May 1: Extreme Games (and more) by Martin County Parks and Recreation and Florida Tourism News

Richard Blankenship, Director of the Martin County Parks and Recreation Department, will share with the listening audience the important role Treasure Coast Parks as well as Recreation programs play in our regions tourism product with a specific focus on Martin County. You will be amazed at the diversity of responsibilities and programs that come under Mr. Blankenship’s leadership.

With co-host Robin Hicks-Connors set to partake in her first tournament fishing experience (on her birthday!), we are hoping to have a “real sassy” interview with one of the co-founders of Reel Sassy, a line of high-quality fishing apparel and accessories for women who love to fish; love someone that fishes or just loves to look cute on the dock or at the marina. And, for those listeners looking for the perfect Mother's Day gift, think 'pink' and check out the Reel Sassy line on-line at www.reelsassy.com. Thanks for outfitting our ladies' fishing team Kimberly and Kristy.

We'll also spend some time reviewing other topics of tourism interest from around the region and the State.

And don’t forget to listen to “Robin’s Picks” of fun things to do this week and her special feature “This Week in Treasure Coast History”.

Tune your radio dial to 1590 FM on Friday at 10 a.m. to catch the show live from the Captain's Lounge of Harborage Yacht Club & Marina. If you can't listen to it live, check back in a few days to listen to the show from your computer or download to your IPod.

Golf by the hole and Poker-fly's (recap of April 24 Talkin' Tourism)

Over 150 golf courses on the Treasure Coast…who would have guessed.? Selling golf 'by the hole' is a new concept at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The world's best golf museum located on the Treasure Coast—believe it, it’s all true. Share a half hour with Bob Baldassari, General Manager of the PGA Village in Port St. Lucie.

One if by land, two if by sea…three if by air? No the 'British' aren’t coming but TOURISTS ARE! Jean Ballou, Customer Relations Manager at Galaxy Aviation, voted the 33rd best FBO in the USA and Canada, shares with listeners the dynamics of the general aviation business. Fly-ins, they're the aviation industry's version of boat rendezvous and very popular among aviation enthusiasts. How about a Rotary Pokerfly?

The April 24 show can be downloaded HERE. Enjoy and thanks for listening.

April 26: Aviation Tourism and Golf Tourism

Guests lined up for this week's show are Jean Ballou from Galaxy Aviation and Bob Baldassari from PGA Village in St. Lucie West.

Topics will include aviation tourism and it's economic impact upon the Treasure Coast. If you don't know what a 'fly-in' is, you'll know after Friday's show. David may also give more information on the two-day VNA Stuart Airshow, which attracts thousands to Stuart's Witham Field every November.

We'll also explore why the Treasure Coast is such a mecca for golfers.

Tune in Friday on your radio dial to 1590 AM at 10 a.m. and listen to the show as it airs live from the Captain's Lounge of Harborage Yacht Club & Marina.

A great big THANK YOU to Greg Wyatt and the WPSL-1590 crew for providing the technology to produce this week’s show LIVE from the fantail of the Pinta. What a terrific opportunity to be broadcasting right in the middle of the Columbus Ship fans: student groups, maritime history buffs, sightseer’s, boat lovers and the “just plain curious”.

Captain Morgan Sanger led off the show with a great interview recapping the ships adventures during their trip through the Panama Canal, gale force winds encountered off the coast of Honduras, the history of the Columbus Foundation and more.

Co-host Robin Hicks-Connors shared her “Top Tips” for events happening around the Treasure Coast as well as her fun segment “This Week in Treasure Coast History."

Last but not least, host Gary Guertin interviewed students touring the vessels to get their impressions. Without a doubt, they all thought the Ships were “way cool."

Enjoy the show! Download or listen to in on your computer HERE.

Live from the Pinta this Friday, April 17

Don’t miss this week’s episode of Talkin' Tourism. Gary and Robin take the show “on the road” (or better stated “out to sea”) when they do the show live aboard the historic Columbus era vessel the Pinta.

The Nina and Pinta, replicas of Christopher Columbus’s fleet of 1492, made quite a landfall at Harborage Yacht Club and Marina on Tuesday, April 14th. Check out the short 1+ minute video below to see the ships as they sail under and past the Evans Crary Bridge.

Don’t miss interviews with Captain Morgan Sanger, Kyle and crew members detailing their adventures sailing the vessels through the Panama Canal to Honduras, weathering challenging winds and sea conditions and telling listeners what happened to their Honduran chickens when they cleared customs in Key West!

The rest of the show will include interviews with locals and visitors alike as they tour the ships, as well as other nautical and 'Sassy' tourism tidbits.

See you aboard the Pinta this Friday! Tune to WPSL 1590 at 10 a.m.!

Today's show was "Reel" interesting!

Here's a quick rundown on today's Talkin' Tourism.

Jeene Brown, lead sales associate for REMAX of Stuart, provided powerful information regarding why now is truly the time to buy in Martin County and more specifically in the Harborage Yacht Club and Marina community. How low are the prices?...is the community pet friendly?...what about those railroad tracks?... what makes Martin County so “special”…will Martin County rebound faster than our surrounding counties…do I have to have a boat to live there?...how sweet are the deals?

How much do celebrities and notables in Martin and Indian River Counties pay in property taxes…how does promoting tourism help the real estate industry? Listen to the show and you'll know the answers to these questions and more.

"Gone Fishin" is the theme of the second half of the show. Greg McCampbell, co-chair of the 2009 Treasure Coast Builders Association Annual Memorial Weekend Fishing Tournament, and Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ron Rose, organizer of the Frances Langford Memorial Fishing Tournament, share all you will need to know about these two exciting tournaments that kick-off the summer fishing season.

Co-host Robin Hicks-Connors, as usual shared some “historical tidbits” regarding the Jensen Beach Bridge, as well as great things to do, places to go and people to see.

Want to know if Talkin' Tourism co-host Robin accepts host Gary Guertin's challenge to be a team angler in the Talkin' Tourism on the Treasure Coast/Reel Sassy entry in the Frances Langford tournament? Listen to the show and you'll know. Download it HERE.

April 10: From 'Reel' Fishing Tournaments to Real Estate

This approaching Friday, April 10, Talkin' Tourism guests will discuss approaching summer fishing tournaments, which not only attract anglers regionally, but those from out-of-state. Next we'll explore why many of our visitors end up becoming residents.

Scheduled guests include Ron Rose, the executive director of the Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce, which produces the Frances Langford Memorial Fishing Tournament (slated May 1-2, 2009); Greg McCampbell from R.V. Johnson Insurance and co-chair of the Treasure Coast Builders Association (TCBA); and RE/Max of Stuart realtor Jeene Brown.

Tune your radio dial to WPSL 1590 AM this Friday, April 10, at 10 a.m. to hear the show live from the Captain's Lounge of Harborage Yacht Club & Marina.

Listeners, it took 12 shows before we finally made it to Indian River County and we certainly were not disappointed.

At the top of the show, Talkin' Tourism host Gary Guertin and co-host Robin Hicks-Connors discussed the proposed beach parking fees being researched by the Martin County Commissioners. There are certainly pros and cons to this concept.

Seems like Harborage Yacht Club and Marina keeps the trophies coming to the Club. Last week, Harborage Yacht Club and Marina participated in the 'Taste of Martin County' benefitting Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Martin County and won the 'Best Soup Award.'

Lori Burns, Tourism and Marketing Director for the Indian River County (IRC) Chamber of Commerce, provided IRC Tourism 101: what the Bed Tax percentage is now; what it was in 1988 when the first established; and, much more.

Monica Smiley, Director of Operations for the Gloria and Emilio Estefan owned Costa d’Este Beach Resort in Vero Beach, Florida, a native of Houston, Texas is loving her life and career on the Treasure Coast. The resort's wining restaurant 'Oriente,' specializing in Cuban Fusion cuisine and headed by acclaimed Chef David Rodriguez, is the 'talk of the town.

Monica share with listeners why Ms. Estefan decided to open a great resort property on the Treasure Coast.

Also in the mix, Mary Jayne Kelly, CEO of the Cultural Council of Indian River County, provided an insiders look at the many wonderful environmental, cultural, and art related activities, museums and venues to be found in Indian River County.

Enjoy the show! Listen or download HERE.

Columbus Foundation seeking adventurers (volunteers) to 'man the docks' during Nina and Pinta visit to Stuart

Like old ships? Like Columbus? Like to volunteer? Then check out this opportunity: http://tinyurl.com/d4rrfb

Coming this week: Indian River County

This Friday's show focus is on Indian River County.

Lori Burns, the tourism director of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce, and two prospective guests (possibly the general manager of Costa d' Este and a representative from the Vero Beach Museum of Art) will join us in the studio to chat about tourism promotion, the potential for sports tourism, new resort properties and more.

Join us for Talkin' Tourism this Friday, April 10 at 10 a.m. on WPSL 1590 AM, where we'll be broadcasting live from the Captain's Lounge of Harborage Yacht Club & Marina.