The Plantation on Crystal River has two winter packages giving guests the chance to swim with the West Indian manatee in Crystal River. Starting at $230 for two guests, the one-night Swim with the Manatees package includes: accommodations in a renovated garden view room, manatee snorkeling tour for two from the Plantation Adventure Center with all equipment needed (mask, snorkel, fins and wetsuit).
Tours leave directly from the dock at Plantation Adventure Center & Dive Shop and provide hot chocolate and coffee on the enclosed boats and a hot shower facility for snorkelers not staying at the resort, breakfast for two at West 82 degrees Bar & Grill, welcome bag with plush manatee toy, and manatee interaction guidelines.
The two-night Swim and Dive package also includes a guided tour for two to one of Florida’s most pristine rivers and fourth largest spring system in Florida, Rainbow River. The Swim and Dive package is $540 for two people.
Manatee tours are offered year-round at Plantation’s Adventure Center & Dive Shop, but winter is prime manatee viewing season, which usually runs through March 31 depending on temperatures.
Package rates are based on double occupancy and includes Sunday-Thursday stays. Water view, patio rooms, junior suites and golf villas are available for an additional charge. Rates are subject to availability, and taxes and tips are not included. Info: PlantationonCrystalRiver.com.
Ushering in 2015 in Vero Beach
Disney’s Vero Beach Resort & Spa offers two culinary options for New Year’s Eve: a buffet in the resort’s Shutters restaurant with such specialties as chilled beer-boiled peel and eat shrimp, bacon-wrapped pork loin, bourbon glazed salmon, carving station with herb-crusted strip loin and pineapple glazed ham and a variety of desserts ($34.99 for ages 10 and up and $16.99 for children ages 3 to 9). The buffet at Shutters is available from 5 to 10 p.m. At the resort’s fine dining Sonya’s, a prix fixe menu ($55 per person plus gratuity and tax; wine pairing is an additional $25 per person) features an amuse bouche, a choice of one appetizer including crab cake, a choice of one entree including oak-grilled beef tenderloin filet. Reservations are recommended. Call 772-234-2180.
Dinner in Naples
Located at the iconic Inn on Fifth in downtown Naples, Avenue5 is offering a special New Year’s Eve dinner on Dec. 31. Served in a festive atmosphere, a five-course prix fixe menu created by Executive Chef John Welch features Maine Lobster, all natural prime beef and locally sourced and organic vegetables. The dinner is $135 per person for the early seating and $175 per person for the second seating, which includes a champagne toast at midnight. Party favors, hats and more will add to the restaurant’s “Vintage Glam” vibe for the evening.
Opened in early 2014, the $3 million Avenue 5 features 240 seats and two private dining rooms. The 7,000-square-foot restaurant is at 699 Fifth Avenue South. For more information or to make reservations for the New Year’s Eve dinner, visit Avenue5Naples.com.
Special at Sunset Key
Sunset Key Guest Cottages, just off Key West, has a special two-night Winter Reprieve package available through Jan. 15. The package includes two-nights’ cottage accommodations in garden-view cottage, one 80-minute spa treatment for two in the resort’s waterfront Spa Cabana, one gourmet Sunset Picnic Basket for two, one reserved hammock, and daily breakfast for two.
Package price starts at $1,980 based on double occupancy, plus applicable taxes, and is based on availability. Info: WestinSunsetKeyCottages.com.