When planning your Florida travel vacation, keep in mind that the Sunshine State can present some challenges for you and your family during the summer months. Needless to say, it is very hot in Florida with temperatures ranging between 85-95 degrees every day. Overall, senior persons, small children, overweight individuals, persons taking certain medications or those who drink alcohol in excess are particularly vulnerable to heat stress. (photo credit: prlog.org)

You also need to be careful with thunderstorms which are rampant in Florida. It has been said that Florida is the lightning capital of the United States. All I can tell you is that we do get thunderstorms almost daily usually late in the afternoons. Thunder and lightning also present a thread to you and your family while on vacation and you need to know what to do if confronted with a huge thunderstorm. To help you deal with both the intense heat and thunderstorms while in Florida, read the tips below.

Florida Heat (photo credit: intercott.com)

• Drink plenty of water – it is recommended that you drink lots of water even if you are not thirsty.
• Avoid heavy foods – eat light and preferably foods high in water content like fruits, soups or salads.
• Dress appropriately – wear loose-fitting clothing that are light-weight, light in color and cotton is preferred.
• Block the sun – wear a hat to block the sun’s harmful rays.
• Midday heat – stay indoors between noon and 4:00 pm as the sun is the hottest during this time.
• Get shelter – find an air conditioned place if the temperatures are above 90 degrees.
• Don’t workout – limit any vigorous activity and don’t exercise unless you are in an air conditioned room.
• Head for the water – go to the beach, use a pool, or visit a water park and play in the water.

Thunderstorms (photo credit: tampabay.com)

• Follow the 30/30 rule – you are in a strike zone if the time between seeing the flash of lightning and hearing the thunder is less than 30 seconds. Seek shelter immediately.
• Get off the beach – water attracts lightning, so get out as quickly as possible.
• Stay away from pools, lakes or other bodies of water.
• Never seek shelter under a tree – trees also attract lightning.
• Don’t stand near tall objects.
• Stay away from anything that has metal like bikes, golf carts, fencing, umbrellas, or machinery.
• Seek shelter in a hard top vehicle or try to get indoors as soon as possible.

It is my sincere hope that the tips above will help you to keep your family safe when traveling to Florida during the summer months. Remember that Florida travel is still very affordable so go ahead, plan that summer vacation and have a great time.

Once in a while I find a place that is known for its history and such is the case with the Chautauqua movement. For all history lovers this is a must see place. The history of Chautauqua tells us that the original group began in Northwest New York in 1874 at the Chautauqua Lake and the founders were John Heil Vincent and Lewis Miller. Somehow, the beauty of this location seemed to be the perfect place for John Vincent, a Methodist leader, to hold Sunday School Assembly. This Chautauqua movement is referred to as “The Mother Chautauqua.” (photo credit: wfrc.org)

The Florida Chautauqua

Often referred to as an “Independent Daughter” of the movement, the Florida Chautauqua began on February 10, 1885 in DeFuniak Springs located in Walton County. The format of the group emphasized religious training and educational activities in areas of philosophy, theology, music and art. Entertainment was also established in the form of concerts and lectures geared to be educational in nature. History tells us that by 1886 visitors to the Assembly attended lectures on Julius Caesar, Cicero’s writings, Rome and Hannibal, Marius and Sulla as well as diverse topics on health, astronomy, and even love and marriage. (photo credit: floridachautauqua.com)

Several speakers took turns in giving lectures at the Florida Chautauqua but one of the first speakers was Wallace Bruce, a man who would play a key role in the direction of the Chautauqua Assembly. In 1888, Wallace Bruce was elected President of the Florida Chautauqua Association and he built his first home on Lake DeFuniak. It was through his efforts that the Hall of Brotherhood building was constructed.

During the 1940′s, the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood building was remodeled and became a city auditorium that hosted USO dances, the Grand Ol’ Opry, square dances, basketball games and wrestling matches. It was in this building that the West Florida Musical Festivals were held back in the 40′s. There was a popular celebration called “Birthday Club of the Air” that took place at the Hall of Brotherhood every year during the 50′s geared for senior citizens and the featured guest at the party was the oldest surviving member of the Civil War, Uncle Bill Lundy. Special events continued through the years that included such performers as Minnie Pearl and Grandpa Jones, Mario Lanza, Jerry Lee Lewis, and many others.

In 1975, hurricane Eloise swept across the Florida panhandle in full force and destroyed the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood auditorium leaving only the front lobby intact. Somehow the decision was made not to rebuild but the residents of DeFuniak Springs never forgot their Chautauqua heritage and the role their community played during the Chautauqua era. Through the efforts of many of these people, funds were raised to restore the original Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood. After this, the old movie theatre was renovated and was renamed “The Florida Chautauqua Theatre.”

When renovation was completed, the residents of this community hosted a huge festival with recreational activities and even a beauty pageant but it wasn’t until Diane Pickett, a former resident of DeFuniak Springs returned in 1980 that the area experienced the re-birth of the Chautauqua Assembly. Diane Pickett was able to officially bring back to life the Florida Chautauqua Assembly in1996. Through her efforts, the Assembly is much like the original and includes lectures on history, health, art, current events along with entertainment from performers across the country. (photo credit: floridachautauqua.com)

Diane Pickett resigned as chair of the board of directors this year but left behind a well organized Florida Chautauqua Assembly designed as a four-day conference style event featuring keynote speakers, performances, special events, and even day sessions. The 2009 Assembly which took place at the beginning of this year was called “A Journey into Africa” featuring guest speakers like Naomi Tutu, daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Jim Fowler, from Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom and many more. The theme for the 2010 Assembly will be “A Journey into the Caribbean.”

If you want to have a great vacation with your family but don’t want to spend a fortune, consider Lowry Park Zoo. Situated just north from downtown Tampa in Florida, Lowry Park Zoo offers much more than just animal attractions. It is the kind of place that has something for everyone to enjoy. The park has over 2,000 animals and includes Asian Gardens, Free-Flight Aviaries, a children’s zoo, a Native Florida Wildlife Center, a Manatee hospital, and an African Safari. The zoo also features shows, rides and hands on interactive exhibits.

Don’t let the word zoo throw you off. Lowry Park Zoo also has a banquet room for special gatherings fully equipped with rental facilities and a catering staff. Corporate meetings, birthdays, weddings and family reunions take place here and they can accommodate parties for thousands of people. Gatherings or parties can be held outside at a natural serene escape like the Garden of Love or you can choose the indoor Banquet and Lecture Hall facility.

Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo just got cuter with a new Aussie addition, the Queensland Koala, Bundaleer. It is the Zoo’s first Koala resident and Bundaleer prefers low humidity so his exhibit is indoors in a climate controlled environment. Like Kangaroos and Wallabies, Koalas carry their young in a pouch and live almost entirely on eucalyptus leaves. They don’t drink water because they get all the water they need from the eucalyptus leaves and Koala is the Aborigine word for “no water.” Koalas have a low metabolic rate for a mammal and rest and sleep for about 18 to 20 hours a day. Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo works in cooperation with the San Diego Zoo to support the Koala breeding program and habitat conservation and research in Australia. It is one of the few Zoos in the United States accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to exhibit Koalas.

On your next Florida travel vacation, do keep Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo in mind. It is truly one of best parks to spend time with your family. Here are some more attractions you can enjoy.

Safari Africa and Ituri Forest – see elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, warthogs, cheetahs, crowned cranes, pygmy hippos and much more in their natural habitat.

Wallaroo Station – lots of fun for the whole family in this Australian adventure that includes cockatoos, kookaburras, goats, wallabies and kangaroos. Kids can play in the Billabong water play area, pet the goats, ride a pony or ride the Tasmanian tiger family roller coaster.

Asian Gardens and Sulawesi Aviary – watch the tigers, bears and leopards at play. You can actually get up close to all these animals.

Free Flight Aviaries – enjoy a sub-tropic rain forest in the Zoo. Admire nature’s colors in all their glory, red legged honeycreeper, the purple swamp hen, the toucan and the blue bellied roller. You will also enjoy the peaceful waterfalls and river that runs through this area.

Florida Boardwalk – you will be amazed to see the many animals whose native habitat is Florida. Don’t miss the two interactive areas in the boardwalk, the Harrell Discovery Center and Stingray Bay where you can feed and touch Florida’s stingrays.

Primate World – here you can see orangutans, chimpanzees and mandrills. You will also see tiny marmosets and tamarins. The majority of these primates are endangered species in the world.

Birds and Prey – the list is endless but here you will see bald eagle, American kestrel, Andean condor, barn owl, barred owl, black vulture, hawks including a red tail one.

Gator Falls Flume Ride – enjoy the thrill of raging waters and a treacherous 30 foot drop on this ride. Watch as hungry alligators wait for you at the end.

Taz Tiger Family Coaster – here is a family friendly coaster that takes you on ups and downs for a thrilling ride.

Boomer’s Flyin’ Bananas – here kids can soar high in their own flying bananas. It is a circular motion ride and children can use control levers to move them up and down.

Safari Ride – climb aboard the custom made safari vehicle for a 15 minute long narrated ride and see dozens of African animals.

Jungle Carousel – take a ride on a cheetah, manatee, elephant or other exotic creatures on this colorful carousel.

Treetop Skyfari – you can see the entire zoo from this sky ride as well as a great view of downtown Tampa and surrounding areas.

Camel Ride – hop on the back of a camel and experience the thrill of riding one of these magnificent animals.

Pony Trek – get the kids to ride on the back of a Haflinger horse and on weekends, they can ride a llama.

In addition, you can also enjoy some of the many water attractions the park offers such as River Odyssey Eco-Cruise, Manatee Fountains, Billabong Fountains and the children’s play area with exciting slides, tunnels and ladders. Do consider the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa on your next Florida travel. It is a great place to visit.