Groupon Posted my Blog !!!!!!

This has been quite a month for the South Florida Guy. First being recognized by several South Florida bloggers. Now Groupon!! Of course it would be one of the postings I made while not actually in South Florida. I may need to change the name to "All Florida Guy but Mostly in South Florida where I Live". This is an outrageous honor for a beginner blogger like myself.

I always like to check my stats. You know, to see if Mom read my latest posting, and boom - almost 200 hits in the last two days. What's up I say. Still getting buzz from the South Florida Daily Blog but now there is a new heavy hitter. Groupon! I'm not even a subscriber.... as of  8:00 AM this morning.

The posting getting the hits would be the trip I took in March with my daughter to Adventures Unlimited. On the day of my visit, my daughter and I had the good fortune of pairing up with the most awesome zip line partners and staff. Near the end I found out the one of our fellow zippers worked for Splash Magazine in Pensacola. I didn't think much of it till my daughter called months later and let me know my picture was all over her college campus. Seems like they had a good time as well and were nice enough to publish my photo crossing a swaying sky bridge with a great look of determination (fear) on my face. If you think it looks easy from the ground... try being 6' 4" and standing in the tree tops on an itty bitty wooden platform. Nope - not so easy. Certainly unforgettable. The Groupon Coupon has 5 days left. If you are kinda thinking about it but not sure, Do It!!! I'm already planning to head back.

Long Key and Windley Key State Parks

To finish up my visit to Islamorada, I decided to explore the two state parks in the area that did not need a boat to reach.

Long Key State Park was a few miles south of the resort I was staying so that was the first stop on the list. Long key has a large camp ground and by the number of motor homes heading in and out, a popular one. There were also several primitive camping pavilions right on the beach with tent tie downs in the floor and hammock hooks on the posts. Not my first choice of keys lodging and after seeing the snake cross the path, not even on the top 100. There is a mile long nature trail which clearly states may be subject to being underwater. It was a bit soggy in spots but luckily we timed our trek for low tide. For about half the walk we were shadowed by a pair of osprey. The other half, carefully stepping around scurrying crabs. In between dodging dragon flies and spider webs from various species of spiders. It is pretty safe to say that watching out up, down, and straight ahead was a must. Most of the walk is inland with views of thick green foliage but at the one spot, where it's open to the ocean, a flock of wading birds were just waiting for my camera.  If you are big on camping and walking in the tropical Florida jungle then Long Key is for you.

From my seat at
 Robbie's

On the way north, it was getting close to lunch time and Robbie's of Islamorada was the only choice. Robbie's is a full service Florida Keys style entertainment center. The best place to rent kayaks, jet skis, boat charters, grab a meal, and do a little shopping. My favorite entertainment is watching the tourist feed the Tarpon. I grabbed a seat right on the dock and watched the show while I had lunch. For a couple of bucks, you can get a bucket of fish and toss them to the giant, always hungry fish that swim right under and around the dock. Never a good idea to tease them as they will leap out of the water and try to get the dangling fish and maybe your hand. They don't have teeth but they do have a huge mouth with bony plates and will leave quite a mark and emotional scars on the little ones.

Just up the road at mile marker 85 is Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park. Fossilized coral that took hundreds of thousands of years to create was chopped out of the ground and used as fill for Henry Flagler's railroad. Around the park are the remains of the quarry and some of the coral cutting machinery. Even as late as the Sixties, the quarry was cutting decorative stone for building facades. There is a self guided tour around a maze of trails but be warned, the mosquitoes are a nuisance. Luckily I carry a spray bottle of OFF for just such South Florida emergencies but the mosquitoes were like a cloud just following and waiting for the moment I ran out of juice. The guide book loaned at the office has some 80 points of interest along the pathways. I think I learned about every tree in Florida both native and non native. Glad there was not a quiz at the end.

To walk the same ground that only a hundred years ago, men worked day in, and day out with no relief from the heat and insects and built a railroad through the jungle is almost impossible to relate to. Who now could last ten minutes in that environment. I would like to thank everyone who went before me so that I could drive home quickly and safely on a straight, smooth road in my air conditioned car, while day dreaming about this fantastic trip to Islamorada and the Florida Keys. 

Big Surprise Today

I interrupt this irregularly scheduled blog with some very interesting news. The South Florida Daily Blog posted an article about my blog today.  There are a lot of blogs in South Florida and the South Florida Daily Blog is one of the best. Mere mention has gotten me 5 times my normal hits today. I often wonder if anyone really reads my work beside my Mom, my friends, and family. Oh and my blogger friends in Australia and Finland. Hopefully I can live up to their kind words.

Kayaking Islamorada

Even though I was staying at the beautiful Pines & Palms Resort,  I couldn't wait to get away, so to speak, and out on the water. From the front step of my ocean front cottage, I inflated my Sea Eagle 370 kayaks and hauled them a few yards to the boat launch. There was quite the audience to see me off. Seems like everyone was up and enjoying a cup of coffee at 8:00 AM and fascinated with the 20 minute process of inflating the kayaks.

If you have been following this blog, you know I have been floating around South Florida and each time I write about it, I've stretched the limits. This trip stretched my limits of endurance, heat tolerance, and fear. The entire trip was about 6 1/2 miles, two islands, several channel crossings and four foot seas.....ok like maybe two foot seas but the kayak is only 18 inches tall.

The day started out easy for the first five minutes but a strong current heading in one direction and a steady wind in another made for some very difficult tracking with the Sea Eagle. Being an eleven foot balloon, it's very easily redirected by the wind. The current in the channels certainly did not help as the tide was changing from low to high as we began our journey.

Lignumvitae Key Way off in the distance

The only way to overcome the forces of nature was to paddle hard and maintain maximum speed. Something we did for three long miles to Lignumvitae Key. There were several fellow kayakers close to shore but as soon as my friend and I headed to open water, we found ourselves very alone very quickly.

This was the most open ocean I ever tried to cross in the Sea Eagle (or anything without a motor) and it was quite a ride. Waves with an occasional white cap struck the kayak from the front or side fairly randomly and regularly but after taking a shot or two over the bow, I realized it was going to take a lot more to roll the kayak over. I was concerned being so far offshore with Florida's notoriously unpredictable weather but it was obviously going to be a better afternoon than morning so I stopped dreading and started enjoying.











We pulled up to Lignumvitae Key and had a little picnic on the dock. After a small snack and a big drink of water, we decided to explore the island. Since this is a state park, we met a very enthusiastic ranger who gave us a seemingly complete history of the island. I was not all that excited to get right back in the kayak and paddle 3 miles home so sitting and listening to some well narrated Florida history was just fine. That is right up to the point we were told about Indian Key. As far as I could tell from the map, visiting Indian Key was going to take us even farther from home. My friend was ready to increase our kayak challenge to an extreme adventure day and I reluctantly agreed.


We hopped back in the kayaks and at 11:15 AM we headed for our next and very unscheduled stop. We rode part of the way close to the channel so we had a bit of a push.  Indian Key looked like a spec of trees on the horizon when we started out but after much paddling, we discovered a pretty sizable island. Luckily the wind was with us this time and the wave action has subsided considerably. We made landfall on a sharp coral clearing and carried the kayaks to the beach so as not to shred them miles from the mainland. The first thing we saw was a little shell rock road with a street sign. Seemed like a joke until we realized the entire island was crisscrossed by little roads. In 1836, it was actually a thriving town and the county seat for Dade County. Hard to imagine. There are plenty of little signs around the island to in case you want a full blown history lesson.

Ok, enough fun in the sun. Time to paddle back. Water was running low and home was against the wind. For the first time we took some breaks and really took in the beauty around us. Jelly fish the size of dinner plates floated by, a Tarpon shot under the kayaks like a three foot torpedo, and some fins popped out of the water in front of us. My friend thought they were cute little dolphins. I'll let her keep thinking that until she realizes there was no spouting.

We made it back to the hotel about 3:00 PM, had the kayaks rinsed, dried, and in the bags by 4:00 PM. A fantastic day deserved a fantastic dinner but first a beer with our new friends on the pool deck. I was happy to have made it back with no problems but even happier I packed so much sight seeing into a single day.

Pines and Palms Resort – Islamorada

As anyone who follows this blog knows, as a rule, I like my fun to cost as little as possible. When picking a hotel for my Islamorada trip, I wanted something on the water, small, quaint, and inexpensive. I found several hotels that were a perfect match for what I was looking for. Unfortunately, due to the short lead time I allowed for this trip, they were booked so I stayed at the Pines & Palms Resort in one of their ocean front cottages. Not inexpensive, but in a world of “You get what you pay for” I would say I got much more than the price of admission.

Shopping hotels on the internet can be hit and miss but this one was truly as beautiful as the brochure. Right from the moment I checked in, I knew I was in the right place. Situated at the bottom end of Islamorada on the ocean side, the view was endless sea and in the distance, the Alligator Reef Light House three miles off shore. The entire property is sand with a beautiful beach sand deck right on the ocean and ten steps from the door of my cottage. Every morning the sand is raked like a Zen Garden. There are a lot of cottages on the property but only a very few at the waters edge. I spent my time kayaking, bike riding, on the beach chairs, in the pool, or at the bar right next to the pool. There is a boat launch and dock for at least six boats as that was the number I counted while sipping my morning coffee on the porch. The Pines & Palms Resort does not have food on the property but they provide a very nice list of the fifteen or so eateries within a few miles. I chose two so close, I actually walked to them.

Staying with the theme of spending a few bucks this trip, I chose Uncle's and The Green Turtle Inn. Neither had a view and both made up for it with excellent food. Uncle's is very deceiving from the street. It did not look all that fancy or big from the outside but once inside it was a different story. I had the frog legs appetizer and lamb chops with shrimp while my friend had something called Lobster Schnitzel. Sharing our meals back and forth, we could not agree on who had made out better.

The Green Turtle Inn is a renovated historic building and looks as impressive on the outside as it does on the inside. They also have a collection of unique dishes. I went for the Five Spice Tuna while my friend had a scallop dish that was out of this world.

Taking sunrise photos on the last morning of my stay, I knew this place would hold special memories. Not only was the hotel itself a pleasure, we made a few friends around the pool deck as well. Just part of the magic of the Florida Keys.

Islamorada – Florida Keys

Islamorada is one of the northernmost Florida Keys. It comes right after Key Largo, and Tavernier. Most of my adventures in the keys have involved either Key Largo or Key West with barely a passing notice to the islands in between. As this was my first real visit to Islamorada, I decided to do it right and spend some time staying and exploring. I spent about two weeks exploring on the internet first and had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to see. My first stop was Marker 88 for lunch.

This was my first visit to Marker 88 and as the name implies, it's right at mile marker 88. Key West starts the whole mile marker thing with mile 0 and addresses along US-1 are based on the mile markers all the way up thru the Keys. This visit almost didn't happen as the sign literally jumped out at me and the entrance turn-in was about a foot and a half long. Even with a two second peek in the rear view mirror I knew it was a place I wanted to see so a U-turn was in order. Not something for the faint of heart on US-1 in the Keys.

Our meal started off with the most pleasant server I've met in a long time and a menu that had some unusual items. Something different is always my first choice so I had a Cuban Sandwich with Thai Green Beans. If you have a taste for something new and spicy, get the green beans. My travel companion on this trip had the Tuna Steak served burger style with a chutney topping and sweet potato fries. Everything was done to perfection and served with a smile.

The restaurant is actually a giant patio right on the water. There are a few shade covered seats which we were lucky enough to get and an indoor section for those that don't find blazing heat appetizing. We hated to leave but we had more to see so we broke away from our pleasant conversation with our server and moved on. Little did we know this entire long weekend was going to be a string of pleasant conversations with strangers.

Our next stop was just a mile marker down the road. The Rain Barrel - A Village of Artists. You can't miss it. There is a lobster sculpture the size of a bus right out front. We stopped to take a picture and found the most amazing collection of artists just behind the lobster.

The first gallery we entered was Emerald Bay Trading Company. The gallery was the size of a walk-in closet yet filled with items from all over the world. We asked the simple question of how did this all get here and wound up with a half hour conversation on the subject. Donna Davis, the proprietor, was mainly a basket weaver and her medium of choice - Pine Needles. Her work is intricate and extraordinary and her collection of world wide items is a passion. The Rain Barrel is a cluster of little houses and buildings with a winding, shady walkway connecting them. Heading to the back we found the pottery shop. The pottery is all made onsite in a workshop in the back. We got a little history of the shop and information about the area from the owner as we watched her create a made to order piece right in front of us.

We skipped a few stores on the way to the pottery shop but one was a must see on the way back. The SeaSide GlassWorks owned by Stephanie Martin was one that needed a much closer look. The glass work was like nothing I've ever seen before in both intricacy and bursts of color. This seemed to be the day for an education and Stephanie was perfectly willing to share all her secrets in making her mystical glass creations. Obviously knowing the secrets is not enough to actually producing the art just as viewing her web site is no substitute for seeing her larger pieces in person.










It was only our first few hours in Islamorada. We felt like everyone was an ambassador for the island and we were very special guests. Not a typical day in South Florida but just another day in the Keys from what we learned. There is a lot more to this story so check back for the next chapter coming soon.

South Beach, Miami - Daylight Visit

Everyone around the world has heard of South Beach. Not only has South Beach played back drop to numerous movies, and television shows, it's one of the hottest places on the planet.  Hot as in trendy, hip, and cool. Visit enough and you will spot your fair share of the rich and famous. Maybe even a big time celebrity. At night, South Beach is ablaze with neon, and is a mile long party that lasts till dawn. Like most party places, the action takes place after dark.

South Beach is a hot spot during the day as well but not with crowds of people. At noon in September, like most of South Florida, it's hot enough to melt your flip flops to the sidewalk. Only the hardiest of locals and most unwitting of visitors would spend a day pounding the pavement taking pictures. Lucky for you, I am one of those hardy, sun baked locals.

This was going to be an all day hike with a fabulous lunch mid way so a double dose of sun tan lotion was in order. That and a camera with a full charge and off I went. 

I prefer to park at the garage near the convention center, directly across from City Hall on 17th. I never know how long I will be there and it's nice to have a central location and not worry about meters.  I always go to South Beach hungry so I can enjoy an amazing meal. South Beach is mostly Art and Food. I can't afford the art but I can manage a great meal once in a while.

The day began with an early morning walk down Ocean Drive. The street is lined with beautifully renovated Art Deco hotels and the most exciting outdoor restaurants in all of South Florida. I have eaten along the beach road many times over the years and never had a bad experience. On this day, my morning hike turned into a quest for a unique dining experience on Lincoln Road. The choices are delicious and endless, and it's hard to go wrong. Not wanting to jump at the first opportunity, I actually walked the entire dining and art district. Along the way, I checked out some amazing galleries and stores. In some cases just to get a little relief from the oppressive heat. If you are interested in the art scene around South Beach Click Here for an introductory list. My favorite on this trip was the Peter Lik gallery. Blown away just begins to describe my impressions of this photographers work.  Lunch at the Books and Books cafe was the final touch to a perfect day in South Beach.

To see my photos from my day on South Beach Click Here. Not quite ready for my own gallery showing but it should give you a good feel of South Beach in the daytime.

Downtown Jensen Beach

Hey Mom & Dad, you're in my shot!

The first thing you will notice about Downtown Jensen Beach is that it is not exactly in the "South" part of South Florida. Florida is a really long state. It's not quite far enough North to be called Central Florida so it counts.

The second thing you will notice about Downtown Jensen Beach is it's not on the beach. Probably a wise move as it is right smack in the middle of hurricane alley.

I am spending a lot more time in Mom and Dad's neck of the woods these days. I never let pass by an opportunity to turn a blah day into a blog day so I took them on a little adventure while I was there.

Jensen beach is old time Florida with a lot of the original houses still lying around. Some are converted into business but they still retain their charm. The pavements are made of crushed sea shells and cement. There are the usual quaint restaurants and gift shops. The perfect outing for the parents but I like a little more out of the day. How about a drive.

A little tip about Florida housing. Florida is mostly a swamp. To build anything you need to get higher than the water table. To make it economical, we dig gigantic, 40 foot deep lakes and then build hundreds of all the same houses on the fill. BORING....

Ok - back to the drive. From Jensen Beach to Fort Pierce is the most unique road in all of Florida. The Intercoastal Waterway on one side and a huge, natural sand dune on the other. It is miles and miles of the most unique homes Florida has to offer without gates to keep you out. S. Indian River Dr is a narrow, harrowing, fast paced, twisty (by Florida standards) bit of highway with the oddest collection of homes from mansions to shacks. The opposite side of the road is the most beautiful waterway views anywhere in Florida. To keep from viewing that waterway from under it, the driver must be ever vigilant so be sure and call shotgun on this tour. At Fort Pierce, hang a right and zoom back home on a scenic beach highway complete with the ominous cooling towers of a nuclear power plant.

Whether you plan a laid back experience or invite your parents to scream "Slow Down" as you hang a few curves along the river, Jensen Beach is definitively a great place to visit.

Hollywood Beach

When I am not running around South Florida looking for fun things to do, I will usually be found on my local beach. There is nothing better than a morning walk with the sea air and a little breakfast complete with a cup of coffee. Yes even at 90 degrees. Parking at the beach is pretty expensive so I park at the Anne Kolb Nature Center on Sheridan Street. It's about 1/2 mile East of the sand and the parking is FREE! My favorite price. Just cross the draw bridge (center shot) and you are there. I walk an 8 mile loop so another few steps is not much of a problem.

I most often arrive at 7:30 AM and head South till I can't go South any more. 4 Miles exactly. Half way back I stop for breakfast. It's then only 2 miles back to the car - 15 minutes to home. Another few to get the photos off the cell phone and by noon I've posted my adventure and ready to start my day. Enjoy!!

South Florida Sunrise

Anyone can take beach sunrise shots in South Florida. I couldn't make it to the beach this weekend so I made do on my morning walk. So many people never notice the sky. I'm never so busy in my life to ignore a beautiful sunrise. These photos were taken with a cheap digital camera and a cell phone over the long weekend. Even so they are pretty amazing. The time from dark to light was about 5 minutes. These photos were captured in those fleeting moments.