$50 gas card when you book at least two days in Perdido Key, near Pensacola, Florida

PERDIDO KEY, Fla. (Jan. 26, 2012)–Ideally located between Pensacola, Fla. and Orange Beach, Ala., Perdido Key is home to sugar-white sand, turquoise water and miles of untouched shoreline. Add to that some of travelers’ consistently top-rated events and you’ve got the makings of a perfect spring family getaway. Book now and Perdido Key Visitors Center will give you a free $50 gas card for staying at least two days between Feb. 1 and Apr. 30, 2012. A number of area resorts are offering their own specials as well, from discounts to free days to free $100 Visa cards.

Perdido Key’s version of the traditional Mardi Gras parade is a boat parade like no other on Feb. 11, enjoyed by spectators situated along waterfront vantage points, and an unforgettable after-party at the world-famous Flora-Bama on the Alabama-Florida state line. Mardi Gras revelry continues the following weekend with a land-side street festival complete with colorful beads, live entertainment and the 2012 Cajun Cook-Off, where $5 buys you samplings of tasty Cajun fare.

March brings the annual Springfest carnival, where thousands enjoy carnival rides, games, outdoor entertainment, food, art and crafts vendors and more. On Mar. 24, the Perdido Key Wine & Arts Festival will once again draw travelers to the Key for wine samplings with some of their favorite wineries, live music and an outdoor marketplace of arts and crafts.

In April, Perdido Key Dragon Boat Races will bring to life a 2000 year old tradition—where teams of 22 rowers race colorful wooden boats decorated with dragon heads at the front and dragons tails at the back. On April 27-29, Flora-Bama will host its annual Mullet Toss, a world-famous event where nearly 100,000 participants of all ages are expected to see who can toss a fish the greatest distance.

Perdido Key Visitors Center will reward travelers with a free $50 gas card for staying a minimum of two nights in Perdido Key accommodations between Feb. 1, 2012 and Apr. 30, 2012. Registration for the gas cards spring promotion is going on now through Feb. 29, 2012 or until all cards are gone. Find out more at www.visitperdido.com/you-play.

Event details:

Mardi Gras Piratefest Boat Parade and Buccaneer Bash
When: Sat., Feb. 11 at 10:45am
1:30pm After-party at Flora-Bama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr.
Where: Vantage points along the Intracoastal Waterway
Cost: FREE

Perdido Key Mardi Gras Festival & Cajun Cook-Off
When: Sun., Feb. 19 at 11:30am
Where: Villagio Plaza, 13700 Perdido Key Dr.
Cost: Free to attend, $5 for food samplings

Perdido Springfest & Fair
When: Mar. 20-24, 6pm weekdays, 3pm weekends
Where: 2221 S. Blue Angel Pkwy.
Cost: FREE admission, ride tickets purchased

Perdido Key Wine and Arts Festival
When: Sat., Mar. 24, 1-6pm
Where: Villagio Plaza, 13700 Perdido Key Dr.
Cost: FREE to attend; $20 wristband for wine tasting
Info: www.perdidowineandarts.com

Perdido Key Dragon Boat Races
When: Sat., April 14, noon
Where: Perdido Key Oyster Bar & Marina, 13700 River Rd.
Cost: FREE

Interstate Mullet Toss & Gulf Coast’s Greatest Beach Party
When: April 27-29
Where: Flora-Bama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr.
Info: www.florabama.com

For more information and gas card registration visit www.visitperdido.com/spring-events.

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ABOUT PERDIDO KEY, FLA.
Located on a narrow strip of snow white beaches and crystal blue waters, Perdido Key is in the northwestern “panhandle” of Fla., between Pensacola, Fla. and Orange Beach, Ala. No more than a few hundred yards wide in most places, Perdido Key stretches some 16 miles, with almost 60 percent located in federal or state parks – making it one of the last remaining unblemished stretches of wilderness in the Florida Panhandle. For more information visit: www.visitperdido.com.

DRAGON BOAT RACING HISTORY
In China, the Dragon Boat Races are second in importance only to the Chinese New Year. The observance commemorates a Chinese scholar-statesman, Chu Yuan, who drowned in the Mi Lo River more than 2000 years ago while protesting against the emperor and the corruption of the leaders. According to the legend, people tried to save him: they banged on drums to scare fish away and threw rice cakes into the sea, to prevent them from eating this hero’s body.