In This Issue Welcome Florida Weddings Birnbaum Kids Book review Adopt a Manatee November events Weather forecast

Hi Subscriber, welcome to the November newsletter of the Florida Review & Travel Guide.

There seems to be no end to the hurricane news this year; with 2005 breaking all records, having now exceeded the most named storms (previously set in 1933), exceeding the most hurricanes recorded (set in 1969), exceeding the most 'major' hurricanes ever recorded (set in 1961) and the strongest hurricane ever recorded (Hurricane Wilma).

Thankfully Hurricane Wilma passed over central and southern Florida quickly but there was still a considerable amount of damage; NASA Kennedy Space Center and all the major theme parks including Disney closed for the day. One week on and around a million people are still without power.

For all the latest news on tropical storms and hurricanes, read our latest weather pages.

Our next trip to Florida in April/May of next year is continuing to take shape; after booking the flights, we've now booked a lovely four bedroom villa at Eagle Pointe in Kissimmee with beautiful lakeside views.

NASA have announced that there is a possibility that the next shuttle launch of Atlantis could take place in May 2006 so I am keeping my fingers crossed; to see another shuttle launch would be the icing on the cake.

Talking of launches, as we mentioned last month, the new website has been launched. Why not take a look at Best Florida Resorts where you will find reviews of the best resort hotels that Florida has to offer, starting with some of the amazing themed resorts at the Walt Disney World Resort.

We have also revised the style of the newsletter and introduced a few photos, hope you like it.

If you have always dreamed of a fairy-tale wedding, or an intimate ceremony in the sun, then a wedding in Florida can make your dreams come true.

From small private services in sunny gardens to a Florida beach wedding to lavish ceremonies in Cinderella's castle, or anything in between, you can be accommodated.

Anyone can be married in Florida and the wedding will be recognised in countries like the UK when you return home.

Organising the license

There are no residency requirements at all and you can be married the day you arrange the license, or for up to 60 days afterwards. Florida residents must take a pre-nuptial course or wait 3 days.

To get a Florida wedding license you must both attend the courthouse together, bringing your passports and birth certificates. US residents (non Florida) need to bring a valid driver's license, a valid passport, or a valid Military Identification and their Social Security Numbers.

If either party is divorced then for US citizens, a copy of the Divorce Decree is required if the marriage ended within the last 90 days for Florida residents or the last year for out of state. If you are UK residents and divorced then you must also bring your Degree Absolute.

The cost of a license is approximately $93.50 including tax and can be paid by cash or credit card. Licenses can also be applied for in advance by post, but the passport photocopies submitted must be notarised by a Notary Public not a solicitor.

Using a Florida wedding planner

What type of wedding do you want? Do you want to do all the arranging, or do you want a local Florida wedding planner to do all the hard work for you?

There are local Florida companies who will organise everything for you, but there are also UK companies with offices in the UK and in Florida who can also do the job. You can even buy a Florida wedding package through a holiday travel company.

How much or how little of the ceremony your wedding planner organises is up to you. They can arrange everything from the venue, reception, celebrant (Minister or Notary), flowers, photographs, transport, hotels, down to the table arrangements and hairdressers, depending on your choice and budget.

Note that most of these companies only arrange weddings for Monday through Thursday, and charge extra for weekend weddings.

Click here to read more about Weddings in Florida including getting married at the Walt Disney World Resort.

There are plenty of companies offering wedding planning services, dress hire or suitable venues to make your special day one of the most memorable days of your life. (see our Florida weddings directory).

Birnbaum's Walt Disney World for Kids by Kids! 2006, ISBN 0786855460 is published by Disney Editions (October 2005).

Birnbaum's Walt Disney World for Kids by Kids! describes Walt Disney World through the eyes of children

The 2006 edition of Birnbaum's Walt Disney World for Kids by Kids! is from the same stable as the other official Walt Disney World books by Birnbaum and has all the details on the latest developments at Walt Disney World.

It is part written by children with children in mind and the language used will typically appeal to kids in the 8-12 age bracket. Younger children may enjoy reading it with their parents.

It has around 160 pages and is split into a number of sections with a separate chapter dedicated to each of the four main theme parks and a further chapter for the rest of the World, including Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, Downtown Disney and Fort Wilderness.

It gives honest views on the attractions and rides and through the use of "attraction reactions" it tells you whether you might find a ride too dark, too scary, too fast or too wild. Kids are then better prepared on what rides will suit them best.

As well as all the attractions and shows, the book also gives kids views on shopping, best places to eat (from a kids perspective) and where to stay.

There are even a few blank pages for Disney character autographs (to save buying a separate autograph book), some fill-in-the-blanks puzzles to keep them amused when waiting in lines, crossword puzzle games and cartoons. If there is a complaint then it probably could do with more actual photographs and less cartoons.

Walt Disney World for Kids by Kids! is cheap and make an ideal book for a child to read before visiting Walt Disney World as it gives them great fun planning their trip and marking off all the things they want to see and do. It also means they don't have to keep borrowing your guide book (or drawing all over it!).

Birnbaum publish a series of books about Walt Disney World, namely Birnbaum's Walt Disney World, Birnbaum's Walt Disney World for Kids by Kids!, Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Without Kids, Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Dining Guide and Birnbaum's Disney Cruise Line.

Click here for more guide book reviews and details of where you can buy this book .

I remember the first time we saw a manatee, when we visited SeaWorld many years ago and we all fell in love with them instantly.

After seeing the 'Last Generation' exhibit we went on one of the behind the scenes tours and saw what can happen to them. It was sad to hear of their plight and to realise that they were in danger from mankind's own actions.

It is thought that there are only around 3,000 West Indian (Florida) manatees left in the existence. Many manatees die as a direct result of humans; either through collisions with watercraft, being crushed or trapped in flood control or canal gates, ingesting rubbish like fish hooks and monofilament line or as a result of our destruction of their natural habitat.

When we heard of the Save The Manatee organisation, we realised we could do something to help and we bought our daughter a membership as one of her birthday presents and have continued each year. Why not think about joining their 'adopt a manatee' program as part of a loved ones holiday gift.

A few years ago we got to see 'our' manatee Rosie when we visited Homosassa Springs for the first time and were thrilled to finally meet her.

Click here to read more about Florida manatees or go direct to the Save The Manatee website.

The tenth annual International Food & Wine Festival continues to run at Epcot until November 13.

There are many seminars you can attend as well as trying out wines from over 100 wineries and you can also sample cuisine from around the world for a small fee (per portion). Each year this event attracts over 1 million visitors (included in the standard Epcot admission price).

The American Indian Arts Celebration runs from November 11-13 at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Fort Lauderdale to celebrate American Indian Heritage Month.

The celebration features palmetto and sweet grass basketry, patchwork sewing, beadwork, woodcarving, doll making, storytelling, Seminole food plus Southeastern and Powwow Dancing (see www.semtribe.com for more details).

The 17th Annual Old Florida Festival takes place at the Collier County Museum in Naples from November 5-6. Historical re-enactors tell the story of Florida's past from the Calusa Indians, Spanish Conquistadors, Seminole Indians, Civil War soldiers, pirates to the Cracker cattlemen.

Craft workers, folk musicians and storytellers help recreate more than a dozen living history camps (see www.colliermuseum.com for more details).

The 20th annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival runs from October 14 to November 20 with over 200 films being screened at a number of venues throughout Fort Lauderdale including a couple of outdoor events.

Another film festival, the Daytona Beach Film Festival runs from November 4-9 and features 18 films from around the world. A special "Out of Towners" weekend package is available (see www.dbff.org for more details).

Many of the theme parks will be starting the holiday season celebrations at the end of November around Thanksgiving and we will bring you full details next month.

As we move into the final month of the hurricane season, you can expect slightly above average temperatures with mid 70s in the central and northern regions and high 70s in the south.

It will be cool for the first 10 days with a chance of showers, then warming up during the middle of the month with scattered showers and then cooler during the last week.

Check out the rest of the Florida weather including monthly temperature and rainfall charts across the State and the latest hurricane news.

Best wishes and a happy Thanksgiving, until next month... Stephen Downs

We plan to bring you a newsletter on the first day of each month with details of upcoming events and news from across Florida.

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