The Manatee Messenger Bringing you the latest news about West Volusia's
special events, area attractions and lodging promotions
April 2011
Get well soon, Volusia! 
Usually, Volusia would be cavorting with his friends Pal and Duffy and other young manatees. But he has been a little under the weather since he recently was hit by a boat propeller. Thank goodness his wounds aren't life threatening and are healing! Volusia is taking it easy, staying by Alice and grazing on the lush vegetation that grows along the banks of the river.
It is a terrible sight to see young manatees like Volusia that already bear the scars of boat propellers. Warm weather is coming and thousands of boaters flock to the St. Johns River for days filled with fun. We are so lucky to have this magnificent resource, the only designated American Heritage River in Florida, for all to treasure. Awareness of these gentle giants, manatee zones and speed limits will greatly reduce the chances of a tragic accident. We want to enjoy Volusia for many years to come and watch him grow into a robust adult with a family of his own.
Next month: Volusia has a startling experience!
Photo: Volusia swims alongside his mother Alice
Volusia's Adventures is an ongoing series of entertaining articles that illustrate typical manatee activities based on known behaviors and traits. Follow Volusia each month on his journey along the magnificent and historic St. Johns River to see what exciting situations he gets into.
Foursquare Friday
Experience your next unforgettable vacation in West Volusia using foursquare on your smartphone. We invite you to check in, explore everything that makes West Volusia special, and earn some badges along the way! Each month we'll be featuring a Foursquare Friday event, where foursquare-friendly businesses, attractions and accommodations will offer discounts to patrons who check in on foursquare.
Foursquare Friday at Gustoso - April 15th In celebration of annual Foursquare Day, which is April 16th, we are kicking off our first Foursquare Friday here in West Volusia on the evening before. Join us at Gustoso Pizza Grille at the Best Western Deltona Inn on Friday, April 15th from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Show your server you've checked in on foursquare anytime during that period to receive a complimentary beer or soft drink with the purchase of any entrée! When a group of 3 or more friends each check in on foursquare and order entrees, they will receive one free pitcher. Gustoso is also offering a great deal on their mouthwatering pizza ~ get 3 one-topping pizzas for $19.99 (plus tax). Gustoso will be featuring live entertainment on Friday night with the island country sounds of Dan Allen.
Gustoso: 481 Deltona Blvd., Deltona FL 32725
Located right on I-4 at DeBary Ave. (Exit 108 Deltona)
386-860-3000 www.bestwesterndeltona.com Earn Some Badges
If you and 49 other foursquare users check-in at Gustoso Pizza Grille during the Foursquare Friday event, you will all earn the Swarm Badge ! Also work toward your Pizzaiolo Badge (check in at 20 different pizza places) and Player Please Badge (3 people including opposite sexes check in at same time). So help us spread the word and pass the news to all your friends! Foursquare Friday Mini Vacation
Don't rush off! Stay the weekend and explore West Volusia with foursquare! There are dozens upon dozens of attractions and visitor-friendly businesses just waiting to be discovered. Plus, we've got some great deals on lodging just for foursquare users! Best Western Deltona Inn - Foursquare users will receive a two-night weekend stay for just $99.99 plus tax (April 15 & 16, single/double occupancy). Bring additional guests, or even your furry family member, for an additional $10 each. Use promo code 'Foursquare Friday' when booking, and show that you have checked into the Best Western Deltona Inn on April 15th.
481 Deltona Blvd., Deltona FL 32725
386-860-3000 www.bestwesterndeltona.com Holiday Inn Express, Orange City/Deltona - Receive 25% off the rack rate when you check in on foursquare on Foursquare Friday, April 15th. Also get free cookies and lemonade at registration. Use promo code 'Foursquare Friday' when booking.
1330 Saxon Blvd., Orange City FL 32763
386-917-0004 www.hiorangecityfl.com To learn more about foursquare, attractions to visit and badges to earn in West Volusia, visit our foursquare page . Be our friend on foursquare and share your family-friendly vacation experiences! Stay tuned for news about the next Foursquare Friday in May!
More Hot Deals & Packages
West Volusia Golf Escape - JUST $89pp PER NIGHT!!!
Tee up for some of the best golfing in Central Florida with great priced golf packages! Golfers visiting West Volusia will be pleasantly surprised to find themselves walking championship courses with rolling hills and lush fairways more characteristic of the Carolinas. Price includes one 18-hole round of golf, cart and one bag of range balls per night stay as well as accommodations (based on double occupancy) and breakfast. In addition, each golfer receives a free eco-friendly golf gift and a chance to win a Wilson golf bag.
St. Johns River Fishing Escapes
The West Volusia section of the St. Johns River, a federally designated American Heritage River, boasts some of the best fishing Florida has to offer. Largemouth black bass, warmouth, bluegill, specks, stripers and catfish abound. Our professional and knowledgeable guides will show you a great time. Not only is the fishing terrific here, but a day out on the soothing sun dappled waters of the majestic St. Johns surrounded by lush landscapes and native wildlife will refresh your spirit!
Featured Accommodations
Hotel/Motel: Best Western Deltona Inn, Deltona - The Best Western Deltona Inn is a 20-acre lakefront exterior entrance motel. It offers Gustoso Pizza Grille and lounge on the property with karaoke every Thursday night, live entertainment on Friday nights and retro night with a DJ on Saturday nights. Guests receive free local calls, HBO, WIFI and a hot continental breakfast. Pets are welcome. Don't miss Foursquare Friday at Gustoso this month! 386-860-3000 www.bestwesterndeltona.com
Bed & Breakfast: Eastwood Terrace Inn B&B, DeLand - Relax in the laid-back atmosphere of this historic 1920s Florida inn with a variety of shops on-site. Located within easy walking distance of downtown DeLand and Stetson University, the Eastwood offers ten rooms, including two suites for your vacationing or business travel needs. A delicious breakfast is served on premises at the Secret Garden Restaurant. Extended stay rates and honeymoon packages are available. 386-736-9902 www.eastwoodinn.com
Riverfront: Astor Bridge Marina, Volusia/Astor - The Astor Bridge Marina enjoys a serene, peaceful setting on the St. Johns River. Riverfront cottages and canal-front motel rooms look out over the region's unspoiled, natural landscape. Enjoy newly renovated boat slips along with Castaway's, an onsite Key West themed restaurant and lounge. The staff is friendly and the fishing is great! 386-749-4407 www.astorbridgemarina.com
Campground: Hontoon Island State Park, DeLand - Evidence of Native American habitation over thousands of years can be witnessed on this island location in the St. Johns River just west of DeLand. Accessible by passenger ferry or private boat, Hontoon Island offers primitive camping at 11 campsites and 6 cabins along with a bathhouse with showers. Visitors enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, boating, canoeing and kayaking. Leashed pets are welcome. 386-736-5309 www.floridastateparks.org/hontoonisland
Featured April Events
Spring has sprung, and April is brimming with family-friendly festivals and activities! Below are a few highlights from our Calendar of Events . With so much happening, it's the perfect time to plan a vacation or weekend getaway. Experience our charming, small-town Florida communities, unique shopping, delightful restaurants and affordable accommodations.
Continuing through May 1: First Ovation Exhibition, Florida Museum for Women Artists, DeLand - Renowned artist Dorothy Gillespie's illustrious career spans over 50 years during which time she has created and exhibited her pieces nationally and internationally. Her works include colorful paintings, collages, murals and sculpture. 386-873-2976 www.floridamuseumforwomenartists.org
Continuing through May 29: Spring Exhibits by Susan Zukowsky, Nazare Feliciano and Joanna White, Museum of Florida Art, DeLand - The Museum is featuring three contemporary artists' works in the exhibits Intimations of Fate: Mixed Media Constructions by Susan Zukowsky and Sight Specific: Installations by Nazare Feliciano and Joanna White . The Museum is also displaying for the first time its full collection of Purchase Awards from the DeLand Fall Festival of the Arts. 386-734-4371 www.museumoffloridaart.com
April 1-30: Jennifer Meyers Kirton: Artist of the Month, Debary Hall Historic Site, DeBary - This month's featured DeBary Hall art exhibit is a selection of pen and ink illustrations by Jennifer Meyers Kirton. Kirton chose each piece from her collection with the heritage of the grand house in mind. 386-668-3840 www.debaryhall.com
April 2: Master Gardeners Plant Faire, Volusia County Agricultural Center, DeLand - The Volusia County Master Gardeners have been sowing, growing and propagating all year to assemble a collection of plants ideal for growing in Central Florida. Butterfly and hummingbird plants, herbs, native plants, perennials, trees and more will be available for sale. 386- 822-5778 www.volusia.org/extension/gardenr1.htm
April 2: Insects - Good or Bad, Hickory Bluff Preserve, Osteen - Explore the world of insects on a hike lead by entomologist Ray Jarrett of the Florida Department of Agriculture. This insect adventure will include inspecting traps and netting specimens to learn about the diverse insects and their habitats. Also learn about exotic insects that are invading Florida and the problems that they cause. 386-736-5276 www.volusia.org/growth/learning.htm
April 2: Youth Celebration of the Arts, Gateway Center, DeBary - Celebrate the visual and performing arts talent of Volusia County's youth at this family-friendly cultural festival. Art works by public and private school children will be exhibited. Visitors may take part in hands-on art activities, and there will be youth entertainment and food vendors. 386-668-5553 www.gatewaycenterforthearts.org/upcoming-events.html
April 9: DeLeon Springs Bazaar, DeLeon Springs - The DeLeon Springs Community Association is hosting a community yard sale with fine arts and crafts, local produce, live animals, plants, and a BBQ lunch. 386-848-7815 www.deleonspringscommunityassociation.com
April 9: Razz Ma Tazz, Gateway Center, DeBary - Come out to Gateway Center for an entertaining evening of murder, mystery and mayhem during this dinner theater performance. There will be both a silent and live auction to benefit the Center. 386-668-5553 www.gatewaycenterforthearts.org/upcoming-events.html
April 9-10: Deltona Spring Fest, Dewey Boster Sports Complex, Deltona - Spring Fest is an annual celebration of Deltona's cultural heritage. Visitors will enjoy the sights and sounds of eclectic entertainment, music and dance, multicultural cuisine and a variety of activities including face painting, make-and-take art and a variety of moon walks and slides. 386-337-8459 www.deltonaspringfest.org
April 15-16: 24th Annual Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Conference, Museum of Florida Art, DeLand - This year, the Museum will host the 24th Annual Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Conference, sponsored by the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Society. Through this conference and related programming, the Rawlings Society honors the memory and celebrates the life and work of the author of such widely read and respected books as the 1939 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Yearling and the 1942 nonfiction classic Cross Creek. 352-481-4099 www.museumoffloridaart.com
April 16: Being Sigsbee Scruggs, Athens Theatre, DeLand - Reminiscent of Hal Holbrook's "An Evening with Mark Twain," this one-man show features Larry Sands as Sigsbee Scruggs, a cagey old 'Florida cracker' attorney from Gainesville who represented Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings in a case related to her novel Cross Creek. Musical performance by Magda Hiller. 386-736-1500 www.athenstheatre.org
April 16: Croaker Sacks and Catfish Stew, DeBary Hall Historic Site, DeBary - Speaker Eric Dusenberry will put a new spin on heritage and family storytelling in this installment of DeBary Hall's ongoing Lemonade Lecture Series. Learn how to use oral history, photography and multimedia to create memorable histories. 386-668-3840 www.debaryhall.com
April 16: Green Affair, Downtown DeLand - Having a home that contributes to a healthy environment is important, and there are lots of ways homeowners can help protect the world's air, water, land, wildlife and climate. As part of its Green Initiatives, the City of DeLand will host its annual Green Affair featuring vendors promoting and selling earth-friendly home and garden items. 386-626-7000 www.deland.org
April 16-17: Spring Frolic, Pioneer Settlement for the Creative Arts, Barberville - It is said that 'music makes life flow gently' and you sure can go with the flow at this festival showcasing more than 180 professional musicians performing folk, Celtic, bluegrass, blues, country and more. There will be a jam tent, an instrument petting zoo, pioneer demonstrations, a Contra/barn dance, children's activities, arts and crafts, and plenty of food. Bring your instruments and join in! 386-749-2959 www.pioneersettlement.org and www.folkfiddle.com/barber.htm
April 17: DeLand Collectibles Show, DeLand Conference & Business Center, DeLand - This show will feature 30 dealers with new and vintage toys and comics, sci-fi memorabilia, records, small antiques, ephemera, pop-culture and character items, diecast toys, Nascar items, and sport and non-sport cards. 386-747-3116 www.cfcollectibles.com
April 23: Ballroom Dancing, Gateway Center for the Arts, DeBary - Enjoy a romantic evening with a loved one, or a fun night out with friends! Gateway Center is hosting a monthly ballroom social, featuring difference styles of dance including smooth, Latin, rhythm, country western and swing. The first half-hour includes instruction and demonstrations. 386-668-5553 www.gatewaycenterforthearts.org/upcoming-events.html
April 30: Cracker Day Rodeo, Volusia County Fairgrounds, DeLand - See all kinds of rodeo action from bull riding, barrel racing, calf roping and an all time favorite for the kids ~ the greased pig catch! Enjoy this great family day and share in the heritage of our forefathers. 407-462-7645 www.volusiacountycattlemensassociation.com
E - Hickory Bluff Preserve, Osteen - Hickory Bluff overlooks the magnificent St. Johns River, Florida's only federally designation American Heritage River. The preserve's 150 acres consist of flatwoods, oak hammock, cypress domes, floodplain swamp and wet prairie. Hike or mountain bike through this beautiful, pristine slice of Florida's backwoods, or participate in a guided educational program with entomologist Ray Jarrett on April 2. 386-736-5276 www.volusia.org/growth/hickory.htm
C - Sculpture Walk, DeLand - Experience DeLand's vibrant downtown through a collection of dynamic sculptures placed at select locations around this national award-winning MainStreet community. The sculptures depict a variety of artistic styles from realistic to modern, and utilize materials from wood, metals and marble to fiberglass. 386-734-4371
www.museumoffloridaart.com
H - Pioneer Settlement for the Creative Arts, Barberville - Immerse yourself in Florida's past at the Pioneer Settlement, a living-history village of restored pioneer-era buildings, trade shops and Native American structures with exhibits of folk art and historical objects. The Settlement hosts several Florida history events and festivals throughout the year, including the Spring Frolic folk music and dance festival this month! 386-749-2959 www.pioneersettlement.org
O - Ed Stone Park, DeLand - You'll find easy access to the St. Johns River and all of its recreational opportunities at Ed Stone Park. This popular boat ramp and fishing park has ample trailer parking, a riverside boardwalk, benches for patrons, picnic pavilion with grills and restrooms. 386-736-5953 www.volusia.org/parks/edstone.htm
STOP BY AND SEE US!!!
West Volusia Tourism Bureau & Visitor Center 116 W. New York Avenue, DeLand FL 32720 800-749-4350 386-734-0162 www.visitwestvolusia.com We also have a satellite visitor center at
DeBary Hall Historic Site 210 Sunrise Blvd., DeBary FL 32713 386-668-3840 386-736-5953 www.debaryhall.com | |
