Florida Tourism

Boca Raton, FL - The Smooth Jazz Charter Cruise is Single Travel International’s backstage pass to sail the Caribbean with jazz music superstars like Norman Brown, Nick Colionne, Boney James, Acoustic Alchemy, and many more! This luxurious, five-star experience aboard the beautiful Celebrity Century, ranked one of the world’s best cruise lines by Conde Nast Traveler, is a specially chartered cruise. Included are exclusive singles events and access to your favorite jazz performers aboard this one-of-a-kind cruise vacation! Leaving Miami, the cruise sets sail to Key West, Nassau, and Coco Cay (for a private beach party) and features afternoon and evening performances every sailing day. Starting at $1,849, this special cruise vacation includes gratuities, all taxes, government fees and fuel charges, with no hidden fees!

Smooth Jazz Cruise host, Norman Brown, will introduce live jazz performances by Nick Colionne, Boney James, Mindi Abair, Larry Carlton, Heather Headley, Acoustic Alchemy, Greg Adams, Marlon Meadows, Steve Cole, Shilts, Steve Oliver, Chieli Minnuci, Michael Lington, Alan Hewitt and Althea Rene, among others. Daily performances are scheduled in the afternoons and all evening, and all musicians will perform their show at least twice during the cruise to accommodate all guests.

Autograph and interview sessions, as well as late night jam sessions are part of the jazz experience. Exclusive Singles Travel International amenities include a $50 shipboard credit, welcome aboard party with open bar, breakfast and happy hour club each day, singles seating for dinner, and farewell party. And of course, Singles Travel International invites all single guests to the big game party on February 1st for football’s greatest game of the year. More here.

Cape Canaveral, FL - Space shuttle Atlantis (foreground) sits on Launch Pad A and Endeavour on Launch Pad B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. At the left of each shuttle are the open rotating service structures with the payload changeout rooms revealed. The rotating service structures provide protection for weather and access to the shuttle. For the first time since July 2001, two shuttles are on the launch pads at the same time at the center. Endeavour will stand by at pad B in the unlikely event that a rescue mission is necessary during space shuttle Atlantis’ upcoming mission to repair NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, targeted to launch Oct. 10. After Endeavour is cleared from its duty as a rescue spacecraft, it will be moved to Launch Pad 39A for its STS-126 mission to the International Space Station. That flight is targeted for launch Nov. 12.

According to the Cape Canaveral Launch Schedule, on Oct 10 - Space Shuttle Atlantis, NASA Mission STS-125, will service the Hubble Space Telescope. Space shuttle Atlantis’ upcoming 11-day mission is the final shuttle flight to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Five spacewalks are planned to install new instruments and thermal blankets, repair two existing instruments, refurbish subsystems and replace gyroscopes and batteries. The result will be six working, complementary science instruments with capabilities beyond what is now available, and an extended operational lifespan through at least 2013. The seven-member crew will enhance the observatory and ensure cutting-edge science. It puts in place advanced technology that improves the discovery power of Hubble by 10 to 70 times.

On Nov 12, Space Shuttle Endeavour, Mission STS-126, will visit the International Space Station. Endeavour will carry a reusable logistics module that will hold supplies and equipment, including additional crew quarters, a second treadmill, equipment for the regenerative life support system and spare hardware. STS-126 is the 27th shuttle mission to the International Space Station.

Panama City Beach, FL - The Bay Point Marriott Golf Resort & Spa wants to help you have a great “Staycation” this summer without ever leaving your neighborhood. With summer rates starting at $129 for Bay, Okaloosa, Walton and Escambia County Residents,* this unbeatable “Stay-cation” Panama City Beach Vacation Package is the perfect opportunity to escape the ordinary, even if you can’t get too far away this summer.

Be amazed with this hotel’s $24 million dollar renovation that includes a total transformation of all of their Panama City Beach lodging, including their 316 spacious guest rooms and golf villas. Enjoy the complimentary boat shuttle for registered guests to number one ranked Shell Island via their very own, Bay Point Lady. Be challenged on two championship golf courses, including the only Nicklaus Design Course in North West Florida, then relax by one of five pools while the kids have fun at the exciting Kid’s Camp that takes place at the hotel.

Indulge in the Serenity Spa at Bay Point, which is the region’s premier full-service spa, salon & fitness center - a 12,000 square foot state-of-the-art oasis of relaxation. Southern Living said, “The fabulous new Serenity Spa is the best in Panama City Beach,” and it was also awarded as “Best Spa” by Panama City Living Magazine. So rest and rejuvenate, and retreat to the Panama City Beach, FL spa resort for a simple summer getaway, close to home.

The Bay Point Marriott is located at 4200 Marriott Drive in Panama City Beach, one of the best Florida Panhandle Beaches.

Visit MarriottBayPoint.com or call 1-800-644-2650 and ask for the Florida “Staycation” Rates and promotional code LCGD, for more information on this luxurious property.

Looe Key, Florida Keys - “Reefpublicans” and “Democrabs” are to congregate in the Lower Florida Keys Saturday, July 12, when the 24th annual Underwater Music Festival puts an undersea spin on the upcoming 2008 presidential elections.

The quirky underwater concert takes place at Looe Key Reef, an area of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary located approximately six miles south of Big Pine Key. Each year, the subsea songfest draws as many as 600 divers and snorkelers to explore the colorful diversity of marine life that characterizes North America’s only living coral barrier reef.

The 2008 festival is to salute November’s “eel-ections” with underwater appearances by divers costumed as “Barackuda Obama,” “Hillary Clintuna” and “John McClam” among other political notables.

Set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the marine musical event is staged by Keys radio station WWUS 104.1 FM, locally called U.S. 1. Music is broadcast underwater via Lubell Laboratory speakers suspended beneath boats positioned at the reef, and the playlist typically ranges from humpback whale songs to marine-themed ditties such as the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” and Jimmy Buffett’s “A Pirate Looks at 40.”

“We also feature the work of local Keys musicians, who often have a unique vision of life in the Keys and on the water,” said event founder and organizer Bill Becker of U.S. 1. “This year, of course, we’re planning to add contemporary musical spoofs of the political process.”

Participants might even catch the scuba-diving “presidential hopefuls” tooting their own horns — pretending to play underwater musical instruments like a trom-bonefish and sax-eel-phone sculpted by Florida Keys artist August Powers.

While election “afishionados” are encouraged to enjoy the bipartisan party at Looe Key Reef, the concert also has a serious focus: promoting preservation of the Florida Keys’ unique coral reef ecosystem. The musical broadcast incorporates diver awareness announcements, prepared by Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary officials, offering tips on how people can enjoy the ocean while minimizing their impact on the reef and overall marine environment.

Divers and snorkelers eager to participate in the 2008 Underwater Music Festival can reserve space aboard boats run by Lower Keys dive operators. Visitors and residents with their own boats can launch from public ramps and marinas throughout the area.

For information about dive charters and accommodations in the Lower Florida Keys, contact the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce at (800) 872-3722 or (305) 872-2411, or visit the Florida Keys Web site at www.fla-keys.com or the chamber’s Web site at www.lowerkeyschamber.com.

Miami, FL - Doral Golf Resort & Spa, a Marriott Resort, is offering golfers the opportunity to play against other amateurs in three summer tournaments on its two famed Miami golf courses, the Blue Monster and Great White. As regular golf fees on these courses start at $125 and $210 respectively, the summer tournaments offer golf aficionados (men and women) the chance to play like the pros and enjoy the festivities, including complimentary food and beverages, while saving over 50% on golf fees. Below are further details:

• Summer Solstice Slam - $175 per person*
On Wednesday, June 18, golfers will thank the grass gods with this golf-’til-you-drop event on the longest day of the summer. The 54-hole event spans dawn to dusk on the famous Blue Monster and Great White courses. For those brave enough to take on the marathon golf event, food and beverage will be provided. Golfers save over 50%!

• Blue/White Aggregate Tournament - $150 per person*
Offering the best of both worlds, this Thursday, August 28 event invites duffers to take on the Blue Monster Golf Course and the Great White for one low rate, which includes complimentary continental breakfast and lunch. Prizes include a three-day/two-night Championship Golf package for two and complimentary tee times for four on the Blue Monster and Great White courses. Gift certificates will also be awarded for Closest to the Pin, Longest Drive and Most Improved Score. Golfers save 60%!

• Blue Monster Day at Doral - $100 per person*
Take your TigerQ. Starting from the professional tees used at the 2008 World Golf Championship - CA Championship, golfers will compete on one of the PGA Tour’s most difficult courses on Monday, September 29. An additional challenge will be set up on the 9th hole: any duffer who can “Beat the Pro” will win a $50 gift certificate that can be used towards a relaxing massage at The Miami Spa at Doral, dinner at Champions Bar and Grill or at any of the resort’s retail shops. Golfers save over 50%!

Duffers can sign up for all three events for $400 per person*. Room rates start at $149 per night.** For reservations or additional information, please call golf sales office at (305) 591-6401.

Situated on 650 tropical acres, the award-winning Doral Golf Resort & Spa, a Marriott Resort is one of Miami’s premier resorts. All 693 luxuriously- appointed Miami accommodations, including 96 suites, boast individual balconies/patios, guest-controlled air conditioning, direct-dial telephone with two-lines for high-speed Internet or fax access, electronic safes with rechargeable capabilities for your laptop, and more.

Featuring five 18-hole championship golf courses, including the famed Blue Monster, the Doral is continuously ranked one of the country’s leading golf destinations. The European inspired Spa at Doral offers guests more than 100 spa services, 52 treatment rooms, an on-site registered dietician/nutritionist and state-of-the-art exercise center. For dining, guests can choose from five delectable restaurants in Miami, Florida including Windows on the Green, The Atrium, Terrazza Restaurant and Caf , Champions Bar & Grill and Bungalou’s Bar & Grill. Located only seven miles from Miami International Airport, the hotel also features the acclaimed Arthur Ashe Tennis Center, Jim McLean Golf Center, The Blue Lagoon aquatic recreation area and nine retail shops. For more information or to make a reservation, call (800) 71-DORAL or visit http://marriott.com/hotels/travel/miadl.