Florida events through Dec. 7

Nov. 28-Dec. 6: Pirates in Paradise Festival, Key West. Entertainment, historic reenactors and combative stunt men. 305-296- 9694; www.piratesinparadise.com.

LAKE WALES

Get that towering feeling in Central Florida

Enchanted by Iron Mountain -- 298 feet above sea level -- Edward W. Bok built the Singing Tower in the late 1920s.

Florida events through Jan. 31

Nov. 21: Cigar Heritage Festival, Ybor City. At Centennial Park. 813-353-8072; www.cigarheritagefestival.com.

Day passes vs. annual passes -- which is best for Florida theme parks?

Cliff and Leah Patton went camping on Lion Country Safari's grounds with their two granddaughters thanks to the annual passes they just bought. As Palm Beach Gardens residents, they own almost all major Florida theme park passes including Sea World, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Busch Gardens, Aquatica and the recently acquired Lion Country Safari.

VACATION AT HOME | LOCAL DEALS

Delray goes upscale with Seagate Hotel

The lobby has mesquite driftwood floors and an aquarium with a rare red-carpet anemone from the South Pacific. One spa wall is textured to look like ocean waves. And the rooms feature marble bathrooms, designer furniture and fine Egyptian bedding.

VACATION AT HOME | LOCAL DEALS AND DIVERSIONS

Still time for deals before the seasonal tourist rush

With tourist season still about six weeks away, Miami attractions are hoping to draw in local residents with two-for-one and other discounted admissions. You could consider a visit an early scouting mission for friends and relatives from up north.

New Epcot attraction adds up to one wild ride

Kids tired of experiencing the same old roller coasters have a new ride to tackle. Walt Disney World's ''Sum of All Thrills'' is the first ride in Epcot's Innoventions pavilion, where businesses sponsor educational attractions and hawk their brands.

On Pine Island, you'll find a piece of Florida that time has forgotten

My postman's eyebrows popped into his hairline as he handed me a lavishly painted coconut affixed with a postage stamp and my address. ''Wow!'' he mouthed in awe. ''Wow, wow, wow.''

Florida events: Sept. 22-27

Oct. 1-3: U.S. Waveski Championships, Melbourne Beach. At Sebastian Inlet State Park. Contest dates and times vary according to surf conditions. 321-984-4852; http://uswaveski.com/sebastian.html.

Sarasota's Ringling festival boosts town's arts scene

Sarasota is an arts-crazy place, a Florida Gulf Coast city justifiably proud of its cultural riches.

FLORIDA

We're afraid it's that time of year again

While Universal and Busch Gardens might scare you silly with their Halloween events, Disney World and SeaWorld offer more kid-friendly events.

FLORIDA

Our vacation state's perfect for a staycation

Scott Horowitz relaxes by the water during vacations. Most of his family's trips are to the beach resorts where he may ''hang out'' or Jet Ski. And for 17 years, the Southwest Ranches resident has opted to take his vacations in Florida.

Destinations | California, Norway, West Virginia, Florida

The Nobel Peace Center in Oslo this week opens From King to Obama focusing on Martin Luther King Jr. and how the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s paved the way for Barack Obama's historic election. ''There are many obvious similarities between King and Obama in terms of their values, their political strategies and in their rhetoric and public impact,'' says Bente Erichsen, director of the center. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 when he was just 35 years old, the youngest ever Peace Prize laureate.

Universal unveils plans for Harry Potter attraction

A massive Hogwarts castle will loom over The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, slated to open in the spring at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando.

FLORIDA ISSUE

Small-town charms: A half-dozen places that may steal your heart

Small-town folks, I have found, are generally more friendly and more relaxed than their big-city counterparts, and their accommodations are more reasonably priced. Plus, you won't have to fight crowds.

MERRITT ISLAND

Paddling into the dark of the night in a search for the light

We crossed the causeway at dusk, drove over the drawbridge, turned down a dirt road and wound through a towering grove of palmettos. The path opened onto a loamy beach, blanketed with kayaks.

STEINHATCHEE

Going overboard in the 'Scallop Capital'

Visiting a tiny fishing village north of Tampa, our intrepid adventurer dives in only to learn gathering scallops is no simple clambake.

ORLANDO

Disney on the cheap? Yes, you can do it

If the economic meltdown has a silver lining, it's evident in the deals to be found in resort areas like Orlando.

VACATION AT HOME

Florida's wine country

Just about any day of the week in South Florida, you can find a shop hosting a wine tasting -- if traditional wines like Pinot Grigio and merlot are what you're looking for.

VACATION AT HOME | LOCAL DEALS AND DIVERSIONS

With tourists away, locals can play

Sticky, sultry August, when tourists are keeping their distance, brings a spate of bargains for locals vacationing at home. Here are some South Florida attractions that are offering free or discounted admission and a sampling of hotel deals.

FLORIDA

Welcome additions: New hotels

Despite the uneven economy, new hotels and resorts are opening right and left (or east and west as the case may be) around Florida. Since the serious onset of recession in 2008, about a dozen top-scale and boutique resorts -- plus a smattering of brand-name properties -- have opened in gutsy defiance of predictions and indicators. Many more are slated to open by the end of the year. Here's a look at what some new resorts have to offer.

VACATION AT HOME | LOCAL DEALS AND DIVERSIONS

Flamingo Gardens, it's for the birds

It's breeding season, and the birds at Flamingo Gardens are showing off. They're in full plumage with brilliant color. Most of them are in the free-flight aviary, in full view of visitors.

FLORIDA

St. George Island: a gem along Panhandle's Forgotten Coast

It was late, the wine had been mostly dispatched, and the candles had begun to weep crazily across the patio table. It was end-of-the-party conversation, desultory and rambling, about our favorite places. Favorite place in Florida, my husband mused. That's easy, St. George Island. Everyone but me looked at him blankly.

VACATION AT HOME | LOCAL DEALS AND DIVERSIONS

A tranquil getaway's just across the bridge

If your idea of a perfect beach involves a waiter to fetch your drinks and the amenities of a high-rise hotel, then the beach at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park may not be for you.

Destinations | Australia, Texas, Florida, Tennessee

TENNESSEE: REMEMBERING THE KING

Every year since Elvis Presley's death in 1977, tens of thousands of people from around the world have gathered at his Memphis home, Graceland, to celebrate his life in a series of events known as Elvis Week. In addition to the Candlelight Vigil on Aug. 15 and the traditional festivities, this year's event will include a karaoke contest and a Shake, Rattle and Bowl Party.

VACATION AT HOME | LOCAL DEALS AND DIVERSIONS

An exotic trip's just around the corner

It's hot and buggy, but it's peak season for the tropical fruits at Redland Fruit & Spice Park. You can sample lychees, longans, jackfruit, cinnamon apple, ice cream bean, carambola, mangoes and other fruits that the park staff cut up and set out, and you're allowed to eat any fallen fruit you find as well.

FLORIDA

Mom, daughter are BFFs on Sarasota getaway

A facial at the spa and window shopping at St. Armand's Circle make for a fun girls-only holiday.

VACATION AT HOME | LOCAL DEALS AND DIVERSIONS

Four Season's new spa a real treat(ment)

As summer days alternate between monsoons and hot-and-sticky, the thought of jetting off to a faraway, cool place (hmm, Switzerland?) sounds oh so appealing.

FLORIDA

Looking for a quick getaway? Don't sweat it

Even during the heat of summer, Florida's got plenty of cool attractions.