Florida Tourism

Key West, Florida Keys — Revelers in Cuban dress are scheduled to conga from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico Friday night, May 23, to kick off Key West’s ninth annual Cuban American Heritage Festival. The festivities are to continue through Sunday, May 25, with events celebrating the island city’s rich and colorful Cuban heritage.

Led by Comparsa Key West, the festival’s official dance troupe, the conga line is to step off at 8 p.m. and proceed down mile-long Duval Street from the ocean to the gulf. Members of the public are invited to put on their dancing shoes, grab their tambourines and join the fun.

Located just 90 miles from Cuba, Key West was the site of nearly 150 cigar factories in the mid to late 1800s, when the island city welcomed thousands of Cuban immigrants seeking greater personal and political freedom. Tickets are $50 per person, and seating is limited but there are plenty of things to do in Key West so don’t wait. For reservations, call (305) 295-9665. The family-oriented Cuban American Heritage Festival showcases the vibrant culture and customs these individuals brought with them to Key West.

Midway along the procession’s route, dancers and revelers are to pass the historic San Carlos Institute, where Jose Marti launched his 1892 drive for his homeland’s independence.

Conga celebrants are to proceed to El Meson de Pepe, 410 Wall St. at Mallory Square, for a lively Latin dance party. The gala is to begin at 9:30 p.m. and feature the rhythms of the popular band Caribe. Admission is free.

Saturday, May 24, El Meson is to be the site of a cigar dinner and silent auction that celebrate Key West’s cigar-making legacy. Presented by the Fuente Newman Cigar Co. and starting at 7 p.m., the night is to include a full dinner, wine and a selection of fine cigars.

The cost of this quintessential Cuban-style evening is $75 per person. For reservations, call Jose Diaz at (305) 360-0738.

Sunday morning is to bring a fun-filled party for children and families. The Fiesta de Niños is to be staged at the White Street Pier overlooking the Atlantic Ocean at White Street and Atlantic Boulevard. Scheduled activities include an old-fashioned children’s fishing tournament and a traditional domino tournament for kids, grandparents and attendees of all ages. Admission is free.

If the fiesta sparks an appetite for Latin cuisine, “A Taste of Havana” should satisfy it. Starting at 7 p.m. Sunday, diners can enjoy a progressive dinner featuring outstanding food from Key West’s leading Latin restaurants. Participants will be whisked from place to place by trolley during the unique progressive dinner.

For more information about the Cuban American Heritage Festival, visit www.cubanfest.com or call (305) 295-9665.

For lodging information in Key West, contact the Key West Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-LAST-KEY (800-527-8539) or visit the Florida Keys & Key West Web site at www.fla-keys.com.

Cape Canaveral, FL – The seventh group of Space Shuttle astronauts has been named to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Veteran Space Shuttle Astronauts John E. Blaha, Robert D. Cabana, Bryan D. O’Connor and Loren J. Shriver will join an elite group of American space heroes as they are inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Earlier inductees represent the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz programs.

Each inductee brings their own chapter to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Blaha, the third American to live aboard the Russian Mir Space Station; Cabana, the commander of the first International Space Station assembly mission; O’Connor, commander of the first shuttle mission dedicated to life sciences; and Shriver, commander of the mission to deploy the Hubble Space Telescope, will bring the number of space explorers enshrined in the Astronaut Hall of Fame to 70.

They will join the ranks of legendary space pioneers like Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, Alan Shepard, Sally Ride and John Young. The public ceremony at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will be held Saturday, May 3 at 3:00 p.m. View the Cape Canaveral Launch Schedule for times and dates of upcoming launches. More than 25 astronauts have accepted invitations to attend and honor the latest inductees including Scott Carpenter, John Young, Bob Crippen, Al Worden and Walt Cunningham. As part of the weekend celebration, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will feature autograph sessions, book signings and public presentations with current Hall of Fame astronauts, including Bob Crippen, Robert “Hoot” Gibson, Story Musgrave, and Ed Mitchell on May 3 and 4. A schedule of events can be found at /astronaut_induction.

The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is included with admission to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Induction weekend ticket packages are available for $70 plus tax for adults and $50 plus tax for children and include the following:

• Two-day Admission to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame
• Reserved seating at the Induction Ceremony at 3:00 p.m.
• Commemorative poster of the 2008 Inductees
• A special Apollo 16 Lunch With the Astronauts on May 3 at 11:30 a.m. Lunch will be hosted by Apollo 16 “moonwalkers” John Young and Charlie Duke
• U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction weekend tickets are available by telephone at 321-449-4400 or online at www.KennedySpaceCenter.com. Local accommodations are also available.

The 2008 inductees were selected by a committee of current Hall of Fame astronauts, former NASA officials and flight directors, historians, journalists and other space authorities. The process is administered by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, created in 1984 to support students seeking careers in science and technology. To be eligible, an astronaut must have made his or her first flight at least 17 years before the induction year and must be retired at least five years from NASA’s astronaut corps. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, NASA-trained and must have orbited the earth at least once. Committee members receiving ballots evaluate not only an individual’s flight accomplishments but also how he or she contributed to the success and future success of the U.S. Space Program in post-flight assignments. For more information, log on to www.AstronautScholarship.org.

Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are truly a Caribbean paradise that stretches from Key Largo to Key West. Key Largo is well known divers and snorkelers with clear water it’s the easiest Key to get to. Islamorada is the Gamefish Capital of Florida with both offshore fishing and inshore fishing for bonefish and tarpon. Bahia Honda Key is one of the most natural of the Florida Keys and popular with campers and snorkelers. And Key West is party central with Duval Street and the Annual FantasyFest.

Tampa

Tampa Florida is a busy metro area similar to other cities across the nation. What makes it special is it’s semi-tropical seaside location and the culture, which are considered by many as one and the same. Ybor City located in Tampa’s Latin Quarter, has become the new “South Beach”. Complete with clubs, restaurants and eclectic shops, the region has a strong Cuban flavor complete with merchants selling hand rolled cigars.

Tampa is also home to Busch Gardens, one of the most popular attractions in Florida and for good reason, Beer. But beer is not the only reason to visit Busch Gardens, there are roller coasters like the SheiKra and Gwazi. Busch Gardens is also home to Animal Attractions.

Miami

Miami is located at the south eastern and that’s what gives it the unique beaches and water quality. Even though the region is a major population area and shipping port, the clear Gulf Stream waters flush Biscayne Bay and the nearby shoreline. The close proximity of the Gulf Stream also makes offshore fishing some of the best anywhere. Fishing for marlin, mahi mahi, wahoo and king mackerel are available year round.

Miami is also home to a large Cuban population giving the area a Latin flavor that impacts the fashion, food and nightclub atmosphere. There are also professional sports teams like the Miami Dolphins.

Orlando

Orlando Florida is one of the most popular family vacation destinations in the nation, and for good reason, theme parks. Disney, Universal and Seaworld are the most famous. But there are other attractions close by such as Gatorland, Wet N’ Wild and nearby Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex.

Hotels and Resorts around Central Florida cater to visiting families and International Drive offers a shopping experience you won’t find anyplace else. Restaurants and dinner shows are also popular with the visiting families for any budget.

Florida Travel Info

Looking for tips you’ll find Florida Travel Info a valuable source. Florida has beautiful beaches, plenty of theme parks and resort hotels that will make your Florida vacation a memorable experience.

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — ESPN and Walt Disney World Resort will again offer fans the opportunity to see and hear ESPN personalities and a host of current and legendary athletes during ESPN The Weekend presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods, a special event scheduled for Feb. 29-March 2, 2008, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park.

More than 60 sports celebrities are expected to appear at the annual sports fan-fest. The event features Hollywood-style motorcades with athletes, talk shows, sports star conversations, live ESPN telecasts and interactive fun in the ESPN Sports Zone.

Some of the athletes scheduled to take part in the “three-day weekend” event include New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs and wide receiver Amani Toomer, Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, baseball legend Cal Ripken, Orlando Magic All Star Dwight Howard, MLB Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench and the famous Harlem Globetrotters. ESPN personalities scheduled to be part of the lineup include Jay Crawford, Peter Gammons, Mike Greenberg, Orestes Destrade, Mike Tirico, Colin Cowherd, Mike Golic, Linda Cohn, John Kruk, Karl Ravech, Jemele Hill and Trey Wingo.

The roster of participating ESPN personalities and sports celebrities will be continually updated at www.espntheweekend.com. Guests also may visit espntheweekend.com to make reservations, buy tickets and book Disney accommodations for the event.

ESPN The Weekend will feature on-site ESPN telecasts of popular programs, including “Baseball Tonight,” “First Take,” “Mike and Mike in the Morning,” “NFL Live” and interview segments on “SportsCenter.”

In its short history, ESPN The Weekend has become a popular event for fans as well as the athletes who attend each year.

“I am really looking forward to seeing all the fans at ESPN The Weekend,” said Donovan McNabb, a five-time NFL Pro Bowler who will be attending his first ESPN The Weekend. “I’ve heard from teammates and other athletes what a super event it is and I am looking forward to experiencing it for myself and my family.”

Guests also will be able to enjoy all the popular shows and attractions at the theme park during Disney’s “Year of a Million Dreams” celebration. Event activities are included in regular admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Key West, Florida Keys — Nature lovers can enjoy an exhibition and sale of rare plants, tour the lush and lovely gardens surrounding five private Key West homes, explore Key West’s two premier public gardens and expand their horticultural knowledge at educational workshops during Gardenfest Key West, scheduled Friday through Sunday, Feb. 22-24.

The festivities are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, with a wine tasting and plant preview at the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden, 5210 College Road, the only frost-free tropical moist forest garden in the continental United States. Visitors who join either the club or the society are admitted free, and members receive a 10 percent discount on their Friday night plant purchases.

Gardenfest is presented jointly by the Key West Garden Club and the Key West Botanical Garden Society.

All day Saturday and Sunday, visitors to the Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden can view and purchase native plants, fruit trees, exotic palms, orchids, bromeliads, flowering plants and more, as well as nature-themed art and crafts.

Private garden tours are scheduled 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The $20 per person price includes complimentary shuttle service to all five private gardens from the Key West Garden Club headquarters at West Martello Tower, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean at 1100 Atlantic Blvd., as well as shuttle service to the Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden.

Tickets for the garden tours are available at the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden and the Key West Garden Club headquarters, or by calling the organizations at (305) 296-1504 or (305) 294-3210. Credit cards are accepted.

Visitors also can explore the forest and garden, a rich and diverse environment whose attractions include tropical fruit trees, native fragrant plants, native palms, tropical spices and local herbs, champion trees, butterflies and birds.

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days a series of free educational workshops on horticultural subjects is to be presented.

For more information, visit www.keywestbotanicalgarden.org or www.keywestgardenclub.com.