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The Associated Press 1:11 PM Tuesday, November 3, 2009

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Why does Orlando make you smile?

If you're between the ages of 13 and 18 and can show the answer on film, you're invited to take part in a competition sponsored by the Orlando/Orange County Convention&Visitors Bureau, the Florida Film Festival and an organization called KIDS FIRST!.

The contest theme plays off the destination's marketing slogan, "Orlando Makes Me Smile."

A second contest category invites filmmakers 19 and over to submit short films on the same theme.

Submissions may not exceed three minutes and can either be live action or animation. Entries must be received by Jan. 11 and require a $25 entry fee. Complete contest rules and forms can be downloaded at http://www.kidsfirst.org/Orlando.html.

Winners will be announced in late February. The winner in each category receives a family vacation for four in Orlando, complete with airfare, lodging for three nights, rental car, theme park tickets and full filmmaker passes for the 19th annual Florida Film Festival, April 8-19, in addition to having their short film premiered at the festival.

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'Most affordable' resorts from Ski.com

DENVER (AP) — Ski.com has come up with a list of what it calls the '10 most affordable ski resorts', including Whistler-Blackcomb, site of the Winter Olympics. They are:

—Keystone, near Denver, with lots of lodging and flight options and moderately priced condos. Ski.com specials include The Lodge at Keystone, which the Web site describes as "the nicest property at Keystone." Also, a Keystone lift ticket is valid at Breckenridge and Arapahoe Basin and also offers some limited access to Vail and Beaver Creek. The resort also offers night skiing, which is included with the lift ticket, on day of arrival with airline boarding pass. If you stay in a Vail Resorts-owned or managed property, you receive The Adventure Passport for free.

—Steamboat, also in Colorado, described as having a "great selection of moderate ski-in, ski-out condos" and a ski-in, ski-out Best Western; for each adult five-day or more lift ticket, one child 12 and under skis free; and 50 percent off rack rate with Ski.com offers, including discounts during the holidays. You don't need a car, thanks to a town shuttle and private shuttles run by most properties. The ski-in, ski-out lodging even means you can make your lunch at home and eat it there.

—Crested Butte, Colo., which is offering numerous ski free-stay free packages, early season free lift tickets and lots of 25 percent off lodging specials, plus a deal in which the third airline ticket you buy is free.

—Winter Park, the closest major resort to Denver, described as catering to a "moderate demographic, no luxury properties," with many lodging selections, some so close to the mountain that you can walk or take a shuttle.

— Jackson Hole, Wyo., which offers great deals on lodging, especially in the town 12 miles from the resort; and in Teton Village, at Hotel Terra and Snake River Lodge.

—Whistler Blackcomb, described as having "fantastic specials trying to lure people there before and after the Olympics ... normally a pricey destination but you can find killer deals during January," with reasonable airfare to Vancouver and lots of lodging inventory.

—Banff, Alberta, in the middle of Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies, where winter is low season, so prices are lower. Ski.com is offering Banff Springs Hotel rooms at about half-off summer rates.

—Lake Tahoe, with good flight options to Reno and decent lodging away from the mountain, especially on the South Shore, where casino hotels are well priced because winter is low season. Deals include fourth night free at Village at Squaw, Jan. 3-Feb. 11, and specials at Resort at Squaw Creek, Jan. 3-Jan. 14.

Ski.com says there are also good values to be had in the East, especially if you can ski Sunday-Thursday, since the market is mostly a weekend-drive-to crowd. Lake Placid, N.Y., offers lots of lodging options, a charming picture-postcard town with great restaurants, and a $29 Olympic Passport that offers admission to all the venues built for the Olympic games that were held in Placid. Lodging options in Stowe, Vt., includes The Golden Eagle Resort, $90-$148 a night through Ski.com (jumps to over $200 at the holidays).

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Charleston launching 'South of Broad' tour after Conroy book

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A new walking tour is being offered in Charleston based on places featured in the new Pat Conroy best-seller "South of Broad."

The two-hour tour is available Tuesday-Saturday, departing from the lobby of the Mills House Hotel at 115 Meeting St., and ending outside the Gibbes Museum of Art at 135 Meeting St. Both places are mentioned in the novel.

Tour stops linked to the book include St. Michael's Episcopal Church, where characters Chad Rutledge and Molly Huger were married; Legare Street, one of Charleston's most elegant streets and part of protagonist Leo King's paper route; Water Street, where characters in the novel ride out Hurricane Hugo; and the Dock Street Theater, visited by Leo's parents the night of a family tragedy.

The tour is $25 a person, which includes admission to the Gibbes Museum of Art and choice of a cocktail or dessert from one of Conroy's favorite Charleston restaurants, named Slightly North of Broad.

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