Are you planning a Florida vacation, but want to take a break from the usual theme parks and tourist crammed attractions? There are some fantastic alternative places and activities that offer a different view of Florida. So book your Orlando holidays with Florida 4 Less and use these suggestions for inspiration:

The Everglades

One of America’s true national treasures, the vibrant Everglades is a stunning natural habitat filled with crocodiles, alligators and turtles. Boat trips take you gliding over the surface of the waters and long grass as you learn more and more about this magical locale teeming with life and adventure.

Nightlife: Key West and Clearwater

At the other end of the spectrum, why not soak up some of the bars and nightclubs in Key West and Clearwater? A ‘Best of the Bars’ scavenger hunt through Key West enables drinkers to tipple their way from bar to bar, including Ernest Hemingway’s favourite Sloppy Joe’s. In Clearwater, be sure to sample the sounds in The Wave nightclub and the cocktails in the Tiki Bar.

Daytona International Speedway

Refuel and rev up your engines at the Daytona International Speedway, home of the famous Daytona 500. Take one of the privately guided VIP Tours to get up close and personal with the usually off limit areas where Daytona’s rich racing history has been written. Race fans will love it.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

If you’re looking for culture and heritage, why not pay a visit to the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami, the former home of industrialist James Deering. Built in 1916, the immense house is modelled on European palaces and holds an incredible array of historical artefacts and artworks. Admire the beautiful architecture and decor of a house which has hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Pope John Paul II.

Shop Til You Drop: Naples and Marco Island

If you require some retail therapy after all the sightseeing, head to Naples and Marco Island and lap up the luxury inside the interior design stores and haute couture boutiques. Then take a moment to relax by the bay with a cocktail before readying your credit card for another round.

iFly Orlando

While a certain mouse and his pals like to hog the limelight in Orlando, visitors shouldn’t neglect the fantastic fun to be had at iFly Orlando. This high powered vertical wind tunnel provides an unparalleled indoor skydiving experience, enabling visitors to experience flight without the need for a nail-biting plane jump.

Muhsinah – Rediscovered

Muhsinah – Construction

Description of the project from Fifty People, One Question on Vimeo:

Fifty People, One Question is a simple project with surprising results. We go to a place, ask fifty people the same question and film their responses.

The project started in New Orleans, LA and received such a warm response that we decided to do it again in New York City. Now we’re traveling to more cities and asking new questions. Always just trying to capture a little slice of humanity. Whatever happens … happens.

Where Would You Want to Wake Up Tomorrow?

What Do You Wish Would Happen By the End of Today?

The original “Fifty People, One Question” video by Benjamin Reece. Later his production company Deltree partnered with Crush + Lovely to create more films in new locations.

During winter and spring, I often long for summer.  In the summer and fall, I can long for wintry landscapes and downhill skiing — especially when watching the video below of Sverre Liliequist, a Swedish extreme skier.

Something I repeatedly work on: avoid longing to other seasons, places, cities and countries; trust that where I am right now is the perfect place to be; believe that everything happens perfectly, in its own time, in its own way.

Sverre Liliequist in Alaska

Prem Joshua – Sharanya

The cherry blossom season, the most beautiful time in Japan.

Tokyo at night.

Little did I know that Tokyo could be this serene.

Soundscapes – by Ace Norton from IE HAGY on Vimeo.

Videos below found thanks to the post Some Awesome Improve Videos at Life of Justin.

The T-Mobile Dance

I love this video of people dancing in Liverpool Street Station.

Frozen Grand Central

More than 200 people freeze on cue in Grand Central Station, New York.

I recently got in touch with Adrianna (currently in Dubai) and May (based in London) to learn more about their, in their own words, “part travelogue, part video-cast, part excuse to hang out with interesting people/travel even more.”

First of all, can you tell us a bit about Fortylove?

Fortylove.tv is a mobile travel show from across Europe and the Middle East. Two friends from Singapore/Malaysia live in two very exciting world cities on different continents — London and Dubai. Two very different worlds, but both have an abundance of secrets and stories to tell. It’s good old traditional wanderlust… on steroids, fuelled by web2.0. It’s our excuse to travel more, meet new people and do strange things, so that we can produce: forty short episodes shot, pieced together and edited by us. Two a week, every week for twenty weeks. View it on the website, on youtube, in your newsreader, iTunes, or on your iPod. We love travel shows; we think we should be able to take them everywhere. And we think everybody can make their own.

How did you get the idea? Were you inspired by anything in particular?

We’ve always been avid travellers, and we have the tendency to leap off into the unknown… sometimes quite literally. But we’re uninspired by the regular tourist trail, and the uninspiring guidebooks that tell you to go to the Eiffel Tower while you’re in Paris or to check out the Burj while you’re in Dubai. These sights are great, fine, but there’s more to a city. We thought to ourselves: if we only had only three minutes to show someone a city we knew, what would we tell someone to do/see/eat, and what are the offbeat things we love that we want them to know about?

That’s where it all came from.

As to how this all started: around September last year we knew that we were going to move to London and Dubai, on short term assignments for about six to nine months.

By that time we’d already started shooting rough videos of stuff that intrigued us on our travels, and amassed a lot of cool footage of stuff like May in a backlane in downtown Amsterdam, and Adri among the hordes at the million-strong Rath Yatra festival in India. We just stitched up some of this footage together, for a hoot, and sent them to our friends. They seemed to like it. So when we were up one night at 2 am talking about our travel plans for the year ahead, something clicked. We knew we were having a great opportunity to live in such exciting places, and that we were going to have to use London and Dubai as a base to the regions around us; that even the cities we were going to live in were cities that are very widely known and tourist-friendly, but not everybody got to see the ‘real’ London or Dubai that we knew. In the sense that they attract plenty of business and casual tourists, but beyond the Big Ben and beyond the Burj… in the gritty alleys of Shoreditch or Satwa, laid the stuff we loved: the true heart of the city. We wanted to dive deep into these parts.

We also knew we had to do something about this while we were on the road, and it just came naturally: we love the internet, social media, travelling, writing, talking our heads off. Something clicked, and we jumped out of bed, grabbed a pen and paper and did wireframe sketches of what our site would look like, and what you see on http://fortylove.tv today is pretty much that

So far you’ve been filming malls in Dubai, tube stations in London, a camel souk in Al Ain, martini making outside the Buckingham Palace, and the preparation for the Rickshaw Challenge in Chennai. What’s next?

Traditional beer-making and the secrets of Belgian abbey beer, if the monks will let May in. The underground world of Syrian lingerie if Adri can just crack the code. The 600-700 year old skyscrapers of the “Manhattan of the Ancient World” – 15 storey tall buildings in Shibam Hadramout, build hundreds of years ago to protect themselves from Bedouin invasions, and people still live in them. A Sudanese beat poet’s stunning poetry in English and a little Arabic, on themes of exile, loss and displacement, that’s surprisingly relevant to her own ‘exile’, as well as to the thousands of migrant workers in gleaming Dubai. There’s a lot more and we’re looking forward to sharing everything we see. For now, May needs her passport back from the UK Home Office and Adri needs to get out of Yemen alive (because that might otherwise be quite a dent in our ‘forty episodes’ concept if we had to stop at, say, sixteen, due to one of us dying).

How are you shooting the videos?

Equipment: We use a small Sanyo Xacti each, a low-end consumer camera. It’s about capturing the moment as it happens – the noise, the crowds, the imperfection, the spirit of it all, and we found that the smaller your camera, the more we’ve been able to immerse ourselves in the heart of the moment… people aren’t intimidated by it, and usually don’t even know what we’re doing.

Procedure: We came up with a list of cities we knew we were probably going to go to within the period, and actively started seeking out cool things about them by talking to people who lived there, reading, and making friends with people who knew these cities inside out. We usually just ‘stumble’ upon the story ideas, then reach out to the people who can help us with it. Usually just show up and shoot with our little cameras, then go home and edit them into short episodes that tell you the story in 5 minutes or less (sometimes a little more).

I must compliment you for the irresistibly cool look of the site. Who’s behind the web design?

A brilliant Pittsburgh-based designer, Nathan Swartz (clicknathan.com). Adri had spoken to him a year before, on another travel-related podcast project that she eventually shelved. We always thought he would ‘get’ the spirit of Fortylove.tv from the start, becaues he designed our site while he was on the road — literally. He was living in a campervan with his family across the United States, and so there were some similarities. Nathan designed the site from scratch, implemented it in WordPress, and did a great job.

After 20 weeks are over, what will happen to fortylove? Any chances you will post more videos from various trips around the world?

From the start we’d always imagined that fortylove would live beyond London and Dubai. If we get the right kind of support we would love to do this in two different cities again. Say, Bombay and Buenos Aires next year. Shanghai and Rome. Whatever. It doesn’t even have to be us; if we find two people crazy enough to do this we’d love for them to pick it up for another Fortylove.tv run. We do understand the logistics and the costs involved — so securing travel and tech sponsors in the future would be ideal.

We may also feature cool travel videos that others might make. Or continue posting videos there sporadically, as we’re never going to stop travelling. We’ll see! We’re also launching a bunch of other cool travel-related web projects after this. We’re off to India in July to race an autorickshaw 2000km across the country. That’s going to be another mobile travel project of its own — watch out for that

Last, if you could travel anywhere in the world and shoot new videos, where would you go?

May: a big city in North America; it’s the only continent I haven’t been to. I’d start with New York, or San Francisco, New Orleans maybe. Or on the other side of the Pacific — Japan. Tokyo.

Adri: Bhutan. Not sure about the internet connection though.

Editor’s Note: Below you can watch the episodes from week 2 and 3. Make sure to head over to Fortylove.tv to check out the other videos, and join the fortylove.tv crew on Twitter and Facebook.

Week 2: Mind the Ghost

London: Mind Your Ghost from fortylovetv on Vimeo.

Hey Adri,

Living in this city has taught me a few practical things. Bring an umbrella wherever you go. Buy beer in eights for a better deal. Don’t freak out when you hear strange noises at night. Continue reading.

Week 3: Know your Camel

Know Your Camel from fortylovetv on Vimeo.

Dear May,

When I first moved here they told me if I ever knocked down a camel while driving, I could expect to pay more blood money than if I killed a human being.

That’s how seriously they take their camels around these parts. Continue reading.

London Christmas Lights from Alex Gollner on Vimeo.

London and time from Alex Gollner on Vimeo.

Top student and athlete Christopher McCandleness (Emile Hirsch) graduated from Emory University in 1992. In pursuit of freedom and no obligations, he gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity, abandoned his possessions, and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness. The movie is, at best, breathtaking and Eddie Vedder’s score truly pushes this film to its full potential.

Have you ever been disappointed by a hotel room that didn’t live up to your expectations? Or found it difficult knowing which hotel to pick, because of a lack of visuals and sufficient information? Thanks to nearly 5000 videos at the new travel site TVtrip.com, travelers can see their hotel before they book.

“The great reaction to our site has helped lead to our phenomenal growth in Europe and now in the U.S. and Asia,” said Founder and Chief Executive officer Marc Ruff after TVtrip’s expansion last year. “When other hotels see how travelers respond to our videos and to our web site, they want to become part of TVtrip.com and we are happy to have them.”

Launched in May 2007, TVtrip.com is the first website to enable hotel searches using online videos. The leading video guide covers hotels in more than 100 worldwide destinations including New York, San Francisco, Miami, Chicago, London, Paris, Venice and Barcelona. No need to worry about whether you chose the right hotel, because TVtrip provides you with unbiased professionally shot videos, basic hotel descriptions and informative guest reviews.

For more information, visit tvtrip.com

Music takes you through the bad as well as the good times — whether you’re at home or traveling. Like doing the things you love, music makes life worth living. I know for sure that my love for discovering new music will never end. I have Move to Bremerton, a Popagandhi post on music, to thank for my latest find – The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson. Beautiful song.

I have lots of music memories. Especially remember one evening spent with friends and family at the beach in Frösakull, Sweden. A barbecue, sand beneath my feet, the sound of the sea, a light breeze, the sunset, and Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl from someome’s portable CD player. I think I was ten.

Around midnight in Frösakull another summer, the heavy rain caused everyone at the party to move into someone’s veranda. Kids my age and grown-ups sit down around a large wooden table while one guy got his guitar and suggested karaoke. First up, Queen’s We Will Rock You. Before the first verse, “Buddy you’re a boy make a big noise…”, we banged our hands on the table. No one missed a beat. I’ve loved that song ever since.

The same goes for Bonnie Tyler. My parents, my sister and I used to listen to her during the 9-hour drive to Åre, a small ski resort in northern Sweden, where we often spent our winter holidays. Have You Ever Seen The Rain was my favorite and eventually I knew all her songs by heart.

I also loved the songs by Elvis Costello, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Bryan Adams on my dad’s vinyl records. Sometimes I wished he would give them to me. I never bought my own LP discs, instead I put my money on CDs. When I was 14 and found Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in a record store in Stockholm, I made up my mind at once. After seeing a cover on her Can’t Take My Eyes Off You at a Swedish TV show earlier the same year I knew I had to buy her album. I like all of Lauryn’s songs, especially those at her live album MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 — mostly because of the brilliant lyrics.

India Arie – Ready For Love

When I discovered India Arie and her Strenght, Courage & Wisdom, it resulted in three Chinese signs on my left ankle.

Daniel Lemma – Keeps Getting Better

I will not forget the first time I heard the Swedish artist Daniel Lemma’s soulful voice, or when I heard Greek music — first at a taverna in Parga, then during a long bus drive to Meteora, and on a boat from Lefkada to Kefalonia.

I deliberately look for songs that touch my heart. Often when meeting new people – whether face-to-face or online — I ask about their music taste. Except for the chance to discover a new talent, it’s quite fun to check out people’s MP3- or iPod playlists.

Like my sister, I love rock. But while I’m also into soul by Otis Redding, Al Green, Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin, she prefers metal and emo rock. Thanks to her, I started listening to My Chemical Romance, Foo Fighters, Babyshambles and Ozzy Osbourne.

The Cranberries’ songs also top my list of favorites. I first heard this Irish band during my summer job as a personal assistant in Haverdal, Sweden, in 2003. My 24-year-old, water pipe-loving co-worker, who recently got home from traveling in Israel, often played her Cranberries albums at work. It was love at first hearing.

When I went to France as an au-pair the following year, I was introduced to various French artists. Five-year-old Emelie showed me her CD by Jenifer Bartoli, the first winner of Star Academy — the French equivalence to American Idol. On weekdays at 7pm even Emelie’s 1-year-old sister Eléonore sat sticked to the TV watching that year’s season, apperantly a big hit in France.

While working in Zurich in 2005 I had a Portuguese penpal who sent me a CD of Keane, and another one with so called skank. And in London two years ago, when my Swedish flatmate let me copy all music from her laptop, I found 3 Doors Down. The same year I discovered Eva Cassidy at a café in Greenwich.

After a few months in London I spent a couple of weeks at my parents house in Sweden before setting my sights on Malmö, a multicultural city in the southernmost part of the country. There, thanks to a guy living in the same student hall, I first heard the reggae singer Alpha Blondy. At the same time I started to like Ben Harper and Jack Johnson more. And Matisyahu.

Last year I came across the singer Atif Aslam. I have no idea what he says, but I love his voice.

Atif Aslam – Adaat

Listen to Adaat, Woh Lamhe and Doorie.

Music sources are everywhere. Record stores. Magasines. Websites. Ads. People. TV. Film. Movies.

The Lion King – Hakuna Matata

If I had to pick a cartoon, I would go for the Disney hit The Lion King.

Coldplay – The Scientist

Coldplay’s The Scientist and Stereophonic’s Maybe Tomorrow from Wicker Park are also impossible not to love.

Whenever I hear All Saint’s Pure Shores I think of that hot scene with Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Françoise (Virginie Ledoyen) in The Beach.

I also like to watch What Women Want and listen to Frank Sinatra’s Too Marvelous For Words, I Won’t Dance, and I’ve Got You Under My Skin. I love the part when Mel Gibson dances around in his Manhattan loft. The music combined with the view and Gibson’s improvised dance make a terrific scene.

And the next time you see Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, pay attention to Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word by Mary J Blige.

And, not to forget, my absolute favorites.  Musicals.

RENT – Out Tonight and Another Day

A great performance by Rosario Dawson.

Annie – You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile

Many years ago I first saw the musical Annie at Oskarsteatern in Stockholm. I have lost count on how many times I have seen the film.

Dirty Dancing – Hungry Eyes

Irene Cara – Fame

I first saw Fame at the theater Göta Lejon in Stockholm in 2004.

Aida – How I Know You

Beautiful melody.

As for music in movies, I love the soundtrack to Miami Vice including Nonpoint’s cover on In the Air Tonight and Sinnerman (felix da housecat’s heavenly house mix) to Auto Rock by Mogwai, Moby’s One of These Mornings, and Arranca from the sensual dance scene between Crocket (Colin Farrell) and Isabella (Li Gong).

And don’t forget Carlos Varela’s Una Palabra from the end scene in Man on Fire, In the Deep by Bird York from the soundtrack to Crash, or the mix of Chaiyya Chayyia by Sukhwinder Singh & Sapna Awasthi from Inside Man.

Learn Languages Through Music

I love hearing music in other languages and often listen to non-english songs to learn new words and expressions. Lately Hindi because I’ve wanted to learn the language ever since middle school when I decided I would travel to India someday.

Per Gessle – Sommartider

If you are interested in learning some Swedish, listen to Per Gessle.

Lars Winnerbäck – Dunkla Rum

And Lars Winnerbäck.

Lisa Nilsson – Himlen runt hörnet

And Lisa Nilsson.

How To Pack Everything For Your Vacation Into a Carry-on

This video gives terrific tips on how to travel light. Why carry more than you need?

How To Avoid Jetlag

Who doesn’t want to avoid jetlag?

How To Pretend You’re a Real New Yorker

I couldn’t help but laugh when I watched this one.

How To Take A Cab in New York City

Even though walking is a great way to discover Manhattan, you do need to know how to catch a cab.

How To Dance Without Embarrassing Yourself

Last night in town and you want to hit the dance floor. This video is a must for everyone who doesn’t know how to dance.

For more info, watch What Is Howcast. And don’t forget to Sign up to create your own Howcast profile, suggest new videos and write how-to guides that can be made into videos by the Howcast network.