Best Mall: International Plaza Tampa and Bay Street: Visitors will find the most distinctive shops and finest dining experiences. Four fashionable department stores anchor the mall with more than 200 specialty shops along the walkway. New at the mall are Crate&Barrel and the Ocean Prime Restaurant. Step outdoors onto Bay Street and enjoy an open-air village of unique shops, eateries and small boutiques. Honorable Mention: Sawgrass Mills (Sunrise) and Dolphin Mall (Miami)

Best Department Store: Bealls, with extreme sales, easy returns and 85 locations throughout Florida, keeps customers returning for quality merchandise and customer service. The Florida-based chain prides itself on its strong ethical values and commitment to customers.

Best Toy Store: Toys “R” Us (nationwide) has been around since 1948, when visionary Charles Lazarus opened the first doors of a children’s furniture store called Children’s Bargain Town, in Washington, D.C. He began adding toys at customers’ request, and the rest was history. There are 43 Toys “R” Us stores in the Sunshine State.

Best Home Store: The Home Depot (nationwide) is the choice of weekend warriors. Whether remodeling a kitchen or entire house, replacing power tools or purchasing new appliances, Home Depot provides it, along with expert advice. It is the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer, with 65 Florida stores. Honorable Mention: Lowes

Best Boutique: Cat’s On Main in Wauchula, formerly known as Cat’s Corner, is popular for its unique gifts, free gift-wrapping and bridal registry. The shop carries collectibles such as Royal Doulton figurines, Hummels and Boyd’s Bears. Its ambience is bright with innovative colors mixing in classic elegance to meet the home, gift and fashion needs of its clients.

Best Music Store: Sam Ash Music Store (nationwide) has given its customers knowledgeable service since the company began in 1924. Musicians and aspiring musicians come for a large selection of acoustic and electric guitars, basses, drums, amplifiers, keyboards and microphones. It offers an assortment of band and orchestral instruments, DJ gear and studio setups, electronics, recording software, music books, and instructional DVDs.

Best Book Store: Barnes & Noble (nationwide) attracts book and music lovers with its great selection of merchandise. Along with music and books, shoppers find magazines, greeting cards, calendars, blank journals and more. The coffee bar invites customers to sit and relax with a book and cup of steaming coffee.

Best Bike Shop: Tavernier Bicycles and Hobbies is located on the Bayside of US1. The shop serves all cyclists’ needs, ranging from repairs to supplies.

Best Dive Shop: Ocean Divers (Key Largo) offers daily dive and snorkel trips to the reefs and wrecks off Key Largo. It offers PADI diver training conducted in its modern classroom facilities. The convenient location allows for direct access and shorter travel time to the ocean and reefs. Dives are conducted in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Best Financial Institution: BB&T has been serving the Florida community for more than 137 years, helping clients achieve their financial goals. It is one of the oldest and most respected financial institutions in the country.

Best Interior Design Center: D'Asign Source (Marathon), a second-generation business, maintains a highly trained staff of licensed exterior and interior designers who guide clients to stunning designs. It specializes in designs best suited to tropical locations from home theaters to construction and remodeling. The staff will help create new looks for tired homes.

Best Travel Agency: Heathrow-based AAA has been operating for more than 100 years, offering unique vacation experiences for travelers all over the world.

Best Campground: Peace River Campground (Arcadia) offers more than 100 acres of wilderness camping for the entire family’s enjoyment. Located at the Peace River’s edge, visitors can spend time in quiet settings enjoying nature, swimming and hiking—no modern trappings, no trailers; just real tents and wilderness. A hot shower area and camp store are available. Honorable Mention: Fort Desoto Park in Tierra Verde.

Best Nature Center: The Butterfly Rainforest Conservatory (Gainesville) brings visitors face-to-face with 55 to 65 species of exotic, free-flying butterflies within a large screened enclosure. Visitors can stroll down a winding path through subtropical and tropical plants and flowers while listening to the sound of waterfalls. The winged inhabitants originate from all over the world.

Best Greenway & Trail: Seminole Wekiva Trail, running from Altamonte Springs to Sanford, was built on the former Orange Belt Railway—at one time the longest railroad in the country. The 14-mile path is paved, and the trail has been designated a showcase. An unpaved path to the river is available for those seeking a more challenging hike. Honorable Mention: Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail.

Best State Park: Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (Key Largo) offers camping, swimming, fishing, picnicking and approximately 70 miles of underwater park. It offers wonderful snorkeling experiences at the reefs, plus boat rides with knowledgeable crew. Honorable Mention: St George Island.

Best River/Lake for Canoeing: Peace River/Myakka River Tour. The Myakka River flows toward Charlotte Harbor, where it is joined by the Peace River and the Intracoastal Waterway. The area offers remote campsites, parks, miles of undisturbed banks, waterfowl, alligators and solitude. Honorable Mention: Suwannee River.

Best Fishing Spot: The Hump at Islamorada ranks highest among anglers’ favorite fishing spots in Florida due to the incredible offshore marine life. Blackfin tuna and amberjack are generally plentiful in the area.

Best Garden: Bok Tower Gardens (Lake Wales) features a carillon tower, colorful flora and fauna exhibits. It is located on the grounds of the Historic Bok Sanctuary. The gardens were established in 1921 with meandering trails filled with native birds, wildlife, flowers and wetland plants. The tower is a 205-foot-tall structure that offers a daily 60-carillon bell concert. Honorable Mention: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

Best Manatee Observation Spot: It’s a tie: Blue Spring State Park on the St. Johns River, with crystal clear, 73-degree water can be enjoyed by swimmers, snorkelers and certified scuba divers. It is a designated manatee refuge area. Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is another favorite place to see magnificent endangered West Indian manatees. The park offers hands-on educational experiences for children. Enjoy watching the whooping cranes, red wolves and a Florida panther up close.

Best Orange Grove: Mixon’s Fruit Farms (Bradenton) is celebrating 70 years of top-quality oranges and grapefruit with old-fashioned Southern hospitality. Visitors ride the Orange Blossom Express Tram through the groves and learn about animals in the Justin Matthew’s Wildlife Rescue program. They can stroll the beautiful butterfly garden and browse the unique gift shop. A deli shop offers sandwiches, soup and salads. Try the orange swirl ice cream.

Best Place to Find Shark Teeth: Collecting sharks teeth has been a favorite pastime at Venice Beach for years. Local shops offer an abundance of shark-related information.

Best Shelling: Sanibel Island is a paradise for shelling fans. Locals advise hunting at low tide for more exposed beachfront, and the windier the better—turbulent waters bring more shells. The Sanibel Island Shelling Center advises bringing a bucket or net bag.

Best Sunsets: Key West’s stunning sunsets offer magnificent colors—reds, oranges and yellows —dipping below the water’s blue surface. Whether watching from the coastline or aboard a cruising catamaran, the experience is unique. Honorable Mention: Cedar Key.

Best Guided Tour: Billie Swamp Safari Swamp Buggy Eco Tour on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation thrills visitors seeking natural wetlands adventures. Visitors may spot alligators, ostrich, bison, snakes and deer, plus learn about native flora and fauna.

Best Place for Watching Alligators: It’s a tie: Everglades National Park, one of the busiest alligator viewing habitats, brings visitors up close and personal with alligators as long as 10 feet. The best gator viewing is aboard an airboat. Gatorland, in Central Florida, has given visitors thrills watching alligators up-close, since 1949. At the 110-acre theme park and nature conservatory, guests explore fun facts about the creatures, learn about the park’s protected habitat and are entertained by the gator wrestling team.

Best Place for Watching Birds: Since 1976, birders have journeyed with binoculars to the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, a 5,200-acre site located on Sanibel Island. The popular refuge area features the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States. It is the ideal habitat for migratory birds such as yellow-crowned night herons, snowy egrets and wood storks.

Best Hospital: Florida Hospital, part of the Adventist Health System, has been serving the Central Florida community for 100 years. It is a highly recognized cancer, cardiology, diabetes, orthopedics and neuroscience center, with nearly 2,000 physicians. Florida Hospital is comprised of 18 campuses throughout Central Florida serving patient health care needs using a holistic approach to heal the mind, body and spirit. Honorable Mention: Shands HealthCare.

Best Cosmetic Surgery: Adler & Giles Plastic Surgery (Stuart) specializes in facial plastic surgery, as well as body contouring. The practice offers repair or reconstruction procedures of physical defects of the skin, head and body, plus cosmetic surgery for aesthetic reasons. The physicians, Steven Adler and Paul Giles, serve the West Palm Beach and Miami areas.

Best Cancer Center: Moffitt Cancer Center (Tampa) opened to patients on October 27, 1986. Patients are evaluated and treated through clinical programs focusing on specific organ or disease types. Treatment comes from an interdisciplinary team of specialists, which may include surgeons, medical oncologists or hematologists, pathologists, radiologists, and radiation oncologists. Services include anesthesiology, pathology, radiology and surgery.

Best Cardiology Center: HeartCenter, Florida Cardiovascular Institute (Tampa) has the largest heart program in Florida, offering worldclass cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons, state-of-the-art technology, and cutting-edge research. It reports an average of 2,500 heart surgeries per year and ranks third in the nation for open-heart surgery. In operation since 1981, the hospital offers a wide range of educational heart-health seminars for the community.

Best HMO/PPO: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, based in Jacksonville, is celebrating 65 years as Florida’s leader in the health care industry. The company offers coverage to fit all ages and lifestyles, and it provides consumer-friendly online information for managing health care costs.

Best Drug Store: CVS Pharmacy (nationwide), with 1,011 locations statewide, offers an assortment of consumer-friendly medical solutions, as well as expert pharmaceutical and health care advise for customers. Stores include a Minuteclinic for convenient health diagnoses and one-stop shopping aisles of cosmetics, food and more.

Best New Restaurant: P.E.A.R.L (Vero Beach) is serving up the best food, for the best prices in a fine dining alfresco atmosphere. It offers breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. The eggs Benedict and the stacks of Belgian waffles are popular favorites. The buffet luncheon is affordable, and the carving table offers good selections of meats.

Best Main Street: Duval Street (Key West) has a rhythm all its own. The area has souvenir shops, famous art galleries, bars, boutique shops, seafood restaurants and theaters. Duval Street runs north and south, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, and offers an array of activities at Mallory Square. Honorable Mention: Arcadia.

Best Place for Brunch: Biltmore Hotel (Miami). Brunching Miami style can mean going casual or fine dining. Either way, the Biltmore’s champagne buffet offers a fabulous array of omelets, sushi, carving, pasta and tapas stations, plus a wall of desserts. Built by Coral Gables developer George Merrick, the Biltmore opened in 1926 as the epicenter of the city’s social activities.

Best Restaurant: Fish House Restaurant and Seafood Market (Key Largo), established in 1987, specializes in exceptionally fresh, locally caught fish and shellfish, including yellowtail snapper, mahi-mahi, grouper, Florida lobster and stone crab. The menu features a wide range of meats, chicken and pasta entrees, plus a sushi menu, a distinctive wine list, and a children’s menu. The atmosphere is classic, laid-back Key Largo style.

Best Buffet: Golden Corral (nationwide) began serving in North Carolina in 1973. Its great steak buffet features all-you-can-eat sirloin steak fresh-cut daily and grilled to order. Chicken, pork, salmon steaks, steak burgers, sausage and more are available from the grill. Diners are tempted with fresh-baked desserts. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily at 50 Florida locations.

Best Seafood Restaurant: Fish House Restaurant and Seafood Market (Key Largo) has been a dining destination spot since 1987 and recently added the Fish House Encore, a stone’s throw away from the original restaurant. Both offer extensive seafood menus. The choices vary for preparing the daily catch.

Best Hometown Cafe/Diner: Rib Daddy's, located in the heart of Key Largo, serves fresh slabs of delicious BBQ ribs using authentic wood smoking for distinctive flavor. Fresh seafood, such as Florida lobster, mahi-mahi, yellowtail snapper and a seared tuna, complete the menu. Honorable Mention: Wheeler’s Cafe (Arcadia).

Best Coffee Shop: DaSilva’s Coffee House and Roastery (Lithia) is a true fresh-roast shop featuring a special exotic coffee each month. It boasts highquality bean products purchased straight from small independent farms. Breakfast and lunch menus offer soups, sandwiches and desserts.

Best Place to Have a Picnic: Bahia Honda State Park (Monroe County) is located ocean side on Big Pine Key. Visitors pack their own lunch or visit the snack stand, which serves pizza, deli sandwiches, salads and more. Swimming, fishing and other water activities are available.

Best Outdoor Cafe: Blue Parrot Ocean Front Cafe (St George Island) is located on the beach, where diners can enjoy the lovely view, sunshine, warm breezes, cool cocktails and fresh seafood. Blue Parrot offers an array of fine cocktails, oysters and steaks.

Best Restaurant with a View: Ocean Grill was built almost 70 years ago by Waldo Sexton, an eccentric entrepreneur who left his imprint on many landmarks in Vero Beach. The restaurant always offers three selections of fresh fish. The menu includes crab, clams, and chowder. Ocean Grill steaks and roast duckling are notable dishes.

Best Microbrewery: McGuire’s Irish Pub (Pensacola & Destin) was established in 1977 as a small neighborhood pub. Its brews are prepared on premises in traditional oak and copper tanks. The finest malted barley, imported hops and house yeast are used. The menu offers fresh seafood, prime steaks and traditional pub fare.

Best Renovated Building: It’s a tie: Belleview-Biltmore Resort (Clearwater) is one of the oldest structures in the Tampa Bay area. Built in 1897 by railroad tycoon Henry B. Plant, it is the last remaining hotel from that era. It is noted for its architectural features, including a sloped roof and white wood siding. Inside features crafted woodwork and Tiffany glass. Russ House (Marianna) was built in 1895 by merchant Joseph W. Russ Jr. The notable outdoor architectural feature is its porte-cochere surrounded by balustrades, which tie into the upper porch to form a circular deck. The home was occupied by members the Russ family until 1995. It is an example of Florida Colonial Revival architecture and is on the National Historic Register.

Best Steakhouse: Ruth’s Chris Steak House (nationwide) is a steak lovers delight. From its humble beginnings in New Orleans 40 years ago, the steak house now boasts 14 Florida locations and an excellent reputation for its famous steaks. Only prime cuts of selected aged beef are served. Honorable Mention: Bern’s Steak House (Tampa).

Best Bar-B-Q: Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q, founded in 1968 in Gainesville, has grown to more than 150 locations in the Southeast. A varied menu offers Sonny’s signature specialty—juicy, tender, slow-smoked Bar-B-Q St. Louis and baby back ribs. The restaurants offer take-out and drivethru convenience.

Best Wine Store: ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, opened in Orlando in 1936, is the largest privately owned fine wine and spirits store with 240 statewide locations offering a wide selection of wine brands. It has wineknowledgeable consultants available to answer questions and help plan parties, and customers attend wine-tasting events.

Best Pub: McGuire’s Irish Pub (Pensacola & Destin) serves up good food and fun in a lively atmosphere. Since it opened in 1977, the tradition of sticking dollar bills to the walls has left more than $500,000 on the ceiling. Enjoy live entertainment Wednesday through Sunday nights.

Best Hamburger: It’s a tie: Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville (Key West, Orlando and Panama City Beach) has a burger to sing about—the house Cheeseburger in Paradise with Heinz 57 on the table, as well as mushroom burgers, barbecue bacon burgers and turkey burgers. Five Guys Burgers and Fries, with 22 Florida locations, specializes in one thing—burgers. Once ordered, burgers arrive quickly, juicy and sizzling off the grill with custom toppings.

Best Sub Sandwich Shop: Subway’s subs are promoted as high in flavor and low in fat—like the turkey breast sandwich on freshly baked bread. The classic Italian sub, piled with sliced Genoa salami, pepperoni and ham, remains a bestseller. Honorable Mention: Publix.

Best Key Lime Pie: Blond Giraffe (Monroe and Miami-Dade counties) opened its doors on Duval Street in 1999 and has grown quickly to seven locations. Watch the awardwinning key lime pie being made by staff at the Key West location. Enjoy a slice along with a cup of the house specialty full-bodied gourmet Brazilian coffee.

Best Conch Fritters: Fish House (Key Largo) prepares conch the traditional Key Largo style. As an appetizer or meal, the batter-fried conch served with a side of seafood sauce makes a great finger food. Enjoy a plate along with your favorite rum cocktail while watching the sunset. You can’t beat the fast service and excellent fritters.

Best Gator Tail: Nav-A-Gator Grill (Arcadia) is an old-fashioned, friendly fishcamp-style restaurant where anglers can relax after a day on the Peace River. The menu is extensive, featuring its famous gator tail and gator tail sauce, plus grouper, chicken, conch and more.

Best Margaritas: Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville (Key West, Orlando and Panama City Beach) has plenty of shakers of salt to rim the perfect margarita. The restaurant has been a Key West icon for nearly 25 years. With its laidback ambience, influenced by the lyrics of singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett, Margaritaville is the ideal place to enjoy this cool frozen concoction.

Best Hot Dog: It’s a tie: Mel’s Hot Dogs (Tampa), located in the last remaining World War II structure from Henderson Air Field, has been serving hot dogs since 1973. The hot dogs are served Chicago style—steamed all-beef wieners on poppy seed buns with topping choices of mustard, onions, pickle, tomato slices, cheese, warm sauerkraut and more. Coney Island Sandwich Shop (St. Petersburg) has a simple menu, serving the best chilidogs in town. Customers enjoy the hot dogs piled high with chili, which is prepared fresh daily.

Best General Store: Bradley’s Country Store (Tallahassee) offers a link to Florida’s past. It appears today as it did when established in 1927. Customers enjoy the finest quality fresh sausage and country smoked sausage from the family’s own recipe using hardwoods for a natural, hearty taste. Other family products include milled cornmeal and grits. The store also carries staple food products.

Best Resort Hotel: The Breakers Palm Beach is celebrating its second century on the oceanfront
property. It offers grand accommodations to
patrons with spacious rooms, beautiful views, a golf
course, a spa and fitness classes, as well as an array of
restaurants and shops. Guests relax in the oceanfront
rooms or the bungalows. Founded by Standard Oil
tycoon, Henry Morrison Flagler, the resort retains much
of its turn-of-the-19th century charm.

Best Grocery Store: Publix, with 753 locations statewide, offers customers a wide assortment of food products, fresh meats and fish, and bakery goods.

Best Beach: St George Island State Park has nine miles of undeveloped beaches and dunes surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and Apalachicola Bay. Swimming and sunbathing are popular activities along the white sandy shores and pristine gulf waters. Fishing and birding are popular pastimes.

Best Golf Course: Doral Golf Resort & Spa (Miami) is for those who truly enjoy spending time on the greens. The golf resort offers a driving range and five championship 18-hole courses, including the popular Blue Monster greens, which has been the home of the PGA tournament for more than 45 years. The Jim Mclean Learning Center hosts clinics and lessons for amateur and professional players.

Best Golf Resort: Doral Golf Resort & Spa (Miami) allows golf enthusiasts to remain close to the main clubhouse. The 650-acre resort has a relaxing atmosphere with a variety of room settings, multiple pools, 125-foot waterslide, kiddie pool, fitness center, tennis center and the Spa at Doral.

Best Spa: The Spa at Mandarin Oriental (Key Biscayne) is a destination within itself, located in a three-story, 15,000-sq.-ft. building. Bookings run months in advance. The spa provides 17 private treatment rooms for personal spa relaxation and six VIP suites with floor-to-ceiling bay views. Beachfront cabana spas and a full fitness area offer salon services, yoga and tai chi classes.

Best B&B: Coombs House Inn, located in the picturesque seaside village of Apalachicola, is minutes away from the beaches of St. George Island, Cape San Blas and Mexico Beach. The inn has three unique Victorian mansions, plus 23 private guest rooms and suites.

Best Comedy Venue: Visani: The Comedy Zone (Port Charlotte) offers great comedy every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Guests come to relax, laugh and enjoy a fine meal, ranging from Italian entrees to Black Angus steaks.

Best Friendliest Small Town: Apalachicola was selected by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of America’s Distinctive Destinations in 2008. The historic district offers more than 900 structures, plus several museums, parks and theaters. The region is highly valued for its natural environment, coastal charm and extensive history.

Best Place to Bring Fido: St George Island offers miles of pristine, sandy beaches with more than 200 pet-friendly lodgings. Dogs are welcomed in the uncrowded public areas. The walking/bike path traverses the entire length of the island and is easily accessible from most residences, encouraging enjoyable strolls with Fido.

Best Mini Golf: Smuggler’s Cove Adventure Golf offers family fun at its five Florida locations, ideal for birthday or group events. The miniature golf course adventure features rushing waters, mysterious caves and waterfalls on a mountainous tropical setting.

Best Historical Landmark: Cape St. George Lighthouse was originally built in 1852 at the southern tip of what is now Little St. George Island in the Gulf of Mexico. It underwent major reconstruction after collapsing in 2005 from beach erosion and hurricane damage. Following National Archives records in Washington, the St. George Lighthouse Association successfully restored the structure. The reconstructed lighthouse invites visitors to climb its 92 steps.

Best Antique Shopping: Arcadia draws visitors seeking vintage treasures to its quaint streets. In historic downtown Arcadia, many shops are filled with affordable antiques and collectibles. Honorable Mention: Mount Dora

Best Looking Lighthouse: Cape St. George Lighthouse, a 74-foot-high brick lighthouse stood on St. George Island for 153 years. It collapsed into the Gulf of Mexico in 2005. The scattered pieces of the lighthouse were retrieved, cataloged and reconstructed. The lighthouse reopened to visitors in April 2008.

Best Place to Buy Florida Lottery Tickets: Publix continues to be the one-stop place to shop and buy Florida Lottery tickets.

Best Place to Spot Celebrities: South Beach in Miami draws tourists, who converge on the 23-block vicinity, home to neon lights, 1920s Art Deco buildings and the Versace Mansion. With any luck, a famous face will stroll by, but the real draw to Ocean Drive is its chic shops, fine restaurants, classic galleries and local characters.

Best Theme Park: Walt Disney World Resort’s Epcot Center (Lake Buena Vista) offers thrilling rides, spectacular attractions and performances. Visitors experience live performances, restaurants and shops at the World Showcase’s cultural pavilions. Honorable Mention: Busch Gardens (Tampa Bay).

Best Attraction (non-theme park): Little Everglades Steeplechase (Pasco County) is much more than a famed horse race held each March. The event includes a Jack Russell terrier race, carriage parade, party pavilion, hat contest, petting zoo and children’s activities.

Best Kids’ Attraction: Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo is a fun and educational venue for the entire family. The zoo is home to more than 2,200 animals with shows and interactive exhibits spread across 56 acres of lush, natural habitats. Attractions include Safari Africa and Ituri Forest, Wallaroo Station, Asian Gardens, Sulawesi Aviary, and Free Flight Aviaries.

Best Dinner Show/Theater: Medieval Times (Kissimmee) transports visitors to the 11th century within towering white walls, a moat and a draw bridge. The Kissimmee Castle was Medieval Times’ first in North America, opening in 1983. This particular location has an authentic eight-cottage village, along with a signature jousting tournament and royal feast.

Best Arts & Craft Festival: Vero Beach Art Club Under the Oaks will feature its 59th Annual Show March 12-14, 2010, under the beautiful, shady old oaks at Vero Beach’s Riverside Park. It is the largest annual public event on the Treasure Coast, drawing more than 80,000 visitors. The art world claims this three-day show is among America’s finest.

Best Roller Coaster: SeaWorld Adventure Park’s Manta (Orlando), a head-first rollercoaster ride, takes guests’ breath away during an imaginary soar through water and sky, imitating the leap of the manta ray. It features an aquarium stocked with seafaring creatures.

Best Historical Re-enactment: The Battle of Olustee (Baker County), a famous Civil War battle, brings hundreds of re-enactors together to participate in the re-creation of the battle. A festival accompanies the event, along with the Blue-Grey square dance and fun run.

Best Florida Rodeo: Arcadia All-Florida
Championship Rodeo, established in 1952, is Florida’s oldest rodeo organization. There are two regularly scheduled rodeo events each year, as well as many other shows held throughout the year, like the Youth Rodeo series.

Best Cultural Festival: Florida Folk Festival (White Springs) is an annual event held at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park. Music, food and traditional arts highlight Florida’s many folk cultures and traditions. The first was held in 1953. Over the years, hundreds of performers— professional and amateur storytellers, actors, dancers and puppeteers—have entertained attendees.

Best Aquarium: The Florida Aquarium (Tampa Bay) is among the top aquariums in the world with more than 20,000 aquatic plants and animals from Florida and across the globe. Visitors can explore the family-friendly outdoor water park designed specifically for young children, swim with the fishes, observe the penguins, or come face to face with aquatic creatures through acrylic windows.

Best Museum: Seminole County History Museum (Sanford) highlights the past of Seminole County, known as the historical gateway to interior Central Florida. Exhibits, artifacts, documents, photographs and special events tell the stories of the county’s inhabitants—their lives, lineages and local legends.

Best Nightspot: Ybor City (Tampa) is a historic neighborhood located northeast of downtown Tampa. It was founded in the 1880s by cigar manufacturers and populated by immigrants mainly from Spain, Italy and Cuba. Over a period of more than 50 years, master cigar rollers produced millions of cigars annually. Visitors can meet master cigar rollers, as well as visit the Ybor City Museum State Park and Teco Line Streetcar Museum.

Best Cinema & Cafe: Tropic Cinema (Key West) offers the best in new independent, foreign and documentary films. The Tropic is a fully licensed commercial movie theater, booking first-run movies from all distributors. It occupies a renovated 1950s department store and has a 2,500-sq.-ft. entry lounge.

Best Performing Arts Center: Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center reports it has welcomed 10 million guests since opening 20 years ago. It has one of the nation’s leading Broadway series onstage and is nationally respected for producing grand operas.

Best Professional Theater: Hippodrome State Theatre (Gainesville) serves as a playhouse and cinema for foreign and independent films. Since its 1973 beginnings in an old hardware store, the venue has showcased challenging contemporary theater.

Best Live Music Venue: Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (Live Oak) hosts Florida music festivals and outdoors concerts. It is an RV park and campground area overlooking the famed Suwannee River.

Best Art Gallery: Quayside Art Gallery, located in the Pensacola historic district, is one of the oldest and largest member owned art galleries in the country. The building was constructed in 1873 and remains much as it did a century ago.

Best Florida Website: Visitflorida.com is the state’s official source for travel planning.

Best Private University: University of Miami, a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925, is located in the city of Coral Gables, a historic suburb of Miami. The university currently enrolls 15,449 students; it offers 113 master’s and 51 doctoral studies.

Best Private College: Rollins College (Winter Park) is recognized as an outstanding liberal arts college and prestigious graduate business school. It ranks no. 1 among 117 Southern master’s-level universities in the annual “America's Best Colleges” rankings by U.S. News & World Report.

Best Public University: University of Florida (Gainesville) is the state’s oldest, largest and most comprehensive university. It is one of only 17 public land-grant universities belonging to the Association of American Universities.

Best Community College: Miami Dade College (Miami) is the largest and most diverse community college in the nation, with eight campuses and more than 167,000 students from across the world. The college offers 300 programs of study and several degree options.

Best Public Honors College: New College of Florida (Sarasota) focuses on independent learning for the world’s best and brightest. New College ranks among the nation’s top 10 liberal arts colleges in terms of per capita Fulbright students, higher than Harvard, Stanford and Yale.

Best Port: Port Canaveral (Brevard County) is a major cruise, cargo and naval terminal. Carnival, Disney and Royal Caribbean International cruise lines regularly sail from the deep-water port. It is also homeport for numerous gambling vessels.

Best Weekend Getaway: Three-way tie: St. Augustine, the oldest permanent settlement in the United States, has many sites from its early days still intact along its narrow streets. It offers two alluring lengths of beach just across the bay. Cedar Key is a quiet island community tucked along the Gulf Coast. The region has long been admired for its natural beauty and abundance of seafood. Key West is an ideal getaway destination featuring palm-lined streets, Ernest Hemingway’s home, the fabled treasure of the galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha, museums, shops and restaurants.

Best Airport: Tampa International Airport serves the Tampa Bay Area and is known for the attractive architectural design of its central terminal connected by “people movers” to satellite airline gates. The airport was originally named Drew Field Municipal Airport.

Best Airline: Southwest Airlines is a low-cost U.S. airline headquartered in Dallas, Texas. It services Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers/Naples and Fort Lauderdale areas.

Best Cruise Line: Carnival Cruise Line (Miami) has been a fun destination cruise line for 40 years, presenting vacationers with the diversion of a lifetime. Carnival calls its 22-ship fleet “The Fun Ships,” sailing to more than 60 destinations.

Best College Football Team: University of Florida Gators (Gainesville), a dominating force in college football, have won three NCAA championships (1996, 2006, 2008) and produced three Heisman Trophy winners.

Best College Basketball Team: University of Florida Gators (Gainesville) men’s team won the NCAA championship in 2006 and 2007. From the women’s team, former player Delisha Milton-Jones played on the 2008 U.S. Olympics team.

Best College Baseball Team: University of Florida Gators (Gainesville) have made several appearances at the College World Series.

Best Professional Basketball Team: The Orlando Magic were the NBA’s Eastern Conference Champions this past season. The Magic will open their 21st season on Wednesday, October 28, at home vs. Philadelphia.

Best Professional Football Team: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a member of the Southern Division of the NFL’s National Football Conference, play at Raymond James Stadium. The Bucs are the Super Bowl XXXVII champions.

Best Professional Baseball Team: The Tampa Bay Rays play at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. The Rays were the 2008 MLB American League champions.

Best Annual Sporting Event: Daytona 500 is a 200-lap, 500-mile-long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway. It is regarded as the most prestigious race in NASCAR and carries the largest purse. Honorable Mention: Arcadia Rodeo.

Best High School Athletic Program: Forest High School (Ocala), home of the Wildcats, has a well-rounded athletic program that includes basketball, football, baseball, wrestling and soccer. Forest High School won the Class 3A State Championship in football in 1974 and 1975.

Best Motorsport Event: Gatornationals (Gainesville), an annual National Hot Rod Association drag racing event drawing thousands, is held each March at Gainesville Raceway near the University of Florida. The competition is traditionally the third event of the season.

Best Car: Ford Mustang was the original “pony car” manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in 1964 and is Ford’s second-oldest nameplate in production.

Best Truck: Ford F150 is the most popular of the Ford Motor Company full-size, pickup trucks in the F-Series and continues to be a best seller. Some reports estimate the F-Series has contributed to about half of the company’s profits in recent years. The Ford F-150 was voted the 2009 North American Truck of the Year and Motor Trend’s 2009 Truck of the Year.

Best SUV: Ford Explorer continues to attract SUV owners. The Ford Motor Company has built the mid-size SUV since 1990. The vehicle has received the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s fivestar crash test ratings for five years running.

Best Florida Entertainer: Scott Ringersen once again makes the “Best of Florida” list. The popular Elvis impersonator has been performing “The Elvis Experience” for 10 years with superb vocal range and energy. Scott is the Headliner Tribute Artist for NCL’s “future cruises with the king” themed cruises. Elvis fans enjoy Scott’s performances each Thursday night at The Cottage in downtown Lake Worth.

Best Performing Artist Group: Blue Man Group is dedicated to creating great entertainment experiences for its audience at Universal Orlando Resort. The troupe is best known for its wildly popular performances with unusual props and audience participation.

Civil Servant: Gov. Charlie Crist serves as Florida’s 44th governor. He won his election on a platform where he vowed to work as “The People’s Governor.” He now takes his campaign to Washington, announcing his intention to run as Republican candidate for the Senate in 2010. He has served in Florida government for more than a decade.

Best Legislator: Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida) has served in the United States House of Representatives since 1989. She represents Florida’s 18th Congressional District. She became the first Hispanic woman and first Cuban-American elected to Congress.

Best Florida Band: Whitestone is a five-member band performing classic rock ’n’ roll in the South Florida region for five decades. The band began as The Belltones in the mid-1980s and changed its name to Whitestone in 1995 after the departure of two members and the addition of Tony Marchese. The band has performed onstage with many popular recording artists.

Best Florida Book: A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith was winner of the Florida Historical Society’s Tebeau Prize as the Most Outstanding Florida Historical Novel. It is a sweeping saga of a Cracker family’s rise from pioneers to real estate barons. It follows three generations of the MacIvey family, which settled the Florida swamp and battled wild animals, rustlers, Confederates deserters, mosquitoes and themselves to forge an empire.

Best Florida Newspaper Columnist: Carl Hiaassen is a native Floridian, novelist and columnist for the Miami Herald. He began as a reporter in 1976 and has written a column for the newspaper since 1985. He wrote several bestsellers, including Tourist Season and children’s books.

Best Florida Newspaper: The St. Petersburg Times is one of two major newspapers serving the Tampa Bay area. The Times has won eight Pulitzer Prizes since 1964—two in 2009. It began as a country weekly in 1884 and was called the West Hillsborough Times. Today, it has a staff of about 2,000 nationwide.

Best Weekly/Bi-weekly Newspaper: The Keynoter, founded in 1953, is an awardwinning biweekly tabloid-format newspaper serving the Monroe County region. Owned by The McClatchy Company, it is a sister newspaper to The Miami Herald.

Best Radio Morning Team: WFLA (970 AM) (Tampa) features the station’s locally focused morning show, AM Tampa Bay, hosted by veteran broadcasters Jack Harris, Tedd Webb and Sharon Taylor.

Best Talk Radio Station: WFLA Talk is a Tampa AM radio station (970 AM) serving the Arbitron Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater radio market, as well as the Sarasota/Bradenton radio market. The station format is news/talk, and it primarily airs syndicated programming.

Best Public Radio Station: WFSU-FM (88.9 FM) (Tallahassee) is the call sign for Florida State University’s public radio station. It offers NPR, jazz and classical music, news, and statewide and community outreach programming.

Best Local Meteorologist: Steve Jerve of WFLATV
Tampa is the storm team’s chief meteorologist.
He provides weekday weather forecasts on News
Channel 8’s afternoon newscasts. He is a member
of the American Meteorological Society and is a
Certified Broadcast Meteorologist.

Best Local TV Anchor: Greg Warmoth of WFTV Channel 9 (Orlando) anchors the Eyewitness News Daybreak with Vanessa Echols. He has been at the station for 11 years, originally as the station’s weekend sports anchor.

Best TV Station: WESH Channel 2 (Orlando) first broadcast in 1956. The station covers the latest in news, sports and entertainment. It is an NBC affiliate and is owned by Hearst Television. The station was the first in Orlando to implement an on-site radar facility.