Well, the cost of flight to Tampa/Orlando etc.
2-3 night stay at the motels, depends if you take another person or pair up to share a room.
Food cost for the time involved(varies based on each person's habits).
Transportation from Tampa, to Gainesville, rentals typically are 30-60$ per day, so I figure 150$ total there.
Canoe rentals run 16$ per person per trip(Santa Fe river and the Rainbow river)
Tube rentals: 5-10$
Park entry: 5$ and 4$
75$ per 3 day event.
Snorkel gear: 20-40$ Walmart

Marine part:
22$ per night, dorm style room, community Kitchen(so we can fix our own food etc and BBQ etc). Boat rental: split at about 150$ per load(up to 8 folks per boat) so 30$ ought to cover boating fees, they take us each place we want.

The Marine part is likely a bit cheaper and as much fun if not more so.

Not much really, just like you rented a car and took off to a park for 2-3 days.
By splitting cost with other folks for rooms and food, things go down a fair amount.

Some want to take driftwood back etc, some drive all the way etc.
Some folks can pair up and drive around with me etc also.
I'll try and make space for anyone that comes and shows up etc.


Regards,
Tom Barr

sweet tom looking forward to it. Im definitely down, ill probably bring my girlfriend too. now i just have to book a flight from Boston to Florida.

BTW do you think you'll make it to the next SAPS meeting? id love to pick your plantbrain one last time before i leave

Tom, I'm really interested in attending the Marine portion, but have to convince my wife that it will contribute to my research on macroalgae, and better my carreer standing, which is proving difficult (I work at IBM - she doesn't see the connection! .
Are you aware of any/many local 'attractions' or activities that could keep my family busy if I were to attend? I'm not familiar with FL south of Ft. Lauderdale...

Cheers,

Richard

Well,the spots are all full at the lab then anyway.

I'm looking for another lab, or if folks do not mind camping on the beach for 2 days

There's a nice state park there.
And no need for showers, the beach is right there and so are stations to clean up/bathrooms etc.

Might be the only under 100$ a night alternative.

I could swap the marine part to the 15th-17th, but I'd rather do it after the FW and alos the girlfriend cannot come that prior week for the Marine, but can be the Friday for the am FW.

Scheduling is the tough part.
The FW is written in stone though.
Just need to find places for the Marine part.

Regards,
Tom Barr

Please note, this is certainly something you want to take a friend with you, significant other etc. It's a lot more fun and you can share things that normal they might not be that interested in.

Regards,
Tom Barr

The wife plans on attending, it should be fun..

Let me know if you are serious about the Marine part.
I may let a limited number come for that part.
I have myself and 3 others coming.

I do not have the dorm rooms available at this point but am still looking and should have something cooked up by this week's end.

FW is set up already.

Regards,
tom Barr

Are both the freshwater and marine portions taking place based out of Gainesville? Or are they in two different cities?

Also, I see a Gainesville Airport. Why not fly into that instead of Tampa or Orlando? I've never been to FL, I'm completely unfamiliar with the areas.

But I am VERY excited about attending the Plantfest, just need more info to decide if I can afford both the freshwater and marine...

-Jason

I too would like to know what would be the best hub for staying at. I have many friends in Orlando so I was thinking about flying in there and crashing with them, but as I'm not old enough to rent a car (curse them, 20 is old enough!), I may have to find a ride with another member who is coming or else bribe my friends to taxi me around.

On another note, I'm planning on attending! I have my flight already booked and everything. Very excited. Only problem is I don't know the area (except Orlando, and even then), at all. So some more detailed information on exactly where we're going to be would be much appreciated, if possible.

Anywho!

Thanks,

-Mike

Mike,

Where are you coming from? I am in eastern PA and would be flying out of Newark most likely. I've not booked at all just yet, trying to figure out all these details and make sure I don't get stranded! :-)

-Jason