Labor Day Weekend Specials 2

by Adele Woodyard

Last week featured Amelia Island, one after this will spotlight Naples. Here’s to a blog with some of what’s doing around the state. Specials can be for Florida residents only, so be sure and check first if not so noted below

Panama City Beach
Oaseas Resorts Shores of Panama celebrates the holiday with food, fireworks and family fun during their Lights and Luau. Various activities around the pool from 11 a.m. on, Fri-Mon. Sunday, Sept. 5 will be cocktails and Luau buffet at 5:30 p.m. followed by noisy lights in the sky at 8:30.2-room family suite specials for overnights. 850-249-0109. http://www.oaseasresorts.com

Orlando
Sept. 7 is last day for a special on rooms that start at $83/night plus taxes at Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate. There’s a Camp Omni for kids, 36 holes of golf for Dad, a spa for Mom and a river to float down on for the whole family. Add a summer splash pool party activities and a complementary shuttle to Walt Disney World theme parks and you end the summer with a great weekend. 407-390-6664. http://omnihotels.com/findahotel/orlandochampionsgate

Fort Myers
10% off the price at GAEA Guides Guided Kayak Nature Tours. From 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily you can choose between a dozen tours of southwest rivers, back bays, aquatic preserves, bayous, etc. to paddle your way to view marine and wildlife. Advance registration required. 239-694-5513. http://www.gaeaguides.com

Melbourne
Crown Plaza Melbourne Beach Oceanfront Resort special of two nights at regular rate, gives 50% off third night, expires Sept. 30. Includes breakfast for two each morning 321-777-4100, Promo code: IJSUM. http://www.cpmelbourne.com

Tuckaway Shores Resort is a Melbourne all-suite accommodations where assorted two rooms with separate living-bedrooms have fully equipped kitchenettes. 20% off on rooms that begin at $95.20 + tax per night expires Sept. 30. 877-747-8713. http://www.tuckawayshores.com

More deals can be found at http://www.space-coast.com

South Florida
Sept. 30 is also the cutoff date for some 2-for-1deals on http://www.sunny.org/241
Here’s a few offering fun for a day for little money.

Fort Lauderdale History Center gives a two for one admissions to the New River Inn Museum of History and King-Cromartie House Museum, Tues-Sun., from 12-4 p.m. Docent tours 1, 2, and 3 p.m. $10 adult, $5 student, age 6 and under FREE. 954-463-4431. http://www.fortlauderdalehistorycenter.org

At Flamingo Gardens one $17 adult ticket will let 2nd adult in FREE. Kids ages 4-11 pay $8.50. and the narrated tram tour is extra. Wander through exotic plants, view gators, flamingoes and otters on Tues-Sun, from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. 954-473-2955.
http://www.flamingogardens.org

It’s two tickets for the price of one ($20) that includes FREE drink on a Riverfront Cruise. Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. 954-463-3220. http://www.anticipation.com
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More Bargains on http://www.vacationfunflorida.com

Summer Day Camps for Kids

by Adele Woodyard

What to do with the kids in the summer? It can be a problem if mom and dad are new to the area, both working, and/or haven’t already entered them in a sleep-away camp. Depending on where you live, opportunities for kids to have fun for a day, a week, or even a month may be plentiful. Where available, phone numbers and/or websites are given to check for locations, dates, times, and fees.

State-wide:
Kinder Care Learning Centers around the state have weekly themed programs for pre-elementary and school age kids; e.g. beginning July 5, little kids will enjoy Animal Antics. 888-525-2780; http://kindercare.com/summercamp

YMCA’s allow registration throughout the summer, with discounts for more than one child. About 80 percent offer day camps with traditional programs, such as arts and crafts, swimming, field trips, and games. Check your phone book, or http://ymca.net for ones nearest you. Also check your phone book or town website for what’s available for kids in the local Parks and Recreation Departments.

Specialty Camps .
For kids interested in such subjects as sports, academics, aviation, art, religion, nature, and much more, click on http://kidscamps.com/camps/florida-day-camps.html
For example:
Camp Live Oak South cooperates with the Florida State Park System at two locations, N. Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale. 5 to 13 year olds may find space in Session 2: July 12-August 6. 954-491-2917. .
Pine Crest Summer Programs Day Camp, features sports, band, TV production, and more for ages 5-11. Boca Raton: 561-852-2823; Ft. Lauderdale: 954-492-4137..
Animals and conservation is the theme at Lion Country Safari, Loxahatchee for ages 6-13. June 14-August 13. 561-793-1084; http://www.lioncountrysafari.com/day-camp.html

Museums or centers may feature a specialty, such as Art. For instance, in Pinellas County the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art in Tarpon Springs offers two consecutive weeks in July for ages 6 to 9, and 10 to 13. 727-712-5762; http://www.spcollege.edu/museum
Summer art camp at the Morean Art Center, St. Petersburg is from June 14-August 20, for ages 5-15. 727-822-7872; register online at http://www.moreanartscenter.org

Busch Gardens, Tampa (866-468-6226) and SeaWorld, Orlando (866-479-2267) both have Adventure Day Camps for pre-kindergarten through Grade 8. Kids (and maybe a parent) spend a day to a week with the animals; e.g. Jr. Zookeeper (grades 7-8), Bio Buddies (grades 3-4). http://www.seaworld.org/adventure-camps/bgt/day/index.htm

Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa presents a weekly Zoo School June 14-August 16 for K-8th grade. 813-935-8552, ext. 268. Register online: (June 29 for a one day discount).
http://www.lowryparkzoo.com .