Located on 27 beautiful acres in Lake Buena Vista, Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa, an official Walt Disney World® Resort, is a truly contemporary haven offering totally refurbished accommodations, a majestic lobby and family-friendly hospitality. Footsteps from the shopping, dining and entertainment found in the Downtown Disney® area, guests can also enjoy complimentary transportation to the Walt Disney World® Theme Parks. Spacious guest rooms and suites are stylish and feature luxurious pillow-top mattresses and bedding, along with amenities such as a 32” HDTV, a mini-refrigerator and high-speed and wireless Internet access. Guests can enjoy three heated swimming pools with a pool concierge, a Jacuzzi and a sauna, plus lighted tennis, sand volleyball and basketball courts. Buena Vista Palace guests can access transportation to preferred golf at several Disney® PGA Championship golf courses. For pure indulgence, the 10,000 square- foot revitalizing spa offers more than 60 services and a healthy spa menu is available at each Buena Vista Palace restaurant. For families, there’s a kiddy pool, a video arcade, tropical Recreation Island and WebTV in every room. Summer Escape specials begin on May 1st.
Discover the appeal of Destin at the Resorts of Pelican Beach, a private resort community located across from Big Kahuna’s Waterpark in the heart of the Destin resort area. Overlooking pristine white sand beaches and the Gulf of Mexico, the Resorts of Pelican Beach is an easy walk or short drive to Destin’s popular tourist attractions, family and fine dining, exciting nightlife and diverse shopping options. The Resorts of Pelican Beach features some of Destin’s best vacation condominium rentals. Choose from an attractive selection of one- two- and three-bedroom fully equipped condominiums, and enjoy the resort’s many amenities and beachside Tiki Bar.
Visit Tallahassee (visittallahassee.com) encourages Floridians to take a weekend trip to discover Florida’s State Capital. For the first time in history, visitors can see Baroque paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries from the Pinacoteca di Brera Museum in Milan, Italy. These masterpieces are being unveiled in Tallahassee at the Mary Brogan Museum of Art & Science where they will be on display through July 24th. A fusion of cosmopolitan flair and charming personality defines the spirit of Florida’s Capital City – where it all comes together for visitors. Tallahassee is a place where college town meets cultural center, politics meets performing arts and history meets nature – a place where the vibrancy of what to do is matched only by the city’s inviting hospitality. With approximately 6,000 rooms in nearly 70 hotels and 407,000 square feet of meeting space, ranging from quaint bed and breakfasts and a downtown boutique hotel to budget-friendly chains and hip business properties – it is Tallahassee’s welcoming nature that keeps visitors coming back.
Amelia Island (ameliaisland.com) gets “wildly” popular in May and June, and to celebrate their first “Decade of Musical Excellence,” the tenth season of the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival will feature the most expansive and varied program in its history with a 50 percent discount on all concert tickets for anyone staying at one of the island’s award-winning accommodations during the festival, from May 20- June 19. The 2011 Wild Amelia Nature Festival, May 20-22, invites you to experience the flora and fauna of Amelia Island. The Nassau Sport Fishing Association’s 29th Tournament of Champions will be held June 16-18 at Fernandina Harbor Marina in Fernandina Beach. The tournament begins with the Captains meeting on Thursday and wraps up on Saturday with a fish fry, live entertainment and awards ceremony.
Steeped in tradition, the oceanfront Ponte Vedra Inn & Club (pontevedra.com) blends award-winning lodging, amenities and activities with a warm and friendly atmosphere. The historic Ponte Vedra Inn & Club has been a Northeast Florida landmark since opening in 1928. Located in the seaside village of Ponte Vedra Beach, just 20 miles southeast of Jacksonville, this AAA Five-Diamond rated resort consistently provides guests with award-winning hospitality. Ponte Vedra’s stunning coastline is the backdrop for 250 luxurious rooms and suites, most enjoying breathtaking ocean views. Each spacious room features king or queen bedding, cable TV, stocked honor bar, twice-daily maid service, complimentary morning newspaper and the convenience of a coffee maker. Private patios and balconies frame panoramic views of the sea and sky. Ponte Vedra Inn & Club is a favorite choice among recreational enthusiasts, who enjoy the beach, golf, tennis, fitness center, biking, fishing, sailing and horseback riding. The luxurious spa features an impressive selection of more than 100 pampering services.
The Lodge & Club in Ponte Vedra Beach (pvresorts.com) is one of Florida’s most alluring oceanfront resorts. Located midway between Jacksonville and St. Augustine, this intimate AAA Four-Diamond rated boutique resort has been charming guests since opening in 1989. Panoramic vistas of the Atlantic provide an awe-inspiring setting to the Lodge’s 66 luxurious rooms and suites. Four-poster beds, elaborate window treatments, original artwork, custom-made furniture and granite and marble bathrooms draw praise from guests. Many rooms even offer the appeal of a fireplace and Jacuzzi tub. Recreational amenities include a beautiful expanse of beach and two heated pools. A spacious gym offers a wide array of fitness equipment and daily exercise classes. Nearby, guests have privileges to golf, tennis and a luxury day spa. Dining options include the Innlet Dining Room and the Oasis, a casual beachfront bistro. Daily tea is a guest favorite each afternoon.
Do as much – or as little – as you please at the Hilton Daytona Beach hotel, located directly on the “World’s Most Famous Beach” in the heart of Ocean Walk Village. The hotel features 744 guest rooms including suites and beachfront cabanas with most rooms overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy oceanfront dining in Doc Bales’ Grill, the hotel’s signature restaurant; your favorite sports action in Legends Sports Bar; casual food in the beachfront Seaside Food Pavilion; live music during the weekend in the intimate lobby bar Clocktower Lounge; The Atlantic Gourmet Coffee & Market- place, which is perfect for guests on the go; and the best fun in the sun at The Pelican Bar featuring tropical cocktails, grilled specialties and your favorite beach tunes.
Located in Daytona Beach Shores, Shores Resort & Spa (shoresresort.com) is Central Florida’s only AAA four diamond oceanfront resort. As a luxury boutique property, the Shores Resort is small and intimate with just 212 rooms. Daytona Beach Shores is considered by many to be the “quieter side” of Daytona, in a residential area just 4 miles south of the “world’s most famous beach.” Its comfortable and inviting ocean terrace features 8 large tented cabanas along with 2 large fire pits surrounded by Adirondack chairs and serves as the heartbeat of the hotel for guests who gather nightly roasting their signature “Shores s’mores” (kits can be purchased from the Tiki Bar). Azure restaurant features southern favorites with a local flair. The boutique spa, Indulge, is full service and offers a signature “Bamboo Massage” treatment. Almost every room has a water view – either of the Atlantic Ocean – or the Intracoastal Waterway.
When active families want a truly energizing world-class Florida vacation, Club Med Sandpiper Bay in Port St. Lucie is the flagship of the Club Med “Premium Sports” resorts. With the new Club Med Academies, Sandpiper Bay offers a superlative training environment in tennis, golf and fitness with coaching from renowned experts in the sports industry. Coaches include Gabe Jaramillo, who instructed Andre Agassi and Monica Seles; Brad Brewer, host of Golf Channel’s Daily Brew; and professional tri-athlete and five-time Ironman Champion, Heather Gollnick. At Sandpiper Bay, facilities include 21 tennis courts, an 18-hole golf course, a Tom Fazio II-designed practice facility with putting green and driving range, and a new pro shop and clubhouse. New facilities for younger guests include the Kidz Village with a splash park and art center, and ‘tweens and teens love the new Latitude 27 lounge created just for them. The 216-acre renovated Sandpiper Bay features two new restaurants, Slice Bar and Lounge, four swimming pools including an infinity pool exclusively for adults, as well as a certified lap pool.
Enhanced accommodations include expansive Deluxe Family Rooms featuring separate bedrooms and one-and-ahalf bathrooms, allowing plenty of space for the entire family. Enhanced by the Old Florida appeal of its location on Florida’s Treasure Coast, Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort and Marina in Stuart offers visitors a casual atmosphere. The Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort and Marina is a 200-acre island resort and hotel, offering 274 deluxe accommodations. In the Sandpiper Beach Villas, guests will enjoy relaxed beachfront accommodations. For meetings and social gatherings, the flexible event space overlooking the river is an ideal locale. When it’s time for recreation, this hotel includes a wide array of activities, such as The Ocean Club, its 18-hole executive golf course, 13 tennis courts, miles of unspoiled beaches, deep-sea fishing, and 77-slip marina. Close to the charming Old Florida-style village of Stuart, near Jupiter and Jensen Beach, and just about 45-minutes from the Palm Beach International Airport, the Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort and Marina is easily accessible yet secluded.



