I’ve just received notification in the mail that the Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival has been selected as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events.[imagefield:right:0]

What great timing: Come Thursday, we will be exactly six months out from the start of our 2010 festival.

It’s a good week to celebrate our great festival and celebrate our canoe and kayak trail – one of the best in the country and one of which I’m very proud.

Thanks to all you paddlers who come visit and try our trail. Thanks to you locals and Floridians who enjoy our meandering route. Thanks to the Lee County Parks & Recreation volunteers and my fellow Lee County staff as well as our tourism and business partners.

For more on the award, check out www.southeasttourism.org or www.escapetothesoutheast.com. For more on the festival, tune in to our Web site, which we keep updating: www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com