Dawn's Florida Travel Blog

Tropical Storm Fay has spared Tampa Bay, but communities to the south and central portions of the state are being affected by the storm. Much of Florida will is under a Tropical Storm Warning with heavy rains, local flooding and tornadoes possible. While I usually suggest things to do when it rains, for your safety, everyone should stay off the roadways. Many attractions are closed today (Tuesday, August 19):

• Busch Gardens and Adventure Island in Tampa
• Kennedy Space Center and Visitor Complex
• Miami Seaquarium
• Miami Art Museum
• Historical Museum of Southern Florida in Miami
• Museum of Contemporary Art in Miami
• Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale
• Dry Tortugas National Park
• Everglades National Park
• Biscayne National Park

Residents and visitors should continue to monitor local news for additional storm information and closings.

The only thing certain about Tropical Storm Fay is her unpredictability. Although her top sustained winds are just 50 m.p.h., some forecasters believe she has a good chance of becoming a hurricane over the next 24-36 hours. That is particularly worrisome if she stays on a projected path toward Tampa Bay, a very heavily populated area, but even her path could easily change over the next 24 hours.

A Tropical Storm Warning was issued earlier and remains in effect for the Florida Keys from Craig Key westward to the Dry Tortugas, including Florida Bay. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Beginning early this morning, visitors to the Florida Keys were asked to evacuate the islands. Shelters for residents will begin opening at 7:00 p.m. this evening.

The Hurricane Watch first issued earlier today for Florida's West Coast has been extended. The affected areas include the Florida Keys from south of Ocean Reef to Key West, including the Dry Tortugas and Florida Bay and along the Florida mainland from Card Sound Bridge westward to Tarpon Springs. A "watch" means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 36 hours.

Everyone from South Florida through Central Florida should be completing their hurricane plans. If you haven't started, then you need to do so right away!

• Hurricane 101
• Hurricane Preparations
• What To Do During and After a Hurricane

Check these news sources for excellent up-to-date storm information:

• National Hurricane Center
• South Florida Sun-Sentinel
• OrlandoSentinel.com Interactive Map

^{Photo © Dawn Henthorn, licensed to About.com}

The future is uncertain for newly formed Tropical Storm Fay. Will it intensify into a hurricane... or will it remain just a tropical storm? Is it likely to affect Florida's East Coast... or West Coast? While forecasters are not certain about Fay's path, they are certain about one thing — those living in or visiting Florida should begin to make preparations NOW! The storm could affect weather in the Florida Keys and South Florida as early as Monday and the rest of the state the middle of the week. So, although there hasn't been an official storm warning posted for Florida, preparations should begin this weekend.

• Hurricane 101
• Hurricane Preparations
• What To Do During and After a Hurricane

Check these news sources for excellent up-to-date storm information:

• National Hurricane Center
• South Florida Sun-Sentinel
• OrlandoSentinel.com Interactive Map

^{Photo © NASA}

You wouldn't be singing Itsy-Bitsy Spider if you came across this spider in the woods — it was as big as my hand. My daughter spied the colorful specimen last month on the River Rapids Trail at Hillsborough River State Park. Had she been able to get a closer picture of the arachnid, it might have made an interesting entry in the 2008 Florida State Park Photo Contest. The contest, open to photographers 13 years of age or older, is a chance for the public to showcase their skills behind the camera and a way for the state to promote Florida's award-winning state parks. Monthly contest winners are awarded the Florida State Parks... the Real Florida Passport, and will be entered into the annual contest. The annual photo contest winner will enjoy a two-night stay at a cabin in any Florida State Park of their choice that offers cabin accommodations.

Photographers have to register in advance and follow contest rules.

If you've been following my summer state park series, you know just how many photo opportunities abound in Florida's state parks — I've taken hundreds of photos over the summer of some of the state parks we've visited. While my photos may never win any awards, it has been fun to share my experiences with all of you. If you've missed some of the series, catch up on the photos by taking the links below:

• Caladesi Island State Park
• Fort Clinch
• Gamble Plantation Historic State Park
• Hillsborough River State Park
• Honeymoon Island State Park
• Skyway Fishing Pier State Park
• Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center
• Ybor City Museum State Park

^{Photo © Beth Hunt}

If you're following our weekly Florida State Parks' series this summer, you'll get a bonus this week as we take a look at all ten of the state parks located in the Florida Keys. Some of the finest examples of Florida's award-winning state parks are located there, and they are interesting because they encompass some of the most beautiful and environmentally sensitive land in America — some of it under water!

Want to learn more? Follow these links:

• Florida Keys' State Parks
• Florida Keys FAQs
• Florida Keys Photos - New!
• Best of Key West

^{Photo © Bob Care/Florida Keys News Bureau}

If you watch The Price Is Right, there is a pricing game called "That's Too Much!" Contestants normally play for a large prize, such as a car. They are shown various ascending prices and when they think the amount is just over the cost of the prize, they are to yell "That's too much!" Well, I'm yelling "That's too much!" to Disney World's ticket price hike.

At a time when vacationers are being slammed with higher than ever airline and gas prices, the cost of having fun just got higher too. Disney World's newest ticket prices went quietly into effect Sunday, August 3. While the base one-day ticket is going up just $4.00, that price is now a hefty $75.00 per day for those age 10 and up! While the 'no expiration' feature remained unchanged, if you want to visit more than one park per day... the "park hopper" feature jumped $5.00. Oh, and before you ever enter the theme parks, it will cost you $12.00 to park your car!

Of course, there are three ways that help offset these high prices:

• Buy multi-day base tickets — the more days you buy, the cheaper the per day cost (7-day tickets are just $32.57 per day — 10-day tickets are just $23.70 per day).
• Save parking fee by staying at a Disney on-property hotel and use the free transportation system.
• Bring your own stroller (saving $15 per day).

Still, I'm asking, "When will Florida's visitors begin to say, 'That's too much!' and go elsewhere?" If you've got an opinion about the rising cost of visiting theme parks, leave a comment below.

• Disney World Ticket Information
• Disney World Trip Planning Guide

Frequently, thunderstorms bring extremely heavy rainfall in Florida during this time of the year causing dangerous driving conditions. According to AAA, hard rain can limit visibility and traction. Florida's roads can be dangerous enough, but combine them with heavy rain (like this downpour we were caught in on I-4 in Orlando) or any number of other driving hazards and it could spell disaster. Would you know what to do if you were caught in a heavy downpour? Learn how to keep yourself and your family safe.

Do you know the answers to these questions about driving in Florida?

• Do you know what Florida's "Move Over" law means?
• Do you know what information you'll get by calling 511?
• In an emergency, do you know how to call the Florida Highway Patrol from your cell phone?
• Do you know what SunPass is?

This is important information that everyone driving in Florida should know. Find the answers to these questions and learn more about driving hazards in my Florida Driving Guide.

^{Photo © Dawn Henthorn, licensed to About.com}

Pack your beach bag... this week's Florida State Parks' series is bound for the No. 1 beach in America — Caladesi Island State Park. Interestingly, getting there takes us through another state park — Honeymoon Island State Park — and a ride on a ferry. What are you waiting for? You've got a lot to explore this week!

• Caladesi Island State Park
• Caladesi Island Photo Tour
• Honeymoon Island State Park
• Honeymoon Island Photo Tour

^{Photo of Caladesi Island © Dawn Henthorn, licensed to About.com}

After the Second Seminole War, in 1843, Major Robert Gamble took advantage of the Armed Occupation Act and claimed 160 acres along the Manatee River to establish a sugar plantation. It took six long years to build his mansion, but it still stands today as the oldest building in Manatee County and the only surviving antebellum mansion in South Florida. While the mansion survived, Gamble couldn't recover from the plantation's crop losses and falling sugar prices. He sold the estate and returned to Tallahassee. Eventually a portion of the land and the mansion was deeded to the State of Florida, where today it is part of Florida's state park system and open for tours.

• Gamble Plantation Historic State Park Review
• Gamble Plantation State Park Photo Tour

If you haven't been keeping up with this summer's Florida State Park series, "Nature's Theme Parks," take a look at the park's that have been covered so far: Amelia Island State Park, Fort Clinch State Park, Hillsborough River State Park, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Skyway Fishing Pier State Park, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park and Ybor City Museum State Park.

^{Photo © Dawn Henthorn, licensed to About.com}

Seven days, seven attractions and one unbeatable price add up to an incredible vacation value for Florida residents! Seven attractions and museums in Central Florida's Polk County have teamed up to help Florida residents s-t-r-e-t-c-h their vacation dollars, giving them unlimited visits for seven consecutive days to some of Central Florida's most popular attractions, including Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, Fantasy of Flight and Bok Tower Gardens. In addition you will have seven days of unlimited access to Explorations V Children's Museum, Florida Air Museum, Polk Museum of Art and the Water Ski Hall of Fame and Museum.

The Central Florida Play Pass is just $69.95 (plus tax) for adults and $39.95 (plus tax) for children (ages 3-9). You can purchase the Central Florida Play Pass online at www.VisitCentralFlorida.org/sc or by calling 1-800-828-7655 or visiting Central Florida's official information center, located 1/2 mile south of Interstate 4 (Exit 55) on Highway 27. Also, AAA members can save an additional $5 off adult passes and $2 off children's passes online or stopping by any AAA office. Offer ends September 30, 2008.

^{Photo of Cypress Gardens © Dawn Henthorn, licensed to About.com}