Fantasy come to life

So my family just returned from our very first Florida vacation. It was successful in that we all returned intact LOL and spent our first day back in separate rooms hiding from each other. We love each other but all four of us need our own space and sharing one hotel room doesn't give you that.

It was also successful in that we went to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studio's Islands of Adventure.

We had friends go there earlier in the summer but I still wasn't sure what to expect.

It was PURE unadulterated fantasy come to life. Even more than the movies.

They have recreated the village of Hogsmeade with Zonko's koke shop, Honeyduke's candy shop, Three Broomsticks, and more. Hogwart's Castle looms above the town. Not all of it is true to form, Ollivander's Wand Shop is there instead of Diagon Alley and you can see other worlds around you from the park.

But it is sheer magic. Especially for oldest and I, who are both huge Harry Potter fans. Oldest daughter was shaking with excitement during most of the time we were there.

We ate lunch at Three Broomsticks. All I could say was, "We're eating at Three Broomsticks! We're eating at Three Broomsticks." They told my hubby when he ordered soda, "there is no soda in Harry Potter World."

We drank butterbear, went to Ollivander's, Honeydukes, Zonkos, rode the Forbidden Journey (seeing herbology and rooms inside of Hogwarts).

I have postcards stamped with Hogsmeade. Definitely makes it real.

I kept thinking about JK Rowling and how it must be so surreal to see this land that was in her imagination come to life. It's wild enough for me to create a world with words. Rowling can see hers in living color.

It's an experience we won't soon forget.

Mechele Armstrong
www.mechelearmstrong.com