Tag Archives: Miami

A Stop in Sarasota with Shawna

It was a bit of a late night with Bill, but knowing that I would be leaving for Miami with Shawna, I was well rested and ready to make our drive to South Beach.  Skipping breakfast for a head start, we decided that Sarasota would be a great place for lunch.

We said goodbye to the Don Cesar, made a couple of stops before crossing the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.   Nearing Sarasota, we were crazy hungry and ready for a break to stretch our legs. We found a lovely restaurant to have lunch along the intercoastal.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous for lunch along the intercoastal.  The menu was absolutely amazing and we each ordered a drink while taking in our surroundings.  I could have stayed here instead of driving the three-and-a-half hour drive to Miami-Dade.

The bacon and blue cheese salad was incredible.  Seagulls stared back at us from the walkway posts as Shawna and I decided the quickest route.  I’m not sure if eating was the best option as both of us were now ready for a nap.  If we wanted to miss afternoon traffic, we would need to leave within the hour.

We decided on one last beverage before hitting the road, so I opted for a non-alcoholic fruity drink as I would be the first to drive.  Besides, knowing Melissa, she will have already scheduled out our day and I wouldn’t want to ruin her plans.  It was always an adventure with Melissa.

Have you had a fun day on a road trip?  What did you do? I would love to hear about your adventure if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for readying about my adventure in Florida and wishing you many happy travels!

Bill and Shawna in Oldsmar

I had been waiting for my friend, and former boss, Bill to call when I checked into the Don Cesar Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida.  Bill and I worked together at the Tampa International Airport and he was from Hendersonville, Tennessee.  Everyone loved Bill not only because of his southern accent, but although ten years older than most of us, he wouldn’t miss the opportunity to hang out with us.

I dropped off my luggage and hurried to the beach for a moment to take in the Gulf of Mexico.  It was a full day of travel and I was so excited to pick up Shawna from the airport.  I was hoping that she would be up  for hanging out, but tomorrow, we would make the drive back to Miami to spend more time with her cousin and my best friend, Melissa.

Sitting at a table with a Mojito in hand, Shawna had called to let me know she had arrived but was waiting to in baggage claim as her luggage had not arrived.  I finished my drink and began the short drive to the St. Pete-Clearwater Beach airport.  Shawna had her second wind and wanted to find a place for dinner.

So excited to see Shawna, we found  Jack Willie’s Bar and Grill in Oldsmar and ordered our dinner of wings and a salad.  We caught up on how she was doing at the Montessori, reminisced about our girl’s trip to Turkey and discussed what we may want to do when we reached Miami.

I loved spending time with Shawna.  She is intelligent, funny, spontaneous and a wonderful mother to her two girls and son.  Never a dull moment with this girl and her positive spirit just gravitates you towards her.

After a long day of travel, Shawna was extremely tired and was not up for a night of karaoke, a favorite past time for Bill.  She agreed to drop me off at nearby Peggy O’Neill’s Irish Pub and Eatery so I could follow up with Bill and reminisce about our time in Tampa.  He agreed to bring me back to the hotel, so she left within minutes to rest for the night.

Bill was full of energy and could not wait to meet up again and catch up about all of our friends that we worked with at the airport.  He was always such a support of my singing and so karaoke was such a fun pastime that we shared.  If it wasn’t for Bill, I would not have had the opportunity to sing with a band that performed each week at the PGA Sawgrass. What an amazing experience.  Bill and I had such a great time at Busch Gardens and Peggy O’Neill’s.  We spent a couple of hours singing our favorite songs until it was time for the bar to close (of course).  It was a lovely night that I will never forget.

Little did I know that it would be the last time I would spend with Bill Harper.  A couple of years later, Bill passed away and it was such an incredibly sad day.  A man that loved life and was the life of the party, he would surely be missed by all who had ever known him.

Have you experienced such a memorable event that you will never forget?  Whether it was the last time to spend with a friend, a breathtaking view or an experience that would be etched in your mind forever, I would love to hear about it if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my favorite people and our reconnections.  Wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Peggy O’Neill’s Irish Pub and Eatery
13910 W Hillsborough Ave
Oldsmar, FL  33635
Telephone:  813 749 7192

Where to Stay:

The Don CeSar
3400 Gulf Boulevard
St. Pete Beach, Florida  33706
Telephone:  844 338 1501

Where to Eat:

Jack Willie’s
1013 St. Petersburg Drive West
Oldsmar, FL  34677
Telephone:  813 749 7932

 

A Day with Melissa in Miami Beach

Melissa and I met while working at the Tampa International Airport.  I would eventually move to Ohio and she to Miami, but we always managed to stay in touch.  I loved staying with her in Miami and our visits always revolved around incredible restaurants, last minute outings and late night stops at the grocery.

My flight arrived early Friday, so I would have a long weekend before leaving for Ohio on Monday morning.  When I arrived at the airport, Melissa met me at the gate and since she had another hour to work, I waited in the United Airlines Club.  Raquel would also be joining us after stopping at home to change before going out.

Mel was excited to show me around the art space of Wynwood with its 20 foot murals and collages.  We shopped at several of the retail stores and strolled through the art galleries before lunch.

A small group had begun to form outside of Wynwood Bar & Kitchen but within minutes we were seated and looking over the menu.  Known for its small plates, USA Today ranked the restaurant as one of the 10 Best in Miami.  Executive Chef Joseph Forest has created an innovative menu, while the walls are adorned with artwork from Shepherd Fairey and Christian Awe.

Along with our specialty drinks, Mel ordered the ceviche, Raquel,  the Spanish charcuterie and I decided on the pork belly with a side of bok choy.  We knew we would be going out later that night but this would tie us over until then.

We arrived at Mel’s condo on Miami Beach, I grabbed my suitcase out of the back seat of the Porsche and we dropped off the car with the valet.  As soon as we walked in the door of the condo, I dropped off my bags in the guest room and went straight for the balcony.  The view is incredible from up here and there was a nice breeze coming in through the sliding glass door.   Melissa brought out a couple of cocktails and we waited for Raquel, Sam and a few other friends of Mel’s before we went out.

Once everyone arrived we decided on dinner at Mila’s on Lincoln Road for a party of eight. It was the perfect night with a light breeze and beautiful, clear sky.  We ordered several dishes to share and a few drinks before going back to the condo.  We made a quick stop at the W Hotel to catch up with the locals and after about an hour, we decided to go back upstairs.

I honestly can’t get enough of this incredible view….

Have you visited South Beach? Miami?  Where did you go?  I would love to hear about your visit to South Florida if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my weekend in South Beach / Miami and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Where to Stay:

The W South Beach
2201 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL  33139
Phone:  305 938 3000

Where to Eat:

Wynwood Bar & Kitchen
2080 North Miami Avenue
Miami, FL  33127
Telephone: 305 632 5362

Mila’s on Lincoln Road
1636 Meridian Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Telephone:   786 673 8374

What to Read:

  • Miami, by Joan Didion
  • Tourist Season, by Carl Hiaasen
  • Miami Blues, by Charles Willeford
  • Birds of Paradise by Diana Abu-Jaber
  • Rum Punch by Elmore Leonard
  • 15 Views of Miami by Jaquira Diaz

Photo Guide for Miami and South Beach:

    • Art Deco Historic District:  The Beach Park Hotel and the Colony Hotel
    • Big Pink
    • Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables
    • Cape Florida Lighthouse
    • Casa Florida
    • Eden Roc Hotel
    • Fontainebleau Hotel
    • Gianni Versace Mansion
    • Life guard stand at South Beach
    • Lincoln Theater
    • Miami Skyline
    • Museum Garage
    • Nikki Beach
    • Ocean Drive:  The Traffic and Palm Trees
    • SOBE sculpture
    • The Delano Hotel
    • The Garden House Restaurant
    • The Standard Hotel and Spa
    • The Views from Juvia
    • The Views from the Mondrian Hotel
    • Venetian Pool
    • Wynwood Art

 

Beach Vibes at Kona Grill, Liberty Center

I decided to spend the day in Liberty Township shopping at Liberty Center shopping plaza.  I found so many amazing boutiques with clothes and beautiful household items.  Some of my favorite stops included Burlap & Birch, Celebrate Local, White House Black Market and Rookwood Pottery.  (Please note that Rookwood Pottery is no longer located at Liberty Township.)

It was a fun day of strolling through all of the different shops and I was growing hungry for lunch. I had noticed Kona Grill.  Besides loving sushi, I think I was more excited about the rooftop seating.  As I entered the restaurant, I was so surprised by the beautiful interior design.

Escorted to the rooftop, I was transported out of Cincinnati and felt that I had arrived in Southern California.  While there were only six booths, there was additional seating to the right to include couches, tables and bar style seating overlooking Liberty Center.

Searching the menu for that perfect drink, I found the Mai Tai.  My server guaranteed that it would be strong and at my first sip I knew it was exactly what I had hoped.

I placed my lunch order for the sea bass roll and macadamia nut chicken while Miami techno played in the background.  From here I could see the Cobb 15 Movie center and thought I may take in a movie if I have enough time.

It was a windy day, so the sails that provided shade over my booth were flopping about.  Although it wasn’t a beach view, the vibe of the restaurant was perfect and I could have easily been enjoying a meal on Lincoln Road in Miami.

The restaurant had opened in October of 2015 and I would not have guessed it was such a new restaurant as the service was fantastic.  James, a young twenty-something with a man bun brought me my sushi roll as a starter.  I loved the crunch of the roll dipped in soy sauce and wasabi.  The roll was made with Chilean sea bass, jalapeno, cilantro, rice, cream cheese, cucumber, peanuts and a tequila miso lime sauce.

Shortly after finishing my sushi roll, I was served a very large portion of Macademia chicken.  For $16 this meal would easily feed two, so I immediately asked for a to-go box so I would not be tempted to finish the full meal.  The chicken is served on garlic mashed potatoes and a pineapple jam with marmalade and sesame seeds.  The mixed vegetables was a medley of zucchini and corn with the added flavor of bacon.  Thick, juicy pieces of chicken were smothered in sauce and I was certainly tempted to eat more than I should.

By now, the rooftop is starting to fill up and I am eager to begin shopping the fabulous stores at Liberty Center.  While the desserts look amazing, I opted to wrap up the second half of my meal and begin my shopping spree with thoughts of stopping by later for a cocktail.

Have you dined at Kona at Liberty Center?  What did you order?  I would love to hear about your visit if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my dining experience at Kona in Liberty Center and wishing you many Happy Travels!

Where to Eat:

Kona Grill – Cincinnati
7524 Gibson Street
Liberty Township, OH  45069
Telephone:  513 322 5860

 

 

The Mutineer Restaurant Before Reaching Key Largo

Escaping to the Florida Keys, life seems much simpler and relaxing from the everyday minutia of living in Tampa.  It’s a much slower pace where the speed limit is a maximum of 35 miles per hour along US 1.  Scenic sleepy towns and sailboats pop up along the islands with views of the Florida Bay and the Atlantic Ocean until we reach our final destination of Key West.

Staying overnight in Miami, we packed up our belongings in pursuit of the Keys.  Leaving Miami, we made our first stop at The Mutineer Restaurant in Florida City.  Just past the southernmost end of the turnpike, we would order a drink before tackling the two and a half hour drive to Key West, with a few “Key” stops along the way.

The restaurant was built in the 1980’s and was a last stop for many travelers before reaching the southernmost part of the United States.  Built in the shape of a ship, the restaurant offered primarily seafood options on its menu, most notably grouper and yellowfin tuna.  The restaurant was quite nostalgic for us as it seemed as though its interior had not been updated since the day it opened.

With its rustic interior and creepy pirate greeting us at the door, we would enter the kitschy restaurant and make a beeline to the huge bar in the center of the restaurant, known by locals as the Wharf Lounge.  Melissa and I would always order a fruity drink to kick off our Florida Keys road trip and then off to our next stop, Key Largo.

Depending on the traffic, we could reach Key Largo in less than 40 minutes, but we always made a stop for another beverage and pit stop.  My favorite part of visiting the Caribbean Club was the homage to Humphrey Bogart, who starred in the film “Key Largo”, which was filmed at this location.

The Club was opened in 1938 and is the oldest bar within the Upper Keys.  The location is perfect for watching the spectacular sunsets while dancing to the music of local musicians.

Known for its Key Lime Punch, we loved taking a seat outside to enjoy the Atlantic Coast before making our way towards Islamorada.

Dragging ourselves away from this spectacular view, we would soon reach Islamorada in about 25 minutes, ready for a hearty seafood lunch at Robbie’s on Mile Marker 77.5.

Have you stopped by the Mutineer or the Caribbean Club at Key Largo?  I would love to hear about your visit if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for ready about my quick stop in Key Largo and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

The Mutineer Restaurant
11 SE 1st Avenue
Florida City, FL  33034
Telephone: 305 245 3377

The Caribbean Club
104080 Overseas Highway
Key Largo, FL  33037
Telephone: 305 451 4466

Where to Stay:

Cheeca Lodge & Spa
81801 Overseas Highway, Mile Marker 82
Islamorada, FL  33036
Telephone:  305 664 4651

Where to Eat:

Hungry Tarpon Restaurant
77522 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL  33036
Telephone: 305 664 8070

What to Eat: 

  • Conch Fritters
  • Crunch Grouper Sandwich
  • Florida Keys Stone Crab Claws
  • Lobster Bisque
  • Manhattan Clam Chowder
  • Sesame Seed Ahi Tuna
  • Wahoo Ceviche

What to Read: 

  • Four Days with Hemingway’s Ghost, by Tom Winton
  • Principles of Navigation, by Peter W. Fong
  • Tropical Depression, by Lawrence Shames
  • Salvage Diver, by Zachary Ball

 

What’s Happening in 2018? My Travel and Blog Schedule for Next Year

I am so excited for the many opportunities I have for travel this year!   Here is an overview of my travel schedule for 2018 and what you can expect to read on The Suite Life of Travel!

Travel Schedule, 2018:

Will start out celebrating the New Year with a week in San Francisco and a long weekend in Las Vegas!

My best friend will be marrying late winter/early spring, so a few days in Miami and a few more in Tampa to check out possible real estate!  Super excited!!

Work will take me to Montreal and Quebec City, where I will extend my stay in Canada with a vacation along the east coast.

Photo Credit:  Best of Italy Photos

I will wrap up my spring travel plans with a Mediterranean cruise….ALL EXPENSE PAID!!  This is  my first writing assignment as the ship I will be sailing has an all new itinerary!

Summer plans include exploring more of my home state of Ohio!

Photo Credit:  AFS

Late summer, I will spend ten days on African Safari and visiting friends in South Africa, many thanks to some friends that live there!  I will make the drive up to Victoria Falls, check out a rescue where I will volunteer to assist and interact with animals that require medical care before heading back to the States….a possible side trip to include Madagascar??!!

Photo Credit:  VRBO

My last overseas (tentative) trip, will be spending a couple  of weeks on the island of Sicily taking cooking classes and exploring the island by rail.  Any suggestions or recommendations for places to stay are appreciated!

I will be speaking at two conferences this fall….one in San Francisco and Seattle, so a couple of added days to my itinerary will fit in just perfect.

Wow!  So much to anticipate and so many more plans to make.  I have quite a few writing projects in the works and look forward to seeing where this year leads!

Blog Schedule, 2018!

Continued coverage of my Ohio outings (lots of posts about Cincinnati this year) as well as Wine Wednesdays will continue!

Winter posts will include my December west coast trip to San Francisco and Las Vegas as well as last year’s last minute trip to London, Windsor, Bath and Stonehenge!

Check out my National Parks in the West/Midwest series coming in May and July.

Paris takes center stage in August with a side trip to Versailles.

September makes a detour back to the US with a weekend in Yosemite.

I can’t wait to share my insights on New Orleans, which is full of restaurant recommendations and amazing things to do in the “Big Easy”!

And the rest of the year will cover my recent trip to Jordan and Israel which will carry on into 2019!

Hang out with me to explore some amazing locations across the world and to hear about my exciting adventures!  Thanks for reading my updated posts to “The Suite Life of Travel”  and wishing you many Happy Travels!

The Suite Life of Travel has a Facebook Page and you can follow my photos on Instagram!

Disclosure:   Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

Postcards from Hell, Grand Cayman

Our plane touched down on the island of Grand Cayman where the weather was a balmy 80 degrees in January of 1997.  Traveling with my friend Cheryl, we were excited to pick up our rental car, check into our hotel on Seven Mile Beach and begin exploring the island,  most known for its spectacular diving.

Located 480 miles south of Miami, Grand Cayman is one of three of the Cayman Islands which is a popular cruise ship port for the Western Caribbean itineraries.  I had visited here while working for the cruise lines and longed for its laid back atmosphere, friendly stingrays and beautiful white sand beaches.

After checking into our hotel, we didn’t waste time exploring the island starting with a visit to Hell.  Staying on Seven Mile Beach, we drove north until we reached the island’s West Bay.

The attraction was surprisingly small, but since it was free, we followed the boardwalk towards acres of black-covered limestone formations.  The rocks appeared to have been scorched from a raging fire,  leaving an eerie landscape resembling a Biblical apocalypse.

Hell’s owner, Ivan Farrington was well known by the locals as he became famous for wearing a devil costume at the site.  Visitors could pose for photos with the  “Devil in Hell”, a picture perfect opportunity.

UPDATE:  As of spring of 2019, Ivan is selling his geological attraction of Hell for an outstanding eight million dollars.  Any takers?

Hell was really not much to write home about, but we thought it would be fun to send a postcard back to family and friends from the post office.  We browsed the gift shop, posted our cards and decided to drive back to the hotel.

We found The Cracked Conch, a nearby restaurant where we dined on unbelievable seafood.  After dinner, we decided to enjoy the pool before a big day of adventure tomorrow.  We planned to wake up early and drive towards the east of the island to explore its interesting attractions and shoreline views, so we will be needing a great night’s sleep.

Have you visited Grand Cayman’s West Bay town of Hell?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.   Many thanks for reading about my throwback visit to Grand Cayman and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Devil’s Hangout
Hell Road, West Bay
Hell, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Telephone:  +345 949 3358

Where to Stay:

Sunshine Suites Resort
1465 Esterley Tibbetts Highway
Seven Mile Beach
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands KY1-1201
Telephone: 877 780 1110

Where to Eat:

Cracked Conch
847 North West Point, Road, West Bay
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands KY1-1201
Telephone: 345 945 5217

This award-winning restaurant is located on the West Bay of Grand Cayman offering fresh seafood (namely conch) with spectacular oceanfront views. Order the outstanding conch ceviche, followed by the Pan Seared Snapper served with creamy chorizo, local cho cho, Madagascar beans and tomato vinaigrette. Save room for the Guava Glazed Bread & Butter Pudding!  You won’t believe their amazing liquor selection.

What to Eat:

  • Caymanian Fruit Cake: Very similar to the Christmas fruit cakes made in the US, Grand Cayman also makes its own fruit cake with local fruit soaked in rum.
  • Coconut Shrimp: Grand Cayman uses fresh shaved coconut for this lovely appetizer, giving the dish an irresistible flavor.
  • Conch Stew: Conch is a popular ingredient in many dishes on the island of Grand Cayman. The stew includes this sea snail cooked with tomatoes, island herbs and Cayman peppers adding some heat to the stew.
  • Fish Rundown: Grand Cayman’s fish rundown is unique to the island made from chunks of local fish or salt beef, coconut milk and local spices. The stew can either contain plantain, dumplings or breadfruit, this is a seafood dish you won’t want to miss.
  • Heavy Cake: Considered the national cake of the island, the heavy cake is made from cassava (tapioca) flour which comes from a root grown on the island. Based on a 200 year old recipe, the moist, dense cake is very sweet and is usually flavored with the spices cinnamon and nutmeg.
  • Johnny Cakes (Fritters): Made from unleavened dough, the Johnny Cake is sweetened, baked and then fried as an outstanding appetizer.
  • Mudslide: A cocktail made with vodka, coffee-flavored liqueur, and Irish cream. Often times it is topped with whipped cream from a can.
  • Turtle Stew: Turtle stew, the national dish of the Cayman Islands, is a popular staple on many restaurant menus and the locals use farm raised turtles as its main ingredient. Order a side of rice and plantains to complete the experience.

What to Read: 

  • The Firm by John Grisham
  • Founded Upon the Seas:  A History of the Cayman Islands by Michael Craton
  • The Cayman Islands by Hans Hanau
  • Cayman Cowboys by Eric Douglas

Photo Guide for Grand Cayman

  • Cayman Crystal Caves:  stalagmites and stalactites; a great place to cool off during the summer
  • Rum Point:  beautiful shades of blue ocean and the directional sign
  • Seven Mile Beach:  pristine white sand for miles
  • Smith Cove: for its crystal clear water
  • Stingray City:  above or below water, you can capture some amazing photos of the tame, super-friendly stingrays
  • Sunset over the Edge Cafe:  amazing sunsets from this restaurant and bar

Disclosure:   Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.