Fla. Travel Getaways: Jan. 2009

Chris Sherman | 1/1/2009

Sir Peter Michael

» The biggest names in food and wine, Romanee-Conti, Peter Michael, Screaming Eagle, Emeril Lagasse, John Besh and Michael Mina are heading for the Naples Winter Wine Festival Feb. 6-8. It’s $7,500 per couple and has raised almost $70 million — all while providing more fun than a Jimmy Buffett concert. If you’re not going this year, start saving for next year’s.

» And if you can, reserve a place at November’s stone crab festival at the Colony on Longboat Key, another intimate gathering of top visiting chefs, wine makers and devoted foodies. The 2008 festival had an abundance of pinot noir, heaps of this year’s abundant crabs and up-close kitchen tours and talks. This year’s edition will be the 20th anniversary. Not to miss.

» The newest hotel in Miami blooming on mainland Brickell, not SoBe, is the 54-story EPIC. It’s owned by the Kimpton Group, which pioneered singular boutique hotels on the West Coast, reinvigorated the Mayfair in Coconut Grove in 2005 and now will have a luxury tower on the water.

» Give your resolutions inspiration and a goal when triathletes kick off the year Jan. 3 at the National Training Center and the small-town streets and rural roads in the rolling hills around Clermont (and sign up to come back for more training).

» Sporting life on deck for Florida spectators includes Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa Feb. 1 and the Daytona 500 (qualifying on Feb. 8; racing on Feb. 15). Call in your favors now.

Tags: Dining & Travel