New in Florida

06/05/08

Sanibel Light Tower

WHAT’S NEW IN FLORIDA

What’s New in Florida – Summer 2008

CENTRAL

TAMPA – Join experienced trip leaders on an escape through Florida to explore wonders right in your own backyard. Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) offers outdoor camp programs for individuals interested in uncovering Florida’s past. MOSI’s Great Escapes program takes guests on a guided tour of various outdoor locations and lets them play the role of real historians. Activities include a fossil dig at Vulcan Mine, an archeological adventure at a nearby site and cave exploration in the Withlacoochee State Forest. Great Escapes are ideal for adults and families who want to experience hands-on, educational outdoor explorations.
(813) 987-6000, www.campfun.org.

TAMPA – Swim with the fishes at The Florida Aquarium, where guests have the opportunity to Dive with the Sharks without cages or barriers between the guest and five different species of sharks from around the world. For the less adventurous (or just those who aren’t SCUBA certified) we have Swim with the Fishes, an introduction to SCUBA for anyone 6 and older who want to experience the beauty and adventure of a surface swim in our largest exhibit, the 500,000-gallon Coral Reef tank with more than 2,300 fish, including moral eels, tarpon, grouper, cobia and more! On Sundays and Tuesdays, the aquarium offers a special program: Shark Feeding: Behind the Scenes Tour where guests target feed sharks from the deck of Shark Bay.
(813) 273-4000, www.flaquarium.org.

CHRISTMAS (Near Orlando) – Encounter wild animals of all sizes at Jungle Adventures Nature Park & Zoo, home to 200-foot Swampy, the world’s largest alligator. Take a Guided Wildlife Encounters or the Jungle Swamp Cruise and rendezvous with rare Florida panthers, black bears, gray wolves and many other reptiles, mammals and birds. It’s all so close to civilization, yet still a world apart!
877-4-A-GATOR, www.jungleadventures.com.

Attractions

Panama City Beach – June 2008 will see the launch of Circus by the Sea at Frank Brown Park. The thrilling three-ring aerial and stage production showcases the talent of junior and senior performers of the Florida State University Flying High Circus. Circus by

the Sea will also include the area’s first children’s circus camp. Seating 2,000 in a colorful air-conditioned big-top, performances will occur June 13-Aug. 2. Circus camps for ages 7-12 will be available June 23-July 24. (866) 234-8895. www.CircusByTheSea.com.

Jacksonville – From July 10 through Sept. 28, the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens presents Scalpel to Sketch: the science and beauty of medical illustration at Mayo Clinic. On display will be medical art rendered in various media such as carbon dust, pen and ink, water color, airbrush and digital media. From interpretations of the human form, animated voyages inside the human body, and studies of the brain to molecules and gene clusters, skeletons, and a rare look at the unique anatomy of conjoined twins, everyone is sure to be fascinated by this exhibit. (904) 356-6857. www.cummer.org.

Jacksonville – The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has opened its new “Save the Frogs!” amphibian conservation center. The center provides a sanctuary for the threatened amphibians to be bred and returned to the wild, while promoting awareness and an educational experience for guests. www.jacksonvillezoo.org.

Jacksonville – EcoMotion Segway Tours provides "Birding by Segway" trips on Fort George Island this summer during the nesting season for the beautifully colored Painted Bunting songbird. Aboard a Segway, visitors also encounter lush vegetation of a sub-tropical paradise, butterflies, birds, tortoises, expansive beaches and unrivaled water views. (904) 251-9477. www.ecomotiontours.com.

St. Augustine – The World Golf Hall of Fame is pleased to present “Jack Nicklaus: Golf’s Golden Champion.” This special exhibit celebrates the stories of Nicklaus’ stellar career in golf and his successful career and life off the course. On display through November 2008. The presentation covers his youth and storied amateur career and extends through the greatest professional career to date, showcasing artifacts, memorabilia, photos, video and text. The exhibit includes golf memorabilia and awards from golf events won by Nicklaus, as well as memorabilia from other events in his life. (904) 940-4123. www.wgv.com.

Tampa – In spring 2008, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is opening Jungala. Resembling portions of the Congo, the new attraction invites guests to discover exotic creatures, explore a village hidden deep in the jungle and connect with the inhabitants of the lush landscape through up-close animal interactions, multi-story family play areas, rides and live entertainment. (888) 800-5447. www.buschgardens.com.

Orlando – The Simpsons, the blockbuster hit series, is the inspiration for the Universal Orlando Resort's new theme park ride that opens in Spring 2008. Guests will be rocketed along with Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson on a hysterical, almost unimaginable adventure. They'll experience a side of Springfield previously unexplored as they enjoy the new ride's interpretation of thrill rides, dark rides and "live" shows that make up a new fantasy amusement park dreamed up by the show's cantankerous Krusty the Clown. (407) 363-8000. www.universalorlando.com.

Orlando – In March 2008, SeaWorld Orlando opens Aquatica, a one-of-a-kind 60-acre water park, which blends up-close animal experiences, waters from serene to extreme, high-speed thrills and wide, sandy beaches. Crystal-blue rivers wind through hidden grottos and refreshing waterfalls, while rich greenery and bright flowers adorn towering

rock formations. The Aquatica campus includes 36 water slides, six rivers and lagoons, and more than 80,000 square-feet of beach area. (800) 432-1178. (407) 363-2200. www.seaworld.com.

Lake Buena Vista (near Orlando) – Beginning in summer 2008, Walt Disney World Resort will open Toy Story Mania, an attraction that combines the popular characters from the "Toy Story" films with imagineering technology to create an interactive ride-through video game – in three dimensions. Guests board fanciful ride vehicles and zip into a world of exciting midway-style games. (407) 939-6244. www.disneyworld.com.

Sarasota – The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is pleased to offer Ringling Museum Summer Culture Camps. Children will be invited to journey across continents and through time in the Museum’s weeklong summer Culture Camps. Integrating visual arts, performing arts, language, food, games, and stories, camps will serve as a gateway for children to explore the cultures represented in the Ringling Collection. Children must be at least 7 years old and entering either the 2nd or 3rd grades to enroll in Culture Camps. Themes include: Masks and Mischief (July 14-18); Asian Adventure (July 21-25); and The Heroic Journey (July 28-August 1). Culture Camps are $205 for members and $225 for non-members and run from 9 a.m. -1 p.m. all five days of the camp. Space is limited. www.ringling.org.

Cocoa Beach – Florida Surf Lessons invites you to immerse yourself in the sport, lifestyle, and culture of surfing with week-long surf camps this summer. Themes for the weeks include family week, adults week, and women's week. (561) 625-5375. www.floridasurflessons.com.

Events

JACKSONVILLE – Observers and participants are invited to the AT&T Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament & Festival July 26-28, 2008. The festivities, accompanying the nation’s largest kingfish tournament, include a Junior Angler Tournament, a KidZone, live music, boat show and food festival. (904) 251-3011. www.kingfishtournament.com.

STARKE (near Gainesville) – The fourth annual Starke Bike Festival June 13-15, 2008 will offer 100 acres full of biker games and events, live entertainment and camping and RV opportunities. (904) 962-5278. www.starkeflbikefest.com.

Daytona Beach – Daytona International Speedway (DIS) is pleased to host Coke Zero 400 Weekend July 3-5, 2008. The summer's most anticipated auto event is one of only a few NASCAR races run at night. Other races taking place that weekend include the Brumos Porsche 250 and the DIS NASCAR Nationwide Series 250. In addition to the race, area activities include concerts and American Independence Day celebrations featuring fireworks. (800) PITSHOP (800-748-7467). www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

MIAMI – The Deering Estates at Cutler welcomes guests to its Fifth Annual Summer Cabaret Series. The first of three cabaret style concerts will be Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. The remaining concert dates are July 26 and August 30. (305) 235-1668. www.deeringestate.org.