Morikami Shows Japanese Lacquerware to June 13

DELRAY BEACH – The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens presents the Masterpieces of Japanese Lacquerware from the Collection of Dr. Elizabeth E. Force until June 13. This exhibition introduces Morikami visitors to Japanese lacquerware through 40 superb examples from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Some of these pieces include ornately decorated medicine cases, incense containers, document-storage boxes, writing sets and pieces from a local private collection. For museum hours and admission prices, see www.morikami.org or call 561-495-0233.

Save the Kissimmee Kast Shuffleboard Courts

KISSIMMEE – In an unwise decision, civic leaders in this town are planning to demolish the town’s shuffleboard courts. They date from 1941 and are the Kast Shuffleboard Courts.

That news according to The Daily City blog. The blog has photos and a whole story on the issue. Read more

Visit Cafe Bustelo In Miami’s South Beach

MIAMI – If you want to take a bit of Cuban Florida home, grab a package of Cafe Bustelo coffee to take home.

The espresso coffee is a Florida classic, made even more interesting because they sell a canned chilled version of the drink, and have a Cafe Bustelo shop at the Hotel Gaansevort. Read more

Lucky 13 Top Summer Fort Lauderdale Deals

FORT LAUDERDALE – Some pretty amazing new summer deals, put together by Fort Lauderdale. The attraction discounts are nice, but what’s really potent are the deals at hotels like the Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale and the Westin Diplomat. Click on the bold name for a link to the hotel or attraction website.

Here we go with the list:

1. Atlantic Coast Kayaks: Explore 300 miles of waterways from idyllic mangrove estuaries to the downtown Greater Fort Lauderdale skyline on guided or independent tours. 2-for-1 Offer – Purchase one guided kayak tour or half-day rental and a companion can kayak for no additional charge.-
2. Billie Swamp Safari: Explore 2,200 untamed acres of Florida Everglades via airboat and swamp buggy eco-tours. 2-for-1 Offer – For every paid adult ticket for a swamp buggy tour, a child can ride free
3. The Spa on the Broadwalk @ Hollywood Beach Marriott:- A boutique spa with a quaint charm for those searching for a peaceful state of bliss. 2-for-1 Offer – Purchase one spa treatment (including facial, manicure or pedicure) and get the second treatment of equal or lesser value free
4. Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale: Set in Downtown Fort Lauderdale, the Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale features a spectrum of artists and critically renowned exhibits such as its latest addition “With You I Want To Live.” 2-for-1 Offer- Buy one admission, receive the second free
5. South Florida Diving Headquarters: Travelers can enjoy a snorkeling trip which visits a living coral reef as well as the Copenhagen shipwreck. 2-for-1 Offer – Two-for-one admission for a snorkel or glass bottom boat trip
6. M. Cruz Rentals: Experience Hugh Taylor Birch State Park and Fort Lauderdale gliding on a Segway. 2-for-1 Offer – Buy one hour segway tour and get one hour free
7. Ritz Carlton, Fort Lauderdale: Pack Your Bags offer – Family Reconnect Package – Starting at $289 a night, the package includes accommodations, American breakfast for two adults and two children at Cero Restaurant and a $50 daily resort credit. To book call (954) 465-2300. Valid through October 30, 2009.
8. Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa Florida Getaway Package – Beginning at $199 a night, package includes deluxe accommodations, $50 daily resort credit, free parking and complimentary use of the resort’s beach chairs and umbrellas. Use promotional code FR6 for online bookings or call (800)222-6543 and ask for rate code FLDT. Valid through September 30, 2009.
9. The Pillars at New River Sound: Stay two nights and get and additional night for $99 or stay for 5 nights and get two nights free. To book call (954)467-9639. Valid through October 15, 2009
10. The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa: Save 20% off the best available rate when booking online through the hotel’s website of by calling (866) 716-8108 and mentioning SET#351186. Valid through October 30, 2009.
11. Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina: Beginning at $99 a night receive overnight accommodations, two welcome cocktails and two complimentary bathrobes. Travel can be booked through the hotel’s website or call (866) 450-9990. Valid through October 27, 2009.
12. Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach Resort & Spa: Beginning at $149 a night receive deluxe accommodations, a $20 massage discount at Spa950 and 20% discount for four at BT’s Oceanfront. To book call (954) 312-2017. Valid through September 30, 2009.
13. Deerfield Buccaneer Resort Apartments: Stay four nights and receive the last night of your stay free. Rates start at $110 a nights. To book call (954) 421-9306. Valid through December 1, 2009.

Fairfield Inn Orlando $25 Food Credit Deal

ORLANDO – Fairfield Inn & Suites Orlando Lake Buena Vista in the Marriott Village is offering guests $25 of food and beverage credit for every night stayed.

Recently awarded the 2009 TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award as a Top Ten Family Hotel in the United States, this Orlando family hotel is both playful and accommodating for families and is an Official Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel.

The $25 Food & Beverage Credit Orlando Hotel Discount Package includes:

• One $25 food and beverage credit per night stayed
• Complimentary high-speed Internet and parking
• Complimentary breakfast at all hotels (except Courtyard)
• Rates from $89-$189 per room, per night
• Package valid through March 1, 2010

Be sure that the promotional code ES7 appears in the Corporate/ Promotional code box when making your online reservation, or call 1-800-228-9290 in the US and ask for promotional code ES7.

See http://marriott.com/hotels/hotel-deals

Discovery Cruise Line Specials to Bahamas

MIAMI - Discovery Cruise Line, which offers cruise service between South Florida and Grand Bahama Island every day of the week except Wednesdays, announced that during the month of May, mothers and mothers-in-law will sail free on a Fun Day cruise when accompanied by a full-fare paying adult. The offer is good for new bookings from Fort Lauderdale only.

“We wanted to do something special, but not just for the day,” says Hanns J. Hahn, general manager of the cruise line. “So, we decided that if someone brings their mom or mother-in-law on board at any time during the month we will give them a gift of a free cruise. Or, if they want to cruise and stay over in Grand Bahama, we will give them a partial credit for their vacation. Everyone needs a break, and this makes it affordable to just about everyone. The only expense for the Mother or Mother-in-Law is the $20 Bahamian departure and harbor fees.”

Discovery sails from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale to Grand Bahama Island, departing at 7:45 am and returning at 10 pm. Discovery offers same day roundtrip cruises as well as cruise and stay vacation packages at a wide selection of hotels from budget to deluxe, including Pelican Bay at Lucaya, Sheraton Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort, Taino Beach Resort & Clubs, Viva Wyndham Fortuna (all-inclusive), and The Westin Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort.

On Grand Bahama you will experience an entirely different culture, extraordinary beaches, interesting excursions, and brand new adventures. Activities include snorkeling, caves, kayaking, fishing, diving, golf, eco-adventures, duty-free shopping, swim with the dolphins and a strawmarket.

Offer good for new bookings from Fort Lauderdale only. Call 1-888-377-2784 or visit www.discoverycruiseline.com.

South Florida Mother’s Day Specials

A roundup of specials in the South Florida area for upcoming Mother’s Day:

CANYON RANCH: Give Mom a glimpse of the wellness philosophy that the Canyon Ranch lifestyle is rooted in with an ocean-side brunch at Canyon Ranch Grill followed by a complimentary Express Manicure at Canyon Ranch Salon all for $39. The brunch features a selection of sumptuous organic choices including chilled avocado soup with shrimp and grapefruit salsa, Mongolian marinated bison tenderloin with shittake mushrooms and dessert items. Included in this package is a Canyon Ranch Cook Booklet, 10 percent discount on salon services until June 30th, 10% off Living Essentials, $5 off Chef Scott’s “Nourish” cookbook and Rose product samples. 305-514-7474. Read more

TradeWinds Offers $250 Credit to Floridians

St. PETE BEACH – The TradeWinds Island Resorts on St. Pete Beach are currently offering Floridians a complimentary $250 Resort Credit with any room reserved at the prevailing rate. The offer is valid from now until Sept. 30, 2009 with a three-night minimum booking made directly with the resort, and is subject to some conditions. Read more

Cruise Company Stockholders Get Onboard Credits

DES MOINES - Stocks losing value is rarely good news, but there is a little-known silver lining for cruisers: free onboard credits of $50-$250 are now within easy reach.

The world’s two largest cruise companies have long offered onboard credit-that is, cash to be spent on the ship–to their shareholders. To qualify, you need only own 100 shares of stock in Carnival Corporation or Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. at the time of your cruise. But while Carnival Cruise Lines traded around $45 per share and Royal Caribbean sold for about $36, CCL is now about $22 and RCL and is trading at about $8 per share.

“With RCL at $8,” said Bob Levinstein, CEO of competitive cruise quote site CruiseCompete.com, “anyone traveling on a 14-night Royal, Celebrity, or Azamara sailing can get a $250 onboard credit just for buying $800 worth of stock.”

RCL also offers shareholder credits on shorter cruises: $200 credit for sailings between 10-13 nights; $100 credit for cruises of 6-9 nights; and $50 credit for sailings of five nights or less.
Carnival Corporation, which owns Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Seabourn, Cunard, and Costa offers shareholders onboard credit (per stateroom) of $250 on sailings of 14 days or longer, $100 on sailings of 7 to 13 days, and $50 on sailings of 6 days or less.

Applications to receive these benefits must be made prior to cruise departure date, and certain restrictions apply. Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean provide specific instructions on how to demonstrate your ownership to receive this benefit.

Florida-based Airlines

Florida has a long aviation tradition, from the first scheduled passenger flight across Tampa Bay to legendary air carriers including Eastern Airlines, Pan American World Airways and National Airlines.

Today, there are a number of Florida-based airlines including:

AirTran: AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), a Fortune 1000 company, is ranked number one in the 2008 Airline Quality Rating study. The airline offers coast-to-coast flights, North America’s newest all-Boeing fleet, friendly service and Business Class and complimentary XM Satellite Radio on every flight. To book a flight, visit http://www.airtran.com.

Gulfstream International: Gulfstream (NYSE: GIA) currently operates 23 aircraft with over 150 daily system departures throughout Florida, the Bahamas and now with service at Cleveland, OH. Gulfstream operates as Continental Connection, under contractual agreement with Continental Airlines. Additionally Gulfstream has codeshare relationships with Northwest Airlines and United Airlines. Gulfstream also operates charter flights between Miami, Florida and Havana, Cuba through a related company, Gulfstream Air Charter. The Company, with its headquarters in Ft. Lauderdale, has approximately 700 employees, the bulk of which are Florida based. Gulfstream is a member of the Regional Airline Association. website at www.gulfstreamair.com.

Spirit Airlines: Spirit Airlines, Inc. (www.spiritair.com) is the largest Ultra Low Cost Carrier (ULCC) in the United States, Latin America and Caribbean.  Its all-Airbus fleet, the youngest in the Americas, flies more than 200 daily flights to 43 destinations.  The company is based in Miramar, Florida, and employs 2,300 professionals.

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