Florida Vacation Articles & Reveiws
Here you will find news on the latest Florida happenings, hotel and destination reviews, details about everything from sugar-white beaches and crystal-clear springs to countless golf courses and action-packed attractions and theme parks.
Nellie, World's Oldest Dolphin in Human Care, Turns 55!! Though the average lifespan of a dolphin is 25 - 30 years, Nellie, born at Marineland, is still going strong at twice that. She is the mascot for Jacksonville University and starred in Timex commercials in the 1960’s. Nellie continues to reside with her pool mate Lilly, the last known blonde dolphin, and playfully interacts with staff (and occasionally guests) at every opportunity. www.marineland.net
NAPLES – Big Cypress Marketplace, an 87,000-square-foot flea shopping, entertainment and event venue, opens November 2007. The marketplace will be open year-round Friday through Sunday. Located on the Tamiami Trail four miles east of Collier Boulevard (CR 951), the marketplace features an indoor flea market with more than 100 retail vendors, a food court with entertainment stage, an outdoor produce market and Tiki Bar, a winery and a large event center. The 7,000-square-foot food arena features a second-floor mezzanine and a stage for live entertainment, student performances and cooking demonstrations. A 13,000-square-foot EXPO event center can be rented for trade shows, car shows, parties and other large gatherings. (800) 688-3600. www.naplesbigcypress.com.
Florida Welcomes New and Renovated Resorts
Florida continues to make improvements and additions to its lodging segment, with the following taking place this year. The 333-room Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort opened in January. It offers studios, one, two and three-bedroom residences with kitchenettes; beach concierge; zero-entry pool; European Spa; three dining options; and children's program. The $240 million 166-room St. Regis Resort, Fort Lauderdale, Florida's First St. Regis, will open this spring. The Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center & Spa in Weston recently completed a $100 million renovation. The hotel now has 501 redesigned guestrooms and suites. The Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort on Marco Island will complete its three-year $187 million renovation, the largest capital investment of any Marriott property, in April. The South Seas Island Resort will have a re-opening this spring following a $140 million refurbishment. The Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is expected to complete its 10-year, multi-phase, $400 million master redevelopment plan this year.
Take a Scenic Route
Just off many of Florida's interstates you can opt to drive on Florida's more scenic side. Take your time on a road trip and relax on a drive down any of the nine scenic highways in Florida. Wind your way down the state and take in everything Florida has to offer from rich historical cities to breathtaking views. From the northwest corner of spectacular red clay bluffs to central Florida's pastoral countryside, you can coast over to the northeast and catch a glimpse of wildlife, and finally meander down the miles of bridges in the Florida Keys. Wherever your drive takes you, a scenic highway is not far away and is well worth the travel.
Go Wild for Florida’s Zoos
Discover that zoos are more than just "lions and tigers and bears" with a visit to Florida’s nearly 20 zoos accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. Trek through the only walking safari in Northeast Florida and traverse the Range of the Jaguar, crawling with sleek, majestic jaguars and exhibiting more than 100 stunning jungle animals at the Jacksonville Zoo. Or, journey to West Palm Beach and surround yourself with some of the grandest and most picturesque land mammals on earth as you drive your car through Lion Country Safari’s "cageless zoo," the first of its kind in America. For hands-on family fun, bring your loved ones to Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, ranked "No. 1 Zoo in the United States for Kids" by Child Magazine, and feed Florida Stingrays in one of several interactive exhibits. Explore Florida’s zoos—a truly wild experience the whole family will enjoy.
Shop ‘til You Drop at Florida’s Mega Malls
In addition to Florida’s unbelievable landscape, attractions and dining, the Sunshine State is also highly-regarded for its fantastic shopping. The list of shopping locales is endless and each venue offers something for everyone. With 250 shops and six department stores, Aventura Mall in South Florida tops the mega malls as Florida’s largest indoor super-regional mall. The Mall at Millenia in Orlando features 1.2 million square feet of breathtaking architecture and tempting delights to fulfill your shopping desires. In Tampa, the International Plaza, adjacent to Tampa International Airport, is the most distinctive shopping and dining destination of Florida’s west coast. International Plaza enchants visitors with four fashionable department stores, more than 200 specialty shops, as well as Bay Street at the Plaza, an open-air village of fine restaurants and small boutiques. The Galleria Mall in Fort Lauderdale is the largest and most popular upscale regional shopping center in Broward County, with two spectacular levels of world-class shopping and first-class service. Florida’s mega malls offer the advantage of department stores with a variety of specialty shops and an exquisite array of dining.
Coastal Variety
Water is quite a theme in the Sunshine State, but don’t be fooled into thinking that the beach is your only option. Florida has a sampling of nearly every type of freshwater, from massive lakes to natural springs. The state boasts 7,700 lakes, and these are only the largest (sizing at least 10 acres each). Relax on lakesides ranging from grassy reeds to mushy sand, and enjoy the soft, still water that is soothing to so many. Also worth an experience are Florida’s numerous natural springs. Spanning the entire state, these phenomenal pools remain close to a comfortable 72 degrees all year long, attracting even the coldest-natured Floridians and visitors alike. Last, but certainly not least, Florida’s rivers are the source of numerous activities, from fishing and kayaking to water skiing and sunning. With some of the most diverse coastlines in the country, the state’s rivers and streams cover 12,000 miles of Florida territory, creating an excellent alternative to highway travel! Whether you’re looking for relaxation or adventure, don’t overlook Florida’s fresh water.
