TALLAHASSEE, Fla. � Summer is just around the corner, and Florida is the ideal location to take a family vacation, romantic getaway or to hold a business convention. From historic downtowns and white sand beaches to luscious green golf courses and fun-filled attractions, Florida is the place to satisfy any agenda. (Listings are organized by city from north to south)

Festivals and Events

Pensacola- Partake on a journey to the 14th century with the re-enactment of Pensacola's surrender to Spanish explorer, Don Tristan. The Fiesta Celebration takes place June 2-10. An evening of musical entertainment will follow each re-enactment. (850) 433-6512. www.fiestafiveflags.com.

Amelia Island- One of the third largest events on the Southern Kingfish Association tournament trail, the Kingfish Tournament of Champions attracts top anglers to Amelia Island. Significant cash prizes are awarded to the number one angler, lady angler, and youth angler. This four-day event includes a Sunday fish fry and other festivities. www.nassaufishing.org.

Amelia Island- The start of summer on Amelia Island is marked by the return of the fourth annual Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival. The festival is hosted at a variety of local venues, ranging from historic buildings and outdoor settings to the elegance of the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. The festival has earned international recognition throughout the community of music lovers. www.ameliaislandchambermusic.org.

St. Augustine- Experience life in 1740 St. Augustine with Spanish soldiers, merchants, craftsmen, and family members in the Colonial Spanish Quarter at the Spanish Nightwatch. The day's events conclude with a Spanish torchlight through the historic district of the nation's oldest city. June 18th (904) 824-1004. www.staugustinegovernment.com.

Gainesville- Celebrate the legacy of David Levy Yulee and his 1850's Florida railroad during Yulee Railroad Days, June 3-5. There will be food, railroad races and reenactments. A bike relay will trace the railroads route from Fernandina to Cedar Key. www.yulerailroaddays.org.

Ocala- Join the Florida Trail Association for the dedication and grand opening of a brand new 23-mile segment of the Florida Trail in the Ocala National Forest. The event will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday June 6, with a short walk down the trail to the Eaton Creek Bridge. (877) HIKE-FLA. www.floridatrail.org.

Winter Park- The Morse Museum of American Art will begin providing free family tours of Domestic Treasures: Tiffany Art Glass for the Public. Domestic Treasures includes more than 100 examples of vases, tableware and mosaic tiles to show the remarkable quality, variety, beauty and drama of Tiffany�s artistic achievement in this medium. The tours last from June 7 through July 26. Reservations are required. (407) 645-5311. www.morsemuseum.org.

Boca Grande- Fishermen from all over the country will try their luck at the World's Richest Tarpon Tournament, sponsored by the Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce. Fish are weighed and released unharmed, and $25,000 in award money will be given away. The event is June 6-8. (941) 964-0568. www.worldsrichesttarpon.com.

Fort Myers- The Roswell Exhibit makes its first ever showing at the Southwest Florida Museum of History. Artifacts, documents and dioramas relevant to the mysterious 1947 crash of an unidentified "something" in the desert 30 miles north of Roswell, New Mexico will be on display through June 30. (239) 332-5955. www.cityftmyers.com.

Attractions

St. Augustine- Marineland is currently undergoing reconstruction of its oceanarium. The new facility will house a half-million gallon habitat that will be used as a nursery for future dolphin calves. Marineland is expected to re-open its doors this June. (888) 279-9194. www.marineland.net.

Orlando- In May, SeaWorld will open Blue Horizons, a theatrical experience taking viewers to a mystical place where sea meets sky through the showcasing of acrobatic dolphins and whales, soaring birds and leaping waters. (407) 351-3600. www.seaworld.com.

Orlando � Beginning May 5, the Walt Disney World Resort will embark on an 18-month celebration to commemorate Disneyland's 50th anniversary with "The Happiest Celebration on Earth." Not only has a special attraction been created to celebrate the monumental occasion, but attractions and shows from Disney properties around the world are being imported into Orlando parks including the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney�s Animal Kingdom. (407) 824-4321. www.disneyworld.com.

Orlando- Wet 'n Wild introduces its mutli-million dollar attraction, Disco H20. This groovy flashback journey will begin as guests board a four-person cloverleaf raft and descend through an enclosed flume toward a watery disco nightclub. (407) 351-1800. www.wetnwildorlando.com.

Winter Haven- Get set for wet! This Summer, Splash Island arrives at Cypress Gardens. The Polynesian-themed water park will feature a wave pool, tube slides and a play structure that holds more than 500 people. (863) 324-2111. www.cypressgardens.com.

Tampa- This May, experience America's first drive roller coaster, SheiKra, at Busch Gardens. SheiKra is a 200 foot roller coaster with a 90 degree straight down drop. It is the tallest drive roller coaster in the world. (888) 800-5447. www.buschgardens.com.

Naples- This June 4th Caribbean Gardens, the Zoo in Naples, premieres Petrof's Primate Pavilion. This exhibit features spiny forests, a thousand species of orchids, and a group of primates called lemurs found nowhere else in the world. Guests are welcomed daily from 9:30-5:30. (239) 262-5409. www.napleszoo.com.

Accommodations

Orlando � Premiering this spring is the Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn, a perfect destination for family travel. With colorful Nickelodeon-inspired d�cor, popular characters roaming the premises and tons of indoor and outdoor activities, this hotel is sure to appeal to kids of all ages. (407) 387-5437. www.nickhotel.com.

Cocoa Beach- Before or after an indulgent cruise getaway on the Atlantic, Cocoa Beach Hilton Oceanfront, the newly renovated property on Florida's nostalgic Cocoa Beach, caters to the boating crowd with the Cruise Convenience package, available April 1 through August 31. Cocoa Beach Hilton makes travel to and from Port Canaveral a breeze with complimentary secured parking and roundtrip port transfers while featuring a relaxing "vacation from vacation" before guests return to reality. (800) 526-2609. www.cocoabeachhilton.com.

Expansions/Renovations/Relocations

Panama City- Edgewater Beach Resort recently underwent a $1 million expansion. The new facility includes a 11,000 square foot lagoon pool, Starbucks Coffee shop, and a wedding gazebo. (407) 875-1111. www.edgewaterbeachresort.com.

Clearwater- The historic Belleview Biltmore Resort & Spa completed a $16 million renovation. The project included restoration of the Beach Club on Sand Key, a new Cabana Grill & Bar restaurant, ice cream parlor and business center. (800) 237-8947. www.BelleviewBiltmore.com.

Sarasota- Captiva Beach Resort, an intimate 20 room and guest suite resort, recently completed an extensive renovation of its property that includes new indoor and outdoor furnishing and beach supplies, dishes and linens, high spend internet and a water filtration system in all rooms. (800) 349-4131. www.captivabeachresort.com.

Jupiter- Jupiter Beach Resort has re-opened after a comprehensive multi-million dollar renovation. Guests can enjoy 158 guestrooms nestled along a secluded stretch of beach. Amenities include water sports, tennis, a fitness facility, dining and entertainment. (800) 228-8810. www.jupiterbeachresort.com.

Key Largo- Key Largo Bay Marriott Beach Resort has added a new dimension to its conference appeal with the addition of the free standing Largo Key Ballroom. This new conference center has increased the resort's meeting space by 30% and can hold functions for up to 300 people. (305) 453-0582. www.marriottkeylargo.com.

For additional information and images, contact Cassie Henderson, (850) 488-5607, ext. 302 or cassie@VISITFLORIDA.org.

VISIT FLORIDA, the state's official source for travel planning, is the premier sales and marketing organization that promotes tourism to Florida through 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 more than 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 3,400 tourism industry Partners and four major strategic alliances, with Hertz, American Express Travel Related Services, AirTran Airways, and the Florida Hotel & Motel Association. To learn more about VISIT FLORIDA, visit the media section at media.VISITFLORIDA.org or view the consumer web site www.VISITFLORIDA.com.

Press Contact: Rachel Bray-Stiles rachel@VISITFLORIDA.org +1 850-488-5607