As the weather begins to cool and fall approaches, Florida continues to shine as an ideal vacation destination � anytime of the year. The YPB&R/Yankelovich Partners 2004 National Leisure Travel Monitor reports Florida is the number one destination leisure travelers are interested in visiting within the next two years.

�Florida is open for business,� says Bud Nocera, president and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA, the state�s official source for travel planning. �Hurricane Charlie affected a small portion of the state and more than 90 percent of the state is welcoming visitors.�

Following are a few Florida vacation ideas for that last-minute summer or fall getaway.

Florida Travelers Find a Gas Tax Break

An eight cents per gallon tax break at the gas pump throughout the month of August continues to allow travelers to go home with a little more change in their pockets. For a few more days, take advantage of the opportunity to fill up for less. To learn about all of the places that you can �Travel on a Tankful,� visit www.VISITFLORIDA.com.

Scenic Routes

Explore a road less-traveled by exploring any of the nine scenic highways in Florida. Wherever your vacation takes you, a scenic highway is not far away. To request a free Worth the Drive guidebook, call 1-888-7-FLAUSA (352872).

Sizzlin� Celebrations

Florida�s festivals ensure fun and excitement for the whole family. Whether it�s the Caladium Festival in Lake Placid or the Fais-Dais-Dos Cajun Festival in Melbourne, now is a great time to engage in fun Florida festivals. Visit the �Events� section of www.VISITFLORIDA.com for more information.

A Little Taste

Florida is home to several of the most exclusive restaurants and dinner theaters and is also home to six fine culinary schools, offering a great education in a beautiful setting for those who would like to cook that fabulous food for themselves. In a state as culturally diverse as Florida, the food promises to be just as interesting as the people. For dining options, visit the �Interests� section of www.VISITFLORIDA.com.

Cool Spots

The idea of a Florida vacation usually evokes thoughts of spending time in the sun at outdoor destinations such as theme parks and beaches. For a �cool� Florida vacation, consider checking out what Florida has to offer indoors at theaters, world-class museums and performing arts centers in communities across the state. www.culturallyflorida.org

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Planning to run a story about Florida or want to arrange an interview � we would like to know! Contact Betsy Couch, VISIT FLORIDA�s Public Relations Representative, at (850) 488-5607 ext. 302 or betsyc@VISITFLORIDA.org. Visit media.VISITFLORIDA.org for additional Florida media information.

The state�s official source for travel planning, VISIT FLORIDA was created by the Florida Legislature in 1996 as the operating company for the Florida Commission on Tourism, a private/public partnership. VISIT FLORIDA is a premier sales and marketing organization that promotes tourism to Florida through innovative sales, advertising, promotions, public relations and visitor services programs both domestically and internationally. Working with the worlds� major travel writers, media and broadcasters to produce print and broadcast paid and earned media, VISIT FLORIDA programs reach over two billion potential visitors each year. VISIT FLORIDA maintains domestic offices in Tallahassee, New York and Chicago and has international offices in Germany, London, Paris, Montreal, Toronto and a dedicated office in Miami serving Latin America.

VISIT FLORIDA has more than 3,500 tourism industry Partners and four major strategic alliances, with Alamo Rent A Car, American Express Travel Related Services, AirTran Airways, and the Florida Hotel & Motel Association. It also operates the state�s five Official Florida Welcome Centers at I-10 in Pensacola, U.S. 231 in Campbellton, I-75 in Jennings, I-95 in Yulee and in the Florida State Capitol building. According to VISIT FLORIDA preliminary estimates, 2003 was an all-time record year with 74.5 million visitors, maintaining Florida as one of the top travel destinations in the world. Florida tourism generates nearly $50 billion in economic impact each year. To learn more about VISIT FLORIDA, visit our media section at media.VISITFLORIDA.org. To view the consumer web site, please visit www.VISITFLORIDA.com.

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Betsy Couch Public Relations Representative VISIT FLORIDA T: (850) 488-5607 ext. 302 F: (850) 224-2938 Consumer site: www.flausa.com Media site: media.VISITFLORIDA.org betsyc@VISITFLORIDA.org (*Note* - new e-mail address) "The State's Official Source for Travel Planning"

Recently voted "Most Media Friendly State Tourism Bureau� by the North American Travel Journalist Association.