About.com Florida Travel

FREE Wedding Package Giveaway

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:15:35 +0000

If you've always dreamed of a Florida wedding, but didn't think it would fit in your budget... think again. Celebrating its grand opening this month, The Resort at MarinaVillage is giving away a FREE wedding package for 60 guests that will include: the rehearsal dinner, ceremony, officiant, photographer, videographer, florals, DJ, reception, wedding cake and a three-night, four-day stay in a premium suite at the resort.

What do you have to do to win? Simply submit a video, before December 1, 2009, about you and your fianc� that includes how you met, the proposal and why you would like to get married at The Resort at MarinaVillage next November 2010. Find additional entry information and official rules at www.MarinaVillageResort.com/dreamwedding. The lucky couple will be announced December 31, 2009. Good luck!

If you're not getting married, but are in the market for a great deal on a getaway, The Resort at MarinaVillage, a SunStream property, located at Tarpon Point Marina in Cape Coral will be opening this month — just in time for a holiday or end-of-the-year getaway. A variety of grand opening rates are now available, along with the SunStream promise of no resort or parking fees. Pets are also welcome. The resort is the area's first full-service luxury resort, offering richly appointed accommodations in its studio, 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom residences. Guest rooms combine hotel and residential condominium living with grand rooms, master suites, guest suites, dining terraces and access to amenity decks. Amenities from boat slips to waterfront dining and shopping and an Esterra Spa & Salon, SunStream's signature spa, will be among the resort's select offerings.

^{Photo © SunStream Hotels & Resorts}

FREE Wedding Package Giveaway originally appeared on About.com Florida Travel on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 19:15:35.

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Price Hike for SeaWorld & Busch Gardens

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:11:36 +0000

While daily admission for SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay just got more expensive, the Florida resident Fun Card will remain the same price if purchased online. This will make it less than the cost of a single day's admission to either park. Check online pricing at each park for more information.

Regular one-day admission to SeaWorld Orlando is now $78.95 for adults and $68.95 for children ages 3-9. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay one-day admission is $74.95 for adults and $64.95 for children ages 3-9. The Fun Card for either one park is $69.95 for adults and children when purchased online (purchased at the front gate they are the same price as an adult single-day admission).

Other ticket combination options are available that include two or more parks for savings on multi-day visits.

^{SeaWorld Orlando's Kraken Photo © SeaWorld Orlando}

Price Hike for SeaWorld & Busch Gardens originally appeared on About.com Florida Travel on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 01:11:36.

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Ponte Vedra Food & Wine Fest

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:59:07 +0000

A three day celebration of food and wine will take place in Ponte Vedra Beach this weekend at the Sawgrass Golf Resort & Spa. The 8th annual Ponte Vedra Food & Wine Fest will feature opportunities to savor dishes prepared by some of the area's finest chefs and restaurants and to taste hundreds of wines from around the world.

Three events highlight the weekend:

Friday, November 6 - Una Noche Especial, a celebration of Argentinean food, wine and specialties in a four-course tasting menu. A silent auction will include a trip to Argentina. Advance tickets are $95.00. Call 904-285-2004 for availability.
Saturday, November 7 - Grand Tasting, with over 145 international and domestic wine and champagnes plus samplings of signature dishes from ten area gourmet and specialty restaurants. A silent auction will feature exquisite wines paired with weekend getaways, gourmet dining and more. Advance tickets are $45.00 or $50.00 at the door.
Sunday, November 8 - A four-course Champagne Brunch accompanied by fine wines. Event is available by advance $65.00 purchase only.

Attend all three events with a combo ticket for $175.00. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach. For more information visit www.PonteVedraWineFest.com.

^{Photo © Janis Christie/Getty Images}

Ponte Vedra Food & Wine Fest originally appeared on About.com Florida Travel on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 23:59:07.

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It's the Newest Ticket at Disney World

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:07:42 +0000

Florida residents can put a little magic into their weekdays with Disney World's newest ticket — the Disney Weekday Select Pass. Now Florida residents can visit all four Disney World theme parks on weekdays — Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays — for less than a dollar a day. Additionally, Florida residents will be able to take advantage of special Passholder discounts, Passholder-only events and exclusive Passholder newsletters.

Prices for the Disney Weekday Select Pass are $169 (plus tax) for ages 10 and up and $149 (plus tax) for ages 3-9. Proof of Florida residency is required. Passes are not transferable and valid for one year from date of issuance. Block-out days apply — all Saturdays and Sundays; December 19, 2009 to January 1, 2010; March 27 to April 7, 2010; June 12 to August 19, 2010; and, December 18, 2010 to January 1, 2011.

| More Disney World Ticket Information |

^{Photo © The Walt Disney Company}

It's the Newest Ticket at Disney World originally appeared on About.com Florida Travel on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 11:07:42.

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Safety Harbor Wine Festival

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:30:54 +0000

Food, wine and music will highlight the 8th Annual Safety Harbor Wine Festival this Saturday — November 7, 2009 — in Safety Harbor, a charming town nestled along the northernmost shores of Tampa Bay. The festival will take place on Main Street between Bayshore Boulevard and 8th Avenue from 5:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.

Included in the night's festivities are three stages of local Jazz, Rock, Blues and R&B bands; and, along Main Street, over 40 Fine Arts and Crafts vendors will be displaying their wares.

While admission and parking are free, wines will be $3 to $5 per glass. Beer will also be available. Proper ID is required. Proceeds will benefit local civic and charitable organizations. Safe Rides Home will be available to anyone interested all night.

Safety Harbor Wine Festival originally appeared on About.com Florida Travel on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 18:30:54.

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It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas at Disney World!

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:00:14 +0000

Cecil Gordon of Walt Disney World Holiday Services is seen here touching up the face of a six-foot-tall angel tree-topper inside one of the vacation kingdom's holiday warehouses. The angel will eventually make its way to the top of the giant Christmas tree at Epcot during the holiday season. Behind-the-scenes at Disney World, Gordon and his colleagues are currently on round-the-clock schedules preparing 150 tractor-trailer truckloads of decorations for the 40-square-mile property that includes 24 resorts, four theme parks and Downtown Disney. That's more than 1,500 Christmas trees to be set in place, 15 miles of garland to be strung, 44 snow machines to be tested, at last count 1,314 wreaths to be hung, 10 miles of twinkling rope lights and 8.5-million lights to be strung... all before the holiday season begins next month.

Some of those holiday festivities begin as early as November 10, with tickets now on sale for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom. Although no special ticket is required, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios will turn on the switch for its spectacular display the same date!

Let's take a peek at what's happening "around the world" this holiday:

And, find more Disney World holiday information — the dates of Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade at Disney's Animal Kingdom and when you can meet Santa at Downtown Disney — within Disney World Holidays 2009.

Photo © The Walt Disney Company/Garth Vaughan, Photographer

It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas at Disney World! originally appeared on About.com Florida Travel on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 05:00:14.

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It�s Time to �Fall Back� Florida

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:00:15 +0000

After use in both World Wars, Daylight Saving Time was formally established in the United Sates with the Uniform Time Act of 1966. In 1986, the Uniform Act was amended to begin Daylight Saving time on the first Sunday of April and end on the last Sunday of October. Two years ago, Daylight Saving Time began a month earlier — in March — and now ends a month later — in November.

Florida residents and visitors (except the extreme western tip of Florida's Panhandle) SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK AN HOUR to Standard Time at 2 a.m. Sunday — that's tomorrow — or before you go to bed this evening... and, enjoy that extra hour of sleep!

^{Photo of "It's A Small World" Clock © The Walt Disney Company}

It�s Time to �Fall Back� Florida originally appeared on About.com Florida Travel on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 05:00:15.

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Jungle Island's Halloween Spooktacular

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:52:21 +0000

Do you think you have the most awesome superhero, princess, pirate, ghost or goblin costume? Whether you do or not, you'll want to be at Jungle Island this Friday and Saturday to celebrate at their annual Halloween Spooktacular. Kids of all ages will enjoy a fun-filled day — trick-or-treat through the Jungle, enter the Costume or Goblin Pie Eating Contests, enjoy live entertainment and spooky arts and crafts. Admission is just $13 for adults and kids (ages 3-10)... but, kids that come in costume will pay only $7!

What: Jungle Island Halloween Spooktacular
When: Friday & Sataurday, October 30 & 31, 2009
Activities 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day
Where: Jungle Island - Miami

Jungle Island's Halloween Spooktacular originally appeared on About.com Florida Travel on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 11:52:21.

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World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:00:35 +0000

Each year, the World Golf Hall of Fame adds to its membership by inducting the greatest players and contributors in the game of golf. The class of 2009 — President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Christy O'Connor, Jos� Mar�a Olaz�bal and Lanny Wadkins — will officially be welcomed Monday, November 2, 2009. The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. on the World Golf Hall of Fame lawn and is free and open to the public. The ceremony will also air in the United States on the Golf Channel at 10 p.m. EST.

Exhibits celebrating members of the new class will open to the public on Friday, October 30, 2009. Also open through the end of the year is the Bob Hope: Shanks for the Memory exhibit, offering the largest collection of Bob Hope memorabilia ever on public display.

The World Golf Hall of Fame is situated within World Golf Village which is conveniently located in Northeast Florida just off Interstate 95 at Exit 95A - International Golf Parkway.

Take our new photo tour of the World Golf Hall of Fame and plan your visit with help from Blair Howard, About.com's Golf Travel Guide.

World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony originally appeared on About.com Florida Travel on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 05:00:35.

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Shuttle Atlantis Set for Launch

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:01:25 +0000

The shuttle Atlantis is on the launch pad and technicians at Launch Pad 39A are beginning the final system checks for its targeted November 16 launch. During the STS-129 mission, Atlantis' crew will deliver two control moment gyroscopes, equipment and EXPRESS Logistics Carrier 1 and 2 to the International Space Station.

There are only a half dozen space shuttle launches remaining over the next year, so there is no better time to include the Kennedy Space Center in your vacation plans. With a little planning you might even get to witness a shuttle launch -- an extraordinary sight!

Are you a space buff? Check out About.com's Space/Astronomy site with space expert John Mills.

Shuttle Atlantis Set for Launch originally appeared on About.com Florida Travel on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 18:01:25.

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