Florida Tourism and Travel

Islamorada, Florida Keys - Islamorada’s rich sportfishing heritage is to be highlighted during the Islamorada Sportfishing Festival set for Friday, Sept. 26, through Sunday, Sept. 28, and based at Robbie’s of Islamorada, mile marker 77.5. Presented by Cheeca Lodge & Spa, the weekend event is to offer up a cornucopia of activities for offshore and backcountry fishing enthusiasts and their families, according to organizer Tammie Gurgiolo. “Islamorada is recognized as the Sportfishing Capital of the World,” said Gurgiolo. “The festival showcases the area’s natural resources and the sportfishing professionals who have formed the backbone of Islamorada’s reputation.” An exhibition of marine art, sportfishing industry vendors, angling seminars, lectures and a family fishing derby are some of the events on tap, she said.

Friday night’s kickoff begins the weekend with a meet and greet of artists and captains as well as the launch of the ESPN Outdoors Family Fishing Derby. Another featured activity that evening is an induction ceremony for the Islamorada Sportfishing Hall of Fame.

Saturday shapes up to be a full day of fishing seminars and the exhibition. A live auction of art and sportfishing merchandise, angling trips and hotels stays is set for late afternoon Saturday with proceeds benefiting various charitable causes.

Sunday is to conclude the fishing derby, which features merchandise prizes for top finishers and most outstanding single catch. A highlight of the festival is a driver’s license number match game providing the winner an opportunity to win $50 a week in gasoline for a decade.

Tickets to the festival are $10 per person for the entire weekend. Entry fee for the Derby is $100 per family with a maximum of four anglers, and includes four festival tickets. For more information, call (305) 852-9337.

Additional sponsors of the event include Island Villa, Islamorada Outfitters, Blue Marlin Jewelry, the Islamorada Guides Association and the Islamorada Charterboat Association.

Orlando, FL — FEEDING TIME! SeaWorld Orlando animal care specialist Nik Ricci bottle- feeds a baby manatee, rescued this past Saturday. Two orphaned manatee calves were rescued from Central Florida waters over the weekend and taken to the park for care until they are ready to be released back into nature. SeaWorld’s Animal Rescue Team is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days year, to rescue, rehabilitate and release hundreds of endangered animals each year. Rescued manatees are cared for in a specially designated rehabilitation area at SeaWorld.

The Treasure Coast of Florida offers a great fishing, surfing, diving and sailing. Vero Beach is know for it’s great beach sand, surf and tidal action making it a great place to surf or simply take a long walk on the beach. These beaches include Humiston Park, South Beach and Jaycee Beach. There are also several fine parks and theaters as well as the McKee Botanical Gardens and Vero Beach Museum of Art.

Indian River County not only has the ocean but also the Indian River Lagoon and Sebastian Inlet. The area is popular for fishing, boating and other watersports.

On the Indian River Lagoon you’ll find Pelican Island home to thousands of pelicans, herons, ibises, egrets, and spoonbills. Hiking off Jungle Trail is a great way to see the local wildlife and birding areas around Pelican Island.

Sebastian Inlet is a popular place for camping, fishing and viewing the local wildlife. The park spans over both sides of the Sebastian Inlet with a catwalk under the bridge for fishing.

In the nearby City of Sebastian, Florida there manu boatramps to launch your boat. There are also plenty of tackle shops who are always willing to give you tips on the best places to fish.

Vero Beach is a favorite playground for many. The region offers warm weather and great golf, restaurants and resorts. Located along the Treasure Coast, Vero Beach is about 85 miles north of West Palm Beach.

Holman Stadium is the home of baseball in Vero Beach. During Spring Training the Los Angeles Dodgers call Vero Beach home, the Vero Beach Devil Rays are the local minor league team.

Many Vero Beach homes are waterfront and offer spectacular views, offering residents a wonderful lifestyle.

Kirby Collins performs Web Design in Melbourne, Florida near Vero Beach, Florida.

Islamorada, Florida Keys - The eighth annual Don Gurgiolo Sailfish Classic is slated for Friday through Sunday, Dec. 7-9, in Islamorada. The tournament honors the late Captain Don Gurgiolo for his more than 50 years of fishing in the Keys.

The weekend of sailfishing is to start with registration at 5 p.m. Friday at Holiday Isle Resort & Marina Quarter Deck, mile marker 84 oceanside. Cocktails follow at 5:30 p.m., and the captains meeting is set for 6 p.m.

Fishing on Saturday is scheduled to run from lines in at 8 a.m. to lines out at 4 p.m. A standings party at Mickey Rat’s, dockside at Holiday Isle Marina, is set for 5-7 p.m.

Sunday’s fishing runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by 6:30 p.m. beachside cocktails and an awards dinner at 7:30 p.m.

Boat teams compete in the all-release tournament, but individual awards also are to be presented for the most outstanding catch and largest kingfish, tuna and dolphin, among others. This year’s winners qualify for the IGFA Offshore Championships in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in 2008.

First- through third-place winners also have a chance for cash and prizes in the “High Five Money Bags” contest.

Proceeds from a silent auction and raffle at the Don Gurgiolo Sailfish Classic benefit Montessori Island Charter School.

Gurgiolo was one of the pioneers of fishing offshore with live ballyhoo, the primary technique used today. He was captain of the Gonfishin’ charter boats until he retired and sold the Gonfishin’ V in 1995. The well-liked skipper died in 1999.

Tournament entry fee is $495 for the first angler aboard a vessel and $450 for each additional angler on that vessel. Up to four anglers can fish per boat.

For more information and registration, call (305) 852-9337.

To find out about area accommodations, call the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce at (305) 664-4503 or (800) 322-5397, or visit the Florida Keys & Key West Web site at www.fla-keys.com.

Key West, Florida Keys - The Banyan Resort and the Gardens Hotel Thursday became the Florida Keys’ first certified members of the Green Lodging Program, created by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to recognize and reward environmentally conscious lodging facilities in the state.

The two Old Town Key West properties were awarded “one-palm” certification for their environmental commitment in ceremonies attended by State Representative Ron Saunders, Key West Mayor Morgan McPherson, Stacey Mitchell, director of sales for the Monroe County Tourist Development Council (TDC) and Laura Comer and Gus Rios of the DEP.

“These businesses are stepping up to recognize how important our environment is to the Florida Keys, and how important it is to protect what we have,” said Saunders.

The Green Lodging Program establishes environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to adopt cost-saving practices that reduce waste and conserve natural resources. Properties are evaluated in categories including water and energy conservation, waste reduction, indoor air quality and communication of green practices to guests. They must also have goals for continued improvements that can earn them “two-palm” and “three-palm” certification.

At the ceremonies, McPherson, who is also a TDC board member, encouraged implementing green initiatives to safeguard Key West’s environment for future generations.

“I’m excited about businesses taking part in these initiatives,” he said.

Environmentally friendly aspects of the Banyan Resort, a 38-suite property at 323 Whitehead St., include a towel and linen reuse program, a recycling program, energy conservation through solar roof panels for pool heating and high-efficiency compact fluorescent lighting, and purchasing products with recycled content such as plastic lumber used for courtyard decking.

The Gardens Hotel, an 18-room property at 526 Angela St., has implemented an environmental policy to communicate green living to guests as well as elements including low-flow faucets to conserve water and energy, a linen and towel reuse program, an automatic door closer and energy-efficient garden pump, a recycling program and purchasing products with recycled content and reduced packaging. In addition, four electric cars were purchased for staff errands around Key West.

“In working with the Green Lodging program and getting more lodging properties certified, we are encouraging sustainable and responsible environmental practices throughout the tourism industry,” said Mitchell. “We’re not doing this for ourselves - we’re doing this so future generations will benefit from practices we put in place today.”