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Southeast Travel Tips by By Heather Davis
The 2006 Travel South Showcase, held on February 18-22, was a great success this year. With elaborate entertainment for and much heartfelt support from the national and international community, the Southeast is booming and its Gulf States are quick to note that their cities are welcoming visitors from all over the world. Travel South, a consortium of the twelve southeastern state tourism offices including West Virginia, holds a showcase every year that features the best of what the region has to offer. Almost 750 delegates attended the show this year. The first evening brought together 400 years history of Virginia music as the Virginia Tourism Corporation presented music groups from several different generations, including Native, bluegrass and shag music, with a surprise performance by Va. Governor Mark Warner. He sang and played harmonica, while each of the bands that played during the evening came up on stage for an explosive finale that set the bar high for the number of functions to follow that weekend. Other highlights included the Official Louis Armstrong Society Jazz Band at Louisiana's breakfast function, with its fiery singer and talented band members all worthy of the name of their band; dinner and entertainment at the Virginia Science Museum and the many tours on Saturday showcasing the city of Richmond and its surrounding areas ALABAMA
The Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel is promoting 2006 as "The Year of Outdoor Alabama." The 2006 calendar of events has a special section devoted to the more than 140 outdoor events and festivals taking place in Alabama throughout the year. A separate brochure titled "100 Outdoor Adventures in Alabama" lists great outdoor activities all over the state. Both are available at Alabama welcome centers or by contacting the Bureau. Mobile is getting back on its feet after Hurricane Katrina damaged many attractions and facilities throughout town. The Mobile Bay CVB encourages visitors to come and see how Katrina has impacted the town, as well as to witness the strength and perseverance of this community. The USS Alabama, which was closed for several months due to immense storm damage, reopened in January on the 41st anniversary of its original opening to the public. The Museum of Mobile will be opening this spring after extensive work to repair flood damage. The majority of the city is back up and running but support from the tourism community is still greatly needed and warmly appreciated.
FLORIDA
Construction is currently underway on the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, due to open later this year. The 6,000-square-foot facility will feature interactive exhibits depicting the region's underwater and upland habitats, with special emphasis on the ecosystem of North America's only living contiguous barrier coral reef. The center will be located on Truman Annex overlooking the Key West waterfront. The TECO Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach will open its season in November with a new expanded boardwalk featuring more observation areas. The center has also installed a new live webcam and has opened the South Shore Café refreshment area. The center celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year.
GEORGIA
The brand new home of the World of Coca Cola will open summer 2007 on a twenty-acre site adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta. The facility houses the world's largest collection of Coca Cola collectibles and memorabilia and - of course - offers samples of Coca Cola products from around the globe. The famous beverage, which was first served 'soda-fountain style' at a small pharmacy near Underground Atlanta, is served over a billion times per day in over 200 countries around the world. LOUISIANA
A full seven months after HurricaneKatrina, New Orleans is coming into their festival season with gusto and a great big helping of pride. After the wrap-up of the city's 150th Mardi Gras this March, Steven Perry, President and CEO of the New Orleans Metro CVB had this to say: "Our industry guests were overwhelmed by the spirit of the city and its people. It was startlingly clear that although New Orleans still faces real challenges in some areas, the historic core of the city, the tourism areas, and the experience of coming to New Orleans is not only intact but thriving. We planted the flag in the ground that announced to the world that New Orleans is open and ready to welcome visitors again in our own special style!"
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