Red Snapper Season Begins June 1

TALLAHASSEE - The recreational harvest season for red snapper in Gulf of Mexico waters off Florida reopens on June 1.  The harvest season is scheduled to remain open until July 24 this year.

Anglers may take two red snapper daily from Gulf waters during the open season; however, the captain and crew of for-hire vessels in the Gulf may not keep the recreational bag limit.  The minimum-size limit for recreational red snapper in the Gulf is 16 inches total length.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is increasing its efforts to collect and analyze information on the number of red snapper caught in the Gulf during the open season.  By surveying fishing activity on a weekly basis, fisheries managers will have the information they need to possibly adjust or extend the Gulf red snapper sport fishing season, if it is warranted.

For more information about red snapper management and regulations, go to MyFWC.com/Fishing.

Steinhatchee Welcomes Scallop Season July 1

STEINHATCHEE - Equal parts snorkeling, hunting for hidden treasure and saltwater fishing, scalloping is a can’t-miss summer event in Florida’s Big Bend.

The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill has left the Steinhatchee area unaffected thus far and Steinhatchee Landing Resort, a family-style, riverfront vacation retreat, welcomes scallop seekers for a busy 2010 scallop season, July 1 through September 10. One- to four-bedroom individual cottages start from just $212* per night, allowing multiple families and multiple generations to share accommodations and travel together for a budget-friendly summer vacation.  And located just three miles upstream from the Gulf of Mexico and along the Steinhatchee River, Steinhatchee Landing is just minutes from Dead Man’s Bay, a unique ecosystem and breeding ground for some of the best bay scalloping in the United States.

“The Gulf waters surrounding the Steinhatchee area are currently open to fishing and scalloping for the summer season,” said Dean Fowler, developer of Steinhatchee Landing Resort.  ”Our local guides are experiencing some of the best nearshore fishing with Trout and Reds in recent months and the same goes for offshore angling for Grouper.  We haven’t seen any oil along our shorelines from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and aren’t expected to in the coming weeks.”

A popular activity for families, scalloping best resembles snorkeling, but with the simple addition of a mesh bag for storing the harvest.  Most scallops can be found in the shallow, grass flats of the Gulf of Mexico that range anywhere from three to six feet deep.  Only two to three inches in length and located inside a fan-shaped shell, the scallops can be easy to spot with their 30-40 bright blue eyes, but provide a good chase as these eyes help them detect predators.

Steinhatchee Landing Resort provides several boat slips for a nominal fee and will also arrange guided trips with local charter Captains who can guarantee a daily limit of the bay bivalves.  Several locals are available at the marina docks to shuck scallops for a small fee as well and the Landing’s cottages provide full kitchens for cooking up a fresh day’s harvest.

After a full day of wading and scooping scallops, guests of the resort can rest, relax and enjoy the Landing’s extensive amenities, including the 55-foot swimming pool and pavilion area with playground, table tennis, fitness center, an indoor swim spa and three-person sauna.  The resort also offers canoe and kayak rentals, croquet, tennis and archery.

A peaceful drive from any direction, Steinhatchee Landing Resort is just 75 miles west of Gainesville, and a two-and-a-half hour drive from Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa Bay.  To book your stay, call toll-free (800) 584-1709 or (352) 498-3513 or visit www.SteinhatcheeLanding.com.

Laketown Wharf Opens in Panama City

PANAMA CITY – The newly opened Laketown Wharf offers a range of resort features including Gulf of Mexico, lake and golf course views. Located in the heart of Panama City Beach, the Laketown Wharf’s expansive resort grounds include gathering areas with gazebos, fitness center, five pools, a large freshwater lake, children’s playground and sugar-white sand beaches of the Gulf just steps away.

See www.laketownwharf.com.

Ritz-Carlton Amelia Opens Ballroom

AMELIA ISLAND – The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island has just finished a $22 million ballroom expansion. The new facility creates 11,000 square feet of additional meeting space to the property.

The expansion increases the total available conference space to 35,000 square feet, including two sizeable function areas and a variety of smaller meeting rooms. For more information or reservations, please visit www.ritzcarlton.com/ameliaisland.

Hotel Indigo Now In Pensacola

PENSACOLA – Hotel Indigo, the boutique luxury hotel chain also in Miami Beach and Sarasota, opens this spring in Pensacola.

The Indigo features include a rooftop swimming pool, 3,000 square feet of meeting space and fashionable décor that changes seasonally. Indigo is a part of IHG, the parent company of Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Intercontinental. Call (877) 846 3446, or see www.ichotelsgroup.com.

Yankee Clipper Sheraton Now Sheraton Fort Lauderdale

FORT LAUDERDALE – Following a multi-million dollar transformation, The Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel invites guests to experience the revitalized oceanfront hotel.

It’s the old Sheraton Yankee Clipper Hotel, and it now features a 492 guestrooms and suites, two swimming pools, 12,600 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, and dining and entertainment options including The Clipper Diner, poolside Baja Beach Bar Grill and famed Wreck Bar.

See www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/fortlauderdalebeach for info and reservations.

Singer Island Resort Now Four Star Marriott

SINGER ISLAND - A Singer Island classic is now the Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa, which recently received the AAA Four-Diamond stamp of approval.

Formerly The Resort at Singer Island, the newly rebranded Marriott property is now the Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa. Read more

JW Marriott Miami Set for Boulud’s db Bistro

MIAMI, Feb. 25 – The JW Marriott Marquis Miami, set for mid-2010 opening, will be home to Florida’s first db Bistro Moderne. The concept French-American restaurant by Chef Daniel Boulud will be modeled after the New York City version.

“I am excited to announce the addition of db Bistro Moderne to our first-class hotel,” said Florencia Tabeni, General Manager of JW Marriott Marquis Miami, in a PR Newswire press release. Read more

Viceroy Miami Hosts Dr. Etti Ben-Zion’s Detox Spa Event

MIAMI - Kor Hotel Management’s Viceroy Miami at Icon Brickell hosts the second Cleanse Miami seminar on Saturday, June 6. Guests will see the Viceroy’s 28,000-square-foot luxurious spa while experiencing Dr. Etti Ben-Zion’s intro to detox, including spa treatments and Yoga sessions.

In Cleanse Miami, Ben-Zion has extracted the most essential part of her seven-day program into a concentrated one-day seminar.

The Spa, centered around a 5,000 square-foot Water Lounge with a “floating library,” wading pool with waterborne sofas, three hot-and-cold plunge pools and fireplace will serve as the perfect platform for guests to experience better health, balance and happiness. All participants will receive 30 percent off spa treatments for the weekend of the event, June 5-7; overnight packages are available.

Viceroy’s Spa at IconBrickell, 485 Brickell Avenue. See www.viceroyiconbrickell.com/spa/ or https://dretti.com/events.php.

About the PGA National in Palm Beach

PALM BEACH GARDENS – PGA National Resort & Spa has long been renowned as one of south Florida’s most legendary golf destinations. Home to the Professional Golfers Association of America and the annual host of the Honda Classic, the PGA national resort and spa has a distinguished history of tournament play – including the 25th Ryder Cup, the 69th PGA Championship, and nearly two decades of PGA Seniors’ Championships.

The legendary 381-room resort recently completed a $65 million facelift including completely new front entrance, outdoor pool and pavilion as well as enhanced public areas, restaurants, golf courses and landscaping. Guests can test their skills on five spectacular, tournament-ready courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Karl Litten, to name a few. Each course presents its own exquisite challenge. The stellar courses includes The Champion, A “must play” stop on any avid golfer’s list.

The Champion is considered one of Florida’s most notable golf challenges and features “The Bear Trap,” spanning three demanding holes designed by Jack Nicklaus. See www.pgaresort.com

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