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VISITFLORIDA.com Beaches And Adventure Expert

Jacksonville Beach PurpleStride Beach Run and Festival Even if you don’t have a passion for a purple, believe in purple-power, or own even one pair of unapologetically-purple pants, you should jog over to Jacksonville Beach on Sept. 18, 2010, for PurpleStride. The event includes a four-mile and one- mile run hosted by the Jacksonville Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. ... Timely Turtle Tips ‘Tis the season!  It’s sea-turtle nesting time on Sunshine State beaches, when mother sea turtles crawl ashore to lay their eggs and bury them in the dunes. Though last year Florida boasted a staggering 52,374 loggerhead sea turtle nests (according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission), that number pales in comparison to past years. The number of loggerhead nests has dropped approximately 40 percent since 1998 at Florida beaches tracked for long-term trends. ... Florida Lighthouses by RV: Gulf Coast Tour It’s a great idea. I wish I had thought of it. However, it was Joe from El Monte RV Rentals that came up with the sweet suggestion to take a tour of the Sunshine State lighthouses via RV – not yours truly. ... Daytona Beach’s American Music Festival In a need of a beach getaway? I’ve got some news that should be music to your ears. Daytona Beach promises to be rockin’ like a horse when the American Music Festival dances into town Sept. 1-5, 2010, featuring performances from some of the most gigantic names in music (like Usher and the Jonas Brothers) on the stages of Daytona Beach Bandshell, Ocean Center and Peabody Auditorium. ... Get Some Sand in Your Boots: Horseback Riding on the Beach It’s about as odd as a fin on a fish – which is to say, it’s not odd at all. A common reaction after viewing my video highlighting horseback riding on the beach on Cape San Blas is that folks want to know where they can enjoy it, too. Here’s a quick guide to Sunshine State beaches where you can get some sand in your boots. ... Sisters of the Sea Surf Classic in Jax Beach Do the Sisters of the Sea know how to host a surfing contest? Pleez. Does a fish know how to swim? A bevy of buff beach babes will be battling it out on the sweet waves of Jax Beach Pier on Sept. 11, 2010, when the 12th Annual Sisters of the Sea Surf Classic swims into town. ... Adventure Alphabet: Guide to Florida Fun I guess I asked for it! I wrote a blog recently that included a little slide show of adventures I’ve had in Florida and someone -- quite reasonably -- asked if I could provide info about where the pictures were taken, as well as links. Gulp. Do you know how many pictures were in that thing? Well, I don’t either, but suffice to say there were LOTS. ... Conchtoberfest: Hawks Cay Resort Celebrates the Florida Keys Feel like a laid-back beach celebration in the Florida Keys? Do I hear a yes? I thought that might be your answer! Grab your flip-flops and head south, because Conchtoberfest swims into Hawks Cay Resort on Duck Key, Sept. 17 -19, 2010, promising to bring a boatload of island-flavored fun with it. The event will feature: ·    Live island tunes each day ·    Fresh, regional dishes and ice cold drinks served by talented local chefs ·    Games and contests to keep the kids entertained Feel like starting the celebration a few days early? You’ll fit right into the Florida Keys! A local establishment will host a themed event to celebrate the Keys and raise money for local charities each evening during the week preceding Conchtoberfest. ... Panama City Beach Sand Sculpting Contest Can you dig it? Schooners’ Sand Sculpting Contest is blowing into Panama City Beach on Sept. 18, 2010, offering divisions for everyone from kids to families to serious pros, as well ‘Sanding Ovations,’ awe-inspiring-creations by award-winning Sand Sculptors. The standing sand is part of Schooners Beach Club 21st Annual Lobster Festival and Tournament, Sept. ... Skydive Amelia: Drop Into Adventure Have a yen to take half of-an-airplane ride? I know of some folks in Amelia Island who can help you! I’m talking about Skydive Amelia, a new skydive center that’s just soared into Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport.   I’d advise you to drop in for some pulse-pounding adventure and out-of-this-world views. Never been to Amelia Island? It’s one of my favorites. ... Fast Times in Melbourne: Awesome Airboat Adventure Flick One could say Camp Holly in Melbourne has “lots of flavor. ” If one was being polite. If one was being honest, one would say it’s a backwoods establishment with décor that could generously be described as questionable. ... Panama City Beach Volleyball Tournament Ready for an exciting smack-down in the sand? If so, plan on paddling over to Panama City Beach to cheer for your favorites in the Sept. 4, 2010, Extreme Volleyball Pro Tournament, which promises all-day-long beach volleyball action. Sounds like a ball to me! . ... Coconut Grove’s Great Grove Bed Race It’s wackier than a fish without fins – and a whole lot more fun! I’m talking about the Great Grove Bed Race, slated to roll into Coconut Grove Sept. 5, 2010. The wonderfully weird event includes: ·    Family Pajama Party ·    Pit Row Display and Judging ·    The Great Grove Bed Races ·    Awards and Concert . ... Melbourne Beach Medicine Movie Isak Dinesen quoted that the cure for anything is salt water -- sweat, tears, or the sea. I can say without any hesitation whatsoever that of those three, the sea is the medicine I’d choose to inject a little fun, romance or relaxation into my life. After all, it’s pretty hard to feel glum or stressed when a sight like this greets you in the morning. ... Haunted Hangars at Polk City’s Fantasy of Flight Unidentifiable noises, temperatures that rise or plummet and mists and shadows drifting oddly all can make a soul wonder: are the hangars haunted? Now, you have the opportunity to decide for yourself what might be flying around Polk City’s Fantasy of Flight after dark. Central Florida’s premier aviation attraction has invited the general public to Nightflight, a thrilling after-hours program that offers adventurous visitors four full hours to explore the unexplained on Oct. 16 and Oct. ... Hit the Highway For me, it’s a way to escape. A glorious way. A road-trip can feel like a dip in the ocean on a sweltering day: refreshing, renewing, even soul-soothing. ... Feel-Good Hang-Gliding Flick If you’re in a need of a smile, I suggest you watch this. It’s a little flick I shot of my friend Dana after her first soaring flight in a hang glider – that is, a flight where you stay aloft in thermal lift, instead of just gliding back down to the ground. Of course I wouldn’t show you this if you couldn’t do it, too! You can enjoy a hang gliding Discovery Flight at: ·    Quest Air Hang Gliding, west of Orlando (where I shot the video) ·    Wallaby Ranch by Kissimmee ·    Paradise Hang Gliding in Bonita Springs ·    The Florida Ridge (863- 805-0440) by Clewiston   < This video was shot with my KODAK Zx1 Pocket Video Camera. ... Sick Flick of the Zipline Safari You think you’ve been on an eco-tour? I’ll bet not like this! Dare to try the Zipline Ecosafari at Forever Florida in St. Cloud to snag a glimpse of old-time Florida in a thrilling and utterly unique way. Check out my flick of the sick treetop action to see why you should zip over to Forever Florida. ... Horse Surfing Movie I begin with a disclaimer. My video of horse surfing – the odd, new sport that’s splashed into Bradenton courtesy of Great World Nature Tours– contains only before-and-after footage. The surfing suspects were too far out in Palma Sola Bay to film them making their valiant attempts to stand atop their steeds, and when I tried it for myself a short while later, I left my camera in the car. ... Grom Surf Fest Splashes into Jacksonville When it comes to grooming groms, no one can say the Florida Surfing Association doesn’t do its share. Wait – what’s that I hear from the peanut gallery? You say you don’t know what a grom is, much less why grooming one would be desirable? That’s more than understandable! The Wikipedia definition of a grom – aka grommet -- is a young surfer, specifically, anyone younger than you. The third and final event in the Florida Surfing Association’s 2nd Annual Super Grom Surf Fest Series is riding into Jacksonville Beach Aug. ... Trespassers Will be Eaten: Gatorland Flick You wouldn’t want to swim there. Take a peek at the video I shot of the gator-infested-waters of Gatorland, and you’ll agree that’s the understatement of the century. The Orlando attraction hosts fascinating shows throughout the day, boasts a petting zoo, a train you can ride, nature walks through the swamp, a breeding marsh and even a water park for the kids. ... St. Augustine Music By The Sea  Ready for some tasty tunes on a sweet beach that won’t leave your wallet singing the blues? If you are (and who wouldn’t be?) then grab your beach chair and dance on down to the St. Augustine Beach Pier Pavilion on A1A Beach Blvd on Aug. 11, 2010, to enjoy a live musical performance by Pride, the Navy R/R Band. ... Hang Gliding Movie: Lauren’s Office When I say hang gliding can be magical, almost spiritual, I’m not exaggerating. Watch this little slide show I made of tandem hang gliding at Quest Air Hang Gliding in Groveland – about an hour west of Orlando-- and you’ll know what I'm talking about. I'm flying the glider, my passenger is a cute little 17 year old girl having the ride of her life, and Steve Monn is the talented photographer who shot the foootage from a plane chasing us. ... Florida Caverns Movie It doesn’t have everything.  Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna lacks shopping malls, high-rises and a party-hearty crowd -- but if you have a yen for an abundance of natural beauty and family-friendly fun, it's just the ticket. Check out my slide show and you’ll see what I mean! If you want more information, check out this article I wrote about it, or better, watch this cool video of the underground action. ... Indialantic: A Video of the Best Beach You’ve Never Heard Of Ever heard of Indialantic? I didn’t think so -- and that’s as sorry as a fish without fins! If you’re looking for a beach getaway with old-time-Florida flavor and flair this southern Space Coast gem is hard to beat. It’s only twenty minutes from bustling Cocoa Beach, but it’s much more secluded, with miles of shoreline sprawling as far as you can see. I just returned from a soul-soothing trip to its serene sands, where I stayed with my hubby at the oceanfront Tuckaway Shores resort. ...