The USNS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenbert served her country well and May 27, 2009, the 523-foot-long converted Missile Range Instrumentation Ship will sink seven miles south of Key West to serve the aquatic world as an artificial reef 140 feet beneath the sea.  Travelers to Key West will definitely witness a historic event when visiting the Conch Republic May 26 – June 1.

For those history buffs, read on for the soap opera-esque history of the USNS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg:

• Launched in 1943, the ship was originally named the USS/USNS Gen. Harry Taylor;
• In 1961, the ship joined the ranks of the United States Air Force and renamed the USNS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg;
• 1964 the ship returned to the Navy and placed in service by the Military Sealift Command (MSC);
• Tracked missiles launched from the Space and Missile Test Center between 1965 and 1975;
• Transferred to the Maritime Administration MARAD Reserve Fleet, James River, Va., in 1983 and struck from the Naval Register in 1993;
• Leased to Universal Studios in 1996 for the filming of the movie Virus, starring Jamie Lee Curtis, William Baldwin and Donald Sutherland, the film was released in 1999;
• Fate determined as an artificial reef in 2007;
• April 22, 2009, the Vandenberg arrived in Key West in preparation for the scuttling which means a crew is cutting holes to allow water flow and vent air when the ship is sunk. These holes will encourage marine life to colonize.

Although the target date for the sinking is May 27, factors may impact the actual date, such as “weather and other unforeseen circumstances,” said Jim Scholl, Key West’s city manager and project administrator.

This sinking is brought to you and the marine world by the Artificial Reefs of Key West. Check out their Web site for additional information on this historic moment. Book your Key West vacation now to take advantage of sweet and affordable late-spring deals.

We previously posted how you can stimulate the economy by booking a vacation and the good folks with VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s official tourism marketing corporation, are taking this one step further. They’re asking Florida residents to “Share a Little Sunshine” by inviting loved (and unloved) ones down to the Sunshine State for a vacation to get back to what really matters, spending time and creating memories with family and friends. Doing so keeps Florida’s economy flowing.

Residents can log onto www.ShareaLittleSunshine.org and select one of three Hallmark-type, feel-good videos to send to friends and/or family.  The process is lickity split, meaning, in less than two minutes, an e-vite to visit Florida is on its way. To thank those who send the invitations, each time they “Share a Little Sunshine” they’ll be entered to win one of 12 groovy Florida getaways with one being given away each week of the program. The 12-week program’s launch coincides with the 26th Annual National Tourism Week being celebrated May 9 – 17, 2009.

C’mon, get going, what are you waiting for? Head to the Sunshine State and invite others to do so to keep the economy flowing. More than 1 million residents are directly employed in Florida’s tourism industry and the state’s 82.5 million visitors generated $65.2 billion in spending last year. Florida’s tourism industry generates $3.9 billion in revenue to support schools, help build roads and pay for vital statewide programs.  And, a healthy tourism industry is the reason Florida is state income tax free. Yup, tourism is important for Florida’s economy. Will you do your part? After all, a vacation in Key West, Orlando, Daytona Beach or elsewhere in the Sunshine State ain’t so bad.

Data Based on 2008, VISIT FLORIDA

The best place to cool off during the Central Florida heat this summer is at the ICEBAR, Orlando’s hottest nightlight attraction. Don’t worry about bringing your own parka or gloves, they’re included in the cover into the U.S.’s first permanent ice bar on International Drive where the walls, tables, bar etc., are made of ice. Enjoy a vodka drink the really “neat” way, in a glass made of ice.

There are more cool things happening in Florida this summer.  Jay Clarke with the Miami Herald has a grasp on the Florida attraction pulse and has gathered all that’s new and wonderful in the Sunshine State in his April 19 article titled, “Zip Through the Treetops, Visit the Stars.” Clarke gives a roundup of new and refreshed Florida attractions like the Zipline Safari at Forever Florida (which we mentioned last month), the reopened  with their timeless Southern belles and information about the new airport terminal in Key West making it easier to vacation in the Conch Republic. Go check it out and when finished, book your Florida vacation. Take your pick from our faves as Orlando, Daytona Beach and Key West.