Cheers! Foodies and those who just enjoy good food and wine will be traveling to Key West the weekend of Jan. 27 – 30, 2011 for the Key West Wine & Food Festival. The four-day festival is packed with food and wine tastings, a wine market, culinary seminars, a food and travel writing workshop, and glorious parties.

Festivities begin Thursday, Jan. 27 where everyone is invited to kick off their flip-flops for a sunset beach party with island flavors ranging from the food to music. Later that night, hop a trolley and take it to Old Town to stroll through some Key West neighborhoods with real personality. Sample food and wine from select restaurants.

A memorable evening is planned at the historic Truman Little White House on Jan. 28 with Bess & Harry’s Grand Tasting. Six U.S. Presidents have enjoyed this Winter White House of President Harry S. Truman when they have visited Key West. Key West Symphony musicians set the backdrop as patrons will sip in fine wines and spirits from across the globe.

The can’t-miss party is “Duval UNCORKED” on Jan. 29. Taking place on Key West’s famous Duval Street will be a mile-long tantalizing party for the taste buds as food samplings, wine tasting and shopping converge for an exciting evening.

VIP packages are available which includes access to some of the hottest events. Or, you can pick and choose which events and seminars you wish to attend. Visit the Key West Food and Wine Festival website for a complete schedule and ticket information and when planning for your Key West vacation, be sure to check with Resort Rentals International for affordable lodging options.

Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010, log onto www.VISITFLORIDA.com/beachwalk to view real time images of all 825 miles of Florida’s gorgeous, oil-free beaches. First of its kind, The Great VISIT FLORIDA Beach Walk will have one volunteer walk a one-mile stretch of beach, photograph it then upload the image by 11 a.m. The purpose is to cap the negative perception generated by the Deepwater Horizon Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico this summer.

Florida’s beaches are oil-free, clean and beautiful as ever. The world’s largest beach rally hopes to show the world the truth about the Sunshine State’s beaches.

Registration opened earlier this month and according to Wendy Spencer, CEO of Volunteer Florida, which is working with VISIT FLORIDA to create the Beach Walk, “It’s a very eclectic group of volunteers,” she continued, “We have Girl Scouts in Volusia County who will be out walking the beaches in their uniforms, and some will even be dressed as cookies. Literacy volunteers with AmeriCorps signed up to walk in Palm Beach County, young adults with City Year in Miami, and seniors with RSVP in Flagler. There is so much excitement about this event that we are confident we will have a great turnout in support of our state and all our beaches.”

Individuals and groups wanting to be part of the historic day’s official tally can learn more and register at www.VISITFLORIDA.com/beachwalk. Official volunteers commit to walk a designated mile and upload a photo taken along the way. Their photos, and others taken that morning, will appear in real time on the Great VISIT FLORIDA Beach Walk website, along with an interactive map detailing all the beach miles walked.

Once photos have been uploaded, visitors to www.VISITFLORIDA.com/beachwalk can vote for their favorite beach photo after Nov. 6 and register to win $5,000 and a snazzy Mazada Miata so they can zip around the Sunshine State checking out the fabulous beaches for themselves. Votes need to be cast by Dec. 6, 2010, to be registered to win.

If you happen to be vacationing in one of our favorite Florida beach destinations as Naples, Key West and Daytona Beach on Nov. 6, head out to the beach and be part of the fun!

Key West’s funky, eclectic flavor will be amplified during Fantasy Fest 2010 when the Florida island destination is transformed into this year’s theme, “Habitat for Insanity,” Oct. 22 -31, 2010. The over-the-top extravaganza will entice participants to leave their cares behind in exchange for a fantastical escape. During the 10-day long festival, revelers can party in more than 40 masquerade balls, costume contests and celebrations with a dazzling parade with large floats and costumed marching groups being the Fantasy Fest highlight.

A Royal Coronation Ball kicks off festivities on Oct. 22 when the king and queen of the “habitat” are crowned. A Goombay street party in the Bahama Village neighborhood is scheduled for Friday and Saturday of that same weekend and celebrates Key West’s Caribbean roots.

Additional festivities include the “Diagnosis Psychosis” Headdress Ball (Tuesday) with prizes for best masks, feathered turbans and other cranium covers; Pretenders in Paradise costume competition (Thursday) when entrants will don glittering costumes and dance under the stars; Fantasy Fest Street Fair (Friday), an ideal time for Key West vacationers who did not bring Fantasy Fest attire can pick up a feathered mask or just enjoy food and libations followed by the Masquerade March through Key West’s Old Town.  Monster’s Ball, a rowdy toga party, tea dances, sensual after-dark soirees and exuberant themed costume contests top off Fantasy Fest celebrations.

If vacation time is limited, plan your Key West Fantasy Fest trip around the Captain Morgan Fantasy Fest Parade in Key West’s historic downtown on Saturday, Oct. 30. Tens of thousands of spectators are expected to gather around for a spectacle which usually includes Caribbean bands, fantabulously decorated floats including a 40-foot mechanical shark, and feather-bedecked marching groups. Being Key West, be prepared for other visual surprises.

The complete Fantasy Fest event schedule can be found at www.fantasyfest.net or call 305-296-1817. Be sure to let us assist you in finding the best value lodging in Key West during your fantastical vacation.

Image Source: Screen Shot of Official Fantasy Fest Website