This month April rocks at Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa with more great gaming and music events.

The 2013 Ford Escape with EcoBoost Engine Giveaway and a year’s worth of gas will be held Tuesdays in May. Hourly Drawings 1pm – 9pm for $1,000 cash. Grand prize drawing at 9:30pm.

The Spin To Win event will be held Wednesdays in May. Win Up To $10,000 with hourly drawings from 10am-4pm.

The Sea Doo 210 Challenger SE Giveaway will be held Thursdays in May with hourly from drawings 1pm-8pm for $1,000 Cash. Grand Prize Drawing at 8:30pm for a Sea Doo 210 Challenger.

Uncle Kracker will be performing at the Hard Rock Café on May 20th. Doors: 7:30pm. Showtime: 9:00pm. Tickets available at the door for $10pp and proceeds benefiting the Uncle Kracker Music Education Foundation.

The May Poker Promo is play and earn $3 Bonus Reward for every hour of live action play in May. Good towards the purchase of entries into WPT Tampa Bay Open (which will be held June 1-11).

And the World Poker Tour comes to Hard Rock Tampa on June 1-11, 2012. Tickets go on sale at the Poker Room Cage on May 14th.

For more info on all these events view website »

Mount Dora Blues and Events are hosting the 4th Annual Mount Dora Blues Festival on May 18, 19 and 20, 2012. Three Days of exciting Central Florida musicians gathering once again to celebrate the “Blues” and we are Featuring Music Legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Leon Russell. So bring your lawn chairs and blankets, sit back and relax in Mount Dora!

The Festival starts Friday evening at 7 p.m. at the Lakeside Inn with renowned guitarist Bob Rafkin, at 8 p.m. the “Blues Brother’s Revisited Show” with Andrew Mullen and T.Scott Walker and Jake and Elwood featuring the “Eustis Horns”, and at 9 p.m. the “Nightly Blues Band”.

On Saturday from 1 – 5 p.m. we are continuing the celebration of wine on the Streets of Downtown Mount Dora with the “Wine Stroll & Tasting” featuring local blues musicians on the downtown streets and awards for the best wines of the day.

On Saturday evening from 6 – 11 p.m. at Tavares Station Field (gates open at 4 p.m.) we proudly announce our Featured Festival Concert opening at 6 p.m. with the “Selwyn Birchwood Band”, then at 7:30 with the “T.Scott Walker Troprockers Blues Band with Jacqueline “Queenie” Jones, then to our Headline Act, Music Legend “Leon Russell” at 9:30 p.m. Show will end at 11 p.m.

On Sunday from 1 – 5 p.m. at Tavares Station Field (gates open at noon) we are featuring our “Biker Friendly” bands to rock out with!! At 1 p.m. we open with the “Mike Quick Band”, at 2:15 rock to the electrifying “Dan Lawson Band” and at 3:30 rock on with the “Blues & Wine Festival All-Star Jam Session”!

Ticket are on sale now at www.mdbwf.com. Purchase a 3-day bundle ticket including a Free Friday night concert and Free wine tasting for $40, or separately online only; Friday Night Blues Brother’s Show for $9, the Saturday Wine Stroll & Tasting for $10, the Saturday Night Leon Russell Concert for $25 and the Sunday Rockin’ Dan Lawson Show for $15.

At the Gate, the price increases for the concerts: Friday Blues Brother’s Show $12, Saturday Leon Russell Concert $28, and the Sunday Dan Lawson Show is $18.

VIP tickets are available for the Saturday and Sunday concerts and will includes VIP adjacent parking and Up Front Stage Seating. Limited Availability and Online Only. Saturday $50. Sunday $30.

Wine Stroll & Tasting wristbands will be sold at the Saturday afternoon event for $10, but the best way to purchase the Tasting is with the 3-Day Bundle – FREE is Good!

Purchase tickets or inquire about sponsorships at www.mdbwf.com.

By Myscha Theriault – Independent Travelers Resources at Trekhound.com

While the panhandle may be a bit of a drive from southern Florida, it’s easily accessible for people in Georgia and other nearby states that border the Gulf of Mexico. Known as the Emerald Coast by locals and regional travelers, the area is beginning to bounce back from the BP disaster. From fishing rodeos to spa getaways and souvenir experiences for the serious shopper, here are a few places in northwest Florida you may want to check out.

Destin

Home to the Sandestin Resort and the Inn on Destin Harbor, as well as the annual fishing rodeo, Destin, Florida is the perfect getaway for those families with an avid fisherman in the mix. Dad will have time to cast a line or do a little deep sea fishing while the kiddos explore the beaches and Mom hits the spa. There are also numerous water sports to enjoy in the area.

Panama City Beach

A great place for a golf getaway, the town of Panama City Beach is also a great place for water sports, beach lounging and home to the twenty-acre Water Park named Shipwreck Island. Other fun venues in Panama City Beach include St. Andrew’s State Park and Club La Vela.

Fort Walton Beach

While it’s certainly a popular spring break destination, Fort Walton Beach has much to offer the family-oriented traveler as well. The Okaloosa Island boardwalk, the Emerald Coast Science Center and the beach itself all come to mind. When you’re hungry, the Black Pearl and the Crab Trap are both available to serve up some grub, while nightlife options include Howl at the Moon and Swamp.

Pensacola

Home to a towering lighthouse, Pensacola Beach and the National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida is a place where locals and residents of nearby states alike enjoy taking time to unwind. Having historically been under the control of five different governments, there’s a fair bit of heritage to be uncovered during any visit to this coastal Sunshine State town.

Who is the panhandle perfect for? Well, families, fisher folk, Nature Coast residents and locals for starters. But certainly residents of other nearby states who share the same coastline, will find the area worthy as well. The white sand beaches and laid-back Florida vibe make the area a popular getaway.

Myscha Theriault is a syndicated columnist for McClatchy-Tribune, best-selling author, and professional blogger whose work has been featured by Forbes, MSN, the Los Angeles Times, Boston Herald, AOL, and others. Print interviews include Better Homes and Gardens, Women’s World, and All You Magazines. She is the founder of Trekhound.com, a web site for independent travelers. You can also catch up with her on Twitter.

Key Largo, Florida Keys – Visitors to the Florida Keys can take a ride on the African Queen, the iconic original vessel from John Huston’s classic 1951 film by the same name starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn from Key Largo. Registered as a national historic site, a major $70,000 restoration project provided for structural, mechanical and cosmetic repairs.

The “re-launch” party featured Stephen Bogart, son of film star Humphrey Bogart. “To be able to ride on the African Queen and to be able to have it back in operation is absolutely tremendous,” Bogart said. “You know, I’ve never really been on many movie sets, and this is like being on a movie set, and just the fact that somebody bought it and has taken the time to restore it.”

The African Queen’s 100-year history began when it was built in 1912 at England’s Lytham shipbuilding yard. Originally named the Livingstone, it served the British East Africa Rail Company shuttling cargo, hunting parties and mercenaries on the Ruki River, situated in the northwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo until 1968, according to Jim Hendricks Jr. Huston saw it and the vessel was temporarily pulled from service for the film.

In 1968, the boat was purchased and shipped via freighter to San Francisco but was stripped of almost all gear. A restaurant owner who had purchased her tried to run tourist trips using an outboard engine for propulsion. Around 1970, Hal Bailey found and purchased her for the price of the boatyard bill and put her into passenger operation on the Deschutes River in Oregon seasonally. Success prompted him to move her to Ocala, Fla., so he could make cruises available year round, but plans fell apart.

In 1982, late attorney (and Bogart buff) Jim Hendricks, Sr., discovered the vessel languishing in an Ocala, Fla., horse pasture and purchased the piece of movie history for $65,000. An equal amount of funds was invested to get the boat operational and Hendricks began offering visitors rides in 1983 while the vessel was homeported at Key Largo’s Holiday Inn.

In 2001, the African Queen’s engine broke, was never fixed and yet it remained on display for curious tourists and film buffs to view.

Last year, Captain Lance Holmquist and Suzanne Holmquist signed a long-term lease with Jim Hendricks’ son to restore and operate the vessel again. The Holmquists have overseen repairs and have taken pains to date it as it appeared in the film, replacing steel in the hull, replacing the boiler and oiling the black African mahogany to condition the wood.

“It’s important to me because I love old movies and films, and just to see the amount of interest that this boat is still generating, even as dilapidated as she had gotten, it was incredible,” Suzanne Holmquist said. “I think restoring the African Queen has firmly sealed the tie and connection with the Bogart name to Key Largo.”

Plans for the African Queen include, starting next week, offering 90-minute canal cruises several times daily and dinner cruises on selected nights, all from the Holiday Inn Key Largo, mile marker 100 oceanside, on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway.

Costs are $39 per person for the daytime cruise, $25 for children under 12 and the dinner cruise is $89 per person, including the meal. For more information, call 305-896-8004.

By Myscha Theriault – Independent Travelers Resources at Trekhound.com

For many who make the pilgrimage to sunny Florida, it’s all about the beaches, Baby! But not everyone’s idea of the perfect beach getaway is the same. Some want to go shelling with their grandkids while others are looking for the best summer vacation opportunity or the ability to cruise with their car on the sand. Depending on your preference, there a few safe bets you can make to have the best Florida beach experience possible.

Fort Lauderdale

While well known for being a popular Florida summer vacation destination, Fort Lauderdale also offers great Florida shopping, a fun food scene and higher end hotel options for those who prefer a more genteel getaway. Las Olas Boulevard combines the best of all three with direct trolley access to the sand and surf. Break up your day with surfing or a stress-busting beach run. Both are a great way to burn those extra calories you’ll be indulging in.

Daytona Beach

Whether you’re a car racing fan or you never miss a Bike Week, there’s much to enjoy in sunny Daytona Beach. This sandy strip on the East Coast is one of the few places you can enjoy cruising with your car or motorcycle along the waterfront and offers seasonal concerts, fireworks and a moderate shopping scene. Mostly though, it’s about the machines. Racing cars, Biketoberfest and tourists in biker gear line the streets at various times throughout the year, although the town also sees its share of summer vacationers and family visitors.

Fort Myers

For a more sedate Florida beach experience, consider heading to the Fort Myers area. A reasonable drive from Sarasota, these Gulf Coast beaches offer some of the best shelling in the world. This makes it the perfect spot for doting grandparents and families hoping for an educational marine experience during their oceanfront vacation. Consider booking one of the areas vacation rentals so the kids can relax at their own speed and you’ll have a kitchen to prepare all of those freshly-caught fish.

Miami

Whether you’re talking South Beach or Miami Beach proper, this waterfront experience is nothing but sexy in South Florida. Known for celebrity spotting, great Florida spas and high-end shopping, Miami is where it’s at for travelers in search of a first-class luxury getaway in the Sunshine State. If you need to save some pennies for that Lincoln Road shopping excursion, try enjoying some of the city’s great food truck eats in one of the numerous urban pocket parks that have sprung up.

Fort DeSoto

Named one of the best beaches in the country for several years in a row, Fort DeSoto Park in the greater Tampa Bay area is a wonderful free resource for locals and international travelers alike. With ruins to explore, a great dog beach and overnight camping options available, there’s lots to enjoy. Kite surfing, birding and pier fishing are also possible. Another great feature for visitors to Fort DeSoto is the recent addition of adaptive wheelchairs specifically designed to handle the beach sand. This makes the park even more accessible for those with adaptive travel needs.

Clearly, there’s no shortage of beach travel opportunities here in sunny Florida. This list represents some of my faves, but there are certainly others worth your tourist time as well.

Myscha Theriault is a syndicated columnist for McClatchy-Tribune, best-selling author, and professional blogger whose work has been featured by Forbes, MSN, the Los Angeles Times, Boston Herald, AOL, and others. Print interviews include Better Homes and Gardens, Women’s World, and All You Magazines. She is the founder of Trekhound.com, a web site for independent travelers. You can also catch up with her on Twitter.

Key West, Florida Keys – The 30th anniversary of the Florida Keys’ secession from the United States and formation of the independent Conch Republic is to be commemorated Friday, April 20, through Sunday, April 29. Planned highlights of the lighthearted Conch Republic Independence Celebration include a re-enactment of the historic secession.

The bold action was prompted by a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint set up at the entrance to the Florida Keys so agents could search cars for contraband. It virtually stopped traffic on the only road into and out of the island chain, angering residents and visitors.

Realizing the Keys were being treated as a foreign country, local officials protested by staging the secession April 23, 1982. They declared war on the mother country, pelted a federal agent with stale Cuban bread and, after 60 seconds, surrendered and requested $1 billion in foreign aid. The foreign aid never materialized, but the Border Patrol checkpoint was quickly removed.

The 30th annual Conch Republic Independence Celebration is to center around the secession re-enactment. Featuring many of the republic’s original founders, the event is set for 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 23, beside Key West’s Mallory Square.

Afterward, a gathering is planned at the Historic Key West Sculpture Garden where “patriots” are to prepare and serve a seven-foot Key lime pie to attendees. A gargantuan version of the Florida Keys’ signature dessert, the pie is to yield about 1,000 servings and require a blowtorch to brown the traditional meringue topping.

Other celebration highlights include the Great Conch Republic Drag Race, scheduled for Saturday afternoon, April 21, in the 700 and 800 blocks of Duval Street in Key West. Instead of high-speed cars, the race features high-heeled drag queens sprinting down Duval in dresses and full makeup.

Sea dogs and wenches gather Friday, April 27, for the 7 p.m. Conch Republic Naval Parade and Great Battle. The maritime mayhem pits the Conch Republic Military, aboard tall ships and other vessels, against “evil” federal forces in the waters of Key West Harbor. Weapons typically range from water cannons to flying vegetables, and spectators can watch from Bloody Battle Parties at harborfront resorts.

Saturday, April 28, brings the Conch Republic Red Ribbon Bed Race. Teams of “strange bedfellows” propel decorated beds up a portion of Duval Street to raise money for Key West’s AIDS Help, Inc.

The celebration schedule also includes the so-called world’s longest parade down Duval Street from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, a bar stroll along the same route, food and music fests, a charity pet stroll, lively parties and a sailing race to the reef that recalls the Keys’ early salvage industry.

Event information and schedule: www.conchrepublic.com
Key West visitor information: www.fla-keys.com/keywest or 1-800-LAST-KEY.

Key Largo Conch Republic Days Beckons Conchs and Conch Lovers April 25-29

Visitors can display their “conch” spirit during the fourth annual Key Largo Conch Republic Days, a locals’ feast of frivolity and fun set for Wednesday through Sunday, April 25-29.

The celebration kicks off with a raising of the flag, symbolizing both Key Largo as the Northernmost Territories of the Florida Keys and the 1982 secession of the entire Keys chain from the United States to form the Conch Republic in protest against a Border Patrol blockade. The kickoff also is to include a re-enactment of that proclamation of secession.

Day and evening festival events are to be staged at area restaurants, businesses and entertainment venues. Specials on conch dishes at participating Key Largo restaurants are to be featured throughout the event.

Other highlights include a By-Land-or-Sea Poker Run, a concha-licious progressive wine dinner, offbeat contests such as “Is Your Pet a Conch?”, a High Heel-a-thon and a world record attempt at conch shell blowing.

The celebration concludes Sunday, April 29, with a ceremonial — and symbolic — “destruction” of the Jewfish Creek Bridge that leads to the South Florida mainland, along with dancing, music, food and drink specials.

Event information: www.keylargoconchrepublicdays.com
Key Largo visitor information: www.fla-keys.com/keylargo or 800-822-1088

Kennedy Space Center, FL – The Space Coast said good bye to one of our most famous residence, Space Shuttle Discovery, on Tuesday, April 17. Discovery was flown over head along the Space Coast one final time. Discovery took off from the runway at KSC at first light, around 7 am, and then the orbiter and Shuttle Carrier Aircraft flew over Kennedy Space Center and the KSC Visitor Complex, headed south to around Patrick AFB then turned around and flew back up the coast along Cocoa Beach & Cape Canaveral and then fly out for D.C. Even though the shuttles are scheduled to flew out there will still be rocket launches to enjoy, for a complete list and schedule visit our Cape Canaveral Launch Schedule.

On April 10, a very special plane landed at the Kennedy Space Center, it was a modified Boeing 747 jet airliner, originally manufactured for commercial use, it was turned into a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, by NASA and designated NASA 905. It was here to prepare to ferry the shuttle Discovery on her flight to the Washington Dulles International Airport in Sterling, Va.

Discovery was the third in NASA’s fleet of orbiters after the Columbia and Challenger. It was launched for the first time on Aug. 30, 1984, completed 39 missions, including the deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope, and landed at KSC for the last time on March 9, 2011.

Discovery will be placed on permanent public display in the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va.

Among the sound fusion highlights of Bay Jam 18 are to be New York’s Grammy Award–winning fiddler and songwriter Lisa Gutkin and the country, rock, blues and zydeco of the Raiford Starke Band. Nick Norman, Jimmy Hawkins, Men of Leisure and Dave Feder, renowned for his hillbilly flamenco, are just a few favorite Keys musicians expected to play.

Bay Jam’s festivities also include a variety of artisans and merchandise vendor booths, cool drinks and island edibles. In addition, festivalgoers can enjoy a swim at the bayside beach.

Presented by the nonprofit Islamorada Community Entertainment, the annual event benefits local students through art, music and dance scholarships.

Doors open at 11 a.m. and admission is free. The music begins at noon and is scheduled to continue until 9 p.m.

Although coolers are not permitted, attendees can bring lawn chairs and blankets.

Event information: www.keysice.com or 305-394-2765
Islamorada visitor information: www.fla-keys.com/islamorada or 1-800-FAB-KEYS

By Myscha Theriault – Independent Travelers Resources at Trekhound.com

If you can’t make it to Miami Beach in time for spa week, or simply happen to be visiting another area of the state, there are a few sensational spas that Florida visitors simply won’t want to miss. Exceptional amenities, themed treatments and money-saving package deals are just part of the every day spa scene down here. From north to south, here are some of the top experiences to consider during your Sunshine State getaway.

Fontainebleau’s Lapis Spa in Miami Beach

For visitors to South Beach, the Fontainebleau’s Lapis Spa offers the luxury expected by vacationers to this city known for its bling and Beyoncé sightings. This top Florida resort hotel’s most notable is the venue’s water amenities enjoyed by spa goers before, after and in between treatments. The amenity area offers a complete water journey experience by way of the rain tunnel, eucalyptus steam room, energy deluge shower, the bleau rain room and the mineral-infused pool.

The Sandestin Resort’s Serenity by the Sea Spa

Voted the best spa by Emerald Coast Magazine since 2003, Serenity by the Sea offers the full luxury experience to those visiting the greater Destin area. Offering everything from gentleman’s facials to bamboo cane massages with any number of treatment packages in between, the Emerald Coast facility also boasts luxury amenities such as a large whirlpool, sauna and access to the venue’s new state of the art fitness facility.

The Shores Resort and Spa in Daytona Beach

Located in Daytona Beach, The Shores Resort and Spa offers a luxurious respite from the hustle and bustle of other Daytona events such as Biketoberfest and the Daytona 500. The only AAA four-diamond Florida beach resort in Central Florida, The Shores makes a point to celebrate the essence of Florida in its signature spa treatments. With selections such as key lime margarita manicures and pedicures along with the sweet citrus soak and cocoa butter wrap, spa goers will definitely know they have arrived in the Sunshine State.

Canyon Ranch Miami

Arizona’s famed Canyon Ranch now has a new branch. Right here in sunny Florida. The Miami Beach location brings the additional element of wellness travel in the form of a five-star health resort to the world-famous Miami spa scene. With four sparkling pools, 70,000 square feet of spa space and an organic, sustainable wine selection to pair with its gourmet menu, Canyon Ranch is definitely bringing its A game.

The Peabody Orlando

Boasting a spacious sanctuary area and the ability to book both indoor and outdoor massages, the spa at the Peabody in Orlando offers scrumptious relief from mouse overload. Guests can book a European massage or facial, indulge in the facility’s in-house organic skin care line or luxuriate with one of the several scented lotions available. The venue also has a complete fitness center.

Key lime pedicures? Radical rain tunnels? All paired with world class tourist attractions like the Everglades, manatee swimming and Disney theme parks? Clearly, spa fans will find lots to love in Florida. So what are you waiting for? Come on down.

Myscha Theriault is a syndicated columnist for McClatchy-Tribune, best-selling author, and professional blogger whose work has been featured by Forbes, MSN, the Los Angeles Times, Boston Herald, AOL, and others. Print interviews include Better Homes and Gardens, Women’s World, and All You Magazines. She is the founder of Trekhound.com, a web site for independent travelers. You can also catch up with her on Twitter.

Florida Keys, FL – With sunny skies and balmy temperatures, spring in the Florida Keys & Key West heralds new and enhanced offerings in land and water attractions, historic experiences and even wedding opportunities. Explore the highlights here.

Dive & Snorkel Adventures

Key Largo’s newest dive operator, Sail Fish Scuba at MM 103, offers divers comfort, pampering and companionship with guided scuba and snorkel tours that follow the motto “You’re never alone in the water.”

Sail Fish Scuba offers fully guided morning, afternoon and sunset scuba and snorkel tours. Staff adds to participants’ comfort by handling all equipment and leading them through group descents and ascents.

All snorkel and dive tours with Sail Fish Scuba include an escort by a professional underwater photographer. Each tour participant goes home with a photo disk containing approximately 100 photos from his or her dive trip.

Sail Fish Scuba also offers scuba instruction, fishing charters and dive equipment rentals.

For further information, visit www.sailfishscuba.com or call 305-453-3446.

Hovercraft Tours

Visitors to the Upper Keys can travel above the water at high speeds aboard Lady Hawke hovercraft operated by Hover Tour.

Launched from a bayside beach next to the Caribbean Club, near MM 104, the new Key Largo attraction takes passengers on tours of Blackwater Sound and Lake Surprise.

Cruising at a speed of about 32 knots, hovercrafts provide an eco-friendly joyride on a cushion of air above the surface — with no real contact with the water or land and no harmful impact on marine animals.

Lady Hawke uses several shallow-water routes around Key Largo. Passengers can see Florida Bay waters from a unique perspective, getting up close to mangrove forests, exotic birds, the occasional porpoise and other marine life including manatees and alligators.

The hovercraft seats up to 20 passengers in an air-conditioned cabin. Offerings range from a 15-minute “curiosity tour” to two-hour tours involving beach picnics, water volleyball, snorkeling and more. Private charters can be booked as well.

Lady Hawke is available for rides and charters every day, weather permitting.

Visit www.Hover-Tour.com or call 305-904-3833 for reservations and information.

New Yacht Available for Charter

A new private charter yacht is setting sail from the southernmost city of Key West. L’Esprit Libre II, or Free Spirit II, is now available for a full range of private charter services including two-hour sunset cruises, half-day adventure excursions, weeklong leisure trips and more.

All yacht charters aboard L’Esprit Libre II are all-inclusive and feature meals, beverages, snorkeling and fishing equipment. The yacht accommodates single parties of up to six guests.

The vessel is skippered by Captain Thom Harris, a U.S. Coast Guard captain/master, PADI rescue diver, trained French Provençal chef and notary public capable of performing marriage services.

For further information and charter inquiries, visit www.lespritlibre.org or call 410-919-8270.

Historic Florida Keys Attractions

Although the Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad centennial celebration ended Jan. 23, Keys visitors can explore permanent sites, exhibits and landmarks related to the railroad. Conceived by Henry Flagler and lauded upon its completion as the world’s most unique, the railroad connected the Florida Keys with each other and mainland Florida for the first time in 1912.

At the Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House, 281 Front St. in Key West, a permanent exhibit titled “Flagler’s Speedway to Sunshine” showcases the railroad’s construction, heyday and 1935 demise. For details, visit www.kwahs.com or call 305-295-6616.

The five-acre island of Pigeon Key, nestled beneath the Old Seven Mile Bridge, housed more than 400 workers who built Flagler’s railroad in the early 1900s. Many of Pigeon Key’s original railroad buildings and houses dating to 1909 still stand, and daily historical tours are offered of the island’s museum that chronicles the construction. For more information, visit www.pigeonkey.net or call 305-743-5999.

At the Historic Key West Seaport, the Flagler Station Over-Sea Railway Historeum takes guests back to the day in 1912 when the first train arrived at the island city. The museum is open daily at the corner of Caroline and Margaret streets. For information, visit www.flaglerstation.net or call 305-293-8716.

Travelers on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway also can recall the railroad through a recently created outdoor art mural in Key Largo, covering the southwest exterior wall of a building at 95360 U.S. Highway 1 near mile marker 95 bayside.

New Key West Museum

A new Key West museum is set to open in April depicting the natural and historic resources of Dry Tortugas National Park and historic Fort Jefferson. The museum also will spotlight the culturally rich history of the Key West Bight, the natural deep-water harbor on the island’s Gulf of Mexico side.

The Dry Tortugas National Park & Fort Jefferson Interpretive Center is located at 240 Margaret St. in Key West, where it will bring the experience of the remote park to harbor-front visitors.

Dry Tortugas National Park, lying approximately 70 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico, is made up of seven tiny coral-and-sand islands. It includes Fort Jefferson, begun in 1846, one of the largest brick structures in the Western Hemisphere. During the Civil War, Fort Jefferson served as a Union military prison for captured deserters and others.

Museum highlights include a 14-by-16-foot model of the historic fort, a photomural depicting the history of the Key West Bight, an exhibit featuring a life-size replica of the fort’s most famous prisoner, Dr. Samuel Mudd, and a hands-on children’s exhibit showcasing the natural resources of the park.

The museum will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is free to the public. For further information, call 305-294-7009.

African Queen to Sail Again

The iconic vessel from John Huston’s 1951 film “The African Queen,” starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, will soon cruise the Key Largo waters again.

Named for the classic film, African Queen recently underwent a major restoration costing more than $60,000. Work included repairing cosmetic as well as mechanical details, making the boat once again fit to carry passengers.

Registered as a national historic site, African Queen was built in 1912 and has been around the world twice. Since 1983, it has been “homeported” at a dock at the Holiday Inn Key Largo, MM 100.

After an April 12 launch party featuring Steven Bogart, the son of film star Humphrey Bogart, African Queen will run daily two-hour canal cruises in Key Largo waters and dinner cruises on selected nights. In addition, it will be available for charters for private events.

For cruise reservations and other African Queen information, call 305-451-8080. Information also is to be available soon at www.calypsosailing.com.

History of Diving Museum

Divers and those curious about the underwater world can immerse themselves in the history of mans quest to explore beneath the sea at the new Bauer Diving History Research Library, located at the History of Diving Museum at MM 83 in Islamorada

The new library is named for the museum’s founders, Drs. Joe and Sally Bauer. Like the items in the museum, its contents are part of the Bauers’ extensive collection of extraordinary dive artifacts amassed over the past 40 years.

The Bauer Library holds one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of books relating to undersea exploration. It includes more than 2,500 rare books, prints, woodcuts, catalogs and photographs illustrating diving history, treasure hunting, submarine warfare, natural history and other aspects of underwater exploration. The oldest book in the collection dates back to 1535.

The museum’s exhibits encompass 4,000 years of diving history. Highlights include an exhibit of dive helmets from around the world, and one dedicated to Upper Keys treasure hunter Art “Silver Bar” McKee.

The History of Diving Museum is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition, it hosts informative free seminars on the third Wednesday night of each month.

For further information, visit www.divingmuseum.org or call 305-664-9737.

Keys Weddings

Getting married in Florida is a dream of many and now couples can swallow the anchor — the pirate term for getting married — in a pirate-themed wedding, or get hitched in any fashion, with the help of Key West’s newest wedding emporium, Pirate Weddings of Key West.

Pirate-themed weddings are a specialty and packages begin at $300. Couples can choose assistance with any aspect of the occasion from venue rental and wedding planning services to photography, officiant services, costumes, food and more.

Typical pirate weddings are performed in the sand or aboard a chartered sailboat or yacht. The staff at Pirate Weddings of Key West also can assist with traditional weddings and those with nonpirate themes.

Pirate Weddings’ retail shop, located at 213 Simonton St., can dress mates from head to toe in pirate-related gear including pirate hats, mermaid costumes, jewelry, swords, corsets, wench costumes and more.

For more information visit www.PirateWeddingsofKeyWest.com or call 305-414-8049.

Florida Keys visitor information: www.fla-keys.com or 1-800-FLA-KEYS (1-800-352-5397).