Disney’s Miami cruise ship is a wonder for kids, adults

Elise never saw her coming.

Orlando

Downtown Disney to be revamped as Disney Springs

Walt Disney World Resort announced plans Thursday to build an expanded outdoor retail complex called Disney Springs on the site of what is now called Downtown Disney.

Florida: Elliott Museum opens in Stuart

Get Smart

Legoland’s water park to open Saturday

Legoland Florida’s water park will open for its second season on Saturday, the park in Winter Haven announced on Thursday.

Orlando

Food, music, topiaries, celebs at Epcot garden festival

Back in the early ’90s, Walt Disney World was looking for ways to pump up attendance at Epcot, which had opened a decade earlier. Someone hit on the idea of holding a garden festival to attract hard-core gardeners who weren’t drawn to theme parks.

Florida: Horse-drawn carriages on Islamorada

Horsing around

Florida: Key West’s Conch Shell Blowing Contest

Come blow your horn

Quick trips: Florida’s Gulf Coast

Dunedin mixes artistic sensibility and mellow vibe

We were sitting at a high top in Florida’s oldest microbrewery, which happens to be in the unhurried and unheralded town of Dunedin.

New penguin attraction to open at SeaWorld May 24

SeaWorld Orlando’s chilling new attraction, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, will open May 24, the park announced Tuesday.

Florida: Sarasota celebrates Ringling in Bloom

Everything’s coming up roses

Florida: Registration opens for ‘Ding’ Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament

Time to drop ’em a line

Theme parks

Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando; Bands, Brew & BBQ at SeaWorld

Universal Studios brings back the bayou with the return of its extended Mardi Gras celebration, which begins Saturday. All of the key elements are back for another go-round.

Key West: Fort Zachary Taylor hosts Civil War re-enactments

A blast from the past

Florida: Seminole State reopens planetarium

Out of this world

Miami Beach

Public to weigh in on Miami Beach Convention Center renovation

The first public workshop on plans to renovate the Miami Beach Convention Center will take place Tuesday.

Florida: Orange County Regional History Center presents ‘A Year in the Life: Backstage to Onstage’

Behind the scenes

SeaWorld Orlando

Laurie Berkner gives kids a musical outlet

When singer-songwriter Laurie Berkner taught music to preschoolers, they were a tough crowd. Sometimes, kids would pooh-pooh her song selections with this powerful critique: “That’s for babies.”

Florida: International Sailing Regatta

Key West is set to host one of the most prestigious regattas on the international sailing circuit Jan. 20-25 with yachting teams from more than 12 countries and 20 American states are registered so far. Presented by Quantum Sail Design Group, the lineup features top racing professionals including world and European champion Riccardo Simoneschi of Italy. Among the other notables participating are four-time America’s Cup champion Dennis Conner, Olympian Tommaso Chieffi and 2011 Rolex yachtsman of the year Bill Hardesty.

Florida

Swamp and sawgrass: Immersion in the Everglades

The annual hike in Big Cypress National Preserve is 51 miles of exploration and adventure.

Just for Kids at SeaWorld

SeaWorld Orlando kicks off its Just for Kids event, which features youngster-oriented concerts at its Nautilus Theater, on Saturday with the Imagination Movers.