The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex recently reached an agreement for the NFL team to return to Central Florida this July and stage a seventh consecutive training camp at the 220-acre facility. Dates for the three-week summer football camp won’t be determined until the NFL releases its 2008 schedule next month, but players likely will have to report July 24 and begin two-a-days July 25.During the course of their 21-day camp in 2007, seven of the scheduled 31 practices were canceled or moved inside because of thunderstorms or heat-index conditions that reached 110 degrees. As a result, both parties are exploring potential indoor practice options. Last year, 20,263 fans visited Disney to watch the Bucs’ free practice sessions.

The Universal Orlando® Resort creative team has collaborated with The Simpsons creator and executive producer Matt Groening and executive producer James L. Brooks to create the first-ever mega-attraction based on the hit FOX TV series.  The new ride, scheduled to open at Universal Studios Florida in Spring 2008 will feature the same classic humor and characters, all voiced by the show’s original actors.  

In The Simpsons Ride^TM, the Simpsons visit Krustyland, a new low-budget theme park created by the famed TV personality and shameless product huckster Krusty the Clown.  You’ll join Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie in the carnival-like midway of Krustyland and experience the wonders of Springfield’s krustiest theme park – complete with inept fortune tellers, uninspired musical revues, The Tooth Chipper roller coaster and more.

For those who can’t wait for the ride’s grand opening, The Simpsons merchandise and souvenirs are already available at the new KWIK-E-MART store at Universal Studios Florida.

Best known for its busy and colorful autumn season, the Smoky Mountains near Gatlinburg also come alive with a different kind of color each spring.  And now’s the time to get ready to enjoy the three-month Springfest celebration that begins in early March and continues thru June 8, 2008.

Gatlinburg transforms as winter turns into spring – and as the city’s streets overflow with baskets of beautiful blooming flowers and plants. Pansies, daffodils, tulips, bougainvilleas, lantanas and wave petunias are among the many varieties of flowers seen throughout the city. Live entertainment can be found along sidewalks, adding a festive flair to the time-honored Downtown Parkway stroll. Members of Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community display unique handcrafted wares as they gather at the Gatlinburg Convention Center to host their annual Easter Arts & Crafts show, March 19-22.

The smell of hickory-smoked barbeque fills the air as folks roll up their sleeves and sample secret sauces on delectable ribs and wings from vendors from all over the Southeast on April 17 at Gatlinburg’s Ribfest & Wings.  This festive street party offers live entertainment and barbequed ribs and wings on the open grill.

The 58th Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, April 23-27, provides hikers and nature lovers an opportunity to see delicate wildflowers in bloom. Hosted by Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the University of Tennessee Botany Department and the Gatlinburg Garden Club, this seven-day program offers more than 150 different hiking tours of trails ranging from easy to strenuous, exhibitions, demonstrations, classroom lectures and delightful motor excursions into the Smokies.

Spring events continue with Gatlinburg’s Scottish Festival & Games Grand Parade on May 16 in downtown Gatlinburg. All Scots are invited to march or ride in the parade. On May 17-18, Mills Park in Gatlinburg becomes competitive ground for the 27th Annual Scottish Festival & Games where clans meet and feature Highland athletics, bagpipe competitions, Highland dancing, Border collie demonstrations, haggis hurling, entertainment and whiskey tasting, along with food and merchandise vendors.

And don’t miss Gatlinburg’s Fine Arts Festival, a family-oriented arts festival featuring juried artists from around the country, delicious cuisine and live music in downtown Gatlinburg on  May 17-18.

Orlando’s newest theme park is set to open to the public on March 1, 2008!  SeaWorld’s exciting new water park, Aquatica, will blend up close animal experiences, waters from serene to extreme, high-speed thrills and wide, sandy beaches to create an all new water park experience.   “SeaWorld is famous for immersing guests in the mystery of the sea and its animals,” said Jim Atchison, executive vice president and general manager of SeaWorld Orlando. “Aquatica takes this immersion to a new level, inviting guests to play in, over, and under the water itself.” 

With nearly 60 acres of lush landscape inspired by the vivid color, stunning flora and carefree personality of a South Sea Islands, Aquatica is reminiscent of the rugged beauty of New Zealand, Australia and New Guinea. Crystal-blue rivers wind through hidden grottos and refreshing waterfalls, while rich greenery and bright flowers adorn towering rock formations.

Live animals from lands all over the world including Commerson’s dolphins, brilliant macaws and colorful fish bring to life the park’s playful, high-energy nature.

Aquatica features the most thrilling water rides in the world with 36 water slides, six rivers and lagoons, and more than 80,000 square feet of beach area. These distinct attractions will zoom, float and splash guests through amazing animal habitats and undersea adventures.

The park’s signature attraction plunges riders in clear tubes through a crystal-blue lagoon with black-and-white Commerson’s dolphins. Guests feel as if they are flying beneath the sea among these beautiful animals. While similar in coloration to SeaWorld’s icon, Shamu, these dolphins are also distinctly different. In addition to being much smaller, they are also fast, agile swimmers - making them the perfect inhabitants for this lively park.

Aquatica’s attractions offer equal emphasis on high-energy thrill rides and immersive swimming experiences. A colorful mix of racing tunnels, raft rides and rivers offer crashing surf and high-speed thrills, while pools, lagoons and lazy rivers invite guests to enjoy slower pace.

The Tampa Bay Rays have officially announced the switch of three regular season games from Tropicana Field to Orlando this April. The Rays will be hosting a 3-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, April 22-24, at Champion Stadium at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.  Champion Stadium combines all the amenities of modern-day Major League ballparks with the quaint feel of yesterday. Its unique architecture features towering archways, green tile roofing, deep seating bowl, designer tile flooring, classic lighting, and first-class turf, which creates an atmosphere that fans and athletes will always remember.
 
With over 9,500 seats (80 percent of those between first and third base), four luxury sky boxes, and two open-air suites, baseball fans will appreciate the intimate setting.  This double-decked stadium is a state-of-the-art facility with comfortable extra-wide seating, wide concourse hospitality areas and a variety of convenient baseball-themed merchandise stores.  Tickets for the Toronto series and all Rays 2008 regular season games are currently on sale.

Orlando is known for its mega theme parks like Disney, Universal and SeaWorld, yet the central Florida area has more than its share of other attractions to fetch your interest.  Outdoor lovers can find plenty of activity during these winter months - from championship golf and tennis to canoeing, hiking or even swimming with rare manatees. 

Every winter, manatees gather in the warmer (72 degrees) waters produced by Florida’s underground springs or power plants.  Although these gentle sea creatures are endangered, there are several places just a short drive from Orlando where you can see or enjoy interactive swimming encounters.  One such area is the Crystal River on Florida’s Gulf Coast.  The Crystal River is home to the largest natural manatee sanctuary and the biggest herd in Florida. Various tours offer you easy access to the manatees while providing useful advice on how to best enjoy your encounter without putting any undue stress on the animals.  Another area close to Orlando is the Homosassa River where the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park offers a shallow, sandy-bottomed river with clear waters that make for great photos.

Traveling northeast from Orlando, another excellent spot for viewing manatees is Blue Springs State Park, located just off Interstate-4.  Park rangers keep track of the manatee count on a daily basis and a boardwalk area offers excellent views of the springs where you may find dozens of these magnificent creatures just below your feet.  Signs and photographs show markings on the backs of various manatees - many of which are scars from passing boat propellers.  These scars help researches keep track of specific manatees from year to year.

Visitors to SeaWorld Orlando or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay are entitled to receive a 2nd visit FREE!  The second visit free ticket is valid for one additional visit to the same park during regularly scheduled park hours for up to 7 consecutive days from the date of first visit.

Don’t miss your opportunity to enjoy a second great day of theme park fun - free! 

The annual Mardi Gras celebration isn’t limited to raucous parties in New Orleans.  Another equally entertaining celebration occurs on the streets of Universal Studios Florida in Orlando!

This extended Mardi Gras features amazing street performers, floats, parades, live music from popular performers, cajun cuisine and beads - lots and lots of beads!  And it all starts this weekend at Universal Studios. 

Each Saturday from now thru April 19, Mardi Gras activities are included in the cost of your regular Universal Studios admission ticket.  That means you can spend a full day riding the attractions and then, when the sun goes down, the party really gets cranking.  This weekend, the music features the rocking sounds of Bret Michaels of Poison.  That’ll be followed next week by the Go-Go’s.