Friday, May 31, 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Friday, May 17, 2013
Walt Disney World Summer 2013 Tips
Are you brave enough to do Disney during the hot summer months. I have to confess that's a practice we gave up a long time ago, just to darned hot for us!!! If you are amongst the brave, here are some great tips for doing Walt Disney World this summer http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2013/05/17/how-to-make-most-disney-monstrous-summer/
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Mother's Day in Orlando
I don't care if I get any presents for Mother's day, but what I do enjoy is quality time spent with my family. The Orlando Sentinel has some great Mother's Day suggestions for people in the Orlando area. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/os-mothers-day-orlando-20130509,0,3979408.story
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Crock Pot Chicken Tacos ala Publix
I'm pretty sure many Publix shoppers throughout Florida had tacos for dinner last night. It was almost impossible to pass up all the buy one get ones they had there yesterday: taco kits including shells, picante sauce, boneless chicken breasts, taco lettuce in a bag, sour cream, and I think I left something out but, you get the idea.
I put three large boneless chicken breasts and 2 jars of picante sauce in the crock pot on high for 5 hours. The chicken came out amazingly tender. We served on tacos with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and shredded Mexican cheese blend. Superb!!!
Monday, May 6, 2013
Florida's Best Beaches 2013
The Orlando Sentinel has put together an amazing slideshow of Florida's top 11 beaches, as decided by 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's annual survey. Check out the link to see some of the most fabulous beaches Florida has to offer. How lucky we are to live here!!! My personal favorites? Bahia Honda State Park and Lighthouse Point park.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/beach/os-best-beaches-florida,0,2534407.photogallery?obref=obnetwork
Siesta Beach
( Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau )
Siesta Beach on Siesta Key southwest of Sarasota, Fla., has been recognized for years as one of the best beaches in the country. It has the finest and whitest sand in the world, and I cannot argue with this claim. The powdery sand is nearly pure quartz crystal. The beatiful blue-colored water is clean and clear, making it so inviting to bathers and swimmers. - Dr. Beach It was the No. 1 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 2011 survey of United States beaches.
Fort De Soto Park
( Florida State Parks )
Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County near St. Pete Beach is an 870-acre patch of paradise. It's a mecca for migratory birds and migrating travelers who love to camp, swim, fish, picnic and otherwise duck civilization. Its wide expanse of beaches is ideal for privacy, and its waters have a blue-green Caribbean color. -- Boston Globe It was the No. 1 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 2005 survey of United States beaches.
St. Andrews State Park
( Florida State Parks )
St. Andrews State Recreation Area, near Panama City Beach, is one of the coast's best snorkeling and diving destinations. Well known for its sugar white sands and emerald green waters, this former military reservation has over one-and-a-half miles of beaches on the Gulf of Mexico and Grand Lagoon. Offshore you'll find hundreds of varieties of shells, sea urchins and starfish. In Tampa Bay, try Egmont Key State Park. Not only does it have a beautiful beach more than a mile long, but you'll find submerged armament bunkers offshore that have created a refuge for tropical fish. It was the No. 1 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 1995 survey of United States beaches.
St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
( Florida State Parks )
The strip of coast between Tallahassee and Panama City may look like the middle of nowhere on a map. But that remoteness is what has kept the brilliant white beaches and dunes of St. George Island and St. Joseph Peninsula so unspoiled. Both beaches abound with rental cottages. St. George Island and St. Joseph Peninsula, 30 miles west, offer abundant outdoor activities, as does the surrounding Panhandle area. St. Joseph Peninsula State Park offers 20 miles of pristine shoreline, with picnicking, swimming, camping, fishing and hiking allowed. It was the No. 1 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 2002 survey of United States beaches.
Cape Florida State Park
( Florida State Parks )
Cape Florida State Park, located at the south tip of Key Biscayne, provides clear, emerald-colored waters and gentle surf. This fine, white coral sand beach is great for swimming, as waves are knocked down by a large sand shoal offshore. In addition, the Cape Florida Lighthouse allows for a breath-taking view of this beautiful beach. It was the No. 8 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 2012 survey of United States beaches.
Barefoot Beach Park
( Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau )
Barefoot Beach Preserve Park in Bonita Springs is 342 acres of natural land, one of the last undeveloped barrier islands on Florida's southwest coast. 8,200 feet of beach and sand dunes support the growth of sea oats, providing nesting sites for sea turtles during the summer months. The park also maintains a tropical coastal hammock of sabal palm, gumbo-limbo and sea grape trees among many others. The site is also home to the protected gopher tortoise. The park includes nature trails, estuary waters for canoe tours and a long stretch of natural beach. -- collergov.net It has been named as one of the best beaches in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's survey of United States beaches.
Bahia Honda State Park
( Florida State Parks )
Clear turquoise water surrounds Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys, which boasts the Keys' only natural beach. The park encompasses over 500 acres and an offshore island offers some of the best snorkeling and and beachcombing in Florida. It was the No. 1 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 1992 survey of United States beaches.
Lighthouse Point Park
( Dennis Wall, Orlando Sentinel )
The 52-acre Lighthouse Point Park, located at the southern tip of Ponce Inlet, features fishing, nature trails, an observation deck and tower, swimming and picnicking. It is one of the few parks that allow dogs on the beach. It has been named as one of the best beaches in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's survey of United States beaches.
St. George Island State Park
( Florida State Parks )
St. George is a long, skinny barrier island, drifting between Apalachicola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, just south of Apalachicola. Skip the developed middle of the island and stick to the northeast end, where St. George Island State Park protects nine miles of broad beach. The dunes are high and sculptural, and the surf is calm enough for swimming. After beachcombing, explore the nature trails through pine forest. St. George is a long, skinny barrier island, drifting between Apalachicola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, just south of Apalachicola. Skip the developed middle of the island and stick to the northeast end, where St. George Island State Park protects nine miles of broad beach. The dunes are high and sculptural, and the surf is calm enough for swimming. After beachcombing, explore the nature trails through pine forest. It was the No. 4 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 2012 survey of United States beaches.
Grayton Beach State Park
( Florida State Parks )
Grayton Beach State Park, which spans the Gulf of Mexico and most of Western Lake, is where you'll find Florida as it should be, as it once was. Along this stretch, the sand is as soft, white and fine as you'll find anywhere. That's because the sand was once part of the southern Appalachian Mountains. The wide beach pushes into clear turquoise water every bit as beautiful as the Caribbean. Situated in the Panhandle halfway between Destin and Panama City, this idyllic spot is consistently ranked among the nation's most pristine beaches.
Caladesi Island State Park
( Florida State Parks / April 30, 2013 )
Caladesi's fine, white quartz sand beach owes its creation to a 1921 hurricane, which separated it from nearby Honeymoon Island. Caladesi became a state park in 1968. The waves are generally low on Caladesi, which Dr. Beach said adds to its family-friendly atmosphere. Most beachgoers reach the island by a 15-minute, $9 ferry ride. Visitors -- unless they bring their own boat -- are limited to four-hour stays at the beach. -- Associated Press Caladesi Island near Dunedin was the No. 1 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 2008 survey of United States beaches.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/beach/os-best-beaches-florida,0,2534407.photogallery?obref=obnetwork
Siesta Beach
( Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau )
Siesta Beach on Siesta Key southwest of Sarasota, Fla., has been recognized for years as one of the best beaches in the country. It has the finest and whitest sand in the world, and I cannot argue with this claim. The powdery sand is nearly pure quartz crystal. The beatiful blue-colored water is clean and clear, making it so inviting to bathers and swimmers. - Dr. Beach It was the No. 1 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 2011 survey of United States beaches.
Fort De Soto Park
( Florida State Parks )
Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County near St. Pete Beach is an 870-acre patch of paradise. It's a mecca for migratory birds and migrating travelers who love to camp, swim, fish, picnic and otherwise duck civilization. Its wide expanse of beaches is ideal for privacy, and its waters have a blue-green Caribbean color. -- Boston Globe It was the No. 1 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 2005 survey of United States beaches.
St. Andrews State Park
( Florida State Parks )
St. Andrews State Recreation Area, near Panama City Beach, is one of the coast's best snorkeling and diving destinations. Well known for its sugar white sands and emerald green waters, this former military reservation has over one-and-a-half miles of beaches on the Gulf of Mexico and Grand Lagoon. Offshore you'll find hundreds of varieties of shells, sea urchins and starfish. In Tampa Bay, try Egmont Key State Park. Not only does it have a beautiful beach more than a mile long, but you'll find submerged armament bunkers offshore that have created a refuge for tropical fish. It was the No. 1 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 1995 survey of United States beaches.
St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
( Florida State Parks )
The strip of coast between Tallahassee and Panama City may look like the middle of nowhere on a map. But that remoteness is what has kept the brilliant white beaches and dunes of St. George Island and St. Joseph Peninsula so unspoiled. Both beaches abound with rental cottages. St. George Island and St. Joseph Peninsula, 30 miles west, offer abundant outdoor activities, as does the surrounding Panhandle area. St. Joseph Peninsula State Park offers 20 miles of pristine shoreline, with picnicking, swimming, camping, fishing and hiking allowed. It was the No. 1 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 2002 survey of United States beaches.
Cape Florida State Park
( Florida State Parks )
Cape Florida State Park, located at the south tip of Key Biscayne, provides clear, emerald-colored waters and gentle surf. This fine, white coral sand beach is great for swimming, as waves are knocked down by a large sand shoal offshore. In addition, the Cape Florida Lighthouse allows for a breath-taking view of this beautiful beach. It was the No. 8 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 2012 survey of United States beaches.
Barefoot Beach Park
( Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau )
Barefoot Beach Preserve Park in Bonita Springs is 342 acres of natural land, one of the last undeveloped barrier islands on Florida's southwest coast. 8,200 feet of beach and sand dunes support the growth of sea oats, providing nesting sites for sea turtles during the summer months. The park also maintains a tropical coastal hammock of sabal palm, gumbo-limbo and sea grape trees among many others. The site is also home to the protected gopher tortoise. The park includes nature trails, estuary waters for canoe tours and a long stretch of natural beach. -- collergov.net It has been named as one of the best beaches in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's survey of United States beaches.
Bahia Honda State Park
( Florida State Parks )
Clear turquoise water surrounds Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys, which boasts the Keys' only natural beach. The park encompasses over 500 acres and an offshore island offers some of the best snorkeling and and beachcombing in Florida. It was the No. 1 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 1992 survey of United States beaches.
Lighthouse Point Park
( Dennis Wall, Orlando Sentinel )
The 52-acre Lighthouse Point Park, located at the southern tip of Ponce Inlet, features fishing, nature trails, an observation deck and tower, swimming and picnicking. It is one of the few parks that allow dogs on the beach. It has been named as one of the best beaches in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's survey of United States beaches.
St. George Island State Park
( Florida State Parks )
St. George is a long, skinny barrier island, drifting between Apalachicola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, just south of Apalachicola. Skip the developed middle of the island and stick to the northeast end, where St. George Island State Park protects nine miles of broad beach. The dunes are high and sculptural, and the surf is calm enough for swimming. After beachcombing, explore the nature trails through pine forest. St. George is a long, skinny barrier island, drifting between Apalachicola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, just south of Apalachicola. Skip the developed middle of the island and stick to the northeast end, where St. George Island State Park protects nine miles of broad beach. The dunes are high and sculptural, and the surf is calm enough for swimming. After beachcombing, explore the nature trails through pine forest. It was the No. 4 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 2012 survey of United States beaches.
Grayton Beach State Park
( Florida State Parks )
Grayton Beach State Park, which spans the Gulf of Mexico and most of Western Lake, is where you'll find Florida as it should be, as it once was. Along this stretch, the sand is as soft, white and fine as you'll find anywhere. That's because the sand was once part of the southern Appalachian Mountains. The wide beach pushes into clear turquoise water every bit as beautiful as the Caribbean. Situated in the Panhandle halfway between Destin and Panama City, this idyllic spot is consistently ranked among the nation's most pristine beaches.
Caladesi Island State Park
( Florida State Parks / April 30, 2013 )
Caladesi's fine, white quartz sand beach owes its creation to a 1921 hurricane, which separated it from nearby Honeymoon Island. Caladesi became a state park in 1968. The waves are generally low on Caladesi, which Dr. Beach said adds to its family-friendly atmosphere. Most beachgoers reach the island by a 15-minute, $9 ferry ride. Visitors -- unless they bring their own boat -- are limited to four-hour stays at the beach. -- Associated Press Caladesi Island near Dunedin was the No. 1 beach in the nation on Stephen 'Dr. Beach' Leatherman's 2008 survey of United States beaches.
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