OFTIG 2010 - (Page 94)
COURTESY OF THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER
port. This world-famous surf emporium is open 24 hours a day and has more than 52,000 square feet of surfboards and other gear. Family Fun: Single or multi-day pre-/post-trip jaunts to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, and the rest of the Central Florida theme parks are an attractive option for Port Canaveral cruise clients, since they’re less than an hour away. Of course, the Space Coast has plenty of attractions of its own, starting with rocket launches at the Kennedy Space Center. NASA’s space shuttle program is scheduled to end after 2010, so the ve shuttle launches this year (in February, March, May, July, and September) will be heavily attended. The space center’s visitor complex (some 20 miles north of the port) is worth the trip at any time, with its collection of massive rockets and other historic memorabilia. Surrounding the space center is the vast Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, which is home to more than 1,500 plants and animals, including Florida’s beloved manatees. Dining/Nightlife: The Surf Bar and Grill in Cocoa Beach, eight miles south of the port, is well-known as a favorite spot for current astronauts on down time—their predecessors used to come here for their last meals before heading into orbit. Museums: The world’s largest collection of rare space memorabilia—including vintage ight suits and Wally Schirra’s Mercury 7 spacecraft—is on display at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame at the Kennedy Space Center.
98 PRE- AND POST-CRUISE ACTIVITIES
PORT OF TAMPA | As the only major cruise port on Florida’s west coast, the Port of Tampa is just o Interstate 4 and an hour’s drive from Orlando. Cruise terminals are close to downtown and only a few miles from Tampa International Airport. Accommodations: The Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina, a short walk from the cruise terminals and the St. Pete Times Forum, nished up a $13 million room and suite renovation in 2008. The AAA Four Diamond-rated, 250-room Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, 10 minutes east of downtown, has a 178,000-square-foot gaming area that includes blackjack and baccarat, 50 poker tables and thousands of gaming machines. St. Petersburg’s legendary “Pink Palace,” the mammoth Don CeSar Beach Resort, allows couples to balance family time and romance: The kids can stay busy at its Camp CeSar program while their parents enjoy the dual treatment rooms at the Spa Oceana. Beaches: The Tampa area has some of the most highly regarded beaches in the nation, including a few that consistently make the widely publicized “Dr. Beach” annual rankings. Caladesi Island State Park in Dunedin (25 miles west of the port) claimed top billing in 2008 and Fort DeSoto Park in St. Petersburg (35 miles south of the port) took highest honors in 2005. Shopping: The port area is home to Channelside, a vast entertainment zone with restaurants, condos, retail and nightlife. The upscale mall at International Plaza is anchored by the likes of Neiman
OFFICIAL FLORIDA TRAVEL INDUSTRY GUIDE 2010
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of OFTIG 2010
Beaches
Family
Authentic Florida
Agent Resources
Boating and Fishing
Dining and Entertainment
Nature
Arts and Culture
Golf
Sports and Adventure
Luxury and Spa
Shopping
Pre-and Post-Cruise Activities
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