I visited Cedar Key several years ago and fell in love with the low-key atmosphere and the friendly locals. It was tough to see how Hurricane Idalia? damaged the town so badly, but I’m told things have improved dramatically and that most businesses have reopened. Here’s the story I wrote a few years ago for a Canadian newspaper. I re-posted the story on my blog site in 2020. Some businesses may no longer be around, so please check before you make plans. CEDAR KEY, FLORIDA – I’m having dinner at Duncan’s Waterfront Bar & Grill in remote Cedar Key Florida. Read more
hurricanes
Hurricane Idalia is sending massive storm surges cascading into parts of Florida, and also wreaking havoc for travellers and airlines. Reuters reports that airlines in the United States canceled more than 850 flights today (Aug. 30) as the storm landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as an “extremely dangerous” Category 3 storm. Southwest Airlines had canceled 222 flights as of noon Eastern Time, while Delta Air Lines and American Airlines canceled 158 and 132 flights, respectively, as of 8:17 a.m. ET, according to flight-tracking website Flightaware.com. The website reported 65% of incoming flights to Tampa International Airport had been cancelled, Read more
Southwest Florida was devastated by Hurricane Ian, but local hotels and other tourism businesses are lending a helping hand. Throughout the state’s response to Hurricane Ian, VISIT FLORIDA has worked closely with authorities and travel brands, such as Expedia, AirBnb and hoteliers throughout the state, to connect displaced Floridians with resources for finding suitable short- and long-term accommodations. Earlier this week, VISIT FLORIDA learned of 23 families, who evacuated from their homes in Lee County while their newborns were in NICU care, were urgently in need of temporary housing in Broward County as their infants were being transferred to nearby Read more
Southwest Florida was slammed recently by Hurricane Ian. Here’s a statement put out today by local authorities. “The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (Fort Myers – Islands, Beaches & Neighborhoods) is working closely with state, federal and local officials to assess the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Ian, which made landfall on September 28 as a Category 4 near Cayo Costa, an island just off the coast of Fort Myers. Search and rescue efforts continue throughout the region. Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers has reopened for limited operations. Visitors are asked to put travel plans to the Read more
The Fort Myers airport is slated to open for limited traffic today, but that doesn’t mean tourism will be back any time soon in Southwest Florida. A spokesperson for Fort Myers tourism told me on Tuesday that limited flights will begin today and that Air Canada is tentatively scheduled to fly in and out of Fort Myers on Friday. A few hotels could open soon, but rooms are being set aside for utility workers and other responders. Hurricane Ian did tremendous damage to Florida and other parts of the U.S., as well as to some Caribbean islands. The death toll Read more
