Allisson Williams Riding on the popularity of Jack Sparrow and Pirates of the Caribbean, Disney expanded its pirates franchise to include a hands-on adventure with new technology and a swashbuckling stunt show.
Veronica Hill of California Travel Tips takes you on a tour of Tom Sawyer Island, where it’s said some pirates have stashed their loot.
Treasure map in hand, we begin our journey by raft to Pirate Point, where a rowdy bunch of musical sailors called The Bootstrappers serenade us outside Lafittes Tavern.
This is a wild and wooly kind of place, where anything can happen. When youre ready for adventure, head over to the menacing Dead Mans Grotto, a maze of dark caves and corridors filled with hidden surprises. Look closely, and you just may find sparkling jewels, skeletons, and Davy Jones thumping heart inside a carved metal chest.
Turn another corner, and youll discover the jail cell where a cursed pirate warns of dangers to come.
Youll also find evidence of beautiful Elizabeth Swann in these chambers, where her framed portrait, love letters and diary are hidden in a cave niche.
If you can find your way out, head up the staircase to the Treehouse, then carefully cross the Suspension Bridge over to Smugglers Cove.
This murky inlet is a treasure-seekers treat. By operating various pumps and hoists, we discovered there are several spooky surprises and plundered gold lurking beneath these shallow waters.
For a fun photo opportunity, head inside the suspended cannibal bone cage where you can pose as a trapped prisoner.
You can easily spend about 2 hours exploring the islands caves, bridges and buildings. But before we leave, lets see if we can find Jack Sparrow.
Navigating across Pontoon Bridge and through the islands coves, shipwrecks and pirates dens, we follow our map to the Will Turner Blacksmith Shop, where swords and chains are forged over a hot coal fire.
Then we spot him — the swaggering Jack Sparrow himself — outside Lafittes Tavern.
After a quick photo opportunity and autograph, we hop back aboard our raft to the mainland, all too pleased that we made it back alive.
