In Orlando
Whether you’re in the Orange County Convention Center (the site of the Builders’ Show) or venturing out to International Drive or beyond, these tips will make your stay more enjoyable.
Plan It
The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) is a big place and IBS offers more opportunities than any one person can cover in four days. Your first stop: www.BuildersShow.com, the official IBS 2011 website. Pre-register before Jan. 9, 2011 to get your credentials and avoid the on-site registration lines, and use the “My Show Planner” tool to map out your schedule. Once you’re at the show, take advantage of the business centers located in both the West and North/South Concourses. For a bit of a break, head to Level 1 of the West Building, a virtual ghost town with upholstered seating that’s perfect for a phone call or to check e-mail, though OCCC makes you pay for a Wi-Fi connection. Your hotel is likely on International Drive, but it may be a long hike to and from the OCCC. Buy an unlimited three-day pass on the I-Ride Trolley for $6 to shorten your commute and save your feet. Operating from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, the trolley makes 85 stops along I-Drive, putting you in front of every attraction and restaurant—and the front door of the Show.
Green Day is back at IBS 2011, and the NAHB has brought student teams from the annual Solar Decathlon as a headliner. Scale models of their winning homes will be on display in the hallway just inside the main West Concourse entrance, with workshops in an adjacent conference room on Thursday, Jan. 16. Before you jump on the shuttle bus to visit one—or both—of the off-site show homes, stop by the NextGen Home Experience in the Westwood parking lot. The 2,300-square-foot modular home offers a self-guided tour of its sustainable features and universal design concepts. After the show, the home will be disassembled and shipped to Tampa, Fla., for an injured U.S. soldier and his family. Get more information and take a virtual tour at www.nextgenhome.com.
Do It
Think you’re tied to OCCC for the duration? Nonsense. Make some time to venture out and see what The City Beautiful has to offer. You might get a kick out of Wonderworks ( www.wonderworksonline.com), that upside-down building on I-Drive that’s actually an “intellectual amusement park” with over 100 interactive exhibits. Or, make a trip downtown to the legendary Leu Botanical Gardens ( www.leugardens.org) for a peaceful respite from the hordes on I-Drive. Want a real blast? Go for the Space Pass at the Kennedy Space Center ( www.kennedyspacecenter.com), including lunch or dinner with a real astronaut and a guided tour behind the scenes. The Center is located due east on SR 407 (from SR 528, which is right off I-Drive) on the Atlantic Coast.
Save It
If you believe in human-caused global warming, do your part by purchasing an affordable TerraPass when you book your flight to Orlando (it can apply to rental cars, too). Go to www.terrapass.com to calculate your carbon offset and reduce your environmental footprint.