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What’s New in Florida – Fall / Winter 2011-12
Looking Ahead, Florida's 500th Anniversary is Approaching (2013)
STORY IDEAS from around the state
Fall/winter 2011-12
Florida is home to the nation’s best beaches
SIESTA KEY, NORTH BEACH
-- Dr. Beach: America’s Best Beach for 2011, Siesta Key Beach, near Sarasota
-- Parents Magazine: America’s Best Beach for Families for 2011, North Beach, Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg
Clearwater Marine Aquarium in National Spotlight
“DOLPHIN TALE” FILM CELEBRATES A RESCUE
The touching story of “Winter” inspired a film that debuted nationwide Sept. 23. The story underscores Florida’s long history of rescuing and rehabilitating marine mammals. http://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/winter, www.VISITFLORIDA.com
Largest Florida theme park in a decade opens Oct. 15
LEGOLAND, CENTRAL FLORIDA
The world will gain a new favorite destination for fun once LEGOLAND opens in Central Florida in October. http://florida.legoland.com LEGOLAND Florida’s press page http://florida.legoland.com/about/press/ Direct Air began service to Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in June, helping more people enjoy Central Florida vacations.
Kelly Rote, Communications Specialist, Central Florida VCB /Polk County Tourism & Sports Marketing. (863) 551-4707
Kelly@VisitCentralFlorida.org www.VisitCentralFlorida.org
Flagler Railroad marks 100ths anniversary
FLORIDA KEYS & KEY WEST
Florida and the Florida Keys celebrate the legacy of a “tycoon in paradise” for the centennial anniversary of the completion of
Henry Flagler’s Over-Sea Railway. The first train reached Key West in January 2012, connecting the previously isolated islands with the mainland. Flagler’s railroads and hotels forever changed the face of the Florida Keys and Florida.
NewmanPR, Andy Newman 1-800-ASK-KEYS
andy@newmanpr.com, fla-keys.com/media
Bayfront entertainment complex under way
PENSACOLA BUILDS MARITIME PARK
Construction is underway on the Maritime Park, a 30-acre, $54 million entertainment complex on downtown Pensacola’s bay front. The plans include a multi-use community park for concerts, minor league baseball, festivals and a public fishing pier.
(850) 436-5655, www.maritimepark.us
Laura Lee, director of communications, Visit Pensacola
(850) 434-1234; (800) 874-1234, llee@visitpensacola.com
DINOSAUR WORLD EXPANSION
Dinosaur World in Plant City debuts its new expansion this fall, including 12 acres of everything dinosaur. It is an outdoor museum with over 150 life-size dinosaurs and numerous activities and exhibits.
Nicole Randall
270-773-4345
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF NAPLES: C’MON
A fabulous, new children’s museum, C’mon – the Children’s Museum of Naples – opens this fall with hig quality, fun and interactive play experiences designed to facilitate a love for learning and exploration.
JoNell Modys, for Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades – The Paradise Coast
1-800-688-3600, (239) 252-2425, www.ParadiseCoast.com
BURN BY ROCKY PATEL Signature Cigars & Spirits
Cigar world celebrity Rocky Patel has opened the first Burn by Rocky Patel, choosing Naples for the cigar and luxury lifestyle impresario’s first signature cigar and spirits establishment. Burn features a design that draws upon an exotic mix of Mediterranean, Asian and Cuban cultures, and serves as a sanctuary for those who enjoy fine cigars and premium spirits. It is located in the growing Mercato shopping, dining, entertainment and residential district in north Naples.
JoNell Modys, for Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades – The Paradise Coast
1-800-688-3600, (239) 252-2425, www.ParadiseCoast.com
NEW MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY AND SCIENCE, FORT LAUDERDALE
The new 34,000-square-foot EcoDiscovery Center opens in November. It is a major expansion of the Museum of Discovery and Science, doubling the Museum’s current exhibit and program space and offering more dynamic hands-on explorations. Visitors can take a ride on the Everglades Airboat Adventure, experience hurricane force winds in the Storm Center, get close to a confrontation between a saber-toothed cat and an Imperial mammoth, learn about protecting and conserving the Everglades and Florida’s natural resources, and follow the natural path water takes through Florida. Visitors can explore the physical principles of water while enjoying the playful antics of North American river otters in their two-story indoor/outdoor habitat.
Marlene Janetos, mjanetos@mods.net
VP Visitor Services, Marketing & Communications
954.713.0915
Museum of Discovery and Science & AutoNation IMAX® Theater
CRUISE & PLAY at PORT EVERGLADES
Port Everglades, the cruise ship capital of the world, welcomes 15 cruise lines and more than 50 cruise ships. With the second of Royal Caribbean’s 5,400-passenger Oasis-class ships, Allure of the Seas, offering year-round weekly sailings, and a new long-term agreement with Carnival Corporation, Port Everglades is poised to continue to be a top port of call for cruisers. Four other newly built cruise ships debuted at Port Everglades in 2011: Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam, Seabourn Cruise Line’s Seabourn Sojourn; and Cunard Line’s new Queen Elizabeth. New this year: P&O Cruises’ three ships calling at Port Everglades, the Azura, Aurora, and Ventura.
Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau
(954) 765-4466
SUNNY SKIES OVER LAUDERDALE
Airlines at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) fly nonstop to more
U.S. cities than any other airport in South Florida. FLL offers new or increased nonstop
service to 46 domestic and international destinations. JetBlue added non-stop
service from Los Angeles. Spirit Airlines, Greater Fort Lauderdale’s hometown airline,
started service from five new cities including Dallas, TX; Charleston, WV; Latrobe,
PA; Niagara Falls and Plattsburgh, NY. Continental Airlines (United) marked its return
to FLL with new service to Denver and Chicago. New to FLL, Vision Airlines began
service to Louisville in March. On the international side, Condor returned in April with
non-stop service from Frankfurt, Germany, and added additional weekly flights. Spirit added San Salvador in June.
Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau
(954) 765-4466
FIRST FULL-SERVICE GAY HOTEL
North America’s first and only full-service gay hotel opened in Greater Fort Lauderdale
in April 2011. The 62-room Royal Palms offers a spa, gym, café and bar.
The hetero-friendly resort will be aimed toward GLBT clientele. For GLBT
activities in Greater Fort Lauderdale, visit new mobile site sunny.org/mildtowild.
Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau
(954) 765-4466
SPEEDWAY THRILLS AT DAYTONA BEACH
Daytona International Speedway, “The World Center of Racing,” recently debuted its new All Access and VIP tours allowing fans to view never-before-seen areas of the superspeedway including the Daytona 500 Club President’s Row, the Driver’s Meeting Room, the Sprint Tower and the Sprint Cup garage. Speedway
tours operate daily (except for the VIP Tour) and allow fans to experience the thrill and excitement of the world-famous superspeedway in person. Ask about availability of the Richard Petty Driving Experience.
Tangela Boyd, Senior Media Relations Manager
tboyd@daytonabeach.com 386.255.0415 x125
www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com, 1-800-PITSHOP
PALM BEACH OPERA CELEBRATES 50th SEASON
The Palm Beach Opera celebrates its 50th
Anniversary Season (December – March) in 2011-12 with Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, special 50th Anniversary Gala Concerts, Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet, and Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. All mainstage performances will take place at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. The season finale features opera’s most famous mad scene, often viewed as the litmus test for all coloratura sopranos. A visually stunning new production will showcase an international cast of established singers.
Alexandra Kushner Wasil
Palm Beach Opera Director of Marketing & PR
561-835-7554
FAMED FLAGLER PROPERTY BASKS IN NEW LUXURY
The Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine completed the first phase of its $1 million renovation. Ten years after restoring the famed Flagler property to its original glory, the Kessler Collection is refreshing the hotel's luxurious feel, including inspired rouge carpet, custom furnishings with gold accents, and plush velvet tufted headboards. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Casa Monica is the city’s only AAA Four-Diamond hotel.
Barbara Golden, 904.829.1711
BGolden@Getaway4Florida.com
St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau
VISIT FLORIDA Public Relations & Media Contacts
Kenneth Morgan, PR Manager
(850) 205-3862
kmorgan@VISITFLORIDA.org
Laura Cassels
(850) 205-3839
lcassels@VISITFLORIDA.org
Media site with images library
http://media.visitflorida.org/
Consumer site
Strategic Partners
FLORIDA WEATHER FORECASTSee weather from other cities » | AVERAGE TEMPERATURES | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Orlando 90° F | Sarasota 86° F |  Palm Beach 86° F | Ocala 92° F | ||||
