Annual Salute to Pineapples, Rum and Sister City Connections

Max Leary, Robin Hicks-Connors, Christopher Cook (back),
Susan Culmer, Gary Guertin (back), Jody Clifford and
Kingley Bethel "backstage" after the live radio show.

Returning to a broadcast venue after a year has passed means a lot of catching up, and that is exactly what Talkin’ Tourism’s Gary Guertin and Robin Hicks-Connors did this show. Jody Clifford, Maritime and Classic Boat Museum’s executive director, brought listeners and the Talkin' Tourism team, up to speed on new activities, programs and member events, along with the scheduled exhibits visitors will find.

Moving along to the 3rd Annual Rum Runner Party, committee member and museum social media guru Christopher Cooke let us in on some of the fun, music, food and libations attendees will be treated to at this rum-inspired event planned on November 18 at The Mansion at Tuckahoe. It sounds like a party fit for the real Bill McCoy. This annual event is the museum's key fundraiser. Expect an array of extraordinary live auction items to be auctioned off by legendary auctioneer Karlin Daniels. What’s on the auction block? A stay in a private home in Hope Town on Elbow Cay, Abaco, as well as a vacation in a 17 million dollar private residence in Hawaii No skimping on these auction packages! For the right price, they could be your's.

With the kick-off of the Jensen Beach Pineapple Festival, Talkin’ Tourism was very grateful to welcome back several members of the Eleuthera/Jensen Beach Travel Club, who stopped by to say hello. Every year, the Jensen Beach, Florida/Gregory Town, Eleuthera Sister City relationship is celebrated. This brings a flock of Eleutherans to Jensen Beach to celebrate and provide “our” Pineapple Festival with an authentic touch of the “real Bahamas." As usual, past show guests Max Leary, Kingsley Bethel and Susan Culmer shared their enthusiasm for the Treasure Coast and why they like to return year after year. It's time for Treasure Coast adventurers to gather together and plan a trip to Eleuthera in June to visit the Bahama's side festival in June. Anyone ready?

So listeners and fans, pour yourself a rum libation, then sit back and enjoy your own personal episode of our annual salute to pineapples, rum and sister city connections!

Vacation planning, travel trends, and HOT Memorial Day Venues

Jody Clifford, Talkin' Tourism
co-host Robin Hicks-Connors and
Gary Smith ready to talk tourism!

On Friday’s show, our listeners learned what is new and exciting at the Maritime and Classic Boat Museum, as well as the travel trends for the approaching Memorial Day Weekend.

Jody Clifford, executive director of the Maritime and Classic Boat Museum, ran through the museum's summer schedule of exhibits and shared what day of the week you can get in for free! Talk about a great deal! The museum is definitely on the move with plans underway for the 3rd annual Real McCoy Rum Runner event, which is slated for November 18. An new venue has been secured. If you missed the show, download the audio to get the inside track on the new location and to hear more details on this not-to-be-missed event.

Gary Smith, a AAA Auto Club South travel professional, was a wealth of information on the travel services America Automobile Association provides. Folks, AAA is not your grandfather's Oldsmobile any longer. For those of you who have not recently investigated the range and scope of travel services they provide, check it out. When you do, you just may become a member if you aren't already.

So what are the Memorial Day Weekend travel trends? We can’t say here (because we want you to download the show) but it definitely has something to do with water! If you are planning to travel for the long weekend, check out the top eight Memorial Day Weekend get-away locations according to Oyster.com to find out if your destination made the list. Here's a hint:  the top eight range from Jamaica to Miami to the Bahamas.

If you are taking a stay-cation for Memorial Day or this summer and are looking for suggestions on where spend a little time locally, the show covered lots to see and do right here on the Treasure Coast.

Jumping across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas, Gary covered the results of the Bahamas Billfish Championship after the completion of the first two legs, and let’s just say there are definitely Treasure Coast connections.

To hear all the details, download the show HERE.

We'll see you all this Friday from the Abaco Inn on Elbow Cay in beautiful Abaco, Bahamas! More details to follow.

Celebrating a Leader in the Marine Industries

Well ladies and gentlemen, there certainly was a party at the end of Salerno Road last Friday and it was at Stuart Yacht! Celebrating their 40th anniversary, the Burdick’s (Gregg and Nancy) and their staff welcomed the Talkin’ Tourism team and their invited guests with great fanfare.

It was great to see many local marine industry representatives joining in the celebration. Soon after the studio was set up, guests began arriving to be part of the show and to wish Stuart Yacht another 40 years of continued success.

Owner Gregg Burdick spoke about many marine related items including: how the business started, his founding roles in the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast and the Maritime and Classic Boat Museum, his experience working for the Bahamas Telecommunications Company, and more. Gregg was initially a little taken aback by the preshow blog title ("There's a Party at the End of the World") but when he stopped for a second and thought about it, he realized it was fitting since mariners and yachtsmen from all over the world have come to take advantage of his company's personal service and quality craftsmanship.

Shifting gears from the past and into the present, our listeners were introduced to the new general manager, Dave Astras, who is no stranger to the boating industry. Dave has some very specific plans on growing the business beyond the local scene and developing a presence in the global marine economy. All this from the shores of the South Fork of the St. Lucie River.

We had the pleasure of having a few words with Jay Coyle, editor at large for Yachting Magazine, who has been a longtime customer of Stuart Yacht. Also, stepping in was Bill Astras, David’s father who has just retired from his 'day job.' Bill was a captain for Jim Smith Boats (which are built in Stuart) and fished many tournaments in the Bahamas (and beyond).

Besides a Bahamas updates and a mention of local weekend events of interest, this week the grand finale was a recap of the Top 10 Snorkeling Destinations in the Caribbean (according to Frommer’s).

Gregg and Nancy, the muffins and coffee were great, as was the Italian spread for lunch! Thanks a million for inviting Talkin' Tourism to be part of the celebration!

For those of you who missed last Friday's show, you can listen now by downloading the audio file here.

See you on Friday for another hour full of tourism facts, news, and more!

Rum Running, Pineapple Rum and Lots of Laughter!

Rum Runners, pineapple rum, fundraisers, lots of laughs and nautical flea market were all topics of lively conversation and laughter this week!

Leading off the show, Maritime and Classic Boat Museum executive director Jody Clifford gave listeners the scoop on the museum’s origins, current happenings, and future vision for a new facility at Indian Riverside Park in Jensen Beach, Florida. As the show photos attest, if you have a “thing” for old boats and nautical memorabilia, put the Maritime and Classic Boat Museum on your "must see" list. 

With the cause well established, Chris Cooke gave the scoop on the upcoming Real McCoy Rum Runner Party. This 'spirited event' will be the talk of the town. Food, fun, entertainment and plenty of rum will ensure a good time by all attendees. Wrapping up the weekend will be a super Nautical Flea Market and Classic Boat Show. Committee member Julie Lentine described what to expect. Boating and marine enthusiasts, as well as their families, will enjoy this special day at Indian Riverside Park!

With the Jensen Beach Pineapple Festival on everyone’s radar screen, what could be better than having seven visiting Eleutherans in the studio to share their perspective on Gregory Town, Eleuthera’s 20 year Sister City partnership with Jensen Beach, Florida! Lead Junkanoo’er Avian Morley headed up the conversation with his love of the Treasure Coast. Glenda Johnson, senior executive with the Eleuthera Ministry of Tourism, shared her impressions of 20 years participation in the event. Did you know there is a Jensen Beach Travel Club in Eleuthera? Max will tell you all about it. There are even Eleutheran high school students here that will spend time with the music students at Jensen Beach High School during their stay. And folks, those are just the highlights!

Download the November 5th show and share in the fun, good times and great information that made this show truly special.