WHAT’S NEW IN FLORIDA FOR FALL/WINTER 20032004

As the weather turns cooler across the U.S.,Florida continues to be as sunny as ever. Visitors to theSunshine Statehave an exciting selection of things to do and places to stay. From international festivals and new attractions to renovated hotels and educational exhibits there is something for everyone inFlorida.

Attractions

Miami –Everglades Safari Parkis pleased to launch a new line of exclusive private and custom tours. The tours are designed for small groups and individuals of discriminating adventurers looking for a more personalized tour. With the addition of the new smaller vessels, professional tour guides are able to explore various parts of theEverglades that typical commercial airboats could not due to the size of the vessel and time constraints. Clients can reserve any one of the five pre-packaged tours or can customize a specific tour. Each unique private tour is guided and narrated by experienced, professional airboat captains. (305) 226-6923. www.evsafaripark.com

Naples – Caribbean Gardens: The Zoo in Napleshas a fascinating exhibit, “Panther Glade,” which opened in conjunction with the National WildlifeFederation. The exhibit allows zoo visitors to have a close look at the fascinating cougars with only a large glass panel separating onlookers from the cougars. Panther Glade also features educational information and an area where children can make panther prints in the sand. Other new additions at the zoo include two rare and beautiful Indochinese Tigers and several baby Colobus monkeys. (239) 262-5409. www.napleszoo.com

Orlando – Walt Disney World magic meets Disney music in a new 3-D film spectacular scheduled to debut in fall 2003 atMagic Kingdom. The “Mickey’s PhilharMagic” cast includes Mickey and Donald, as well as Ariel from “The Little Mermaid,” Aladdin and Jasmine from “Aladdin” and Simba from “The Lion King.”  Set in the PhilharMagic Concert Hall in Fantasyland, the eye-popping 3-D experience will unfold on one of the largest screens ever created for a 3-D film, a 150-foot-wide canvas. On another note,Epcot’s “Mission: SPACE,” a one-of-a-kind thrill that will rocket guests to the galaxies in an out-of-this-world space adventure officially launches in October. (407) WDISNEY(934-7639).www.disneyworld.ca.

St. Augustine– On July 4, the Original Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum inSt. Augustinecompleted renovations expanding the 13,500 square-foot exhibit area by 3900 square feet. The expansion added more artifact displays and new interactive galleries featuring a vacuum air chair, shadow wall, travelling sounds, a foot piano and a Cargo Hold Gift Shop. The Cargo Hold reflects Robert Ripley’s travels to faraway and exotic lands with many unique and one-of-a-kind treasures for the home and gift giving. Many of Cargo Hold’s interesting merchandise comes from exotic destinations likeMorocco,Indonesia,Thailand,China,Mexico,IndiaandAfrica. (904) 824-1606. www.staugustine-ripleys.com 

Expansions/Renovations
Destin – The Pelican Beach Resort & Conference Center, one of Destin’s largest beachfront meeting and resort facilities, recently completed construction of a beachside deck and expansion of their existing beach boardwalk. The boardwalk and deck provides a total of 4,440 square feet of outdoor space that can be utilized in a variety of ways by groups, conventions and meeting attendees. Two distinctive areas will accommodate up to 250 people for food and beverage events, casual meeting breakouts, as well as provide additional recreational space for the resort’s owners and guests. Aside from the beachfront decks,Pelican Beach Resort & Conference Centeroffers more than 5,000 square feet of dedicated meeting space. (850) 654-1425. www.pelican-beach.com

Naples – Sunstream Hotels and Resortsis expanding into the Greater Naples area with two properties. GreenLinks Resort provides villa accommodations with easy access to the three top golf courses. Construction is underway on Bellasera, the company’s new 100-suite upscale hotel on U.S. 41 in downtownNaples, within walking distance ofFifth Avenue South. The opening is scheduled for Dec. 1. For information regarding GreenLinks or Sunstream Properties, call (239) 732-9920 or visit www.greenlinksnaples.com

Orlando– Walt Disney World’s Pop Century Resort, is opening in December a5,760-room resort that will send guests on a trip back through American popular culture with oversized icons representing each decade of the 20th century.  The entrance of each building will feature cultural touchstones from each era — a giant jukebox for the 1950s and larger-than-life yo-yos for the 1960s.  The hotel joins the family of Disney’s All-Star value resorts, which currently boasts 5,760 rooms.  The resort will open in phases beginning in December 2003. (407) 566-5321. www.disney.com

Meetings & Conventions
Daytona Beach–Ocean Walk Village, the US$250-millionoceansideentertainment district, announces it will expand theOcean Center, Daytona’s largest meeting and convention facility, beginning December 2003. The US$50-million expansion will triple its size, makingDaytona Beachthe fifth largest convention destination inFlorida. The approved expansion will add 100,000 square feet of exhibit space, 40,000 square feet of meeting space and a 30,000 square-foot ballroom. Creating more than 2,000 jobs and raising US$491 million in additional personal income, theOcean Centerwill provide a substantial economic boost to theDaytona Beacharea. In addition, larger meeting and convention groups will seekDaytona Beachand enjoy the close proximity of the resorts, dining and entertainment venues found atOcean Walk Village.  www.oceanwalkvillage.com

Fort Walton Beach – A new chapter begins as theEmerald Coast Conference Centerprovides 35,000 square feet of newly constructed meeting space to this storied location. Opened in April 2003, the center boasts 13 meeting rooms and a pre-function area ranging from 450 to 1,800 square feet and a Grand Ballroom of 21,500 square feet. It can host groups of 15 to 2000. From gourmet catering to expertly planned functions and activities, virtually anything a meeting requires is available inside this facility. (850) 609-3800. www.destin-fwb.com

New Exhibit Series
Jacksonville –The World Golf Hall of Fame’snewest exhibit is now open to the public. “Go Annika: A Historical Week at Colonial” features highlights and memorabilia honoring the historic event of Annika Sorenstam and includes the golf ball and glove she used on the first tee of her opening round, her official scorecards from both rounds, as well as a replica set of golf clubs and bag she used for the tournament. A variety of photos and newspapers will be included in the exhibit to offer context to the items on display, as will other memorabilia from the event, including the recognizable “Go Annika” button that thousands of fans adorned at the tournament. (904) 940-4123. www.wgv.com

Palm Beach – The Norton Museum of Art inWest Palm Beachannounces an exhibition of newly acquired works by American artists titled Hollywood Glamour Photography: Ruth Harriet Louise at MGM fromNov. 3, 2003 throughJan. 18, 2004. This displays photographs taken by Ruth Harriet Louise, the only woman who photographed Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer and many others. This exhibition of 80 vintage prints provides insight into the phenomenon of fan culture during the early years ofHollywood. (561) 832-5196. www.norton.org

Festivals and Events
Seagrove Beach (betweenPanama CityandApalachicola) – Celebrate the culture and cuisine ofNorth Florida at WaterColor, theGulf of Mexico community that is redefining coastal chic. Created to showcase the gourmet restaurants ofScenic Highway30-A, the Taste of 30-A Festival on Oct. 16 is bringing in Southern cooks to share the South’s culinary heritage this year. Oysters and vodka on the beach, a Low Country Gospel brunch, Master Chef dinners, farmer’s markets and wine tastings are a few of the events on the bill of fare at the 4th annual event. 
(888) 467-1583. www.tasteof30A.com or www.watercolorinn.com

Apalachicola – The40th AnnualFloridaSeafood Festivalis the place for greatseafood, arts & crafts, fine folks and entertainment all wrapped into a magnificent family atmosphere. Join in Oct. 31 through Nov. 2 for the state’s oldest maritime festival for quality entertainment and maritime crafts paying tribute to theApalachicola Bay’s commercial fishermen. (888) 653-8011. www.floridaseafoodfestival.com

Jupiter (north ofPalm Beach) – The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse will host the second annual “Twilight at the Light,” an evening of music and food celebrating the rising harvest moon, on Oct. 25 from5:30 until8 p.m. In addition, from Dec. 1 to Jan. 7, the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse will be illuminated with holiday coloured lights for all visitors to see. (561) 747-8380. www.lrhs.org

Titusville(east ofOrlando) – The Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival will be held Nov. 12-16 at Brevard Community College Titusville Campus. This event offers opportunities for participants to explore globally significant natural areas ofFlorida’sSpace Coast, home of the largest collection of endangered wildlife and plants in the continentalU.S.(321) 268-5224. www.nbbd.com/fly

Daytona Beach– The Birthplace of Speed Weekend Celebration has been an Ormond Beach U.S.Thanksgiving tradition for more than 40 years. From Nov. 28 to 29, the event commemoratesOrmond Beach’s role in the growth and evolution of automobile racing at the turn of the 20th century when the first gentlemen’s race was held between Ransom Olds and Alexander Winton.  The weekend’s festivities include the Gaslight Antique Auto Parade and an antique car show. (386) 255-0415. www.birthplaceofspeed2003.com/ or www.ormondchamber.com/bpos.html  

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VISIT FLORIDA is a unique, not-for-profit corporation that markets Florida tourism on behalf of the Florida Commission on Tourism, a private/public partnership. It was created by the Florida Legislature in 1996 to promote Florida tourism worldwide.

For more information contact:
Laura Johnston
PR/Promotions Manager – VISIT FLORIDA (Canada)
The RMR Group Inc.
P (416) 485-8724 ext 231
P (800) 267-7600
F (416) 485-8256
ljohnston@thermrgroup.ca

August 28, 2003   Posted in: United States SouthEast