| All Questions for Kevin Mims |
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| Viewing Manatees and Pelicans |
| Asked by susan on August 23, 2008 |
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Q: I want to see manatees and pelicans. I will be in Florida for the week of Thanksgiving, and plan to go to Homosassa Springs and Sanibel Island. Would these be the places to visit for two divorced women?
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A: November is a great time to see Manatees, and you will find plenty around Homosassa and Crystal River. Pelicans are common in both Homosassa and around the Sanibel Island area. Both of these places are wonderful places to visit, and they offer a tremendous amount of wildlife viewing and outdoor opportunities. You'll have a great time! For more information, make sure to contact the Visitors and Convention Bureaus in both areas. They will be able to further help you make the most of your trip. For the Homosassa/Crystal River area, go to http://visitcitrus.com/. For Sanibel Island, visit http://www.fortmyers-sanibel.com/.
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| Race Bike Locations |
| Asked by Gerhard Visser on August 23, 2008 |
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Q: Hi,My wife and I are planning to spend 2 weeks in Florida in April 2009 with race bikes. Can you tell me where we can find a good place for interesting and safe race biking?Thank you very much and best greetings from GermanyGerhard Visser
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A: Gerhard - I think you will find the Withlacoochee State Trail to your liking, it is a very popular location for bikes of all types. It is 46 miles in length and passes through many small towns and is very scenic. I know several people who park, ride the full length one direction and turn around and ride back to their vehicle, making a 92-mile round-trip ride! Cool! Up for the challenge? Visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/crossflorida/trails/with_state.htm for more information regarding the Withlacoochee State Trail. Please let me know if I can be of any more assistance, and enjoy your visit to Florida! -Kevin
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| Asked by CHRIS HURTADO on August 17, 2008 |
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Q: We will be near Orlando on November 16, 2008 for my daughters "Make A Wish" trip to Walt Disney World, she would life to see alligators if there are any nearby. Thank you for your help.
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A: Chris - Gatorland is the place to go to check out alligators and other exotic wildlife while in the Orlando area. In operation since 1949, Gatorland has expanded to include a water park as well. It's a fun place to visit! Here is their contact information, enjoy your trip to Orlando! http://www.gatorland.com/ 14501 South Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, FL 32837
Phone: 407.855.5496
Toll Free: 800.393.JAWS
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| Fun in Punta Gorda |
| Asked by Sue on August 04, 2008 |
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Q: I am coming to Punta Gorda for a week 8/23 and want to fill it with wildlife, birds, shells, etc. I have only been to Sanibel once 3 years ago and want to know if I can top that vacation - it was wonderful! What are your suggestions for two 50 year-old ladies?
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A: Sue - One week, that's all? That's not enough time to see it all, so my first suggestion is to extend your stay! I'm just kidding, of course. Here's some ideas to make your visit to Punta Gorda a great one: Check out the Ponce de Leon Historic Park and the Peace River Wildlife Center. This location is filled with Florida history and nature. This is the location that is regarded as the spot that Juan Ponce de Leon took an arrow that ended his life. The area is a great place to view birds of all types - herons, eagles, hawks - just to name a few. Make sure to stop Stump Pass State Park for some fun in the sun! This is a good location for shelling and a great nature beach in general. Don't miss it! Those two locations should keep you busy, have fun in Punta Gorda!
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| Knock, knock! |
| Asked by Doris Knowlton on July 31, 2008 |
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Q: We live a community that has a large number of Sand Hill Cranes and we love them but have a couple questions about their habits. One family comes every day and the male comes up and "knocks" on the window! We have not fed them so we can eliminate that. Any ideas?
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A: Hi there -
Sandhill Cranes are territorial, and it looks like they have chosen your yard as their own! Florida has a number of non-migratory cranes, and over where I live they are a daily sighting. Once I had the pleasure to see about fifty or so in one area, near Lake County.
The male Sandhill Crane is more than likely seeing his reflection in your window, and is thinking that it is another crane. He's defending his territory! I had this same problem with a peacock years ago.
Here are some links to Sandhill Cranes that refer to "knocking"!
http://realindy.com/sandhillcolumn.htm
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/587777/florida_sandhill_crane_a_threatened.html?cat=58
Hope this helps!
-Kevin
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| September Weather |
| Asked by carmen on July 27, 2008 |
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Q: Hi there, I'm traveling to Orlando in September (10th - 24th). During my time in Florida, what is the weather like? and will it be hot enough to sun bathe on the beaches? Thanks!
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A: Hello!
Good news! September is a great time to visit Florida and the weather will be great! With the summer heat and humidity fading, September will be an excellent time to head over to nearby Daytona Beach and catch some rays. Temperatures for Daytona Beach should be in the 80's during the daytime. Perfect!
Enjoy!
-Kevin
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| Trip Suggestions |
| Asked by Kathy on July 26, 2008 |
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Q: I'm looking to take a trip where I can do a variety of outdoor activities such as canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, hiking, bike riding, etc. with rental equipment. i.e. bikes, canoe, kayaks. Do you have any suggestions?
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A: Hello!
Wow, that's a tall order! This sounds like my kind of trip - I'm always looking for places that I can go kayaking, mountain biking, and hiking all in one place. Most trips I take, I pack and bring everything, you never know what you'll find. You can hardly see my Honda Element underneath all the bikes and kayaks hanging off of it!
Anyway, back to your question. So, I'm thinking you are looking for a "one stop shop" where you can rent all of your outdoor equipment, and do all of these activities centered around one destination. While there are tons of places where you can do all of this in a single location, finding a place to visit and rent the equipment makes it tough. But with a little planning, you might be able to minimize your rental pickup locations and times.
I suggest you take a look at White Springs. It sounds like you want a great outdoors experience, and White Springs is a hot spot for all of these activities. You can set up camp and hike the Florida Trail at Stephen Foster State Park, walk over to American Canoe Adventures to take a trip down the Suwannee River, and drive out to the the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park for horseback riding. For biking, you may need to travel over to nearby High Springs or Lake City. White Springs has some of the best mountain biking in the state, so that's a must-do!
That's the trip I would take, and with a little logistical planning, you will have a great time. Here's some links to take a look at. Have a great trip!
Camping/Hiking
Stephen Foster State Park
American Canoe Adventures
Horseback Riding
Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park
Bike Rentals
Keaton Bike Shop (Lake City)
(386) 752-8788
Santa Fe Bicycle Outfitters(High Springs)
(386) 454-2453
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| Asked by walter on July 22, 2008 |
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Q: Why are there so many palm trees in Florida?
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A: Ahh, tree talk, one of my favorite subjects!
Walter, our semi-tropical climate makes Florida ideal for the growth of 12 native species of palm trees, and hundreds of other varieties thrive equally as well here. Palms are hardy trees, and some varieties can withstand temperatures to well below freezing, which is why you will see them all over the state.
In southern and central Florida, you can expect to see many different types of palms, while in northern areas the Sabal Palm, or Cabbage Palm as it is commonly called, is what you will typically find.
Palm trees are interesting! Recently, a palm tree was sprouted from a 2000 year-old seed! Also, palm seeds (and others) that are found on the beach by shell collectors are referred to as sea-beans. They can drift from Jamaica and other places in the Caribbean, end up on shore in Florida, and are frequently planted and grown. Neat!
Here's a link to help identify different species of palms.
-Kevin
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| Asked by Kathy on July 21, 2008 |
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Q: Hi Kevin,My family and I already planned on vacationing in Florida (Orlando, Tampa, and Sarasota) between Aug. 14-20, but recently I've been doing research on Florida and found out that those dates are the peak of hurricane season.Should we be really concerned about the hurricane season and its effects?
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A: Hi Kathy -
Weather is a factor when considering any vacation destination, but in Florida, summertime is a very popular time for families to visit. It's one of the best times to visit theme parks, the state's over 663 miles of beaches, and of course any of the 161 state parks that Florida offers. In August, you can rest assured that all of these places will be loaded with vacationing families!
You can always check to see what's happening weather-wise at the National Weather Service, and this link will take you directly to any current watches, warnings and advisories.
Have fun!
-Kevin
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| Dolphin Swimming Locations |
| Asked by kathryn on July 17, 2008 |
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Q: Is there anywhere in Florida to swim with dolphins besides Discovery Cove. For a family of five, it is not affordable. Help!
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A: Kathryn -
There's a few places in Florida that you can swim with dolphins, but determining what the most affordable solution depends a lot on your location in Florida due to fuel costs. With this kind of activity, you have to be prepared to shell out a few dollars, mostly because the operational costs to keep dolphin facilities running are astounding.
Again, depending on your location, Discovery Cove may be the most affordable destination. If you are down in South Florida, the Miami Seaquarium offers dolphin encounters, and in the Florida Keys (Grassy Key), you can visit the Dolphin Research Center.
Here is some contact information for all three places:
Discovery Cove (Orlando)
www.discoverycove.com
(877) 577-7404
Miami Seaquarium
www.miamiseaquarium.com
(305) 365-2501
Dolphin Research Center
www.dolphins.org
(305) 289-0002
Good Luck!
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| Asked by Julie on July 09, 2008 |
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Q: Hi Kevin:My boyfriend & I are taking a vacation to Palm Beach Shores later this month. I want to plan some activities while we're there. We especially want to go parasailing. I saw on the visitpalmbeach.com website that they offer parasailing. Are there any better deals you're aware of for parasailing or is that the most reputable company & best deal in the area? I tried to call last month to schedule a parasailing trip w/ the company, & they said to call back a few days before I arrived to schedule due to weather conditions, etc. Is this typical? Just want to be sure. I was also wondering if you could offer any other suggestions for outdoor activities while we're in Florida--we're also thinking about renting bicycles for a day & taking a sunset cruise. Thanks for your help! Julie
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A: Hello Julie!
I'm not aware of any other parasailing deals in the Palm Beach Area, but by visiting the website, the price seems right. It seems pretty typical to schedule your parasailing trip (or any other outdoor activity) closer to the actual visit, it's sometimes hard to gauge what Florida's weather will be like! Don't be surprised if you get some afternoon showers during your vacation, the best bet is to keep a close eye on the projected forecast, and plan your activities early in the day.
Definitely rent some bicycles and do some exploring! You are in luck; Palm Beach Shores is situated near John D. MacArthur State Park, a barrier island that's a prime spot for sea turtle nesting. This park has great beaches, and you can kayak or canoe around the island.
Here's a link to the Palm Beach Water Taxi, which offers touring cruises of Palm Beach, and can shuttle you over to Peanut Island as well.
Check out the John D. MacArthur State Park Web site for events and activities that might be going on during your vacation.
Have fun!
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| Asked by Kenny on July 08, 2008 |
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Q: What do you suggest for those people who can't travel far due to rising gas prices?
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A: Kenny- This is definitely a problem for everyone, and really curtails the amount of adventurous traveling a person or family can do. Here in Florida we have a huge amount of outdoor opportunities. Between state and county parks, national forests, and the Florida National Scenic Trail, most people shouldn’t have too much of a problem finding something close to home. A lot of places are reporting an increase in local park use and family camping due to rising fuel costs. When budgeting for vacation and traveling, families are forced to use a larger portion of their money on fuel costs, which leaves them less to spend on the actual destination. Outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, and biking are generally a cheaper alternative to driving long distances and staying in a hotel. Plus, outdoor activities are perfect for quality family time! Check out the Florida State Parks Web site and locate a park near you. Or, people can live vicariously through my blog here on VISITFLORIDA.com, and I’ll keep traveling and reporting on my adventures! -Kevin
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