Fall into Florida

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While Florida boasts some of the nation's most extravagant beach resorts, it doesn't have to cost a fortune to stay on the water. Here, campers in the Naples area enjoy...

Photo Credit: Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau

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LEGOLAND Florida is located on the former site of Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven.

Photo Credit: LEGOLAND

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Halloween is serious business at Fantasy Fest in Key West.

Photo Credit: Contributed Photo

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Discover the grace of the Great Blue Heron when traveling through the Great Florida Birding Trail's Panhandle Section.

Photo Credit: Contributed Photo

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During the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, it's evident why the area is known as the Yachting Capital of the World.

Photo Credit: Forest Johnson/Show Management 2008

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A plate of freshly shucked oysters from Boss Oyster in Apalachicola

Photo Credit: Contributed Photo

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At Florida EcoSafari at Forever Florida in St. Cloud, ziplines 55 feet high sends riders through pine flatwoods at speeds of 25 mph

Photo Credit: Florida EcoSafari at Forever Florida

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The focal point of the main room at Schnebly Redland's Winery in Homestead is the circular bar and the tree sculpture and its hanging glasses.

Photo Credit: Schnebly Redland's Winery

Cool breezes, college football and camping naturally come to mind with Florida in the fall. And how about sand sculpting, ziplines and LEGOs?

Here are 20 of the coolest happenings in Florida this season:

October is Florida Camping Month

Camping in Florida encompasses a variety of settings. From beachfront camping to RV parks to primitive camping at state parks shrouded in century-old live oaks, Florida camping is unique.

Daytona Beach Biketoberfest

Oct. 13-16, 2011: Daytona Beach
Get your motor running in Daytona Beach. Thousands of bikes roar into town for this international award-winning motorcycle festival that offers participants a weekend of sun, beaches, bikes and fun.  Read more here.

LEGOLAND Florida

Opens Oct. 15, 2011: Winter Haven
Located halfway between Tarpon Springs and Orlando in Winter Haven, LEGOLAND Florida provides interactive entertainment for families with children ages two to 12 and features more than 50 family rides, shows and interactive attractions, restaurants, shopping and botanical gardens, once known as Cypress Gardens. Highlights include a water ski show, complete with LEGO characters, and two roller coasters. Start planning your trip to LEGOLAND Florida.

Halloween Events

Halloween is so much more than just one night of trick-or-treating. Many celebrations going on now don’t end until in November. Check out these Halloween hotspots for families.

Fantasy Fest

Oct. 21-30, 2011: Key West
Key West knows how to party during Fantasy Fest. This annual 10-day celebration touts itself as a “habitat for insanity” and features costume competitions, promenades, street fairs and a grand parade with marching groups and sumptuous floats.

Oktoberfest

Oct. 21-23 and 28-30, 2011: Cape Coral
Tap into fun at Cape Coral’s 26th Annual Oktoberfest. With live entertainment from Austria, homemade German specialties and plenty of German beverages, this festival is known as Florida’s biggest and most original Oktoberfest.

Birding

What’s the fastest-growing outdoor activity in Florida? Fishing? Camping? Guess again.
The answer is wildlife observation, also known as "birding." One reason? No special equipment is necessary to get started. Just your eyes and a field guide. Get started. Also, check out the Great Florida Birding Trail.

Boating

This is no idle boast: Florida is the boating capital of the world. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and even a part of the Caribbean Sea, the peninsula is a unique boating destination. Deep-sea fishing and world-renowned regattas have added to Florida’s ample boating appeal. Check out Florida’s top 5 boating destinations, and don’t miss the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, Oct. 27-31, 2011.

Historic Travel

Did you know that Florida is home to the nation's oldest continuously settled city and that 56 years before Plymouth Rock, in Florida, there was Thanksgiving? You'll discover a wealth of historic sites in Florida, from Indian burial mounds to the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, downtown historic districts and NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Explore the Sunshine State’s cultural heritage trails with the new Viva Florida website.

Sand Sculpting Festival

Nov. 2-6, 2011: Fort Myers Beach
Don’t miss the 25th Annual American Sand Sculpting Championship Festival on Fort Myers Beach. This family-friendly festival will feature 16 of the world’s best master sculptors. Get a leg up on the competition with this How to Do Florida: Sand Sculpting video.

Football in Florida

Visiting Florida for a college football game? Make a weekend out of it. You’ll be surprised of all the things you can see and do in 48 hours before and after the game!

• 48 hours in Gainesville
• 48 hours in Tallahassee
• 48 hours in Orlando
• 48 hours in Tampa
• 48 hours in Miami

Seafood Festival

Nov. 4-5, 2011: Apalachicola
What better place to hold a seafood festival than the origin of 90 percent of the state’s annual oyster harvest? The Florida Seafood festival in Apalachicola is a seafood lovers paradise! Some of the notable events include Oyster Eating and Oyster Shucking contest, Blue Crab Races, Parade, 5K Redfish Run and The Blessing of the Fleet. Freshen up on your seafood knowledge with the help of this list of Florida seafood from A to Z.

Florida Trails & Greenways

Did you know that Florida has 8,000 miles of land-based trails and more than 4,000 miles of water trails? Check out our Trails website to discover your perfect trail!

Sleepless Nights

Nov. 5-6 2011: Miami Beach
When an event is billed as “the ultimate cultural all-nighter,” you know you are in for a treat. The third annual Sleepless Nights in Miami Beach is a free arts and cultural festival that begins at sundown on Saturday, Nov. 5 and ends at dawn the next morning. It features internationally renowned singers, dancers and performance artists along with local favorites.

Urban Sanctuaries

Need a retreat from all things electronic? Escape the hustle and bustle, and relax in these urban sanctuaries: Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Tallahassee.

Ziplines

The latest trend to sweep the Sunshine State’s attractions are zipline adventures. Adventures range from zipping across wetlands to gliding over alligators. Here are five Florida zoos to get you zipping through the trees.

Wineries and Wine Festivals

What? You didn't know that Florida had wineries? The Sunshine State is home to several noteworthy wineries. Make plans to stop at one for a tasting during your next trip and don’t miss the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, now through Nov. 13, 2011.

Dine Out Lauderdale

Nov. 10, 2011: Fort Lauderdale
This is one of the most tasteful events of the season. Many Fort Lauderdale restaurants are offering specially-created, three-course menus at a $35 fixed price. See the full list of participating restaurants.

NASCAR’s Ford Championship Weekend

Nov. 18-20, 2011: Homestead Miami Speedway
Do you feel the need for speed? Then race into the Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead Miami Speedway. The racing action includes the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship.

Art Basel

Dec. 1-4, 2011: Miami Beach
A spinoff of the internationally renowned Art Basel show held in Switzerland, the South Florida version puts an exciting twist on an already innovative concept. More than 2,000 artists from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa will have their art on display. Get a sneak peek at the event in this video.