| The 2006 Travel South Showcase, held on February | | | | majority of the city is back up and running but support |
| 18-22, was a great success this year. With elaborate | | | | from the tourism community is still greatly needed and |
| entertainment for and much heartfelt support from the | | | | warmly appreciated. |
| national and international community, the Southeast is | | | | FLORIDA |
| booming and its Gulf States are quick to note that their | | | | Construction is currently underway on the Florida Keys |
| cities are welcoming visitors from all over the world. | | | | Eco-Discovery Center, due to open later this year. The |
| Travel South, a consortium of the twelve southeastern | | | | 6,000-square-foot facility will feature interactive exhibits |
| state tourism offices including West Virginia, holds a | | | | depicting the region's underwater and upland habitats, |
| showcase every year that features the best of what | | | | with special emphasis on the ecosystem of North |
| the region has to offer. Almost 750 delegates | | | | America's only living contiguous barrier coral reef. The |
| attended the show this year. The first evening brought | | | | center will be located on Truman Annex overlooking |
| together 400 years history of Virginia music as the | | | | the Key West waterfront. The TECO Manatee |
| Virginia Tourism Corporation presented music groups | | | | Viewing Center in Apollo Beach will open its season in |
| from several different generations, including Native, | | | | November with a new expanded boardwalk featuring |
| bluegrass and shag music, with a surprise | | | | more observation areas. The center has also installed |
| performance by Va. | | | | a new live webcam and has opened the South Shore |
| Governor Mark Warner. He sang and played | | | | Café refreshment area. The center celebrates |
| harmonica, while each of the bands that played during | | | | its twentieth anniversary this year. |
| the evening came up on stage for an explosive finale | | | | GEORGIA |
| that set the bar high for the number of functions to | | | | The brand new home of the World of Coca Cola will |
| follow that weekend. Other highlights included the | | | | open summer 2007 on a twenty-acre site adjacent to |
| Official Louis Armstrong Society Jazz Band at | | | | Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta. The facility houses |
| Louisiana's breakfast function, with its fiery singer and | | | | the world's largest collection of Coca Cola collectibles |
| talented band members all worthy of the name of their | | | | and memorabilia and - of course - offers samples of |
| band; dinner and entertainment at the Virginia Science | | | | Coca Cola products from around the globe. The |
| Museum and the many tours on Saturday showcasing | | | | famous beverage, which was first served |
| the city of Richmond and its surrounding areas | | | | 'soda-fountain style' at a small pharmacy near |
| ALABAMA | | | | Underground Atlanta, is served over a billion times per |
| The Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel is | | | | day in over 200 countries around the world. |
| promoting 2006 as "The Year of Outdoor Alabama." | | | | LOUISIANA |
| The 2006 calendar of events has a special section | | | | A full seven months after HurricaneKatrina, New |
| devoted to the more than 140 outdoor events and | | | | Orleans is coming into their festival season with gusto |
| festivals taking place in Alabama throughout the year. | | | | and a great big helping of pride. After the wrap-up of |
| A separate brochure titled "100 Outdoor Adventures in | | | | the city's 150th Mardi Gras this March, Steven Perry, |
| Alabama" lists great outdoor activities all over the | | | | President and CEO of the New Orleans Metro CVB |
| state. Both are available at Alabama welcome centers | | | | had this to say: "Our industry guests were |
| or by contacting the Bureau. Mobile is getting back on | | | | overwhelmed by the spirit of the city and its people. It |
| its feet after Hurricane Katrina damaged many | | | | was startlingly clear that although New Orleans still |
| attractions and facilities throughout town. The Mobile | | | | faces real challenges in some areas, the historic core |
| Bay CVB encourages visitors to come and see how | | | | of the city, the tourism areas, and the experience of |
| Katrina has impacted the town, as well as to witness | | | | coming to New Orleans is not only intact but thriving. |
| the strength and perseverance of this community. The | | | | We planted the flag in the ground that announced to |
| USS Alabama, which was closed for several months | | | | the world that New Orleans is open and ready to |
| due to immense storm damage, reopened in January | | | | welcome visitors again in our own special style!" |
| on the 41st anniversary of its original opening to the | | | | For more detailed information Kindly Visit |
| public. The Museum of Mobile will be opening this spring | | | | Leisuregrouptravel. |
| after extensive work to repair flood damage. The | | | | |