is Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek?

The Pioneer Village is a permanent collection of authentic structures which once stood in different areas of Osceola County. They were carefully relocated to their present location and have been gently preserved to demonstrate how life was once lived before modern times.

What can you see at Pioneer Village?

The village includes a general store and post office, schoolhouse, church, train depot, homesteads from Osceola settlers, a Seminole settlement, a cow camp and working structures like a blacksmith shop, citrus packing plant, cane grinder, and barn.

When we visited Pioneer Village we were able to park easily as there is plenty of free parking on site. We went straight into the first building, a cute house made into a shop and reception complete with toilet facilities.

Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review

We’d already booked our tickets through Groupon and were given a map and shown where the toilets were before starting our visit. As soon as we walked out the back of the shop, we were met with so many buildings to explore.

Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review

Guided tours at Pioneer Village

Pioneer Village offers guided tours on a Saturday but outside of those times you can visit and explore at your own pace – which is what we did. We actually had Pioneer Village to ourselves and it was lovely – like being transported back in time.

Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review

We started our trip at the General Store where we got to see so many traditional goods on sale. It’s a beautiful wooden building with steps up to the front and so much little features that really bring it to life – like a wagon parked at the side.

Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review

Next, we went in the school house which was beautiful, smelt really woody and was just so different to schools at home – even in years gone by. Much of our trip to Pioneer Village was spent comparing it to our lives and the UK history we knew. The children loved the school house but couldn’t imagine learning in a place like that.

Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review

Like the shop, the school had so many little extra touches – it had desks and chairs, a blackboard and even a bell outside to ring for the start and end of lessons. There’s so much detail at Pioneer Village which really brings each building to life.

Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review

We then walked to the little homestead at the far end of the site. This is such an idyllic space, showing the whole life of a family in a time gone by. There were chickens running around, goats out the back and a sparsely furnished by homely farmhouse.

Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review

The farmhouse had a little triangle on the porch to ring everyone in for dinner and you could just imagine people working hard in the barn out the back. It felt so traditionally homely, a place of hard work and togetherness.

Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review

Carrying on our loop of the site we explored and learnt about the Seminole settlement and cow camp. Every different structure had a sign with information about it, photos and drawings to really help bring the place to life. The children read every sign and learnt so much during our time at Pioneer Village.

Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review

The next buildings were another homestead. Whitewashed buildings, interlinked with covered walkways. Each room was again sparsely furnished but felt practical, homely and well lived in. We loved that the houses had porches with rocking chairs, somewhere to sit and watch the world go by.

Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review

It was really interesting to picture the families of bygone days, living in their houses, going to work and bringing up a family. It all felt so familiar and yet so far removed from the UK city history we’re so familiar with.

Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review

It was then time to go in the church, one of the most impressive buildings within Pioneer Village. Complete with pews, a spire and stained glass windows, it’s a really lovely building and one we really enjoyed exploring.

Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review

After the church we explored another small home with a lovely porch and steps up to the front. All of the homes were how I’d always pictured old American buildings and it really made my imagination come to life.

Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review

We saw the blacksmith shop, workshops were fruit and other produce was packed and, finally, the train depot – complete with ticket window, waiting room, platform and track. The children loved this part, racing up and down the track, pretending they were trains and imagining boarding a train from the rustic little platform.

Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review

Mary Kendall Steffee Nature Preserve

Pioneer Village is part of Shingle Creek Regional Park, operated by Osceola County. Within the park is the Mary Kendall Steffee Nature Preserve, a piece of Osceola County as it was in the time of Florida’s original Native American tribes and early pioneers. The vegetation growing on the preserve provided the early inhabitants materials needed for dyes, clothing, medicine and other necessities.

Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review

Osceola County Welcome Center & History Museum

You can also visit the Osceola County Welcome Center and History Museum which has free admission and teaches more about the local area through the ages. It features realistic dioramas showcasing different habitats across Osceola County as well as exhibits related to the citrus and cattle industries, transportation and early tourism in the area.

You can find out more about Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek over on the Osceola History website. For reference, the address is: 2491 Babb Rd. Kissimmee FL 34746

You can see a Reel of our trip on Instagram here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Donna – What the Redhead Said (@genuineplacebo84)

Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek Review

In: Days Out and Attractions/Events, Florida, Reviews, Travel

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About Me
Hi everyone! I'm Donna. Mummy. Blogger. Social Media Manager. Traveller. Lover of stars, rainbows and gin. Firm believer that tea and cake can fix most things.

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