Florida's Untold Stories: A Raft of Riches From Seminole and St. Pete to Fort Lauderdale

Boston-area journalists were invited to a presentation promising to reveal the "Untold Stories of Florida" recently. The event took place at a function space at Woodward, an upscale restaurant located at the Ames Hotel in Boston's historic heart.

The night outside was frigid, but for two hours the assembled journalists heard of nothing but nature trails, swimming, snorkeling, white sand, and brilliant hot sun. At that moment, it sounded like heaven.

But Florida isn't just about relief in winter: it's a year-round destination for sun worshippers, beach lovers, fun seekers, and families. The attractions - man-made and natural - are just as varied. The state offers everything from big-ticket resort vacations to relaxation in pristine natural settings.

Seminole County: "Florida’s Natural Choice"

"We're 30 minutes from both the attractions and the beaches," Sharon Sears, the executive director of the Seminole County Convention & Visitors Center, said.

The attractions include Disney World and Universal Studios, both located in Orlando. But hiking, boating, and other outdoorsy adventures also await.

Seminole County is "Florida's Natural Choice," Sears added, making use of the slogan that the small county's Visitors Bureau employs to underscore the scenic beauty of the area.

Visitors can marvel at Lake Jesup, home to an estimated 12,000 alligators, or book an excursion on an air boat, which is essentially a flat-bottomed boat propelled by a giant fan. Another attraction is the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

Seminole County is the idea place either to begin or to finish a vacation in Florida, Sears said. It's near Orlando, but boasts lower hotel prices that can be as much as a third cheaper than in more urban locales.

Sears offered one last bit of advice: "When you'd like to get away from it all but still be close to everything, come to Seminole County!"

Palm Beach County: "The Best Way to Experience Florida"

Another tempting travel destination is Palm Beach County. County Director of Communications & Public Relations Carli Smith explained that Palm Beach offers first-rate accommodations and a vibrant arts scene.

What's more, Palm Beach is welcoming to GLBT travelers. "Delray Beach is our San Diego," said Smith, noting that culture and commerce thrive side by side in the community.

Then there's Lake Worth, home to one of nation's largest GLBT organizations, Compass. Lake Worth hosts PrideFest, along with the iconoclastic Street Painting Festival.

The acclaimed Sunfest Music Festival takes place not far away, in West Palm Beach.

Polo is the hot local sport, and other equestrian activities are also popular. The Palm Beaches also offer a wealth of natural sights: everglades, kayaking, and scuba top the list.

Fans of couture will not be disappointed. Boasting retail resources such as Worth Avenue and The Gardens Mall, Palm Springs is "the place to come for America's designers," Smith said.

The Breakers Palm Beach oceanfront luxury hotel offers the last word in elegance, boasting newly-reopened restaurant L'Escalier, "serving contemporary French cuisine in a refined atmosphere of Versace china, Christofle silver, Riedel crystal and talented service staff presenting each dish in a classic European style," according to a press release.

Lovers are attracted to the area as a paradisiacal setting for their wedding celebrations. For the budget-conscious, tying the knot amidst such a wealth of culture and natural beauty needn't cost a fortune: "We're high end typically, but it is still possible to have an affordable wedding" in the summer off-season, Smith said.

Fort Lauderdale: "Mild to Wild!"

Don't be frightened by the anti-gay ravings of former Fort Lauderdale mayor Jim Naugle. Until Naugle's protracted anti-gay outburst a couple of years ago, noted Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau Media Relations Director Jessica Taylor, Naugle had never been anything other than gay-friendly, in keeping with the city's general welcoming, friendly social climate.

Now that Naugle is no longer in office, life has returned to normal. Naugle's well-publicized episode,Taylor notes, was nothing but a passing anomaly.

But the city's attractions remain: 23 miles of beaches make Fort Lauderdale gay.com's pick for "favorite gay resort town." Once the sun goes down, there's a healthy night life, too, with attractions such as the drag restaurant Lips.

Fort Lauderdale's newest attraction, the expanded Royals Palms, is set to open this Spring. With 100 rooms, Royal Palms is, according to its website, "the largest full service gay resort, not only in Fort Lauderdale, but in the US, which means there are accommodations to suit every personality."

Another coming attraction - set to open in 2012 - is a the new Spring Training Facility for the Boston Red Sox.

The city offers a website geared to the gay traveler to help plan each day, whether you're looking for "mild" or "wild."

St. Petersburg: Home to "The Dali"

Cindi Cockburn, Director of Public Relations for The Dali, reckons that St. Petersburg's time has come. "It's undergone what South Beach went through 20 years ago," she says.

Chief among the city's attractions is The Dali itself, a newly-opened museum (it opened its doors Jan. 11) that houses the largest collection of works by the visionary artist Salvador Dali to be brought under a singe roof anywhere outside of Spain.

The museum's collection of 2,140 works by the artist includes 96 of his oil paintings. Even the building is a Dali-esque work of art, specifically designed to house and protect this one-of-a-kind collection.

But St. Petersburg has bragging rights to the work of more than one world famous artist. Seattle-based glass blower Dale Chihuly has a gallery, the Chihuly Collection, in the city.

The space is a 10,000-square-foot, Albert Alfonso-designed facility that houses famed Chihuly treasures "Ruby Red Icicle Chandelier," "Tumbleweeds," and "Ikebana," as well as many others.

Art, culture, entertainment, food, lodging, natural beauty: Florida offers gay travelers, whether single, partnered, or parents, a rich array of destinations and diversions. No wonder the state tourism slogan exhorts us to "Discover Florida."