2008 Holiday Historic Inn Tour in Key West

The seventh annual Holiday Historic Inn Tour is scheduled for December 5 -6 and December 12 -13 in Key West, part of the island’s annual Christmas festivities. The bed and breakfasts that make Key West such a popular travel destination throughout the year take on a special holiday glow as part of the Holiday Historic Inn Tour. This year’s tour will include more inns, restaurants, and artists than ever, and the ornately decorated properties will include artwork, fine food and refreshments.

Christmas in Key West proves once and for all that you don’t need to be freezing cold to get into the holiday spirit. In addition to the Holiday Historic Inn Tour, the Nutcracker Key West and the Lighted Boat Parade in Key West Harbor have become favorite traditions for visitors as well as the local “Conchs.” For more information about the 2008 Holiday Historic Inn Tour in Key West

Regatta of Lights Set For Nation's Oldest City

The historic waters of Matanzas Bay will sparkle in the glow of a holiday regatta of boats decked out in their seasonal finery when the Regatta of Lights returns to St. Augustine on Saturday, December 13.

Hosted by the St. Augustine Yacht Club, the 28th annual event will feature a nighttime parade of sailboats, trawlers, shrimp boats and recreational boats aglitter with brilliant lighted displays ranging from patriotic to whimsical. Boat owners will try to out-dazzle the competition in a spirited contest featuring prizes in a variety of categories featuring boats from 15 to 85 feet in length.

The regatta gets underway at 6 p.m. as the boats enter Matanzas Bay, pass the Castillo de San Marcos and sail single file for the Bridge of Lions. The regatta will then circle the bay to allow spectators and regatta judges to appreciate the illuminated ingenuity of each contestant.

For more information, including details on how to enter a boat in the regatta, call 904.824.9725 or go to http://www.sayc2000.com/ .The Holiday Regatta of Lights is supported in part by a grant from the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council. For the latest on events and activities in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches, go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau’s website http://www.getaway4florida.com/ or call 1.800.653.2489.

Cypress Gardens Closing with Plans to Reopen in 2009

Cypress Gardens, a legendary Old Florida attraction, is closing for the second time in five years but there are plans to reopen the park next year with a new focus on the onsite Water Park and the more traditional attraction such as the botanical gardens and hoop-skirted Southern belles. The weekend of November 15 will mark the final day that Cypress Gardens will be opened this calendar year, and the park is slated to reopen in March of 2009.

Founded in 1936 in Winter Haven, Florida, Cypress Gardens originally featured Florida’s natural beauty and water ski shows as the main attractions. The park shut down in 2003 but a public-private land deal saved the park from redevelopment and Cypress Gardens reopened a couple of years later. The park has been expanded to include rides and a zoo which specializes in exotic animals, but the current owners have indicated that the new Cypress Gardens will focus on three main areas: the newly built water park, the water-ski shows, and the botanical gardens that originally brought visitors to this distinctly Floridian attraction in Polk County.

Tampa Hotels and Resorts

The La Quinta Inn Tampa Airport (Fla.) is located across the street from International Mall and one-half mile from the Tampa International Airport. The hotel provides complimentary airport transportation.
The La Quinta Inn Tampa Airport serves complimentary continental breakfasts featuring fresh fruit, pastries and coffee each morning. The hotel offers a discount to the restaurant on the hotel premises. Meeting space and business services are available. The hotel hosts an outdoor pool. Guestrooms equipped with complimentary high-speed Internet access, desks and cable television.

How Southern is Florida?

Although Florida is farther south than the neighboring states of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, the Sunshine State is not usually lumped in with the region known as the “Deep South,” in terms of culture and traditions. Geographically, Florida claims the Southernmost Point in the Continental U.S. with a famous buoy-shaped mile marker at the end of Highway U.S. 1 in Key West. Culturally, however, Key West and the rest of the Florida Keys have a very laid back attitude befitting an island paradise.

Elsewhere in Florida, South Florida combines beachfront living with a vibrant multicultural population, with immigrants from all over Latin America in the Miami area. Further north is the I-4 corridor, which stretches from Tampa on the Gulf Coast through Orlando and up to Daytona Beach. Central Florida has a lot of transplants from “up North,” as Floridians like to say. The Florida Panhandle probably has the closest connection, culturally, to the “Deep South,” due to its proximity to Alabama and Georgia.
And here’s something that proves just how vast Florida really is: a road trip from Pensacola to Key West would be more than 800 miles

The Days Inn South Airport, Fort Myers

The Days Inn South Airport in Fort Myers, Fla., stands 10 miles from Southwest International Airport and is close to Edison Mall and Sanibel and Captiva islands. Guests also are close to the estates of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford and just 10 miles from the beaches and boating, jet skiing and cruising opportunities.
During the spring, the area hosts Boston Red Sox spring training camp, three miles from the Days Inn. The Minnesota Twins also conduct spring training here, too. The 121-room Days Inn features continental breakfasts, a health club, a pool table and video games, an outdoor pool, fireplace, data ports and conference rooms and free wireless Internet. The location is close to many attractions, and the chance to catch some big-league baseball games makes this Days Inn South Airport an ideal choice for families, couples, groups and business travelers.

Pensacola: Rich in History

Pensacola, Florida is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle with a long history that dates back nearly 450 years. Originally settled in 1559, Pensacola was the first European settlement in the continental United States (St. Augustine on Florida’s Atlantic coast holds the title for the oldest continuously occupied European city). Over the centuries Pensacola has flown the flag of five governments: Spain (Castile), France, Great Britain, the Confederate States of America, and the United States, earning Pensacola the nickname, “The City of Five Flags.”

Pensacola is well known for its military presence. The National Museum of Naval Aviation is located at the Pensacola Naval Air Station, which is home to the legendary Blue Angels aerial demonstration team. The Pensacola Naval Air Station is best known as the primary training base for all Navy and Marine aviators and Naval Flight Officers, and the advanced training base for most Naval Flight Officers.

The nearby island of Pensacola Beach offers the emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the powdery white sugar sand that the Florida Panhandle is known for. The Quietwater Beach Boardwalk on Pensacola Beach offers shopping and dining for visitors, and there are a number of hotels and inns ranging from the Hilton Garden Inn and Springhill Suites to the Hampton Inn and Comfort Inn. So even if a military transfer initially brings some people to Pensacola, the natural beauty of the Gulf Coast keeps visitors coming back for more.

Hyatt Regency Sarasota

The newly renovated Hyatt Regency Sarasota overlooks a private marina on Sarasota Bay in Sarasota, Fla. Lido Beach and shopping at St. Armand Circle are three miles away. The Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport is four miles from the hotel.
Waterfront seating is available and Floridian cuisine is served at The Boathouse. Scalini offers daily breakfasts and Sunday champagne brunches, overlooking the marina. The hotel also features lagoon style heated pool with cascading waterfalls and zero entry, complimentary Hyatt STAYFIT gym with state of the art equipment, private 32-slip marina, fishing, boating, bicycle rentals and scuba diving. Beach shuttle service is provided complementary two times daily. The hotel offers a business center and 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. Wireless Internet access is available for a fee. Indoor and outdoor spa tubs and a heated outdoor lap pool with a sundeck provide ample space in which to enjoy the Florida sun. Sarasota Resorts and Spas.

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Rescued Baby Manatee Rehabilitating at Miami Seaquarium

Orphan baby manatee Kiandra is rehabilitating at Miami Seaquarium after being rescued from Key Largo this past summer.Baby Kiandra was first observed alone in the FL keys and was monitored for a few days until her rescue on father’s day, June 15, 2008. Baby Kiandra was then brought to Miami Seaquarium for rehabilitation.
Kiandra was severely dehydrated, weighing 65 pounds and measuring 3 feet. The baby was immediately bottle fed by Miami Seaquarium animal care and veterinarian staff, and received around the clock care to monitor her recovery.
“Kiandra was a very unique baby. She took the bottle right away. It usually takes a few days to get the babies to bottle feed. She was that dehydrated,” said Dr. Maya Menchaca Rodriguez, Miami Seaquarium veterinarian.
After a few months of bottle feeding baby Kiandra, Miami Seaquarium animal care staff began introducing solid foods into her environment. She is currently responding well to her mixed milk and solid food diet, and has been placed in the company of 3 older female manatees, two of which have been recorded spontaneously lactating.
Manatee Juliet, one of the older female manatees, has served as a surrogate mother for baby Kiandra, as she has for many other orphans. Miami Seaquarium is the first facility to document spontaneous lactation in manatees. “We believe the baby elicits the behavior in the older female by latching on to her. This causes the hormonal release in the older female to begin lactating,” said Dr. Menchaca Rodriguez.
At approximately 6 months of age, the baby is recovering well and has high hopes of being reintroduced to her natural environment in the future.
In an effort to create awareness and raise funds for protected Florida manatees like Kiandra, Miami Seaquarium launched the promotion, ‘Change for a Change’ this month. Manatee lovers can deposit their spare change at any Bank of America nationwide and help the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP). Donors will also receive $7.50 off their next visit to Miami Seaquarium. Hotels near Miami Seaquarium

Conference Center Hotels in St. Augustine

The Renaissance Resort at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., is adjacent to St. Johns County Convention Center. The property is one of the largest combination hotel and conference centers in the South. The hotel is eight miles from St. George Street and the Spanish Quarter. Castillo de San Marcos and the Fountain of Youth are within 10 miles.
The smoke-free resort features two championship golf courses, a health club and tennis courts. The Spa Laterra features the Garden Sanctuary with floating cabana treatment rooms and a relaxation area, a beauty salon and a boutique. An outdoor infinity pool and spa tub are on site. The resort's three restaurants offer 24-hour room service. Guestrooms at are equipped with high-speed Internet access for a fee and cable television. Hotels in St. Augustine

Stone Crab Season Underway in South Florida

Stone crabs are officially in season, and restaurants in South Florida and the Keys are currently offering a delicacy that many local residents believe is well worth the wait. Stone crab season in Florida runs from October 15th to May 15. According to the Web site for Joe’s Stone Crab, a popular Miami restaurant that only stays open during stone crab season, “The claws make up half the weight of the whole crab; they are removed by carefully grabbing from the rear and twisting. The crab is returned to water and the claw regenerates. It takes between 12 to 24 months to reach legal size again.”
First-time stone crab eaters will also note that they need to use a mallet to get through the thick shell to the sweet claw meat inside. The crabmeat is usually served with melted butter or a version of remoulade sauce, depending on the restaurant’s specialty. Stone crabs are the state's only renewable seafood resource, and the Florida Keys accounts for the largest stone crab claw take compared to other areas in the state. Last season, 827,700 pounds of claws were harvested there.

WinterNational Thanksgiving Day Parade in North Miami

The large cities “Up North” are well known for their Thanksgiving Day parades, but did you know that Miami (technically, North Miami) will also be hosting a fun-filled festival that does not require standing in freezing temperatures? The WinterNational Thanksgiving Day Parade will take to the streets of North Miami on November 27, 2008 covering 125th St., from NE 6th Ave. to NE 12th Ave.

The WinterNational Thanksgiving Day Parade will include bands, clowns, floats, marchers from local clubs and organizations, motorcyclists and much more in true South Florida style, although rumor has it there might be a snowman sighting as well. The festivities will kick off at 10:00 a.m., and the WinterNational Festival in North Miami will continue with carnival rides, food and entertainment through Sunday, November 30 at Griffing Park, West Dixie Hwy. at NE 123 Street.

Naples, Florida

The Inn on Fifth is a wonderful hotel located five minutes from The Naples Airport and is accessible via I-75 or U.S 41, 45 minutes from the Southwest International Airport in Ft. Myers and 6 blocks away from the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. The Fifth Avenue South area is a historic main street where shoppers can find fine art galleries and crafts studios, antique shops, clothing boutiques, jewelers and many restaurants.
Each elegant and spacious guest room has been carefully detailed with imported sliding French doors to the balcony or terrace. Hotel amenities include a full service spa salon, heated pool, fitness center and concierge and business services are available. Enjoy a relaxing vacation while staying in fine accommodations at the classy Inn on Fifth.

Florida Time Zones

If you are traveling to Florida from other parts of the country (or the world) be sure to synchronize your watches to Eastern Daylight Time—unless you are visiting the far western end of the Florida panhandle. While most of Florida is on Eastern Time (the same as New York City) a small part of western Florida is in the Central Time Zone (the same as Chicago). Eastern Daylight Time is the term used in the winter and Eastern Standard Time is the correct terminology for the summer.

Most of Florida’s major cities—Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Gainesville, and Tallahassee—are in the Eastern Time Zone, but popular tourist destinations like Pensacola and Panama City are on Central Standard Time. The following Florida counties are on Central Time: Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington counties and northern Gulf County. The rest of the Sunshine State is synched up with the Eastern Seaboard.

Waterfront Hotels in Fort Lauderdale

The Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel is located directly on the Intracoastal Waterway in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Renovated in 2008, the hotel is adjacent to the Port Everglades cruise port and one block from the Broward County Convention Center.
On-site fine dining is offered at the China Grill, serving international cuisine for breakfast and dinner. The "G" restaurant serves American cuisine for lunch and dinner. The Fort Lauderdale Grand Hotel offers 25,000 square feet of flexible function space and boasts a business center equipped with complimentary high-speed Internet access. Yachts passing through the marina are visible from the hotel's dockside pool. A fitness facility features cardiovascular machines equipped with televisions while tennis courts provide active outdoor recreation. Resort conveniences include laundry facilities and a gift shop. This hotel offers 589 guestrooms distributed among a 13-story tower and two, three-or four-story wings.

Art in the Park Saturdays in St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg, Florida is well known for its cultural offerings year round, and now that more comfortable fall temperatures have settled in over the Sunshine State, St. Pete is offering Art in the Park every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. October through May. Art in the Park is held in Williams Park at First Avenue North and Fourth Street in downtown St. Petersburg.
Visitors are invited to browse through collectible artwork from dozens of vendors, which include jewelry, pottery, painting and glass art. Art in the Park also offers children's activities, food booths and other outdoor fun that will enhance any visit to St. Petersburg and the Florida Suncoast. Fall is the peak season for art fairs and local festivals in Florida so don’t be surprised if you come across several street fairs if business or pleasure brings you to the Sunshine State in the next few weeks.

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St. Augustine's Holiday Light Up Night

The magical moment when more than two million tiny white lights will blink on in the Nation's oldest city has been set for 6:30 p.m., Saturday, November 22 - Light-Up Night! At that appointed time, Mayor Joe Boles will open the ceremonies from the balcony of Government House and moments later the city's most senior former mayor in attendance will flip the switch from the gazebo in the Plaza de la Constitucion - the oldest public meeting ground in the nation. Light-Up Night! Then, at 5:30 p.m., the All Star Orchestra will fill the plaza with great swing and big band music in grand holiday style. This popular 20-piece band returns for an encore after receiving rave reviews for their performance at last year’s lighting ceremony.

Bathed in the gentle glow of the Nights of Lights, the narrow Old World streets of the city become an irresistible setting for strolling, dining, shopping and making lasting holiday memories.

Although the City of St. Augustine installs and maintains holiday light displays at more than 100 locations in the city, the Nights of Lights could not succeed without the volunteer participation of residents and business owners. At their own expense, they add their own lighting creations that blend perfectly to create an unforgettable holiday atmosphere.


Night of Lights is funded by the City of St. Augustine and the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council. For full details on the Nights of Lights, including a list of associated events, go to www.nightsoflights.com . Complete details on planning a Nights of Lights vacation, including accommodations

Things to do in Fort Myers & Sanibel Island

Through Dec. 27, 2008 IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMASFort Myers239-278-4422www.BroadwayPalm.com
Dec. 5-6, 2008CHRISTMAS LUMINARY TRAIL & OPEN HOUSESanibel & Captiva islands239-472-1080www.sanibel-captiva.org
Dec. 6, 2008HOLIDAY BOAT PARADEBonita Springs239-992-2943www.bonitaspringschamber.com
Dec. 6, 2008FORT MYERS BEACH BOAT PARADEFort Myers Beach239-454-7500www.fmbchamber.org
Dec. 6, 2008HOLIDAY FESTIVAL OF LIGHTSCape Coral 239-549-6900www.capecoralchamber.com
Dec. 7, 2008 ROCK ‘TIL YOU DROPCape Coral239-229-8526www.capecoralrock.com
Dec. 12, 2008-Jan. 3, 2009EDISON & FORD HOLIDAY NIGHTSFort Myers239-334-7419www.efwefla.org
Dec. 13, 2008HOLIDAYLANDFort Myers239-321-7420 www.cityftmyers.com/imaginarium
Dec. 13-23, 2008HOLIDAY ARBOR LITESFort Myers239-275-3435www.calusanature.com
Dec. 16-27, 2008HOLIDAY EXPRESS239-432-2029www.leeparks.org
Dec. 16-31, 2008THE HOLLY JOLLY FOLLIESSanibel Island239-472-6862www.theschoolhousetheater.com
Dec. 22, 2008A CHRISTMAS CAROLFort Myers239-481-4849, 800-440-7469www.bbmannpah.com
Dec. 27-28, 2008COLLEGE HOCKEY CLASSICEstero239-334-3309www.germainarena.com
Dec. 31, 2008DOWNTOWN COUNTDOWNDowntown Fort Myers239-321-7100www.cityftmyers.com
Dec. 31, 2008NEW YEAR’S EVE GALAFort Myers239-275-8487, 800-SEM-GULF www.semgulf.com