Things To Do In SW Florida

The Department of Defense is looking for a new home for SpaceX’s Starship launching the process to determine what the environmental impact would be to allow the world’s most powerful rocket to launch from the Space Coast.

Led by the U.S. Air Force, which includes the Space Force, but working with NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard, what is officially called an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has the most rigorous requirements when weighing the detriments a project might have on its surroundings.

The Air Force detailed its plans for the EIS on a new website: spaceforcestarshipeis.com.

For now SpaceX continues to attempt test launches of the Starship and Super Heavy rocket from its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. The company had two launches in 2023 in which the rocket generating more than 16 million pounds of thrust made it off the launch pad, but ultimately ended with the hardware exploding minutes after takeoff both times.

The first of the two launches created so much power on liftoff that it destroyed the launch pad prompting major changes that ultimately paid off for the second launch with the pad sustaining little damage. A third attempt to get Starship to complete its suborbital test flight could come before the end of next month. read more

TALLAHASSEE — Visitors to Florida last year fell short of 2022’s record numbers, as a post-pandemic rebound in international travelers couldn’t overcome a noticeable drop-off in domestic tourism late in the year.

The Visit Florida tourism-marketing agency Friday reported that Florida had an estimated 135.02 million tourists in 2023, down from 137.4 million in 2022.

Visit Florida, however, pointed to increases from 2019, the last year before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global travel, and improved international tourist numbers. The state drew about 131.1 million tourists in 2019.

“Even as we faced the challenges of rising travel costs and widespread inflation, Florida’s tourism sector not only persevered but flourished (in 2023),” Visit Florida President and CEO Dana Young said in a prepared statement. “From record air travel numbers to the significant return of international visitors, Florida continues to shine.”

The agency said 2.34 million overseas visitors in the fourth quarter of 2023 marked a 15.9 percent increase from the final quarter of 2022. Also, 1.07 million Canadians in the fourth quarter of 2023 was a 22 percent improvement from the same period in 2022. read more

With hundreds of apartments opening in the past year — and thousands more expected to come soon — Sanford leaders are now asking if all the new multi-family dwellings are straining city services.

And is it time for Sanford to slow down that growth, so it can catch up?

“What my concern is: How does the city of Sanford keep up with how rapidly we’re growing?” city Commissioner Sheena Rena Britton said. “I don’t want people to think that we’re against development. We’re all for it. But we want to make sure that we’re well prepared; not just for our residents, but for our visitors as well.”

Commissioners at a recent meeting said Sanford may even need to consider a moratorium — or a temporary halt —on the approval of new apartments. But first they want to understand the impact of all the growth.

Commissioners then asked city staff to compile data on whether Sanford’s police and fire departments have enough manpower and resources to handle the expected population increase. read more

By Sally French | NerdWallet

Upon landing in a foreign country, expect a lot of lines. There’s immigration, passport control and customs inspection. But there’s one line you can — and absolutely should — skip: the airport currency exchange.

Not only does the airport currency exchange counter’s line cut into precious time abroad, but it’s typically a terrible money move. Airport currency exchange rates are among the worst you’ll find.

It’s not uncommon to see airport exchanges charging 14% more than the current International Monetary Fund (IMF) exchange rate. NerdWallet even found some premiums exceeding 17%. Some also charge additional fees on top of the poor exchange rate.

So what do you do if you need cash upon arrival to order a cab or tip the bellhop? Consider ordering foreign currency before you fly.

Most banks allow you to order foreign currencies, which you can typically pick up at a local branch before your trip. Some banks offer to ship currencies to you, and sometimes they don’t even charge extra for postage if you order a certain amount. read more

When Disney Cruise Line’s new ship Disney Treasure makes its way to Port Canaveral this year, Minnie Mouse will once again be leading the way.

In an image shared on the Disney Parks Blog with updates on the new vessel’s construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, the bow artwork featuring Captain Minnie Mouse wearing an adventure-themed outfit has been rendered complete with the signature golden filigree similar to the hull art designs found on the rest of the cruise line’s fleet of ships.

“Its completion marks an exciting milestone for the Disney Treasure as it begins the next stage of construction,” reads the post. “The installation process began when the shipyard team welded a number of pre-cut steel plates to the Disney Treasure’s hull. Once the framework of the design had been secured, the plates were painted by hand to obtain their iconic golden hue and sealed with a special topcoat.”

It’s the second time Captain Minnie has made a bow appearance after 2022’s Disney Wish, a sister ship to Disney Treasure that was the first of three vessels in a new class for the cruise line. read more