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)!

VISIT FLORIDA Insider blogs about Indiantown

Two show's ago, VISIT FLORIDA Insider Hilda Mitrani was a guest on Talkin' Tourism. After the show, Hilda set out off the beaten path to explore Indiantown in western Martin County. Check out her adventures in the heart of Florida's cattle and citrus country and the array of activities to be found.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Jim Morse

The new Buzz around Fort Pierce, and your friendly neighborhood pirate

Well, me saucy wenches and scalawags, this week’s show was a-Buzz with excitement, fun and tons of information. It even included a professional pillager of a guest, well-known Treasure Coast privateer Don Pedro Gilberto. For the non-pirating audience out there, a privateer is a pirate who is officially sanctioned by a national power.

Talkin' Tourism on Florida's Treasure Coast had Ed Griffith fill in for History Lady, who went underground to do some special recon for next week’s show. Ed, thanks for a fabulous job once again! First up was Buzz Smyth, self-proclaimed "Tourism Warrior" of Fort Pierce. Buzz proved to be a formidable opponent for Radio Man in the tourism realm, and there is no doubt - he's working his biscuits off to make things happen in Fort Pierce. Listen in and find out what pixie dust he’ll sprinkle around town to help bring in the crowds.

Gary and Ed were pleased to have privateer Don Pedro Gilberto join the fray. A bit of a scalawag, but nevertheless, he really added another dimension to the show. Officially sanctioned by the Treasure Coast region, he reflected on his past days sailing the high seas off the Treasure Coast. In fact, there's still a motherload of booty for our visitors to discover on the Treasure Coast, according to Don Pedro…What say you, Matey? Got a treasure map to borrow, by any chance?

Talkin' Tourism also brought in another VISIT FLORIDA Insider this week, and just like Jill Martin in last week's show, Hilda Mitrani knows how to travel around the Sunshine State. Hilda, an Off-the-Beaten-Path Insider, has a reputation for finding Florida's hidden gems.

Specializing in the lesser-known Florida activities and destinations, Hilda was duly impressed with the area and plans to promote the Treasure Coast in a big way on her VISIT FLORIDA blog. Listen in and hear what Hilda has to say about the Treasure Coast!

Until next time landlubbers, you know where to find those scurvy dogs who talk about tourism - check out the show Fridays at 10 a.m. on WPSL 1590 AM, or log onto http://www.wpsl.com/!

Ladies are Landing the Big Ones, Thanks to Betty

Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast is on a roll! For the second time in two weeks, Robin and Gary are going to have a VISIT FLORIDA Insider in the house.

Our upcoming guest Hilda Mitrani knows Martin County might not exactly be a tourist destination, but that's exactly why the Treasure Coast area might appeal to her. As a VISIT FLORIDA Off the Beaten Path Insider, Hilda seeks out the nooks and crannies of Florida looking for diamond-in-the-rough attractions. A big city Miami native herself, Hilda might just help put Martin County on the beaten path when she checks out and talks up the area's charm.

Will the self-designated “tourism warrior,” Radio Man, a.k.a. Martin County Convention and Visitors Bureau Chairman Gary Guertin, meet his match? This week you will meet Harold “Buzz” Smyth, whose both nickname and tourism prowess rival Radio Man. Buzz recently accepted a professional services contract with the city of Fort Pierce to jumpstart the tourism effort in this historic Florida coastal city. What pixie dust can he sprinkle on tourism stakeholders that the Tourism Development Council and other organizations already haven't tried? Should be a very interesting discussion with this idea man.

Get ready fellas, because the ladies are dropping anchor in the fishing world. Betty Bauman, founder of the popular and well-publicized “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” seminars, will be talking with us about angling for the X chromosome. Her one-of-a-kind program provides women of all ages the chance to learn the ropes - from backing a boat trailer to rigging ballyhoo, and from using a cast net to offshore and inshore angling. Betty will call in this Friday to let us know when Ladies, Let's Go Fishing! will be hitting our area again.

Tune in to start your weekend early on Friday (10 a.m. on WPSL 1590 AM or www.wpsl.com), and hear what Betty, Buzz and Hilda have to say during this week’s edition of Talkin' Tourism with your hosts Gary Guertin and Robin Hicks-Connors.

--Photo from ladiesletsgofishing.com

Talking Top Florida Destinations with a Family Vacation Guru

This week, our special guest Jill Martin, a VISIT FLORIDA Family Insider, definitely had some terrific insight about which Sunshine State attractions are the best around from her family travels.

History Lady and Radio Man got to pick Jill's brain during Friday's Talkin' Tourism on the Treasure Coast, and the blogging-savvy mom of two boys didn't disappoint.

Great minds must think alike though. After discussing the "Top 10 Florida Destinations” listed by About.com Florida Travel, Gary and Jill drafted up their own top 10s, and they looked more than a little familiar. Their lists weren't mirror images though. Have a listen to the show to find out where they were different. But - no real spoiler alert here - that fuzzy-eared mouse in Orlando stills reigns supreme in his Magic Kingdom.

Jill also gave a run-down on how VISIT FLORIDA, the state's official tourism promoter, helps keep bringing in vacationers worldwide. Jill, kudos on being such a great guest!

Talkin' Tourism also brought its listeners up to speed on some sportfishing competition hitting the area soon. Keep an eye out for tournaments at Abaco Beach Resort at Boat Harbour and Treasure Cay.

An article praising seasonal residents by Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers Columnist Russ Lemmon was another topic the show talked up this week. Take a look at what Russ wrote and how the show responded to what Russ has seen the valued "snowbird" community contribute through volunteering.

As always, thanks for listening and checking out the blog, and make sure you become a Talkin' Tourism fan on our Facebook Page!

Share a Little Sunshine Campaign Re-Launching Today

Today in Miami, Governor Crist helped re-launch the Share a Little Sunshine campaign. The Florida tourism industry challenges all Floridians to do just that---Share a Little Sunshine.

The video below tells you why and more details are listed below. To learn more about the campaign and to send an invitation, visit http://www.sharealittlesunshine.org/.

Share a Little Sunshine---The cause? Helping our state's economy by helping encourage tourism - an industry responsible for a million Florida jobs and about a fifth of the state's economy.

How can you help? Send a postcard or invitation to friends or family. It's as easy as that. Each invitation carries with it a special discount or offer - to friends and family of Floridians. So you're not only sharing Florida sunshine, you're also sharing Florida opportunities.

What's in for you? When you love Florida, Florida loves you back. In addition to helping your own state's economy, we'll thank you by entering you to win a Sunshine vacation.

It's really simple. When you send an invitation, the person you invite gets your invitation plus a special offer. You get entered for a chance to win a Florida vacation, and Florida's economy may benefit from another visitor.

Guest update for January 30 show

"Which Way to Stuart" by Dan Mackin.

A couple of guest changes for tomorrow's Talkin' Tourism. Robin Hicks-Connors returns to co-host the show with Gary Guertin. Guests include: Rozeta Mahboubi, the executive director of the Martin County Convention & Visitors Bureau; artist Dan Mackin, who is the 2009 featured artist for ArtsFest; and Nancy Turrell, the executive director of the Arts Council. Topics to include: ArtsFest 2009, how Dan Mackin became an artist and his involvement with the Beach Boys, and Governor Crist's move this week to restore VISIT FLORIDA's funding for tourism marketing.