During six entertainment-packed weeks September 25 through November 8, 2009, Epcot guests can taste fine cuisine and wines from the top “foodie” cities in the world at the 2009 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Care for a taste of Camaroes com Palmito (shrimp with palms) from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil? Or how about a sip of the trendiest wine from Buenos Aires, Argentina? They are examples of the flavors of more than 25 international marketplaces from six continents that dot the World Showcase promenade during the festival.

Tapas-sized portions of regional specialties run $2 to $7 each, and recommended wines and beers make perfect pairings at each kiosk. Live regional entertainment is scheduled throughout each day along the promenade. Daily wine and beer tastings serve up sips from around the world, and culinary demonstrations dish up featured taste treats. A series fo special culinary programs features a lineup of renowned winemakers, guest chefs and speakers participating in elegant dinners, luncheons, seminars and wine schools.

Live music kicks the festival up several notches each evening during Eat to the Beat! concert series featuring acts from many musical genres, including classic rock, jazz, R&B, funk and soul. Scheduled to appear to the first time on the Eat to the Beat! stage are Richard Marx, Better Than Ezra, Vanessa Carlton, John Waite and Billy Ocean. Returning acts are Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Starship, En Vogue, Sister Hazel, Kool & The Gang, Spyro Gyra, Jon Secada, Sister Sledge, Taylor Dayne, Boyz II Men, Night Ranger and Los Lobos.

The first-ever “Sizzling” Summer Concert Series at Universal Orlando Resort will feature some of today’s hottest musical talent live at the new outdoor Music Plaza. Beginning Saturday, June 13, 2009, and running Saturday nights through July 4, 2009, the Summer Concert Series features four of the biggest names in pop, hip-hop and R&B – all of whom are chart-topping, multi-platinum, Grammy Award nominees and winners.

First up is “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks (June 13, 2009), whose self-titled album has sold more than 1 million copies. Sparks will be followed by hip-hop icon LL Cool J (June 20, 2009), who has sold more than 15 million records and landed 20 singles on the Billboard charts. Then comes British songstress Natasha Bedingfield, who has sold more than 10 million albums, and last but not least, Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famers, The O’Jays.

The 2009 Summer Concert Series spotlights Universal Orlando’s new home for hit music – the Music Plaza, which is located in the heart of Universal Studios Florida theme park. The Music Plaza, which made its debut during Mardi Gras at Universal Studios, is a state-of-the-art outdoor music venue designed in the spirit of one of the most famous outdoor concert venues of all time, The Hollywood Bowl – home to landmark performances by everyone from The Beatles to Elton John and more. The Music Plaza features a 2,400-square-foot performance stage, 15,000-square-foot viewing lawn and two 20-foot-tall projection screens so that everyone can view the show.

The new Summer Concert Series is free with theme park admission. For more information, visit www.universalorlando.com.

Seeking affordable accommodations convenient to Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal CityWalk during your next Orlando vacation getaway? Look no farther than Westgate Resorts, which offers spacious villas, first-class amenities and convenient access to Orlando area attractions. For more information about Westgate Resorts, visit www.westgatedestinations.com.

Approximately 25,000 people are expected to attend the 2009 Florida Music Festival (FMF), “The Biggest Music Club Crawl in America!”, which will take place May 14-16, 2009, in downtown Orlando. The Florida Music Festival will feature 250 bands on 11 stages, as well as the FMF Indie Film Jam. Headliners include Thomas Nicholas (Wednesday, May 13, 2009), Asher Roth (Thursday, May 14, 2009), Filter (Friday, May 15, 2009) and Yellowman (Saturday, May 16, 2009). The Florida Music Festival has grown by another day in 2009 to add the Florida Grammy Showcase & Locals Appreciation Night on Wednesday, May 13, 2009.

Spectacular fireworks displays, colorful parades, patriotic music, lively festivities and nonstop fun for the entire family make Orlando the place to be during the 2009 Fourth of July weekend. So gather the family together and celebrate America’s independence at the “Theme Park Capital of the World!”

2009 Walt Disney World Fourth of July Celebrations
A variety of special Fourth of July events have been scheduled for all four of Disney’s world-class theme parks – Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park – such as patriotic parades, live music and spectacular fireworks displays. At Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park, “Disney’s Celebrate America! – A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” show will begin promptly at 9 PM. Disney’s Hollywood Studios will present a 9 PM performance of “Fantasmic!” And Epcot will feature a holiday-inspired “Illuminations: Reflections of Earth” at 10 PM. All of the Fourth of July celebrations at Disney World are included in the regular admission price.

2009 Fourth of July at Universal Orlando
Spend the Fourth of July weekend enjoying the thrilling rides and attractions at Universal Orlando’s two extraordinary theme parks – Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Then check out an amazing Fourth of July extravaganza that involves live music, games and the simultaneous launch of a glorious display of fireworks. Universal Studios park hours will be extended to 10 PM on the Fourth of July.

2009 SeaWorld Orlando Fourth of July Events
In addition to it exhilarating live animal shows such as “Blue Horizons” and “Believe,” SeaWorld Orlando will feature patriotic daytime shows, special performances of Mistify and an impressive fireworks display. SeaWorld Orlando park hours will be extended to 11 PM on Fourth of July.

2009 Downtown Orlando Fourth of July Festivities
Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon around beautiful Lake Eola in downtown Orlando at Fireworks at the Fountain, which features games, activities, live entertainment and delicious food, followed by a fabulous 30-minute fireworks display at night. More than 100,000 people are expected to attend Fireworks at the Fountain and admission is free. If you’re seeking some serious Fourth of July partying, head to downtown Orlando’s Wall Street Plaza for the Fourth of July Block Party, which includes an outdoor stage for quality live entertainment. It’s a great place to go before and after viewing area fireworks displays. Admission to the Fourth of July Block Party is free.

Book Your Fourth of July Vacation Getaway Today!
Looking for great deals on spacious villa rentals during your Fourth of July vacation getaway? Call 1-800-864-1645 or visit www.orlando-florida.net/hotels for information on Westgate Resorts properties, including Westgate Blue Tree Resort, Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa, Westgate Leisure Resort, Westgate Palace, Westgate Towers, Westgate Town Center and Westgate Vacation Villas.

Note: Event schedules are subject to change without notice.

Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration is a new live show that takes place several times daily at Tomorrowland in Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park. An “interactive, retro-futuristic musical revue,” Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration features Stitch, host Tip Trendo, the Galactic Girls and a pair of hip-hop robots. Don’t miss it!

Set to open at Universal Orlando Resort in late spring/early summer 2009, the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster promises to be “one of the most radically innovative roller coasters ever created”! The Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster blends rock music, breathtaking maneuvers and state-of-the-art audio and video for an awesome thrill ride experience. It will be the tallest, largest and fastest X-CAR style roller coaster in the world!

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit riders pick their own soundtrack as the  roller coaster speeds through a series of “never-before-attempted maneuvers” at speeds up to 65 miles per hour. Choose songs from five music genres: rap/hip-hop, country, classic rock/metal, pop/disco and club/electronica. To top it off, each rider’s song will also be featured on a ride video they can purchase that uses a network of sophisticated cameras to mix music, moves and special effects.

The  X-CAR roller coaster vehicle is more maneuverable than other coaster vehicles and uses innovative restraints that are less restrictive, more open and more exhilarating. The coaster design also allows for more vehicles on the track at one time than with other coasters – creating nonstop movement and action. The Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster boasts 3,800 feet of steel track, a 17-story vertical lift and six maneuvers – three of which have never been built before.

Vertical Lift: You strap in, select your soundtrack and race 11-feet-per-second at a 90-degree angle toward the sky. You conquer all 167 feet of the vertical lift, the tallest point of the coaster, in just 16.5 seconds. At the top, you will be at the highest point of any coaster in Orlando!

Double Take (First-Ever Maneuver): You drop from the vertical lift at 65 miles per hour and ascend into the Double Take, the world’s largest non-inverted loop. You zoom along the inside of the track until you reach the top, where you twist to the outside of the track and ride over the top of the loop. You then twist back inside the loop for your descent. The Double Take stands at 136 feet tall at its largest diameter.

Treble Clef  (First-Ever Maneuver): You rock out to music during your Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit journey, but when you reach the Treble Clef, you get to ride a music symbol. Universal Orlando engineers and designers worked to bend the steel of the track into the shape of a treble clef music symbol. Not only is it the first time this maneuver has ever been done, but the Treble Clef also bursts through a building facade, sending your roaring over the New York area of Universal Studios Florida.

Jump Cut (First-Ever Maneuver): Typically, a negative-gravity maneuver is straight up and down (often referred to as a camelback). Instead, the Jump Cut is a spiraling negative gravity move, making it a first-ever coaster maneuver. When you reach this point on the track, you feel like you are experiencing a corkscrew without actually going upside down.

Crowd Surfer: Soaring 33 feet above ground, you are turned at 95-degree angle as you fly over a crowd cheering you on from the load platform as they jam to in-queue music.

Drop Tuning: As you barrel past the Blue Man Group theatre toward Universal CityWalk, you’ll drop underground and emerge from a chasm near the entrance to Universal Studios.

Plot Twist: The final maneuver is an inclined loop – meaning it leans at an angle to the ground – and has a 150-degree banking turn as well. You also fly around in a complete 360-degree turn before heading back to the station.

For more information about Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster, visit http://media.universalorlando.com/ripriderockit.

Last weekend the whole family (me, my wife and two kids ages 7 and 9) woke up early, packed up the car and headed to Westgate River Ranch, an incredible destination that took us about as far from the Orlando area theme parks like Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld as imaginable. An authentic dude ranch nestled on 1,700 beautiful acres, Westgate River Ranch gave us the unique opportunity to return to the days of “Old Florida” when the state was home to cowboys and cattle ranchers.

Just about an hour’s drive South of Orlando, Westgate River Ranch lies in Polk County, Florida, and is centrally located between the Atlantic and Gulf beaches. We sped South on State Road 429 (normally the back road we take to Disney World) to Interstate 4 West and then past a myriad of small towns along U.S. 27 – Haines City, Lake Hamilton, Dundee and Lake Wales (billed as “The Friendliest Small Town in Florida”) – before heading East on State Road 60. We noticed few signs of civilization for the next 25 miles and then we glimpsed an immense horse statue and sign welcoming us to Westgate River Ranch, “The World’s Largest Dude Ranch.” We had arrived!

As we drove past the main gate to Westgate River Ranch, we noticed a small airfield and golf pro shop on the left and a 9-hole golf course on the right. The excitement built as we continued down the road and viewed the horse stables, petting farm and rodeo arena, as well as some horses grazing in a pasture. We also noticed many guests riding around in golf carts (rentals are available), which we soon discovered would prove to be the easiest and most fun way to make our way around the ranch. We passed a beautiful white chapel and the River Ranch Saloon before parking at the impressive Lodge and Conference Center.

After we checked in around 10 AM, we dropped off our luggage in the Western-themed Inn room, which overlooked some tennis courts. We found the accommodations to be very comfortable with a variety of amenities such as a fully equipped kitchen, table and chairs, screen-in porch and cable TV. Perfect for us! The kids wanted to totally immerse themselves in the Western feel of the ranch, so we then stopped by the Western Store and picked them up some cowboy hats. The Western Store was stock full of hats, boots, shirts, jeans, belts and cowboy souvenirs.

We then explored the adjacent game room, Kid’s Corral Arcade, and played a quick game of air hockey, as well as some other classic games such as Boppin’ Bugs! Finally, we checked out the nearby General Store, which sold everything from groceries, beverages and gifts to sandwiches, pizza and salads. In addition to the Western Store, Kid’s Corral Arcade and General Store, the Town Square at Westgate River Ranch features an old-timey Post Office.

We were registered for an Airboat Ride at 11:10 AM so we then headed to Westgate River Ranch’s full-service Marina, which consisted of a dock, Bait and Tackle Shop, and Westgate Smokehouse Grill. In addition to airboat rides, a variety of rentals and excursions were also available at the Marina such as boat rentals, guided fishing trips and swamp buggy rides.

Just to the left of the Marina, we spotted a Catch & Release Pond and a herd of grazing Watusi cattle, which are known for their long, distinctive horns. The Airboat Ride itself took us on a thrilling adventure along the scenic Kissimmee River (which flows from Osceola County to Lake Okeechobee) where we viewed alligators, turtles, hawks, eagles and other rare birds.

After departing from the airboat we headed up the dock to the Westgate Smokehouse Grill, a charming waterfront eatery that features a family-style menu and large screen-in porch. We started off with gator bites as an appetizer, which was a real treat for the kids since they had never tasted alligator before and could now boast of it to their friends. My wife ordered the chicken salad sandwich and the kids chose salad and fries from the children’s menu, while I opted for the blackened grouper sandwich, a generous portion that was piled high with onions and peppers. Absolutely delicious!

After lunch we had some time to kill before the Swamp Buggy Ride so we decided to check out the complimentary Petting Farm. My kids agreed it was the best petting farm they’ve ever visited – full of ponies, horses, goats, pot-bellied pigs, llamas, emus and peacocks. The kids also enjoyed the Pony Ride. We also got a chance to visit the adjacent Horse Stables and view a group getting ready for a Horseback Riding adventure along the miles of bridle trails that wind through Westgate River Ranch.

We returned to the Marina at 2:15 PM for the Swamp Buggy Ride, which consisted of a thriling one-hour journey through Westgate River Ranch’s wooded trail. These swamp buggies have huge tires and can travel just about anywhere, allowing for an amazing (and bumpy!) journey through the brush. The kids got to sit next to the driver and they were thrilled by it all! After departing the Swamp Buggy Ride, we relaxed by taking a dip in the outdoor pool and hot tub.

At 4:45 PM, we met at the East Corral for the old-fashioned, tractor-pulled Hayride, which was to be followed by a Country Cookout. The Hayride actually took us outside the boundaries of Westgate River Ranch into the beautiful 7,000-acre KICCO Wildlife Management Area, which runs along the Kissimmee River. In addition to the incredible scenery, the hour-long Hayride featured the talents of a singing cowboy who entertained the crowd with such classics as Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville” and Merle Haggard’s “Okie from Muskogee,” as well as providing us with interesting trivia about the KICCO Wildlife Management Area along the way.

We learned that KICCO stands for “Kissimmee Island Cattle Company,” which operated here from 1915 through the late 1920s and that a 13-mile portion of the 1,400-mile Florida Trail (officially known as the Florida National Scenic Trail) winds its way through the area. In addition, KICCO is home to abundant wildlife such as white-tailed deer, bald eagles, wild hogs, hawks, sandhill cranes, wading birds, alligators and wild turkeys. After departing the Hayride around 6 PM, we headed to the East Corral for the Country Cookout, which featured a delicious buffet that consisted of barbecue chicken, hotdogs, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, baked beans and iced tea.

By 7 PM, crowds of rodeo fans started to descend upon Westgate River Ranch for the immensely popular rodeo, which takes place every Saturday night at 7:30 PM. We grabbed a few cocktails at the River Ranch Saloon (where patrons can enjoy “live country-western foot-stompin’ entertainment and line dancing” Friday and Saturday nights!) and then strolled over to the 1,200-seat Rodeo Arena.

Officially known as the Americom Championship Rodeo, this amazing event boasted everything from bull riding, barrel racing, calf roping and trick riding to rodeo clown antics and a patriotic tribute to our armed forces that was accompanied by uplifting, classic country songs such as Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue” and Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.” In addition, the kids especially enjoyed getting the opportunity to participate in a real “calf scramble.” Bottom line: The rodeo was simply incredible and all of us thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Don’t miss it!

We slept in a little on Sunday morning and then headed over to the Westgate Smokehouse Grill for the abundant breakfast buffet that consisted of eggs, biscuits and gravy, sausage, bacon, fruit, cereal and much more. We then decided to check out the Miniature Golf course, which was located behind the General Store. The challenging, 18-hole putt-putt course winded through shady trees.

As we drove out, we stopped by the charming River Ranch Chapel, which is a very popular site for weddings. We took a right turn past the chapel and viewed the Trap and Skeet Range, and Archery Range, as well as tent and RV campsites nestled in the woods. From a distance, we could also view several planes at the Westgate River Ranch Airfield, which features a lighted 5,000-foot private runway.

As we headed onto Highway 60 back toward “civilization,” all of us agreed how refreshing it was to have such a unique, fun-filled vacation getaway as Westgate River Ranch within an hour’s drive of bustling Orlando. We vowed to definitely escape to “nature’s sanctuary” again in the near future!