Who Knew That Bowling Could Save a Rhino

The American Association of Zoo Keepers announces the return of

Bowling for Rhinos at Bird Bowl on July 24, 2009

WHO: Miami Metrozoo and the South Florida Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK).

WHAT: Bowling for Rhinos (BFR) 2009, an annual bowling fundraiser that benefits the South Florida Chapter of AAZK’S rhino conservation projects, is sure not to leave you in the gutter.

To help rhinos worldwide, 100% off all funds raised by BFR benefits rhino conservation projects conserving four species of Rhino, their habitats, and hundreds of other endangered plants and animals. BFR helps preserve the black, white, Javan and Sumatran rhinos. Did you know 80% of the world’s wild rhino population has been killed in the last 20 years?

The AAZK and Metrozoo invite everyone for a night of excitement that includes: bowling, raffles, t-shirt sale, and a much anticipated silent auction.

Open to the general public, teams of five to six bowlers may register for a night hopefully full of strikes and spares. The registration fee includes two games and shoe rental. Ask around for sponsorship money because bowlers who raise more than $30 receive a special gift! Bowlers who raise more than $200 will be eligible for the grand prize! Collect that money, because last year the highest money raiser won a 15 day trip to Indonesia! BFR is sure to be a wild night for all ages, not to mention great for the rhinos!

WHEN: Friday, July 24, 2009

Registration opens at 6:30 pm; Bowl-a-thon is from 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm.

WHERE: Bird Bowl; 9275 SW 40^th Street; Miami, FL 33165; (305) 221-1221

The Intracoastal Waterway

Ever wonder why every coastal town in Florida has bridge that leads to the seashore? In order to reach the beach in the Sunshine State, travelers have to cross the Intracoastal Waterway from the mainland. The Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000 mile waterway that starts in the Jersey shore, goes down the Eastern Seaboard and continues to the Gulf of Mexico along Florida's west coast and Panhandle all the way to Brownsville, Texas.

The Intracoastal Waterway is used by recreational boaters as well as for commercial use, especially when rough seas make traveling to Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico too hazardous. The waterway was constructed in 1919 and is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Some canals are manmade, but many areas of the ICW are natural inlets, rivers and other of bodies of water that separate the mainland from the barrier islands that have some of Florida's most popular vacation spots.

Some of the natural bodies of water that make up Florida's stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway are Biscayne Bay by Miami, Tampa Bay and Pensacola Bay. And while many of the causeways used to traverse the ICW are popular hangouts for fishing and other water sports, the causeways in the Florida Space Coast--such as the Bennett Causeway linking the city of Cocoa to Cocoa Beach--also serve as viewing locations for space shuttle launches.

Get More Out Of Your Game

One of the finest facilities of its kind, the TOUR Academy at TPC Sawgrass uses hi-tech tools and hands-on training to elevate your game. Employing TaylorMade MATT (Motion Analysis Technology) 3-D Motion Capture System and Trackman ball flight monitors, the new FuZion Golf Performance Lab provides a detailed analysis of your swing to determine which clubs are right for you. As you acquire a smoother, more assured swing under the expert tutelage of PGA professionals, you can test your new skills on our indoor hitting bays and private practice area. You can also perfect your putt on one of only two TalorMade Putting Systems in the world. The TOUR Academy offers learning opportunities for golfers regardless of age or ability, including golf schools, private lessons and player development programs. The curriculum also includes Golf for Life, an innovative lifestyle program that encompasses everything from fitness and nutrition to spa treatments and wine tastings.

Shuttle launch scheduled for July 11

After NASA scrubbed the initial launch attempt in June, space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to launch this Saturday, July 11 at 7:39 pm. The seven astronaut crew will be traveling to the International Space Station for a 16 day mission.

For those who wish to view the launch, the NASA Causeway is the closest location for civilian spectators, but tickets are required ahead of time. Many people watch the launches from the public parks in Titusville along US 1 (Space View Park is where the Orlando area news channels set up their live shots) as well as well the Bennett Causeway and Cocoa Beach. The view from Titusville is unobstructed, whereas the hotels on Cocoa Beach block the view of the shuttle actually lifting off of the ground (although once the shuttle clears those buildings, the view is quite spectacular).

The Space Coast fills up with thousands of visitors every time NASA schedules a shuttle launch. Keep in mind that launches can be canceled even minutes before liftoff for a number of reasons, ranging from inclement weather to technical difficulties. After the launch, it can take up to four hours to return home (or back to the hotel room) for spectators driving in from Orlando. No matter how long the return trip, however, the memory of seeing a shuttle launch from the Space Coast will last a lifetime.

Play Where The Pros Play

Home of the Players the two courses at TPC Sawgrass exert a profound allure for pros and amateurs alike. Painstakingly conditioned to exceed even the most stringent PGA TOUR standards, they take full advantage of the abundant natural beauty that surrounds them.

Each May during THE PLAYERS Championship, the world’s top-ranked golfers take to THE PLAYERS Stadium Course to vie for one of the most coveted titles on the PGA TOUR. Imaginatively conceived and expertly designed by Pete Dye, the course is both a joy and a challenge to play-particularly the par-3, 132-yard 17^th hole known to millions of golf fans across the globe as the Island Green.

Another Pete Dye creation, Dye’s Valley Course, begins with an outstanding first hole that carries you through a memorable layout featuring expansive greens with water in play on every hole.

Resorts in Orlando

Walt Disney Maingate Hotels / Kissimmee Hotels

• Gaylord Palms Orlando Resort - $129.00 Special Rate. Selected nights.
• Seralago Hotel -Save 35% every day! Rates From $47. Lowest rates guaranteed
• Synergy Hospitality - Featuring Trafalgar Resorts & Lighthouse Key Resorts.
• Holiday Inn Maingate - FREE shuttle to Disney & shopping. Rates from $69.00
• Howard Johnson Kissimmee - Walt Disney Good Neighbor Hotel. Low rates!
• Ramada Hotels - Superior amenities and discount rates in hotels near Disney.
• Rodeway Inn Maingate - Hotel near Disney World. Rates from $39.95.
• Clarion Resort & Waterpark - Full service hotel and state of the art waterpark...
• Quality Suites / Royale Parc Suites - 1 and 2 bedroom suites * Free shuttle
• Suites at Old Town - 1 and 2 bedroom suites * FREE shuttle to Magic Kingdom
• Ramada Orlando Celebration Resort - Hotel near Disney World. Great rates!
• Radisson Resort - Orlando discount hotel rates from $79.00. Kids Eat FREE
• Galleria Palms Boutique Hotel - FREE breakfast and shuttle to Magic Kingdom
• Disney Universal Area Vacation Homes - Homes & Condos from $79.00.
• Knights Inn - Find cheap Orlando hotel deals. Just $29.00 p/day - tax included!

Marriott BeachPlace Towers

The Marriott BeachPlace Towers in Fort Lauderdale has the benefit of being centrally located on State Road A1A directly across from the beach, as well as being in the heart of Fort Lauderdale's tourist district. Restaurants and gift shops are just steps away from the hotel, which provides easy access to one of the most famous beaches in South Florida.

In addition to beach activities, the hotel has plenty of options for children and adults. The fifth floor outdoor pool overlooks the beach and the A1A strip, spa services are available through the hotel, and an activities area for kids includes an indoor playground, arcade, movie room and scheduled activities for children throughout the day.

The Marriott BeachPlace Towers is also part of the Marriott Vacation Club, which has locations in premier vacation destinations throughout North America, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. Membership in the Marriott Vacation Club is not required to stay of this hotel.

Resorts in Cocoa Beach

The Four Points Cocoa Beach is located one-half block from the beach in Cocoa Beach, Florida. A main floor shopping area, called The World's Largest Surf Complex, features beach rentals, surfing lessons and Cocoa Beach Surf Company, stocked with Cocoa Beach memorabilia and beach supplies. The complex also houses a Starbucks coffee shop and Shark Pit Bar & Grill, boasting 13 high-definition televisions and a 5,600-gallon aquarium with sharks and tropical fish. The hotel offers a 24-hour business center equipped with complimentary high-speed Internet access. A fitness center and heated outdoor pool top off the list of amenities. High-speed Internet access, cable television and video game consoles provide entertainment. Select rooms feature microwave ovens and refrigerators.

Daytona Beach Hotels

The La Quinta Inn is located one mile from Daytona International Airport and six miles from the magnificent beach in Daytona Beach, Florida. Enjoy an excellent location, within easy reach of the Indian Ocean at only a fraction of the beachfront rates. The La Quinta Inn is within a two-mile radius of Volusia Mall, Volusia Plaza, Volusia Point and Volusia Square. The rooms are well suited to the needs of both the business traveler and the leisure quest. To start your day off right, La Quinta provides a daily complimentary breakfast.

4th of July at the St. Pete Pier

This Saturday there will be a 4th of July Extravaganza at the St. Pete Pier, presented by the City of St. Petersburg, The Pier and Clear Channel Radio. The event kicks off at 1:00 p.m. at the Waterside Courtyard & The Pier, with fireworks shot off the waters of the Pier and Spa Beach at 9:00 p.m.

This free event lasts until 11:00 p.m. and during the afternoon and early evening there will be food and beverage vendors available. The 4th of July Extravaganza also includes up to eight hours of live entertainment leading up to the grand finale fireworks display.

The Pier has long been a gathering place for the St. Petersburg community. The current five-story structure was built in 1973 and renovated in 1988. The building houses specialty stores, galleries and boutiques, the Dockside Eatery food court and Captain Al's Waterfront Grill & Bar and outdoor Tiki Bar, the Pier Aquarium, the Columbia Restaurant, Cha Cha Coconuts Tropical Bar and Grill and an Observation Deck.

For a full listing of the day’s events, visit the StPetePier.com Web site.