| All Questions for Jen Karetnick |
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| Asked by John DeYoung on June 24, 2008 |
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Q: Hi JenMy wife and I will be down for a week, and are looking for museums, theatre and tours, Any suggestions?
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A: Hi there-- Of course, it all depends on what part of Florida you'll be visiting, and what you particularly enjoy doing. Florida has museums with collections that range from seashells to sofas, and tours that take you from the bottom of the sea to the top of a lighthouse. My advice is to haunt the VisitFlorida weekly events page for the dates that you'll be here, and also read the local newspaper listings. The museums, theaters and galleries will have their specials and shows listed for the week. Enjoy! Jen
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| | Performing Arts Subscriptions |
| Asked by Shannah on May 02, 2008 |
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Q: Hi Jen!My family will be relocating from IL to FL by the end of the summer. My kids are very musical and we normally by a subcription to http://www.mendelssohnpac.org/ and to http://www.rccaconcerts.org/. I was wondering if you could direct us to like concerts or programs in the Orlando area.Thanks in advance!Shannah
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A: Hi Shannah— Great move! Your kids and you are going to love living in Orlando. There’s always something musical going on. Speaking of which, you can buy season tickets for Broadway Across America at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Theatre at Ticketmaster; the 2008-9 season starts with The Wizard of Oz in October. As far as classical music goes, the fabulous Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra offers a variety of subscription packages. Nearby, in Winter Park, The Bach Festival Society runs a tremendous Choral Masterworks Series throughout the year, which is largely performed in the Knowles Memorial Chapel at Rollins College. Subscriptions for the 2008-9 season go on sale on May 19, so you have very good timing! And if you’re an opera fan, you’ll be pleased to know that the 2008-9 season of the Orlando Opera Company launches with Verdi’s Il Trovatore; subscriptions are on sale now. Enjoy! Jen
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| | Hare Krishna Student Centre in Gainesville |
| Asked by venkataraman on April 08, 2008 |
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Q: contact details of florida ISKCON TEMPLE
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A: Hi -- I'm not an expert of ISKCON, or Hare Krishna Temples, but I do know there is a Hare Krishna Student Centre in Gainesville. Below is the contact info that I found on www.iskcon.org. Hope it helps! Best, Jen
Gainesville, Florida
214 N.W. 14th St, 32603
Tel. (352) 336-4183
E-mail: Kalakantha.acbsp@pamho.net
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| | The Holy Land Experience |
| Asked by Kip Sullivan on March 29, 2008 |
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Q: My mother will be coming down to Florida soon and she said there was a town, or place, she thought around Orlando that was a repleca of Jeruslem. Do you know?
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A: Hi Kip--Your mother is correct, though it's not really a town or a place. The Holy Land Experience is actually more of a theme park, albeit without the thrill rides.
Located off I-4 in Orlando, a few miles away from the Magic Kingdom., the attraction is described as a "living, biblical museum that takes you 6,000 miles away and 2,000 years back in time." Indeed, Holy Land is a 15-acre lot packed with life-size replicas of The Garden Tomb (the tomb of Jesus), the Qumran Caves (where the Dead Sea Scrolls lay), the Temple of the Great King (that'd be Herod, I believe, though my biblical history is probably not what it should be), and other sets like the Plaza of the Nations and the Wilderness Tabernacle. There also shops--er, street stalls--that sell everything from prayer shawls to yarmulkes.
Employees where period costumes--there are LOTS of Roman soldiers wandering around, so if you've got a phobia about Jesus Christ Superstar, best be warned--and everyone breaks into theatrical song at a moment's notice. The overall tone is more Barbra Streisand, less Wailing Wall--though as pilgrimmages go, getting here is a lot less expensive than Israel.
Tickets to The Holy Land run $35 for adults, $23 for children (6-12). Do note that short shorts, very tight clothing and halter tops are prohibited, as is smoking and bringing in food from outside. For more information, visit http://www.holyland-orlando.com/. Go in peace--Jen
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| | Promote Your Florida Artist or Organization |
| Asked by Daniela on March 18, 2008 |
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Q: Dear Jen,
I would like to know how to add my city to travel information or brochure . We started to promote artist, we have every two moths Self guided art tour and we are on establishing progresive art center. And one personal question. You have a Czech name, are you from there?
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A: Hi Daniela—If you’re a Florida organization, send me more information about your progressive arts center and tours to Kavetchnik@aol.com. I’d be happy to write it up in a blog post or even come visit one of these days. As far as my name goes, I’ve been told it’s either Ukraine or Russian, and also that it means “carriage maker.” My email is a Yiddish joke on my name—a reader who follows my restaurant reviews in Miami once said that all I like to do is complain, which I thought was pretty funny. Cheers, Jen
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| | Music Festivals in Florida |
| Asked by Tom Cady on March 18, 2008 |
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Q: Jen,
My daughter will graduate next year and this summer we'll visit a warmer climate--Ohio is too nippy for her "long leg" wardrobe--to check out campi.
Since this is a vacation also I'd appreciate any brochures and planners you can provide targeting music festivals. And I'll need a state road map to help save time and money because wandering cross country I can get lost with the best of 'em.
Thank you,
Tom Cady
PO Box 486
New Albany, Ohio 43054
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A: Dear Tom, Congrats on your daughter’s forthcoming graduation and future education prospects. Florida’s a great state for young adults to pursue their dreams, listen to tunes—and tan their legs, long or otherwise!
We’ve got a lot of terrific music festivals here. Unfortunately you’ve just missed one of my faves, Langerado, which featured REM and Matisyahu this year, but this May you can catch the Tampa Bay Blues Fest, SunFest in West Palm Beach and the Florida Music Festival and Conference in Orlando, which introduces more than 250 bands and acoustic acts from all genres. You should note, though, strict music festivals mostly finish up around the end of May and start up again in the fall—Florida’s just a bit too steamy for swaying to the beat all day long in mid-summer. However, plenty of other, more generic festivals incorporate bands into their programming. Check out Visit Florida Events to find out where and when these countless festivals and fairs take place.
As for driving, I empathize with you—I have the worst sense of direction known to man (or at least that’s what my husband tells me). Hit our Guide Orders page to help you find your way. Good luck! Jen |
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| | Art Towns and Colonies |
| Asked by Debbie Reid on March 08, 2008 |
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Q: I'm an artist and I'm intereted in finding out where the best "arts" towns are in Florida.
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A: Hi Debbie--Florida has many towns where artists congregate in colonies to live, work and show/sell their stuff. Some of the more popular ones include Bradenton, where you'll find the Village of the Arts. In Sarasota, you can visit the Towles Court Artist Colony. Tallahassee has Railroad Square Art Park, and New Smyrna Beach boasts the Atlantic Center for the Arts. In Miami, you can visit the ArtCenter South Florida, and historic Cocoa Village, inland of Cocoa Beach, is renowned for its many galleries. Finally, keep an eye on downtown Eau Gallie in central Florida, where the buildings, dating back to the 1880s, are being developed into an art colony, and the Beth Ann Morean Arts Center in Tampa/St. Pete, which is undergoing expansion.—Best, Jen
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| | Bus and Boat Services from Miami |
| Asked by Amy on February 19, 2008 |
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Q: I live in South Africa and am planning to visit Florida in March for the first time. Is there a bus or a boat service that can take me from, say, Orlando to Miami, and from Miami to Key West?
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A: Hi Amy – There are a couple of options to move you easily around the state without the hassle or expense of renting a car. American Coach Lines, the largest motor coach transport system in Florida with more than 130 vehicles, is probably the most efficient for the 4-hour runs between Orlando and Miami. But if you want some sightseeing thrown in, check out Gator Tours Inc. As for Key West, you can also get there by bus, but more fun are the high-speed ferries piloted by Key West Express. Additional options for transportation include Tri-Rail, which runs between South Florida’s popular three counties: Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. And if you have the time, check out Discovery Cruise Line, which offers one-day cruises down to the Bahamas. Finally, feel free to look up our Transportation Listings for even more options. Onward! Jen
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| | Motorcycle Touring from Orlando |
| Asked by Joy on February 03, 2008 |
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Q: I am interested in history and my husband wants to tour on a motorcycle. What rides could we take to satisfy both of us? We'll be flying into Orlando.
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A: Hi Joy--I’m hardly an expert on motorcycles, and my husband would be delighted to add that directions aren’t a fine point with me either (unless it’s for getting from the theater seat to the lobby bar for refreshment during intermission ;-). But from Orlando, I’d head to the Daytona Beach area (which includes DeLand/St. Johns River Country and New Smyrna Beach). This is the region where they hold the annual the Bike Week Florida. Your ride there, which shouldn’t take more than 90 minutes or so, can have triplefold meaning: great shoreside scenery, with plenty of causeways that have fantastic views of the water and sand-packed beaches where vehicles are allowed; motorcycle-friendly businesses; and historic sites, such as restored, pre-turn-of-the-century mansions, Indian mounds and plantation ruins throughout the area. Hubby can then check out the motorsports at the Daytona International Speedway while you roam through the restored DeBarry Hall Historic Site, Turtle Mound and Sugar Mill Ruins. And, remember your helmets! Cheers, Jen
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| | GoMiamiCard |
| Asked by Hakeem on February 03, 2008 |
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Q: I am thinking of visiting Miami in the summer of 2008. While looking on the net, I saw someting about Go Miami Card. Is this a good deal for a family of 4? I was thinking about buy the 3-day pas.
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A: Hi Hakeem--I do think the GoMiamiCard is a pretty good deal for an active family, especially if you’re looking at some of the pricier attractions. Here’s how it breaks down: For a family of 4 (with 2 kids under the age of 13), a 3-day pass costs $539. That’s without sales and discounts, which are often available from online ticketing or hotel concierges. Now, consider that tickets to the Miami Duck Tours and entrance to Miami Seaquarium--just two of the 30 or so things to do on the pass--will run you about $100 each, if not a bit more than that, for the same familial configuration. To really make the best of it, you'd have to visit several attractions per day--which is possible, considering that there's a great variety, from museums to sunset cruises. But honestly assess your kids before you make the purchase. Mine don't like being dragged around too much and get overly cranky if I make them do too many touristy things. So if you’re the kind of family that likes to lie around on the beach, loll in a café or browse through shops after one hour or so at an historic site, I’d skip it. There’s a reason it’s called “Go” Miami. Best, Jen
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| | History of Florida |
| Asked by Joanne on January 23, 2008 |
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Q: in what year was Florida discovered and what state is it?(i.e. 1,2,3)
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A: Hi Joanne, Well, I suppose this is my opportunity to prove that I am smarter than a 5th grader... It is largely accepted that Florida was discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1513 when he was seeking the Fountain of Youth. He claimed the land for Spain, but it was finally sold to the United States in 1819. Florida was the 27th state to enter the union. Ok, you got me--I found all this stuff on Infoplease. If you'd like to know more about Florida in a more colorful fashion, you can read a lot of history on VisitFlorida. Best, Jen
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| | Craft Fairs in Florida |
| Asked by bob.maria@knology.net on January 22, 2008 |
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Q: I am interested in attending a craft fair in Florida. Please advise where I could find a list of such events. Thanks, Maria
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A: Hi Maria--You can always go to VisitFlorida's Event Listings for the quickest, most up-to-date listings on forthcoming shows. If you can't find what you're looking for there, or need a to plan for the longterm future, I find one of the most comprehensive lists of arts and crafts fairs, both big and small, juried and non-juried, to be at Where the Shows Are! The Professional Guide to Art & Craft Shows. Based in Edgewater, it covers the entire state and even includes shows where you might find crafts but where they aren't necessarily the focus, such as medieval fairs. Check it out--it's great stuff. And fyi, this weekend brings some of the festivals with the most longevity our way: the 14th Annual St. Pete Beach Corey Area Art and Craft Fair; the 23rd Annual Key West Craft Show; and the 28th Annual Deerfield Beach Festival of the Arts. Enjoy! Jen
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| | Florida Gateways |
| Asked by Helen Ernest on January 14, 2008 |
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Q: Dear Jen, I am searching for Florida cities that have gateways. Kissimmee FL has one, but am looking for more. I would appreciate your help. Sincerely, Helen
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A: Hi Helen, I'm not sure exactly what you mean by gateways. Several cities here are known as gateways to other areas for a variety of reasons. For instance, Kissimmee is known as the Gateway to Orlando because it has an airport with the closest proximity to the region’s theme parks and attractions, yet it’s also called the Gateway to the Kissimmee River Valley. Florida City is described as the Gateway to the Keys and/or the Everglades while the Gulf Coast is the Gateway to the Ten Thousand Islands. Miami is referred to as the Gateway between North and South America. Or do you mean gateway as in a port or beach entrance to a city such as Delray Beach, where the beach city was incorporated with its downtown and connected? Finally, the Florida Trail, a federally designated National Scenic Trail (www.floridatrail.org), has many gateway communities, or places to camp or set up a base at a hotel or bed-and-breakfast, along the way, including Milton, Crestview, Belleview and White Springs. I’m happy to answer more questions if this didn’t hit on what you were asking! Jen
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| | Where to Stay in St. Augustine |
| Asked by Alison on January 13, 2008 |
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Q: My husband and I are planning a trip to St. Augustine, Florida. We are interested in going to the beach, but are also very excited about taking advantage of the historical/cultural opportunities in this historic town. What part of town should we stay in to soak up as much of the city's flavor as we can? If you have any specific b&b or hotel recommendations, that would be great!
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A: Hi Alison -- If I were you, I’d stay in the heart of Old City, as close to Matanzas Bay as possible. Though beach resorts have their own charms—solitude! beauty!—I always like the ease of strolling from my hotel to various cultural landmarks and good restaurants, of which St. Augustine has a wide assortment. Besides, you’ll most likely get a water view, or maybe even a water “amenity,” from wherever you choose to stay. For example, at the Casa Monica Hotel, a restored 1888 landmark, guests have privileges at the Serenata Beach Club. If you prefer something smaller, the St. Francis Inn, a charming bed-and-breakfast, offers a swimming pool, and also provides complimentary bicycles so you can go father afield—or ashore—should you wish. Have fun! Jen
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| | History and Activities in Apalachicola |
| Asked by JOHN on December 31, 2007 |
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Q: My wife and two children ages 13 and 10 love Anna Marie island just off of Sarasota. We love being right on the beach and have gone their for several years. Is there a place in Florida that has a lot of history, possibly home tours, that is on the beach and has family activities?
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A: Hi John -- If you're looking for a place that is just as charming and perhaps a little bit less discovered, try the area of Apalachicola. Aptly named the Forgotten Coast, this pristine place, which has retained plenty of southern charm, offers homes and buildings circa 1830, plentiful white sand Gulf Coast beaches and barrier islands, awesome seafood (most of Florida's oysters are harvested there), parks, museums and wildlife galore. Most family activities naturally center around the water -- fishing and boating -- but you can do things in this area that you can't in other parts of Florida, including crabbing, scalloping and flounder gigging in the shallows. I recently visited the Forgotten Coast for the first myself, and I can't wait to go back, if only to hear the locals say "ma'am" ever so politely as they show me to my room in their renovated, historic bed-and-breakfast!
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