Christmas time is special in Florida, without snow or cold weather we go all out to make sure Christmas is something to remember. Floridians deck the halls and we deck our boats too for holiday boat parades. We also love a good Christmas light display.

Other festivities we enjoy are Christmas at Disney World like Mickey’s Christmas Parade and Holidays around the world. Holiday events at Busch Gardens are always popular. Festive decorations, strolling carolers and classic holiday music always get us into the mood.

Christmas time is special for Floridians, without snow or really cold weather we go all out to make sure we make the Holidays something to remember. Floridians deck the halls and we deck our boats too for holiday boat parades. We also go all out for Christmas light displays.

Other merry festivities we attend are Disney Christmas events like Mickey’s Christmas Parade and Holidays around the world. Holiday events at Busch Gardens are always popular. Strolling carolers, festive decorations and classic holiday music always get us into the mood.

Right after Christmas we plan for the New Year. Many Florida New Year’s Eve events include activities for the whole family like the Downtown Countdown in Fort Lauderdale. For the wild and loud crowd there’s the Big Night Miami in Miami Beach.

Surrounded by spectator fish against a coral reef background in the Florida Keys, divers are to transform hollowed-out pumpkins into jolly Halloween jack-o’-lanterns during the Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest set for Sunday, Oct. 24.

Buddy teams can meet at Amy Slate’s Amoray Dive Resort, located at mile marker 104.5, to compete during the 8:30 a.m. dive in Key Largo. Their mission is to create pumpkins worthy of praise and prizes from the experienced judges, who double as the crew of the Amoray Diver dive boat.

One of the top annual Florida Halloween events, contestants submerge to a depth of less than 30 feet, with dive knives as their carving tools and their imaginations for inspiration. Prizes await the top three pumpkin sculptors.

The regular dive boat fee of $80 per certified diver applies for the two-tank, two-location dive, including tanks, weights and snorkel equipment. The Amoray Dive Resort also offers specially priced multiple-dive and dive-lodging packages.

Divers are encouraged to sign up for the contest early because space is limited. For more information about the contest, call 800-426-6729 or visit www.amoray.com.

To find out about area accommodations, call the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce at 800-822-1088 or 305-451-4747, or visit the Florida Keys & Key West website at www.fla-keys.com.

Governor Charlie Crist has proclaimed July as Parks and Recreation Month in Florida. To celebrate, they are offering a calendar with 31 fun outdoor activities. From scalloping and birding to an ol’ fashioned picnic at The Barnacle Historic State Park in Coconut Grove, there are lots of activities to keep you and your family and friends busy.

Take special note of the FREE day at Florida state parks. Saturday, July 17 will be free entry to all state parks, except the Skyway Fishing Pier. Canoe rentals, camping and other activities will be normal price.

Swim at the beach, snorkel in a crystal-clear freshwater spring, tube a lazy river, splash in the pool at Hillsborough River or slide into Weeki Wachee Springs at Buccaneer Bay. Hike. Bike. Sit under a shade tree. All are fun, cool and perfect for a hot summer’s day. Just go outside.

Lake Buena Vista, FL – Over the River & Through the Woods! To grandfather’s house we go; The horse knows the way, To carry the sleigh, Thru the white and drifted snow, oh!

The same seasonal magic that brings “snow” flurries to central Florida during Disney Parks holiday events now gives guests the opportunity to experience a horse-drawn “sleigh” ride during Christmas in Florida. And where? Over the river and through the woods, of course!

This year, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground at Walt Disney World in Florida is offering sleigh rides through the secluded beauty of the 700-acre backwoods resort. From Nov. 29-Dec. 30, 2009, four adults – or two adults and three small children – can climb into a shiny, fire engine-red sleigh, decked out with garland and twinkling holiday lights, and take a relaxing, 25-minute sojourn into the lush forest.

And while the resort’s woodland paths may not be blanketed with drifts of driven snow to glide through, the magic-makers at the resort’s Tri-Circle-D Ranch utilize sleighs equipped with tires to insure a smooth sleigh ride behind one of the ranch’s gentle steeds.

Cost is $60 per sleigh. Children ages 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Sleighs depart from the Blacksmith’s Shop near the Settlement area inside Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. Guests driving to the resort can park at the entrance of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground and board a Disney motorcoach to be transported to the Settlement area. For reservations and more information, guests can call 407/WDW-PLAY.

The New Year’s Eve at Disney World will include nine parade performances – including one on water – topped off with five fireworks extravaganzas. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Live performances by in-park band “Mulch, Sweat and Shears,” back-to-back with a DJ at Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat and much more. Disney always throws one of the best Florida New Year’s Parties and this year is no exception. Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be a great way for the kids to celebrate New Year’s eve with a 3:45 pm parade named “Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade”. The Animal Kingdom will be open 9 am – 7 pm New Year’s Eve.

Beautiful Tampa and Tampa Bay are located on the west coast of Florida and about an hour and a half from Orlando. Every time we go over there I discover something new and different, this time it was Channelside and the Port of Tampa. Of course the Tampa Port Authority is there and cruise or cargo ships can be seen coming and going at various times. There is the Florida Aquarium with several exhibits showing the different kinds of Florida water ways and what lives in them. They have a great little ‘water park’ area for the kids that has giant moray eels for kids to battle with water guns and a pirate ship they can explore. Channelside itself is an entertainment complex that has great nightlife, shopping, dinning and a movie theater. The Towers of Channelside are brand new, just completed in 2007, they are twin 30 story upscale condos, not a bad place to live if you like a lot of action.

Ybor City is also a place I’ve always wanted to go and got the chance to visit this time. It’s a great little section of the city that steeped in tradition of old world Europe. Ybor City was founded in the 1880’s by Vicente Martinez. Here you’ll find spectacular buildings, quaint shops, fabulous food, delicious coffee and hand rolled cigars and the nightlife? Don’t get me started. There are clubs every few feet, along with several entertainment venues, it’s a great place to spend a day walking around and a night dancing and parting with friends. There is a place for everyone to party no matter what you’re into. Coyote Ugly is a place where you can dance on the bar and chat up the lady bar keeps, they always have something to say. Club Prana has five different levels with different dance club styles on each for maximum nighttime enjoyment.

Another popular reason to visit Tampa is the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. They have many gaming tables and slot machines the décor itself is worth the trip. Downtown Tampa is a beautiful place itself; the buildings alone are great works of architecture. They have many fine hotels with conference centers for corporate meetings and an international airport which makes it convenient for out of country guests to visit.

If you’re looking for even more things to do in Tampa, you won’t be disappointed on that front either. Everyone knows Tampa is home to the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This city takes their team VERY seriously, you can take a pirate ship cruise on any night of the week and there are as many pirate flags as there are stars and stripe flying around the city, all in good fun mind you.

As I said Orlando is nearby and many people visiting there hear about fabulous Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay, so they come over. That’s great if that’s what it takes to get you to visit but once you do plan to stay a day or two, if you don’t you’ll wish you had. Tampa is so much fun, even if you’ve been there a few times as I have, go again I promise you’ll find something new to love about it as I always do.

Florida is a great place to take a vacation, so to see where to go and what to do, view our pictures of Central Florida, with many of Orlando’s popular destinations and a few off the beaten path.

Key Largo, Florida Keys – Grinning jack-o’-lanterns surrounded by spectator reef fish are to make their annual appearance beneath the sea during the Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest hosted by Amy Slate’s Amoray Dive Resort, located at mile marker 104.5.

The annual Florida Halloween Event is a favorite for the many divers who visit Key Largo during the fall.

Buddy teams are to compete during the 8:30 a.m. dive Sunday, Oct. 25, to create pumpkins worthy of praise and prizes from the experienced judges, who double as the crew of the Amoray Diver dive boat.

Amoray provides contestants with hollowed-out pumpkins to take below the surface to a depth of less than 30 feet. Dive knives are to serve as carving tools, and prizes await the top three pumpkin sculptors.

“It’s always interesting to see what people carve out underwater,” said Captain Joe Goddard, who escorts divers to the event each year. “People come from all over to participate.”

Entry fee is the regular dive boat cost: $80 per certified diver for the two-tank, two-location dive including tanks, weights and snorkel equipment. The Amoray Dive Resort also offers specially priced multiple-dive and dive-lodging packages.

Divers are encouraged to sign up for the contest early because space is limited. At the 2008 challenge, the first-place prize was awarded to Spencer Lambeth, an 11-year-old from Fort Myers, Fla.

For more information about the contest, call (800) 426-6729 or visit www.amoray.com.

To find out about area accommodations, call the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce at (800) 822-1088 or 305-451-4747, or visit the Florida Keys & Key West Web site at www.fla-keys.com.

While the rest of the country will be shivering on New Year’s Eve, I’m spending it in Florida, through out Florida many hotels are throwing parties like the one The Plaza Resort & Spa is planning live music, hors d’oeuvres, and a champagne toast at midnight.

Other parties are going on at the Orlando area theme parks. Universal Studios CityWalk is throwing their annual bash with the Doobie Brothers performing. They always have lots of great food the bars have many different types musical acts. Dazzling fireworks showers, live entertainment and extended park hours throughout the Vacation Kingdom New Year’s Eve at Disney World making it a popular spot to ring in the new year. Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Magic Kingdom and Epcot all have party’s planned. Late-nighters can party at Magic Kingdom until the wee hours with parades and fireworks galore. A Florida New Year’s party to remember can also be found at SeaWorld with live performers till 12:30 with the parks attractions and rides open till midnight.

Three celebrations in New Year’s Eve in Key West, all slated for the night of Wednesday, Dec. 31, are to be staged as very different — though equally lighthearted — takeoffs on the Times Square gala. Visitors and residents who want to start the New Year with a focus on fitness can do so beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1, when a 5k run, walk or crawl is to depart from Islamorada’s Founders Park, MM 87 bayside.

Big Pine Key, Florida Keys – Sleigh rides and snowball fights aren’t on the menu of holiday amusements in the balmy Lower Florida Keys, but the spirit of the season nonetheless flourishes in subtropical temperatures.

Visitors and Keys residents are invited to ring in the holiday season and celebrate the creative arts at the Big Pine Island Art Festival, themed “Art & Music in a Natural Key.” The event is to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, on the grounds of the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce, mile marker 31 oceanside in Big Pine.

Scheduled highlights include live music, exhibits and booths featuring the original work of artists and craftsmen.

The festival is designed to be fun for the entire family, as well as a place to find one-of-a-kind holiday gifts and artwork, all while enjoying the tranquil natural atmosphere of the Lower Keys. In addition, items are to be raffled throughout the day, providing even more opportunities for attendees to obtain examples of Keys artistry.

Live music is to be provided by favorite local entertainers including Terry Cassidy, a longtime Keys resident and acclaimed singer, guitarist and banjo picker.

Young attendees can sample treats and explore their own creativity with holiday craft activities at the festival’s kids’ corner.

While art and music satisfy the spirit, food and beverages are to be available from on-site vendors to satisfy the taste buds.
Admission and parking are free.

For more information about the Big Pine Island Art Festival, visit www.lowerkeyschamber.com or contact the chamber office at (305) 872-2411 or (800) 872-3722.

For accommodations in the Lower Florida Keys, call the chamber or visit the Florida Keys Web site at www.fla-keys.com.

Daytona Beach is a favorite during the winter for tourist to Florida and for good reason. Daytona visitors are driving on the beach looking at the ocean, sea birds and bikinis while many of their friends are driving in snow. With over 23 miles of beaches to enjoy, wintertime activities are exciting and numerous.

Bike Week
Harley Davidson and other motorcycle fans are looking forward to Bike Week, this event continues to gain in popularity every year. Wet T-shirt contest at Main Street in Daytona are big draws for many of the leather clad bikers. Outside Daytona at the Cabbage Patch, the main event is the Cole Slaw Wrestling, it’s a fairly wild exhibition.

This year a new venue, Bruce Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona is the place to be with over 150 acres of space. There is plenty of parking for bikes and cars, trams transported visitors from remote parking areas. Bike Week in Daytona Beach will be February 29 to March 9, 2008.

Races at Daytona
Daytona International Speedway is a race fan favorite. NASCAR fans will have plenty to enjoy with two races. The Daytona 500 is February 17 and the Daytona 200 is March 8. Also popular is the Rolex 24 Hour Race on January 26 and 27 and the Spring Car Show & Swap on March 28 to 30.

Spring Break in Daytona Beach 2008
Daytona Beach is a traditional Spring Break favorite. While Panama City has taken some of the party away, there are still lots of parties taking place in Daytona this year. Spring Break this year is March 9 to 31, 2008.

Nearby Orlando

Daytona Beach is only an hour from Orlando via I-4. Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World are among the most popular Orlando Attractions. There are plenty other smaller theme parks in Central Florida like Gatorland Zoo, Wet n’ Wild, Dixie Stampede and more to keep family entertained.

Ponce Inlet
Nearby Ponce Inlet is a half hour south of Daytona and is the perfect place to get away from the crowds. The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is an excellent way to get a birds-eye view of the surrounding area. Ponce Inlet is also a favorite of fishermen with the inlet offering great fishing as well as charter and head boats.

Daytona Beach Pier
The Daytona Beach Pier is a great place to spend the day. The pier is over 1000 feet long with sky lift the entire length that offers one of the best views of Daytona Beach. There is an excellent restaurant on the pier and a bar that serves tropical drinks. Fishing in winter is good with catches of bluefish, Spanish mackerel, redfish, sheepshead and black drum. There is a small tackle shop offering bait and tackle sales and fishing rod rentals.

A Favorite Vacation Destination
The relatively warm weather Florida is famous for and plenty of activities make Daytona Beach a winter time vacation hotspot for families, groups, couples and singles. In fact, there are so many things to do in Daytona Beach that you’ll want to come back again in the summer.

Kirby Collins is a Florida Web Designer and maintains a web site about Places to go in Florida.