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Tags: Airfare Wars / FLL / Virgin America / JetBlue / Inaugural Flights / New Routes / Fort Lauderdale Travel / Florida Travel / → All Tags
Fort Lauderdale Airport Is The New Bunker Hill
When the Colonials learned that British forces were planning to send troops out of the city to the surrounding unoccupied hills, they acted. The colonials set up shop at the top of Bunker & Breed's Hill and picked off the redcoats sending them retreating towards Cambridge. Seems to us that FLL is the new Bunker Hill, though we will leave it to you to determine which airline wears what uniform.
By now we all know how Virgin America launched their 10th destination earlier this week at FLL and we have the photo gallery to prove it. However, what really struck us about our jaunt to meet them in FLL was the obvious jockeying for position that was going on there between JetBlue and Virgin America.
The feud deepens, after the jump.
Tags: Travel Advertising / Florida Keys / Travel Ads / Florida Travel / → All Tags
Florida Keys Says There's No App For Real Life Vacations
Whoever's in charge of doing tourism ads for the Florida Keys and Key West has something of a mischievous streak. Either that of they're smart enough to know that hijacking well-known brands is much easier than creating new ones. They've launched a commercial reminding potential tourists that real-life experiences like canoeing or snorkeling trump hours and hours of playing Brick Breaker. That's kind of blasphemous, but in fairness, it's probably also kind of true.
The ad isn't entirely accurate— we suspect there actually are apps where you can overpay for a three-star hotel before marching your family around derelict tourist traps until everyone's equally miserable—but it's still a clever little spot. It could have been slightly improved by dropping that hackneyed "real experiences" line at the end. And we have to wonder whether or not there's a cease and desist letter from Apple in the mail for them. Still: clever little ad.
Check it out, after the jump.
Tags: Theme Parks / Disney / Walt Disney World / Florida Travel / Amusement Park Travel / Swine Flu / H1N1 / → All Tags
Disney Installs 200,000 Hand Sanitizers To Preempt Spread Of Swine Flu
The holidays are a big time for Walt Disney World. The parks are transformed into a winter wonderland—well, a fake one as they are in Florida after all—and the guests pour in through the turnstiles. Some days the park has to limit guest access because there are just too many tourists dreaming of a holiday photo with Mickey and friends. All these people are starting to worry some, especially if these people are coughing, sneezing, and leaving their germs all over Space Mountain.
Thankfully, Disney is ready to combat the spread of germs, and is hoping that their efforts will be enough to convince people that their park is safe. After all, the threat of catching that pesky H1N1 flu is kind of a downer and not the stuff dreams are made of. Thus, Disney World has ordered about 200,000 hand sanitizers—although we're wondering why they haven’t always had some.
Tags: New Routes / Southwest Airlines / Airline News / Airlines / Florida Travel / → All Tags
Southwest Announces 10 Hot New Routes For 2010
While we are all whittling down the last few hours of the work day, Southwest Airlines is throwing a full-blown airline party down at their headquarters in Dallas for their annual Media Day. For those who aren't airline dorks, that means that the low-cost carrier invites members of the press down to Texas to show off new innovations and annouce new routes in person, versus the usual Twitter blast.
Today's news is sure a doozy too: aside from their new "green plane" (more on that tomorrow), Southwest has announced a full 10 new routes beginning in 2010. 10 for 1010; that's cute. Let's break them down, shall we?
Where you'll be flying Southwest to next year, after the jump.
Tags: Strange Scuba Spots / Halloween Travel / Scuba / Florida Travel / Active Travel / → All Tags
Pumpkin Carving Is Even Better Under The Sea
We’ve shed some light on strange Scuba spots across the globe, but we’ve never seen a strange Scuba contest before. However, that’s exactly what you’ll find if you’re headed down to the Florida Keys around Halloween this year. Amy Slate’s Amoray Dive Resort has been running an underwater pumpkin carving contest for a few years now, and this year’s competition is set for October 25.
Divers will do their best to carve out the most creative designs while avoiding reef fish and other critters at the bottom of the sea. Contestants will get pumpkins that have already been hollowed out and are just waiting for some creative carvings. Of course there will be prizes awarded to the top three jack-o'-lanterns, so plan something good. We’re thinking that designs inspired by the ocean probably have a good chance of winning. After all nothing screams Halloween more than a spooky dolphin or ghoulish fish.
Tags: Orlando Travel / Florida Travel / Walt Disney World / Twitter / → All Tags
Follow the 67-Day Adventures of Orlando's Smile Ambassadors
Donnie and Marie might be known for their wholesome perkiness, but they've got nothing on Orlando "Smile Ambassadors" Kyle and Stacey. The cheery duo—Kyle, a Broadway actor, and Stacey, who works with children—hail from New York and have been BFFs for a dozen years and counting. They applied and won their coveted position by submitting an audition video and essay to the 67 Days of Smiles contest, and their merry attitude was deemed good enough to represent the city of Orlando.
On their 67-day journey (they're currently 26 days in), the gleeful twosome are experiencing all of Orlando's 100 attractions, with blog entries and constant Twitter updates (@67days) documenting their every step.
Tags: Cycling / Florida Travel / Biking / Bike Tours / Key West / Active Travel / → All Tags
Bike Down US Highway 1 From Key Largo To Key West During BubbaFest
November is a tricky travel month, because the onslaught of cooler weather usually puts quite the damper on any outdoor endeavors. That’s why we say to follow millions of others and head down to Florida. We’re not going to play bridge all afternoon and then head out for the early bird special; we’re going to ride our bicycles. Thanks to retired police sergeant Bubba Barron, we have the BubbaFest Bike Tour. It’s a 200-mile cycling event from Key Largo To Key West, and you don’t have to be Lance Armstrong to do it.
Bikers are encouraged to go at their own pace and make frequent pit stops to swim, snorkel, and snooze away part of the day. The whole course over US Highway 1 is pretty flat, so if you can ride a bike and have some patience, you should have no problem pedaling the approximate 45 miles per day. If you do get a little tired, or just lazy, support vehicles follow the whole time and can give you a free ride. Things kick off on November 7 and wrap up on November 13, with a few layover days to soak in the sun.
Tags: College Football Travel / Sports Travel / Football Travel / Sports / Florida Travel / → All Tags
Football Rivalry Travel: Venturing Into Gator Country
Professional football is right around the corner, but more importantly for some, college football has already arrived. Here’s the scoop on just one of the country’s best rivalries to help your sports travel planning.
· Rivalry Match-Up: Tennessee at Florida on September 19.
The two schools aren’t big fans of each other to say the least, and being paired together in the Southeaster Conference has not improved things. Tennessee’s new coach has been running his mouth a lot, so the Gators are ready to bite back. The series is dead even, but the Gators have been more successful recently.
Stadium Info and tips on where to sleep and party, after the jump.
Tags: Strange Scuba Spots / Scuba / Scuba Dives / Active Travel / Florida Travel / → All Tags
If You Squint Just Right, You Can Pretend To Dive With Mermaids
If you’re still catching your breath after swimming with the sharks, you might want to consider a more low-key choice for your next underwater adventure. Nothing screams calm, cool, and collected than a trip below the water to swim with a manatee or two. We still don’t understand how sailors once mistook these creatures for mermaids, but maybe you can get close enough to figure it out for us.
American Pro Dive will be happy to help you have a close encounter with these big guys and gals. No need to know how to scuba dive, as there’s an option to snorkel with them in the Crystal River as well as in Homosassa, Florida. Instructors will hit the water with you to ensure that the manatees, and you, don’t get too frisky.
Tours run throughout the year in the Crystal River, but it’s winters only for the location in Homosassa. Don’t worry, they have heated and enclosed boats so you can stay comfy when above the water, and flattering wet suites will help you keep toasty when you enter the manatees’ home turf. If you want to turn your whole trip into a Discovery Channel special, you can even take a specialty class following your excursion to learn more about the cute critters.
Related Stories: [Photo: Smudgie's Ghost]
· American Pro Dive - Manatee Tours [Official Site]
· The One Seattle Place Where Starbucks Doesn't Rule: Underwater
[Jaunted]
· Active Travel coverage [Jaunted]
Tags: Tubing / Best Tubing Spots / Water Sports / Active Travel / Florida Travel / → All Tags
Tube The Rivers Of Florida's 'Redneck Riviera'
There’s plenty of fun in the sun to be had on Florida’s Emerald Coast, the stretch that encompasses much of the panhandle, but sometimes you want a little more than sand and clear water. That’s why, during your next spring break massacre in Panama City, head westward to Milton and book a tubing trip with Adventures Unlimited.
The outfitters offer more than just inner tube travel; they also have canoe, kayak, and even fishing expeditions. However, for those looking for an afternoon float, you’ll enjoy a four-mile trip down the Coldwater River. Nevermind the river's name—you’ll be comfortable—but the organizers do recommend an 80-degree daytime temperature for ultimate enjoyment.
It’ll set you back $17 per person and if you want a separate tube for your cooler, as this is the Redneck Riviera after all, that will be an additional $8 please. Give a call or check online for river conditions, because if the water gets too rough, certain trips are canceled and they’ll ban booze on the river. Lately it’s been green—which means you and your beverages are good to go.
Related Stories: [Photo: ian_ransley]
· Adventures Unlimited [Official Site]
· Float Through The Tunnels of an Old Sugar Plantation In Hawaii [Jaunted]
· Water Sports coverage [Jaunted]
Tags: Scuba / Strange Scuba Spots / Scuba Dives / Florida Travel / Weddings / → All Tags
Say Mazel Tov To Underwater Weddings
There’s nothing more special than a bride’s big day, especially when that day takes place under the water. Pro Dive International, out of Ft. Lauderdale, is looking to get into the underwater wedding ceremony business. They’re recruiting priests and pastors to help facilitate their new service, but right now they are focusing on Jewish weddings—complete with the groom smashing a light bulb with his flipper.
The company is testing out using microphones underwater so that the bride and groom can clearly understand “I do.” Video is streamed back to the boat where friends and family can watch, and of course, wonder why their loved ones chose this unique kind of wedding. As long as there’s an open bar, we're sure an underwater wedding is just as good as any other.
For now the dive shop is getting everything ready, but they expect that full wedding packages will be available soon. They’re thinking that things will start at $1,500, and like most weddings, the price will go up from there depending on what you want. At least you can cut out the cost for flowers at a SCUBA wedding, but a nice bouquet of seaweed and algae should compliment any color wetsuit.
Related Stories: [Photo of a happy couple: vonlohmann]
· Pro Dive International [Official Site]
· Fort Lauderdale Scuba Shop to Perform Underwater Wedding Ceremonies [Sun Sentinel]
· Scuba coverage [Jaunted]
Tags: Rental Cars / Florida Travel / National Rental Car / Cars / Driving / → All Tags
Escape Florida With One-Way Rental Car Deals
If you’re dreaming of your own One-Way Road Trip after ours got you all hot and bothered for beignets and alligators, now is your chance. National Car Rental is offering one-way rental car deals out of Florida to cities across the country. There’s no drop fees or mileage charges, so get booking and start driving.
With the National Drive Out program, you’ll be able to leave from many cities in Florida for as little as $10 a day for economy cars and only $12 per day for full-size cars. Feel free to drop your car in Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama, or Tennessee, among other states.
For those looking to head elsewhere, $17 per day rates are available for trips as far away as North Dakota and Colorado. These rates are also available for much of the Northeast, just in time for those that need a ride back to their summer homes. The deal is available though July 18, and you can keep your car for a maximum of 21 days. Just hit up their website or give them a call at 800-CAR-RENT.
Related Stories: [Photo: René Ehrhardt]
·National Car Rental Offering Special Low One-Way Discounts, No Drop Charges and Unlimited Mileage [BusinessWire]
·Thanks To TerraPass Even The Worst Rental Car Can Be Green [Jaunted]
·Rental Cars coverage [Jaunted]
