It probably won’t come as a surprise to too many people nowadays that the Spanish Conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon was not, in fact, really looking for a genuine fountain of youth on his explorations in Florida. This myth was most likely born in the 1560 ‘s after Ponce ‘s death.

The grain of truth that supposedly sits at the center of every tall tail may have to do with his metaphorical search for rebirth in finding new glories in the New World in the form of resources and wealth. These would certainly be the next best thing to a new leash on life to the world-weary chancer that took up the task of conquering the “Island” of Florida.

Even without the mystical McGuffin embodied by the Fountain of Youth, Ponce de Leon ‘s exploits, explorations and adventures in Florida are worth remembering.

Ponce de Leon was a veteran sailor and soldier of many years experience when he accompanied Christopher Columbus on his 2nd journey to the New World. He had fought the moors in Granada as a young man, and as such would prove a valuable asset to Spain ‘s conquest of the America ‘s in the violent years to come.

Ponce was the 1st European to land on Puerto Rico in 1508. He was made the Governor of Puerto Rico a year later, and his eventual capitol was named after his more pious namesake, San Juan. Local Indian tribes like the Tainos would have surely preferred San Juan over Governor Juan, who quickly enslaved them and forced them to work in the mines. In a familiar story, the indigenous peoples of Puerto Rico also died in droves from infectious European diseases that they had no natural immunity to.

Politics and legalities care nothing for the vastness of oceans, and that was true in Ponce ‘s time as well. In 1512 Diego Columbus had pressed the Spanish Crown to sign over the right to govern Puerto Rico as part of an earlier agreement the king had made with his father Christopher. As such Ponce was removed as governor.

Unsurprisingly, Ponce felt cheated. Determined to recover his glory and good name, Ponce equipped three ships (at his own expense) and set sail for the undiscovered countries to the North.

In 1513 Ponce de Leon was probably the 1st European to set foot on what is today known as Florida (or maybe not, as he supposedly met a Floridian Indian who spoke decent Spanish later that year). The date of the landing was April 2, the Pascua Florida, or Flowery Passover a.k.a. Easter Season. It is from this holiday the region received its name.

Still lusting for glory, Ponce returned to Spain in 1514. There he received a commission to conquer the Caribs of Guadalupe. He attempted this in 1515, but was unsuccessful and returned to Puerto Rico. It would be another 6 years before he ventured forth again.

In 1521 Ponce was in his 60s , no mean feat for an explorer in the 16th century. If Florida really did have a fountain of youth, he surely would have done his best to find it. With his time to claim a land of his own quickly running out he tried his luck in Florida once more. It was one time to many. Native Americans attacked his party and Ponce received an arrow wound. He made it to Havana, Cuba before he succumbed. Juan Ponce de Leon was entombed in Old San Juan.

An estimated 1.24 million visitors to Central Florida each year stay in resort homes in Osceola County alone, and spend more than $1 billion. Adding in what the homes’ owners spend, that grows to roughly $1.7 billion as it ripples through the economy, according to a report released Thursday.

The report, commissioned by the Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau and prepared by the Dick Pope Sr. Institute for Tourism Studies at the University of Central Florida, surveyed the county’s vacation-home owners, guests and management companies and asked them about their spending habits, among other things.

“I think that is a great indication of how vibrant the vacation-rental market is in the Central Florida area,” said Jeff Chase, executive director of the Central Florida Vacation Rental Managers Association. “That’s an amazing number.”

Nigel Worrall of Florida Leisure Vacation Homes also welcomed the report and made the following observation: 

“Maybe this is the wake up call that Osceola County needs in order to acknowledge the contribution vacation homes make to the area and to the tax base?

Polk County have had the data for years and in 2005 when the last economic impact survey was done there, it was shown that the economic impact of the vacation home industry was $1.6 Billion. Put that together with Osceola and you now have a number in the region of $3.3 Billion.

If you then consider that Lake County has an increasing number of vacation homes and then add in the small number in Orange County, you are probably talking about an industry worth over $4 BILLION to the local economy. ”
The report provides one of the first comprehensive pictures of the effect vacation homes have on the local tourism economy. Long existing in the shadow of the hotel industry, which is monitored by several travel-research companies, resort-home rentals have not been extensively studied.

“At the moment, there’s just simply no organization tracking them,” said Daryl Cronk, director of research for the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The vacation-home industry is still relatively fragmented compared to the hotel industry.”

The homes’ owners, according to the study, generate $554 million in direct, indirect and “induced” spending each year — the “ripple effect” often cited by economists. Their renters generate more than $1.1 billion in such spending.

Throughout Central Florida, the tourism industry overall is thought to contribute $30 billion to the economy each year, according to the Orlando/Orange County CVB.

Based on licenses issued by Osceola County, the study identified at least 7,811 vacation homes in the county. As part of the report, 40 homeowners were surveyed, along with 113 guests and 15 resort-home property managers. Because of the small size of the samples, the authors cautioned that the results needed to be “interpreted with caution.”

Those who rent vacation homes in Osceola tend to be repeat visitors: More than 70 percent said they have visited the destination at least three times. They travel in larger-than-normal groups — seven people — and spend an average of eight days in the county.

The county’s vacation homes support 20,625 jobs throughout the economy, with an average annual wage of $29,886. The industry generates $172 million in indirect business taxes, including $96 million that stayed with local and state governments.

The study also compared the habits of the vacation-home owners with those of their renters.

Renters tend to spend big on accommodations during a typical visit — an average of $2,566 — and also shell out an average of more than $1,500 at the area’s theme parks. The homes’ owners, on the other hand, direct more money toward food and beverages — $1,803 per party per visit — and an average of $862 on shopping, almost $300 more than renters do.

“It turned out to be very fascinating numbers,” said Tad Hara, an associate professor with the University of Central Florida who contributed to the report. “I don’t think anybody else had done something like this before.”

Florida Leisure’s innovative online Easter Egg Hunt is underway, with great prizes and discounts.  All you have to do is find the eggs and contact them to win.  Already one lucky lady booked a 5 day vacation and received another 5 days for free.  www.FloridaLeisure.com for more details.

When you come to the US there is no need to worry about missing your favorite football team in action.  The whole weekend is filled with live games and tape-delayed highlights of almost every Premier League game on Setanta and Fox Sports.  Yesterday I went to the Fox and Hounds in Kissimmee and watched Rangers win the CIS Cup live at the Orlando Rangers Supporters Club. 

I just read this … DISGUSTING!!!  Hot tubs and pools should be two of the most important areas that hotels should concentrate on.

ORLANDO, Fla. — An Orange County, Florida hotel will close voluntarily after an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, WSB-TV Channel 2 learned Friday.

The Orange County Health Department says two laboratory-confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease are linked to the Quality Inn near Universal Studios. The hotel is in the International Drive tourist corridor, popular with tourists visiting nearby theme parks.

Officials believe the outbreak may have started in the hotel’s hot tub, which may not have been properly chlorinated.

The Health Department investigation began Thursday. The hotel was sampled for water contamination. It will take two weeks to get results back. Indoor air quality will also be tested.

At least two people were hospitalized as a result of the outbreak, Action News has learned, however no further information about their condition was available. They remain in a Pinellas County hospital. Pinellas County officials first alerted Orange County officials to the potential problem. The patients had stayed at the hotel within the last two weeks.

The situation is very delicate for health experts, because anytime an outbreak affects a hotel, the news can be crippling. Local and state health officials met late Friday morning to consult with experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

Legionnaires’ disease is named after an outbreak of pneumonia that struck attendees of a convention of the American Legion in Philadelphia in July 1976.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Legionnaires’ disease can have symptoms like many other forms of pneumonia, so it can be hard to diagnose at first. Signs of the disease can include: a high fever, chills, and a cough. Some people may also suffer from muscle aches and headaches. Chest X-rays are needed to find the pneumonia caused by the bacteria, and other tests can be done on sputum (phlegm), as well as blood or urine to find evidence of the bacteria in the body. These symptoms usually begin 2 to 14 days after being exposed to the bacteria. Legionnaires’ disease can be very serious and can cause death in up to 5 percent to 30 percent of cases. Most cases can be treated successfully with antibiotics, and healthy people usually recover from infection.”

There’s a lot to do in Orlando, with tons of attractions and entertainment options, but many of these activities are quite pricey. If you are in Orlando and looking for a great family outing that won’t dent your budget, then you should plan to spend some time at the Blue Spring State Park, in Orange City Florida. Here you can camp, swim, hike, canoe and get a close up look at the Manatees.

Manatees, also known as sea cows, are large, gentle aquatic mammals that have been associated in popular folklore with mermaids. Located on the St. Johns River, Blue Spring State Park is a designated Manatee refuge. Temperatures in the spring run remain a constant 72 degrees; creating a safe haven for the West Indian Manatee. Manatees seek out the 72-degree warmth of Blue Spring when winter chills the St. Johns River.

You can watch these endangered mammals from a boardwalk along the spring run. Best viewing is in the morning or late afternoon. In November the first of the migratory West Indian Manatees arrive. Once the manatees have arrived the park offers a daily interpretive program for visitors

As interesting as the manatees are, the park offers many other great activities. If you enjoy canoeing and kayaking, then you can canoe along the beautiful Blue Spring Run and the St Johns River. Canoes may be rented at the Park Concession.

There are also boat tours down the St. John ‘s River. The two-hour tours are offered daily at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. The trip is a narrated nature and ecological cruise which lets you see the real Florida. For fees and reservations, you can call these numbers: 407.330.1612, 386.917.0724.

Do you like hiking? Then the park ‘s nature trails will be of interest to you. The same pristine beauty enjoyed by Florida ‘s earliest residents still can be seen today. A self-guided boardwalk guides visitors through a lush hammock to Blue Spring.

You can enjoy some great picnicking at two separate picnic areas in the park. There are covered pavilions with grills located at these areas for larger groups. One of the picnic areas also has a large covered barbecue pit, and can be reserved, for a fee, from October through March. Contact the park office for details.

Of course if you are in Florida you have to swim as much as you can. The park offers swimming and scuba-diving in a crystal clear, 72 degree spring run. Scuba-divers must register at the entrance station between the hours of 8 AM. And 3 PM, with an up-to-date certification card and a partner. Swimming or diving with the manatees is NOT permitted.

How much does this cost? The park admission fee is $5.00 per vehicle. Pedestrians,bicyclists and extra passengers are charged $1.00.

If this sounds like a good outing for you, then visit the park ‘s website at http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/ for more information and start planning your trip now.

Europeans no longer need a visa when visiting Florida, a full British passport is all that is now needed. Airlines will issue you with a Visa waver form on the aircraft before landing and also a Customs Declaration card. They must be handed into Customs when going through passport control.

Orlando International airport is the main International airport for the state and there are also large airports at Tampa, Miami and Sanford.

When clearing customs you should hand in your customs declaration form, listing all the things that you have brought into the US. You must note that you cannot bring in fresh meat, fruit, drugs and plants.

Disabled travellers will find ramps, wide doors, lifts and other wheelchair provisions in major public places. You should contact your car hire firm for written proof of their policies towards disabled drivers. On arrival in the state, the car hire company should direct you to the local county office in order to claim disabled driver status. Please remember that in some cases you may have to wait up to two hours to get your disabled visitor badge.

European drivers can drive in Florida on a full driving licence issued in their own country. However under 25 ‘s may find it difficult to hire a car or may have to pay much higher rates of hire and insurance. Many airlines now offer Fly Drive holidays which offer competitive car hire rates.

When hiring a car you must ensure that you have the correct insurance. It is advisable to take out Collision Damage Waver. You may find it to be expensive, but it is essential to take out as it covers you for all conceivable events.

Most hire cars in Florida are automatics and come with air conditioning. You now generally find that the main car hire companies are now bases at the airports which makes collecting and dropping off the car much easier.

In Florida they drive on the right hand side of the road and it is preferable for first time visitors to arrive in day light in order to familiarise themselves with the road networks.

The interstate roads are the best for long journeys and have anywhere up to six lanes. Please remember that Americans overtake on both sides which can be a shock for foreign tourists on their first visit. Also remember when using a toll road to have money to pay at each toll booth.

The speed limit in Florida is 65mph and in outer city limits it is usually 55mph. In built up areas it drops to 30 – 35mph. If you are stopped by the police, wait in the car and be polite. Florida police do not appreciate rude drivers.

Drinking and driving is not tolerated in Florida and it is regarded as a serious offence. If stopped on suspicion of drink driving, you can be locked up on the spot until you have taken a urine test. You should not drink drive under any circumstances.

If you are unfortunate enough to break down while driving in Florida you should wait in your car with the bonnet raised and wait until the Highway Patrol stop to help you.

In Florida the standard electrical supply is 110-120 volts and if bringing your own electrical devices from Europe, you must use an adaptor.

Travellers from Europe do not need any inoculations before visiting Florida. Water is safe to drink but in some cases may be heavily chlorinated. In Florida there are excellent pharmacies.

There is no state funded health service in Florida and so you must have travel insurance as medical care is very expensive in Florida.

Summer temperatures are usually constant in Florida with an average temperature in the mid 80 degrees. Winter temperatures can vary sometimes dropping to around about 60 degrees, steadily rising throughout the rest of the year back up to the peak summer temperatures.

When coming on vacation to Florida many tourists now rent holiday homes or Villas. This usually works out cheaper than staying in hotels and provides much more independence. It also allows the tourist to get a true feel of the Florida way of life and culture. Holiday home rental is now one of the fasted growing areas of tourism in Florida.   Check out www.floridaleisure.com

Did you know that driving and using a cell phone is illegal in some states, with many soon to follow … here are the latest Cell Phone Laws from across the USA.

Cell Phone Driving Laws by State

At a Glance:

Alaska

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

Arizona

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Banned
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: Primary***

Arkansas

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Banned
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: Primary

California

Hand-Held Devices: Banned (as of 7/2008)
All drivers must use a hands free device**** (except for emergencies, and drivers of emergency response vehicles)
Commercial vehicle drivers exempted from requirement until 2011.
Bus Drivers: Banned (including transit operators)
Novice Restrictions: 18 and Under (as of July 2008)
Enforcement: Primary
An officer in California can stop a person, regardless of age, holding a cellphone and talking on it, but they may not use checkpoints to enforce the all cell ban for drivers younger than 18.
Fines: $20 for a first offense; $50 for subsequent infractions

Colorado

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: Learner’s Permit, regardless of age
Enforcement: N/A

Connecticut

Hand-Held Devices: Banned (as of 10/1/05)
All drivers on public and private roads must use hands free device, except for emergency situations.
Bus Drivers: Banned
Novice Restrictions: Learner’s Permit and Under 18
Enforcement: Primary
Fines: $100 for first-time offenders

Delaware

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Banned
Novice Restrictions: Learner’s Permit and Intermediate Licenses (unless pulled to the side of the road)
Enforcement: Primary

Florida

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
However, officers can code “Driver Distraction” as contributing cause and list cell phone in the narrative.
Prohibit localities from banning cell phone use.
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

Georgia

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Banned
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

Hawaii

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

Idaho

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

Illinois

Hand-Held Devices: By Jurisdiction — Banned in Chicago (as of 7/8/05)
Bus Drivers: Banned
Novice Restrictions: Under 19 and Learner’s Permit
Enforcement: Primary
Fines: $50.00 per offense, up to $200.00 if the offending call occurs during an accident

Indiana

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

Iowa

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

Kansas

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

Kentucky

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Prohibit localities from banning cell phone use.
Bus Drivers: Banned
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: Primary

Louisiana

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Prohibit localities from banning cell phone use.
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

Maine

Hand-Held Devices:: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: Learner’s Permit and Intermediate License
Enforcement: Primary

Maryland

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: Learner’s Permit and Intermediate License
Enforcement: Secondary

Massachusetts

Hand-Held Devices: By Jurisdiction — Banned in Brookline
Cell phone use is permitted only if it doesn’t interfere with the operation of the vehicle and one hand remains on the steering wheel at all times.
Bus Drivers: Banned
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: Primary

Michigan

Hand-Held Devices: By Jurisdiction — Banned in Detroit
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

Minnesota

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: Learner’s Permit and Provisional Licenses for the first 12 months after licensing
Enforcement: Primary

Mississippi

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Prohibit localities from banning cell phone use.
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

Missouri

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

Montana

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

Nebraska

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: Learners Permit and Intermediate License Holders under 18
, includes Blackberry and other wireless devices
Enforcement: Secondary

Nevada

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Prohibit localities from banning cell phone use.
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

New Hampshire

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
However, it is dealt with as a distracted driving issue.
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

New Jersey

Hand-Held Devices: Banned, Including Text Messaging (as of 3/01/08)
Hands free cell phone devices are required while operating a vehicle
Bus Drivers: Banned
Novice Restrictions: Learner’s Permit and Intermediate Licenses
Enforcement: Primary
Fines: $250 for talking on the phone; $100 for text messaging

New Mexico

Hand-Held Devices: By Jurisdiction — Banned in Santa Fe (as of 2002)
However, Santa Fe lawmakers are considering dropping the city’s ban, claiming there is no proof that it helps.
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A
Fine:$101

New York

Hand-Held Devices:Banned
Hands-free cell phone devices are required while operating a vehicle.
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A
Fines: $100 maximum, $50 mandatory surcharge

North Carolina

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Banned
Novice Restrictions: Drivers Under 18
Enforcement: Primary

North Dakota

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

Ohio

Hand-Held Devices: By Jurisdiction — Banned in Brookyln, North Olmstead and Walton Hills. Cleveland is under debate.
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

Oklahoma

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Prohibit localities from banning cell phone use.
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

Oregon

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Prohibit localities from banning cell phone use.
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: Learner’s Permit and Intermediate Licenses (as of 2008)
Enforcement: Secondary

Pennsylvania

Hand-Held Devices: By Jurisdiction — Banned in Philadelphia (as of 3/1/08), Lebanon, Conshohocken and Conshohocken
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: Primary (in Philadelphia)
Fines: $100 to $250 (in Philadelphia)

Rhode Island

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Banned
Novice Restrictions: Under 18
Enforcement: Primary

South Carolina

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

South Dakota

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

Tennessee

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Banned
Novice Restrictions: Learner’s Permit and Intermediate Licenses
Enforcement: Primary

Texas

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Banned (when a passenger 17 and younger is present)
Novice Restrictions: Intermediate License Holders
Enforcement: Primary

Utah

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
However, state law includes “careless driving” offenses, defined as when a driver commits a traffic violation while distracted, including while holding a cell phone.
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: Secondary

Vermont

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

Virginia

Hand-Held Devices:Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: Intermediate License Holders, Drivers under 18
Enforcement: Secondary

Washington

Hand-Held Devices: Banned (as of July 2008); Text Messaging (as of January 2008)
Hands free cell phone devices are required while operating a vehicle.
Bus Drivers: Banned
Bus Drivers: None
Enforcement: Secondary
Fines: $101

Washington, D.C.

Hand-Held Devices: Banned. All drivers (regardless of residency) must use hands-free device. (Except for emergencies and on-duty emergency and police personnel.)
Bus Drivers: Banned
Novice Restrictions: Learner’s Permit Holders
Enforcement: Primary
Fines: $100, but first-time offenders can get it suspended by buying a hands-free accessory within a specified time

West Virginia

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: Learner’s Permit and Intermediate License Holders
Enforcement: Secondary

Wisconsin

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

Wyoming

Hand-Held Devices: Allowed
Bus Drivers: Allowed
Novice Restrictions: None
Enforcement: N/A

* School Bus Drivers

This is sort of no brainer, but only 14 states and the District of Columbia currently have a ban on School Bus drivers talking or texting in non-emergency situations.

** Novice Drivers

The District of Columbia and 17 states currently have laws focused on novice drivers, generally meaning those with learner’s permits or restricted/novice licenses. These laws almost always include a full ban on persons driving with learner’s permits from using a cell phone in a non-emergency situation. New Jersey doesn’t allow drivers under the age of 21 to use a cell phone while driving if they don’t have a full, non-graduated license.

*** Primary Vs. Secondary

As with many laws, including seat belt laws and open container laws, enforcement is either Primary or secondary. If it is a Primary enforcement law, you can get pulled over just for violating it. If it’s a secondary law, you have to also break an additional law before you can get cited. For example, in Colorado you’d have to run a stop sign or speed before getting the additional ticket for violating the cell phone ban.

**** Hands-Free Device

Although there is still much debate over whether or not hands-free sets are safer, however it’s legal to use a cell phone with a hands-free kit according to state laws (city laws may vary).

Must make sure I take my Bluetooth to California.

By: Adam Singleton

The area surrounding Orlando, Florida is one of the world’s hottest tourist destinations, welcoming almost 50 million visitors per year. Its literally hot too, with a subtropical climate – summer temperatures regularly reach 90°F (32°C), while even in winter they rarely drop below 50°F – and hundreds of unique theme parks and tourist destinations, as well as attractive natural features such as springs, lakes and sandy beaches, all contributing to its success.

Nearby Lake Buena Vista is home to Walt Disney World, the most visited resort on Earth. It includes four separate theme parks, two water parks and many hotels and restaurants, with enough rides, slides and other entertainments to occupy children for at least a week – aside from the main rollercoasters and arcades, there are more varied attractions such as the ‘Animal Kingdom’ wildlife park, hang gliding, and a lagoon where you can snorkel with live sharks!

Another of the area’s most popular destinations is Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, which hosts high-speed roller-coasters, rides for younger children, live shows and technological marvels such as interactive 3D environments, all based around favourite movies, cartoons and stories. Jurassic Park, Spider-Man, E.T., the Incredible Hulk, Dr. Seuss and Jaws are all here, with a new Harry Potter-themed area coming soon.

Animal-lovers are well catered for in Orlando at the huge 200 acre SeaWorld amusement park which houses many marine creatures such as orcas, dolphins, sea lions, sharks, sea turtles and false killer whales, with shows including water skiing and human acrobats, and ten rides. Nearby Gatorland boasts thousands of alligators and crocodiles, along with many snakes, other reptiles, insects and birds. Visitors can get closer to some of the park’s residents during the regular ‘Up Close Encounters’ with trainers and there’s even a chance for anyone over 12 – and fearless – to have a go at ‘gator wrasslin’ in the Trainer for a Day events. And at Blue Spring State Park, during the winter there’s a chance to see Florida manatees in the wild as well as a huge variety of birds and other wildlife. Canoeing, swimming and scuba diving are popular activities.

There are simply hundreds of other things to do in and around Orlando: slightly older children may enjoy the Florida Music Festival, a visit to the Cirque de Soleil, the huge Orlando Science Center or the John F. Kennedy Space Center, the working NASA spaceport on Merritt Island where visitors can view flight-ready and used space craft and rockets. On a less technological note there are stunning sights at the World of Orchids and the beautiful Harry P. Leu gardens – an oasis in the city with lakes, a butterfly garden and historical museum.

Unsurprisingly for such a popular destination, there is also a huge range of accommodation in Orlando and the surrounding area, from hostels to 5 star hotels and private villas – in fact, the only place in the country with more hotel rooms is Las Vegas. It’s also a fantastic area for shopping, with everything from Tiffany’s to the specialist Asian shops and restaurants of ‘Little Saigon’, and food including traditional Cajun, Cuban-style and round the world cuisine.

All you golfers out there better beware … golf is obviously not good for your health … or that is what Ernie Els would have us believe, pulling out of Orlando’s prestigious Bay Hill event due to fatigue.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Ernie Els withdrew Monday from the Arnold Palmer Invitational because of fatigue, two weeks after winning on the PGA Tour for the first time in 3 1/2 years.

According to Els’ management company, he was tired and needed rest before the Masters.

Els ended an 0-for-47 drought on the PGA Tour when he captured the Honda Classic at the start of the Florida swing. He played last week at the PODS Championship, where he missed the cut by one stroke. Els is expected to play next week in the World Golf Championship at Doral, and he has said he would play in the Houston Open before going to the Masters.

The Arnold Palmer Invitational still has 30 of the top 50 players in the world ranking, including Tiger Woods, who will be going for his fifth consecutive PGA Tour victory.

I decided I would do some investigating as to how much money poor Ernie has won for his exertions, guessing that it can’t be that good if you can’t overcome a little fatigue and show up for a prestigious event.

Career Earnings to date: a mere $45,721,256 … I think the fatigue must be caused by counting all that.  And lets do some further math here … on average he will play 16 tournaments a year, he turned pro in 1999 so that is basically 8 years, if he plays every day that would be 4 days per event … that means he worked a total of 512 days as a pro … earning almost $90,000 per day.  Nice work if you can get it … except for the fatigue.