Visit Florida Attractions

Happy Tax Day

2008-04-15T18:57:00.000-04:00

No, I won't be one of those people standing in line at the Tallahassee Post Office, waiting in line to get my tax return postmarked today. I took care of that weeks ago. While most American think of today as Tax Day, there is an organization, The Tax Foundation, which calculates, by state, when your earnings for the year become yours.

If you live in Florida, your tax freedom day is April 26. On that day, you've paid your obligations to Federal, state and local governments....the rest is yours to keep!

How generous.

Thank You Veterans

2008-04-13T16:49:00.004-04:00

Sawgrass Recreation Park

2008-04-09T20:45:00.000-04:00

Our final stop of the day was a drive out the Sawgrass Recreation Park. The Soverns family purchased the park shortly after hurricane Wilma (the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin) devastated south Florida in October 2005. The family and staff have methodically rebuilt the park, with a wonderful wildlife area showcasing native creatures. They will soon open an island with a display of the Florida Panther.

The highlight of our visit was a private airboat ride into the Everglades with Captain Charles. As a Florida "cracker”, I though I knew most everything there was to know about the Sunshine State, but our guide full of information about our state’s natural heritage, the native people of the Everglades, wildlife, and the plant and insects would in the “river of grass”.

Though sometimes hidden from the rush of our day-to-day lives, it's comforting to know the "real" Florida is alive & well.

Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center & Spa

2008-04-09T15:42:00.001-04:00

Our next stop was the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center & Spa. My last visit to this property was for our 2000 Annual Conference, when it was flagged a Wyndham. Hyatt has invested $100 million in renovations and upgrades…and it shows. The property is all very “Hyatt” and the public areas, meeting rooms, and guest rooms all revealed that “Hyatt touch”.

We met with Carolyn Steele, the conference services Director and Richard Bardons from Southern Audio & Video. Both of them were enthusiastic about our conference and eager to answer questions and address concerns. We left confident that the Conference will be success.

Wannado City

2008-04-09T12:36:00.002-04:00

Our first stop was member Wannado City. Located in the Sawgrass Mills in Ft. Lauderdale, Wannado City is the ultimate children’s civics lesson. Wannado City is the re-creation of a working community, with merchants, government services, and various career and recreational opportunities. Children earn and spend play money.

Wannado (think “What do you Wannado when you grow up?”) City is one of the most creative edutainment attractions I’ve ever seen. The staff was perfectly suited to engage the kids in experiencing their “city”. The place is huge…it is the size of 3 football fields. This place is a MUST SEE for families with kids.

Annual Conference Site Inspections

2008-04-08T18:34:00.000-04:00

Today, Mike and I drove dwon to Ft. Lauderdale (Weston) to complete site inspections for the Annual Conference.

Take Flight Into The Future

2008-04-04T18:41:00.002-04:00

The theme of the 2008 Florida Attractions Annual Conference is "Take Flight Into The Future" symbolizing the future of the Association through the completed strategic plan process and to honor this year's Chairman of the Board Steve Geis from Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex.

Half Over

2008-04-03T19:55:00.001-04:00

Today, the Florida Legislature completed the first half of its 60-day session. It has been a painful session, with major reductions in many areas of government services for next year. The debate between raising new revenues (taxes and fees) led by the Democrats and cutting services led by the Republicans rages on.

Bottom line – no one is going to be happy with the results of this session.

New FAA Brochure

2008-04-02T19:47:00.000-04:00

An Association Task Force composed of Board Members and Liaisons have been working on developing a new membership recruitment brochure. Florida Suncoast Tourism Promotions has donated design services for the piece. It’s nearing completion and will be premiered at the Annual Conference in May. Here's a sneek peek:

April Fool

2008-04-01T19:39:00.000-04:00

Emily - You Go Gurl!

2008-03-30T19:25:00.000-04:00

Emily, our almost 16 year-old is quite the bowler. She's been hitting the alleys for several years, and beats me every time we play. She has to remind me that its not about speed, but accuracy. Okay, okay.

Anyway, Emily bowled in a tournament in Richmond today, and did pretty good. Earlier this week, during practice, she was knocking down some 170-180 games consistently.
Her league bowls every Tuesday afternoon.

Here's where my ball usually ends up:

Happy Birthday Lauren!

2008-03-27T16:09:00.000-04:00

21 years ago today, my life changed forever, in ways I never could have imagined. Anita and I were blessed with the arrival our first child, our daughter Lauren. She's an amazing young woman, who is committed, focused, and uncompromising. I love her so much.

School Calendar Bill Defeated - Victory for Florida Tourism

2008-03-26T16:00:00.000-04:00

During the festivities of yesterday’s Florida Tourism Day, we’ve also been working with our tourism partners and a grass-root parent organization Save our Summers, to defeat an attempt to change the current Florida statute which requires local School Boards to begin school no earlier than 14 days before Labor Day. An email campaign and flyers distributed throughout the Capitol by Florida Tourism Day participants helped set the stage for this afternoon’s vote.

Today, we were successful in keeping the school calendar unchanged, with a 4-1 vote in the Senate Pre K – 12 Education Committee.

Florida Tourism Day - Part 2

2008-03-25T23:52:00.000-04:00

It’s been an amazing, and successful Florida Tourism Day. In addition to our Board Members, other attraction members from around the state were in Tallahassee for Tourism Day activities.

We began the day at 8:00 a.m. at Tallahassee City Hall. Our lobbyist, Jim Tillman, presented the FAA’s priority issues for the 2008 session.

At 9:00 a.m., Karen Moore from Moore Consulting Group, VISIT FLORIDA's PR firm, presented an excellent advocacy primer. She offered techniques and strategies on how to effectively present an issue to an elected official.

Next, we moved down the hill to the Leon County Civic Center. At 10:30 a.m. a panel presentation was made on the various issues affecting participating Florida Tourism Day sponsors.

At 11;30, lunch was served. Our guest speaker was Joe Scarborough of MSNBC’s Morning Joe. Scarborough, a former Congressman, shared his views on the current state of politics in America and the campaigns for the White House.

The afternoon was spent making visits to our elected representatives in the Capitol. I was paired with Tom Waits, former CEO of the Florida Hotel Motel Association. We had appointments with several elected officials, making the case for increased funding for VISIT FLORIDA.

The evening reception was at the headquarters of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. The party was catered by culinary students from Tallahassee's Kaiser University. The event was professionally orchestrated by the staff of FRLA and hundreds circulated through the various offices sharing stories of their afternoon visits and enjoying the fine food and drink.

Today is Florida Tourism Day!

2008-03-25T07:23:00.000-04:00

Florida Tourism Day is a cooperative effort of the following sponsors: Florida Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus, Florida Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds, Florida Attractions Association, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, and VISIT FLORIDA.

Florida Attractions Association Board in Tallahassee

2008-03-24T22:11:00.001-04:00

The FAA Board of Directors met today in our Tallahassee office, a spring tradition held in conjunction with Florida Tourism Day (tomorrow). Steve Geis (Chairman of the Board), Mary Altman, Sandy Craig, Drake Decker, Andrew Hertz, Mark McHugh, Van Rice, and Ralph Rodriguez participated in the meeting.

Following the meeting, we dined at the historic Silver Slipper, a Tallahassee tradition, and were joined by our lobbyist Jim Tillman and his wife Barbara.

Happy Easter

2008-03-23T02:55:00.001-04:00

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.- Matthew 28:6

FAA Annual Conference Registration Opens

2008-03-19T14:47:00.000-04:00

Registration for the 2008 Florida Attractions Association Annual Conference is open. Mike and Linda have done a great job pulling together the details for the registration page.

The Hyatt Regency Bonaventure in Weston will host our meeting.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2008-03-17T14:42:00.001-04:00

Florida's State Song - Music to My Ears

2008-03-14T20:44:00.003-04:00

As a 4th generation “cracker”, I believe some things shouldn’t be messed with. Orange juice served at our state’s welcome centers, the Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee, and the St. John’s River flowing north set us apart from “the other 49” states. So talk about changing our state song raised my ire. Swanee River -- Old Folks at Home by Stephen Foster has been one of those sacred Florida traditions. In recent years, concern has been expressed about some of the racial undertones in Foster’s lyrics.

Actually, Old Folks at Home was not Florida’s original state song. Florida, My Florida written by Rev Dr. C. V. Waugh was adopted by the Legislature as our state’s first state song in 1913.

In 1935 Swanee River became our 2nd state song.

Now in 2008, the Florida Legislature is again considering a new state song. Jan Hinton of Pompano Beach, a Fort Lauderdale middle-school music teacher, has submitted the winning entry for Florida’s new state song Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky.

I admit upon hearing the title, I was skeptical. But after hearing the song on Jan’s web site, I’m beginning to think that sometimes change is a good thing. The song starts with a simple melody and builds in richness and pomp. The lyrics are inclusive of virtually every symbol of the sunshine state.

Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky is growing on me! Maybe its okay for Florida to shed old traditions, and begin new ones.

Click here, take a listen, and let me know what you think.

Theodor (Dr. Seuss) Geisel, Charlottesville VA & Horton Hears a Who!

2008-03-14T17:53:00.003-04:00

Horton Hears a Who! opens in movie theaters today, but there may be more to the who Horton hears story, than you ever imagined...

Charlottesville, Virginia is best known for the University of Viriginia that was founded by our third president, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson's mountain-top home, Monticello, and the Foxfield Races! (Yes, people do know Charlottesville for that crazy horse race!) As far as Monticello, it is also in Albemarle County and it attracts thousands of tourists every year. The famous author, Edgar Allen Poe, also attended the University of Virginia and his room on the Lawn at the University of Virginia is always on display.

Rumor also has it that Theodor Seuss Geisel, known to all as Dr. Seuss, applied three times to the University of Virginia. Three times he was denied entrance. That last day, he vowed to one day look down on the University. He began writing childrens' novels such as The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. As his fame grew, so did his fortune!

It is said, that prior to writing How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss purchased a large, stately home high up on the mountain looking down on the University of Virginia. Today you can see the home back behind the Rotunda up on the hill. He bought the home so he could always "look down" on the University.

Have we forgotten the part in the Grinch that references all of the little Hoos in Hooville? That "Hooville" is said to be the University of Virginia. UVA's mascot is the Cavalier, but for those that live there, they are also the HOOS (Wahoos).

IAAPA Legislative Summit – Day 2

2008-03-11T23:21:00.001-04:00

Our day began with a breakfast briefing in the US Capitol.

Congressman Ric Kellar (FL-8th) and Congressman Sam Farr (CA) were the featured speakers.

Following breakfast, we received a briefing on IAAPA’s legislative agenda. The Travel Promotion Act of 2007 is a major initiative with board support from national and state tourism entities. The TPA would create a public-private partnership (similar to VISITFLORIDA) with public funding coming from a $10 fee which would be collect from US visitors arriving in the US from visa wavier countries. Our industry is working to garner additional sponsors for the bill in the US House of Representatives and the US Senate.

Our groups received appointments to visit elected officials from Florida. With me, our group included Barbara Heffernan (Anheuser-Busch), John McReynolds (Universal), Roger Berry (R.S. Alberts Co). We were escorted by Melinda Maxfield, an Associate with Williams & Jenson, IAPPA’s lobby firm.

Our visits including meeting with Legislative Aides for Sen. Mel Martinez, Rep. Allen Boyd (FL-2nd), Rep. Corrine Brown (FL-3rd), and Rep. Tom Feeney (FL-24th).

Our dinner was back at the Willard Hotel. Our speaker was Rep. Ron Klein (FL-22nd). Klein was running late because the Florida Democrat caucus had been meeting to discuss a resolution to the Florida Democratic primary stalemate between the Democratic National Committee, and the Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama campaigns. When asked, Klein stated that they had agreed that there would not be a revote.

IAAPA Legislative Summit – Day 1

2008-03-10T22:54:00.002-04:00

The IAAPA Legislative Summit is headquartered at the historic Willard Hotel. Presidents Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan, Lincoln, Grant, Taft, Wilson, Coolidge and Harding have stayed at the Willard.

This afternoon, IAAPA hosted a meeting of state and regional amusement associations. California, New England, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida were represented.

This evening IAAPA hosted a welcome reception. Admiral William G. “Woody” Sutton, Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services, U.S. Department of Commerce was the featured speaker.

Florida House

2008-03-10T20:04:00.000-04:00

While in Washington DC, I stopped by Florida House, located right one block east of the Supreme Court. Florida House is a “home away from home” for Floridians visiting our nation’s capital.

Described as a “state embassy”, Florida is the only state to have a facility of its type. Florida House is a nonprofit organization funded solely through the generosity of Florida citizens and businesses. I was greeted by Megan (a Nebraskan, actually, but a wonderful Florida ambassador) who offered me a tall glass of Florida orange juice and provided some background on Florida House.

Florida House was founded by Rhea Childs, wife of then Florida Governor Lawton Childs in 1973. Housed is an 1881 townhouse, Florida house offers a relaxing home away from home.

Washington DC - IAAPA

2008-03-09T19:59:00.000-04:00

I’m in Washington DC attending the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Legislative Summit. We’ll meet with colleagues from across the US and trek to Capitol Hill to meet with Senators and Representatives to present positions on issues affecting our industry.

Governor Crist & State of the State

2008-03-04T23:20:00.000-05:00

For the first time, our Governor presented his State of the State address during prime time. Governor Crist, before a joint session of Florida’s Senate and House of Representatives, presented his agenda for the legislative session. The speech was interspersed with 4 videos of Floridians expressing their support of the Governor’s programs in energy & economic development, health care, restoration of civil rights, and property taxes.

The address was optimistic, upbeat and forward thinking. It will be interesting to see how the Governor’s, House Speaker’s and Senate President’s agendas are maneuvered over the next 60 days. No one argues that the budget process will be a contentious debate. Revenue shortfalls will require budget reductions. The Governor favors using Trust Fund deposits to balance the budget. The Senate President is generally supportive of the Governor. The Speaker rejects using Trust Fund assets. The Democrats are looking at new revenue sources, primarily through closing existing “loop-holes”. The Republicans are taking a “no-new-taxes” position. The State Constitution requires a balanced budget.

In 60 days, we’ll see how this drama plays out.

Governor Crist’s 2008 State of the State Address

The Boys Are Back in Town

2008-03-04T17:20:00.003-05:00

The Boys Are Back In Town

Guess who just got back today

Them wild-eyed boys, that'd been away

Haven't changed, had much to say

But man I still think them cats are crazy

-Thin Lizzy

The 2008 General Session of the Florida Legislature opened today with the ceremony and pomp deserving of our 163 year-old state. At 11:00 House Speaker Marco Rubio and Senate President Ken Pruitt each called their respective chambers into session for the first of 60 days of legislative action. Rubio and Pruitt presented opening remarks challenging colleagues to serve Florida's citizens, making difficult choices, and moving Florida's government through some difficult days. Florida faces many challenges, with housing foreclosures, anticipated revenue shortfalls, high property taxes and sky-rocketing insurance premiums.

Speaker Rubio's Opening Day Remarks (PDF)

President Pruitt's Opening Day Remarks

Tonight, Governor Crist will present his State of the State address to a joint session of the Florida Legislature.

Happy Birthday Florida

2008-03-03T13:43:00.000-05:00

The Act establishing statehood for Florida was approved on March 3, 1845 by the second session of the 28th Congress.

Back to the "'Burg"

2008-03-02T22:48:00.003-05:00

Anita, Daniel, and Emily left early this morning to return to Williamsburg. They arrived safe and sound this evening after the 13-hour trip. We had several showings of the house while they were in Tallahassee, but, alas, no offers.

Aquatica at SeaWorld Orlando Opens

2008-03-01T22:25:00.000-05:00

After years of planning, design, and construction, Busch Entertainment (Worlds of Discovery) opened Aquatica - SeaWorld's Waterpark today. The park is located across International Drive (east) of SeaWorld and gives BEC a 3-park Orlando presence with SeaWorld and Discovery Cove nearby.

Aquatica combines state-of-the-art technology and an exciting display of sealife in a colorful, aquatic playground. The park is having a "soft opening" between March 1 and April 3 to ensure all systems and operating procedures get a good test and adjust period. Official opening is April 4.

Exploring Tallahassee

2008-02-29T20:24:00.002-05:00

This post is a guest blog by my 15-year old daughter, Emily:

Today my Mother took my brother and I on a field trip to The Tallahassee Museum. The Tallahassee Museum combines a natural habitat zoo of indigenous wildlife, historical buildings, and an environmental science center. We enjoyed viewing the animals, old farm buildings, getting a snack at the delicious Trail Break Café, browsing the wide assortment of souvenirs at the shop, and admiring the natural beauty that is Florida.

Leap Year Day

2008-02-29T06:57:00.002-05:00

Busch Entertainment - Hello, Dubai

2008-02-28T11:13:00.000-05:00

As some bloggers previously speculated, Busch Entertainment Corp. (Worlds of Discovery) will recreate its four primary brand parks in Dubai. The Palm Jebel Ali will feature a SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, Aquatica, and Busch Gardens on a man-made island shaped like Shamu.

Congratulations to BEC on this major expansion (and on keeping the announcement under wraps).

Click here to open the BEC news release.

Customer Service & the Hospitality Industry

2008-02-27T20:38:00.002-05:00

This week's Businessweek magazine features a great story on consumer's backlash against company's poor customer service. They also have rated the top 50 customer service companies in the US. Interesting, and not surprising, that many of these companies are in the tourism and travel industry sectors.

Busch Entertainment Corporation Announces the Most Significant News in its History

2008-02-27T18:36:00.001-05:00

Under a surprisingly guarded cloak of secrecy, Busch has announced it will make "the most significant announcement in it's history" tomorrow at 11:00am EST. The announcement will be webcast at WorldsofDiscovery.com.

Bloggers at OrlandoSentinel.com are speculating, but the fact that such an apparently momentous anouncement hasn't been leaked (yet) is unusual.

Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Resort & Spa A+

2008-02-26T17:21:00.000-05:00

Our 2008 Annual Conference will be May 28-30 at the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Resort and Spa in Weston (Ft. Lauderdale). Their team has been very responsive and accomodating to us as plans for the conference are finalized.

Say Yes to Orlando

2008-02-25T20:10:00.000-05:00

The Orlando Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau has lauched its new "Say Yes to Orlando" campaign. The idea is that in Orlando, visitors have an amazing variety of vacation options, so while Orlando says "Yes" (you can) to potential visitors, those folks should, say "Yes" to Orlando as a vacation destination.

28 hits to this Blog

2008-02-24T08:20:00.005-05:00

I received 28 hits to this Blog on February 19. The previous daily high was 26.

OK, I know thats not a huge number, but hey, it's not bad for 3 1/2 month old blog.

In the last 30 days, visitors have come from United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, India, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, and Greece.

Love Your Island

2008-02-23T08:17:00.001-05:00

Chris Belland of Historic Tours of America and TrustedTours.com operates his enterprises from Key West. I met Chris in the mid-1990s, when we served on the Florida Attractions Association Board together.

I’ve always considered Chris to be a visionary, years ahead of many of his contemporaries in thoughts and ideas.

One of Chris’ personal and professional causes is “going green”, doing what he can do to protect our natural resources. As Chris pointed out to me on a recent visit to the Keys, going green isn’t just the right thing to do, but can also be a positive decision for a businesses’ bottom line.

Chris has agreed to present “Love Your Island” at our annual conference in May. “Island” refers to Key West but is also a metaphor for the planet Earth. Of course, we are also looking at ways to make our Annual Conference more “Earth-friendly”.

I recently found that the “Love your Island” team in Key West has a web site established and I wanted to share it with you.

Miami Seaquarium Dolphin Harbor TV Spot

2008-02-22T19:56:00.000-05:00

Our friends at Miami Seaquarium have opened a swim-with-the-dolphin experience – Dolphin Harbor. We were able to tour the spectacular new attraction last month, but I wanted to share their television commercial with you.

VISIT FLORIDA Announces New CMO

2008-02-22T08:33:00.002-05:00

VISIT FLORIDA has selected its new CMO. Here's the text of the press release:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Feb. 13, 2008) – VISIT FLORIDA® announced today the hire of J. William (Will) Seccombe as the organization’s new chief marketing officer. Seccombe will lead VISIT FLORIDA’s marketing efforts, including overseeing direct marketing, advertising, Internet marketing, public relations, promotions and corporate communications.

“Will brings to VISIT FLORIDA great tourism marketing expertise. He will be a vital team member in advancing VISIT FLORIDA’s goals to promote and grow Florida’s tourism,” said Bud Nocera, president and CEO, VISIT FLORIDA.

A Colorado native, Seccombe brings more than 15 years of senior-level communications experience, with an emphasis in tourism marketing and online marketing initiatives. Seccombe comes to VISIT FLORIDA from Revolution Communications, an integrated marketing company which he founded with a focus on the travel and hospitality industry. Major clients have included the Colorado Tourism Office; Seccombe was also the previous vice president of marketing for the Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Seccombe is a member of the Association of Travel Marketing Executives and the National Western Association. His duties at VISIT FLORIDA officially begin on March 3.

###

eBay Seller's Stike

2008-02-21T07:45:00.000-05:00

As a former eBay Powerseller, I’ve been watching the news on the reaction to recent changes on the eBay site. eBay has (once again) raised fees for sellers, withholding sellers ability to pop buyers with negative feedback (though I was never a fan of feedback extortion used by some sellers), and PayPal delaying transfers of funds between buyer and seller.

I know eBay is tired of its reputation being dinged by bad sellers, but it seems like ALL sellers are being penalized because of a few bad apples. eBay has said that it is going after bad sellers for years. Apparently, they either don't have the technology or the resources (or the will) to fix the problem in a systematic manner.

So rather than using a scalpel to strategically remove the bad sellers, they're using a sledge-hammer and damaging the entire eBay seller's experience.

Welcome Home STS-122 Atlantis

2008-02-20T21:02:00.003-05:00

13 days ago, we were at the Cape to watch the launch of Atlantis. Today, after 5.3 million miles of travel, Atlantis returned safely to KSC. Congratulations NASA and the space-flight team.

VISIT FLORIDA Print Ad

2008-02-20T20:57:00.001-05:00

VISIT FLORIDA

Discovering Tallahassee

2008-02-20T20:21:00.002-05:00

With the family in town, we're getting out and discovering some of Tallahassee's dining gems.

For Valentine's Day, I took Anita to Torreya Grille on Apalachee Parkway. It's a family owned and operated eatery. The ambiance was perfect and restaurant offered a great diverse menu. Unfortunately, the service was underwelming. Anita had the blackened shrimp and salmon combo. I enjoyed the Greek platter. Both were excellent. In spite of the medicore service, we'd try it again. ***

Tonight, we took the kids to Ricardo's Italian Restaurant on Capital Circle NE, another family-owned and operated restaurant. The Italian diner featued all you would expect, moderate prices, and friendly service. We enjoyed calzones and penne pasta. The restaurant has Lucille Ball (Ricardo) photos on the wall. We'll be back. ***

Mike, Linda, & I have been to Food Glorious Food on Monroe St. a couple of times. This is one of my Tallahassee favorites. Great service & decor, an amazing menu, and the food is, well, glorious! ****

Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille on Kleman Plaza downtown is a "Tallahassee-chic" New Orleans-style restaurant. The atmosphere is excellent and the food good...and substantial. I've enjoyed the best jumbalia ever, with enough to take home for a 2nd meal. ****

Thanks, Linda & Mike

2008-02-19T21:06:00.003-05:00

Today, Linda, Mike & I spent over 2 1/2 hours participating in 3 different online demonstrations of association and web content management programs.

We lost our Comcast Cable Internet service for about an hour (half-way through one of the presentations).

Thanks for hanging in there, team!

Weeki Wachee Springs Florida's Newest State Park

2008-02-18T22:16:00.002-05:00

After several years of challenges from the water management district, one of oldest tourist attractions, world-famous Weeki Wachee Springs officially became a part of Florida's award-winning state park system today. It is a great day for the citizens of the town of Weeki Wachee, Hernando County, and the citizens of Florida.

Not a bad day for mermaids, either!

Congratulations to our friends at Weeki Wachee Springs!

Emily...

2008-02-18T22:11:00.001-05:00

my 15-year old daughter is special.

New Web Site

2008-02-18T21:46:00.003-05:00

I spent the day today researching new association management software and web site content applications. There are dozens of companies offering these technologies, and I'm working on identify the right mix of features, price, and functionality. Tomorrow we have two lined up for an online demonstration.

In the meantime, Tera at Kenney Communications is working on updating our existing web site to incorporate a new Government Relations (advocacy) resource section.

Hail to the Chiefs - Happy President's Day

2008-02-18T00:01:00.000-05:00

"Welcome: Portraits of America" Campaign

2008-02-16T11:46:00.006-05:00

Welcome: Portraits of America is a multi-media initiative to welcome international visitors to the United States. Given as a gift to the State Department from Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Welcome: Portraits of America includes a seven-minute film and hundreds of still images,
featuring American people from all regions and walks of life. Disney commissioned the project in support of the Rice-Chertoff Initiative, which seeks to secure America’s borders while welcoming legitimate visitors to the United States.

The film will play in arrival areas of foreign flights and consular offices worldwide, allowing international visitors to the U.S. an exciting preview to all America has to offer. Welcome: Portraits of America depicts America as a welcoming nation, encouraging travel and enhancing the view of America aboard.

http://travel.state.gov/

Joe Scarborough to Speak at Tourism Day 2008

2008-02-16T11:31:00.002-05:00

The tourism industry welcomes former Florida Congressman Joe Scarborough, host of "Morning Joe" on MSNBC to Tourism Day 2008. Scarborough will serve as the first Tourism Day luncheon keynote speaker – "rallying the troops" during lunch before we head to the Capitol to talk one on one with members of the Senate and House.Tourism Day educates legislators, media and our communities about the importance of Florida’s tourism industry and tourism marketing.

Learn more about the 2008 issues, network with the industry's finest and meet your legislators. Join with your industry colleagues from all over Florida and let lawmakers know just how vital tourism is to our state and your area.

We invite you to take advantage of this opportunity to communicate the importance of tourism marketing and the Partnership’s request for $43.35 million in public funding for VISIT FLORIDA to your legislators.

Register For Florida Tourism Day Here

Online Registration Introduced for Florida Tourism Day

2008-02-15T08:04:00.002-05:00

Working toward introducing technology to the Florida Attractions Association, this week, we rolled out an online registration site for Florida Tourism Day, March 25, in Tallahassee. You can view the site (and register!) here.

Virginia is for Lovers (of crack-cocaine & gangs?)

2008-02-14T14:31:00.004-05:00

ABC News: Va. Tourism Pitch Mimics Gang's Sign

Family is back in town!

2008-02-13T14:27:00.000-05:00

Anita, Daniel, and Emily arrived in Tallahassee for a visit.

Can't wait to sell that Williamsburg, Virginia home!

Hotwire.com Lays An Egg

2008-02-12T21:09:00.001-05:00

Hotwire.com is a site that allows you to book a hotel of a given star rating, price, and location. The exact hotel is not disclosed until after payment is made. I've had many great experiences with Hotwire.com until recently.

I reserved a 3-star hotel in St. Petersburg. According to Hotwire.com, 3-star hotels are comparable to a Holiday Inn, Radisson, or Doubletree. The hotel I was booked into was a former (but de-flagged) Holida Inn. The place was a dive...more like a 1-star property. No restaurant (as represented by Hotwire.com), old, musty rooms, threadworn carpeting, etc.

I wrote to Hotwire.com, but they were quick to defend their 3-star rating. I've written to Hotwire.com again. We'll see if they have the decency to respond.

Remember when...

2008-02-12T17:08:00.001-05:00

...we used to celebrate this man's birthday?

Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch at Kennedy Space Center

2008-02-07T23:25:00.000-05:00

Following the completion of our retreat yesteday, Chairman Geis (Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex) invited Linda, Mike & I to view the launch of STS-122 Atlantis from the Saturn V Center across the Banana River from launch complex 39-B.

In spite of a dismal weather forecast, the Shuttle launched into a nearly cloudless Florida sky.

Thanks, Dawn!

2008-02-06T23:21:00.000-05:00

Chairman Geis presents Dawn Dalziel with a token of our appreciation for her extraordinary facilitation of our planning retreat.

Downtime at the Retreat

2008-02-06T23:11:00.000-05:00

It wasn't all work at the retreat. We had a great bar-be-que on the deck of the lodge watching the sun set over the lake, followed by a marshmallow roast over a bonfire.

Board Strategic Planning Retreat

2008-02-06T23:01:00.000-05:00

16 Board Members, Board Liasions, and FAA Staff Members participated in a Strategic Planning Retreat at the FFA Leadership Training Center in Haines City.

Web Site Updated

2008-02-05T20:04:00.001-05:00

Our Florida Attractions Association web site received numerous information updates today, courtesy of Tera at Kenney Communications.

Thanks, Tera!

Coral Castle on ABC News Good Morning America

2008-02-01T16:46:00.001-05:00

Sylvia Villafana from Homestead's Coral Castle gave us a head's up about a feature story on today's ABC News Good Morning America. Congratulations, Sylvia & Coral Castle team!

ABC News.com Web Site
Coral Castle: Mysterious Monument to Lost Love

Video #1
An American StonehengeElaborate rock monument known as "Coral Castle" is creation of one man.

Video #2
Coral Castle: Labor of LoveMassive coral rock garden stands as tribute from heartbroken man

VISIT FLORIDA Task Force

2008-01-30T21:57:00.000-05:00

Several of our Board Members came to Tallahassee today to meet with senior staff at VISIT FLORIDA to discuss their Partners programs for attractions. Incidently, 95% of Florida Attractions Association members are also VISIT FLORIDA Partners!

Take a look at Florida's first national network television commercial!

http://www.visitflorida.com/sunshine_campaign

FLORIDA HUDDLE

2008-01-28T22:30:00.000-05:00

I was honored to have been a guest at FLORIDA HUDDLE in Tampa today and participate in a press conference with about 35 representatives of numerous international travel media publications.

DJ Towle Director of Media Relations served as moderator and Lynn Warren, President of Florida Huddle; Steve Hayes, Executive VP of Tampa Bay and Company; Gary Sain, President & CEO of Orlando/Orange County CVB; Bud Nocera, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA and myself representing the Florida Attractions Association answered questions for about 90 minutes.

Preparing for the Strategic Planning Retreat

2008-01-25T22:18:00.000-05:00

Chairman Geis and I met today today with Dawn Dalziel, Manager of Organization Development, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. Dawn will be facilitating our Board Retreat in early February at the FFA Leadership Training Center in Haines City.

We made a lot of progress planning the retreat. Dawn is an amazing talent!

BYF #4 - St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum

2008-01-10T21:50:00.000-05:00

Our final Backyard Forum was hosted by the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum. Rick Cain (FAA Governmental Affairs Liaison) hosted us. Our meeting room was the 2nd story of the reconstructed lighthouse keeper’s house (the original house burned in the 1970s).

St. Augustine features the highest geographic concentration of member attraction in the state and attendance was excellent. Most folks in St. Augustine already know each other and work together with regional marketing alliances.

Following the Forum, Rick Cain (a certified lighthouse keeper) took us on a tour to the observation area of the lighthouse, then up to the very top where the lamp and the original first-order Fresnel lens is housed. The St. Augustine lighthouse is a jewel for all who enjoy America’s rich nautical history.

On the road again…this time home, to Tallahassee.

BYF #3 - Pirates Dinner Adventure, Orlando

2008-01-09T21:49:00.000-05:00

Today’s Forum was hosted by Pirates Dinner Adventure. Keith Charlton (FAA Membership Liaison) and Andres Cibotti were our host. We met in the pre-show area of the attraction, fully themed out as a sea-side village. Though the event was well attended, several of our members from the Tampa Bay area were unable to come due to the closure of I-4 following a major multi-vehicle pileup.

Following the Forum, we were given a tour of the attraction. The main theater area is spectacular with a full-scale pirate ship in a lagoon as the centerpiece. I saw the show in November…it truly is a first-class immersive, interactive theatrical presentation.

On the road again….to St. Augustine.

BYF #2 - Sarasota Jungle Gardens

2008-01-08T21:49:00.000-05:00

Our host attraction for today’s Forum was Sarasota Jungle Gardens. General Manager Rose Rinaldi (former FAA Board Member) greeted us this morning. The attraction has a great education/multi-purpose Center where we met. We had great participation today with attractions from the west coast of Florida.

Again, we enjoyed great discussion and input.

Following the Forum Rose and her staff provided a tour of the beautiful gardens, with large flamingos, reptile (the reptile show is excellent!), tropical birds, gators, crocs, turtles, and a very large Galapagos tortoise.

Several years ago, our Annual Conference was in Sarasota (as it will be again in 2009), and a portion of our “On-Stage” event was a dinner hosted by Rose and her team. It was great visiting the Sarasota Jungle Gardens again.

Following the tour, we were on the road again to Orlando.

BYF #1 - Miami Seaquarium

2008-01-07T21:48:00.000-05:00

Our general format for this year’s forums is 3 parts. First, Linda, Mike and I made presentation of the benefits, activities, programs of the Florida Attractions Association. The second part was a roundtable discussion on the state of tourism, trends, what’s working, what’s not, best practices, regulatory issues, and region-specific issues. The third portion of the Forum is to receive member input in developing the Association Strategic Plan.

This year’s Backyard Forums are sponsored by Florida Vacation Auction, an innovative company offering benefits to participating attractions and hotels and the touring public. Glenn Letch will make a presentation at each of our 4 Forums.

Today was the first stop of out 2008 Backyard Forums. Our host attraction was the Miami Seaquarium. Andrew Hertz (FAA Treasurer) and Eric Eimstad (former FAA Chairman) are active members and they provided a first-class experience for our staff and members. The room was packed with representatives from south Florida attractions. The dialog and participation was lively and engaging.

Following the forum, we were treated to a special tour of the Miami Seaquarium by Andrew Hertz.

Following the tour, we hit the road for Sarasota, checked into our hotel, and hoping for a restful sleep before tomorrow’s forum.

Arrived in Miami

2008-01-06T22:15:00.000-05:00

During our planning for this year’s backyard forums, the order of our 4 stops changed several times. We finally decided to make Sunday (today) our long drive day, making the remaining days reasonably manageable. Today, we drove from Tallahassee to Miami a 489 mile trek. Along the way, we stopped in Melbourne to pick up Chairman Steve Geis.

Steve is a huge San Diego Chargers fan, so we listened to the game on the radio. Steve’s father and brothers checked in with him by cell phone before and during the game. Steve is from the San Diego area. The Chargers defeated the Tennessee Titans and took a step closer to the Super Bowl.

We arrived safely in Miami and had a fine meal (Italian) and will have a good night’s rest before our first Backyard Forum.

2008 Backyard Forums

2008-01-06T22:10:00.000-05:00

A Florida Attractions Association tradition started by Donna Ross in the mid 1990s, the Backyard Forums present regional meetings around the state. This year, Linda, Mike and I will travel with Chairman Steve Geis (Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex) to 4 cities in 4 days. This year's Backyard Forums are sponsored by Florida Vacation Auction.

Let the odyssey begin!

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Check out VISIT FLORIDA's New Web Site!

2008-01-03T10:11:00.000-05:00

VISIT FLORIDA Launches New Travel Planning Resource
VISITFLORIDA.com a Virtual Wealth of Information
January 3, 2008

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Karen Kirksey Jan. 3, 2008
Corporate Communications Manager
Ph: (850) 205-3863
Cell: (850) 345-9735
e-mail: karenk@VISITFLORIDA.org

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Jan. 3, 2008) – VISIT FLORIDA®, the state’s official tourism marketing corporation, has radically enhanced its consumer web site, VISITFLORIDA.com. The web site includes blogs, image and video sharing and consumer comments and offers potential visitors to the Sunshine State a unique travel planning resource unlike any other destination marketing organization in the country.

“VISITFLORIDA.com is the ultimate Florida travel planning tool,” said Leon Corbett, VISIT FLORIDA’s director of advertising and direct marketing. “The web site raises the bar for promotion by using interactive and rich media content to engage travelers. It offers far more than the usual static imagery and simple listings of information.”

Among the VISITFLORIDA.com features are a welcome video from Florida Governor Charlie Crist, real-time weather updates, events calendars, Florida travel videos, a personalized trip planner, e-magazines, travel guides and more. The site continues to offer special sections in German, Spanish, French, Portuguese and the Queen’s English.

VISIT FLORIDA enlisted the help of 10 Florida experts to share their perspectives on a variety of experiences in Florida. Each expert specializes in a different area, including Arts and Culture, Boating and Fishing, Shopping and Nightlife, Beach and Surf, Family, Authentic Florida, Smart Travel, Golf, Outdoors and Adventure. The experts, who live in Florida, host videos and write specialty blogs on VISITFLORIDA.com.

“The web site is an opportunity to engage potential Florida visitors as they embark on their Florida vacation experience,” said Bud Nocera, president and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA. “If you are considering a trip to the Sunshine State, you’ll find everything you want to know about Florida and more at VISITFLORIDA.com.”

The unveiling of VISITFLORIDA.com comes on the heels of news that visitation is up in the Sunshine State. Tourism industry leaders want to keep it that way. With 21.1 million tourists traveling to Florida during the third quarter of 2007, visitation increased by 4.8 percent compared to the same period in 2006. Tourism is one of Florida’s top industries. In 2006 alone, $65 billion was generated from tourism-related expenditures. VISIT FLORIDA, led by the Florida Commission on Tourism, successfully drives the Sunshine State’s tourism industry.

###

Mom Gets Married

2008-01-02T22:47:00.000-05:00

How many guys get to go to their own mother's wedding?

We lost Dad in 2005. Mom and Dad had been married nearly 52 years.

A month after Dad died, a gentleman in Hendersonville NC lost his wife after 43 years of marriage.

Friends introduced Mom to Hershel and today, the were married in a joyous celebration.

PS - Isn't my mother beautiful?

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T08:39:00.000-05:00

Gatorland, Orlando

2007-12-17T22:04:00.000-05:00

Growing up in Kissimmee in the 1960s, the choice of tourist attractions was pretty limited. Owen Godwin’s Gatorland was about it. Today, I toured Gatorland with its President Mark McHugh. Mark has an interesting history in the attractions industry, having once been a killer whale trainer at SeaWorld.

Gatorland received national media attention in 2006 when the world-know attraction caught fire destroying the main entrance and gift shop, but sparing the gapping alligator mouth entrance and all of the exhibits and animal habitats.

Construction of the new entry building with ticketing and admissions and gift shop are all well underway and slated for completion. Gatorland is a consummate old-Florida attraction. The front area with large gator ponds, a gator wrestling arena, the gator “jump-a-roo” show, swamp boardwalk, reptile exhibits, and a waterpark.

Walking the paths and trails of Gatorland brought back fond memories of life in Kissimmee in an era when nothing could beat the thrill of a train ride around a pond full of Florida gators.

Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, Key West

2007-12-14T11:45:00.000-05:00

This morning, I visited another old Key West historic attraction, the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. The attraction is managed by Mike Morawski. Earlier this week I was hosted by Mike and his wife Marilyn for dinner in Key West. Mike shared with me some insight into operating an attraction in Key West. Mike is a former Chairman of the Board of the Florida Attractions Association, and has a keen instinct in matters of business and politics.

At the Hemingway home, I was hosted by Jacque Sands, who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the historic site. My guide was Ray who shared with our group the history of the home, the Hemmingway years, his wives, tales, the Key's first swimming pool, and of course, the famous 6-toed cats which are descendants from Hemingway's days in Key West.

Historic Tours of America, Key West

2007-12-12T13:49:00.000-05:00

I had an opportunity to meet with Chris Belland, a true visionary in the attractions industry. In Key West, Historic Tours of America operates Conch Tour Train Key West, Old Town Trolley Tours® Key West, Key West Aquarium, Key West Shipwreck HISTOREUM® Museum, and Harry S Truman Little White House.

The company also operates Trusted Tours, an attractions ticket web site.

I had a chance to visit with Piper Smith, another long-time freind of the Florida Attractions Association.

Theater of the Sea, Islamorada

2007-12-11T17:44:00.000-05:00

Nestled in the natural beauty of the Florida Keys, about mid-way down the oversea highway lies Theater of the Sea, one of Florida’s original sea life parks. Using what had been a rock quarry for Henry Flagler’s ill-fated railroad, the quarry now features pools of aquatic sea life. I toured with Maureen Lamarra who explained the history of the McKenney family who has operated the park for 3 generations.

The mangrove-lined pools offer guests an intimate glimpse at turtles, sting rays, tropical fish, and the park features dolphin, sea lion, and parrot shows.

With a strong message of preservation and education the park is a treasure to explore.

Coral Castle, Homestead

2007-12-11T11:42:00.000-05:00

Another wonderful Florida attraction, and full of unusual, mystery, intrigue, and a love story is Homestead’s Coral Castle. Sylvia Villafana is the Coral castle’s manager and she and her staff provided a morning to remember with a look at the amazing creation of Ed Leedskalnin, a Latvian immigrant, who single-handedly built the Coral Castle without the aid of any modern construction equipment.

The Coral Castle is an architectural wonder, and is a case study in astronomy, physics, earth science, space science, natural forces, and the supernatural.

Fruit and Spice Park, Florida City

2007-12-10T21:50:00.000-05:00

My 3rd stop today was a true gem…Fruit and Spice Park in Florida City, about an hour’s drive south of downtown Miami.

I was greeted by April Rosenick, Sales Manager. After our meeting I was given a wonderful tour of the 35-acre park by guide Iva. The park was essentially destroyed by hurricane Andrew, and has since been restored with a master plan featuring hundreds of specimens of plants and trees from around the world.

The park is one of those places that will surprise you in its quality of presentation and mission, and a staff obviously dedicated to fulfilling the Park’s mission.

After my tour, I met Chris Rollins, the Park Manager.

Miami Science Museum

2007-12-10T15:47:00.000-05:00

Next stop, the Miami Science Museum. I met Raj Sarangapani, the museum’s CFO. Raj is a Miami native, who recently retuned to South Florida from the Seattle area. After our meeting, I toured the museum.

Currently, the museum is featuring a spectacular exhibit “The Dinosaurs of China.” The exhibit was a joint project of archeologists and scientists from the Miami Science Museum and from education institutions in China. The exhibit featured a look at the discovery of ancient fossils in China.

The museum also features a planetarium, some space and earth science exhibits and an outdoor nature center.

The Miami Science Museum will be moving to the Bicentennial Park with a major expansion in a plan to incorporate a new museum center in Miami.

Historical Museum of Southern Florida, Miami

2007-12-10T12:05:00.000-05:00

Today, I visited 3 Florida Attractions.

First, the Historical Museum of Southern Florida. I was greeted by Bob McCammon, President & CEO of the museum, and Kristie , the facility’s Marketing Manager. After our meeting, I toured the museum.

There were a number of children from a local elementary school who were rotating through teaching stations around the museum with talented guides engaging the students
in interactive lessons on the history of southern Florida.

The museum features a display on the Miami Circle. A new museum facility is in the planning stages for Bicentennial Park site in Miami. The expansion will present the story of how and why southern Florida became an international community.

The lobby features drawing by Florida everglades native Rob Storter. His drawings offer a glimpse into life in the ‘Glades during the early part of the 20th century.

The Historical Museum of Southern Florida is a great facility, and an asset to the citizens of Miami-Dade and all of South Florida.

Miami Bound

2007-12-09T21:23:00.000-05:00

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Dow Museum of Historic Homes (Old St. Augustine Village), St. Augustine

2007-12-04T22:11:00.000-05:00

Our meeting was hosted by the Dow Museum of Historic Homes (formally Old St. Augustine Village). Following the meeting, Lenore Welty, Museum Administrator, provided a tour of the 7 historic homes built on the site. The site covers a city block and features a viriety of historically significant architectural and cultural features. The homes date from 1790 to the 20th Century.

Museum Administrator Lenore Welty with Chairman Steve Geis and I.

Lightner Museum, St. Augustine

2007-12-04T13:00:00.000-05:00

Our first stop in St. Augustine was the historic Lightner Museum. The museum’s Executive Director Robert Harper provided a brief tour of the institution’s impressive collection of art, sculpture, Tiffany glass, music boxes, and natural science specimens. Following the tour, Bob treated the Board of Director’s to Lunch at the Alcazar Café.

Lightner Museum Executive Director Robert Harper and I in the newly restore grand hall.

Board Members enjoying lunch before our meeting.

First Board Meeting Tomorrow

2007-12-03T10:24:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow, Mike and I will drive from Tallahassee to St. Augustine for my first Board of Director's Meeting.

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Panama City Beach

2007-12-02T21:32:00.000-05:00

Today, I drove down to Panama City Beach. It was the first time I’ve been in that part of the state in about 10 years. The last trip was for a Governor's Conference on Tourism held at the Marriott Bay Point. The city has changed a lot.

Hurricane Ivan, in 2004, was the impetuous for much of the change. The hurricane destroyed many of the older gulf-side "mom & pop" motels. In there place, many new high-rise condominiums have been built or are under construction.

In spite of what you may think about the number of condos being built on the Gulf Coast of Florida's panhandle, one thing is perfectly clear...they're being built because people want to vacation there. The beautiful blue-green gulf waters are spectacular. Walking on the white sand beach yesterday, I was several schools of dolphins, horseshoe crabs, sting ray and a turtle.

Nearby, is St. Andrew's State Park, a beautiful park with fishing, camping, nature trails, snorkeling, and a nature center.

Wednesday in Tally

2007-11-28T18:17:00.000-05:00

Linda left early this morning to fly to Portland to spend a couple of weeks with her son, daughter-in-law and their 2 kids. Linda loves her grandchildren!

I had a great lunch today with Kris Dake, our Wachovia banker for the Association. We discussed the economy, the business and housing climate in Tallahassee, and other general business matters. He hosted lunch at Kool Beanz, a great local restaurant, eclectic décor and menu, and very generous portions.

This afternoon, I met with Judy Gray, President & CEO of the Florida Society of Association Executives. The Florida Society of Association Executives' misssion: to serves its members and advances the association profession through a community of knowledge sharing, education, advocacy and business modeling. They offer various opportunities to meet with other Association Executives throughout the year. Judy has an impressive resume, leading chambers of commerce, associations, lobbying groups, and telecommunications companies. She’s a “go-to” person, and offered extraordinary insights into association management.

After the turkey...

2007-11-24T18:07:00.000-05:00

My family has returned to Williamsburg, VA. I miss them already. We had a great week, and shared Thanksgiving with Anita's sister and her family and Anita's parents.

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T01:00:00.000-05:00

Staff "Retreat"

2007-11-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

Linda, Mike and I spent the past 2 days in a retreat planning the next year of events for the Florida Attractions Association.

Florida Attractions Presented "Big E" Awards at IAAPA Show

2007-11-16T15:26:00.000-05:00

Florida Attraction Association members who were presented Big E Awards by IAAPA for excellence in live entertainment:

Best Female Show Performer
Winner – Grace Beauchesne – Busch Gardens Africa – Tampa, Fla., United States

Spirit Award
Runner Up – Manivane Yang – Busch Gardens Africa – Tampa, Fla., United States
Winner – Tamra Franze – Busch Gardens Africa – Tampa, Fla., United States

Best Overall Production: $2,000,001 or More
Runner Up – “Universal 360 A Cinesphere Spectacular” – Universal Orlando Resort – Orlando, Fla., United States
Winner – “Shamu Rocks”– SeaWorld – San Diego, Calif., and Orlando, Fla., United States

Pirates Dinner Adventure - Orlando, Yo Ho & Arrrrrr!

2007-11-13T23:38:00.000-05:00

Tonight, my son and I enjoyed the Pirates Dinner Adventure near International Drive in the heart of Orlando. We had a swash-buckleling good time. The adventure begins is a seaside village theme preshow area and continues into the main theater with a full-size, rigged pirate ship floating in a lagoon.

The story line was creative. The cast was excellent with a number of very talented stunt actors. They showed their abilities to sing, dance, ad-lib, complete daring (and dangerous) stunts, and acrobatics, while captivating the audience with drama, comedy, and pirate-style mischief.

A holiday finale capped the show. I won’t give it away…you’ll be amazed.

The menu consisted of turkey and dressing with all the accompaniments and a choice of pork loin or shrimp and lobster. I had the shrimp…and cleaned my plate.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly dinner adventure, set sail for Pirates Dinner Adventure in Orlando.

Charlie Bray

2007-11-13T17:32:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of meeting this afternoon with Charlie Bray, President & CEO of IAAPA.

2 Florida Attractions Recognized by IAAPA, Receive Brass Ring Awards

2007-11-13T09:19:00.000-05:00

Two of our Florida Attractions Association members received Brass Ring Awards last night for outstanding promotions.

The Miami Seaquarium won a Brass Ring in the Print Ad category. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex won 3 awards, recognized in the Marketing Collateral, Media Kit, and PR Campaign categories.

Congratulations!

International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA)

2007-11-12T21:14:00.000-05:00

I’m off to Orlando for the annual International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo this week. The Expo fills the North/South building (1/2 million square feet) of the Orange County Convention Center and draws 1000 vendors and 25,000 buyers from 85 countries. Add workshops, training sessions, roundtables, alliance meetings, and this will be a non-stop, whirlwind week.

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Roar N Soar this weekend @ Fantasy of Flight

2007-11-08T20:28:00.000-05:00

Looking for something exciting to do this weekend? Get your speed on! Click this banner for Roar N Soar:

Everglades Wonder Gardens - Bonita Springs, FL

2007-11-05T21:15:00.000-05:00

Everglades Wonder Gardens, 27180 Old U.S. 41, Bonita Springs. Open daily: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (239) 992-2591

Today, I had the pleasure of visiting Everglades Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs, Florida. The attraction is celebrating its 71st anniversary and is owned by David Piper, Jr., whose grandfather founded the zoological and botanical park.

The gardens have a mature tree canopy with a diverse display of native Florida plants, trees and flowers. There are many animals on display, including variety crocodiles, alligators, turtles, snakes, iguanas, peacock, deer, and bears, to name a few.

The gift shop building features a museum dedicated to Florida’s natural history.

When travelling in the Naples area, I highly recommend a visit to Everglades Wonder Gardens and enjoy a visit to one of Florida’s original natural attractions.

2007-11-04T15:23:00.000-05:00

Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Golf Club & Spa - Outdoor Pool