ORLANDO –When longtime Vikings fan Diane Lindo found out the Pro Bowl was taking place in Orlando this year, she knew she couldn't miss it.

Lindo's father, also a Vikings fan, owns a timeshare in Kissimmee, Florida, and Lindo decided the annual winter trip south would be best timed around the all-star game.

"I've been watching the Vikings since the Fran Tarkenton era," said Lindo, whose family in the 1970s actually purchased a car from Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall. "I've been a fan ever since I was little."

Lindo along with other family members attended the first NFC practice Wednesday morning. The 2017 Pro Bowl is the first that Lindo has had the opportunity to attend, and she enjoyed seeing the Vikings so well represented.

"My favorite number is 22, so I obviously have a special love for Harrison Smith," Lindo said with a laugh. "But just to see all the defense – we were built on defense [this season].

"I'm just so excited to be here," she added. "It's a beautiful day, and it's just super fun. Just being part of the Pro Bowl is special."

Lindo and her family weren't the only ones spotted in Vikings Purple at ESPN's Wide World of Sports complex.

Steve and Jodie Kemp, 15-year Vikings Season Ticket Members, also made the trip down to Florida from their home in Illinois.

Jodie, wearing a Stefon Diggs Color Rush jersey, said she married into Vikings fandom when she met her husband. While Steve was born and raised in Illinois, some of his earliest memories revolve around watching Vikings games at his grandmother's house.

"I never got into the Bears, and neither did my family," Steve quipped. "It's always just been the Vikings."

Steve doesn't shy away from his Vikings pride in Bears territory, often showing off his Can-Am Spyder motorcycle, custom built and painted to rep his favorite team.

"It has the Ring of Honor around it as well as players and their jersey numbers," Steve said.

While some fans chose to vacation at the Pro Bowl, others lucked out through well-timed travel itineraries.

Kevin Jellerson was in Orlando for a business trip and found a window of time to come view a practice and cheer on the Vikings.

Wearing a Teddy Bridgewater jersey, Jellerson explained that he's from Roanoke, Virginia and actually has no connection to Minnesota whatsoever. But that doesn't stop him – or his family – from bleeding purple.

"My dad was a Vikings fan from childhood, so I grew up following the team," Jellerson said. "He went through the days of the Purple People Eaters and was a big Fran Tarkenton fan. I grew up in the Cris Carter era, went through the pain of the '98 [NFC] Championship game and things like that. We don't have family from Minnesota, but we've just always been fans."

Jellerson said he had been excited to hear that both Linval Joseph and Anthony Barr got added to this year's Pro Bowl roster as alternates, and he was especially looking forward to seeing Smith, one of his favorite players.

"Xavier Rhodes had a great year, so it was awesome to see him out here, and [Everson] Griffen and [Cordarrelle] Patterson as well," Jellerson said. "It's great to see half our defense, essentially, out there on the field."

One dedicated Vikings fan was just excited to see his team arrive in his hometown.

While Dakota Ferratzi lives near Orlando, he hasn't lost his family ties to Minnesota. The 22-year-old said he and his family often make it a point to attend a couple of Vikings games a year, this year making trips to the games at Tennessee and at Jacksonville.

To be able to make the short drive to the Pro Bowl practice was too good to be true for Ferratzi, who sat right along the fence, as close to the action as possible.

"It's so cool to see them," Ferratzi said. "I like Harrison Smith – he deserves it. Everson Griffen's been really good, and Anthony Barr is one of my favorite players."

Added Ferratzi: "I think the future's bright for this team."