Florida Travel: What You Need To Know for 2022

Mickey Mouse is popping 50!

Nicely, OK, not Mickey himself because the venerable mouse was first drawn by Walt Disney again in 1928.

However one in all Mickey’s properties world wide, Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., is having its Fiftieth birthday all through the whole lot of 2022 after kicking it off in October of 2021.

It’s simply one in all many celebrations, occasions and happenings so that you can learn about this yr in Florida.

Turn out to be a Florida Specialist As we speak

A lot of this was mentioned finally week’s annual Florida Huddle – the official journey commerce present for the state sponsored by Go to Florida – together with a educated dialogue about guiding disabled guests via Florida and what journey brokers must know.

High Occasions

We already talked about Walt Disney World’s Fiftieth-anniversary celebration, and it guarantees to be a yr of gala extravaganzas befitting the WDW approach.

That’s not all, nevertheless, relating to the theme parks. SeaWorld Orlando is about to open the Ice Breaker curler coaster on February 18. Ice Breaker will grow to be the theme park’s first launch coaster and boast 4 launches.

Should you’re trying to go to Common Orlando, e book by February 9 for journey via Could 22 and get a spectacular deal – 5 days, 5 nights and tickets to the parks for $89 per particular person per night time primarily based on a household of 4.

Key West is principally a celebration each night time, however right here’s an additional particular one. From March 19-30, town will have fun the 2 hundredth anniversary of the primary settlement in Key West.

In Plant Metropolis, the annual Strawberry Pageant will likely be held from March 3-13. That is an unimaginable time, as a lot for the scrumptious strawberries as for the terrific concert events and different occasions that draw half one million guests yearly when there’s not a worldwide virus to take care of.

Up your mental recreation on the Sunshine State E-book Pageant in Gainesville on April 9 and 10. There may be free admission, and greater than 100 authors will likely be in attendance so that you can additionally corral an autograph or three.

Nation superstars Morgan Wallen, Jason Aldean, Ashley McBride and extra will headline this yr’s Nation Thunder from October 21-23 at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee.

An Accessible State

Of the various issues that Go to Florida prides itself on is its plethora of disabled entry occasions throughout the state.

Florida has taken the lead within the U.S. with extra than simply complying with the Individuals with Disabilities Act (ADA). The state and its tourism officers have made a powerful dedication to accessibility for locals and vacationers alike – comparable to ensuring there are Mobimats on the seashores at Amelia Island, Fort Lauderdale, Franklin County, Pensacola and lots of others, decreasing the plain hurdles for wheelchair-bound seashore lovers.

The J.N. “Ding” Darling Nationwide Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island expanded its accessibility initiatives to incorporate a recognizing scope for colorblind guests.

Silver Springs State Park just lately added a model new, accessible boat to its fleet of glass-bottom boats to discover the Silver Springs, close to Ocala. The benches on this new boat carry up and down, making it accessible for wheelchairs.

For journey brokers, good recommendation comes from Jamie Tantillo, proprietor of Adventures by Jamie journey company in Tampa, a full-service company that focuses on particular wants vacationers. Tantillo additionally serves because the accessibility liaison for Go to Tampa Bay.

“One of many greatest issues that I can share is it’s important to be OK with asking the exhausting questions,” she stated. “You won’t consider that whenever you’re reserving journey. Asking ‘How would you employ the restroom?’ is regular. Once you’re coping with anyone that has a mobility problem like I do, that could be a essential factor to know. Do they use a catheter? Can they only switch to the bathroom? Do they need assistance? It won’t appear comfy to you at first, however understanding all that info is crucial to assembly the wants of your consumer.”

Tantillo stated each case is completely different. Simply because one particular person is in a wheelchair doesn’t imply it’s the identical as one other particular person.

“Don’t assume we’re all alike,” she stated.

Underrated Gems

It’s not all seashores and theme parks, you understand.

Certain, the seashore is the massive draw particularly in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, the Keys, Daytona, Sanibel and Captiva on the west coast, and the Panhandle seashores.

Probably the most underrated, nevertheless – however actually nonetheless pretty recognized, thanks ‘I Dream of Jeannie – is Cocoa Seashore. Not solely is that this a number of the finest browsing on this planet as a number of browsing champion Kelly Slater can attest, nevertheless it additionally has the good Ron Jon Surf Store. It’s an ideal vacationer draw even if you happen to don’t surf. Uncover all of nature’s magnificence within the moonlight surrounded by bioluminescence on a kayak tour. And, oh yeah, there’s some little factor close by referred to as the Kennedy House Middle the place quite a few rocket launches have taken place as a part of America’s house program.

In Tampa, go swimming or paddling with manatees within the Crystal River, and cave diving in a prehistoric spring at Satan’s Den.

The Everglades Nationwide Park is celebrating its seventy fifth anniversary, and it’s far more than simply airboating. Discover actually tons of of species in addition to gators within the Everglades. Do some snorkeling and scuba diving round coral at John Pennekamp State Park, the primary undersea park within the U.S.

Sports activities

Little-known reality – the Nationwide Hockey League Stanley Cup champions the final two years have been the Tampa Lightning. Its Main League Baseball brethren, the Tampa Bay Rays, have made the playoffs in three consecutive seasons together with a World Sequence look in 2020. Their Nationwide Soccer League colleagues, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, gained the Tremendous Bowl in 2021.

Sports activities are big-time in Florida, and never simply within the so-called 4 main sports activities. NASCAR hosts three main races a yr on its 36-race schedule – one in Miami and two in Daytona Seashore, together with the Tremendous Bowl of auto racing, the Daytona 500 each February.

School soccer is monstrous, with identify packages such because the College of Florida, Florida State, Miami, UCF and extra. Highschool soccer video games are an enormous draw as nicely, as a number of the finest prep expertise within the nation resides in Florida.

There’s boating, paddling, browsing, tennis and so many different participatory sports activities for vacationers as nicely.