Everglades City is a tiny fishing village on the northwest border of Everglades National Park, the third largest national park in the lower forty eight, after Death Valley and Yellowstone, as well as the largest remaining subtropical wilderness in the continental United States.

In Everglades City, you can stay at the Ivey House Bead & Breakfast, the first places in Collier County designed by the state as green lodging, for its reductions in waste and power and water use.

There are several dining options in Everglades City, mainly fish restaurants, you will find there the Oyster House, Everglades Seafood Depot, and Camilla Street Grill. Even though Everglades City is quite small, you can be sure there are many things to do there. The ideal way to take a tour of Everglades National Park from Everglades City is by boat. It is highly recommended to take a tour that will be mainly centered on the water. This way your whole experience is going to be more environmental-friendly. Do not get me wrong, I am not talking about air boats! Apart from airboat operators, you can also find other less invasive water operator tours providing kayak excursions, among other kinds of watercraft excursions.

Most of the tours provide a visit to Everglades National Park. At the Park, the four visitor’s centers and ranger stations ar open 365 day a year. However, their hours can vary by season, opening between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Everglades National Park boat tours depart daily numerous times from 9:00 a.m. thru 4:30 p.m. from the park’s Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City. The Ten Thousand Island Tour lasts 90 minutes and costs $26.50; half a price for children. While the Man-grove Wilderness Tour, which lasts and hour and 45 minutes, costs $35, and half of that for kids under 12 years old.

Among the top eco-friendly tour operators in Everglades City, Everglades Rentals & Eco Adventures provides day and overnight guided tours, as well as equipment rental and shut5tle services from October through April.

Florida Everglades Eco Adventure Tours’ Contact Information:

Everglades National Park www.nps.gov/ever
Ivey House 239-695-3299 www.iveyhouse.com
Everglades National Park Boat Tours 239-695-2591
Gulf Coast Visitor’s Center 239-695-3311
Everglades Rentals & Eco Adventures 239-695-3299 www.evergladesadventures.com

Calendar of Miami Events 2008

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Chic, distinction, warmth, and intimacy are the main words when defining boutique hotels in Miami, Florida, which seem to attract a niche of customers looking for a special and differentiated property able to fulfill their individual needs.

Ever since the beginning of the 21st century, the hotel industry has become increasingly packed with big monopolies of hotel chains. These hotels chains, mostly based in North America, thrived in selling uniformity across the U.S. These days, visitors of the city of Miami look forward to more than simply comfort and convenience; therefore, when they are planning trips to Miami, they seek hotels that are noticeably different in look and feel from branded hotels. Boutique hotels in Miami and South Beach seem to be the ideal solution for those travelers looking for intimacy and differentiation.

Boutique hotels are believed to have been invented in the early 1980s, and normally target travelers who are in their early 20s to mid-50s, with mid- to upper-income averages. In Miami Florida, the most emblematic boutique hotels are located in the South Beach Art Deco District. They usually consist of old art deco style buildings which have been completely renovated to fit on the boutique hotel definition. Some of the well-known South Beach boutique hotels are: Colony, Blue Moon, Delano, Catalina, Townhouse, Victor, Sanctuary, Shore Club, Astor, and Whitelaw. Many of these Miami hotels were revitalized by their owners, repositioning them as hip boutique hotels by mixing historic details with chic elegance.

Most boutique hotels in Miami are small buildings that do not exceed 150 rooms. Many rich and famous think that what differentiates Miami boutique hotels from standardized Miami hotels is the connection that hotel guests experience with the hotel staff and the service offered.

Stay in a Miami boutique hotel to experience something different!

Other Recommended Posts of the Week:

This Week Events in Miami /  Upcoming Concerts in Miami

Upcoming Big Miami Events, Miami Florida Festival

Erotic Art Exhibition in Miami, Miami Events

Miami Summer Shorts Festival

Calendar of Miami Events 2008

June / July / August / September / October

Most people are always looking for new and interesting ways to spend their vacations when saving money. With the advance of the Internet, there have appear new and interesting ways for travelers to enjoy a very deserve vacation. A new trend that is going strong all around the globe is vacation rentals, and Miami is not the exception! Nevertheless, in the most popular area of Miami, Miami Beach, short-term rentals have some restrictions. Therefore, it is hard to find good Miami Beach vacation rentals.

When looking for a Miami Beach vacation rental, you must be cautious. There are several ways through which one can rent Miami Beach vacation rentals. The Internet has it all, but before you go to the every changing online world you must know in detail the three, almost four, ways vacation rentals are available to travelers.

To start with, there are really big websites that make easy the mission to book a vacation rental. Examples of those are: vacationrentals.com, vacationhomerentals.com, vacationhomes.com, goin2travel.com. However, you must know how they work before going ahead. Everyone can list a property on those websites. I could be for free or by paying a fee. Either way it can be a little risky. Just suppose one want to make easy money and put an online ad of a property that really does not exist. What will happen is that you will get scam. Most of these kinds of websites have incorporated some ways to prevent anything like this to happen, yet it might not been enough because “face to face” contact is not require in order to put the ad.

Other way to rent a Miami Beach vacation rental is through an owner. There are many people with vacation properties or investment properties that have decided to open them to travelers in order to make some money or pay their mortgages. Renting through an owner also has its issues. For instance, the owner might not live on Miami, Florida, so if you have any kind of problem with the Miami vacation condo or Miami vacation home, it might be hard to get a quick response.

There are some real estate agents doing Miami Beach vacation rentals, but they are a few. Miami realtors make more money by selling or doing long-term rentals, so they usually not take the time to do short-term rentals in Miami.

At this instant, we have come with local Miami vacation rentals agencies. As it already was mentioned, there are certain restrictions over Miami Beach vacation rentals, so there are not many around. However, Miami Beach vacation rental agencies might be the most secure way to rent a vacation apartment or vacation home in Miami, Florida. A local agency is usually managed by local people who will guide you, as it should be, through all the rental process. Besides, if you get to have any problem with the property they can take care of you immediately. In most cases, you can almost be sure that the property is going to be well-maintained. Owners might not be that meticulous, otherwise. MiamiHabitat.com is a local agency operating in the hearth of Miami Beach where you will probably find a property that suits you.

Afterwards, Miami Beach vacation rentals represent a good solution to tourists looking forward to a more private and . They just have to be smart at the time to choose a property, and rental canal, in order to avoid any further inconvenient.

Other interesting posts this week:

2008 Father’s Day in Miami

Calendar of Miami Events 2008

May / June / July / August / September / October /

]]> http://aboutmiami.wordpress.com/2008/06/02/miami-beach-vacation-rentals/feed/ Miami Vacations Miami Beach Vacation Condos and Homes Miami Beach Accommodations http://aboutmiami.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/miami-information-rubber-ban-ball/ http://aboutmiami.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/miami-information-rubber-ban-ball/#comments Wed, 28 May 2008 19:31:20 +0000 topmiamievents http://aboutmiami.wordpress.com/?p=21

A Miami Florida man hopes to make it into the “Guinness Book Of World Records” with his massive rubber band ball. Joel Waul has been twisting, wrapping and stretching rubber bands for years in order to overcome the current world’s record. Recently, Wauld mentioned he believed the world record was 4,594 pounds, and his ball was around 8,200 pounds and 6-foot-tall.

It took four years and one month later, but the rubber band ball has already given fame to its creator by appearing on YouTube.com and other local media.

Calendar of Miami Events 2008

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Miami Travel Deals of the Week

South Beach Affordable Vacation Rentals

Recently, the Miami-Dade County Commission passed an ordinance that will enable hundreds of county employees to receive domestic partnership benefits. This ordinance will allow those who work for the Miami-Dade County to extend their health coverage to their unmarried partners and children. In addition to health care coverage, the ordinance gives domestic partners and their children visitation rights at hospitals, county jails and juvenile detention facilities.

According to Miami-Dade County’s managers, it will cost $1.3 million a year if 600 domestic partners are enrolled. So far, 900 county employees have filed for domestic partnership benefits.

This is a big victory for gay rights organizations such as Equality Florida and SAVE Dade. It was around time that something like this happened in South Florida. We have to remember South Florida has an important gay community who has positively influenced our economy.

Calendar of Miami Events 2008

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Miami Travel Deals of the Week

South Beach Affordable Vacation Rentals

Airing on the CBS network, one of the most popular series in the U.S., CSI Miami stands for Crime Scene Investigation Miami. The show depicts a team of forensic scientists in action solving murders after murders using to do so the most advanced available technology. This TV show has become very popular throughout the years, and one of the reasons is, of course, David Caruso’s performance as Horacio Cane. David Caruso’s performance has been mocked all over the world. Even Jim Carrey did his interpretation at Dave Letterman’s Late Show. Apart from all, I have to tell show I love the show, even when sometimes it is completely irrelevant to Miami, Florida.

If you have seen the show, you already know its features views of Miami Beach’s most upscale buildings. Besides, all crimes take place at the hottest Miami night clubs, Miami hotels such as the Delano Hotel Pool, and tropical Miami luxury homes. All this is just one part of Miami, and perhaps the most important since is the one keeping Miami tourism alive. Actually, there is nothing better that having money and been in Miami because this way people can truly experience or even visiting Miami the “CSI Miami’s style.” With enough resources you will be able to charter a Miami boat to enjoy our fantastic waters when on vacations in Miami. Additionally, you will be able to enjoy fine dining and definitely the best of Miami nightlife at the most high-end South Beach nightclubs and Miami hotels. If you are a visitor, renting a luxury car in Miami is pretty easy… you can even rent a Hummer H2, Horacio Cane’s vehicle on CSI Miami.

Afterwards, this over the top Miami’s lifestyle is just a little part of the City of Miami. In fact, there a less popular TV show that features the city of Miami as a star in a more real way. Dexter, Based on Jeff Lindsay’s novels Darkly Dreaming Dexter and Dearly Devoted Dexter, is a TV show about a forensic blood spatter expert for the Miami Dade Police Department that hunts down people who have escaped justice and makes sure they don’t get away with a crime again. Dexter is a serial killer of serial killers. Making the point Dexter, which also airs on CBS, show a more low-key human side of Miami. With views of Latin suburbs and Cuban café places, Dexter shows Miami as Miami’s residents truly know it.

Calendar of Miami Events 2008

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Miami Travel Deals

Miami Beach Vacation Rentals

Vacation Rentals South Beach

Early this week a controversy evolving Miami Dolphins’ Jason Taylor emerged. It seems the soon to be ex-NFL player wants to slow down his football career in order to pursue an acting career. Taylor recently said to the media that he still wanted to play football, but no more with the Miami Dolphins.

Jason Taylor participated in the last season of the popular TV “Dancing with the Stars” where he displayed a bit of charisma. His sudden popularity might be the reason why Taylor is so into pursuing an acting career using “Dancing with the Stars” as a platform.

It is still unknown if Taylor is out of the Miami Dolphins. However, we do know he isn’t participating in Miami’s off-season workout program. It seems like taking acting classes and auditions is time-consuming; therefore, Taylor’s scheduled is pretty tied.

Afterwards, Taylor is facing a difficult choice. He can continue his pursuit of the Super Bowl ring that has eluded him through 11 standout NFL seasons, or can retire to take advantage of his popularity in Hollywood from his “Dancing with the Stars” appearances.

Calendar of Miami Events 2008

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Miami Travel Deals

Miami Beach Vacation Rentals

Vacation Rentals South Beach

Miami Florida is a great vacation spot year-round; therefore, there are several lodging options. Nowadays, I growing tendency among frequent travelers are vacation rentals. Relying in a vacation rental in Miami can make your whole experience different than staying in a Miami hotel. For instance, you will be able to save some money and get more privacy. Personally, I think vacation rentals in Miami Beach are ideal for people traveling with a big group whether it is for recreation or business. Next you will find a few tips on how to find and select a great vacation rental in Miami Beach.

Travelers can rent a condo or home through the owner directly or by using the services offered by a vacation rental in Miami agency. There are many owners of Miami vacation condos that advertise their properties in local classifieds or even in international vacation rental websites such as www.escaperental.com. You must be aware that renting a vacation rental in Miami through an owner can be a little risky because the maintenance of the property could be no good enough, at least not as you would like it to be. When renting a vacation rental in Miami through an owner TRUST is KEEN. You need to trust the owner and be careful with many scammers that invade websites with fake properties. On the other hand, when you rent from a well-established vacation rental agency in Miami you can be sure your money and  trip are save. Also, renting through an agency will guarantee you, or it should guarantee you quality and maintenance of the property, whether it is a Miami vacation condo or a Miami vacation home.

Be sure the property you are selecting is located in a good area close to most Miami attractions. Check with the owner or agency if the property is FURNISHED and discuss PARKING issues PRIOR arriving.

When selecting Miami vacation websites, you should first and foremost select a website based in Miami Florida for precision and good service.

The appearance of the website is what sells the properties; therefore, you should choose one that looks professional and well-taken care of. Choose websites that offer full descriptions of the areas, buildings, apartments, and plenty of pictures so that there are no bad surprises in the end. At the same time, these websites should provide you with an e-mail address and contact number in case of any questions or for further assistance. Check if there is a phone number and an address, if it is easily accessible, then the company encourages you to call, thus it is service oriented. To great vacation rentals’ websites in Miami are MiamiHabitat.com and MiamiLodge.com

Vacation rentals in Miami are the ideal place to stay during your Miami travel!

]]> http://aboutmiami.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/how-to-select-a-vacation-rental-in-miami-affordable-miami-vacation-rentals/feed/ Miami Vacation Rentals http://aboutmiami.wordpress.com/2008/05/13/miami-tourism-campaign/ http://aboutmiami.wordpress.com/2008/05/13/miami-tourism-campaign/#comments Tue, 13 May 2008 14:45:48 +0000 topmiamievents http://aboutmiami.wordpress.com/?p=12

Miami give birth to a new marketing Miami tourism campaign targeting more sophisticated travelers. The City of Miami is looking forward to attract more wealthy people with this campaign.

The slogan Miami: Express yourself, whereas the print campaign displays the work of prominent local artists. In addition, to attract affluent tourists this campaign is a reflection on the art movement that has taken over Miami for the past years. The City of Miami wants to let the entire world know that now we are serving as an emerging cultural center. For instance, Miami has become the home of world-known art festivals such as Art Basel Miami. Besides, Miami is home of several new cultural centers like Miami Carnival Center of the Performing Arts which each year brings new events to the city. As is this were not enough, the Miami Design District and Miami Wynwood Art District are emerging as two hot art spots whit numerous art galleries, sidewalk restaurants, and clubs. Nowadays, visitors and locals can enjoy a wonderful evening at Miami Art Districts by walking around galleries and enjoying a meal in one of the most exclusive and well-though restaurants in town such as Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink, already serving an A-list of clients, or perhaps having a drink in a Miami night club without the craziness of South Beach party scene. For once, Circa 28 allows young-elite to party with artists and intellectual people, instead of Spring Breakers, party animals, or even celebrity’s groupies.

The bottom line of this campaign is that Miami needs this kind of visitors to maintain its economy. Broward County is already making efforts to promote Fort Lauderdale as Florida’s premier vacation destination. Nevertheless, Miami also needs this projection in order to keep alive the various luxury hotels in Miami Beach, premier Miami restaurants and travel services. We must remember Miami is a vacation destination and, for worst or best, we all need this tourism industry. However, we cannot forget the regular tourist who has give Miami so much. The perfect Miami for me is one that can provide a high-end vacation to affluent tourists, who might even decide to invest in our city, but at the same time can properly serve the regular tourist traveling on a budget, who surely do not want to pay more than he should or get scam at a Miami night club.

Calendar of Miami Events 2008

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Miami Travel Deals of the Week

Affordable Hollywood Beach Florida Hotels

24-7 VIP Concierge Services in Miami

Cinco de MiMo was the first Miami event celebrating Miami modern architecture. The main objective of this Miami event is to set out to bring back to life a historic, motel section on Biscayne Boulevard.

This event in Miami was a big effort to bring more attention to this district in Miami, which run from Northeast 50th to 77th streets on Biscayne. This event in Miami featured a Frida Kahlo look-alike contest relating the event with the Mexican Holiday celebrated on May 5th. Besides party and celebration, the event in Miami featured walking tours where people were allow to see a mix of architectural Art Deco and Mediterranean styles. Walkers also heard stories of how this Miami neighborhood became what it is today. Resident of this Miami Neighborhood mentioned they could see a certain revival or the area the same way it happens with the South Beach Art Deco Festival, a Miami event that takes place every year on South Beach’s Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road.

Calendar of Miami Events 2008

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Miami Travel Deals of the Week

Affordable Hollywood Beach Florida Hotels

24-7 VIP Concierge Services in Miami

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