Frontier Airlines Adds 4 New Routes Across The U.S. And Caribbean

As the crisp autumn air approaches, travelers are already plotting their winter escapes. Frontier Airlines is stepping up to the plate, announcing four brand-new routes launching in late 2026 that will connect key U.S. cities and bridge the mainland with the Caribbean.

Whether you are looking to swap the Midwest snow for Florida sunshine or seeking a daily connection to Puerto Rico, this latest network expansion has something for everyone. Plus, with introductory fares starting as low as $69, these new flights are incredibly wallet-friendly.

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The New Route Breakdown

Frontier is officially launching these routes in November and December 2026. Here is a quick look at where the ultra-low-cost carrier is heading next:

Route	Start Date	Frequency	Introductory Fare
Kansas City (MCI) to Orlando (MCO)	November 20, 2026	4x Weekly	$69
Denver (DEN) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)	November 20, 2026	Daily	$99
Detroit (DTW) to Los Angeles (LAX)	November 20, 2026	Daily	$99
Houston (IAH) to San Juan (SJU)	December 17, 2026	Daily	$99

Travelore Tip: Introductory fares are for one-way travel and require a 21-day advance purchase. Be mindful of blackout dates around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays if you plan to snag these base rates.

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Route Highlights & Strategy

• Deepening the Caribbean Footprint: The new daily service between Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) is a massive win for Texas travelers. Launching just in time for the peak winter holiday season on December 17, this route provides a consistent, daily low-cost option to explore Old San Juan, El Yunque National Forest, and Puerto Rico's stunning beaches. This addition pushes Frontier's San Juan network to a robust 21 destinations.


• Filling the Spirit Void: Industry watchers will notice that routes like Denver to Fort Lauderdale and Detroit to Los Angeles target markets where Spirit Airlines previously held a significant presence. Frontier is strategically moving in to offer a budget-friendly alternative on these high-demand leisure corridors.


• Connecting the Midwest to the Magic: The Kansas City to Orlando route offers a much-needed, affordable escape for Midwestern families heading to Florida's theme park capital just before the holidays.

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The "New Frontier" Experience

If you haven't flown Frontier recently, these new routes might be the perfect time to experience their "New Frontier" initiatives:

• UpFront Plus Seating: Passengers can now book seats in the first two rows, guaranteeing a window or aisle seat with extra legroom and a blocked middle seat for added elbow room.


• Enhanced Loyalty: The airline now offers unlimited companion travel for its most loyal customers, with the flexibility to choose a different companion on every flight.


• Future Upgrades: Looking ahead, Frontier is planning to introduce true First Class seating later in 2026, combining premium space with their trademark affordable prices.
• In a massive shift for the budget carrier, Frontier just announced they are rolling out ultra-fast Starlink Wi-Fi across their fleet starting in early 2027, allowing passengers to stream, work, and browse gate-to-gate.

If you are looking to take advantage of these new routes for a winter getaway, you'll want to book quickly to secure those promotional fares. Safe travels!

What's New In St. Pete-Clearwater In January 2026

Latest news from St. Pete-Clearwater, including events, a centenary celebration, new accommodations and restaurants, musical performances, and more.

With 35 miles of sugar white sand, St. Pete-Clearwater Beaches annually stand out as a top beach destination in Florida, the USA, and across the globe. Family-friendly resorts, boutique hotels and hidden getaways await up and down the majestic stretch. Cap each day with a sunset celebration at Clearwater Beach's Pier 60, featuring local artists and street performers. - Recent accolades for America's Favorite Beaches: o Clearwater Beach – Travel + Leisure - 2025 Top 15 Best White-Sand Beaches in the World Travel + Leisure - 2025 20 Best Beaches in Florida USA Today - Best Beach in the South US News and World Report - Best Beaches in America Ranked among Tripadvisor's Best Beaches o St. Petersburg – Southern Living - Best Places for a Weekend Getaway Southern Living - Best Cities in the South As if America's Favorite Beaches couldn't get better...somehow they have with the destination just completing a $125 million beach nourishment project, nearly doubling the size of many beaches along the southern portion of the destination. The award-winning white sugar sand stretches are now even bigger, more beautiful and better for our visitors.

VINTAGE URBAN LUXURY CELEBRATION IN 2026 The Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, an Autograph Collection, in downtown St. Pete is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026. The recent renovations ensure the property - which appears on the National Register of Historic Places - remains pink, proud, and perfectly preserved. The Vinoy reflects the architectural influences of the Mediterranean coast, capturing its essence down to every detail delivering thoughtfully curated and inspiring experiences. - In 2025, The Vinoy added an equally luxurious dining experience with the addition of Elliott Aster. Helmed by award-winning Chef Lee Wolen, a James Beard semifinalist and Michelin Star recipient, the restaurant brings a refined dining experience with restored architecture and a walk through the storied history of St. Pete.

NEW ADDITIONS ON THE HORIZON Scheduled to re-open their doors in early 2026, The Luce, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, brings the perfect blend of modern hospitality highlighted with vintage Florida vacation vibes. With 200 beachside room, the property formerly known as the Postcard Inn on the Beach creates a unique coastal retreat for locals and travelers in search of eclectic and illuminating hospitality. o Clearwater Beach is set to welcome the CW Resort & Marina this spring. The 91unit condo hotel provides a perfect perch above Mandalay Bay. o In downtown St. Pete, the Cordova Inn is scheduled to complete expansion in early 2026, growing from 32 to 97 rooms. The boutique property merges modern amenities with historic ambiance with the city's art and dining just steps away. o The Sirata Beach Resort has joined Hilton's Tapestry Collection, as they complete their full renovation in early 2026 to include a $25 million update.

Museum Design Work Starts For Historic SS United States, Destined To Become Florida’s Giant Artificial Reef

After spending decades docked in South Philadelphia, the historic SS United States is officially in its final chapter. Design is now underway for a highly anticipated new museum that will celebrate the legacy of "America's Flagship," while the vessel itself is being prepared in Alabama to become the world's largest artificial reef.

The project will feature some of the iconic ocean liner's most famous components, including its towering, six-story funnels.

What's next:

The ship, currently docked in Mobile, Alabama, is being prepared for deployment as an artificial reef off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The funnels will be removed to be a dramatic centerpiece for the new land-based museum.

The SS United States Conservancy has hired Thinc Design, LMN Architects, and engineering firm Buro Happold to guide the initial planning and development. The museum will honor the ship's mid-century modern design and innovative technology. The project will also feature thousands of artifacts from the ship, including one of its massive five-bladed propellers and its revolutionary radar mast.

Susan Gibbs, Conservancy president and granddaughter of the SS United States’ designer, spotlighted the vision for the museum.

"We are deeply committed to celebrating the enduring legacy of America’s Flagship, and we have assembled an extraordinary team to help us realize our vision," Gibbs said. "By incorporating iconic components from the historic ocean liner into an architecturally stunning land-based museum, the SS United States will continue to excite and inspire future generations."

Tom Hennes, founder of Thinc Design, shared his excitement for the project.

"We felt a passion for helping tell her remarkable story," Hennes said. "We look forward to designing dynamic, interactive exhibits that create an unforgettable experience for all visitors."

The funnels themselves were the largest ever installed on a ship, each as tall as a six-story building. Unlike other ships' false funnels, both funnels on the SS United States were fully functional, serving two independent engine rooms.

The backstory:

Christened 73 years ago in 1952, the SS United States was once celebrated as a marvel of American engineering. Designed to also serve as a military troop carrier, the ship's most famous achievement came on its maiden voyage when it shattered the transatlantic speed record in both directions. The vessel crossed the Atlantic in just three days, 10 hours and 40 minutes—a time that remains unbeaten by any other ocean liner to this day.

Tugboats helped guide the ship down the Delaware River and into open water in February 2025, where it spent over a week being towed to southern waters. The vessel's unmistakable silhouette was reportedly spotted several times along its journey, with a crew member even sharing a "ghostly" nighttime image of the ship at sea.

https://fox29.com/person/t/tyler-thrasher

The Biltmore Recognized By Preferred Hotels & Resorts With 2025 Preferred Awards Of Excellence

Preferred Hotels & Resorts - the world's largest independent hotel brand - has announced its 2025 Preferred Awards of Excellence with The Biltmore among 11 winning hotels. Presented by the brand's CEO Lindsey Ueberroth and President Michelle Woodley at the annual Preferred Global Conference in Singapore on May 15, 2025 The Biltmore was awarded I Prefer Hotel of the Year

“I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations to The Biltmore Hotel for being awarded the esteemed I Prefer Hotel of the Year award. Awarded the prestigious I Prefer Members' Choice Award in 2022, 2023, and 2024 The Biltmore has truly unlocked the power of loyalty. With a remarkable level of engagement, The Biltmore is a shining example of how a resort can utilize this powerful program to increase repeat guest stays and attract new guests for the future.” Dan Coyle, Executive Vice President, United States & Canada, Preferred Hotels & Resorts.

The Preferred Awards Of Excellence Recognize Member Hotels That Epitomize Excellence Within The Brand's Global Portfolio of over 600 hotels, resorts, and residences, and inspire the global travel community to pursue #ThePreferredLife. To qualify for nomination, hotels were required to rank among the top in their region as part of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Integrated Quality Assurance program, which includes third party on-site inspections and real-time guest feedback from the world's top consumer review sites.

“We are honored to be recognized the I Prefer hotel of the year. And it was particularly rewarding to receive the recognition when amongst our fellow PHR-hoteliers at the recent PHR-2025 Awards of Excellence”, noted Tom Prescott, President. He continued, “The Biltmore Hotel endeavors not only to provide all its guests a remarkable experience during their stay but also strives to raise the level of that experience to new heights within the luxury travel segment whenever possible. I am proud of what my team members at the Historic Landmark do each and every day, and even more pleased that our PHR-I Prefer members feel the same way.”

The Biltmore Hotel endures as the iconic epicenter of Coral Gables, one of America's first planned cities. Built on a dream in 10 months, the Biltmore and Biltmore Golf will be celebrating a century of rich history in January of 2026.

Travelore News: Category 3 Hurricane Idalia Slams Ashore At Florida's Big Bend

STEINHATCHEE, Florida, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida as an "extremely dangerous" Category 3 storm on Wednesday after millions of residents evacuated or hunkered down in homes and shelters in anticipation of a life-threatening storm surge.

Drawing strength from the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters, Idalia unleashed destructive winds and torrential downpours that were forecast to cause coastal flooding up to 16 feet (4.88 m) deep along the state's Gulf Coast.

Idalia came ashore at 7:45 a.m. EDT (1145 GMT) at Keaton Beach, an ocean-front community of 13,000 people in Taylor County, about 75 miles (121 km) southeast of Tallahassee, the state capital. The town lies in the center of the Big Bend region, where the state's northern panhandle curves into the Florida Peninsula.

"It's just ripping through Taylor County now. Hope all is safe," County Commissioner Jamie English told Reuters. "Winds gusting. Terrible power outages all over. Debris flying everywhere."

Video footage from Keaton Beach posted on social media platform X by storm chaser Sidney Grimmett showed heavy downpours and trees whipping in the wind as an electrical line sparked along the side of a roadway.

Overnight, attained "an extremely dangerous Category 4 intensity" on the five-step Saffir-Simpson wind scale on its way to landfall in Florida Wednesday morning, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said.

But by 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT) it weakened slightly, slipping into Category 3, with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (201 km). Any storm reaching Category 3 or higher is considered a major hurricane.

Sparsely populated compared with the Tampa-St. Petersburg area to the south, the Big Bend features a marshy coast, threaded with freshwater springs and rivers, and a cluster of small offshore islands forming Cedar Key, a historic fishing village demolished in 1896 by a hurricane's storm surge.

Early Wednesday morning, storm winds were knocking bent palm tree tops against Ken Wood's house in Dunedin, near Tampa and 185 miles south of landfall.

Wood, 57, a bridge tender in Pinellas County, did not heed evacuation orders even after he shut down the bridge between on the Dunedin Causeway on Tuesday, saying he figured he was on high enough ground.

"Mainly it's a lot of loud wind and rain right now, some thunder," he told Reuters by telephone, adding that roads were flooded. "The sky is dark."

DANGER TO LIFE

Most of Florida's 21 million residents, and many in the adjacent states of Georgia and South Carolina, were under hurricane warnings and other storm-related advisories. State emergency declarations were issued in all three.

Florida's Gulf Coast, southeastern Georgia and eastern parts of North and South Carolina could face 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) of rain through Thursday, with isolated areas seeing as much as a foot of rain (30 cm), the hurricane center warned.

Officials said the storm's most dangerous feature would be a powerful surge of wind-driven surf that is expected to flood barrier islands and other low-lying areas along the coast.

Surge warnings were posted for hundreds of miles of shoreline, from Sarasota to the sport fishing haven of Indian Pass at the western end of Apalachicola Bay. In some areas, the surge could rise as high as 16 feet (4.9 m), the NHC said.

"If you end up with a storm surge that even approaches 16 feet, the chances of surviving that are not great," DeSantis said. "You would need to be in a three-story building because it is going to rise very, very high."

At the White House on Tuesday, U.S. President Biden said he and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Biden in the 2024 presidential election, were "in constant contact" about storm preparations.

Biden was set to speak about the government's hurricane response efforts later on Wednesday.

Idalia grew from a tropical storm into a hurricane early on Tuesday, a day after passing west of Cuba, where it damaged homes, knocked out power, flooded villages and prompted mass evacuations.

It was the fourth major hurricane to strike Florida in the past seven years, following Irma in 2017, Michael in 2018 and Ian, which peaked at Category 5, last September.

More than 40 school districts in Florida canceled classes, DeSantis said, and Tampa International Airport suspended commercial operations on Tuesday.

About 5,500 National Guard members were mobilized, while 30,000 to 40,000 electricity workers were on standby. The state has set aside 1.1 million gallons of gasoline to address interruptions to fuel supplies, the governor said.

Reporting by Maria Alejandra Cardona in Steinhatchee, Florida, Marco Bello in Cedar Key, Florida, Joey Roulette in Tampa, Florida, Rich McKay in Atlanta, Nelson Acosta in Havana, Dave Sherwood in Guanimar, Cuba, Brad Brooks in Longmont, Colorado, Brendan O'Brien in Chicago and Nandita Bose in Washington; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Gerry Doyle and Bernadette Baum

St. Augustine, Florida Sizzles With The Sounds & Flavors Of Latin America

Hispanic heritage is one of the pillars of Floridian culture, and nowhere is this better shown off than in the city of St. Augustine — the birthplace of Hispanic influence in the United States. Recently named one of the top 50 Best Small Towns in the South by Southern Living, and perched along Florida's northern coast, St. Augustine was basking in Spanish influence four decades before the first English settlement was ever established in continental North America.

The Spanish influence of St. Augustine began in 1565 when the city was founded by explorer Pedro Menedez de Aviles. Today, visitors to St. Augustine can step back in time and see the evolution of Hispanic influence and culture throughout the city. Some of the most impressive heritage sites include:

The Castillo de San Marcos fortress, one of the oldest masonry fortifications on the continent.

Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological park, where visitors can actually sip from the legendary fountain.

St. Augustine Historic District and Aviles Street, the oldest street in the United States.

Fort Matanzas, the fort that protects St. Augustine along the Matanzas River.

Mission Nombre De Dios, the first Catholic parish in the United States.

But St. Augustine’s Hispanic influence extends much further than historic landmarks. Modern-day St. Augustine is a veritable spotlight on Hispanic culture. The sounds and flavors of the city are deeply rooted in Latin American traditions. Some of St. Augustine’s most iconic and beloved restaurants take their culinary direction from Hispanic kitchens.

Columbia Restaurant, for example, offers diners a traditional Spanish setting in the city's historic district. The restaurant is more than 100 years old and has a menu of award-winning Spanish and Cuban cuisine.

Other top Latin American restaurants in St. Augustine include Asado Life with Argentinian meats, Leon La Cocina, serving Latin, Colombian, Spanish, and South American dishes, Casa Maya Restaurant for Mexican cuisine, Llama Restaurant highlights Peruvian cuisine, and Casa Reina Taqueria & Tequila, for a fusion of Mexican, Latin and Cuban flavors. Also not to be missed is Michael’s Tasting Room for a modern take on Latin American staples.

Visit St. Augustine during the annual St. Augustine Spanish Food & Wine Festival to celebrate all of the Spanish influences in the city's most iconic kitchens. The event features tapas, wine and spirits, as well as a Cava Dinner Reception, and a Grand Tasting. More than 100 Spanish Wines are available to taste throughout the three-day event, including Spanish-inspired cuisine prepared by St. Augustine chefs.

The celebration of St. Augustine's food and wine continues at the city's premiere culinary event, the St. Augustine Food + Wine Festival, held every May. Showcasing culinary, beverage, and culture, the annual event highlights celebrity guest chefs, winemakers, local chefs, artisans, and local craft spirits and beer.

Latin American food, music, and dance come together at another beloved annual St. Augustine tradition — Unidos en la Musica: A Latin American Festival. This yearly event celebrates the wide variety of Latin American music, and pairs beat perfectly with authentic dance, food, and games.

The celebration of St. Augustine's Hispanic heritage continues during its end-of-year Nights of Lights celebration. Locals and visitors love to watch the city light up with millions of tiny white lights, a practice inspired by the Spanish tradition of lighting candles in the windows during the holiday season.

Overall, St. Augustine is one of the best cities in the nation for honoring and celebrating the Hispanic and Latin American influence that is such a vital part of the fabric of Florida and the United States. Taste, listen, see, and feel where it all began in the oldest city in the country.

About St. Augustine: St. Augustine is found along Florida's northern coast between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville. It is one of the most important stops on Florida's Historic Coast, which includes the city itself, as well as the 42 miles of Atlantic beachfront. Visitors can access St. Augustine through Daytona Beach International (DAB) and Jacksonville International (JAX) airports.

New Orlando Terminal Is $2.8 Billion Bet On Florida Tourism

Visitors to the new terminal at Orlando International Airport may want to wear sunscreen, shades and a floppy hat.

Sun rays beaming through the windows of its soaring ceilings don’t just peck at the passing passengers — they practically smooch them as if they were spending a day at the beach.

Accompanied by realistic-looking fake indoor palm trees, gigantic LED screens depicting underwater springs and skylight views of blue skies and billowing clouds, Terminal C lets passengers know they have arrived in Florida. And that’s the point, as the world’s seventh-busiest airport makes a $2.8 billion bet when the 1.8 million-square-foot (167,225-square-meter) terminal opens to the public this week that Florida’s tourism is moving well beyond the pandemic slowdown and has a bright future.

“They get to see the sunshine so they really know they are in the Sunshine State,” Kevin Thibault, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, said of passengers arriving in the terminal. “It really is a facility for generations to come.”

With 40.3 million passengers last year, Orlando International Airport was the busiest airport in Florida, according to Airports Council International. However, that figure was still a fifth below the number of passengers in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic. For 2022, the airport had a rolling 12-month total at the end of June of 47 million passengers, just shy of the 50.6 million who came in 2019.

The addition of Terminal C gives the airport the ability to handle 12 million more passengers at the terminal’s 15 new gates in a first phase, increasing the airport’s capacity by a quarter. Airport officials say it will ease some of the crowding that had grown in the decade before the start of the pandemic at the airport’s other two terminals as central Florida became the most visited destination in the U.S.

The Orlando area had 59.3 million visitors last year, up two-thirds from 35.3 million in 2020, when central Florida’s theme parks shut down for several months and international travel was limited in an attempt to stop the virus’ spread. However, last year’s Orlando area visitor numbers still fell short of the pre-pandemic high of 75.8 million in 2019.

Like Orlando, the state of Florida this year is on pace to match its pre-pandemic tourism figures now that restrictions on international travel have been lifted. Florida had 122 million visitors last year, still short of the 131 million in 2019. But the first two quarters of this year put Florida’s 2022 visitor numbers on pace to match those from three years ago.
Officials at Orlando International Airport said the new terminal is one of the most technologically advanced in the U.S.

Suitcases and other baggage at Terminal C will be deposited in large, chip-embedded tubs that are tracked through radio frequency technology. The tubs reduce opportunities for wheels or straps to cause jams in the maze of conveyor belts that move luggage, and the system allows bags to always be tracked. The goal at the Orlando airport, which gets the most strollers and golf clubs of any in the U.S., is to move bags from a gate to the baggage carousel within five minutes, airport officials said.

“We don’t have to track the bag anymore. We are tracking the transport device,” said Scott Goodwin, assistant director of airport operations.

Passengers on international flights who have opted in can match their passport photos with facial scans at departure gates, speeding up the boarding process. At security checkpoints leading to gates, passengers will be able to place their carry-on bags in bins on automated conveyor belts rather than pushing them along tables until they reach the X-ray machines, speeding up the screening process by allowing travelers to bypass slowpokes in line.

“You can move ahead, grab a bin and you won’t seem impolite to anyone,” said Sari Koshetz, a spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration.

Terminal C is located across from a newly-built train station that will serve Brightline, a higher-speed line that is starting runs between South Florida and Orlando early next year. Airport officials believe that will open up Orlando International Airport to Europe-bound passengers from South Florida who may have previously used Miami International Airport.

Thibault said Orlando International Airport officials currently are in conversations about having seamless ticketing between Brightline and the terminal’s airlines, which include Aer Lingus, British Airways, Emirates, JetBlue and Lufthansa.

More than 90% of the terminal’s restaurants and stores, which include mandatory shops from Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando, are past security checkpoints in an effort to give departing passengers time to shop and eat once they are past security screening.

Arriving passengers will be flooded by sunlight since they will be on the upper-most level of skylighted Terminal C, a flip from the traditional design of having arrivals on the lower level and departures on the upper level.

“We want them to feel the sunshine. We want them to feel them palm trees, the flora and fauna,” said Curtis Fentress, whose firm was the terminal’s design architect. “It brings light into the building in a way that sort of dapples, like the light that used to stream through the orange orchards, historically.”

By MIKE SCHNEIDER

Greater Fort Lauderdale Features Dine Out And Spa Days Through September 30, 2022

Visit Lauderdale’s annual summer savings program LauderDeals expands with irresistible Dine Out Lauderdale and Spa Days specials during August and September.

 
Dine Out Lauderdale, your entrée into Greater Fort Lauderdale’s diverse culinary scene, has something for every foodie under the sun. Diners will enjoy taste-tempting meals at some of the area’s top restaurants by taking advantage of special Dine Out Lauderdale menus, all with at least three courses for $35 or $45.

Several of Fort Lauderdale’s hottest new restaurants have Dine Out Lauderdale menus this summer. Don’t miss the chance to sample Mediterranean delights at an unbeatable price including appetizer, entrée and dessert at Evelyn’s Fort Lauderdale at the Four Seasons; or make a reservation for a much sought-after table at The Katherine. DUNE by Laurent Tourondel brings an elevated dining experience with its Dine Out Lauderdale menu to be savored oceanfront at the Auberge Residences on the beach in Fort Lauderdale. Union Kitchen & Bar’s menu isn’t only delicious, it’s a great deal at $35 for three courses. Shady Distillery offers a four-course menu with each course paired with a boozy beverage made from their house-distilled Shady Vodka or 12 Mile Rum. Or choose any one of the more than 40 participating Dine Out Lauderdale restaurants and try them now before fall and winter season crowds return.

“Greater Fort Lauderdale restaurants participating in this year’s Dine Out Lauderdale have gone above and beyond developing some irresistible menus at great prices,” says Stacy Ritter, president & CEO of Visit Lauderdale.
 
Other restaurants new to Dine Out Lauderdale include Big Buns, Planta Queen and more. In addition to new restaurant experiences, locals and visitors can take a stroll down Las Olas to experience the boulevard’s amazing atmosphere and sample Dine Out Lauderdale menus at favorite stops like  American Social, Sushi Garage, and YOLO Restaurant.
 
Also taking place during August and September, Spa Days tempts those in search of quality self-care with great prices on specialty treatments, some starting as low as $99.  The Spa at Auberge Beach offers its Auberge Signature Spa Manicure & Pedicure for $99, or you can indulge in a day of escape with the Vitality Beach & Day Pass that includes a welcome glass of prosecco, beach lounge chair, umbrella and spa amenities. Other tempting Spa Days offers can be found at Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa, Pelican Grand Beach Resort and more.
 
Summer LauderDeals for hotels and attractions continue to run through September with some extending to the end of the year. Check out the full range of hotel and attraction deals at VisitLauderdale.com/deals offering a wide range of ways to save. These offers combined with Dine Out Lauderdale and Spa Days deals combine for a perfect getaway or staycation indulgence.

Walt Disney Imagineering Presents The EPCOT Experience Closing Permanently On March 14, 2022.

Statement from Disney about the closing:

"Since its 2019 debut, Walt Disney Imagineering presents the EPCOT Experience has welcomed more than two million guests, as travelers from around the world enjoyed an immersive look at the past, present and future of this beloved park. This attraction gave our team a chance to share a first-person view of the vision coming to life during this ongoing “state of becoming.” It’s a rare moment to see these milestones unfold, and we’ve been inspired and deeply grateful to have this opportunity to pull back the curtain on our thinking.

With the transformation now well under way and many of those projects now open – including Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Harmonious and the upcoming debut of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind this summer – we have decided it is time to close the EPCOT Experience on March 14 and make way for exciting new activations of the Odyssey pavilion to create a great experience for our guests.

I’m proud of the work and storytelling that our Imagineers put into this incredible 360-degree presentation, as it beautifully set the stage for the largest transformation in the history of EPCOT, and provided an in-depth look at the exciting attractions and experiences being developed for this beloved park. I always like to say to our team that EPCOT is a park about people – our dreams, our curiosity and our ability to make magic possible when we work together. The EPCOT Experience was a showcase of all those things, inviting each of you to dream with us as we create the future of EPCOT together.

We have a lot more to share in the weeks and months ahead, and I am grateful for the opportunity to provide an in-depth look at the process through our Imagineering lens. Follow along with me here as we share more exciting details about this historic EPCOT transformation, including Journey of Water inspired by Moana, the ongoing evolution of World Celebration, and more!"

Source: https://wdwnt.com/

Canadian Snowbirds Head South As US Land Borders Reopen

(AP) — Canadians Ian and Heather Stewart are savoring the idea of leaving behind this winter’s subzero temperatures when the U.S. reopens its borders to nonessential land travel next week and they launch a long-delayed drive to their seasonal home in Fort Myers, Florida.

Restrictions imposed by both countries during the coronavirus pandemic and their own concerns kept the retired couple and millions of other Canadians from driving south to warmer climes like Florida, Arizona and Mexico during last year’s freezing winter months.

Now, the Biden administration’s decision to allow vaccinated people to enter the U.S. by land for any reason starting Nov. 8 has many Canadians packing up their campers and making reservations at their favorite vacation condos and mobile home parks. Some are already in the U.S., arriving on flights that never stopped and have required just a negative COVID-19 test.

But many have waited to drive, preferring the convenience of having a vehicle to get around in with rental cars scarce and expensive.

Vacasa, a management company for over 30,000 vacation homes in North America, Belize and Costa Rica, said it saw a major rise in traffic on its online platform after the new rules were announced. Canadian users’ views at rentals in snowbird-popular destinations jumped by 120%.

The Stewarts will board their SUV with two dogs and a cat Nov. 10 for the four-day trek from Ottawa, Ontario, to spend six months on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

“We love it there,” said Ian Stewart, 81, a retired air traffic controller with the Royal Canadian Air Force. “There’s such a nice feel with the good weather that lets you get out and walk and talk to your neighbors. And you don’t have to worry about slipping on the ice and breaking your bones!”

Like the Stewarts, many Canadian snowbirds stay at mobile home parks and luxury RV resorts — with swimming pools, pickleball and sometimes golf courses — for people 55 and over. The Stewarts have owned a manufactured home at their Florida park since 2007.

Arizona is also popular for its mild winters.

The Arizona Office of Tourism expects an immediate economic impact in a state where people from Canada and Mexico traditionally make up the largest number of overnight visitors, said Becky Blaine, the office’s deputy director.

“The phones have been ringing off the hook since they announced the border will be reopened,” said Kate Ebert, manager of the Sundance 1 RV Resort in Casa Grande, halfway between Phoenix and Tucson.

Renée Louzon-Benn, executive director of the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce, said the desert community last year felt the absence of visitors from Canada and U.S. Midwestern states like Wisconsin and Michigan, with far fewer people spending money locally. Casa Grande Mayor Craig McFarland said the city of about 62,000 people usually swells by another 25,000 each winter.

Wendy Caban of Lake Country, British Columbia, is thrilled she and her husband, Geoffrey, can soon drive to their resort home in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa.

“I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of friends that we made over the last dozen years,” Wendy Caban said. “I’m looking forward to the warmth.”

But the couple, both 73, are still mulling when to leave.

“I think it’s going to be insane on Nov. 8,” Caban said. “So, we’ll wait a few days and monitor the lineups and the weather.”

Arizona’s Office of Tourism says close to 1 million Canadian tourists accounted for $1 billion in spending in 2019. That plunged to 257,000 Canadians who spent $325 million last year.

R. Glenn Williamson, Canada’s Arizona honorary consul and founder and CEO of the Canada Arizona Business Council, said the numbers for tourists don’t consider longer term stays by part-time resident Canadians who spend months at a time in homes they own in Arizona — as many as 200,000 additional people spending another $1.5 billion locally each year.

With some 500 Canadian companies operating in Arizona, a new wave of younger, wealthier Canadian snowbirds work part-time in the state, where they buy upscale homes and play golf, among Canada’s most popular sports, Williamson said.

Barbara and Brian Fox of Toronto, both in their 60s, plan to keep working for their strategic communications firm when they return to the Naples area on Florida’s Gulf Coast in March and April.

It will be the longest Florida stay so far for the couple, who have canceled at least five planned trips south during the course of the pandemic over restrictions and concerns about possible infection.

Plenty of retirees are planning to head south again as well.

They include Wilf and Lynne Burnett, who haven’t made annual trek south from their hometown in Vancouver, British Columbia, to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, since the coronavirus emerged. They typically tow a 15-foot (4.5-meter) boat so they can fish and visit restaurants with docks on the bay.

Now that land border restrictions are being eliminated, the Burnetts have a three-month reservation at a Puerto Vallarta condo starting Jan. 6.

“We’ll keep an eye on the virus and if things continue to improve, we’ll go,” Wilf Burnett said.

Those who decide to travel at the last minute will likely find it hard to book a condo, RV park or campground.

Amid concern restrictions might keep changing, some snowbirds are making reservations for earlier in the season than usual, starting from November through early next year, said Bruce Hoban, co-founder of the 2,000-member Vacation Rental Owners and Neighbors of Palm Springs. Hoban said peak visitor times for snowbirds, who comprise about 15% of vacation rentals, are generally between February and April.

Those who come can also expect prices as much as 20% to 30% higher because of increased demand, he said.

Bobby Cornwell, executive director of the Florida and Alabama RV Parks & Campground Association, said many sites in those states were booked solid from January through March even before the new travel rules were announced. That’s because Americans have embraced RV travel during the pandemic, filling spots Canadian campers normally would.
Still, it’s “wonderful news” Canadians can return, Cornwell said. “We encourage all snowbirds to plan to come to Florida and make your reservations as soon as possible,” he said.

Miami Beach Says Law-Breaking Partiers No Longer Tolerated

MIAMI (AP) — South Beach’s sizzling party scene is about to undergo a massive boost in police presence and tougher crackdowns on raucous crowds and crime, weeks after a tourist eating dinner with his family was fatally shot at a Miami Beach restaurant, authorities say.

“The many years of troubling incidents in this district can no longer be tolerated,” City Manager Alina Hudak said in a memo Friday disclosing plans to “create the highest level of regular police presence this area has ever seen.”

Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber ordered police, along with fire rescue, parking, sanitation and other departments to devise a unified strategy to deal with the crowds. The police department reassigned an average of 40 officers to patrol South Beach streets, to increase “visibility” not just on nights and weekends, but throughout the day, the memo stated.

Ten officers from the county are being added every weekend to South Beach duty for the rest of the year, Gelber said in a video message Friday.

The beach-front party scene has been plagued with increasingly out-of-control partiers during holiday weekends. They city enacted a strict 8 p.m. curfew in March after unruly spring break crowds gathered in the streets by the thousands, erupting into fights, destroying restaurant property and refusing to wear masks. Over 1,000 were arrested and many were from out of town, police said.

“It is no longer sufficient to treat what has historically been defined as “high impact periods” as anomalies when every weekend brings significant crowds and challenges,” Hudak said.

Additional code officers and park rangers will be assigned to enforce ordinance violations to create a “visible and constant deterrent” to overcrowding and other problems. Hudak stressed in the memo that the parties created a “year-round threat to public safety from visitors who have demonstrated a blatant disregard for human life, public property and the well-being of our many law-abiding residents and guests.”

Gelber said more than half of the nearly 1,600 arrests in 2021 came from the entertainment district, where speeding, fights and gun violence have become commonplace. The city seized more than 500 guns this year and now has 870 surveillance cameras operational.

“Every few days, I call a police officer who has been injured in the line of duty,” the mayor said. “Few cities face these challenges or ask as much of police.”

The crackdown comes less than two weeks after a fatal tourist attack, when police said a gunman shot a 21-year-old father eating dinner with his family as the man protected his 1-year-old son.

Twenty-two year-old Tamarius Davis told investigators he shot Dustin Wakefield last month because he “was high on mushrooms, which made him feel empowered,” according to an arrest report.

Since then, terrified residents have urged the mayor to take action. The mayor noted that Wakefield’s killing happened at 6:30 p.m. on a Tuesday, but he said the world didn’t hear about a stabbing earlier this week or the frequent early morning shootings.

“We cannot, we cannot accept this as our normal,” Gelber said.

He warned that the new stepped-up police presence was not sustainable, and said the party district needs to be rezoned with fewer bars and clubs and more residential and office building.

Gelber also wants an earlier curfew on alcohol sales.

“What we have called an entertainment district has become an incredible magnet for crime and disorder and whatever it provides in revenue is just not worth the heartache,” the mayor said.

California Bans State Travel To Florida, 4 Other States, Because Of Laws That Discriminate Against Members Of The LGBTQ Community

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California added five more states, including Florida, to the list of places where state-funded travel is banned because of laws that discriminate against members of the LGBTQ community, the state attorney general announced Monday.

Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta added Florida, Arkansas, Montana, North Dakota and West Virginia to the list that now has 17 states where state employee travel is forbidden except under limited circumstances.

“Make no mistake: We’re in the midst of an unprecedented wave of bigotry and discrimination in this country — and the State of California is not going to support it,” Bonta said.

Lawmakers in 2016 banned non-essential travel to states with laws that discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The 12 other states on the list are: Texas, Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, Mississippi, Tennessee.

The five states newly added to the list have introduced bills in their legislatures this year that prevent transgender women and girls from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity, block access to health care and allow the discrimination of the LGBTQ community, Bonta said.

Florida, Montana, Arkansas, and West Virginia passed laws that prevent transgender women and girls from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity.

North Dakota signed into law a bill allowing certain publicly-funded student organizations to restrict LGBTQ students from joining without losing funding.

Arkansas passed the first law in the nation to prohibit physicians from providing gender-affirming healthcare to transgender minors — regardless of the wishes of parents or whether a physician deems such care to be medically necessary.

These lawmakers “would rather demonize trans youth than focus on solving real issues like tackling gun violence beating back this pandemic and rebuilding our economy,” Bonta said.

The state law has exemptions for some trips, such as travel needed to enforce California law and to honor contracts signed before the states were added to the list. Travel to conferences or out-of-state training are examples of trips that can be blocked.

It’s unclear what effect California’s travel ban will have. Bonta did not have information about how many state agencies have stopped sending state employees to the states on the list or the financial impact of California’s travel ban on those states.

Miami To Get A $300 Million Eco-Adventure Park

Opening in 2022, the $300 million re-imagined “Jungle Island” will feature a thrilling aerial adventure course with zip lines, up-close animal encounters, water attractions, one-of-a-kind entertainment and nightlife, and a new hotel, just minutes from downtown Miami and Miami Beach

Miami- ESJ Capital Partners (hereinafter: ‘ESJ”), an Aventura, Florida-based commercial real estate firm and a registered Investment Advisor, has secured the final approvals necessary to move forward with developing a one-of-a-kind eco-adventure destination and hotel on 18.5 acres of prime waterfront in Miami.

The $300 million project is an ambitious re-imagining of the historic “Jungle Island,” a zoological theme park and botanical gardens built in 1936 that once boasted the largest and rarest collection of exotic animals and birds. It is located on Watson Island, roughly five minutes from both downtown Miami and the world-renowned South Beach neighborhood of Miami Beach, surrounded by the crystal blue waters of Biscayne Bay.

Inspired by some of the world’s most successful eco-adventure destinations and conceived by a team of the top hospitality/nature attraction experts, ESJ’s master-plan for redevelopment of the park caters to the 21st-century guest, while still preserving historic elements that has made the Jungle Island experience a favorite landmark for nearly a century – including an unparalleled collection of over 50 parrot species in its multi-story aviary.

Set to re-open in mid-2022 as “Jungle Island: Miami's Adventure Oasis,” the redesigned park will include the only aerial adventure course in South Florida featuring zip lines, ropes courses, bridges, and climbing nets suspended up to 60-feet in the treetops; a 19,000-square-foot trampoline park; interactive and hands-on animal nature tours that allow guests to get up-close and personal with over 100 species of wild animals, such as swimming with capybaras; a 1,200-seat outdoor amphitheater with new and unique, family- friendly entertainment featuring aerialists and acrobats; elevated dining and nightlife experiences; a Mediterranean-style beach club and cocktail lounge on Miami’s only private beach; and several water features including a new 900-foot “lazy river” that meanders through the park’s lush green and animal habitats.

A key component of the park will be a new 300-key, family-friendly eco-resort, scheduled to open in late 2024 or early 2025.

Based on market research, ESJ expects to draw more than 500,000 guests during its first year of operation, comprising a 50-50 mix of both local/domestic visitors and out-of-market travelers.

“Florida is finally getting its first true eco-adventure park, where nature and wildlife provide inspiration for guests to explore, play, challenge themselves physically, or simply relax,” said Arnaud Sitbon, CEO of ESJ. “Best of all, it’s going to be in a city that is one of the world’s top-rated travel destinations, just minutes from Miami’s top-rated beaches and attractions. It’s a privilege to have the honor of breathing new life into this much-beloved landmark, and our hope is that it will spark appreciation and respect for nature and our planet’s precious wildlife.”

“A nature-oriented destination of this magnitude in the heart of Miami’s urban core is truly remarkable,” said Micha Dubernard, Senior Vice President of ESJ Capital Partners. “In addition to providing a unique attraction that enhances Miami’s reputation for tourism and culture, Jungle Island’s lush habitat will also serve an important ecological role by helping absorb some of the city’s carbon emissions and serving as a natural preserve for Florida’s wading birds and other wildlife.”

According to the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), there is substantial demand for this type of venue. “We are extremely pleased to add such a compelling attraction to our community,” said William D. Talbert III, President & CEO of the GMCVB. “We look forward to continue working with the Jungle Island team.”

In 2019, Greater Miami attracted a record-breaking 16.3 million overnight visitors and an additional 7.9 million day tripper, for a record number of 24.2 million total visitors with a total economic impact close to $18 billion, according to the GMCVB. Industry experts expect Miami’s hospitality and tourism industry to recover steadily over the next year, in conjunction with COVID-19 vaccine roll outs.

In addition to the adventure park and nature attractions, Jungle Island will also feature a strong corporate appeal, with more than 10 indoor and outdoor meeting and event spaces, catering to small or large groups, and ranging from small celebrations to 1000+-person gatherings.

ESJ acquired Jungle Island in April 2017, which involved the transfer of the existing land lease on the City of Miami-owned Watson Island to ESJ. In August 2018, Miami voters approved a city charter amendment to waive competitive bidding and allow ESJ to modify Jungle Island's lease and allow the construction of a 300-room hotel. In February 2021, the City of Miami provided final approval on a long-awaited land-use ordinance change and special area plan, both necessary to redevelop the 18-acre property with a hotel and additional recreation amenities. ESJ plans to begin construction on the new adventure park this summer, and will break ground on the new $100+ million hotel in 2022, pending a final building permit.

To lead Jungle Island’s transformation, ESJ has pulled in some of the world’s leading hospitality, attraction, entertainment and construction experts. These include IDEAS Brand & Experience Design, led by 25-year Disney executive Bob Allen; HKS Architects, an interdisciplinary global design firm which recently completed Royal Caribbean’s $250 million redevelopment of CocoCay Island; EoA, an award-winning design firm; Gardiner & Theobald, an independent construction and property consultancy noted for its development of Miami’s acclaimed Faena District and the $4 billion Baha Mar resort in the Bahamas, the largest resort development in the Western Hemisphere; and several additional specialists in the field of animal entertainment and education.

For more information about Jungle Island updates, bookings and hours of operations please visit www.jungleisland.com.

Disney CEO Says Attendance Caps At Parks Being Raised

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Disney’s top executive says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s decision to ease up mask-wearing requirements for fully vaccinated people is “very big news for us.”

During an earnings call on Thursday, Disney CEO Bob Chapek hinted that there could be a change to the mandatory mask requirement at Disney parks in the near future after the CDC said people could stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings.

“Particularly, if anybody’s been in Florida in the middle of summer with a mask on. That could be quite daunting,” Chapek said. “So we think that’s going to make for an even more pleasant experience.”

Chapek said the parks had already started raising the number of people allowed in, as least in Florida, based on relaxed restrictions coming from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office. He didn’t say how many more people were being allowed in the parks compared to the previous restriction of a little more than a third of a park’s capacity.

“So I think you’re going to see an immediate increase in the number of folks that we’re able to admit into our parks through our reservation systems that we recently implemented,” Chapek said.

The CDC guidance still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters, but it will help clear the way for reopening workplaces, schools and other venues — even removing the need for social distancing for those who are fully vaccinated.

Mickey’s Flashy Dress, Glowing Castle Mark Disney World 50th

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Walt Disney World in Florida turns 50 in October.

To help celebrate, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will be wearing flashier threads and iconic structures such as the Cinderella Castle and the golf-ball-like Spaceship Earth are getting new lighting, Disney officials said Friday while unveiling the first details of how the massive theme park resort will mark its milestone anniversary.

Plans for the 18-month celebration which starts in October are being made amid one of the toughest stretches the resort the size of the city of San Francisco has faced in its nearly 50 years. Last spring, Disney World closed for two months to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus, leading to the temporary furlough of 43,000 workers.

Last fall, the company announced layoffs for 28,000 workers from its parks division in Florida and California due to limits on attendance and other pandemic-related issues. Disney officials said last November that revenue at its parks, experiences and products business fell 61% to $2.6 billion.

Before the pandemic, Disney World employed around 77,000 workers.

“If ever the world needed some pixie dust and a little extra magic from our cast, that time is now — and we hope you join us in the excitement,” said Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World Resort in an email to community leaders.

Disney World has high hopes the 50th anniversary celebration provides Disney fans enough reason to return to the theme park resort during a time when vaccines will be more widely distributed.

For starters, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and other costumed characters will be getting sparkling clothes that include iridescent fabric and embroidery with renderings of the Cinderella Castle. The resorts’ iconic structures — the castle at Magic Kingdom, Spaceship Earth at Epcot, the Hollywood Tower Hotel at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom — will be glowing with special lighting during the celebration. The Cinderella Castle also will be made over with gold bunting and other golden embellishments.

“It is going to be the world’s most magical celebration,” said Dana Carlson, an associate broadcast producer for Disney Live Entertainment.

Legoland Theme Park In Florida Plans Expansion, New Rides

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) — The Legoland theme park in Florida is planning an expansion next year including new rides, according to plans filed with the city nearest the attraction. The details have not been revealed, but news outlets report Legoland will add about 4.5 acres (1.8 hectares) to its resort near Winter Haven. The plan comes amid the global coronavirus pandemic that has rocked Florida’s tourism industry. A rendition of the new area shows at least six rides or attractions and a large building, possibly a restaurant. Legoland Florida spokeswoman Kelly Hornick told The Ledger in Lakeland that more would be revealed about the expansion plans in 2021 — which is the 10th anniversary of the theme park’s opening on the former site of Cypress Gardens.

Legoland Florida has expanded repeatedly since opening in October 2011. The park unveiled its first hotel in 2015, added the off-site Legoland Beach Retreat in 2017 and opened Pirate Island Hotel earlier this year. Like other Florida theme parks, Legoland Florida closed in March after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in response to the spread of COVID-19. Legoland reopened June 1 with restrictions on attendance and other health measures in place. An unknown number of jobs were eliminated. Legoland operates eight theme parks around the world, including in Denmark, Germany, Malaysia, Japan, California and Dubai.

Tampa Museum Of Art Highlights African American Artists In "Living Color"

Tampa Museum of Art Highlights African American Artists In "Living Color" The Tampa Museum of Art opens a new exhibition presenting works by artists known as the Highwaymen, who painted the rich colors of Florida's natural scenes.

The Tampa Museum of Art (TMA) continues to celebrate and honor the richness and complexity of Florida's cultural tapestry with its newest exhibition, Living Color: The Art of the Highwaymen. Opening November 19 and on view through March 28, 2021, Living Color brings together 60 paintings from five outstanding private collections, featuring the works of the core group of Florida Highwaymen. These celebrated African American artists depicted the state's natural environment and rich tones through their unique self-taught painting styles.

The Highwaymen produced artwork from the 1950s to the 1980s. Artists including Al Black, Mary Ann Carroll, Willie Daniels, Johnny Daniels, James Gibson, Alfred Hair, Roy McLendon, Harold Newton, Sam Newton, Willie Reagan, and Livingston Roberts, painted as a means to making a living, and many were quite successful, especially Alfred Hair and Harold Newton. Facing limitations imposed by the racial prejudice of their time, Highwaymen artists had little or no formal training or access to conventional art markets. To overcome these obstacles, they produced large numbers of works that could be sold at affordable prices, often door-to-door and sometimes from their cars' trunks along such thoroughfares as Route 1. "We're pleased to be able to bring Living Color to Tampa because this exhibition speaks to the resourcefulness and resilience of this group of artists. The Highwaymen, based in and around Ft. Pierce, developed their own creative community during a time in Florida's history that coincided with an economic boom in the state and African Americans fighting for equal rights," said Joanna Robotham, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Tampa Museum of Art.

Furthering the momentum of TMA's centennial year, Tampa Bay residents can look forward to studio art classes and educational programs offering in-depth insights into the Highwaymen artwork. Groups of four or more can schedule a private virtual tour, and groups of 10 or more can schedule an in-person tour of Living Color and any exhibition at TMA by visiting TampaMuseum.org/Adult-Tours/. The exhibition is organized by the Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) and curated by Gary Monroe in collaboration with Hansen Mulford, Senior Curator at OMA. A fully illustrated catalogue published by OMA in conjunction with Living Color is available at the TMA Museum Store. The Tampa Museum of Art presents this significant exhibition to the Tampa Bay area thanks to the sponsorship support by the Gobioff Foundation, the Sauders Foundation, Brown & Brown Insurance, and others. As the Tampa Museum of Art sets its sights on the future, continuing to partner with businesses and individuals will help the Museum grow a legacy of art and culture in Tampa that inspires and represents all community members. About the Tampa Museum of Art Founded in 1920, the Tampa Museum of Art inspires the residents of the Tampa Bay region and others around the world by providing engaging exhibitions and innovative educational programs that emphasize ancient, modern, and contemporary art. The Museum houses one of the largest Greek and Roman antiquities collections in the southeastern United States. As one of the region's largest museums devoted to the art of our time, the Museum's permanent collection also embraces sculpture, photography, painting, new media, and more. New online programs add to the year-round studio art classes, lectures, and tours that provide children, teens, and adults with opportunities to discover new perspectives and learn different art-making techniques. Likewise, through unique community partnerships, the Museum offers outreach programs that provide art therapy interventions and meaningful modes of self-expression to vulnerable segments of the population. Located in the heart of downtown Tampa, next to the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and Tampa's Riverwalk, the Tampa Museum of Art leads as both a cultural institution and a community museum dedicated to celebrating the diversity of its home city. General Hours and Information The Tampa Museum of Art is open seven days a week, Monday – Sunday 10 am – 5 pm and Thursdays from 10 am – 8 pm. The Museum's phone number is (813) 274-8130, and the website is TampaMuseum.org. The Museum's address is 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza. Tampa, FL 33602.

Hemingway’s Favorite Key West Bar Reopens From Virus Closure

 KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — Sloppy Joe’s, the iconic Key West bar that Ernest Hemingway frequented during the 1930s, reopened Thursday after closing six months ago because of the coronavirus pandemic.

By noon, the bar had already reached the 50% capacity allowed by law, including three Ernest Hemingway look-alikes. Concerns about COVID-19 had forced cancellation of the 40th Ernest Hemingway Look-Alike Contest held at Sloppy Joe’s each July during the subtropical island’s annual Hemingway Days festival.

Charlie Boice, who won the contest in 2015, traveled nearly 250 miles (400 kilometers) from Jupiter, Florida, to attend the reopening.

“Coming back to Sloppy Joe’s is a wonderful thing,” Boice said. “For most people, it’s just a destination on a cruise or a destination on vacation. But for the Papas, this is home.”

The three-night competition typically draws about 150 stocky, bearded entrants from the U.S. and other countries, as well as their supporters and hundreds of spectators. The Duval Street bar has been associated with the legendary author since he lived in Key West during the 1930s.

With the noted exception of the Key West Marlin Tournament, most other area festival events were canceled as well.

The reopening of Sloppy Joe’s comes three days after bars were allowed to resume business operations throughout most other Florida regions.

“With the pandemic, we did the best we could to minimize our costs,” Sloppy Joe’s brand manager Donna Edwards said. “We had limited income with online sales, so we’re very happy to have the doors open and to be able to share Sloppy Joe’s Bar again with everyone in the world.”

Besides operating the bar at 50% capacity, management is maintaining strict social distancing and requiring patrons to wear face coverings except when seated to eat or drink.

Walt Disney World To Reduce Theme Park Hours, Starting September 8th

GREGG NEWTON/Gregg Newton/AFP via Getty Images

Visitors drive past a sign welcoming them to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida

Walt Disney World is reducing the operating hours at all four of its theme parks, following the phased reopening last month amid a surge of COVID-19 cases in Florida.

Magic Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios will close an hour earlier than usual, while Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort and Disney's Animal Kingdom will be open for 2 less hours each day. The changes will begin Sept 8. and remain in place through October. 

After months of being shuttered due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Walt Disney World began a phased reopening in mid-July with masks being mandatory for guests and staff, and other safety measures in place such as guidelines for social distancing and increased sterilization and cleaning requirements. To be admitted to the park, guests would need to have a reservation and a ticket, as the capacity was capped at a certain number — which wasn't made public — but assumed to be around 30 percent. 

Last week, the Walt Disney Co. revealed the financial impact of its parks being shuttered, noting a fiscal third-quarter loss of $3.5 billion. "Parks, Experiences and Products revenues for the quarter decreased 85 percent to $1.0 billion, and segment operating results decreased $3.7 billion to a loss of $2.0 billion," Disney's quarterly report indicated on Tuesday. "Lower operating results for the quarter were due to decreases at both the domestic and international parks and experiences businesses and to a lesser extent, at our merchandise licensing and retail businesses."

Walt Disney world came under fire last month for a "Welcome Home" promotional video that was posted to its social media channels, featuring masked employees welcoming guests back to the park. Some users on Twitter and Instagram accused the park of putting their staff and visitors in danger by reopening too early, and encouraged them to consider closing. 

Any further updates or changes to operating schedules will be posted to the Walt Disney World website at: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/

Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/

Disney World’s Last Two Theme Parks Reopened To Visitors On July 15

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Days after reopening two theme parks amid a spike in coronavirus cases in Florida, Walt Disney World on Wednesday welcomed back visitors to two more theme parks that had been shuttered since March because of the new coronavirus.

The Florida theme park resort reopened Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, completing a rolling opening of Disney World’s theme parks that started last weekend with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom welcoming back visitors.

The parks were the last of Orlando’s major theme parks to reopen after being shuttered since March. Both Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando opened their doors last month.

All of the parks have new restrictions.

The number of visitors being allowed in has been capped to allow for social distancing. All visitors and employees must wear masks and get their temperature checked upon entering.

Disney is requiring reservations, and Disney employees won’t be allowed to take photos of visitors in front of Cinderella’s Castle since it involves touching the tourists’ cameras. Disney World posted on its website that “an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present.”

There will be no live shows at Disney World since the reopening has caused a labor dispute between Disney and its actors and singers.

The union that represents Disney World actors and singers has filed a grievance against Disney, saying their members faced retaliation for demanding coronavirus tests. The actors and singers initially were called back to work, but that invitation was rescinded after the union made public their concerns about the lack of testing for the actors and singers who can’t wear masks while performing, according to Actors’ Equity Association.

Despite the parks being reopened, not all of Disney World’s 77,000-member workforce has been called back to work because of the limits on attendance. A coalition of unions that represents about 43,000 workers says only about 20,000 members have been called back to work.

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Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.