Saddlebrook Receives Green Lodging Designation

Congratulations to Saddlebrook Resort, which was formally designated a Florida Green Lodging property this week. For all you green travelers out there, this means Saddlebrook meets strict requirements set by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for environmentally sound practices, including recycling in guest rooms, use of low-flow showers and toilets and linen reuse programs.
Saddlebrook is the second Pasco property to receive the Green Lodging designation and we are hoping many more will follow that lead. (The first was back in July when the recently opened Residence Inn Northpointe, located at the Suncoast Parkway and State Road 54 in Lutz, was designated as a Green Lodging site by the state.)

To find out more about Saddlebrook's commitment to the environment, click here.

To learn more about the state's Green Lodging initiative, click here.

Train Museum Now Open in Dade City

If you are a train buff, a history buff or just looking for a fun day trip, check out the new Train Depot Museum in historic downtown Dade City. Operated by the Dade City Trolley Tour, the museum features an elaborate model train display, a real working train signal and tons of memorabilia from the early days of the railroads in Florida. Be sure to catch the excellent short film on the history of railroads, "A Tale of Two Henrys," on the lives of Henry Flagler and Henry Plant. Kids will enjoy ringing a real locomotive bell from the Savannah Central Railroad and seeing the lifelike "travelers" and train depot personnel stationed throughout the site. The depot was built in 1912 and until recently was a stop on the Amtrak line.

Visitors can come directly to the museum, located at Meridian Avenue and the US 98 bypass, or take the downtown trolley, which stops at the museum. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for children ages five to 12 and children four and under are free with paid adult admission. For tour information, visit the Trolley Tour website at www.dadecitytrolleytour.com. And stay tuned for details on the museum's official grand opening later this fall!