Bonefish, Golf Balls, & Outdoorsmen

Well fans, for the first time in her capacity of co-host, History Lady (Robin Hicks-Connors) gave the fishing report for Bimini!  Ed Killer, you'd better watch your back!

Bonefish, permit chasing, mutton snapper and rays were on History Lady's list of flats fishing targets and boy did she have things to say about Bonefish Ebbie…(all good).  Thanks Robin!

After reminiscing about last week’s show broadcast from North Bimini, Robin and Gary got down to business and had a wonderful chat with Bob Baldassari, the general manager of PGA Villages located in Pot St. Lucie, Florida. 

Always comfortable on the microphone, Bob shared all kinds of great info on what is happening at PGA Village.  Here's a  couple of points he covered that you'll want to know: what the golf industry has done to survive today’s economy and whether you can just play one hole and “call it a day." Most importantly, Bob provided the details about an upcoming Labor Day Weekend event that all golfers will want to participate in!  Last, we know that Radio Man (Gary) is a Yankee, so where does Bob hail from and what does he have in common with Harvard Yard (pahk the cah in Hahvad Yahd)?

Outdoor and Nature VISIT Florida “Insider” Kevin Mims poked around Martin County just long enough to make an appearance on the show.  A freelance writer, blogger, photographer and videographer, Kevin was here on a mission to get an overview of what hiking, biking and paddling adventures could be found here on the Treasure Coast.  He only scratched the surface on this visit and will have to come back. Martin County's opportunities had him on overload!  

This week's show was full of fun, accented with "infotainment," "edutainment" and "sportstainment" for all.

Here's the audio file to the show...enjoy!

Golfing and Inside Florida Scoops!

It’s been awhile since Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast (and Beyond) has checked out the golf scene so who better to speak to that popular activity than Bob Baldassari, general manager of PGA Village located in Port St. Lucie, Florida!  PGA Village is home to the world famous Ryder’s Cup Trophy, Historical Center Golf Museum, Center for Golf Learning and Performance Instruction and much more.  In addition to updating our listeners on what’s new at PGA Villages, Bob will share his insights as to the “state of the golf industry” in our current economic times, not just locally but regionally and statewide as well. Also, he’ll share the planning for the 4th Annual Patriot Golf Day National Opening Ceremonies and John Shimkonis, PGA Memorial Golf tournament.  Is there a PGA/Bahamas connection?  Of course there is. Listen to the show and learn what island is slated for a fabulous resort.

Continuing to bring you the “inside scoop” on Florida’s great destinations and activities by VISIT FLORIDA’S “Insiders”, this week we are please to have in the house Kevin Mims, a freelance writer serving as the Outdoors and Nature Insider for the state’s official source for travel Planning.  Kevin promotes outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism through blogs, professionally produced videos and articles for both web and print.  Kevin is also the host of Visit Florida Live TV.  So, why and how did Kevin end up in Martin County, Florida?  A past guest stated that for him Martin County is an “outdoorsman’s paradise."  Will Kevin concur?

This week, find out if History Lady returned to Bimini and the big question is…did she hone her angling skills on the flats of Bimini?  Who is Bonefish Ebbie and more.

As usual there will be the expected and certainly the unexpected as the crew broadcast from their home base at the Elliott Museum in Stuart, Florida.

See you tomorrow, Friday, July 30 at 10 a.m. on WPSL 1590 AM or www.wpsl.com for another fun-filled episode of Talkin' Tourism on Florida's Treasure Coast (and Beyond)!

From Golden Gate to Morocco, and hitting the road AAA-style

Talkin' Tourism on Florida's Treasure Coast learned how to help out at home by going worlds away this week, and it all comes down to a historic building in need of restoration in Stuart, Fla.

Flahama - the Bahamas-to-Florida tourism linkage - is one thing, but how could meandering through Morocco benefit the Treasure Coast? Sally Dadko, a world traveler and former Martin County Preservation Board chairman, and Saadia Tsaftarides, born in Morocco and now a Stuart resident, have brainstormed a plan to skip a continent away while supporting restoration efforts for the Golden Gate Building.

The pair plans to raffle off a trip to Saadia's home country, while the proceeds will help bring the Golden Gate Building back to its classic state from when it was first built in 1925. With Saadia as the hometown tour guide, the 8-day, 7-night Moroccan trip promises to peruse through some incredible history, culture, and maybe even a party or two with Saadia's family.

It was truly fascinating to learn what Morocco was up to in terms of bringing in tourism - many thanks, Saadia and Sally, for stopping by!

Padiddles, paduncles (both with surprising amounts of rules for being played inside a car) and the latest word on the American Automobile Association - or AAA - were the areas of expertise shared by guest Sandy Snyder, a 30-year veteran of AAA. Who would have guessed that an organization founded in 1902 to promote more roadways for Americans would lead to an organization 50 million strong in North America? Listen in to hear what AAA has in store for its members these days. They're not just the tow-truck and mapbook folks, that's for sure.

This week's show also recapped how a friend of Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast is spearheading an children’s eco-project on the island of Bimini, who declared that “Fridays are Free” until September 30th, 2010, upcoming fishing tournaments in the Abacos, and most important, where History Lady ran off to last week.

As always, you can catch Radio Man and History Lady at 10 a.m. Fridays on 1590 AM WPSL, or http://www.wpsl.com/.

Next two shows of Talkin' Tourism “On the Road!”

An exciting couple of weeks are in store for Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast listeners as Gary and Robin take the show “on the road” and “out to sea,"

Friday January 15, the 36th Annual Stuart Boat Show and 2nd Annual Cruiser Expo is the place to be as Talkin' Tourism broadcasts live from the FLAHAMA/Harborage Yacht Club and Marina booth. Gary and Robin with be chatting with attendees, show exhibitors and lots of special guests including members of the Bahamas Tourist Office and representatives from Abaco Beach Resort at Boat Harbour, and Bimini Bay Resort and Marina.

Bimini Bound January 22—Many Treasure Coast residents and boaters alike are no strangers to the island of Bimini. In pursuit of taking Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast to every island in the Bahamas, Radio Man and History Lady make Bimini their first island of 2010. Literally a “short hop” (58 miles east of Miami…a 20 minute plane ride), the island of Bimini (actually two islands, North and South Bimini), is loaded with fascinating history, legendary big game fishing, as in Ernest Hemingway’s favorite fishing grounds, a location of the much sought after Fountain of Youth, fantastic diving and much more.

Bimini Factoid—The island's name “Bimini” is derived from the Taino words “Bibi” (mother) and “Mini” (waters), meaning Mother of Many Waters. Taini is a Native American language of the Caribbean Islands.

Special thanks to the staff and management of Bimini Bay Resort and Marina for making this adventure possible.

Show listeners and blog readers, stay tuned. More details to unfold!