Universal Studios Hotel Walk
There a side to Universal Studios that not everyone sees. A walk through nature and a day in Portofino is not what one normally thinks of when they imagine Universal. Things like rollercoasters and being immersed into a 4-D reality usually come to mind; however, there is a laid back side that might be more quaint and relaxed for a down day.
Though there are several way to make this “walk” (we all need to work off those Harry Potter treats right?) we recommend starting on a boat in City Walk. Near the Universal Globe you will find a dock with transport back to the on property hotels. Board the boat that takes you to the Portofino hotel. Here you will get an immersive look at old Italy. Designed after the city of Portofino, the hotel takes you to a place more reserved than the action of plummeting 170 feet on a steel track. There are several restaurants to choose from so it makes a great date night or a fun family meal. BiCE (yes the spelling is correct) is highly recommended, but this trip we settled into lunch at Trattoria del Porto. We were mostly boring today in our food picks: Spaghetti & Meatballs, a cheeseburger, pb&j for the kids and chicken fingers. Preference for Italian food varies among individuals but I can say my spaghetti plate was a solid 7/10. The burger was good and the kids food was at least suitable quality.
After this we took time to explore a little. The hotel has a Starbucks and shops to go over. The theming is beautiful, and if you have time I absolutely recommend you sit outside and relax with a view to the port. When you’re ready to move on simply follow the well placed signage that tells you to walk towards Universal. About 5-7 minutes out you encounter the next hotel on this short walk: The Hard Rock Hotel. This does not have a Hard Rock Restaurant inside- that is in City Walk about 5 minuets further down- but does have great eateries of its own. Here we recommend the Kitchen as a place to quell your appetite. There are lots of photo opportunities and a lot of gear used by famous musicians. My favorite part is that you can rent a guitar and practice amp to take to your room for your stay. This is a fairly immersive experience and will satisfy most people looking for something a little different, especially if they grew up listening to a variety of music.
Upon leaving this hotel, follow the water, until you will come across a short cut through the “butterfly gardens.” Take the cut through (it actually saves you steps) and see the gorgeous, well-kept garden landscaped like, well, a butterfly (hence the name). You are about 5 minutes or less from City Walk at this point so let me suggest something you are never supposed to do at Universal. Slow down and take it in. There are actually breath taking sights along this trail, and Universal has done an outstanding job of preserving the beauty of it. For a moment you will not see or hear the screaming and chatter of the crowds. The fragrance of plants instead of concrete will help you settle down a little. Occasionally a boat will taxi through the water taking guests to their hotels or back into the parks. You may meet someone on the trail but overall it is a step away from the action to catch a breath.
Now if you’re like me, you not only love this type of opportunity but also love the parks. As previously mentioned about 5 minuets of walking will get you back into the frenzy of City Walk where guests are teeming with their Universal game on. We will be back to the normal reviews of chocolate frogs, The Velocicoaster, and Spider-Man soon. Just for a moment, especially if you have a day off between park days or hold a season pass as a local, do the unthinkable. Have a slow & relaxed day in the middle of a theme park.
Rating
Couples: 7/10
Kids: 5.5/10
