The Ultimate “Foodies” Travel Guide To Florida

August 23, 2007

Tampa, FL — More and more people are planning their travels around food-related events, and Florida boasts many delicious destinations for celebrating its regional specialties. To help you create your own culinary tour of Florida, “Food Fest! Your Complete Guide to Florida’s Food Festivals” serves up all the information you need in one handy, easy-to-use book. Now at your fingertips is the key to tantalizing food festivals, cook-offs, and “Taste Of” events. “Food Fest!” is the first and only resource listing over 200 annual Florida food celebrations — a scrumptious, year-round cornucopia.

So gather your family and friends and savor the fresh taste of local fare while enjoying the Florida sunshine. From mullet to crawfish, frog legs to sausage, mangos to kumquats, garlic to swamp cabbage, flap jacks to chocolate, and anything and everything in between, there’s a festival for every taste.

Food festivals are ideal entertainment for the whole family. Besides the main attraction — delicious food — these festivals feature a variety of amusements (musical entertainment, off-beat competitions, arts and crafts, car shows, children’s activities, and much more).

Are you a food-lover who enjoys sampling new and different foods and beverages?
Would you like to find affordable ways to entertain the kids or out-of-town guests?
Do you enjoy planning day trips or weekend getaways?
Are you a vendor looking for events where you can sell your products?

Florida’s food festivals can meet your every need. So whether you’re a longtime Florida resident or a visitor to the state, if you enjoy travel, outdoor activities, or good food — don’t miss out on another fun Florida food event. Here’s a sampling of what’s coming to Florida.

August:

Fort Lauderdale – Taste of Weston
Key West – Lobsterfest
Kissimmee – Old Town Chili Cookoff
Port St. Joe – Gulf County Scallop Festival
Tampa – WaZoo

September:

Clearwater – Taste of Clearwater
Crystal River – Florida Barbecue Association Funcook
Green Cove Springs – First Coast Ham Jam
Hollywood – Hollywood Beach Clambake
Pensacola – Emerald Coast Brew Fest & Beach Party
Pensacola – Seafood Festiva
Sandestin – Seafood & Mini Wine Fest

October:

Bradenton – Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival
Brooksville – Hernando County BBQ & Rodeo Festival
Cedar Key – Seafood Festival
De Land – Great Bowls of Fire Chili Cookoff
Destin – Seafood Festival
Jay – Gabbert Farm Peanut Festival
Niceville – Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival

November:

Apalachicola – Florida Seafood Festival
Fort Myers – Taste of the Town
Jensen Beach – Pineapple Festival
Land O’ Lakes – Flapjack Festival
Safety Harbor – Wine Festival
St. Petersburg – Ribfest
Sebastian – Clambake Lagoon Festival

Visit the “Food Fest!” companion website, www.FoodFestGuide.com, for exciting details and free festival information. The website offers many interesting features that complement the hardcopy book, such as upcoming food festivals and a list of the Florida Chambers of Commerce. If you register on the website, additional bonus features are available including a yearly calendar of events. Registration is free.

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TWO KEY WEST RESORTS EARN GREEN LODGING CERTIFICATION

August 17, 2007

KEY WEST, Florida Keys – The Banyan Resort and the Gardens Hotel Thursday became the Florida Keys’ first certified members of the Green Lodging Program, created by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to recognize and reward environmentally conscious lodging facilities in the state.

The two Old Town Key West properties were awarded “one-palm” certification for their environmental commitment in ceremonies attended by State Representative Ron Saunders, Key West Mayor Morgan McPherson, Stacey Mitchell, director of sales for the Monroe County Tourist Development Council (TDC) and Laura Comer and Gus Rios of the DEP.

“These businesses are stepping up to recognize how important our environment is to the Florida Keys, and how important it is to protect what we have,” said Saunders.

The Green Lodging Program establishes environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to adopt cost-saving practices that reduce waste and conserve natural resources. Properties are evaluated in categories including water and energy conservation, waste reduction, indoor air quality and communication of green practices to guests. They must also have goals for continued improvements that can earn them “two-palm” and “three-palm” certification.

At the ceremonies, McPherson, who is also a TDC board member, encouraged implementing green initiatives to safeguard Key West’s environment for future generations.

“I’m excited about businesses taking part in these initiatives,” he said.

Environmentally friendly aspects of the Banyan Resort, a 38-suite property at 323 Whitehead St., include a towel and linen reuse program, a recycling program, energy conservation through solar roof panels for pool heating and high-efficiency compact fluorescent lighting, and purchasing products with recycled content such as plastic lumber used for courtyard decking.

The Gardens Hotel, an 18-room property at 526 Angela St., has implemented an environmental policy to communicate green living to guests as well as elements including low-flow faucets to conserve water and energy, a linen and towel reuse program, an automatic door closer and energy-efficient garden pump, a recycling program and purchasing products with recycled content and reduced packaging. In addition, four electric cars were purchased for staff errands around Key West.

“In working with the Green Lodging program and getting more lodging properties certified, we are encouraging sustainable and responsible environmental practices throughout the tourism industry,” said Mitchell. “We’re not doing this for ourselves – we’re doing this so future generations will benefit from practices we put in place today.”

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