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Florida Keys – The Florida Keys & Key West tourism council launched a new Web and social media-based feature Monday designed to communicate an accurate status of Keys tourism offerings during the BP oil spill disaster.

Each weekend, videographers are to tape visitors enjoying water-related and other vacation offerings in the Keys. The one-minute-long video is to be edited and posted to the official Keys tourism council’s website at www.fla-keys.com well as social media venues by about 4 p.m. on Mondays. The videos are to be date stamped with no archival footage used in their production.

The debut video is now webcasting at www.fla-keys.com as the tourism council’s Video of the Week, as well as in a special Gulf oil spill section at www.fla-keys.com/oilspill. It has also been uploaded to the tourism council’s You Tube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAdM56LP5bY.

With the BP Oil Spill disaster continuing, the oil affecting Florida beaches are worrying local tourism officials. “The Keys have received so much news coverage during the past month and many travel consumers mistakenly think our islands are suffering the same horrific and tragic impacts being seen on some northern Gulf coast shorelines,” said tourism council director Harold Wheeler. “We fortunately are not and need to make the travel consumer understand that.”

The tourism council is also adding live webcams throughout the region. The latest is a webcam installed at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park beach in Key West.

Glenwood Springs, CO – The new Glenwood Canyon Zipline Adventures course that will traverse the Colorado River is currently under construction at Glenwood Canyon Resort, just 1.5 miles east of Glenwood Springs. The adventure attraction is a sister company of Rock Gardens Rafting and will feature three ziplines and a high ropes challenge course. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of April and the course will open to the public near Memorial Day.

Soon kids of all ages will be able to zipline across the Colorado River at Glenwood Canyon Resort

“We are in the process of placing 50-foot tall poles in the ground – that’s the height equivalent of a 3-story tall building – which will enable us to build the jumping platforms for the ziplines,” said Kevin Schneider, owner of Glenwood Canyon Resort.

Ziplines are becoming an increasingly popular vacation and team building activity. Soon adventure seekers will be able to experience the thrill of flying across Glenwood Canyon, thirty five feet above the Colorado River. Visitors will ‘gear up’ in a climbing harness, helmet and gloves, climb the launch tower, clip into a double wheel pulley and step off! The force of gravity will zip guests down the cable, high above the river, to the landing platform on the other side. A zip back across the canyon on a second set of cables completes the exciting round-trip zip.

Glenwood Canyon Zipline Adventures is the new sister company of Rock Gardens Rafting which has over 35 years experience in providing thrilling outdoor recreation and whitewater activities in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The new zipline will enable visitors to pump up the adrenaline by zipping on one of three 350 foot long ziplines across the Colorado River and back. Guests will also be able to extend the action with additional adventures on a high ropes course that will open simultaneously with the zipline on Memorial Day. The High Adventure Ropes Course will challenge guests with a rock climbing wall, leap of faith challenge jump and more. Both the zipline and high ropes course are designed for heart pumping thrills, but built with safety as the foremost priority.

Glenwood Canyon Zipline Adventures is based at the Glenwood Canyon Resort at the No Name exit 119 off of I-70, just 1½ miles east of Glenwood Springs. For more information about Glenwood Canyon Zipline Adventures, visit http://www.glenwoodcanyonzipline.com/

There’s even free golf for children on one of our championship courses, two hours of court time at our Sea Pines Racquet Club, and a list of other amenities that go a long way toward enhancing a family’s vacation experience. The Sea Pines Resort’s Director of Marketing, John Munro, stated, “This special offering has already been well received based on an increase in online bookings on our Sea Pines Resort website, www.SeaPines.com. Our guests enjoy receiving not only the 15% discount on accommodations, but they also really like the package’s benefits such as a $100 credit toward food, golf or activities, free dining for children – there’s even free golf for children on one of our championship courses, two hours of court time at our Sea Pines Racquet Club, and a list of other amenities that go a long way toward enhancing a family’s vacation experience.”

Now, this lush South Carolina vacation destination has even more to offer. The Sea Pines Resort has enhanced its vacationing value through its currently offered “Escape Vacation” package. The package offers both a discounted price, as well as added amenities that make vacationing simply more fun and more rewarding.

The Sea Pines Resort is a top-rated, 5,000-acre family destination located at the southern tip of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The resort encompasses three award-winning golf courses including the famed Harbour Town Golf Links, home to the annual PGA Tour’s Verizon Heritage tournament.

Internationally acclaimed reggae sensation Fourth Dimension is to roll out its pulsing rhythms during the second annual Lower Keys Reggae Fest, scheduled for noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 3.

The Florida Keys festival presents the sounds of the islands set against the swaying palms of Camp Sawyer, a Boy Scout enclave overlooking the Atlantic Ocean at mile marker (MM) 34 on West Summerland Key.

Highlights include a performance by Fourth Dimension, masterful reggae musicians known for their dynamic harmonies, Spanish-English edge, orchestrated arrangements and guitar riffs. Specializing in innovative reggae with uplifting power, the four-piece band has shared the stage with such musical luminaries as Bob Dylan, Mos Def, UB40, Maxi Priest and Steel Pulse.

Also scheduled to strut their stuff on the festival’s waterfront stage are the Code Red Reggae Band, hailed for its award-winning roots reggae sound, and the powerful rhythm-driven band Mixed Culture.

While rocking to the reggae beat, attendees can enjoy attractions including food and libations. In addition, vendors are to be on hand offering crafts and island items.

Music lovers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets, or sit beside the ocean to listen to the masterful musical offerings. At the festival’s close, attendees can view a dramatic orange-red sunset over the water.

Tickets for the event are $20 per person in advance or $25 per person at the door. Admission is free for children under age 10. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.keystix.com or at the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce visitor center, MM 31 oceanside in Big Pine.

For information about the reggae fest and accommodations in the Lower Florida Keys, call the chamber at 305-872-2411 or 800-872-3722, or visit the Florida Keys Web site at www.fla-keys.com.

The Beach Ball Drop is the first of what promises to become an annual tradition at Pier Park, Northwest Florida’s largest shopping, dining and entertainment venue. Festivities begin with activities for the entire family, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m., including music, food and a spectacular fireworks display. The New Year’s Countdown begins at 9:00 p.m. – till the New Year!

Taking a cruise, even the mention of it is fun and relaxing. You can take cruises all over the world; to the Mediterranean, in the Baltic Sea, you can cruise to Alaska. If you live near Florida you are particularly lucky with Key West and all over the Caribbean. We have two of the busiest cruise ports right here with Port Canaveral Cruise Ships and plenty of cruise offerings in Ft. Lauderdale with the new Oasis of the Seas and a new cruise terminal also.

If you’ve never been on a cruise I highly recommend you plan to go as soon as you can. These days cruise ship are like little, or should I say big, floating cities with decks and decks of things to do and see. The typical cruise ship has many amenities. The workout rooms, have all the bikes and weights but now days there are saunas, steamrooms and any yoga or Pilate’s class you can think of. Day spas that offer massages, chemical peels and mud baths. If you prefer to shop you can find anything from touristy t-shirts and mugs to fancy boutiques that have high end fashions, name brand perfumes and fabulous jewelry, often at discounted prices, many ships have full liquor stores too and most of the time there is no tax but you have to declare what you’ve bought when you come through customs so keep that in mind as well.

There is so much to do when you cruise too and while relaxing at the pools is nice there are always activities going on. The Cruise Directors on most ships have things going almost 24/7; there is family fun such as bingo, the hokie pokie and maybe even charades. They have dance contests for the kids and hoolahoop contests, limbo, crafts everything you can imagine. If you have older kids some ships even have special lounges for the older kids who aren’t quite old enough for the dance clubs but a little to old for hoolahooping.

When the sun goes down and it’s time for Mom and Dad to have a little fun there is plenty to keep you out way past midnight. If you are planning a night of it and have younger children most ships offer babysitting services, you can check when you book. All ships offer Broadway type shows and most have Vegas type casinos with the usual Blackjack, craps, roulette wheels, slots, all kinds of poker and sometimes you can get in on a tournament like Texas Hold ‘em or five card stud. Some have karaoke bars, dueling piano bars, stand up comedians or if you’re not in the mood for a crowd they have just nice relaxing piano bars or cigar bars where you can meet people and talk while sipping on some wine or an after dinner cordial.

One of my favorite parts of cruising is the food. You can get anything you want at almost any time of the day or night. When I was on my cruise we were there in the casino, enjoying the slot machines, there was this wonderful person walking around serving these huge chocolate covered strawberries and it was midnight. Dinner on a cruise ship isn’t just a meal it’s an event. Some cruises have assigned seating and you sit with the same people for meals the whole trip but others don’t so you sit wherever you want, with whomever you want and most offer an early and later seating. The Captains Dinner is normally the last or second to last night of your trip and is a formal dinner, you get dressed up and have your picture taken with the captain. Breakfast and lunch are served either buffet style or in the dinning room and all are prepared by master chefs and served by the highest most well trained servers you’ll find anywhere. If you taste something you like don’t hesitate to ask for seconds, most ships offer several entree selections and the desserts are spectacular. Snacks and munchies are provided all day long and depending on the day they sometimes offer special treats such as a sundae bar in the afternoons you’re docked and people are coming back from shore excursions.

Speaking of shore excursions you can either decided what you want to do and make reservations when you book your cruise or wait until you dock and see what else there is to do when you go on shore in port, but don’t wait too long most places require reservations and some things fill up fast. Depending on where you dock there are all sorts of opportunities to be taken advantage of everything from snorkeling and diving to zip lining and exploring caves or ruins. You can tour most places by land or water or you can visit a local museum or cathedral. Most port cities have a tourist shopping area with many souvenirs to buy and local restaurants are not to be missed. If you don’t feel like going out of the town, you can walk the streets and soak up the native flavor. Be sure you check where it’s safe to go, however most of the time it’s not a problem. Some ship offer discounts packages on board that can be used in the port stores with 2 for 1 or coupon offers.

There are all kinds of different cruises you can book once you’ve chosen your destination. There are singles cruises, couples cruises; organizations such as churches and clubs often book them. You can go on a cruise for Christmas, New Years Eve or even Valentine’s Day; book one for a honeymoon or graduation. There are all sorts of reasons to take a cruise just take one. When you book it you can get a room with a view or one on the hall, you can book a room for two or a suite for your whole family with not only a window but an entire balcony, this is what I recommend.

So go, have fun, take your family or make it just you and your Sweetie but once you do go on a cruise I’ll bet you this, you’ll want to go again.

Florida is America’s number one destination for visitors. With so many things to do in Florida, the diversity of vacation opportunities found in Florida range from human engineered attractions and theme parks to beautiful natural settings like our beaches and coastal areas.

For those who prefer their spookiness submerged, the annual Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest is set for 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, hosted by Amy Slate’s Amoray Dive Resort, MM 104 bayside in Key Largo. The contest is open to all certified scuba divers and is slated for the morning dive. Buddy teams each receive a hollowed-out pumpkin to turn into a jack-o-lantern. Space aboard the dive boat is limited, so competitors are reminded to sign up early. The only cost is the regular dive boat fee of $80 per diver for the two-tank dive. For more information and to sign up, call Amy Slate’s Amoray Dive Resort at (800) 426-6729 or visit www.amoray.com.

For some complimentary on-the-water excitement, “Haunted Robbie’s” Marina, MM 77.5, is hosting spooky boat rides through a haunted canal, a pig roast, kids’ corner, costume and pet costume contests and more. The family-friendly activities are to be held 6-9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 26-27. Call (305) 664-9814 for more information.

The beautiful 63-acre Crane Point Hammock, mile marker (MM) 50.5 bayside in Marathon, is taking a turn for the scary Thursday, Oct. 29. Crane Point’s “Haunted Hammock” features ghosts, pirates, Bahamian spirits and haunted hayrides beginning at 7 p.m. Terrifying trails and spook houses are planned to send chills down visitors’ spines. Admission is $5 per person, with kids under 6 admitted free. For the latest information, call (305) 743-3900.

In Key West, a Civil War-era setting adds a historic flavor to the Haunting of Fort Taylor spook-tacular. Visitors can explore the fright-filled fortress, discovering scary scenes and real Key West ghost stories on the nights of Oct. 23-30. Kids’ Day is set for Sunday, Oct. 25, with special 5-7 p.m. hours. The entrance to the fort is located at the end of Southard Street past Whitehead Street and Truman Annex. Admission is $13 per person ($8 per child under age 10 and $10 per person for members of the military), and a portion of the proceeds benefits the Friends of Fort Taylor. For more information, visit www.hauntedkeywestfort.com.

Tens of thousands of revelers are expected in Key West Saturday, Oct. 31, to celebrate Halloween with the 2009 Captain Morgan Fantasy Fest Parade, the highlight of the island city’s annual Fantasy Fest masking and costuming celebration. The flamboyant procession traditionally features more than 50 lavishly decorated motorized floats, Caribbean bands and costumed marching groups. The parade is to begin at 7 p.m., following a route that includes parts of Whitehead and Front streets and the entire length of Duval Street. Pre-parade activities are to begin at noon with the open-air Duval Street Promenade featuring live entertainment and vendors of masks, costumes, food and libations. For more information, visit www.fantasyfest.net.

For further information about events and accommodations throughout the Florida Keys, explore the Keys’ official Web site at www.fla-keys.com.

I love it when the fall comes to Florida and things start to cool down. Everyone is ready to get outdoors and enjoy all the fairs and festivals that occur this time of year. One of my favorite such events is Biketoberfest. Every year in October Daytona Beach becomes, once again, a Mecca for motorcycle enthusiast. Biketoberfest is shorter than Bike week, it’s held over a long weekend, and it’s just as fun and interesting. I’ve lived in Florida for over 20 years now and have taken pictures of Biketoberfest several times; last year was the first time however that we stay over. We booked our room early so it was very reasonably priced I think that’s key; get room early number one so there are rooms available but two so you can get a deal before the rates go up. There are a lot of rooms up and down the famous Daytona Strip but remember there are going to be over an estimated 150,000 bike and bikers there so the sooner you can book the better. So once you get there you have to head to Main Street there are a few other places to have fun but party central is definitely Main Street, it’s the main drag and still the best place to watch all the bikes and people going by. The first night of Biketoberfest there are several places to go called welcome centers where you can pick up a complete schedule of all events, activities and a lot of other information. One of the first places we went when we got there was to the world famous Daytona Speedway. The Speedway hosts several events including several bike races and swap meets; there is always something going on in the vast parking area there people buy and selling all sorts of things from t-shirt to tires. Some 2500 vendors or so are there any given year with loads of things to give away.

Last year when we were there they had these scantly clad ‘Wild Turkey Girls’ walking around Dirty Harry’s with trays of either Turkey shots or turkey and coke, handing them out. Every where you look there are girls in booths calling to you to came buy a drink or shot and let’s just say it’s a goo thing it’s been fairly warm these last couple of Octobers or they would have been very cold. Dirty Harry’s is a pretty popular place they have a lot of bikini contests there two or three a day and then at night it’s the main event contests and lets just say that after a day in the sun of drinking and partying most of the girls are in a pretty uninhibited place and open to the Emcee’s suggestions which as you can imagine get wilder as the night goes on.

Some other places to stop by on Main Street are Froggy’s Saloon, Cruisin Café which is on the corner of A1A and Main Street an ideal spot to watch the happenings. The Hogs Breath Saloon is a local favorite all year round and the Bank & Blues Club has two stories so you can people watch from upstairs and enjoy the rock and roll downstairs. The building is actually an old bank that’s been ‘reformed’. Bruce Rossmeyer’s Biketoberfest at Destination Daytona in nearby Ormond Beach is fast becoming a big part of Biketoberfest too. The have a huge showroom of bikes and during the fest that place transform into a virtual bikers village. They too have contests, food, live music day and night, girls in booths offering beer and booze, people and bikes everywhere. Another place that’s becoming very popular is the Cabbage Patch Bar in nearby Samsula. They have all the usual t-shirt and hot buns contest but their becoming kind of famous for something a little different – coleslaw wrestling. This place gets wild and it’s a lot of fun.

Mark mid October on your calendar to save the date and make plans to head down to Daytona Biketoberfest 2009. You’ll find all kinds of vendors, live entertainment day and night, food, many free give-a ways and more in
Daytona Beach. You can watch people and see bikes from all over the world, it’s definitely something to take in and experience for yourself.

Key Largo, Florida Keys – Each summer, the gateway to the Florida Keys transforms into a food and wine lover’s paradise. Key Largo culinary experts are stepping up to the plate to present nearly 30 tasty food, wine and spirits events Friday, July 31, through Sunday, Aug. 9.

A festival kickoff is set for July 31 with four refreshment-filled TGIF events: a happy hour and wine extravaganza, seminar about the history and preparation methods of the modern-day martini, fajita and margarita fiesta, and a “crustacean creations” event featuring wine paired with king crab and snow crab.

Subsequent highlights of the 10-day festival are to include themed, “how-to” and wine pairing events such as a “whodunit” murder mystery night, champagne brunch, all-American barbecue with summertime wines, five-course authentic Greek dinner with European wines, sushi with a sous chef, everyday wines with lobster prepared every which way, cooking demonstrations with seafood in the shell and more.

Capping off the event is a festival finale Sunday, Aug. 9, complete with music, brunch and bubbly.

For a complete schedule of event times, venues and reservation information, visit www.KeyLargoFoodandWineFestival.com.

For Key Largo area accommodations, contact the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce at (800) 822-1088, or visit the official Web site of the Florida Keys & Key West at www.fla-keys.com.