The Informed Traveler
The Informed Traveler
Six Stops in Florida: Quick Hits from the Sunshine State
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We're doing something a little different on our show this week, a number of different destinations from Florida plus the folks from Visit Florida were in Vancouver last week each promoting their specific area of Florida so I got the chance to chat with all of them (6 to be exact) in a short meet and greet, speed dating type fashion, asking each of them 3 or 4 questions to get to know what each destination in Florida has to offer.
Visit Florida
SPEAKER_02Well, hello and welcome to the Informed Traveler Podcast, a weekly travel podcast where our goal is to help you become a more informed traveler. And I'm your host, Randy Sharman. We're doing something a little different on our show this week. A number of different destinations from Florida, six to be exact, plus the folks from Visit Florida were in Vancouver last week, each promoting their specific area of Florida. So I got the chance to chat with all of them in a short meet and greet, speed dating type fashion, asking each of them three or four questions to get to know what each destination in Florida has to offer. It's something we've never tried before, so what you're going to get is a menagerie of places to visit in Florida outside the major areas like Orlando or Miami or Tampa. So to set the stage, we're going to start things off chatting with Erin Kramer. She is the public relations account executive for Visit Florida. VisitFlorida.com is their website. And here is that conversation for you now. Tell me about Florida. I think a lot of people know about Florida. A lot of people have been there. It's one of the more popular states in the United States, which you're lucky. You got a lot of things going for you.
SPEAKER_05Yes, that's right. So you know, Visit Florida, we like to say that Florida is the iconic vacation destination, especially for our Canadian travelers. So we have a lot going on and a lot coming up that I know we're gonna talk about.
SPEAKER_02Well, the thing you got uh I think that most Canadians love is the weather. I think a lot of people go for that. So, but we we all know that. And I think a lot of things that we uh know about Florida for people who have visited there. Uh, but what are some of the things that uh you know they may not know, or some of the uh things that are coming up, or some things you want to highlight that uh people may be surprised about Florida?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, definitely. So I think that one of our most iconic and key differentiators, something that you know makes our destination so unique, is um it's just it's really hard to replicate. I mean, we have a combination of proximity, ease of access, um, and just an incredible variety of experiences that travelers can do when in the state. Um, and not just the state as a whole, but even if you break it down to each specific destination, you know, you have a place like Miami, for example, where travelers can go and, you know, of course, enjoy the world-class beaches, but there's also that vibrant city life. You have nature, culture, and major events all happening again within that one specific destination. And I think it's that variety combined with the comfort and familiar, familiarity that Canadians really value that continues to help Florida lead the charge and set it apart from um competitors.
SPEAKER_02And I think the one thing that Florida does um very well is the marketing. I mean, it's one thing to have all those things, but if nobody knows about it, it doesn't really do you much good, does it?
SPEAKER_05Absolutely. And, you know, we launched towards the end of last year actually a new, I don't want to necessarily call it a new brand because you know, the Visit Florida brand is and you know, we'll always be, you know, positioning our state as the number one vacation destination, but we launched a brand refresh, like we like to call it, of which is Live More Florida's. And it's all about touting, coming to Florida and finding the new and the known, you know. So for repeat travelers, which we know Canadians often are, it's coming and still enjoying those iconic experiences like the theme parks, but then, you know, taking a day trip, venturing 45 minutes outside of Orlando and discovering one of our beautiful natural springs and spending the day kayaking or paddle boarding, um, you know, and really honing in and making those new experiences again within those more familiar destinations. Um, so again, that was Live More Florida's. And yeah, we're really excited um to have rolled that out.
SPEAKER_02Well, we are going to be talking about uh or with a number of people from different areas in Florida. Um I look at it like a big family. Do people do they get along well? Like are people kind of.
SPEAKER_05You know, you would be surprised, but I think it kind of goes back to what I was saying, how every destination in itself is so unique. So everybody plays very nice in the sandbox, if you will. Um, you know, there's not a lot of competition. Of course, you know, every city, every county, you know, wants to gain as many visitors as they can. But at the end of the day, because our state is, well, you know, expansive, it's very drivable. So, you know, we're really pushing, you know, having travelers come fly into, you know, your major gateway cities, your Tampa, your Miami, your Orlando or Jacksonville. But then it goes back to, you know, renting a car and taking a day trip or, you know, multiple day trips and venturing outside of those gateway cities and, you know, maybe your lesser known or hidden gym destinations, if you will.
SPEAKER_02Mm-hmm. Well, yeah. And I I would suppose the the flip side to being jealous of Orlando is saying, boy, we're glad we have Orlando because a lot of people come for that. And then they expand out, like you were saying.
SPEAKER_05Definitely, definitely. And I mean, I absolutely love Orlando growing up there. It is, it is the uh theme park capital of the world, but there's so much more to Orlando. I mean, it was recognized by Michelin back in 2022 for its culinary scene. So that's something to tout. And then again, you know, being in the heart of Central Florida, you have all of those natural springs and rivers and lakes nearby. Um, so really, you know, venturing outside of the theme park capital of the world, if you will. Of course, after spending, you know, a day or two there with your family is always great.
SPEAKER_02Uh any special events that are coming up that people might want to mark on their calendars uh looking at uh maybe a trip to Florida?
SPEAKER_05Absolutely. I mean, of course, we have the FIFA World Cup coming up. That is gonna be a key moment here for us in Florida with Miami's Hard Rock Stadium hosting multiple matches, which is including the quarterfinal and the bronze medal games that's happening June 15th through the, or I'm sorry, yeah, June 15th through July 18th.
SPEAKER_02Now I was gonna ask, like I said, we're gonna talk to a lot of different areas uh in Florida, more specific areas, but in general, uh when is a good time to visit in Florida?
SPEAKER_05You know, to be honest, Florida is such an iconic destination um where vacation travelers can create, connect, and share memorable memorable moments year-round, really. And, you know, we offer such a range of experiences that are available, you know, to travelers any time of the year. So, you know, for example, I'm based in North Florida in the panhandle, and to me, it does get relatively cold for a tried and true Floridian. But to the average Canadian, you know, that's still shorts and t-shirt, flip-flop weather. So you can still come during those winter, you know, maybe shorter season months and enjoy our beaches, or, you know, again, going back to our natural springs or maybe some of our cultural hot spots. Um, so that's always something to be mindful of. Of course, you have spring time. Um, spring break, you know, a lot of uh areas are wrapping up right now. That's of course a very prime and hot time to come. Summer break, too, of course. But for me personally, you know, really kind of taking advantage of those shoulder seasons, maybe, you know, where it's not as crowded, um, it's always a great time to visit.
SPEAKER_02Anything uh you want to add, Erin?
SPEAKER_05Um, I mean, I I I would be remiss if I didn't just uh talk about some of our, you know, unique um experiences in the state or musty attractions, if you will, that I think really make the Sunshine State one of a kind. Um, you know, I have to shout out, it's one of my absolute favorite experiences and it must it has to be a bucket list experience. Um, but Florida is actually home to the only place in North America where you can legally swim with manatees in their natural habitat. And that takes place in Crystal River Fold, Florida. Um again, it's one of those bucket list items where if you've never seen a manatee up close in person, it blows your mind. But they are the most gentle, curious baked potatoes of the sea, if you will. So in Crystal River, you can actually, with a tour guide, go and snorkel with them. It's all passive observation. So, of course, you have to mind your manatee manners as we call it. Um, but it's just such a cool, unique thing to do, whether you know you're traveling by yourself with your family. Um, so you know, I just think that that's a really unique thing. Um, of course, I think I would be remiss with the most recent uh Artemis II lunar uh flyby mission that just took place with NASA. Um, you know, I have to shout out the Kennedy Space Center too, especially for families um who are looking for, you know, maybe spring break, summertime travel. Um, and Florida Space Coast, we are home to the Kennedy Space Center, and it is such a cool experience. Um, I remember my first time, I actually didn't visit until college, and I remember going and visiting with my now mother-in-law who's a STEM teacher. And I remember looking at her saying, I think I picked the wrong major. I should have gone into science because it it's just so mind-blowing getting to go and you know see the history of NASA, but also, you know, if you time it right, you can watch a rocket launch. And so that's just, you know, really neat and a fun thing to do. Um, you know, and then I think it's no secret that Florida, we really are kind of a mixing pot of uh or a melting pot of diverse cultures, and our culinary scene is just next to none. Um, and I think those cultures that you know our state is comprised of, it really builds into our culinary scene. Um, so you have everything from authentic uh Hispanic food. Um, we have, of course, your I call Florida Puscatarian's paradise. So an endless supply of seafood. Um, I always coin our tide to table. So we have uh the fishermen will go out, catch their food, bring it into some of these local restaurants where they're preparing the dishes right then and there for you, which is again next to none. Um, we also have, of course, in our Central Florida area, um, a lot of uh agro tourism. So because we have such beautiful weather year-round, we're able to grow a lot of our um vegetables, produce, fruit year-round, and um, you know, sell that to the local restaurants. Um, so I mentioned tied to table, but of course farm to table too. And, you know, we just we have a culinary scene that's next to none.
SPEAKER_02Well, people can get more information on your website, visitflorida.com. Aaron Kramer is the uh public relations account executive for Visit Florida. Uh starting off our, I don't know what we call this, uh speed dating with Visit Florida. Visit with all the different destinations.
SPEAKER_05We can go with that. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Appreciate your time, Aaron. Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_05Thank you, Randy.
Visit Central Florida
SPEAKER_02So let's get to each individual Florida destination now. And leading off our list is Michael Hogan. He's the senior communications advisor with Visit Central Florida, or more specifically, as we'll find out, he represents the area of Polk County. So here's our conversation with Michael. Just to avoid any confusion, when we talk about Central Florida and we go on your website, Visit Central Florida Florida, what we're really talking about for our listeners uh today is Polk County. Is uh am I correct on that?
SPEAKER_00That's correct. Yes. We're we're located uh right on Interstate 4, which is the main uh artery between you know uh east and west through the state of Florida, um, between Tampa and Orlando, but we don't represent either one of those destinations. Uh we represent Polk County, uh Florida only.
SPEAKER_02Okay, so let's talk about Polk County. Uh um what uh makes that area unique?
SPEAKER_00Well, I mean, you know, when you talk about us, we're we're located really between two uh two Titans of tourism within the state of Florida, two of the of the Titans between the Or uh Orlando uh area and the Tampa Bay area, St. Pete Clearwater area. So a lot of times when you when people are driving from uh from east to west on I-4, they don't realize that they're going through through Poe County. Um and what they also don't realize is the uh the unbelievable uh uh amount of stuff that we have to offer that is right off of Interstate 4. Uh the the thing that makes us so unique um and attractive is that when you come and you stay in in Polk County, you're gonna get what we look at as the real authentic Florida. As our catchphrase says, it's the real the real Florida magic. Um, but also you're gonna get affordability and value. Um whereas it may be uh a little more expensive uh to stay in in the Orlando area, the Disney area uh or uh right along in Tampa Bay, uh or uh the beaches of St. Pete and Clearwater, you're getting you're gonna get a lot more value by staying in Polk County, Florida. Yet you're still gonna be able to branch out and and hit those other destinations as well, while also enjoying everything that we have to offer.
SPEAKER_02So what are some of the attractions along that way? Uh must see uh stops and and some of the activities that people people can enjoy.
SPEAKER_00Well, well, you know, our the the big fish in our pond, I like to say, is Legoland, Florida, uh, which is on the grounds of the old Cypress Gardens water park uh uh property. Um but Legoland, Florida, which uh also uh houses that area uh the Peppa Pig theme park, the new Sea Life Florida aquarium, uh the the Legoland, Florida Water Park, uh, and it also has two hotels right on site. So it's a it's a a great uh uh one-stop shop for families uh uh that want to come visit. And then just recently within the last two months, uh uh Legoland, Florida opened uh the new Galactic Coaster indoor roller coaster ride, which is unbelievable. Um so really families uh that uh in the in the that have children in the age range uh of two uh to about uh 13 to 14 years old, that's right in their wheelhouse. That's a that's an attraction that is uh that is available really for for children, I say, of all ages because everybody loves LEGO.
SPEAKER_02I love Legoland.
SPEAKER_00But yeah, but but uh you know, aside from that, um a must-see attraction and it's one of my favorite places in Poe County is Bok Tower Gardens um in Lake Wales, Florida. It's uh uh Bok Tower is a 508-foot singing Caroline Tower uh that was uh that was the vision of Edward Bach back in the 1920s. Uh the whole property is on um it's a historical landmark. Um so it's just uh it's an unbelievable uh place to go back and to step back in the time of walking through the botanical gardens, up the up the hill um of Iron Mountain, up to what opens up to the uh uh to the Singing Tower that is actually uh played by one of the preeminent Caroline composers in the world, Gier Hollander. So that's a that's a uh a must-op. Along with Frank Lloyd Wright, uh the largest collection of his uh work in one place in the world is located at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Um, and then all of the culinary uh options that we have, in addition to everything else that we offer. But those are are some of the main things that we offer in Polk County.
SPEAKER_02So if you're taking me out for lunch in Polk County, uh what what's a dish that I should try that you would recommend that's local?
SPEAKER_00Well, what our heritage in Polk County, uh, what we hang our hat on is barbecue. Uh we are the home of the triple crown of barbecue uh in the state of Florida. Um there are more champion barbecue competition teams that come out of Polk County and Central Florida uh than any other part of the state. Um so there are uh everything from elite barbecue restaurants right down to your local mom and pop type uh barbecue restaurants uh that are uh right you know off the side of the road type places that are absolutely exceptional. Uh that's that's what we are known for.
SPEAKER_02Barbecue and Lego, good enough for me.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely.
SPEAKER_02People can uh find out more information at Visitcentralflorida.com or Polk County more specifically. Michael Hogan is the senior communications advisor for Visit Central Florida. Uh great chatting with you, Michael. I really appreciate it.
SPEAKER_00Randy, it was my pleasure. Thanks so much.
Ocala/Marion County
SPEAKER_02Up next, we're going to hear all about Ocala Marion County. And joining us now to do that is Jessica Heller. She is the marketing and communications supervisor for Ocala Marion County. Ocalamarion.com is their website. Hello, Jessica.
SPEAKER_04How are you doing?
SPEAKER_02I'm well, thank you. I'm excited to hear about Ocala, Marion County because they have no idea where it is. So tell me that first and then tell me what makes it unique.
SPEAKER_04It's a great place to start. So Ocalamarian County is located about an hour and 10 minutes north of Orlando, right in the middle of Florida. So you have about an hour both directions to the coast. So very easy to access, located, um, really very accessible. Tampa, it's about an hour and 20 minutes.
SPEAKER_02Nice. Okay, so what makes that area unique then?
SPEAKER_04So Ocalamarian County specifically, what makes us so special is very connected. So I kind of like to start there. We have the Florida aquifer, which feeds our beautiful springs that you can explore running underneath our ground. So that aquifer actually, the fresh water, feeds the springs, which is actually one of the reasons why the we're the horse capital of the world. So we have more horses in our destination, more horse breeds and horse varieties than any other place in our condensed area. So it also provides those nutrients for the grass. And then it also kind of shapes the terrain that is our destination that you wouldn't necessarily think of, Florida. So we have incredible mountain biking trails. We have fantastic zip linings through canyons. So you have a lot of changes in terrain that you don't expect for the state. And that is part a big part because um about a hundred years ago, there was a lot of mining in the area because our uh ground is so nutrient dense. So it's really all connected with how much nutrients runs through our area via the photo aquifer.
SPEAKER_02Well, I would imagine that zip lining would be one of the activities that people love and being outdoors, but what are some of the must-see attractions and other things people like to do in that area?
SPEAKER_04So, in addition to zip lining, I did mention the springs. One of the top things to do when it comes to the springs is we have glass bottom boat at Silver Springs State Park. That is an iconic tradition that people love to do. It's a great way to see the stunning springs that are really as clear as a pool, and just quite literally, we call us the Florida's natural wonder. So you go and you see turtles and manatees and alligators, and you're in the boat, so you don't need to worry about the alligators in the in that respect. But you can do the glass bottom boat and see the springs right underneath you, and that's truly a fantastic experience. Only a 30-minute boat ride, so it's very easy to hop on the boat, explore the park, grab lunch after. We also have our downtown Ocala area is really brimming with culture. We have murals everywhere. Uh, I'd say 20 plus local restaurants and a lot of boutique shopping, art galleries, events happening on the historic square all year. So that's kind of a place to go, always for dinner and for a good dose of culture for the area. And then our newest kind of attraction, we like to say it's a destination within our destination, is World Equestrian Center. So they're the largest equestrian facility in the country. I think they're aiming for getting to say in the world soon. They keep building. But they're not just an equestrian facility, they're a resort. They have multiple hotels on property, they have equestrian horse events and horse shows going all year long. And they have, I believe it's now 11 or 12 restaurants on site, including pastry shops and uh five-star dining to everything that's fashion too. So it's a really great location that is kind of an all-in-one spot as well.
SPEAKER_02So if you're a horse lover, this is a great place to be, I would think. Right?
SPEAKER_04Yes, definitely. So um, in addition to the World Equestrian Center, they did pick to build in O'Calamarian County for a reason, and that's because we are the horse capital. You can go horseback riding on our nature trails, or you can even do a horse farm tour too and get up close and personal to a lot of the different horses. Everything from champions that have uh raced in the Kentucky Derby, and you can feed them a peppermint to uh petting a Clydesdale, which um from a farm that has that actually has provided Budweiser Clydesdales in the past. So really you have a great all-around horse experience, whether you're an expert or a beginner when it comes to horses.
SPEAKER_02Any special events uh coming up?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, so summertime specifically for O'Calamarian County is a time to be outdoors and splash around, enjoy the springs and cool off. We do have, as I had mentioned, World Equestrian Center. Locals call it WEC. Um World Equestrian Center does a summer series that's about 10 weeks, and the prize winnings is up to$3 million. So that's really fun to just go and see. The events are free to attend. So uh you can go have dinner, watch the show, stay on the property if you want, or just kind of walk around and shop. So that's a fun thing to do. Kind of any it's from June through August. So really you can pick any of those times if you want to make sure that you go and see that. The the festival season, and really the peat event season starts to pick up in the fall. So you have October and November when you start to get a lot of uh festivals. The Ocala Food and Wine Festival brings in celebrity chefs, you have an incredible arts festival in downtown Ocala, and then it starts to pick up with uh some Christmas lights and things like that too. So you really the event season really picks up in the fall.
SPEAKER_02Now, if you're uh taking me for lunch, what food would you recommend on the menu?
SPEAKER_04So a a really great iconic dish in our destination is Gator Bites. There's a couple places you can get those right on the river. Um, there's a river called the Rainbow River, and that's fed by Rainbow Springs, one of our freshwater springs. And there's two restaurants, the Blue Gator and Gator Joe's, so they both have Gator in the name, also, um, that are right on the water, that you can have your food looking over the water on the deck under umbrella. And Gator Brights is a fun, iconic one to do for that. Uh, if you're looking for something else, we do have a local celebrity chef, Rashad Jones. He owns Bigley's Barbecue, and he's actually been on the Food Network a number of times. He's been on Diners, Drivers and Dives, he's been on um Master of Q. He's beat Bobby Flay, so he's a fun one to go in. He's always in the restaurant, too. So you go and a lot of times you order straight from him. Um and he always loves to get your story as to what brings you to the area.
SPEAKER_02People can check out uh your website to plan their trip, hokellamarion.com, and Jessica Heller is the marketing and communications supervisor for Hokella Marion County. Uh enjoyed our chat, Jessica. Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_04Thanks, Randy.
Destin - Ft Walton Beach
SPEAKER_02This is the Informed Traveler Podcast. I'm Randy Sharman. Just want to remind you of our website, theinformedraveler.org. That's where you can find our contact page if you have any questions or comments about the podcast. You can also email me too with any questions you might have. My email address is randy at the informedtraveler.org. And you can check out our social media pages too at facebook.com slash informed traveler, Instagram at informed traveler, or on X at Informed Traveler. That's where you'll find videos and images from our Florida partners that we're featuring on this week's show. And just to reiterate, we're doing something just a little bit different on our show this week. A number of different destinations from Florida were in Vancouver last week, so I got the chance to chat with all of them in a short meet and greet, speed dating type fashion, asking them three or four questions to get to know what each destination in Florida has to offer. So far, we've learned what the areas of Polk County in central Florida and Ocala Marion County have to showcase. So let's continue now with this week's special montage of the various destinations from Florida and talk with Stacey Young. She is the communications and PR manager for Destin Fort Walton Beach. And here is that conversation for you now. I started the uh last uh chat the same way. Uh Destin Fort Walton Beach. I have no idea where that is. And I've been to Florida many times, so I'm learning a lot. So tell us where it is and what makes it unique.
SPEAKER_07Yes, so we're on the Northwest Florida side of uh the state, and we're on the Gulf side. So beautiful crystal clear water, emerald, um, emerald and gorgeous, and sugar white sand beaches.
SPEAKER_02Oh, that's nice. I like that.
SPEAKER_07Yes.
SPEAKER_02So uh what are some of the attractions, some of the activities people love to do there?
SPEAKER_07Yeah, so beyond the beautiful beaches, we also have the destined harbor. So we're home to the nation's largest four-hire commercial commercial fishing fleet. So we also have a really amazing harbor culture. You can head down to the harbor and go out with one of our charter fleet captains, and they will show you the ropes so you can go deep sea fishing and catch grouper, mahi, and then obviously all that fresh catch comes into our harbor restaurant so you can have a delicious meal as well.
SPEAKER_02Hmm, nice. Uh so uh if you're if you're a boating lover, like to be on the water, this is the place, right?
SPEAKER_07Yeah, that's that's correct. We're surrounded by water, so it makes it a perfect place to come. We obviously enjoy the beaches, but get out on the water and try something new too. So things like snorkeling, paddleboarding, all of those adventure activities are really great. We actually have a filter system on our website. We have what are called little adventures. So you can go on the website and and search and filter by if you have kids, by age, and all of the best activities and adventures will pull up, and there's videos you can watch. So it's a great planning tool when you're planning your vacation to Dustin for Walton Beach.
SPEAKER_02Cool. Uh, any special events that are happening?
SPEAKER_07Yes, we have a really unique one upcoming in May. We are home to the world's largest lionfish tournament. So I'm not sure if you're familiar with lionfish. Um they are an invasive species, so they're not great for our golf waters, but they actually are delicious to eat. Um, they're spearfished by um scuba divers, so they go out and spearfish and there's a tournament and they win big prizes, but then we also host a restaurant week. So all of our local restaurants serve lionfish in unique ways. It's just really fun. There's a festival down at the harbor, um, and that's upcoming in May. May 15 years ago.
SPEAKER_02It sucks to be a lionfish in that area. Yes. Okay, you got that? Anything else?
SPEAKER_07Yeah, we also um have a really robust artificial reef program. So we have over 580 reef sites off the coast of Destin, Fort Walton Beach, and um, that includes about 35 large vessels, wrecks. So it is a great destination for scuba diving. Um you know, we also will be soon deploying the SS United States as the world's largest artificial reef right off our coast. Okay, so it'll be a bucket list scuba dive for those that are a little more adventurous.
SPEAKER_02Well, you mentioned lionfish is good to eat. Is that one of the local dishes that I should try?
SPEAKER_07Definitely, yes. The lionfish is definitely good, but I also recommend um the grouper, mahi. As I mentioned before, um you all of that fresh catch comes into our local restaurants. And another unique one is royal red shrimp. They're delicious. Um they're a large, beautiful pink uh shrimp that is just divine.
SPEAKER_02So if you love seafood and being on the water, this is uh this is a top spot to be.
SPEAKER_07Yeah. Um, and from the family side, too, we also offer, if you have kids, free classes out on the beach with our little adventures outpost. So we partner with our local businesses and kids can try things like pin fishing, surfing, snorkeling, and try something new.
SPEAKER_02Cool. I would imagine uh the water is quite calm, right? Being located where you are.
SPEAKER_07Yes, that's why it makes it ideal to get out and snorkel and powerboard. It's it's pristine, beautiful, and such a focus for us. We have 10 marine biologists on our team that keep our natural beauty in the area um perfect.
SPEAKER_02Awesome. Stacey Young is the uh community and public relations manager for Destin Fort Walton Beach, and Beach is underlined there because it sounds like the beaches are fantastic there. You can check out uh more information on their website, destinfwb.com. It was uh great chatting with you, Stacey. Thank you.
SPEAKER_07It was a pleasure. Come visit.
Visit Florida Keys and Key West
SPEAKER_02Up next is Mary Haven, Senior Director of Public Relations for Visit Florida Keys and Key West. And here's our chat with Mary. Hi, Mary.
SPEAKER_03Hi, Randy. How are you doing today?
SPEAKER_02I'm good, thank you. The uh last couple of Florida destinations that we uh chatted with, I had to ask where it was. This one, I don't have to ask that question. I know where the Florida Keys are.
SPEAKER_08I know, right?
SPEAKER_02And they are very unique. But uh, for those who have never been, uh tell us uh what makes the keys unique.
SPEAKER_03Oh my goodness. You know, I've lived in Florida my whole life, and I tell you the keys is the Florida Keys is next level. It's that bucket list destination that whenever I tell somebody, when they ask me where I work, and I tell them, I wish I could have the camera pointing to them because the expression on their face is, oh wow, how lucky are you? And you know, I say that every single day. It's a very relaxed, chill vibe here. When I cross the county line coming from uh South Florida, I'm born and raised in Miami, but when I cross that county line into Monroe County, everything just melted away. This stress, it's a chilled, slow down, intentional, relaxed vibe. 125 miles of sheer perfection with these turquoise water, 43 bridges. Um, the best part, I would say, the most unique part of the keys, people want to get places fast. Here, we tell you to sit back and slow down. It's that drive and the overseas highway, that iconic 125-mile drive that is panoramic. And I tell you, Randy, there is no filter. That water is that minty green turquoise, and it is just everything perfection.
SPEAKER_02Very nice. And it is one of the places where you kind of do have to rent a car. Otherwise, it you don't get the full experience, right?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, correct. And we we get quite a few people that come into the destination and uh, you know, fly whether flying into Miami or into Key West, they want to do that drive. Um, and I highly recommend it.
SPEAKER_02So, what are some of the uh attractions that uh must see? I know we're we are very short for time, so you can probably uh list up a whole bunch, but give us some highlights.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, happy to do it. I'll run through it really quickly, of course. I'm gonna start in Key West with the Hemingway Home and Museum, Ernest Hemingway. Interesting to see like his beautiful home that is preserved there. And one of the cool things about that is did you know you can actually write out, you can rent out his writing studio if you want it. Are you looking for inspiration to get creative? Also, the Dry Tortuga's National Park. It is 70 miles off of the coast to Key West, accessible by seaplane, which I highly recommend, or uh by the ferry, which takes about two and a half hours. It is just spectacular. Snorkeling, walking around the historic fort, um, the Truman Little White House. You can take the uh ride in the presidential limo and around Key West. Uh, one of the new things in the destination is a Key West cooking show. We call it dinnertainment, where you don't have to cook. You sit back and you watch them cook, and it's uh con cuisine, everything about the island, a little bit of history mixed in there. The Turtle Hospital, Dolphin Research Center, of a course, if you want to have the iconic experience in the keys in Isla Morata, Robbie's in Isla Morata, where you can feed the tarpon. That's quite the thrill. History of Diving Museum, and then in Key Largo, the John Penicamp Coral Reef State Park, which is a crown jewel of the destination.
SPEAKER_02Nice. Uh, any special events that you might have coming up?
SPEAKER_03Yes, actually, one of the great ones coming up. Did you know that a lot of the people that you're hearing on the radio right now got their start at the Key West Songwriters Festival? I didn't know that. And then some of the greatest country music singers. So think about Nashville invading the Florida Keys. This year's the 30th anniversary of the Key West Songwriters Festival. That's April 30th through May 3rd. Then we have Hemingway Days, which is a three-day festival, and folks come and they dress up like women's Hemingway. It's like super amazing. We have the Key Line Festival over July 4th weekend.
SPEAKER_02Oh, that'd be good.
SPEAKER_03We have a tribute to Jimmy Buffett, who passed away a couple years ago, and it's called Just a Few Friends Key West, taking a line from one of his songs. And it's a three-day festival paying homage and honoring the life of Jimmy Buffett. It's it's quite moving. I highly recommend it. That's in September over Labor Day weekend. And the last um festival I will tell you about is Fantasy Fest. I will tell you that's something to see. It's a 10-day festival of everything artistic and costumes and celebrations, something not to miss.
SPEAKER_02Oh, that'd be fun. When is that one?
SPEAKER_03That is October.
SPEAKER_02Okay. Um, give me a dish I must I must try uh if I'm at a restaurant.
SPEAKER_03Okay, so can we talk here? Key lime pie, three words.
SPEAKER_02How do you want it?
SPEAKER_03You want it dipped in dark chocolate? Do you want it with um the big controversy apparently with the key lime pie? If you didn't know this, is there's like a debate. Do you want it with the lemon meringue, the meringue topping mile high, or do you want it with the whipped cream? And Silver Living did a whole uh whole spread, feature spread on this, and it was one of the most popular articles. I'd say key lime pie, anything fresh seafood, and of course conch, because we are the conch republic.
SPEAKER_02Well, uh any I I would try key lime pie anyway. Like just serve me key lime pie, I'm fine.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, that's right. Yummy.
SPEAKER_02Uh Mary Haven is the uh senior director of public relations for visit Florida Keys and Key West, their website. Because we could go on and on, Mary, but it wouldn't be fair to the rest. Visit FloridaKeys.com where you can find out all the information where to get the best uh key lime pie. Uh thanks for your time, Mary. It was a pleasure chatting.
Visit Pensacola
SPEAKER_03My pleasure, Randy. Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_02Lindsay Steck Jackson is our next guest on our special montage of guests from the Florida area this week. Lindsay is the marketing and communications manager for Visit Pensacola. And here's my conversation now with Lindsay all about the great reasons to visit Pensacola. What makes uh Pensacola, Florida, a unique visit compared to the rest of your counterparts?
SPEAKER_06Oh, well, first of all, we're at the top of the state, so we're easy to get to. Um we also are the only destination between Mobile and Jacksonville with the walkable historic downtown. That includes the big five, so that's an accredited art museum, ballet theater, and opera. But then we also have 40 miles of sugar white sand beaches. Uh and I'd say the vibe is really unpretentious and very approachable. So it's a little more affordable, I think, than some of our neighbors, but it's got a whole lot of culture and some fun things to do.
SPEAKER_02Well, I love beaches, so that's a that's a plus right there. So tell me about some of the things people like to do. Obviously, if you have a beach, that's that's some of it. But uh some of the other attractions you kind of touched on it there.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, absolutely. So, of course, we're known for sugar white sand beaches, the emerald water of the Gulf, but uh, we do have Fort Pickens and the Gulf Islands National Seashore. It's the longest federally protected seashore in the United States. So somebody looking for that really cool national park experience, but a national seashore uh is so interesting, so gorgeous, and you can't build on it. So it really feels like you're out in the wild. We also have uh, you know, from an attraction standpoint, we're also America's first settlement. So we were founded in 1559 before St. Augustine, before Jamestown. So wow. We have this really unique area downtown called Historic Pensacola Village. So there's the America's First Settlement Trail. There's over 20 historic museums and properties that you can tour. And I'd say it's a very multi-gen activity. So like the kids aren't gonna get bored, there's lots of hands-on things, like they can touch it, feel it, they're not gonna break anything. So that's pretty unique as well. And then my personal favorite is we are home to the blue angels. Do you know what the blue angels are?
SPEAKER_02Um they're they're jet pilots, right?
SPEAKER_06Yes, yes. So they're the Navy's flight demonstration team, but they are based in Pensacola and they have practices twice a week. So you can see them for free. Um, I think the coolest experience is actually taking a boat out in the bay. There's lots of tour operators and you can watch them.
SPEAKER_02Oh, cool. That would be cool. Can you actually like go into the aircraft or do they have tours of that or no?
SPEAKER_06So there is the National Naval Aviation Museum that's on NES Pensacola. So that's actually where it's the largest naval museum in the world. Um, they have over 150 aircraft. They do have some planes in there where you can get in the cockpits and things like that. It's, I mean, the same size level as the Smithsonian. Um, so it it's really neat.
SPEAKER_02It's really you could spend a whole day just there, I would think.
SPEAKER_06100%. There's even a back hanger. There's a really unique new um POW exhibit as well. So just for anybody that enjoys history, hands-on history, there's a lot to do.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I've just raised my hand. I do. Um any special events that are coming up?
SPEAKER_06Yeah, so let's see. We're going into it's the end of spring. So Pensacola is also nicknamed the Festival City of the South. So we have over 20 signature events year-round that have been going on for 15 years or longer. So uh coming up in two weeks, we have what's called the Floribama Interstate Molotos, and that is a fun, funky time. And I'm talking the fish, not the hairstyle. So you can come down, listen to country music, throw a fish across the border at the state of Alabama, all in good fun. Um so that's unique. Uh, we have the crawfish festival coming up May into June and July. You know, it's warm, it's beach weather, but we are opening some exhibits around America's 250th birthday. So there's gonna be a really nice exhibit at the History Museum in downtown Pensacola, and then our basically our local birthday or you know, biggest celebration. We have the Blue Angels air show uh that's in July. It's usually about a week or so after July 4th. Um so just a lot of good stuff. But we have recurring events. We have bands on the beach every Tuesday, it's free, free music. Fun. Um you know, gallery night, the third Friday of every month, it's where all the art galleries come out. It's like a big street festival. So it's kind of nice if you can't base it, you can kind of hit something every month, which is really unique.
unknownMm-hmm.
SPEAKER_02Um, so now if we're uh sitting in a restaurant and I'm asking what I should try that's a local dish, what would you recommend?
SPEAKER_06Oh well, Florida's known for seafood, of course. So I I and I think that's what people expect and what they want, but some core dishes, um, gritzy Yaya at the Pensacola Fish House is really unique. You know, grits are inherently southern. So I think we do really well up in Northwest Florida. And I think when people hear Florida, they don't always think of the South and like feel like we're at this really cool area where you get that Florida lifestyle, but with that southern hospitality. So Gritsa Yaya is delicious, it's got those gouda cheddar grits, those those wonderful black-end shrimp, and then our signature drink, it's called the Bushwhacker. So it's like a frozen boozy coffee coffee mocha milkshake.
SPEAKER_02Oh my, that sounds good. Especially after a day at the beach, I would think.
SPEAKER_06So good. Gotta be real careful though how many you drink.
SPEAKER_02Very true. Uh well, it sounds amazing. Country music and history and beaches. That's that's enough for me right there. So people can check out your website, visitpensacola.com. Uh, Lindsay Steck Jackson is the marketing and communications manager for Visit Pensacola. It was uh fun chatting with you, Lindsay. Thank you.
SPEAKER_06Nice to meet you, Randy. And come on down to Florida.
SPEAKER_02And last but certainly not least. Not least is my chat with Andrew Ricketts. He's the head of PR in Canada for Fort Myers, Islands, Beaches, and Neighborhoods. Fortmyers.com is the website. And here's our chat with Andrew. I'm excited to hear about the islands, beaches, and neighborhoods of Fort Myers. Tell me what makes them unique from uh your other counterparts we've been chatting with.
SPEAKER_01It is a mouthful of the islands of Fort Myers, Island Beaches, and Neighborhoods. Yeah, but we are located on in Southwest Florida on the Gulf of Mexico. Fort Myers has over 50 miles of white sand beaches. We have more than a hundred coastal barrier islands off the coast of Fort Myers and also 190 miles of kayaking trails. The destination. Yeah, yeah. So if you are a nature lover, it's definitely the place to go. We have some of the top burden in the nation, um, burden destinations and um kayaking trails. Like I said, over 190 miles. Um, the Calusa Blue Way is perfect for paddling and kayaking. So if you're a nature lover, it's the place to be. Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_02Well, that covers a little bit of the activities that people like. Uh, what are some of the attractions that people might stop by and and and visit?
SPEAKER_01One of the cool attractions is we are known as Seashell Capital of the World and also Tarpon Capital of the World. So people who are interested in tarpon fishing, um, this is the place to catch tarpon fishes. Um capital is the title that we hold. Um and on Sanibel Island, it's one of the best places to go, Shellin, because of the way that the island's positioned. It's positioned east to west, so all of the shells wash in from the Gulf of Mexico. So people come from all over the world to, you know, in search of over 400 species of shells, which is amazing if you are into Shellin. I didn't realize there is that many species of shells.
SPEAKER_02So that in itself is amazing. How many islands are there though?
SPEAKER_01How many islands and are they easy to access? There's over a hundred islands off the coast. Um, they are easily accessible by boat. Um, there are a lot of the operators in Fort Myers operate different tours. So one of the notable operators would be Captiva Cruises, and they offer cruises out to um Cabbage Key Island every week, Cabbage Key, Usepa, and like I said, you can also island hop. There's so many different islands KO Costa, um Bolka Grand, North Captiva, all accessible by boat. So take a bag, pack a picnic, and uh go out with your friends and enjoy the day. Uh-huh. Sounds cool. Uh, any special events uh people should take note of? Definitely. We have the Island Hopper Songwriter Festival coming up. This year, it's gonna be its 11th year. It's from September 18th to the 27th. It's a 10-day music festival in Southwest Florida. It features performances from BMI singer-songwriters from Nashville and nationwide. The festival is broken up into four locations in Fort Myers. Um, first kicking off on Captiva Island, then it goes to Cape Coral, downtown Fort Myers, and then it always ends up in Fort Myers Beach. Um Yeah, so you know there's over 60 plus shows, and most of them are all free, and people come out to hear different songwriters and songs that you never thought um knew who wrote them, but you get to see the face behind who wrote the song and then they sing them live.
SPEAKER_02Oh, cool. Very cool.
SPEAKER_01Anything else? Um as far as events, I mean. In terms of events, yeah, um, that's one of the main things. We also have a sand sculpting competition that happens every year, I think around June, which is cool if you're into sand sculpting on Fort Myers Beach. And um yeah, so those would be the two of the main things to check out would be Island Hopper Festival and um sand sculpting competition.
SPEAKER_02Cool. Okay, we're sitting on a deck and we're hungry, and uh someone is serving us food. What uh what dish should I try that's local that uh would be yummy?
SPEAKER_01Well, there's no shortage of waterfront restaurants in Fort Myers, but I would definitely recommend having the Cheeseburger in Paradise at Cabbage Key Island. It is said and rumored that Jimmy Buffett wrote his song Cheeseburger in Paradise. Oh, is that right? Yeah. Wrote the song Cheeseburger in Paradise after having the cheeseburger at Cabbage Key. Um another cool thing about Cabbage Key is when you go to this restaurant, first of all, it's only accessible by boat. And when you go to the restaurant, the restaurant is covered in over$70,000 worth of$1 bills on the ceilings, the walls, everywhere in this restaurant. So it's really cool. Visitors who come for the cheeseburger, they write their name down on a dollar bill, tape it to the wall or ceiling, and um yeah, the whole restaurant is covered in money.
SPEAKER_02That would be unique in itself. Well, that all sounds amazing. Uh, Fort Myers Islands, beaches, and neighborhoods. You can find out uh all kinds of information on there, including uh the famous burger from uh Jimmy Buffett that he made. Exactly. Fortmyers.com is the website, and Andrew Ricketts is the head of public relations for Canada for Fort Myers Islands, beaches, and neighborhoods. Uh, appreciate uh the chat, Andrew. Thank you. Thank you, Randy. So that concludes our insight into the six Florida destinations that were in Vancouver last week, promoting their particular area of Florida. Want to thank each and every one of our destination representatives for participating. And you can find out more information on all of them on the Visit Florida website at visitflorida.com. And I encourage you to go on our social media pages too, at facebook.com slash informed traveler, Instagram at InformTraveler, or on X at InformTraveler. That's where you'll find videos and images from our Florida partners that we featured on this week's show.