Travelsmartplanet

Completed in 1887, the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is a fascinating piece of Florida history. It towers over others as the tallest lighthouse in Florida, offering spectacular, 360-degree views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway.

If you are feeling adventurous you can climb the 203 steps to the top and be rewarded with some truly breathtaking scenery and one-of-a-kind photo opportunities.
There’s an on-site museum featuring a fascinating rare Fresnel Lens exhibit, artifacts on lighthouse life and shipwrecks.

On May 11th, from 10am – 2pm, over one hundred Corvettes of all ages will be on display at Ponce Inlet Lighthouse. Vettes at the Lighthouse XII, hosted by the Ponce Inlet Corvette Club,  the car show will feature music, door prizes, food, silent auction and trophies. This is a must-see for every car enthusiast. All proceeds are donated to local charities.

During this year’s holiday season, families will be able to enjoy a festive drive through experience at Daytona International Speedway. The “World Center of Racing” will be transformed with hundreds of light displays into a holiday spectacle, a 1.5 mile long Magic of Lights, using the latest in LED and digital animation technologies specifically designed for this iconic venue.

Experience the holiday spirit drive-through from the comfort of your own car. At every turn, and in every direction, the magical route is overflowing with spectacular light displays and animations. Be transfixed when Santa’s team of reindeer cross in flight above your vehicle, see the sweetest 200-foot long Candy Cane Lane, a delightful Snowflake Forest and even more festivities.

Magic of Lights is a fun and memorable family entertainment. To commemorate the season of giving a portion of every ticket to Magic of Lights benefits the Florida Hospital Foundation.

Location: Daytona International Speedway, 1801 West International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Dates: until Dec 31st, 2018
Hours: every night from dusk – 10 pm
Tel: 330-441-4255
magicoflights.com/daytona
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: daytonabeach.com

The Ormond Beach Community Day is a fun filled event for the whole family. All the fun takes place on Saturday, September 29th from 11am to 4pm at Destination Daytona.

This free community non-profit charity event features outstanding food, live music, vendors and entertainment including a professional  BMX Trickstars shows, classic car show, RV exhibit with Giant Recreation World, Motorcycle Police Demos,  drum line performance, a visit from the National Guard, top 40 hand picked Hot Rod show, kids play area with face painting, balloons, bounce house, and all full day of live music.

Location: Destination Daytona, 253 Destination Daytona, Ormond Beach, FL 32174
Date: Sat, Sept 29, 2018
Time: 11am – 4pm
Tel: 386-868-8484
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: daytonabeach.com

Whom better to honor than your grandparents? There is a special bond that is shared between grandchildren and their grandparents. National Grandparents Day was declared in 1978 to be celebrated in the US on the first Sunday of September after Labor Day; It was signed into law by President Jimmy Carter.

National Grandparents Day gives grandchildren the opportunity to show love and appreciation to their grandparents. Why not treat them to a special Grandparents Day celebration on the grounds of the glorious Flagler Museum?

The Gilded Age estate was a 75-room winter retreat built in 1902 as a wedding present for Henry Flagler’s wife Mary Lily Kenan Flagler  and is open to the public as the Flagler Museum, featuring guided tours, changing exhibits, and special programs.

Family played an important role in the history of the Flagler Museum. The Museum’s founder, Jean Flagler Matthews, a granddaughter of Henry Flagler  preserved Whitehall and its collections to honor her grandfather.

Visit the Flagler Kenan Pavilion to enjoy the family-friendly activities including: Working together to create your family tree, Being interviewed by your grandchildren, helping your grandchildren write a postcard to their family, commemorating the day by making a scrapbook page together having a family photo taken in front of Henry Flagler’s Railcar No. 91. all while bonding, sharing, and making timeless memories.

No matter what, the best Grandparents Day activity involves you and your grandparents together, celebrating your family and each other. They play a vital role in families, and this is a day that we can appreciate all the joy and wisdom that grandparents bring to our lives.

Location: Location: The Flagler Museum, One Whitehall Way, Palm Beach, FL 33480
Date: Sun, Sept 9, 2018
Time: 3 – 5pm
Tel: 561-655-2833
flaglermuseum.us
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: thepalmbeaches.com

There’s only a few more weeks for the whole family to appreciate the delightful and amusing summer long exhibition at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Garden. The Four Footed & Fanciful Art Exhibit showcases the work of three artists who create whimsical animal creatures.

Take a walk though the imagination of artists Adonna Khare, Cindy Burkett and Don Nedobeck and enjoy the fanciful creatures they capture.

The exhibit features the artistic talents of California artist Adonna Khare, who creates large scale pieces using a carbon pencil. She was the winner of a $200,000 People’s Choice prize at Art Prize.  Cindy Burkett, from New Smyrna Beach, creates intricate collages from recycled magazines and other materials for her collages that draw viewers in to find their surprising secrets and Don Nedobeck, a DeLand artist who creates fun animals, especially big fluffy cats, that he calls “caricatures in watercolor” and he has produced three children’s books.                                  “Cats Eyes” collage by Cindy Burkett

Hurry in because the exhibit only runs through Sept. 9.  Admission is free with a $2 per person suggested donation.

“Ornate Cat and Bert” Watercolor and ink by Don Nedobeck

Location: Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Garden, 78 East Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL 32176
Date – until Sept 9, 2018
Time: Mon – Fri 10am – 4pm, Sat & Sun noon- 4pm
Tel: 386-676-3347
ormondartmuseum.org
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: daytonabeach.com

The Miami Beach Kizomba Festival (MBKF) marks its 5th year of bringing people together from across the globe to celebrate African culture, music and dance.

Kizomba is a slow, sensual dance and musical genre originating in Angola in 1984, a more modern music genre mixed with African rhythm and usually sung in Portuguese.  Kizomba means “party” in Kimbundu, and that is just what you are going to get at this festival.

Not to mention outstanding workshops, world-class dance instruction and lessons, unforgettable music concerts, live musicians and performing artists, superstar DJ’s  and sunrise beach parties, night parties, and pool parties.

MBKF takes place at the iconic Eden Roc Hotel, August 22-27, with live performances by Yola Semedo and Jennifer Dias. You can choose between a Party Pass, Weekend Pass or Full pass. If you like dancing, join the celebration at the Miami Beach Kizomba Festival, a great atmosphere of people from all over the world partying all night under one roof.

For Tickets:  Buy Now

Location: Eden Roc Miami, 4525 Collins Ave, Miami, FL 33140
Dates: Wed, Aug 22 – Mon, Aug 27.  2018
Time: various – see schedule
Tel: 914-226-9554
thembkf.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: miamiandbeaches.com

Love ocean sports? Why not soak up the beach vibe as Daytona Beach hosts the Pan American Masters Championship – the largest ocean swim competition to be held in Daytona Beach to date.

Swimmers from all over the world – from youth to adult and novice to Olympian – will descend upon the white sand beaches and the inviting waters of Daytona Beach to compete in the Open Water (1.5K and 5K).

Starting and finishing at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, check out the map and schedule for the best vantage points along the coast to watch the event. Admission FREE.

Discover Daytona Beach, where you have a 500-foot sandy backdrop to unplug, unwind and reconnect with one another.

Location: Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, 100 North Atlantic Avenue Daytona Beach, FL 32118
Date: Sun, Aug 5, 2018
Time: Starting at 7am
2018panammasters.com
For Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: daytonabeach.com

Professional and amateur anglers and those looking for a fun, family event gather for The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament (GJKT), a contest fishing for king mackerel that spans six days every July in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, known as one of the largest kingfish tournaments in the Southeast,  is now entering its 38th year and goes way beyond the tournament itself. In addition to the General Tournament, this fishing extravaganza also includes a Junior Angler Offshore Tournament,  live entertainment, food festival, and more.

The event benefits Jacksonville Marine Charities, an organization that has proudly made an impact over the years for the local community and its economy. The grand tournament prizing structure grants cash prizes for 10 places with 1st Place Big Fish prize valued at over $86,000.

Location: Jim King Park & Boat Ramp at Sister Creek, Jacksonville, 32226
Dates: Jul 16 – 21, 2018
Time: Various – see schedule above
Tel: 904-251-3011
kingfishtournament.com
For Regional Accommodations, Rstaurants & Attractions: visitjacksonville.com

Join Anastasia Watersports and Marineland Dolphin Adventure for a fun-filled interpretive Dolphin Paddle on Salt Run at Anastasia State Park.

The park’s estuarine tidal marsh is teeming with plant and animal life . Learn about the biosphere and natural habitats, hop into a kayak, paddle onto Salt Run, and keep an eye for birds, turtles, manatees and especially dolphins.

Staff will provide illuminating details about the ecosystem and the myriad wildlife that inhabit it.  A dolphin expert from Marineland, will fill guests in on fascinating facts about the dolphins that are born, breed and thrive in this waterway.

The event will start with 30 minutes of classroom discussion followed by 90 minutes of paddling.  Come out and enjoy real, undiscovered Florida. Program fee: $40/person, includes boat rental. Park admission fees: ($8.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle.  email, info@anastasiawatersports.com to make a reservation.

This informative event is Family-Friendly.

Location: Anastasia State Park,  300 Anastasia Park Road, St. Augustine, FL 32080
Date: Sat, June 16, 2018
Time: 9am – 11am
Tel: 904-460-9111
floridastateparks.org/park-events/Anastasia
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: floridashistoriccoast.com

Take a Sunset Kayak Tour at Sebastian Inlet State Park for a memorable exploration the Indian River Lagoon, home to brown and white pelicans, herons, egrets, osprey, bottle-nosed dolphin and manatee. 

Or maybe you’d prefer the Full Moon Kayak Tours,  available on June 29, June 30,July 27, 28 and Aug 25. Under the light of the full moon, join an adventure, glow sticks in hand, through the grass flats and explore the Indian River Lagoon. After the tour, relax and enjoy Smore’s and refreshments at the Marina.

Included in these tours: a kayak or paddle-board, safety vests and safety instructions.

Location: BG’s Bayside and Marina, 9502 S. Hwy A1A
Melbourne Beach Florida, 32951 – Located inside Sebastian Inlet State Park
Date: Sunset Tours: weekly – Sun, Wed, Thur, Fri, and Sat, Full Moon – usually only once a month,  Please check schedule
Time: Sunset Tours – 7pm, Full Moon – 7:30pm
Tel: 321-724-5424
bgsurfsidegrillandadventures.com/sunset-tours
Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: visitspacecoast.com