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By SHARON KENNEDY WYNNE
Published January 28, 2005
AP
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It's the nicest time of year so there's no need to stray too far from home when looking for a weekend getaway. Don't forget to call the relatives up North and see how the snow plow is running.
Mount Dora
Mount Dora Arts Festival : Mount Dora is a small town near Orlando known as a haven for antique hunters. But the place gets rocking when more than 200,000 show up each February for the annual Mount Dora Arts Festival. Billed as one of the top art shows in the Southeast, you'll find more than 300 artists and crafters displaying and selling their wares. They also compete for a combined $24,000 in prize money. There's also live music, carnival-style games and goodies served up by food vendors. One tip though: The art festival quickly assumes madhouse proportions. Get there early for the first pick at the best art and a decent parking space. For information call (352) 383-0880 or check www.mountdoracenterforthearts.org
Through Feb. 28
Jekyll Island, Ga.
Hunt for treasure: Jekyll Island, just off the Georgia coast midway between Savannah and Jacksonville, has a lot to offer beachcombers on its own. But from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28 each year, visitors can comb the 10 miles of beach for art glass fishnet floats. The hidden orbs are commissioned, handcrafted, stamped with the year, numbered and signed by the artists who created them. It harkens back to the days when beachcombers would delight in finding the glass floats, in intriguing shades of greens and blues, that sometimes washed ashore. But fishing vessels these days use floats made of wholly unromantic PVC. Upon finding these blown glass treasures, take the float to the Jekyll Island Welcome Center to be registered and to receive a gift pack with two tickets to the island's Valentine gala on Feb. 19, plus a certificate of authenticity. See www.jekyllisland.com/events/islandtreasures.html.
Feb. 14
Sarasota
Make Valentine's Day plans : It's time to think about a romantic getaway, especially if you have some jewelry to dispense. Zip down to Sarasota and take in some of the V-Day packages. The Resort at Longboat Key Club 941-383-8821, www.longboatkeyclub.com will have roses delivered to your room, a round of golf for two and dinner at the club's restaurant. Or check into the Ritz-Carlton (941-309-2000, www.ritzcarlton.com) where the romance package includes a chilled bottle of bubbly and chocolate-dipped strawberries upon your arrival. Then order a car and driver to take you to Bijou Cafe, the fanciest French restaurant in a pretty fancy town. It gets raved about in magazines like Town and Country and Bon Appetit. During the day, take a stroll around St. Armands Circle (941-388-1554, starmandscircleassoc.com ), where you can browse the unique shops. Take in Shakespeare's most romantic play A Midsummer Night's Dream , performed by the Sarasota Ballet Feb. 11-14 (www.sarasotaballet.org ). End your night with a walk along the beach under moonlight, tres romantique .
Feb. 20
Daytona Beach
Daytona 500: The most famous stock car race in the world roars into the east coast Feb. 20. But long-time race fans don't show up in Daytona Beach the day before the big race -- there's too much to do. The track hosts more than two weeks starting Feb. 9, known as Speedweeks. Don't miss Daytona USA, a motor sports attraction that's part NASCAR museum, part interactive funhouse. You can watch movies, play video games and even participate in a real pit stop. Tours of the Daytona International Speedway also are available. The group 3 Doors Down will begin its world tour at the Budweiser Shootout on Feb. 12 at the speedway. For tickets and event information see www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.
For help finding cheap flights, check out sidestep.com or www.mobissimo.com , free search engines that cull the sites of major travel agencies such as Orbitz and Expedia and airlines for the best fares. Another site worth checking: 11thhourvacations.com for last-minute deals.
[Last modified January 27, 2005, 13:27:19]
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