Boca Raton Artfully Combines Past and Present

Incorporated in 1925, Boca Raton was like many South Florida cities that cropped up during the land boom of the mid-1920s. The early residents were drawn to the natural beauty of the Atlantic coastline, and thanks to the foresight of the city’s leaders, Boca Raton’s beaches can still be enjoyed in a much more pristine state than many of the other coastal communities in South Florida.

The City of Boca Raton owns the prime oceanfront property, including the three public beaches: Red Reef Park, Spanish River Park, and South Beach. Parking is free for Boca Raton residents with annual beach permits (residents of Palm Beach County may purchase a permit for South Beach Park only) but non-residents can expect to pay at least $15—more on weekends—to use the parking lot for these popular beachfront parks.

The other alternative, of course, is to stay in a hotel or resort with access to the beach. The premier resort in town is the Boca Raton Resort and Club, which was designed over 80 years ago by the famous South Florida architect Addison Mizner. A classic example of 1920s South Florida architecture, the Boca Raton Resort and Club is completing renovations of the Boca Beach Club, including the beach arrival center, lobby, guestrooms, restaurants & bars, fitness center, children’s activity center, and pools.

Jungala Now Open at Busch Gardens Tampa

This spring Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa unveiled Jungala, an interactive exhibit where visitors can have up close encounters with endangered species, soar through the trees, and explore a three-story jungle habitat.

Busch Gardens is known for its wild rides, so Jungala has two new attractions in store for thrill-seeking visitors. The Jungle Flyers allows young adventurers to soar through the sky on a multi-level zip line with three different flight patterns above the tree tops, while the Wild Surge shoots riders straight out of the top of a waterfall, then drops them straight back into the crater below.

In the jungle there are animals everywhere, and Jungala has four main animal exhibits: the Orangutan Outpost has tree-top observation platforms that enable visitors to watch orangutans at rest and at play. The Tiger Lodge highlights the role that some humans are playing to protect these majestic creatures in the wild, and the Tiger Trail encourages visitors to explore a subterranean, mysterious cave, then trek through a winding bamboo path leading to split-level underwater viewing of tigers swimming in their refreshing plunge pool. The nearby Kulu Canopy is home to white-cheeked gibbons, flying foxes (fruit bats) and mysterious tomistomas - a reclusive and very rare crocodilian native to Indonesia and Malaysia.

Finally, children (and the parents who chase them) can get their exercise on the tree-top trails, with climbing nets, bridges, crawl tubes and a multi-level maze for bigger kids, this fun-filled structure allows even the youngest explorer to interact with the jungle. For more information, visit the Busch Gardens Web site at www.buschgardens.com.

Enjoy a Peaceful Getaway at Indian Shores Beach

Indian Rocks Beach South Shore is one of the oldest and smallest beach communities and had the longest name. It was originally an Indian campsite and got its name from the large red rocks found along its shoreline. In 1973 the name was shortened to Indian Shores, but the town never lost its laid-back atmosphere. Indian Shores Beach is located between Clearwater Beach and St. Petersburg and is only 27 miles away from the Tampa airport.

Indian Shores has more than 2 1/2 miles of re-nourished sandy beaches and is home to about 1500 residents. With the addition of winter residents, the population grows to over 5000. Indian Shores Beach’s greatest asset is the white sandy beaches and warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, but there are fun manmade attractions as well, including the famous John's Pass Boardwalk and Village at John’s Pass. The Boardwalk is full of unique shops, restaurants and recreational water activities.

The motels, time-shares and vacation condos available for weekly rentals at Indian Shores Beach puts guests in close proximity to all of the great tourist destinations that the Florida Suncoast has to offer without all of the crowds.

Come to Papa: Hemingway Days Returns to Key West

Key West celebrates its annual Hemingway Days festival on July 15 – 20 in honor of one of the island’s most famous residents. Ernest Hemingway lived at 907 Whitehead St. in Key West from 1928 until 1940, during which time he completed A Farewell to Arms and composed For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Each day during the festival, visitors can take guided tours of the Hemingway House and Explore Ernest Hemingway's life in Key West, fishing adventures and Cuban connection in the 1930s and view rare photographs and memorabilia at the Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House, 281 Front St.

The schedule of special events includes readings and presentations, a book signing by author and illustrator Edward Hemingway (Ernest’s youngest grandson), a world-premiere play reading and the announcement of the winners of the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition.
Other events include a "Papa" Hemingway Look-Alike Contest, a Key West Marlin fishing tournament, a Hemingway Days 5K Sunset Run registration at Caribbean Street Fair, and a running of the bulls, Key West style. For more Hemingway Days information, visit www.hemingwaydays.net.

Boynton Beach Close to Miami Area Attractions

First-time visitors of the Palm Beach County city of Boynton Beach might need a quick geography lesson upon their arrival: the entire city of Boynton Beach lies west of the Intracoastal Waterway, a few miles away from the Atlantic coast. The actual “beach” is in the neighboring town of Ocean Ridge—known as Boynton Beach Oceanfront Park. Oceanfront Park, is located approximately 1/4 mile north of Ocean Avenue on State Road A1A, and has the added benefit of lifeguards on duty from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. all year round.

While the beach is an obvious draw, Boynton Beach is even more popular with fishermen and golfers. Accommodations in Boynton Beach include reliable, affordable hotel chains such as the Holiday Inn and Hampton Inn, as well as a few privately owned inns. Most of the hotels are in close proximity to I-95, which goes directly through the town. Boynton Beach is only an hour north of Miami, so it is a short drive from all of the natural and manmade attractions that South Florida has to offer.