Things To Do In SW Florida

SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment has expanded its weather policy to guarantee free return visits when conditions get too wet, windy or hot at its attractions, the company announced Tuesday.

The Weather-or-Not Assurance program allows visitors affected by extreme weather conditions to return to SeaWorld Orlando within 12 months at no charge. The policy applies year-round and covers conditions such as rain, lightning, hail, snow and more.

“When guests book and look forward to making memories in one of our SeaWorld parks, we want them to feel fully assured that if Mother Nature winds up having other plans that day – even if for as little as an hour – they will be able to come back another day, on us,” Marisa Thalberg, chief marketing and communications officer of SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, said in a news release.

The company’s Weather-or-Not program kicks in when rides are closed for 60 minutes or more due to weather and if bad weather forces the park to close early. Park guests become eligible for the program if temperatures reach a heat index of 100 degrees. read more

After Publix, the most visited grocery store in Florida is Winn-Dixie.

The Jacksonville-based chain has built a strong presence in the state since its founding nearly a century ago. Now, it’s about to enter another era under new ownership.

On Aug. 16, discount grocer Aldi announced plans to acquire Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket from Southeastern Grocers for an undisclosed price. The purchase includes 400 stores, 75% of which are in Florida.

Let’s look back at how Winn-Dixie became a Florida staple.

The grocery chain went by several names before Winn-Dixie.

In 1925, William M. Davis bought the Rockmoor Grocery store in Miami with a $10,000 loan, according to newspaper archives. His four sons were stockholders of the store.

They renamed the store to Table Supply and expanded to 36 locations from South Florida to Tampa by 1934. William Davis died that year.

He left the business to his sons — Tampa resident A.D. Davis and James E. Davis — who made Winn-Dixie a Florida grocery empire. read more