by Jeff Kottkamp

Since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred, Florida residents and visitors have naturally had lots of questions about what it will mean for the Sunshine State. Sadly, a few areas of Florida have felt impacts from the disaster.

We want visitors to know that the vast majority of the state’s 1,260 miles of coast is oil free and open for business. Sixty-three of sixty-seven counties have had no evidence of any oil on their beaches from the oil spill—and that includes Lee County. The beaches here remain as beautiful as ever, covered in soft sand and the seashells for which this area is famous. Restaurants stand ready to serve up local seafood specialties, while the area’s many parks and preserves are just waiting to be explored.

So if you’ve been thinking about a trip to Southwest Florida, or know someone who has, there’s no reason to delay. Especially once you get a look at some of the great vacation deals out there.

It’s easier than ever to plan your Florida getaway thanks to the new Florida Live page (visitflorida.com/floridalive) from Visit Florida, the state’s official tourism marketing organization. The new social-media platform allows users to see photos and tweets shared in real time by real people with real perspective on conditions in the Sunshine State.

Live Webcam feeds from destinations around the state, along with Google Maps–based Twitter posts help provide a true picture of the status of our shores. In most cases, the news is good. Just take a look at the real photos posted by real Florida residents and visitors taken at our beaches, nature trails, and theme parks. As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. And each one of those images goes a long way toward clarifying any misconceptions floating around out there.

Florida is a trusted destination that hosts more than eighty million visitors a year. We know our visitors come back time and again and we have a relationship with them. We also want them to be able to get authentic and accurate information when making their travel plans.

That’s why resources like the publications from TOTI Media are so valuable. Every edition provides insight and information on the hot menu items at local restaurants, must-see events and exhibits, and fashionable finds at local shops and boutiques.

This issue is no different. With a focus on design, it features stories that shine a spotlight on everything, from a local abstract artist to Cape Coral’s first luxury resort to the challenges involved in creating some of the golf courses that certainly help lure lots of visitors here.

TOTI Media’s publications and other area organizations like the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau and local chambers of commerce are helping to spread the word that there’s still plenty of sunshine down here on the peninsula. As the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce says, “The only oil on our beaches is suntan oil.”