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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida’s history as a gateway to the Americas and its ongoing cultural diversity are drawing international attention as the state makes ready to commemorate its 500th anniversary in 2013.

Plan a road trip to discover anew the historical Land of Flowers, where visitors can discover the real fountains of youth, find the first legally free black community in America, and savor a Thanksgiving meal (pork, fish and garbanzo beans) that was celebrated 56 years before the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock.

Preview the real thing at VivaFlorida.org, a rich website created by VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s official source for  travel planning, and the Florida Department of State in preparation for the quincentennial of the landing of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon.

VivaFlorida.org showcases new, interactive content about the land inhabited for more than 12,000 years by Native Americans. Their many contributions are featured in one of the website’s seven heritage trails.

The other trails, all of which contain stories, videos, maps and event calendars, are Spanish Colonial, Black Heritage, Florida in the Civil War, Florida in World War II, Jewish Heritage, and Cuban Heritage. The site’s “Faces of Florida History” includes such characters as explorer Ponce de Leon, of course, author Zora Neale Hurston, WWII four-star Gen. Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr., Civil War hospital matron Mary Martha Reid, and Abiaka, a Seminole medicine man.

VivaFlorida.org also has an Insider, Patricia Pena, who will write regularly in her blog (in Spanish and in English) and will answer readers’ questions.

Officially launched in November 2011, VivaFlorida.org is the cornerstone of Viva Florida, a statewide commemoration of Florida’s role as a gateway to the Americas, then and now. Florida Gov. Rick Scott encourages all to delve into this historical event and explore the state’s rich past.

“Viva Florida 500 is a significant opportunity for our state,” Gov. Scott said. “It’s a chance to celebrate our diverse heritage and a chance to tell the world about our state, our people and our history.”

VivaFlorida.org also provides travel planning tools for today’s explorers in Florida, including videos of events and locations, tranquil beaches and waterways along the trails, and a section on “hot deals” at hotels, restaurants and attractions.

To learn more at Pow Wow, contact Laura Cassels, VISIT FLORIDA, in Media Marketplace at table 15. Mobile (85) 570-3143 or lcassels@VISITFLORIDA.org. Home office (850) 205-3839.