Omicron Update: Tampa hospital first to report patient with new COVID-19 variant

Omicron — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: Andrii Vodolazhskyi TAMPA, Fla. — A Tampa Bay hospital announced its first confirmed COVID-19 omicron variant case on Tuesday. A spokesperson for James A. Haley Veteran’s Hospital in Tampa confirmed the omicron case in a statement. “The patient is experiencing mild symptoms and had recently returned from international

Lockdown-free Florida receives flocks of tourists looking to getaway

Welcome to Florida — Courtesy: Shutterstock —Image by: Ingo70 Cooped-up tourists who are eager for a taste of Florida’s sandy beaches, warmer temperatures, and swaying palm trees are visiting the Sunshine State in masses, topping pre-pandemic levels in recent months. Miami is one of the top search destinations on travel websites across the state, and

Miami Beach celebrates the start of Hanukkah in true South Florida style

World’s Largest Electronic Menorah — Hanukkah Celebration — Courtesy: Paramount Miami The world’s largest electronic menorah will shine across South Florida’s skyline during the eight nights of the Jewish “Festival of Lights.” In a video provided by the Paramount Miami Worldcenter, the 60-story skyscraper’s LED-lit menorah went on display Sunday evening, the first night of

Stunning effects, tropical snowfall, and thousands of lights: NightGarden at Fairchild returns

NightGarden at Fairchild — Creator: SHARON SIPPLE Copyright: @Sharon Sipple, 2017 This holiday season, Miami shines just a little brighter because the NightGarden at Fairchild is back. Spectacular lights, Chihuly sculptures, shimmering snow, and shy fairies reveal themselves within the lush foliage of Coral Gables’ hidden gem.  The stunning outdoor lights display, which opened this

Food & Wine: This weekend, food & drink lovers enjoyed the SAVOR St. Pete two-day festival overlooking beautiful Tampa Bay

Courtesy: SAVOR St. Pete Festival on Tampa Bay This weekend, the SAVOR St. Pete festival took place in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, overlooking beautiful Tampa Bay in North Straub Park. SAVOR St. Pete offered an array of food and drink options, with a colorful combination of small bites, crafted libations, and vendors. Like

8 ways to find adventure, entertainment, and history in Florida’s capital, Tallahassee

Tallahassee, FL — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Sean Pavone People from all over the world travel to Florida to enjoy its great weather and beautiful beaches, often overlooking inland destinations throughout. Tallahassee, the state capital, is more than a beacon for college students and politicians. With its rolling hills and southern charm, the town is attracting

After the Surfside building collapse, engineers say inspections are required for all buildings

Area of Surfside Building Collapse, Surfside, FL – Courtesy: Shutterstock — Kristi Blokhin According to recommendations by the state’s engineering associations made in the wake of the tragic Surfside building collapse, Florida should require nearly all large buildings to be inspected for any damages or structural problems within their first 30 years, with follow-ups every

Five Halloween movies with a connection to Florida

Creature of the Black Lagoon – Courtesy: Creature of the Black Lagoon Movies Franchise There’s still plenty of time to get your spooky festivities in before Halloween wraps up this month. Unbeknownst to many, Florida has served as the backdrop for many terrifying films.  Here’s a list of some movies to watch with the lights

Weddings flock to Florida — Venues are slammed as U.S. prepares to host 2.5 million wedding ceremonies in 2022

Wedding Set Up – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by weddingvideothailand During the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of thousands of weddings were postponed, leaving disappointed brides and grooms stuck with rescheduling multiple times. Now, the Wedding Report has predicted that the highest number of weddings will take place during 2022 since the early 1980s. “We had a

The top 5 most popular camping areas in Florida

Camping Area – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Prapat Aowsakorn The Sunshine State has always been the perfect destination for a beloved beach vacation, but many seem to forget that Florida has more to offer than theme parks and beaches! The camping travel trend is on the rise with the number of first-time campers skyrocketing,