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	<title>Florida Gulf Vacations -  Blog &#187; florida Keys</title>
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	<description>Florida Gulf Coast and Disney Vacation Rentals by Owner</description>
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		<title>Wild in the Florida Keys: The Animal Lovers&#8217; Tour</title>
		<link>http://floridagulfvacation.com/blog/wild-in-the-florida-keys-the-animal-lovers-tour/</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:08:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Spustommutt</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Florida  Vacation]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[ For my family, visiting the Florida Keys has always been about the wildlife. Few places in the U.S. offer such easy access to such a range of unusual and fascinating creatures. Some are rare and endangered like the petite Key deer, which number less than 1,000. Some are so common as to be considered nuisances like the colorful and feisty chickens that strut the streets of Key West. Animal lovers (and most kids) will enjoy them all. It&#39;s easy to organize your drive down the Overseas Highway into your own personal Florida Keys Animal Lovers&#39; Tour. Some of the stops are free or cost only $1 or $2. Here are eight places to help you get wild in the Keys. Swim with the Fish &#8211; John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park , Key Largo The wildlife is underwater here, probably the most popular snorkeling spot in the continental U.S. Snorkeling trips head to the reefs daily. If you want to stay dry, take the glass-bottom boat tours. (Make sure it&#39;s a calm day if you are prone to seasickness.) If you want to see a few fish, but not spend money or time for a boat trip, Pennekamp offers very good snorkeling from its manmade Cannon Beach . The park placed remnants of an early Spanish shipwreck about 100 feet off the beach. Fish congregate under and around the sea-life encrusted cannons and anchor. Snorkelers see a variety of creatures, including large barracuda and tarpon. Want to stay firmly on land? See the visitor center&#39;s 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park U.S. 1 Mile Marker 102.5, Key Largo 305-451-1202 Admission: $8 per vehicle, with a limit of eight people per vehicle. Befriend the Birds &#8211; Florida Keys Wild Bird Center , Tavernier Get close to a wide variety of birds native to the Florida Keys at this rescue and rehab center. Marked with only a basic sign, the center doesn&#39;t look like much from the Overseas Highway. Its charm is in its informal, volunteer vibe. The shady mangrove forest is sectioned off via wire caging to create enclosures for injured birds. Awkward brown pelicans hop with just a stub where a wing or leg should be. Great egrets, cormorants and varieties of owls and hawks draw attention. But birds wander outside the cages, too. Pelicans, herons and egrets hang around hoping to snatch food, sometimes blocking the walkway. A volunteer busy feeding the birds told us: &#8220;We have no problem with birds breaking out. Our problem is preventing birds from breaking in.&#8221; The path leads down to the waterfront for a lovely view of Florida Bay and its active bird life. Florida Keys Wild Bird Center 93600 Overseas Hwy MM 93.6, Tavernier 305-852-4486 Admission: Free, but donations are welcome. There is also a wild-bird rescue center in Marathon: Crane Point Museum and Nature Center 5550 Overseas Highway, Marathon Admission: $12.50 for adults, $8.50 for children 5-13, and children 4 and under free. Feed the Tarpon &#8211; Robbie&#39;s Marina , Islamorada Robbie&#39;s big draw involves the chance to see 50 to 100 enormous tarpon swimming around the dock in clear water only a few feet deep. Pay $1 to go out on the dock. It&#39;s another $3 for a bucket of fish to toss to them. It may be the best entertainment in the Keys for the price. These aren&#39;t the usual fish that gather when you throw bread crusts into the water. Tarpon grow to be 5 to 8 feet long and weigh 80 to 150 pounds. These great saltwater game fish are prized for their fight (but not as food). Visitors stand in awe of the tarpon convention that happens daily. The powerful, silver fish flash in the sunlight as they lunge for the snacks dropped by visitors. Some even try to hand-feed the fish, providing entertainment for those content to keep a distance. Warm water makes the tarpon more active, so winter visitors may see more subdued tarpon action. Robbie&#39;s Marina 77522 B. Overseas Highway, Islamorada 305-664-9814 Admission: $1 to go onto the dock, $3 for a bucket of fish. Get Splashed by a Dolphin &#8211; Dolphin Research Center , Marathon The Keys offer many different ways to experience dolphins. Theater of the Sea in Islamorada offers entertaining shows, and several tour boats in Key West offer wild-dolphin-viewing trips. The Dolphin Research Center, a nonprofit facility, focuses on education. Trainers hold informative sessions as visitors stand on the dock around open-water tanks. At a small group session, a staff member demonstrates how they train younger dolphins. While visitors ask questions and watch, the dolphins swim in front of them. The facility, built along the waterfront with beautiful views of Florida Bay, allows visitors to linger. Tour and information sessions take an hour or two, but many visitors stay for several hours, watching dolphins and talking with the friendly, well-informed staff. Guests can also pay for additional programs where they can interact with the dolphins, and these are entertaining to watch as well. The Dolphin Research Center offers a half-dozen interactive options. An extra $25 allows you to shake a flipper and touch a dolphin. If you spend $104, you can take a dip with a dolphin. For $650, you get an all-day &#8220;Trainer for a Day&#8221; program. Dolphin Research Center 58901 Overseas Highway, Marathon 305-289-1121 Admission: $20 for adults, $15 for children 4 to 12, and children 3 and under free. A coupon for $3 off is available on the center&#39;s website. Support a Sea Turtle &#8211; The Turtle Hospital , Marathon Seeing a sea turtle in the wild while in the Keys is uncommon, but you can get within arm&#39;s reach of several varieties that frequent the Keys. You can even toss them some food at the nonprofit Turtle Hospital. The admission price paid to tour the Turtle Hospital, housed in a former motel on the Overseas Highway, supports its program of rescuing and rehabilitating about 100 injured sea turtles a year. A 90-minute educational tour occurs several times a day. In 2011, 40,000 people took the tour. The visit begins with an educational presentation that focuses on the types of sea turtles and the challenges they face in Florida. While younger kids may squirm, presenters keep it interesting by passing around objects (sponges, a favorite turtle food, for example). They also tell stories about the individual turtles rescued by the hospital. Visitors meet some of those turtles, such as Bubble Butt, the first and longest permanent resident of the facility. Bubble Butt was rescued March 25, 1989, after being struck by a boat off Long Key . The boat strike deformed the shell, leaving a large &#8220;bubble&#8221; on his rear. It made it impossible for him to dive. As many as a dozen or more different types of sea turtles fill individual plastic tanks while being treated. Visitors gather around each tank and the guide tells each turtle&#39;s history. Nearby, permanent residents and turtles almost strong enough to be released swim in an old saltwater swimming pool, which has been converted into a large turtle aquarium. Visitors line the pool&#39;s edge, hear each turtle&#39;s story and receive a handful of catfish chow to throw to the waiting turtles. The Turtle Hospital 2396 Overseas Highway, Marathon 305-743-2552 Admission: $15 for adults; $7.50 for children 4 to 12. Reservations are recommended. Glimpse a Key Deer &#8211; National Key Deer Refuge , Big Pine Key Driving through Big Pine Key brings warnings to slow down for Key deer, but seeing the deer isn&#39;t easy because there are so few. In 1957, there were only 27 Key deer left. The National Key Deer Refuge and its preservation efforts enabled the population to rebound to an estimated 800. Bucks stand from 28 to 32 inches at the shoulder. They weigh an average of 80 pounds. Does stand 24 to 28 inches at the shoulder and weigh an average of 65 pounds. So, how do you see Key deer? Some might appear by the side of the road on the Overseas Highway. The visitor center for the National Key Deer Refuge, located in a nearby shopping center, offers maps and information to help you explore. Refuge lands include an old quarry filled with freshwater called the Blue Hole. There&#39;s an observation platform and two short trails that lead to recommended spots to watch for deer. On a recent trip, we walked and bicycled through No Name Key , an island that is part of the refuge, during early evening and saw many Key deer. Timing is everything. On No Name Key, we spotted several deer grazing along the side of the road, including toy-like fawns. The diminutive size of this sub-species of white-tailed deer charmed us. We&#39;ve seen bigger dogs, and like dogs, they are friendly. The deer live in such proximity to people they feel no fear; however, people can be a danger to the deer. Last year, cars killed 150 Key deer, a new record. Most died on U.S. 1. Strict speed limits are in place in the refuge. It is also against the law to feed Key deer. To get to No Name Key, turn right (if you&#39;re driving south) at the one major intersection/traffic light in Big Pine Key. There are two roads heading east. One, Wilder Road, is clearly labeled No Name Key. Follow it (and the signs) to Watson Boulevard, which eventually crosses a scenic bridge to No Name Key. National Key Deer Refuge 175 Key Deer Boulevard, Big Pine Key Admission: Free Tip: Use insect repellent before going to No Name Key at dusk. Crow at a Chicken &#8211; Key West You don&#39;t have to work hard to spot the Key West chickens &#8211; they crow and strut everywhere. The colorful roosters, mother hens and lines of tiny chicks weave in and out of traffic and through outdoor cafes all over town. There have always been chickens in Key West. Backyard chickens gained their freedom when people stopped the laborious process of turning live chickens into Sunday dinner decades ago. Roosters went free when cock-fighting became illegal. When the chicken population grew large in 2004, Key West hired a chicken catcher to reduce the number. His work became controversial because people cherished the chickens. When he quit that same year, the city discontinued the post. The chickens may have fans, but they also have detractors. &#8220;They crow at all hours,&#8221; explained Debbie Britten, a volunteer at the Key West Wildlife Center. &#8220;They&#39;re like some of the people down here &#8211; they don&#39;t know when to quit.&#8221; To get rid of nuisance chickens, residents can borrow a trap from the wildlife center and bring the captured fowl there. The chickens are trucked to organic farms in Central Florida, where they are prized for their eggs and for their help with pest control. (They eat bugs.) One sign of how many chickens roam Key West: The wildlife center relocated close to 1,500 last year, Britten said &#8211; and they&#39;re still everywhere. Key West Wildlife Center 1801 White Street, Key West 305-292-1008 Admission: free Behold the Butterfly &#8211; Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservancy This is the most peaceful place in crazy, clamorous Key West. Located on Duval Street within a block of the Southernmost Point in the United States, the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservancy immerses you in a tropical garden where butterflies float overhead and flashy finches dart past waterfalls and koi-filled ponds. The conservatory asks visitors to turn off their cell phones, so you hear few sounds except chirping birds and the soft, chime-like background music. The 5,000-square-foot conservatory features a plexiglass structure designed as a Victorian greenhouse. It provides butterfly-shaped benches where visitors can sit and contemplate while an occasional butterfly floats by or lands on your shoulder. The conservancy, which is kept at a constant 85 degrees, is home to 50 to 60 butterfly species from around the world and 20 exotic bird species. Butterflies come from farms, not from the wild. Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservancy 1316 Duval Street, Key West 800-839-4647 Admission: $12 for adults, $8.50 for children 4 to 12 years, and children under 4 are free. Look for maps and brochures widely available with $2 off coupons. Follow this link: Wild in the Florida Keys: The Animal Lovers&#039; Tour ]]></description>
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		<title>Florida Beaches Menu: Surfing to Volleyball, Paddle Tennis to Mullet Toss</title>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:00:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Beachlover</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[ The Florida beaches are always good for a relaxing lounge in the sand, but sometimes, you want more than a long walk. The 825 miles of Florida beaches offer a diversity of activities to suit every taste, from the expected (beach volleyball tournaments, surfing contests) to the unexpected (a &#8220;mullet toss&#8221; in northwest Florida, a &#8220;paddle tennis&#8221; tournament in St. Augustine ). Here&#8217;s our roundup of just about everything under the sun. Northwest Florida In Franklin County , which boasts St. George Island and Carrabelle Beach , the sea and sand are just two of the attractions. St. George hosts the region&#8217;s largest chili cook-off in March. The more adventurous can return on the second Saturday in June to see how are far they can fling the mullet. Learn more at saltyflorida.com . In Port St. Joe , Pensacola Beach , Perdido Key and surrounding waters, fishing tournaments from April through July lure anglers and sports fishing fanatics of all ages. For more information, visit kidswinfishing.com and saltwaterclassic.com . In Destin , the two-month long World Championship Cobia Tournament attracts more than 15,000 competitors. On shore, the Destin 50 Beach Ultra Marathon is a February weekend of running -- from five miles to 50 -- and benefits the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. St. Joe Beach hosts the Beach Blast Sprint Triathlon &#038; Duathlon in late April. Those breezes coming off the Gulf in April do more than keep sunbathers cool. The 8th Annual Kitty Hawk Kites Beach Kite Festival on Okaloosa Island is a must-see. Dolphin watching is also a spectator sport. They say you hear the story of the ocean if you put a shell to your ear, or come to Cape San Blas in early March for the storytellers at Shells and Tales. Perdido Key celebrates a 2,000-year-old tradition each April with dragon boat races. Teams of rowers compete in colorful wooden boats. On Fort Walton Beach , Burning Up the Beaches is a May weekend fundraiser of cars, cruising and parties. In the Gulf and on Choctawhatchee Bay, the first-person adrenaline rushes include parasailing, pontooning, waterskiing, sailing, windsurfing, kiteboarding and jet skiing. Visit emeraldcoastfl.com . Finally, the Florida Lighthouse Challenge invites energetic history buffs to visit and or climb four lighthouses in northwest Florida over two days: Cape St. George Light on St. George Island, Crooked River Lighthouse in Carrabelle , St. Marks Lighthouse in St. Marks and Cape San Blas Lighthouse on Cape San Blas. Gulf Coast Pine Island Beach, Spring Hill - One Saturday a month, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., dogs and their owners can spend a morning playing fetch on the sand or splashing in the water at Alfred McKethan Park&#8217;s Pine Island Beach . Call 352-754-4031 or visit hernandocounty.us/parks_rec/ for details. Clearwater Beach - Adventurous types can try parasailing with Sky Screamer Parasail or, for a more grounded experience, there&#8217;s a paddleboard and kayak rental shop behind Shephard&#8217;s Beach Resort . Paddlers can rent single or tandem kayaks, or they can take a guided paddleboard tour. Visit clearwaterbeach.com . St. Pete Beach - At the well-known TradeWinds Island Resort , guests and visitors can play a game of cornhole, horseshoes or bocce ball on the beach or gather a group for volleyball. Beachgoers can also cruise the coastline in a WaveRunner or see dolphins playing on a Dolphin Watch cruise. Fort De Soto Beach - Touted as one of America&#8217;s best beaches, seven miles of waterfront at Fort De Soto Park include almost three miles of white, sandy beach and waterside sites for camping. Treasure hunters can obtain permits for metal detection at the park&#8217;s headquarters. Fort De Soto also has a dog beach, plus two fenced-in areas near the beach for large and small dogs with water stations. Learn more at pinellascounty.org/parks . Anna Maria Island/Bradenton - In addition to kayaking, parasailing and Segway tours, the area offers a less conventional way of enjoying the waterfront: on horseback. Riders can trot along the shores of Palma Sola Bay before taking their horses into the saltwater for a swim. Visit beachhorses.com . Siesta Key Beach, Sarasota - Born from a spontaneous event that started with a few locals banging on bongos, the community drum circle at Siesta Key Beach (another of Dr. Beach&#8217;s favorite places) gathers every Sunday about an hour before sunset, just south of the main pavilion on Siesta Public Beach . The area also hosts a number of volleyball tournaments, usually held in late spring. Cyclers can rent a beach cruiser from Siesta Sports Rentals to explore the coastline. In the summer months, a one-mile run for kids takes place every week at 6:30 p.m. Nearby, runs for grown-ups are held on Wednesday nights at the Venice Fishing Pier . Learn more at sarasotafl.com . Englewood Beach/Port Charlotte Beach - Kids 5 to 12 can learn how to fish the first Saturday of every month at Englewood. Children and their parents bring their own rod, reel and tackle box and learn about catch and release and fishing safety for $10. For the adults, Port Charlotte holds occasional sunset cocktail parties, and families can participate in a community beach cleanup a couple times a month. Visit charlottecountyfl.com or call 941-681-3742. Sanibel Island - Thought to be one of the best shelling beaches in the world, Sanibel and Captiva islands&#8217; Shellabration in March includes demonstrations, shell displays, food and live music. Tigertail Public Beach, Marco Island - Sand sculptors of all types can join in the annual July 4 sandcastle-building contest, open to everyone. Visit paradisecoast.com . South Florida Palm Beach From Tequesta to Boca Raton , 13 oceanfront and inlet parks are guarded year-round by Ocean Rescue lifeguards. If it&#8217;s a guarded beach, that means no dogs, Frisbees or kites that might endanger other sunbathers. Ocean County Rescue&#8217;s Rob Rogerson says there are still plenty of areas adjacent to the guarded beach where you can play volleyball or toss a football. On President&#8217;s Day weekend, don&#8217;t miss Pat Harsch from Team Sandastic, the award-winning Sarasota-based sand sculptors. Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa has a unique limestone shoreline and 1,000 feet of private beach. Voted a top U.S. resort last year by Cond]]></description>
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		<title>Pucker up for Key West’s Conch Honk 2012!</title>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:21:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Beachlover</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[ Are you a beach bunny looking for a shell opportunity to toot your own horn? If so, I&#8217;ve got a contest with your lips written all over it! The 50th Annual Conch Honk blasts into Key West&#39;s Oldest House (322 Duval St., Key West ) on March 3, 2012. In this shell blowing contest, you try to belt out a tune using a fluted, pink-lined conch shell. Judges will evaluate you on the quality, duration, loudness and novelty of your, umm ... music, and award prizes to the most perfect-puckerers in several categories. And yes, some folks can actually toot out a real tune. Though you&#8217;ll hear an abundance of squawking, honking, bleating and other noises not normally associated with music, prior contestants have produced melodies as sophisticated as the "Flight of the Bumblebee." More news to make you fling your flip-flops in joy? The conch honk costs zilch to enter and watch. Contestants can register at the Oldest House from 10:30 a.m. to noon March 3, or at the event itself if space is still available. You say you don&#8217;t own an &#8216;instrument?&#8217; Don&#8217;t get your beach towel in a twist! You can purchase conch shells at the event. Insider&#8217;s Tip : Pronounce &#8216;conch&#8217; so it rhymes with &#8216;honk.&#8217; Interesting fact : The tradition of blowing a conch shell in the Florida Keys began centuries ago. In the 1800&#8217;, when the local economy was largely based on salvaging cargoes from ships wrecked on the nearby reef, sailors attracted attention by blowing piercing blasts on the shell. Surprise visit: A mermaid whispered in my ear and told me that some characters from Key West&#8217;s seafaring history may make an appearance during the conch blowing contest. ]]></description>
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		<title>600 Astronomers Gravitate to the Florida Keys’ Winter Star Party</title>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:57:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Beachlover</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[ There they stand, the innumerable stars, shining in order like a living hymn, written in light. ~ N.P. Willis What could cause 600 amateur and professional astronomers from around the world to gravitate to the Florida Keys ? I&#8217;ll give you a hint. It&#8217;s not the Key Lime pie -- though the pie is noteworthy! Astronomers will be orbiting Scout Key (Mile Marker 34.5) Feb. 20-26 for the Winter Star Party , drawn by the chance to see southern constellations, comets, stars and other celestial objects that you can&#8217;t see from any other location in the continental United States. The Keys location coupled with the lack of large-scale artificial lighting provides stellar star-viewing conditions. Besides stargazing, participants can: Attend lectures and presentations by nationally recognized astronomers and guest speakers Shop for astronomy equipment from on-site vendors Participate in photo contests Compete for prizes and exchange information with fellow astronomy aficionados The event is open to the public, but if you want to go, you should rocket over to the website to register, because tickets aren&#8217;t for sale at the gate. Sounds heavenly to me! ]]></description>
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		<title>Postcard Inn at Holiday isle</title>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:26:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>StPeteBeach</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[ If you&#8217;re looking for a one-stop vacation spot in the Florida Keys , check out The Postcard Inn Beach Resort &#038; Marina at Holiday Isle (PCI for short)! The Postcard Inn name may sound familiar; their first location is on St. Pete Beach. Now, they have a sister resort in Islamorada , a famous one at that. Holiday Isle was, and is, an icon in the Keys. Its famous Tiki Bar has attracted visitors for decades (I practically grew up here)! But over the years, the property became run down and worn out. To the rescue? Postcard Inn! PCI has all new rooms and suites overlooking the Atlantic. You&#8217;ll find comfortable, Americana-style d ]]></description>
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		<title>Climb Aboard! Flagler Centennial Parade Celebrates Keys History</title>
		<link>http://floridagulfvacation.com/blog/climb-aboard-flagler-centennial-parade-celebrates-keys-history/</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:40:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Beachlover</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://floridagulfvacation.com/blog/climb-aboard-flagler-centennial-parade-celebrates-keys-history/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ It was the single most important event in Florida Keys history. On Jan. 22, 1912 &#8211; for the first time ever &#8211; a train rolled from Florida&#8217;s mainland to Key West on the Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad. Virtually everyone on the island was there to greet it, as well as a smattering of dignitaries. In fact, it was the largest gathering in Key West history &#8211; a rip-roaring celebration of the Keys&#8217; new connection with each other as well as the rest of the country. Now, that festive community spirit is being recreated with a parade honoring the 100-year anniversary of that epic event &#8211; and you&#8217;re invited! The historic procession chugs into Key West&#8217;s Old Town on 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012 . Marching groups, floats, bands, dancers, historic re-enactors and more will prance, play and sway in the Flagler Centennial Parade . The route begins at Southard and Whitehead Streets, proceeds along Duval Street and ends near the Key West Museum of Art and History at the Custom House, where a re-enactor portraying railroad founder Henry Flagler will greet crowds. The parade&#8217;s just part of the party! Centennial anniversary events include: A 1900&#8217;s-era costume ball A performance by a Henry Flagler re-enactor Family fun day at the former railroad workers&#8217; camp on Pigeon Key Museum and memorabilia exhibitions A re-enactment at Bahia Honda State Park Sounds like you should definitely climb aboard this celebration! Want more Florida Flagler fun? Check out this article detailing centennial events through January. Flagler facts: Heralded as the father of Miami and the founder of Palm Beach, this American tycoon was a real estate promoter, railroad developer and a partner of John D. Rockefeller in Standard Oil. Flagler was instrumental in developing Florida&#8217;s eastern Atlantic coast and founded what became the Florida East Coast Railway. ]]></description>
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		<title>Pensacola&#8217;s Place in American History Explodes Beneath the Surface</title>
		<link>http://floridagulfvacation.com/blog/pensacolas-place-in-american-history-explodes-beneath-the-surface/</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:57:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Florida Gulf Vacation</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[ Pensacola &#8211; Travel across the Santa Rosa Sound on the three-mile Pensacola Bay Bridge, and what you&#39;ll see first are shimmering water and pristine beaches. You might not even notice a pontoon boat in the water, the only indication that buried just 12 feet below the surface is a wreck of profound proportions. Here, not one but two Spanish ships, dating to 1559, are buried. And this juxtaposition of past and present is a part of Pensacola&#39;s charm that, like the Emmanuel Point I and II wrecks, hovers just below the surface. While St. Augustine can forever claim the banner of oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States, the Spanish actually landed in Pensacola six years earlier, in 1559. That Tristan de Luna&#39;s settlement was foiled as much by poor planning as by a hurricane is just one page in Pensacola&#39;s archives. University of West Florida marine archaeologists are still combing through the remains of the rare 16th century galleons, two of fewer than a dozen ever discovered. Centuries before the Europeans set sail, native tribes including Choctaw, Apalachee and Pensacola peoples lived, fished and traded in and around what would become Pensacola. When de Luna sailed in with 11 ships and some 1,400 soldiers and settlers, it was a trip sparked by Spain&#39;s ongoing effort to colonize Florida, an area that according to the Spanish crown extended north from what is now the Florida Keys all the way up to Newfoundland and west to what is now Mexico. Although not loaded with gold, the wrecks are treasure ships indeed, offering an invaluable portal into marine life and 16th century shipbuilding. &#8220;People don&#39;t realize the richness and diversity of culture, ethnicities and narratives that exists in Pensacola,&#8221; said Margo Stringfield, a resident of the city since 1983. Stringfield, a terrestrial archaeologist and assistant professor of anthropology at UWF, helps tell those stories as a consultant for Viva Florida 500 , a statewide celebration of the 500th anniversary of Juan Ponce de Le ]]></description>
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		<title>Florida Keys Seafood Festival</title>
		<link>http://floridagulfvacation.com/blog/florida-keys-seafood-festival/</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:04:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Uschivanlove</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://floridagulfvacation.com/blog/florida-keys-seafood-festival/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ My very first video shoot for VISIT FLORIDA was in Key West and one of my favorite memories from that trip was stumbling into the Florida Keys Seafood Festival. What a wonderful find! We walked over to Bayview Park and there were rows of food booths; the aromas immediately made my mouth water. Lobster, stone crab, soups, chowders &#8211; even fried Oreos. Everything a girl (and two kids and a video crew!) could want. This year marks the seventh annual Florida Keys Seafood Festival and you can celebrate the hard working commercial fishermen on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and it&#8217;s again at Key West&#8217;s Bayview Park (at the corner of Truman Avenue and Jose Marti Drive). Admission is free . Here&#8217;s what on the menu: Fresh grilled Florida lobster Key West pink shrimp Fried fish Stone crab claws Smoked fish dip Conch chowder &#038; conch salad Key lime pie Another cool factoid about this event is that all the seafood is prepared and served by the local fishermen and their families. Everyone is so friendly &#8211; and the music and entertainment is nonstop. I hope you&#8217;ll stumble into this festival in Key Wes t as we did. I know you&#8217;ll love it. If you go, post your photos at my VISIT FLORIDA Family Insider Facebook page . I&#8217;d love to see your family having fun in the Florids&#39; southernmost city! For more info, log on to www.fkcfa.org or call 305-872-9026. See the article here: Florida Keys Seafood Festival ]]></description>
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		<title>Florida Keys Music Fest and Conch Chowder Cook-off</title>
		<link>http://floridagulfvacation.com/blog/florida-keys-music-fest-and-conch-chowder-cook-off/</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:53:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Beachlover</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[ The Island Grass Music Fest is about swaying to music in a tropical setting. It&#8217;s about sampling conch chowder it all of its glorious, steaming varieties. It&#8217;s about lending a hand to folks less fortunate than you. And it&#8217;s a for-sure that you should go! The event sways into Habitat for Humanity&#39;s Big Pine Key headquarters in the Florida Keys (mile marker 30.5 on U.S. Highway 1) 1-5 p.m. on Feb. 26, 2012 , promising a plethora of performances by renowned regional bands and entertainers as well as a competitive Conch Chowder Cook-off. The tasty, tuneful festival benefits Habitat for Humanity of Key West and the Lower Florida Keys. The entertainment lineup includes these favorites: Howard Livingston The Doerfel Family Billie Blues The Conch Chowder Cook-off includes categories for professional and amateur chefs tasked with creating standout versions of the Keys&#8217; signature dish. Participants prepare five gallons of chowder; you get to purchase &#8220;tastes by the cup. Food, beer, wine and Pepsi products will also be available. Feeling lucky? Beach bunnies who like to bid can partake in the silent auction: it features awesome offerings. Smells like fun to me! Want more Sunshine State fun? Sneak a peek at my Facebook page . It features: Photos and videos Information about events Fun contests like "Guess the Beach" and "Write the Caption" Last minute event updates and beach news The opportunity for you to ask questions, post your own photos or dish about your own Florida adventures ]]></description>
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		<title>Florida Keys Fight Night Features Waterfront Pro Boxing</title>
		<link>http://floridagulfvacation.com/blog/florida-keys-fight-night-features-waterfront-pro-boxing/</link>
		<comments>http://floridagulfvacation.com/blog/florida-keys-fight-night-features-waterfront-pro-boxing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:27:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Beachlover</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[ To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there&#39;s no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other. ~Jack Handey Are you a beach bunny that likes to box? Well, me neither. (For starters, it might mess up my eye makeup.) Nevertheless, it would be fun to watch a match, particularly in an open-air waterfront setting! Key West boasts a boxing tradition that dates back to Ernest Hemingway, and it&#8217;s celebrating that tradition on Fri., Jan. 6, 2012 , with nine bouts of big-name professional boxing overlooking Key West Harbor at Mallory Square. Fight Night in the Keys features a 10-round battle between super middleweights Dyah Davis and Alfonso Lopez. Davis has a record of 20 wins including nine knockouts, as well as two losses and one draw. His competitor Lopez boasts 22 wins, including 17 knockouts, and one loss. Bouts are also scheduled featuring fighters Danny Van Staden, Marcus Upshaw, Derrick Wilson and Darell Eacholes. Ticket prices start at $35 per person and VIP packages also are available. Purchase tickets here or call 305-292-0486. Tickets can be purchased in Key West at Mr. Cheapee&#8217;s Liquors, 423 Caroline St. Want to watch, but can&#8217;t make it to Key West for the match? Don&#8217;t get your beach towel in a twist! It will be broadcast on ESPN2&#8217;s &#8220;Friday Night Fights.&#8221; Sounds like a knockout to me! ]]></description>
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