Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/631317
DREAMSCAPES WINTER/SPRING 2016 44 TRAVEL GALLERY >> BY CYNTHIA DAVID DS M exico Beach, Florida, a tiny town on the Gulf of Mexico, was recently named a "top affordable destina- tion" by TripAdvisor and has appeared on numerous "best places to live" and "best places to vacation" lists. Exuding a small-town intimacy, Mexico Beach has no traffic lights or chain restaurants, and its laws restrict the height of buildings to four storeys. Stroll along eight kilometres of white-sand beaches. Hike at St. George Island State Park or paddle through mangroves at Wakulla Springs State Park. Fish from shore or offshore, explore natural and artificial reefs complete with shipwreck sites, go horseback riding on the beach, pursue myriad water sports activities or hunt for seashells on Crooked Island. Visit a historic lighthouse. Browse the nearby shopping outlets of Panama City Beach, the little boutiques along Highway 98 or the antique shops of Apalachicola. Then cap off your day with a stunning sunset as you dine on fresh seafood. mexicobeach.com A ir Canada has unveiled new non-stop services between four key Canadian cities and 12 U.S. cities beginning in May and June 2016. New transborder routes include Toronto–Washington-Dulles, Vancouver–San Jose, Montréal– Denver and Calgary–San Francisco. For those travelling onward into the U.S. or Latin America, these new routes offer more travel options and convenient connections. The carrier is also adding non-stop flights between Toronto and Seoul beginning June 17, with special introductory fares starting as low as $1,399. Also in mid-June, the airline will increase fre- quencies from Vancouver to Brisbane, Australia, from three times a week to daily service. aircanada.com. A new exhibit, Beauty's Legacy, Gilded Age Portraits in America, at the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, Florida, presents stunning portraits of prominent Americans of the Gilded Age, from the 1870s to 1900, painted by leading American and European painters. The museum itself is located on Henry Flagler's grand 1902 estate. The exhibition explores the interest in European portraits documenting the rich and famous at a time when Americans were amassing great wealth. Portraits range from society beauties to powerful titans of busi- ness and industry. Organized by the New-York Historical Society, Beauty's Legacy ends April 17. flaglermuseum.us MEXICO BEACH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL CALIFORNIA TOURISM JAMES MONTGOMERY FLAGG (AMERICAN, 1877–1960), NELLIE MCCORMICK FLAGG (1876–1923), CA. 1906 OIL ON CANVAS. NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, GIFT OF ARNOLD SCAASI AND PARKER LADD T he new US$500-million SKYPLEX entertainment com- plex on I-Drive in Orlando, Florida, is set to break world records by opening the world's tallest roller coaster in 2017. The 174-metre structure will be the tallest in Central Florida and feature the first Polercoaster, a vertical ride dubbed the Skyscraper, which will weave in and around the tower on coaster-length tracks. The top of the tower will offer views of the city from an observation deck, restaurant and lounge. A second ride, called Skyfall, will be the world's tallest drop ride, rising up to 140 metres then dropping riders at 145 km an hour. The project's first major restaurant and nightclub, Mango's Tropical Café Orlando, opened in December 2015. mangos.com/skyplex INTAMIN WORLDWIDE