48 Hours in The Florida Keys: Day One
A thought occurred to me while sitting at the original Islamorada Fish Company, enjoying a grilled grouper sandwich and an ice cold guava margarita, watching the boats floating lazily on the turquoise water. I could get used to this.
The view at the Islamorada Fish Company.
Our trip to Florida served a dual purpose: we were visiting my wife Beth’s grandmother for her 92nd birthday, and following that our goal was to spend a couple of days in the Keys, seeing and doing as much as possible. The birthday celebration went well; Beth’s grandmother lives in Boca Raton (Florida law does require that all elderly Florida residents live in Boca Raton), and while Boca Raton is not the place that comes to mind when one thinks of a Florida vacation (when I think of Boca, I think of Del Boca Vista, where Morty Seinfeld suffered the humiliation of impeachment), the beaches are great (and in late April, pretty empty), and the place we stayed at - a Holiday Inn, no less! - was a fantastic bargain: $149 a night for a beachfront hotel. Still, I had bigger fish to fry. Figuratively - I’d been wanting to get to the Keys for a while, ever since my days as a single beach bum (for when one is a single beach bum, one listens to a LOT of Jimmy Buffett). And literally - fried grouper, fried yellowtail snapper, fried conch…we had two full days to wring the most out of the Keys, and we managed to do just that.
Our base of operations was The Islander Resort at Islamorada. I love places that look like the set of an Elvis movie, and in this regard The Islander does not disappoint. The Islander is an old school “beachfront” (more on that beach in a second) resort that underwent a recent renovation; the rooms are bright, clean, and retain that great early 60’s look. Two pools and a lovely indoor/outdoor bar that served killer rumrunners means that one need not walk the 50 or so yards to the “beach”; just as well, since the shore is hard reef, and not a great place to swim or catch rays.
Me on the beach at the Islander Resort.
We had a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it. After grabbing lunch at the aforementioned Islamorada Fish Company, and lounging around the pool watching the tourists covered with oil (it also seemed like everyone smoked. Including mothers. We saw at least 3 moms holding a baby in one hand and a cigarette in the other) we loaded up the rental car and headed down to Key West, in the hopes of watching the sunset from Mallory Square and grabbing a cheeseburger at - where else? - Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Cafe.
The drive down the Keys is truly breathtaking, especially the famous Seven Mile Bridge. You pass through places named Summerland, Big Pine, Big Coppitt, Cudjoe, and you really get the sense that you’re driving along the border of two worlds: the good ol’ modernized U.S.A. and the breezy, carefree Caribbean of Captain Jack Sparrow. The highway’s just two lanes, with the occasional passing lane, but we were lucky: traffic was light, and we sped down the blacktop, eyes peeled for the rare and protected Key deer. (My nightmare on many levels: running into a deer in a rental car with two young kids in the backseat.) We passed by moored sailboats and fishermen checking their lines, against an endless backdrop of water that had the hue of a bottle of Bombay Sapphire. “Idyllic” doesn’t begin to describe it.
And then we got to Key West.
Night falls on Key West.
I expected to be greeted by many things upon reaching the shores of Hemingway’s isle, but a Ford dealership and a Subway weren’t among them. Whatever notion I’d had of Key West escaping the gentrification that’s sweeping over the rest of the world was tossed out the window when we passed by the Starbucks on Duval Street. That legendary Mallory Square sunset? Partially obscured by multimillion dollar yachts. And as soon as the sun dropped, the place turned into an American Tijuana, with throngs of drunken middle-aged men and women staggering up and down the streets, the smell of onion rings, cheap cigars and vomit permeating the air. We were drawing stares, and I quickly realized that it was because we’d brought a 5 year old and a 17 month old into the fray. We found an unlikely haven at the Margaritaville Cafe; despite the subject matter of the song for which it’s named, the place turned out to be very wallet- and kid-friendly (at least at 8:00) and although the children’s menu did not include a kid-sized Cheeseburger In Paradise, both Lucas and Zoe had a great time checking out the colorful decor and listening to tunes by Buffett and other local musicians. I of course sampled the grown-up sized Cheeseburger In Paradise (with, of course, Heinz 57, lettuce and tomato) and a house margarita (not bad, but it always seemed odd to me that someone so closely identified with the southeast coast and the Caribbean would name his most famous tune after a drink so closely identified with Baja. In other words, advantage: California margaritas). We grabbed a piece of Key lime pie at an ice cream shop (stupid me forgot to jot the name down); the pie wasn’t very good, so the moral of the story is, when a bunch of people tell you that you need to go to Blond Giraffe to get your Key lime pie fix, listen to them. After that we navigated our way through the drunks and back to the car; it was a long drive home, and more fun awaited us the next day.
(To be continued…)
The Portland Head Light - My Favorite Place in Maine
I lived in Maine for the first nineteen years of my life, and it’s the place that I still call “home”. The deserts of Arizona are lovely, to be sure, but Maine is where my heart is. During my annual or bi-annual trips back east, I never fail to stop at my favorite place on the entire planet, the Portland Head Light.
As you can see, the place is so darned picturesque that even rank amateur photographers (read: me) can take postcard-perfect pictures.
The Head Light is located in the town of Cape Elizabeth, a mere bridge-crossing from Portland’s Old Port Waterfront District. Entrance to the complex, which includes Fort Williams Park, is free, and admission to the park’s museum (open from Memorial Day to Labor Day) is $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for children. The complex and park itself are open year-round.
Bring a picnic lunch (I suggest a local favorite, an Italian sandwich from one of the nearby Amato’s), and spend a lovely afternoon exploring Fort Williams, the green park grounds, the rocky shoreline, and the tidal pools.
I long for home, but for now I’m just going to have to content myself with pictures. Oh, and word to the wise, watch out for these guys - they’re bold and they’ll steal your lunch right out of your hands!
Tallest, Fastest, Longest: Top 10 Roller Coasters in America
by Linda (minnemom) of Travels with Children
Kingda Ka. Photo by Dusso Janladde.
Faster than a car. Longer than a mile. Higher than the Statue of Liberty. Check out these extreme roller coasters from the United States that make a trip to the amusement park exciting!
Top Steel Roller Coasters
Kingda Ka
Six Flags Great Adventure
Jackson Township, New Jersey
Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson Township, NJ. Photo by nthdesign.
With a height of 456 feet, a drop of 418 feet, and a speed of 128 mph, this mighty beast is the tallest and fastest in the United States.
Top Thrill Dragster
Cedar Point
Sandusky, Ohio
Top Thrill Dragster, Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH. Photo by adpowers.
Just behind Kingda Ka is this thrill ride, which boasts a height of 420 feet, drop of 400 feet, and amazing 120 mph speed.
Millennium Force
Cedar Point
Sandusky, Ohio
Millennium Force at Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH. Photo by soundfromwayout.
Also at Cedar Point, Millennium Force ranks on the list for longest as well as fastest, tallest, and tallest drop. It has stats of 310 feet in height, a 300-foot drop, is 6595 feet long, and runs at 93 miles per hour. It’s a force to be reckoned with.
Goliath
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Valencia, California
Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, CA. Photo by respres.
With a speed of 85 miles per hour, height of 235 feet, and spot on the record list for vertical drop as well, Goliath lives up to its name.
Superman: The Escape
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Valencia, California
Superman: The Escape at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, CA. Photo by Mike Kazarnowicz.
Goliath’s neighbor at Six Flags Magic Mountain may not hold as many records, but with a drop of 328 feet and speed of 100 mph, it’s a superhero in the world of roller coasters.
Top Wooden Roller Coasters
Son of Beast
Kings Island
Mason, Ohio
Son of Beast, Kings Island, Mason, Ohio. Photo by Brandon Cirillo.
With a height of 218 feet, drop of 214 feet, and speed of 78.4 mph, Son of the Beast is the current world-record holder for height, drop, and speed.
El Toro
Six Flags Great Adventure
Jackson Township, New Jersey
El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson Township, NJ. Photo by tenioman.
Six Flags Great Adventure isn’t just great for a steel-coaster ride. The wooden El Toro ranks on the tallest, fastest, and biggest drops lists with a height of 181 feet, drop of 176 feet, and speed of 70 mph.
The Voyage
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
Santa Claus, IN
The Voyage at Holiday World, Santa Claus, IN. Photo by Neuski.
This voyage is one of the longest in the world on a wooden roller coaster at 6442 feet. It also ranks on the lists for tallest (173 feet), tallest drop (154 feet), and fastest (67.4 mph).
Mean Streak
Cedar Point
Sandusky, Ohio
Mean Streak at Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio. Photo by nealpatrick61.
This is one mean wooden coaster, with a length of 5427 feet, a height of 161 feet, and a drop of 155 feet.
The Boss
Six Flags St. Louis
Eureka, Missouri
The Boss at Six Flags Over St. Louis, Eureka, MO. Photo by HAM guy.
The Boss is no slouch, with a speed of 66.3 miles per hour, a length of 5051 feet, and a drop of 150 feet.
Do you have a favorite roller coaster or amuseument park?
Information credit: Wikipedia
The Fountains of Bellagio
The luxurious Bellagio of Las Vegas
With hotels in Las Vegas slashing room rates to attract vacationers, there’s no better time to experience the luxury of Bellagio.
Photo by Jason Roth
Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo, Palo Alto, California
by Gudrun Enger, of Kitchen Gadget Girl
A recent visit to this Palo Alto landmark reminded me again what a great attraction this is for families with young children.
When my kids were toddlers and still in playgroups, our friends used to meet there often, especially in the winter, when the weather was unpredictable. Inside the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo we would find activities to keep our kids entertained for hours.
As I rediscovered recently, the Jr. Museum offers hands-on science exhibits in a contained space that offers several vantage points. You can park yourself in the middle of the room and watch as your kids explore, or get in there with them and experience the exhibits yourself.
Science exhibit
Outside the museum, in the back of the facility, is the zoo part of the Palo Alto Jr. Museum and Zoo. The best part of the zoo is the smell from the Bobcat habitat. I know that sounds strange, but I remember that smell from when I was a kid!
Resting raccoon
Gander at the goose
The Jr. Museum also offers special programs throughout the year, including Dads & Donuts and Moms & Muffins.
Plan Your Visit:
Hours:
Monday: closed
Tuesday through Saturday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Please call the City of Palo Alto (650) 329-2111 for current hours and holiday schedules.
Admission is FREE, although a small donation is requested.
Address
Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo
1451 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA 94301 Tel: (650) 329-2111
Florida Vacation Deals - Save on a SeaWorld Vacation
Nick Hotel images courtesy of Nickelodeon Family Suites
Nickelodeon Family Suites in Orlando is offering a great deal on a family vacation in Florida. You can save money on your hotel and get free admission to (my favorite) Orlando theme parks.
Nickelodeon Family Suites is a themed hotel (in case the name didn’t give it away) that is pretty much an amusement park on it’s own.
The Orlando hotel has two water parks, mini golf, a massive arcade, 4-D movie theater, and a kid’s spa. The place is crawling with Nickelodeon characters like Dora and SongeBob Squarepants and even offers character breakfasts.
As an added bonus, you can enjoy daily slimes during your Florida vacation. Come on, you know that’s awesome.
Free Sliming on your Florida vacation!
Nickelodeon Family Suites is offering a Buy 3 Get 2 Free Nights vacation deal at the Nick Hotel. You can stay between now and September 7, 2009 - but you must book by June 30, 2009.
But what really makes this a great vacation deal is the theme park admission!
Dolphin and Whale Show at SeaWorld
When you book a stay at the Nick Hotel with their Buy 3 Get 2 Free special, you’ll also receive free unlimited admission to SeaWorld and one other SeaWorld park. Choose either SeaWorld and Aquatic or SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.
my son at SeaWorld
To take advantage of this Florida vacation deal, call 877-NICK-KID.
Jordan Pond Shore Trail, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut
Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine contains more than 120 miles of hiking trails that range from very easy to strenuous workouts. Most average about one mile in length, however many intersect and forming a complex network, so it is possible to combine multiple trails to cover large areas of the park.
View of "The Bubbles," as seen from the trailhead
At 3.3 miles in length, Jordan Pond Shore Trail is one of the longer (and more popular), as it offers the best views of “The Bubbles” a pair of glacially sculpted mounds located directly across the pond from the trailhead. This trail has a little bit of everything; portions run along a well graded, level path, while other portions require scrambling over granite boulders or walking along a sometimes wobbly elevated rough plank boardwalk.
Parts of the trail are nicely improved while other parts require scrambling over giant granite boulders
The pond water is so clean that submerged granite boulders near the shore are clearly visible. Because the 150-foot deep reservoir is a source of drinking water for nearby Bar Harbor, swimming is prohibited, Kayaking and canoeing, however, are allowed, and Jordan Pond is one of the more beautiful places in Acadia National Park to paddle.
Swampy or fragile areas are traversed by a wooden boardwalk
Perhaps the best part of hiking at this particular location is the opportunity to dine at Jordan Pond House, where you can enjoy afternoon tea & popovers (a light, flaky, melt-in-your-mouth puff-pastry), a tradition since the 1800’s. Though the only accommodations available inside Acadia National Park are campgrounds, it is located just outside of the town of Bar Harbor, Maine, where a wide variety of lodging is available.
Photos courtesy of Barbara Weibel
PennDOT Hopes Cameras on I-95 Limit Traffic Jams
Smooth driving on I-95 comes to a halt suddenly. You’re at the back of a traffic jam caused by, you name it, a disabled vehicle, an accident, thousands of fans converging on the highway after a Phillies game.
San Juan Capistrano, California: The Mission
It’s springtime in California, and for fourth graders that mean only one thing: missions. It is a California educational tradition that fourth grade students learn about these 21 historical churches. So, on Saturday we packed up the entire family and set off for the San Juan Capistrano Mission, the seventh oldest of the 21.
San Juan Capistrano itself has a quaint little historic downtown–a traffic nightmare on a Saturday, as the narrow roads were not meant for Orange County crowds and the clusters of million dollar homes that surround it. But you don’t have to get too far off the 5 Freeway before pulling over to park (it’s free!) and walk into the mission. We could hear the bells tolling 12:00 as we dug out our camera and video camera.
There is a small fee to enter the mission–it isn’t cheap to keep these old buildings and grounds looking tip top, you know, but once inside, you know immediately that it’s worth it.
A View of the Original Walls
We made our way through each of the wings, winding in and out of the gardens and koi ponds and various rooms that are set up for viewing, until we got to the beautiful chapel, with its golden front wall (the roof had to be raised to accommodate it) where mass is still held.
Inside Chapel Serra at San Juan Capistrano
St. Peregrine
Off to the right, so discrete you might miss it, is a small prayer room named for St. Peregrine, known as the patron saint of cancer. A thick, heavy binder filled with page after page of prayers sits at the front of the room. As a cancer survivor myself, I took a moment to look at the book and to write a message.
Finally we wound back around to the front, saving the most memorable impression for last. We walked inside the original stone walls of the first mission, which still stand–just barely. Once considered the grandest of California’s 21 missions, the towering walls of the original chapel crumbled during an 1812 earthquake, killing 40 parishoners inside.
The Ruins and Beauty of the Mission
Still the best part of the mission’s story was told in a tiny viewing room halfway through the tour. After the destruction of the earthquake, the plundering from evil pirates, and a shady sale that took advantage of the church, two ranchers bought the land at auction for $710–a paltry sum, even then.
The mission’s story could have been over, but in one of his last great acts, just three weeks before he was killed, President Abraham Lincoln stepped in and returned ownership of the beautiful piece of land and the glorious ruins back to the Catholic church.
In the end it was a great reminder that these missions of California aren’t just about the controversy of the Spanish missionaries and the Native Americans they came to convert. They aren’t even just about the history of California. They are part of the story of the United States, and if you haven’t seen one yet, come to California and get it over with already–we’ve got 21, you know.
As for my fourth grader, I believe he was much more impressed with the lizard he tried to catch about ten minutes into our tour.
Photos by Tamara Rice; inside chapel by Flannery626 and St. Peregrine by clairegren of Flickr
Oregon I-5 Bridge Project Will Force Detours
CENTRAL POINT — Interstate 5 drivers will face detours at exit 35 beginning Tuesday to enable crews to take the next step on a $24 million bridge project already a year past its original completion date.