Did you know that Florida Travel is one of the most affordable vacation destinations available today? Yes, you can plan that family vacation and count on Florida for its value. While I can understand that most of us should be concerned about the economic times that we are facing, I can assure you that you can still afford that Florida vacation that you have been dreaming of for some time. How do I know this? Well, it is precisely our economic downturn that is forcing the airline industry, hotels and all theme park attractions in Florida to reduce prices and create discounted vacation packages for travelers.

The first step in planning your Florida vacation is to make a commitment to take that vacation. Once your mind is made up, decide where you want to go and remember that Florida is one of those places that has a little something for everyone and every budget. Next, start looking for discounted vacation packages. In future posts, I will provide you with several places that offer discounted packages to get you started.

Why Florida? First of all, I live in Florida and I am familiar with the entire state and its beauty. I know that through the years, Florida has been a favorite vacation place for many people. There is so much to do and see in Florida that it would be impossible to mention it all here but millions of people flock to Florida every year. Let’s face it, Florida is called the “Sunshine State” and we do have lots of it here. With its exotic resorts and gorgeous beaches, coupled with great weather, it is no wonder that more and more people choose Florida Travel for their vacation destination. Consider this…

Florida is the home of the famous Disney World theme park. It has been said that Disney World with all its magic is Florida’s most popular vacation destination and is the largest resort in the world with four theme parks and over 20 hotels. Disney World is a place where you can experience those magical days of princesses, castles and all your favorite Disney movie characters from your childhood story books. It is a place where dreams come true for children and adults alike. It is a place that every child alive wants to visit.

In addition to the wonderful world of Disney characters, Florida is also the home of the famous SeaWorld, MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom, Epcot Center, the famous Busch Gardens, Daytona International Speedway, and NASA which is also known as Kennedy Space Center. I live twelve miles from Kennedy Space Center and can honestly tell you that the shuttle launches are breathtaking!

Florida is also the place for fairy tale weddings and honeymoons. Couples just come down to Florida to get married and they don’t need a fairy godmother to find the perfect setting for their wedding. While there are many choices for wedding locations in Florida, couples can really make their fairy tale dream come true by planning their wedding with Cinderella’s coach and even her famous glass slippers. Other couples choose a romantic sunset wedding by the beach and we do have plenty of beaches and beautiful sunsets here. Tropical weather and plenty of sunshine make Florida’s beaches some of the most romantic vacation destinations for an unforgettable wedding

And, if a Cinderella style wedding or a sunset wedding is not your type, then you can plan your wedding at the Lovers Key State Recreation Area which is located in Southwest Florida. Here you will have over 700 acres of natural habitat and almost 3 miles of beaches and a unique turn-of-the-century gazebo that is available for weddings. The park’s secluded gulf front setting and its stunning open air structure have made Lovers Key one of Florida’s most romantic state park and a preferred location for weddings.

The places mentioned above are just a few of the many options you have when planning your Florida Travel vacation. But, you can just get a discounted travel package that includes airfare and hotel and visit other areas of interest to you. Florida with its sandy beaches and beautiful bays, outstanding lush waterside golf courses, abundant fishing, ancient art museums, exotic coral reefs, tropical wetlands and forests, over 5 million acres of wildlife, and an average temperature of 81 degrees, has become the preferred destination for millions of travelers.

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Ready for a surprising treat? Then head on over to Three Broomsticks for a Butterbeer or get a pumpkin juice at the Hog’s Head pub. While there, be sure to visit Honeydukes ™ for unique sweets that include chocolate frogs ™, Bertie Bott’s every flavor beans™, cauldron cakes and treacle fudge. And don’t forget to visit Zonko’s ™ Joke shop where you will find a huge selection of jokes and tricks like extendable ears and sneakoscopes. If you want to impress family members and friends, head on over to the Owl Post and send them a postcard or letter with a Hogsmeaded postmark. From here you can then visit Ollivanders ™ wand shop where a wand chooses you for an incredible interactive experience.

There is so much to do at this new theme park and the plan is to bring a collection of rides and attractions designed around the magic and adventures of Harry Potter. It is believed that the main attraction will be ‘Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.’ Other rides include Dragon Challenge™, which is a twin high speed roller coaster and Flight of the Hippogriff ™ a smaller family coaster that takes you through the sky over Hogwarts castle grounds. The Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ™ said to be the main attraction uses new state of the art technology to bring the magic, stories and characters of Harry Potter to life. (photo courtesy: Universal Studios)

Everyone is saying that this is the biggest attraction opening this spring at Universal Studio’s Island of Adventure. The Harry Potter fever is growing in leaps and bounds in popularity and the Brits are thrilled. Already British tourists are flocking in thousands for the event and according to Trevor Davis of tour giant Co-operative Travel, family bookings are up seven percent compared to last year. Imagine 20 acres of the magic of Harry Potter! It is time to start planning your Florida travel vacation and be sure to spend some time at this incredible new theme park in Orlando. This will be definitely an unforgettable experience for the whole family.

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Airfare
Like everything else, you have to shop around for the cheapest airfares available especially if you have a large family. Check out Orbitz online as they charge no booking fees and offer price assurance on your purchase. Also check out cheapoair for guaranteed low prices. Although both of these companies offer reasonably priced lodging and family travel deals, also check the hotels combined website for some great lodging packages.

Food and Snacks
Food and snacks expenses can add up quickly. But, did you know that are allowed to bring coolers to the theme parks at Disney? Yes, you can and this can save you a ton of money. Alcohol and glass containers are not allowed but you can bring water, sodas and juice boxes for the children. If you bring a couple of coolers to the theme park, you can also bring lunch for the whole family. Keep in mind that there is a baggage check at the theme parks so just be patient. Imagine saving all that money and not having to wait in long lines to buy some food. If you drink a lot of water, don’t throw away the empty bottles. You can refill water bottles at various fountains and most restaurants will give you some free ice.

Children Strollers
If you have young children that need strollers, try and bring your own to the theme parks. You can rent strollers at the theme parks, but you can same money by bringing your own. Try and keep the children in the stroller while walking around but if you don’t want to walk around with the stroller all day, there are central locations where you can park it. The main thing to keep in mind is that you can save money by bringing your own strollers for young children.

Buying Souvenirs
This is a tough one to deal with because most people want to bring home souvenirs from that dream vacation they just had but it can be expensive. Let’s face it, every little girl loves the Disney princesses and want those outfits. But when will they wear them and how long will these last before they outgrow them? An idea here is to buy your daughters a princess outfit before the trip and let them wear them while at Disney. You will save lots of money by not buying these outfits on the property.

The same goes for little boys who love to wear a Mickey Mouse hat and shirt. And when will they wear these? My advice here is to buy these prior to your trip and have the boys wear them while at Disney too. You can shop online at the Disney store for children’s outfits and find some real bargains, or look around your local stores that carry Disney merchandise. Your children really don’t care where the merchandise is purchased so save some money and buy it ahead of time.

If you feel that your children should have something from Disney World, then consider looking for books about the various characters. This is definitely much cheaper than buying expensive outfits or shirts. The neat thing about books is that your children can have them autograph by the characters in the book. Don’t forget to take pictures while the children are having the books autographed. The photos will always be a keepsake of your unforgettable Disney World vacation.

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At the Epcot International flower and garden festival you will see millions of blooming flowers and a huge collection of Disney themed topiaries. Take your children to Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden and have them get close to hundreds of very colorful butterflies. During weekends, you will have a chance to meet well known horticulturists made possible by one of the many Garden Town Programs available and you can learn valuable gardening tips that you can take home with you and put to use. (photo courtesy: Epcot)

The Flower and Garden Festival is been held two weeks earlier this year in order to feature more brilliant color than ever. The event this year will include gorgeous petunias, snapdragons, violas and many more beautiful flowers. At this event, you will also find public demonstrations of advanced gardening techniques from all over the world so be sure to attend these too. During the festival, from Friday to Sunday there will be a Flower Power Concert Series where you can enjoy music from the 60’s and 70’s. (photo courtesy: Epcot)

This will be an unforgettable event for the whole family. Here are a few new features announced by Disney for this event.

•    The topiary in the front entrance will include a live waterfall and pond, Goofy fly-fishing, Daisy Duck roasting marshmallows and Pluto in his pup tent.

•    A new topiary will be an American gothic Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse based on the Grant Wood painting.

•    The size of the butterfly house will double to 3.500 square feet.

•    There will be more characters in the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden and it will be larger in size.

•    The Great American Gardeners series and Flower Power concerts will return this year.

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This will be Busch Garden’s newest kid size rides and lots of cool water fun for a memorable experience. Have your children climb in Elmo’s Tree House, fly through the desert with Grover, have a splash in Bert and Ernie’s watering hole or you and your children can have dinner with furry friends. On selected days, the whole family can share breakfast and lunch with Elmo and friends. Let your imagination run wild as you experience the Sesame Street Safari of Fun.

There will be lots of interaction with Sesame Street characters in the new Bush gardens area and ten of these characters will be present all the time. The Cookie Monster, Elmo and the Count will be walking through the Safari of fun at least five times a day and will end the day with a very entertaining stage show. Don’t forget to take pictures with Big Bird who will be stationed in the meet and greet building called Smile with Me. And your child will love new areas called Elmo’s Safari Go-Round, Snuffy’s Elephant Romp, the Count’s Zambezi Rally and Zoe Patra and the Hippos of the Nile. Be sure to take your children to a fun movie called Sesame Street Presents Lights, Camera and Imagination. (photo courtesy: Bush Gardens)

Start planning your Florida travel vacation now and be sure to visit this incredible Sesame Street family friendly Safari that is due to open its doors in March 2010. There will be so much to do at Bush Gardens that it will truly be an unforgettable experience for the whole family.

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Sanibel Island is known for its beautiful pastel colored seashells that pile up on the beaches. If you love collecting seashell, this is the place to be. Here you will find an abundant collection of unique seashells that come from the Gulf of Mexico to the shores of the island. Tourists from all over the world vacation in Sanibel Island to collect and admire the very colorful seashells and consider them a treasure from the sea. Collecting seashells at Sanibel Island has become a family activity and you will see young and old with buckets collecting them. (photo courtesy: Sandy Ranseth)

Sanibel Island has something for everyone. You can spend time at the famous “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge with over 6,000 acres of mangrove jungles and wetlands and home to many endangered species. Here you will see many manatees, raccoons, alligators and lots of tropical birds. You and your family can also go fishing, boating, biking on a twenty five mile bike path and explore the island, play tennis, shop at unique boutiques with unusual items to purchase and dine at numerous excellent restaurants along the way.

The fun never stops at Sanibel Island and the best part is that you can include your whole family. It really is considered a top Florida destination for families. You can choose to be boating, kayaking, water skiing, fishing, canoeing, playing golf on one of the scenic courses, and playing tennis, bike riding, or just cruise the waterway by boat and rest assured that you will remember your vacation for years to come. Sanibel Island is also a
preferred place for couples who dream about getting married at the beach. If you are planning a wedding, do consider Sanibel Island for your special day and it will be an unforgettable experience. (photo courtesy: ultimatebeachweddings.com)

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Are you ready for this? The Central Park neighborhood has some 12,000 plants all in the form of flowers, shrubs and trees. All of these plants will be rotated to display the different seasons and there are four gardeners maintaining this area. There are also several restaurants, bars and high quality stores in the Central Park neighborhood. Because of the large width of the ship, architects were able to take out the spine to create areas like Boardwalk and Central Park in the middle of the ship while turning interior cabins into cabins with balconies that overlooked the inside areas. (photo courtesy: Royal Caribbean)

Similar to Central Park, the interior of the Boardwalk neighborhood is open to the sky and also to the ocean at the stern of the ship. And to the stern there is a large swimming pool during the day and a 750 seat theatre by night with shows featuring acrobats, high diving, synchronized swimming and a light and water display. While waiting for the show to begin, you can be entertained by watching rock climbers as they attempt to climb very tall walls on both sides of the stage. But that is not all; there is also a working carousel in this neighborhood with horses, tigers and rabbits which were hand-carved for this ship. Amazing! Hungry, no problem! There are lots of places to eat along the Boardwalk including a Johnny Rockets restaurant which most Royal Caribbean cruisers are familiar with and a new place called the Seafood Shack.

The youth zone is very popular on this ship and Royal Caribbean now has a supervised section for babies and tots. Reservations can be made at the Fisher Price area where trained staff members will take care of your child for about $8 per hour. Children up to 11 years old have their own area of the ship. Teenagers also have their own area near the bow of the ship with games and clubs and doors leading to the sports zone. The Pool and Sports zone covers the entire length of the ship. Here the adults can enjoy an area called the Solarium with glassed-in whirlpools that extend over the side of the ship, cabana style lounges and a healthy food restaurant. (photo courtesy: Royal Caribbean)

It is nearly impossible to cover all the magnificent features included in this awesome ship and it is something that people can’t even imagine until they walk on board, but the above information will give you an idea of what to expect when you travel to Florida and board the Oasis of the Seas.

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Just in case you are not familiar with the Chautauqua movement, the original group referred to as “The Mother Chautauqua” began in Northwest New York in 1874. The Florida Chautauqua Assembly, is a non-profit educational program which began back in the 1880’s, lasted until the early 1920’s and was revived again in 1996. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and it is not religiously affiliated nor politically aligned. The Assembly is held at the Florida Chautauqua Center and it hosts discussions on many topics for the whole family and the community to enjoy.

Here are the speakers and the events that each speaker will cover at the 2010 Florida Chautauqua Assembly. For more information and a complete schedule of events and timeframes, visit the Florida Chautauqua website. Information is being updated daily so do check their website regularly.

Jenna Bush-Hager
Jenna is the daughter of former President and Mrs. George W. Bush. After teaching at a public school for almost two years, she took a leave of absence to work at a shelter as part of an internship for UNICEF’s Educational Policy Department in Latin America. She returned to her teaching position after her internship and now works as a reading coordinator at a school in Baltimore, MD. Jenna is the author of a book called “Ana’s Story” about the life of a 17 year old mother living with HIV whom she met in the Caribbean. (photo courtesy: Florida Chautauqua)

•    ”Teaching in the Caribbean” – A presentation by Jenna Bush-Hager.

Dean DeBolt
Dean is University Librarian for Special Collections at the University of West Florida in Pensacola. He has lectured widely on the American Chautauqua Movement and the history of the Florida Chautauqua including presentations at the New York Chautauqua and the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly. (photo courtesy: Florida Chautauqua)

•    Chautauqua History Trolley Tours of DeFuniak Springs – An overview of the original Florida Chautauqua Assembly.

•    History of the Florida Chautauqua Movement – Dean will discuss how the Florida Chautauqua was founded and why. He will also discuss how DeFuniak Springs was created, the individuals that led the Florida Chautauqua and why it was called the Great Southern Chautauqua.

Judy DeBolt
Judy is retired from the University of West Florida. She has given presentations on “Gone with the Wind” and the “Titanic” since 1999 and has presented these to historical groups in Pensacola, FL as well as previous Chautauqua Assemblies in DeFuniak Springs.

•    Story of the SS Morro Castle – Judy will discuss the tragic story of the SS Morro Castle luxury cruise ship of the 1930’s that caught fire going from Havana Cuba to New York City. She will talk about the improvements that have been made to prevent this from happening again.

John Bussert
John is a steel drum entertainer and is passionate about protecting parrots in the Caribbean and around the world. He performs throughout Florida at various events and always brings a message about the protection and proper care of parrots. (photo courtesy: Florida Chautauqua)

•    ”International Port of Call” Welcome Party – Enjoy live steel drum music by John Bussert and meet many of the performers and greeters that will make the Assembly journey an unforgettable experience.

•    Tea with Steel Drum Performer John Bussert – John will explain how steel drums work and will weave his story with live music enjoyed throughout the Caribbean islands and nations. This will be a time to enjoy live steel drum music while you sip tea and envision your next trip to the Caribbean.

•    Parrots of the Caribbean – John will give an introduction on his many parrots of the Caribbean and explain how he and others are working to protect them from smuggling and abuse.

Dr. Colleen Vasconcellos
Dr. Vasconcellos received her PhD in Atlantic History from Florida International University and is a visiting assistant professor in the Department of History at the University of West Georgia. She has taught classes on Abolitionism in the Atlantic World, Slavery in the Caribbean and Colonial Latin America, but her research centers on children in the Atlantic World, more specifically slave children in Jamaica. (photo courtesy: Florida Chautauqua)

•    Slavery in the Caribbean – A discussion of how the processes of colonial exploitation and the domination of sugar monoculture in the Caribbean led to the formation of plantation societies and the enforcement of slavery in the Caribbean. She will also discuss conditions under slavery, the different levels at which slavery was resisted and finally overthrown.

•    Slavery, Abolition and Childhood in Jamaica, 1750-1838 – This is an interesting discussion on roles and experiences of Jamaican slavery and how they shifted from burden to investment and back to burden with the British abolitionist movement being the catalyst.

Dale Arrowood
A master falconer, Dale is co-founder and leads a company called Winged Ambassadors an organization in Sharpsburg, GA that brings educational bird shows to schools, scouting events, and fairs. He has dedicated his life to educating the public about the significance of eagles, hawks, owls, falcons and vultures using non-releasable birds he found injured. (photo courtesy: Florida Chautauqua)

•    Birds of Prey – An interactive demonstration featuring non-releasable birds trained for educating audiences of all ages. You will learn the differences and similarities between a variety of raptor and owl families, birds of prey that exist in the Caribbean, and the necessity of the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Michelle Murillo
Michelle is an actress from Melbourne, FL and is playing the role of lady pirate Mary Read during monologue teas and special events throughout the Florida Chautauqua Assembly. She captures the persona of Mary Read perfectly and even visited the Old Gaol in Port Royal, Jamaica where Mary Read died from complications of childbirth. (photo courtesy: Florida Chautauqua)

•    Tea at the Trial of Lady Pirate Mary Read – Sip your tea and enjoy your crumpets while you listen to “Lady Pirate Mary Read” as she explains what happened at her trial in the 1700’s and why she was accused of piracy in the Caribbean.

•    Tea with the Tyrants – Have some tea with the Lady Pirates of the Caribbean, the infamous Mary Read and Anne Bonney and learn about their sea mischief and trials.

Brenda Rees
Brenda is a local actress who plays the part of Octavia Walton-Le Vert who was a local historical figure that traveled the world and befriended many famous people. Brenda has been a frequent presenter at the Florida Chautauqua Assembly in recent years on “Shaping Florida,” John Wesley in “Spanish Florida” and “A Portrayal of Octavia Walton-Le Vert.” (photo courtesy: Florida Chautauqua)

•    Monologue Tea with Octavia Walton Le Vert – Enjoy tea and dessert as you step back in time and explore the world of travel through the eyes of an incredible and historical Northwest Florida figure. Octavia Walton Le Vert (played by Brenda Rees) was known as a published woman, author and writing peer of Harriet Beecher Stow and Louisa Mae Alcott back in the 1800’s and Walton County Florida is named for her father. Octavia’s grandmother, Dorothy Walton, wife of Declaration of Independence signer George Walton, was captured during the American Revolution War and taken prisoner to the Caribbean. Octavia will be brought to life through her Florida territorial days, adventures, and stories with the rich and famous of the world.

Brian Staples
Brian owns the “Brian Staples Animal Reserve and Rescue” in Clayton, Washington which is home to animals that have been confiscated at the United States border during illegal importation or abandoned and abused animals. He shares his story about the protections of animals around the world through his remarkable presentations and shows. (photo courtesy: Florida Chautauqua)

•    Monkeys of the Caribbean – Brian will discuss the different species of monkeys on some of the islands of the Caribbean. You can even hold one during the discussion so bring your camera.

•    Animal Magic Show – See a fascinating show featuring monkeys and other exotic animals seen at the Florida Chautauqua’s Camp Conservation exhibit.

Justin Kiefer
Justin is Chief Meteorologist at WMBB-TV in Panama City, Florida. He received his degree in Meteorology from Florida State University and previously worked as a Meteorologist in Tallahassee, Tampa-St. Petersburg and Hartford, CT. He has been awarded the Connecticut Associated Press “Best Weathercast award and was awarded the “Best Weathercast” from the Florida Associated Press. (photo courtesy: Florida Chautauqua)

•    Climatology in the Caribbean – Justin will discuss how the climate of the Caribbean is critical to the severe weather that hits the United States every year. He will also discuss the origins of hurricanes and how weather experts gauge conditions in the Caribbean that impacts our nation during the hurricane season.

Jim Wainwright
Jim is an Open Water Scuba instructor and has over thirty years of diving experience. Through his use of light, shadow and contrast, his art and photography seem to come to life and there is a true story behind every picture he takes. He is an accomplished writer, artist and photographer and recently had an exhibit at the Museum of Natural History in Raleigh, NC. (photo courtesy: Florida Chautauqua)

•    The World of Underwater Photography – Underwater photographer and artist Jim Wainwright will teach some tricks to using disposal underwater cameras and how to get the best underwater photos.

Dr. Britt Poulson
Dr. Poulson has a B.A. degree in English from Allegheny College, an M.A. in guidance from George Washington University and a Ph.D. from Penn State University. He was a professor at Penn State and Florida State Universities and a Director of curriculum for several Florida school districts. Back in the 1970’s, Dr. Poulson created an academic competition called the Big Bend High School Bowl, and in the 1980’s he created a senior citizen bowl competition that once had statewide competition in Orlando. (photo courtesy: Florida Chautauqua)

•    Chautauqua Challenge Brain Bowl – Get ready for a challenge by Dr. Poulson on what you’ve learned from the “Journey into the Caribbean” keynote presentations, sessions and exhibits. It’s time to put your brain to the test and have some fun as this entertaining session will give real meaning to your Chautauqua experience. Don’t worry, no one will be put on the spot or embarrassed.

Wayne Sconiers
Have you ever wondered where your ancestors came from? Wayne Sconiers of DeFuniak Springs will introduce you to the world of genealogy and show you how to trace your own family history.

•    Genealogy – Even if your roots are on the islands of the Caribbean, Wayne will show you where to look and how to get started in finding family data. He will show you everything you need to know to preserve your family history for generations to come.

Dr. Don Rapp
Dr. Rapp taught for 34 years at the University of Illinois, University of Georgia and was Professor Emeritus at Florida State University in the field of Child Development and Gerontology. He is also a certified personal trainer by the American College of Sports Medicine, a motivational speaker, and also originated Kinetic Arts Training designed to enhance balance. (photo courtesy: Florida Chautauqua)

•    Better Balance can be Learned – Dr. Rapp will discuss how to improve the quality of our lives with better physical balance. He will also provide many fall prevention ideas and simple and safe exercises that anyone can do.

Tom Melville
Tom is an American cricket player, teacher and interpreter who has introduced cricket to many people at festivals and fairs. He is a graduate of the University of Wales where he learned cricket and now lives in Wisconsin. (photo courtesy: Florida Chautauqua)

•    Caribbean Cricket for the Baseballer – Tom will discuss the history and role of cricket in West Indian culture.

Evening Performance

This will be a “Celebration of Nations Multi-Cultural Dance Performance.” Here you will meet the “Vendors of the International Marketplace” through their dance performances. Enjoy dancing and music from around the world in a live presentation of costumes, songs and dances.

For more information on this awesome event, call 850-892-7613 or email Florida’s Chautauqua President, Christopher Mitchell at cmitchell002@panhandle.rr.com. Visit the Florida Chautauqua website frequently as new information is added daily.

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This can be a fun day for the whole family and it includes rider events for children, juniors and adult amateurs. Experience the magical partnership of horses and riders in the thrills of jumping, the elegance of dressage (a sport that tests a horse’s collected movements, maneuvers and responsiveness to a rider’s signals) and the grace of show hunters. Now you can have it all! Enjoy the horse sport spectacle while basking in the south Florida sunshine. It doesn’t get any better than this! (photo courtesy: equisearch.com)

The facilities which includes a stadium and the show grounds cover more than 150 acres of beautifully designed and landscaped grounds and it offers great equestrian competition and entertainment unsurpassed anywhere in the world. This is made possible by a team of leading horse show managers from across America and around the world that are assembled to create and operate this magnificent event.

There is lots of entertainment, fine arts and great dining facilities in the village of Wellington and plenty of galleries for shopping. You will also find numerous wine and coffee bars and food fit for the tastes of competitors and spectators from all over the world. It even has recreation areas for children to make this event even more enjoyable. So it doesn’t matter if you are a one visitor or a full time participant, you are welcome to experience this world of beauty, majesty and magic of horses and riders performing as one. (photo courtesy: flickr)

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Post tags: Equestrian Festival, florida, Horse Racing, Palm Beach Florida

Food and Wine Festival at Epcot International

This yearly event which began September 25th goes on until November 8th and it is sure to delight the whole family. This year the festival is featuring ethnic cuisines samplings from the top cities of the world. There are more than 25 international marketplaces represented including Italy, Thailand, New Zealand, Bangkok, Morocco, Chile, China, and from the United States, New Orleans. Here you will also find wine and beer tasting seminars from around the world and a long list of guest chefs and elegant dinners.

Here are some highlights of the Festival

•    Welcome center with a champagne and sparking wine bar, posters and other keepsakes and exclusive pins and even an official festival cookbook.

•    Culinary programs featuring Culinary Adventures in signature dining.

•    Culinary demonstrations by at least 250 Disney chefs and guest chefs hosting tasting events and elegant dinners.

•    Some of the returning events include French Regional lunch at Bistro de Paris in the France pavilion at Epcot.

•    The festival also includes live entertainment from many countries including:

1.    American Adventure Rotunda – Voices of Liberty
2.    Mexican Pavilion – Mariachi Cobre
3.    Canada Pavilion – Celtic music of Off Kilter
4.    Morocco Pavilion – Arabic rhythms of MO’ Rockin
5.    China Pavilion – Stunts by Dragon Legend Acrobats
6.    United Kingdom Pavilion – British hits by The British Invasion

•    Several concerts are held bringing you lots of music from jazz to pop and classic tunes and the lineup includes:

1.    Richard Marx – September 28-29
2.    Starship starring Mickey Thomas – September 30 to October 3
3.    En Vogue – October 4-6
4.    Better than Ezra – October 7
5.    Sister Hazel – October 9-11
6.    Kool and the Gang – October 12-13
7.    Spyro Gyra – October 14-16
8.    Jon Secada – October 17-18
9.    Sister Sledge – October 19-20
10.    Vanessa Carlton – October 21-22
11.    Taylor Dayne – October 23-25
12.    Boyz II Men – October 26-28
13.    John Waite – October 29-31
14.    Taylor Hicks – November 1-2
15.    Billy Ocean – November 3-5
16.    Los Lobos – November 6-8

Each festival evening will end with a musical fireworks finale called “Illumi Nations” to everyone’s delight. Included in the regular Epcot admission are entrance to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, select wine and beer seminars, culinary exhibits, cooking demonstrations and all attractions.

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