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VISITFLORIDA.com

VISITFLORIDA.com Beaches And Adventure Expert

Green Flag for the VISIT FLORIDA Cup in Sebring I had to read it twice, and I screamed so loud that my cat bolted for the kitchen. I just got an email that said asked if I would be interested in attending Round #1 of the VISIT FLORIDA Cup in Sebring on March 19, 2010, on behalf of VISIT FLORIDA. It also asked if I would want to be the one to wave the green flag and say "Racers, start your engines!" And if I would be up to meeting Patrick Dempsey (McDreamy from Grey's Anatomy) because he drives a racecar for Mazda. ... Meat-Missile-Movie at Skydive City in Zephyrhills Want to know what “meat-missiles” think about their sport – or why they do it at all? I drove to Skydive City in Zephyrhills a couple of days ago for some repairs to my hang gliding harness. While there, I met some new sky-diving friends (or human-meat-missiles, as my hang gliding buddies call them).   I asked them what they liked about taking half-of-a-plane-ride. ... Cocoa Beach’s Reggae Beach Splash You can’t say they don’t warn you. The Reggae Beach Splash in Cocoa Beach on March 27, 2010, advises music lovers to come hungry, thirsty and ready for a great party. The concert will be held smack-dab on the beach and will feature world renowned Reggae artists like UB40's Ali Campbell, Julian Marley, Maxi Priest, The Supervillains and more. ... Events by the Sea in St. Augustine Check out these “Must-Sea Events!” I often search for beach events that sound tempting, and when I stumbled on this calendar titled “Events by the Sea,” I knew I’d hit pay dirt in a big way. St. Augustine Beach is serving up a boatload of beach fun, including the following offerings:   Music by the Sea, a FREE concert series The Sunday Market, an ongoing event featuring live entertainment, arts and crafts Soundtrack of Soldiers, presented by the U. ... Hard-Hitting Fun: MLB Spring Training Season It’s happening! Spring training season has swung into the Sunshine State, offering the chance to watch major league baseball teams like the Phillies and Yankees up-close and on the cheap. Here’s a link to the 15(!) 2010 Grapefruit League teams, their locations and their schedules. Wondering what the fun is like? Check out my trash-talking video of my trip to Port Charlotte to watch the Rays and the Phillies last spring. ... An Epic Surfing Event: The LandShark Pro 2010 at New Smyrna Beach It’s officially epic! A famed surf break, a renowned surfing town and more cold, hard cash than you can stuff in a beach bag mean that the LandShark Pro, April 14-18, 2010, is going to be rockin’ like Hendrix. The blockbuster surfing tournament, held at New Smyrna Inlet surf break, was hailed as the Best New Contest/Epic Event in the January 2010 issue of Eastern Surf Magazine and offers a whopping $20,000 Purse. Further, New Smyrna Beach was named in the July 2009 issue of Surfer Magazine as one of the Top Ten Surf Towns in North America. ... Valentine’s Day on Lovers Key Call me a sap. I loved it.    This Valentine’s Day, in honor of our 25th wedding anniversary, my husband and I renewed our vows on the beach at Lovers Key State Park in a small group ceremony. ... Magic Sunrise Balloon Ride Movie At the end of the day, they’re inadequate. Words, I mean. No matter how much I work to hone the craft of writing, it’s hard to convey what an activity or beach is really like – particularly without miring the reader in a massive mess of text. ... Into the Frozen Tundra: Washington DC Travel and Adventure Show I am ill-equipped for the journey I am about to make. My closet floor is packed with sandals. Two or three pairs of dusty, closed-toed shoes are lurking in the corners for the rare occasions that call for something dressier or warmer. ... Run in the Sun: The 4th Annual Sombrero Beach Run Come for the run, but stay for the sun! That’s how the 4th Annual Sombrero Beach Run promotes itself – and I have to say, it works for me. This event is organized and promoted by the Southernmost Runners Club and will be held in Marathon in the Florida Keys on March 6, 2010. It offers a 15K Challenge and a 10K Run and 5K Walk/Run. ... 73rd Annual Sanibel Shell Fair and Show Sanibel Island is to shells what Superman is to superheroes, what Lassie is to dogs, what Flipper is to dolphins. It’s legendary. Sanibel Island, along with its pristine neighbor, Captiva Island, ranks tops in the world for shelling. ... Panama City Beach’s Storytime at the Beach Now this is sweeter than a springtime strawberry! Super stories, sugar-white sand and spellbound kids all add to the magic of Panama City Beach’s Storytime at the Beach. It’s held this Saturday and next Saturday, starting at 11 a. m. ... Santos Trailhead Mountain Biking Movie There are some things I just refuse to do. Like crawl into a small, wet entrance to a limestone cave that looked to be a favorite haunt of creepy-crawly-critters. I admit, it would have made the video more interesting – but I still think the footage my hubby and I shot will give viewers a good idea of what mountain biking at the Santos Trailhead (by Ocala) is like. ... Share a Little Sunshine Blizzards and ice storms and cold, oh my! Aren't we Floridians lucky to be spared the wintry weather? Much of the country has been getting pummeled by horrific weather lately. Strangely, throughout this same period, our guest room has become immensely popular with our friends and family from chillier states who have suddenly remembered how much they adore us and want to see us. I’m betting it wouldn’t take much to persuade your out-of-state family and friends to make the trek to the Sunshine State, too, and VISIT FLORIDA just made it even more tempting with their Share a Little Sunshine campaign. ... Roll to the Beach: Segway Tours in Sarasota Now this sounds like a fun way to get some sand between your toes – umm, or at least your tires! How about hopping on a Segway for a beach tour of sunny Sarasota? You’ll glide past the scenic Sarasota bayfront, over Ringling Bridge and to the soft, white sands of Lido Key. Check out the cool pictures!  . ... Hog Heaven: Bikeweek at Daytona Beach Hang on to your Harley and get ready for some hog-wild fun, because Bikeweek – only the world's largest motorcycle event – will be roaring into Daytona Beach from Feb. 26 - March 7, 2010.   It will feature motorcycle shows and exhibits, concerts, racing at Daytona International Speedway, festivals, shopping, music and good times galore!  One warning: Bikeweek is great fun, but it is an adult-appropriate event. ... Olympic Sunshine State Stars: Vancouver 2010 Can you imagine what it would be like? The nerves, the pressure and the honor of representing your country in the Olympic Games all would be off the chart. I’m keeping my fingers – and my toes – crossed for our superstar Sunshine State athletes to shine brightly in the Vancouver Games, Feb. 12-28, 2010. ... Blowin’ Like Stink: Hang Gliding at Cocoa Beach It was blowin’ like stink – which, in hang gliding lingo, means the wind was blasting – tempting my buddies and me to make a trip to Cocoa Beach in an attempt to soar the dunes and/or hotels. While the flying was marginal, the fun was anything but. Check out this slide show I put together of our adventure! . ... Biking Lake Minneola I couldn’t be prouder if I had just won a Pulitzer. I actually just made a movie. I brought my spiffy, new, cell-phone-size Kodak Zx1 video camera on my bike ride today. ... Ocala Horse Events Movie To say the Ocala area is horse-friendly is like saying the sun is hot: a vast understatement. In fact, Marion County is touted as the official horse capital of the world since it boasts the most horses in the U. S per county. ... The Great American Race: The Daytona 500 You didn’t forget, did you? I mean, it’s only NASCAR’s biggest, richest, most prestigious race. I’m talking about the Daytona 500, of course! “The Great American Raceâ€� – as it has been dubbed – is about to roar into town on Feb. 14, 2010. ... Valentine’s Day at Lovers Key Guys and gals, set up this sweetheart date and you’ll have earned enough brownie points to open up a fudge factory! I’m talking about Lovers Key Park’s special Valentine’s Day event, where couples are invited to the park for a special vow renewal ceremony at the gazebo on the beach. Music, swaying palms, champagne, sweet treats and a sunset stroll on the beach will all add to the romance, and each couple will receive a photo taken at sunset. It’s not even pricey -- just $30 per couple. ... 2010 DIRECTV Celebrity Beach Bowl Miami’s South Beach is about to get even hotter. A slew of celebrities, musicians and professional athletes will be rushing down to the oh-so-trendy haunt on Sat. , Feb. ... Paintball Slide Show Being a horrific chicken, I was dressed appropriately for a stroll through the Arctic. I was playing paintball for the first time at M. I. ... Florida State Parks' 75th Anniversary Go Play Weekday You may as well just grab your sunscreen and a towel now.  “Go Play Weekday,â€� the first of several promotions planned in celebration of the Florida State Parks’ 75th Anniversary, is a super-bargain designed to entice you into playing hooky for an afternoon – or a morning, or a whole day or several days – at some fabulous Florida destinations. Throughout 2010, Go Play Weekday specials will highlight parks in each corner of the Sunshine State, and during the promotional months, you’ll only have to fork out a 75-cent admission fee Monday through Friday at the featured parks. ...