Things To Do In SW Florida

Brightline wants your business. Better yet, lots of your repeat business.

The higher-speed rail line that whisks commuters among the cities of West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Aventura and Miami — and longer-distance travelers from South Florida to Orlando — has been on a marketing tear this year installing a loyalty program for future trips, a revised frequent-rider pass program for commuters and a slew of bargain fares designed to get people to ride the rails during the holidays, for vacations and to attend entertainment events.

Management has also aggressively pursued partnerships with cruise lines and airlines. It is offering sales incentives to travel advisers, most recently 20% commissions for long-haul bookings through October. It all comes at a time when the railroad has been acquiring new coaches — with the help of a $33 million federal grant — to add to the length of its trains.

But looming in the background, bond-rating agencies on Wall Street are wondering if it will be enough to produce the cash needed over time to sustain and grow a rail operation that has become a model for like-minded projects around the nation. read more

As the stock market plunged in reaction to the draconian tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump — before the president backed down and the market soared — Congressman Jared Moskowitz was buying.

On April 7, the congressman bought 23 stocks, worth between $23,023 and $345,000. He also sold two stocks, worth between $2,002 and $30,000, on that day. It was his most active trading day in April, a month in which he had 35 transactions, according to a periodic transaction report he filed with the Clerk of the House.

Reports show he had more transactions on that one day than during any month of the first quarter.

Congressional financial disclosure forms require information in broad ranges, so it’s impossible to know how much Moskowitz or any other member of Congress bought and sold.

There’s no indication he did anything untoward or was anything more than a savvy investor. But stock trades by members of Congress, which must be disclosed after the fact, often draw attention. And a spokesperson for the House Republican campaign organization, Maureen O’Toole, asserted that the Democratic representative “is in Congress to get attention and line his own pockets, not serve Floridians.” read more

By Ariana Arghandewal, Bankrate.com

Credit cards are widely accepted in most parts of the world, which is great for those who want to maximize rewards on their trips abroad. Not only do many cards offer generous rewards on travel spending, but they also provide convenience and an added layer of protection in case your trip doesn’t go as planned.

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Using a credit card is better than using cash in most cases. However, you may still encounter issues when attempting to use your credit card abroad, so make sure to plan accordingly.

Can I use my credit card abroad?

In most cases, yes! The country you’re visiting may have different banks, but many of the payment networks common in the U.S. are widely accepted around the globe. Some credit cards, most commonly travel credit cards, even have no foreign transaction fees and earn rewards on specific purchases worldwide, such as restaurants. This helps you save money and earn more in rewards when you travel. read more

Epic Universe is so last week, am I right? No, of course not. The new Universal Orlando theme park was years in the making, but if you want to wait until it’s less white-hot for a visit, there are new and returning options at Central Florida’s theme parks and attractions in the coming months. (Beware, it’s practically Halloween season. Boo!)

Disney debuts

Two new stage shows are now in the daily lineup at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After,” in which Magic Mirror breaks into song, is running in the former home of the Lightning McQueen Racing Academy, just beyond Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.

“The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” features Ariel and friends in a new production. A previous “Mermaid” show there closed with the 2020 pandemic shutdown and never returned.

Also on tap is GEO-82, an adults-only lounge within Epcot’s Spaceship Earth. It opens June 4. (Reservations are required). Meanwhile, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival continues daily through June 2, them the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival kicks off Aug. 28. read more

Banning Ranch, a rapidly growing new neighborhood in Leesburg, hit another milestone in its development with the recent purchase of 265 acres of land for two future phases.

Located west of County Road 33, east of County Road 48 and south of the Florida’s Turnpike, the land — bought for $3.86 million — is half of what Hanover intends to purchase to develop Phase 3 and Phase 4 of Banning Ranch, according to a report in GrowthSpotter.

The other half, according to Hanover VP of Land Acquisition Ben Snyder, will be purchased within two years.

It’s part of the broader expansion of Leesburg, a West Lake County community of 27,000 whose growth is being fueled in part by the proximity of The Villages.

“It’s going to have a resort-style pool, playground, tot lot, dog parks, lots and lots of preservation areas, passive parks and green space,” Snyder said of Banning Ranch. “There’s lots of wetland on the property that we’ve worked with and enhanced for the beautification of the community.” read more