The number of visitors to Florida through the first nine months of 2008 increased slightly — just less than one percent — compared to the year before. The largest increase came from Canadian and overseas visitors. That is not surprising, since internationally the Sunshine State remains one of the most popular vacation destinations in America. There are good reasons for the state's popularity. When you vacation in Florida, you get it all — plenty of sunshine, beautiful beaches, spectacular sunsets, wonderful resorts, popular attractions and water everywhere.
There were even more reasons to visit Florida in 2008. Let's take a look...
Best New Attractions
The landscape has changed in Orlando as SeaWorld Orlando opened Aquatica in March. The one-of-a-kind 60-acre water park features 36 water slides, six rivers and lagoons and more than 80,000 square-feet of beach area with up-close animal experiences.Disney's Toy Story Mania opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly Disney-MGM Studios) in May. It is one of Disney's most technologically sophisticated attractions to date, taking guests on a wild ride through a series of midway games. The ride is so much fun that you don't mind standing in another long line for a chance to do it again!
America's favorite animated family — The Simpsons — came swooping into Universal Orlando in May. The all-new theme park adventure sends riders soaring and smashing their way through Krustyland!
Best Values
Value didn't get much better than this… those that bought a Fun Card in 2008 enjoyed unlimited visits to either Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or SeaWorld Orlando for the entire year. The good news is that it will be back for 2009!If you want value in entertainment, then the Florida Strawberry Festival is the place to find it. Year after year, the Festival draws some of the finest rock and country music performers for its toe-tappin' concerts. Concert tickets are mostly $10, $15 and $20 (all under $30)… and there are even a few seats that are free on a first-come, first-seated basis!
If your family is looking for a new holiday tradition, see ICE! at Gaylord Palms Resort. The holiday attraction is hand-carved from nearly two million pounds of ice that creates a winter experience like no other in Florida.
Best Beaches
Dr. Beach again weighed in on Memorial Day with his Top Beach list. Three of Florida's beaches were included — Caladesi Island State Park, Siesta Beach and Cape Florida State Park.Probably some of the best beach news of the year was that construction of the “Beach Walk” project at Clearwater Beach was completed freeing up the traffic snarls that plagued the beach in 2007.
Best Resorts
The "Going Green" scene is gathering momentum across Florida. While many resort properties are participating in Florida's Green Lodging Program, on May 15, Walt Disney World was recognized by Governor Charlie Crist for achieving 100% of its lodging properties earning the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Green Lodging Program designation, covering all 23 of Disney’s resort hotels plus Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. Also achieving "green" status this year were the Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando.
Best (and worst) News
There wasn't a whole lot of good news for travel in 2008. Gasoline prices soared through the summer, but finally began to make a hasty retreat by fall. Airlines raised ticket prices, took away our pillows and started charging for extra baggage. And, theme parks raised their admission ticket prices... again. I've compiled some of the standout stories that affected Florida travel and tourists in 2008:
- Florida's Trails was named the Best Trails State in America for 2008!
- Cypress Gardens closed November 17, leaving annual pass holders in the lurch. The park has plans to reopen in March, 2009 after a renovation that will ditch rides for an expanded water park. Emphasis will be placed on its internationally renowned gardens and the ski show is expected to continue as part of the original park experience.
- In other attraction news, Weeki Wachee Springs became Florida's 160th state park. The 27-acre park, first opening in 1947, will remain open to the public and the underwater theatre will continue to feature the mermaid show that made the park famous.
- Friendship Trail Bridge Closes after warnings of eminent collapse. What now for the half-million bicyclists, in-line skaters, joggers and walkers and fishermen that used the bridge each year?
- Another Skyway delay? Motorists are dismayed about the $4-million Sunshine Skyway Bridge painting project began in January, 2007 and was supposed to take only six months. Maybe someone needs to call the Extreme Makeover folks — they usually finish a project in a week!
