What better way to get to know Florida than to take a road trip. A great place to start is Fort Myers. If you are there in March or April, you might want to fit in a preseason Twins game. However, any other time of the year, make sure you stop at the wonderful beaches in the area. Fort Myers, Tripton, Captiva, and Sanibel beaches are all beautiful. If you like to shop and beach, head for Fort Myers Beach. They have a fun strip of shops and restaurants close by. If you love golf, get out an hit a few at one of the many courses around.

Next stop is Bonita Springs. This is just a few miles South of Fort Myers. You'll find sugar sand and shells along the ocean. Don't forget to catch a dolphin cruise.

A little farther South is Naples. This luxury town is just right for those of you that want an upscale vacation. After checking in at your hotel, take an electric trolley to Naples’ Fifth Avenue South where there’s plenty of shopping. Also be sure to take time to visit Norman Love Confections’ Naples Chocolate and Dessert Salon at 3747 Tamiami Trail North.

The drive from Naples to Miami is 195 miles. A beautiful route, but slow to see old Florida, The Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) goes to Big Cypress National Preserve (check out the alligators) and Everglades National Park. Biscayne National Park is a must for boating, fishing and snorkeling before heading deep into Miami for some good food and pampering.
There is a brand new SLS Brickell, close to downtown Miami and the Design district. It has three pools on a deck where there are eight cabanas and al fresco dining. Shopping at Mary Brickell Village or Brickell City Centre is a must.
If you want to get into Miami culture, the Conrad Miami just launched a “1 / 3 / 5” program that immerses travelers in local settings for one, three or five hours. Activities include stand-up paddle boarding, diving, museum tours, boating and more. This hotel is also close to the new Brickell City Centre.
Time now to head down to Key West and the Casa Marina.
The 150-mile route from Miami to Key West is an iconic drive; it’s always scenic and sometimes slow since you’re traveling on a two-lane highway. But there are plenty of places to stop to imbibe, shop or dine, and if you catch it in time you might get some amazing sunset views.
Key West is lower key than Fort Myers and just a fun place to visit. The Casa Marina has a lot to offer, but if you want to take it up a notch go next door to its sister hotel, The Reach, for Spencer’s by the Sea, where you can book private beach dining.
If you don't like road trips, you can take the Key West Express Boat from Fort Myers. The cost of an adult round trip ticket is $155. Enjoy the sun deck or have lunch in the galley. The boat holds 400 people and has 2 climate controlled cabins. Check out www.KeyWestExpress.US for more information. It is recommended that you book your trip at least 8 days in advance. It departs at 8:30 AM from Ft. Myers Beach. Parking at Ft. Myers Beach is $13/day and is free at the Marco Island location. Boat time ranges between 3 and 31/2 hours depending on which port you leave from. There are several hotels close to the port in Key West.

So, whether you plan to drive through Southern Florida, or take a boat, you'll have a great time. This trip offers an alternative to a Bahama's cruise. You still have plenty of fun in the sun, but less time on the water.

Where do you go if you're retired and love the beach? Lots of people opt for Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, or Naples, Florida. You really can't beat the beaches, biking, Twins training camp, and dolphin cruises. You are close enough to the Ft. Lauderdale so that you can drive and catch an Ocean Cruise. They also have boats that have three hour rides to the Florida Keys.

First, lets talk about the beaches. The white sugar sand beaches are phenomenal. I walked onto Times Square at Ft Myers Beach and looked at the ocean and saw a multitude of colored umbrellas with retirees under them. It was like a college reunion. People were relaxing, fishing, shelling, and soaking up some good old sun. The residents of Florida have a golden sheen. It was a site for sore eyes. The shops and restaurants along the beach were numerous. You can find anything from the DQ to a nice seafood restaurant, but all of them seemed to be casual. They are really set up for tourists as they have an activity station in the middle of the square. I got a brochure that gave me prices for land tours, fly boards, pirate cruise, dolphin tours, jet skis, parasailing, kayaks, paddle boards, Everglade tours, boat rentals, deep sea fishing, Segway tours, banana boats, and the Key West Express.

I was there in the middle of January and the temperature was 80 degrees. This is about 5 degrees higher than normal, but what a wonderful break from Minnesota weather.

Onto Tarpon Bay Beach. This beach is a little quieter. It has some of the best shelling around. I got my bag and strolled up and down the beach with quite a few others looking for treasures. I've gotten very picky with shells, but still found quite a few gems. After our excursion I picked up a few brochures that had pictures of all the shells from the area. They even have a Shell Museum. Not far from the beach is the JN Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. There is a variety animals and birds in the refuge. It is home to over 270 bird species. You can enjoy the refuge on your own or take a narrated tram. The refuge is more than 6400 acres, so I suggest the tram for first timers. I saw a couple of bike rental shops on our drive. It is a great way to soak up the sun and get some exercise.

Our next stop was Captiva Island where we took a 1 ½ hour Dolphin Cruise. The boat left at 4:00 from Captiva South Seas Plantation. We were on a small boat that had a canopy, but they also have a double deck boat that holds about 200 people. We saw a dolphin right as we were leaving the marina. As we were cruising, we saw several dolphins and a couple of golden stingrays as well as a plethora of birds including an eagle and osprey. Our guide told us to look for manatees, but we didn't see any. After our cruise, we headed to Doc Ford's restaurant. I was happy that we could wear shorts and be in a casual environment and still have great food. My dish was a seafood paella. It was to die for. It has a great variety of seafood and sausage with just the right amount of spice.

Next on the list is Bonita Springs Beach. This is another sugar sand beach with lots of shells. I saw more Florida Conch shells at this beach than at the others. There were also sandpipers, pelicans, and ibis giving us a show. This is a much quieter beach, but easy to get to with a great view of the sunset.
There seems to be a little less traffic in Bonita Springs than in Fort Myers. After being on the beach, we opted for dinner at Iguana Mia. I loved their Mexican Food. It was in a strip mall, right off of Bonita Beach Road. I got a chance to do some shopping as well. I wished I was there on Friday, Saturday or Sunday for the Flea Market. I've been before and you can find some great deals. It was too late to go to the Race Track, but it is right off of Bonita Beach Road.

I know I could have seen some great entertainment, but you just can't do everything. People recommended Doc Fords in Fort Myers for dancing to Deb and the Dynamics. They play two days per week including Sundays from 1 to 5. Find the band's schedule on Debandthedynamics.net. In Captiva there is the Bubble Room restaurant which is a legend on the island as well as Key Lime Bistro and The Mucky Duck. The Mucky Duck is on the ocean and has great food, sunsets, and music.

The fun in the sun was great, but the traffic in Fort Myers is heavy. Be sure to plan extra time to get to Twins Spring Training Camp. However, it was easy to get to the small airport in Fort Myers and return my car rental. All in all, I'd highly recommend a trip to this area. Sun Country and Southwest both fly into Fort Myers from Minnesota, and you can get some very reasonably priced airfare. If you get tired of those beaches, just take a boat to Key West. What more could a person ask for.

Spring has arrived early at Walt Disney World® Resort. So, we’re saying goodbye to winter and sharing a closer look at experiences that will usher in the season like never before at our parks – including:

• NEW! Epcot® International Festival of the Arts - A brand-new spring festival combining visual, culinary and performing arts for six colorful weekends beginning Jan. 13, 2017
• “Once Upon a Time” at Magic Kingdom® Park – Our latest projection show that brings Cinderella Castle to life with projections of beloved Disney scenes and characters
• Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park – Hard-ticket event allowing you quick access to 25 attractions and experiences. .
  
• Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival – Our spring celebration returns with 90 days of bright blooms and whimsical creations March 1-May 29, 2017
• NEW! Miss Adventure Falls – A brand-new family-style raft attraction at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park will be one of the longest Disney water park experiences as it immerses your Clients in a high-seas rafting adventure

Check-out this article for more details on these exciting Spring experiences.

Video: The Main Street Electrical Parade Returns to Disneyland Park January 20
The lights, music and fun of this treasured parade will once again light up Main Street USA with its timeless happiness. But only for a limited time —Jan. 20-June 18, 2017.
From the moment it made its debut back in 1972, this Parade was an instant classic, unlike any that came before. As day turns to night, anticipation turns to excitement as the parade’s thousands of sparkling lights and distinctive, unforgettable signature song – “Baroque Hoedown” – makes its way down Main Street USA and right into the hearts of millions of guests. With favorites like Cinderella’s Carriage, Pete’s Dragon and, of course, Mickey Mouse, it’s easy to see why this shimmering celebration has been beloved for decades.
So, whether you are seeing the Main Street Electrical Parade for the first or five hundredth time, make sure they don’t miss this rare and wonderful opportunity to experience this storied icon from Disneyland® history before it goes away. 

Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival Returns March 10-April 16 with Additional Festival Marketplaces and More
The Disney California Adventure® Food & Wine Festival, the popular culinary celebration at Disneyland® Resort, returns daily March 10-April 16, 2017!
Each day, your are invited to celebrate some of the best of delicious California cuisine throughout Disney California Adventure Park. And this year, there will be even more Festival Marketplaces to enjoy, as well as enhanced Festival-inspired menus at existing restaurants and eateries, where your Clients can sip and savor delicious flavors from across the Golden State. Guests will also enjoy culinary experiences created for the whole family, including a variety of food, beverage and lifestyle seminars, demonstrations and presentations.

Plus, the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival will feature ticketed events, such as culinary demonstrations, beer, wine and spirit seminars, premium dining events and demonstrations by celebrity chefs such as Guy Fieri, Jamie Deen, Robert Irvine, Duff Goldman, Emily Ellyn, Keegan Gerhard and more. Tickets for these experiences will be available beginning Feb. 1, 2017.
Stay tuned to Disney Travel News for more details!
Disney ‘Dine-on-the-Go’ Debuts January 12 in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort
When you visit Magic Kingdom® Park at Walt Disney World® Resort for the day Jan. 12-Feb. 22, 2017,you can purchase a Disney Dine-on-the-Go one-day, quick-service offering that includes one lunch quick-service entrée and one non-alcoholic beverage that’s good until 4 p.m., and one dinner quick-service entrée and one non-alcoholic beverage that’s good after 4 p.m. (Dessert is not included).

Participating restaurant locations include Casey’s Corner, Columbia Harbour House, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café, Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe and Pinocchio Village Haus.
Valid park admission is required to utilize the certificates. The price is $29 for adults and $12 for ages 3-9. Disney Dine-on-the-Go is available only at Magic Kingdom Park Vacation Planning booths. 

CLEAR is a new airport technology that lets travelers jump to the head of security queues, using fingerprint and iris scans to confirm the passengers identity. Now 11 different airports in the US: Orlando, Denver, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston Bush, San Antonio, Los Vegas, and San Fran, have the technology with it being added to LA, JFK, Atlanta, and LaGuardia this year.

Process
People enrolled in CLEAR have their own separate lane for identity verification where fingerprints and eye scans are done at a kiosk rather than with a TSA agent. After your identity is checked, then you go to security screening, bypassing everyone waiting in line.

If you are enrolled in TSA Precheck, you'll be taken directly to the PreCheck line. Children less than 18 can use CLEAR free when traveling with a paid member.

Enrollment
To use CLEAR you must first enroll online, then visit an airport location where your identity is verified and your bio-metrics recorded. You can do this quickly at a CLEAR location with no appointment, and your access card is then shipped to you within five days.

Keep in mind CLEAR is not a substitute for TSA PreCheck. You still have to go through regular security even if you have CLEAR unless you also are a PreCheck Member.

CLEAR works with any airline and PreCheck only works with participating ones. They do not work with budget airlines such as Frontier, Spirit, or Allegiant, or foreign carriers except Air Canada.

Fees
CLEAR membership is $179/year with an additional $50/ family member. Also the VISA Signature Program offers six months of free CLEAR and $60 off the $179 annual rate when you renew your membership. Delta Sky Miles membership reduces it to between $79 and $99/yr.

CLEAR is more expensive than PreCheck which is $85 for 5 years and it is only available at a limited number of airports. But it may become more available as other technology products have. In only a few years the technology to make this happened has matured.http://www.PetersonTravelPros.com

One of the most fun activities I did with my grand-kids this year was to go to Gatorland in Orlando.

It is a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve, Gatorland is an affordable family attraction that lets guests see thousands of real alligators and crocodiles—including four very rare leucistic (white) alligators up close. The park also features a free-flight aviary, a petting zoo, a zipline ride, rookie gator wrestling, “trainer for a day” gator training lessons, live shows and more. Hours are 10 to 5 daily rain or shine. They have three different shows done several times a day.
The first show we went to was Gator Wrestling. The experts show us how to lasso a gator. They man handle them, but go on to explain that they have several years of experience. They open the gators mouth so we can see their teeth, but that is only for a second or two. When the show is over, you can sit on the back of the gator for $5.00. That does not include the price of the picture. However, mom and dad can stand outside the gate and take your picture. That is if they are really fast. This was a quick show and if you sit on the sides, you have a hard time seeing the stunts the training is performing. Try to sit on the side facing the front of the stage.
The second show was Upclose Encounters. I really liked the handlers that put on the show. They added a lot of humor. There were several boxes on stage with names and the audience had to pick the boxes to open. People were picked from the audience to help show off the animals. This was my second favorite show. Again, you could pay $5 to hold the animals after the show.
My favorite show, was Jumparoo. Bubba and Cooter fed the gators. They held the food high to make them jump. They had a contest between the two of them to see whose gator would jump the highest.
Between shows we had a great time meandering through the Swamp Walk. You could stop and watch all the birds and gators. I have never seen so many herons, egrets, and other birds in one place. You can walk all the way from the entrance to Flamingo Island, or you can take a small, slow train. We took the train on the way, but walked back. I recommend just walking. We did not see much on the train ride.
Other parts of the park included bobcats, large boas, pythons, giant tortoises, panthers, raccoon, several birds and emus. They also have a splash pad and playground.
It is definitely worth the price of $27 for ages 13 and up and $19 for 3 to 12. There is also a $2.50 coupon on their website.
Plan ahead, as there was a line when we got there. There are basically two areas for food and the one by the Gator Wrestling show was packed. The entrance area was less crowded, but they did not have the options of hamburgers and fries. This is a full day activity. My grand-kids range in age from 5 to 12 and they all loved it. Some had their pictures taken with the gator and some with the large boas.
We didn't do the zip lining, but it looked like a lot of fun.
Zip lining:
Launch from heights of up to 65 feet

• Soar across five intense zip lines ranging in length from 230 feet to more than 500 feet, and carefully cross a swinging bridge over the park's main walkway.
  
• Fly at speeds near 30 miles per hour over alligators and crocodiles. Equipment (helmet, gloves and harness) provided.
  

Price is $69, but includes the price of entrance into the park, which is normally $27 for adults 13 and over and $19 for 3 to 12 year olds. It is a two hour experience that includes a safety lesson.
Reservations are needed for this activity. It was voted best zip line in the USA by AOL travel.
Gatorland also has hotel packages, which seem quite reasonable, especially if you have a lot of kids.
I highly recommend this activity.