Ft Lauderdale Vacations-Florida through the Years
It was the dead of winter in St. Louis and my partner, Carol was faced with working a police department detail that would require lots of time in the cold outdoors. We had been together for less than six months and it was high time for me to start sharing my love of travel. I knew that Florida was the perfect place to begin, a beach vacation for someone who had never been to the ocean. So we looked in the AAA book and found a beach hotel called the Best Western Pelican. It was right on the Atlantic Ocean in Ft. Lauderdale. We left on a cold February day and it was the start of a love affair with the Pelican, the ocean and Ft. Lauderdale. We headed back this December, 2007 for our fourth stay.
http://www.pelicanbeach.com/
On our first visit, there were three older buildings and two swimming pools on the property. One of the pools was a beautiful infinity pool that looked right over the ocean. The rooms were not big or fancy but they were right on the beach. Waves crashing, that soothing ocean sound is what the Pelican was all about for us.
We loved every minute of it. Carol had her best pina colada ever at the hotel restaurant down the beach, a very casual place called “Irelands.” We also enjoyed the big succulent shrimp cocktail, again overlooking and listening to the ocean.
Over three years later, Carol’s fortieth birthday was approaching. I decided to take her to Key West which was a new destination for both of us. But wonderful as Key West may be, it is not a beach destination. So to insure it would be the best birthday ever, I included another week back at the Pelican. During our first trip, we had the most amazing dinner at Chardee’s, a gay restaurant in the Wilton Manor neighborhood. We found it to be warm, inviting place. And since were were going to end up in Ft. Lauderdale for New Years, after spending Christmas and the 26th (her birthday) in Key West, we thought a night out at Chardee’s might be just the way to ring in the New Year.
In October of her birthday year, we had gone on unexpected trip to Florida. She went with her working dog Bacchaus to compete in his final and most successful (eighth place) National Dog Trial in the suburbs of Tampa, Florida. While we were there, we met another couple, Sandy and Alicia. Alicia was a canine handler for the Des Moines Iowa PD and also there to compete. Sandy was also an officer in the same department and has since become a canine handler herself. We had great fun hanging out together and taking a beach run to Clearwater while we were there. And since the University of Iowa happened to be playing in the Orange Bowl that year, they decided to come join us in Ft. Lauderdale. They were able to join us for New Years at Chardee’s. It was such an interesting evening. There were couples dressed in elegant evening wear and others (mostly the young) in shorts and t-shirts. High standards provided the inspiration to dance and we joined in as we were dressed quite well ourselves.
Our 2004 visit was wonderful but we left shortly after Carol's birthday on the 26th and it was that day that the tragic Indian Ocean tsunami hit. Here we were on the other side of the earth, watching the beauty of the ocean. It was impossible to forget what was happening elsewhere as a result of the wrath of the sea. I never got that out of my mind while we were there. I remember New Year's eve night, the weather had turned cool and we were outside on the porch, dressed in sweatshirts. Since the dining room wasn't opened and the weather was so cool, we were alone until the fireworks began. It was even more eerie at that moment to comprehend the power of nature.
We went on our first cruise in October of 2007. Since we were so comfortable with Ft. Lauderdale, it was natural that we would make that our departure port. We flew in the evening before and checked into the Cruise Port Ramada. It was late and we were starved so we found one of the best “foodie’ gems in south Florida, a pizza joint called “ Big C’s Downtown Pizzeria.” It was too late for real food so we ordered the spinach dip and a bottle of wine. They delivered to the hotel, but you have to open your own bottle with the provided cork-screw. The spinach dip was garlic heaven. It came with basic tortilla chips and I was instantly addicted. When we back for our visit in over New Years, we again ordered delivery and had more of the spinach dip as well as a robust spinach salad and fettuccine alfredo. It too was filled with the flavors and aroma of garlic.
The weather for our fourth Pelican visit was overall the best so far. We were able to lay on the beach three days in a row, even getting warm enough to luxuriate in the lazy river for hours. Over the years, the infinity pool became a heated lazy river. The old pool on the street side of the old building remains. The other two older buildings were torn down during our second visit. By 2002, the new building had been constructed, a tall beautiful tower based on a design style reminiscent of a resort in Maine. The front porch is lined with white rocking chairs overlooking a small grassy strip, bordered by beach grass a slight descent down to the beach. On the old building side, steps or a ramp take you right down to the beach. Both building are steps away from the ocean. During our visit in 2004, when the tower was just complete, the original owners, knowing we were regulars offered to comp us up to a suite in the new tower. We took a tour of it and found that the rooms were beautiful. However, the doors leading out to the balcony were off a sitting room. So it was impossible to leave the door open and hear the ocean all night as we do in the old building. So we declined. We have always tried to stay on the third floor of the old building, it is just high enough for privacy but and the ocean is just right there. We spent New Year’s day, 2008 relaxing in our room all afternoon after a rainstorm downpour forced from our morning beach location. With the door open, it was like we were right there. The day we left, we sat mesmerized, gazing out at the ocean and enjoying every second of the view and the sound. Each time we leave, we fear the old building will be no more.
We had a rental car during our 2002 visit so we drove to Las Olas Blvd. We enjoyed a stroll down through this very upscale neighborhood and had a great lunch at Mango’s, a brie cheese spread. On our most recent trip, the weather turned a little cooler our last full day in town, so we decided to walk to Las Olas. It was just shy of 5 miles but as a half marathon walker, I didn’t find it to be a big challenge and Carol held up quite well too. Most all of the walk is right along the ocean so you can’t beat the views. We crossed the inter-coastal waterway and passed some really beautiful homes and boats. After walking the boulevard looking for seafood, we settled on sushi at an eclectic Japanese place called Shizen, right on Las Olas Blvd.
The most interesting sushi we had was fresh conch, not as good as the cooked conch we had in Key West but tender and tasty even so. Another local item was grouper but the local snapper was unavailable that day. We took a taxi back to the Pelican and amazed our driver by telling him we had walked there in the first place.
Our eating options changed over the years. On our first visit, we walked down the beach each day for lunch at Irelands. This was our favorite standby as we might even have the same waitress from one visit to the next. Irelands is an even older hotel, a salmon colored arc shaped structure with no patios overlooking the ocean. The bar/restaurant is steps from the ocean and could get quite windy. Winter weather in Ft. Lauderdale can be a little dicey and at times it wasn’t really that warm. But the atmosphere made it. There seemed to be an older New York crowd that frequented Irelands. This last visit found the place to be closed. We heard that the Ritz Carlton bought this prime property and will be demolishing the old to bring on the new.
By 2002, the Pelican was having its bar/casual dining “grand opening.” They tried out lots of tasty appetizers on us and as the liquor license was not yet issued, we got some free drinks from the bar as well. The restaurant was still under construction. In 2007, it was opened, just in time for the demise of Irelands. We found ourselves quite content to enjoy our meals there. The free continental breakfast buffet was a thing of the past though so nothing was cheap.
The best part of the new restaurant was of course the view. There was outdoor dining, overlooking the ocean on a continuation of the beautiful rocking chair lined front porch. Our New Year’s Eve dinner was quite an experience. We started with scallops. Carol and I then order different entrees and shared, the lamb chop with mint jelly was very tender, very New Zealand. The duck was good but way too much food and so we stuffed ourselves. Crème Brulee was the dessert and we found thr0ughout our stay that the McWilliams Cabernet was a good wine and a good value. Later that night, we took our bottle of champagne out to the beach and experienced the warmest evening ever, while toasting 2008. The fireworks display from downtown Ft. Lauderdale was very visible and there was another display to the north, probably Hollywood.
On our previous trips, we usually took a taxi somewhere close and had experienced a lot of great places that way as well. Our favorite was ShirtTail Charlie’s which now seems to be closed. Dinner was served on a wooden picnic table overlooking the intercoastal and the featured item was alligator. After dinner, you could enjoy a free boat ride on the waterway.
This time, we went to dinner with our friends from the cruise, Jim and Warren. They took us to their favorite burger place. After dinner, we got a nice tour of the city, including Wilton Manor. A new women’s bar, the New Moon had taken the place of the sports bar we went to with Alicia and Sandy. But Alibi’s was still there as was Gay Mart. We got to see Jim’s condo in a great Wilton Manor’s building with a gorgeous swimming pool. It was helpful for us to see what our options might be in the event we ever decide to live in our favorite travel destination city.
While I was lying on the beach, I read two books. The first book that I enjoyed was one of the Elaine Viets dead-end job series mysteries. Elaine used to be a reporter in St. Louis but moved to Ft. Lauderdale some years back. This series features her heroine who leaves St. Louis on the run from the law (civil law that it is) and works a series of dead-end jobs in Ft. Lauderdale. In this book, she is working at a bookstore on Las Olas.
The other book was a history of sorts and one of the best non-fiction books that I have read in a while. The 2004 book, “Dream State: 8 Generations of Swamp Lawyers, Conquistadores, Confederate Daughters, Banana Republicans, and Other Florida Wildlife,” by Diane Roberts was a humorous, twisting tale of Florida today and yesterday. It starts with the invasion of native cultures by the Europeans and is written with what could consider a “liberal” perspective, making it seem to be a fair-minded and light-hearted look at the ugliness and beauty of Florida. She likens the displaced Cuban culture as a return to that of the conquistador, pointing out the irony of those who are unhappy that everyone in Florida doesn’t speak English or embrace the ever-changing American way of life.
She calls Disney World the cartoon mouse empire and details the legacy of Henry Flagler who built the road to Key West. There is some great perspective on the Civil War era and why some Floridians are southerners and some are not, making for a split personality state. She describes Palm Beach as a place like Camelot, “It’s not allowed to rain until after sunset and no one is poor, no one is fat.” Her own childhood memories of early Florida tourist destinations, Cypress Gardens and the many reptile displays finish off the picture of a Florida that is like no other U. S. state.
Now if you are looking at any of the photos, here is a funny story. My wife, the photographer, only took one camera on our 2007 trip, the one we just bought for the cruise. Well we got to Florida and it quit working. So those 28 or so photos were taken with a cheapie from the gift shop. The important thing to me was to record us in the Lazy River. In 2004, it was just a tad too cold to really enjoy the lazy river as it was brand new and the heater had warmed up the water yet. In 2007, it was quite warm the first few days we were there, so we spent hours in there and these few photos record those moment.
More Reflections on Florida:
I have been to Florida many times. As a child it was the place we were always moving to but never did. We drove all up and down the Gulf coast, looking at houses and thinking about it. Florida was the destination of my college graduation trip. But then I didn’t go back again until February 1999. During the intervening years, I spent my beach time in the Caribbean and fell in love with the easy going life of the islands. But still they are islands and Florida is attached, drivable, and full of familiar cultural landmarks. Sparkling white sand on the Gulf side and wild, pounding waves on the Atlantic, just 150 miles apart, providing a place of two spirits. Optimistic young people live side by side with the retired who layer every part of the peninsula with the aimlessness of no work. Conservative icons like Anita Bryant share an unwilling space with a vibrant LGBT community in places like Ft. Lauderdale and Key West.
Ft.Lauderdale sites
http://www.inlauderdale.com/
http://info.ci.ftlaud.fl.us/http://www.sunny.org/
http://www.webcityclassifieds.com/food.htm
A vacation to Orange Beach Alabama also had us with a two day detour through Florida and the introduction of Navarre Beach, another must return destination. We spent Carol’s 40th birthday in Key West, a place that truly felt like home. Not long after, her work took us to Tampa where we escaped for a few afternoons to the beaches of Clearwater.
We have also been to Disney World in Orlando.
We hear the Cocoa Beach is a great destination.
A visit to St. Augustine, the oldest city in America seems imminent as well.
More Florida things to see:
Seminole Indian Reservation
http://www.seminoletribe.com/
http://www.floridasmart.com/commculture/nativeamericans.htm
http://susdl.fcla.edu/fh/themes/NAmericans.html
http://www.tampabayhistorycenter.org/1stpeople.htm
Florida everglades
Boat trip from Ft. Lauderdale to the Bahama island of Eleuthra is a 1 hour boat trip
This sounds pretty interesting
http://www.hotspringsenthusiast.com/FL.asp
More Florida History
http://www.floridamemory.com/
http://myfloridahistory.blogspot.com/
Florida Seafood and Wildlife and Underwater
http://www.flseafood.com/index.htm
http://www.ecofloridamag.com/archived/alligators.htm http://www.floridasmart.com/subjects/ocean/fl_diving.htm
On the way back to Ft. Lauderdale from the Keys, we stopped at the Dolphin Research Center
http://www.dolphins.org/
EducationUniversity of Florida (Gators)
http://www.ufl.edu/
Kennedy Space Center
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/home/index.html
http://www.pelicanbeach.com/
On our first visit, there were three older buildings and two swimming pools on the property. One of the pools was a beautiful infinity pool that looked right over the ocean. The rooms were not big or fancy but they were right on the beach. Waves crashing, that soothing ocean sound is what the Pelican was all about for us.
We loved every minute of it. Carol had her best pina colada ever at the hotel restaurant down the beach, a very casual place called “Irelands.” We also enjoyed the big succulent shrimp cocktail, again overlooking and listening to the ocean.
Over three years later, Carol’s fortieth birthday was approaching. I decided to take her to Key West which was a new destination for both of us. But wonderful as Key West may be, it is not a beach destination. So to insure it would be the best birthday ever, I included another week back at the Pelican. During our first trip, we had the most amazing dinner at Chardee’s, a gay restaurant in the Wilton Manor neighborhood. We found it to be warm, inviting place. And since were were going to end up in Ft. Lauderdale for New Years, after spending Christmas and the 26th (her birthday) in Key West, we thought a night out at Chardee’s might be just the way to ring in the New Year.
In October of her birthday year, we had gone on unexpected trip to Florida. She went with her working dog Bacchaus to compete in his final and most successful (eighth place) National Dog Trial in the suburbs of Tampa, Florida. While we were there, we met another couple, Sandy and Alicia. Alicia was a canine handler for the Des Moines Iowa PD and also there to compete. Sandy was also an officer in the same department and has since become a canine handler herself. We had great fun hanging out together and taking a beach run to Clearwater while we were there. And since the University of Iowa happened to be playing in the Orange Bowl that year, they decided to come join us in Ft. Lauderdale. They were able to join us for New Years at Chardee’s. It was such an interesting evening. There were couples dressed in elegant evening wear and others (mostly the young) in shorts and t-shirts. High standards provided the inspiration to dance and we joined in as we were dressed quite well ourselves.
Our 2004 visit was wonderful but we left shortly after Carol's birthday on the 26th and it was that day that the tragic Indian Ocean tsunami hit. Here we were on the other side of the earth, watching the beauty of the ocean. It was impossible to forget what was happening elsewhere as a result of the wrath of the sea. I never got that out of my mind while we were there. I remember New Year's eve night, the weather had turned cool and we were outside on the porch, dressed in sweatshirts. Since the dining room wasn't opened and the weather was so cool, we were alone until the fireworks began. It was even more eerie at that moment to comprehend the power of nature.
We went on our first cruise in October of 2007. Since we were so comfortable with Ft. Lauderdale, it was natural that we would make that our departure port. We flew in the evening before and checked into the Cruise Port Ramada. It was late and we were starved so we found one of the best “foodie’ gems in south Florida, a pizza joint called “ Big C’s Downtown Pizzeria.” It was too late for real food so we ordered the spinach dip and a bottle of wine. They delivered to the hotel, but you have to open your own bottle with the provided cork-screw. The spinach dip was garlic heaven. It came with basic tortilla chips and I was instantly addicted. When we back for our visit in over New Years, we again ordered delivery and had more of the spinach dip as well as a robust spinach salad and fettuccine alfredo. It too was filled with the flavors and aroma of garlic.
The weather for our fourth Pelican visit was overall the best so far. We were able to lay on the beach three days in a row, even getting warm enough to luxuriate in the lazy river for hours. Over the years, the infinity pool became a heated lazy river. The old pool on the street side of the old building remains. The other two older buildings were torn down during our second visit. By 2002, the new building had been constructed, a tall beautiful tower based on a design style reminiscent of a resort in Maine. The front porch is lined with white rocking chairs overlooking a small grassy strip, bordered by beach grass a slight descent down to the beach. On the old building side, steps or a ramp take you right down to the beach. Both building are steps away from the ocean. During our visit in 2004, when the tower was just complete, the original owners, knowing we were regulars offered to comp us up to a suite in the new tower. We took a tour of it and found that the rooms were beautiful. However, the doors leading out to the balcony were off a sitting room. So it was impossible to leave the door open and hear the ocean all night as we do in the old building. So we declined. We have always tried to stay on the third floor of the old building, it is just high enough for privacy but and the ocean is just right there. We spent New Year’s day, 2008 relaxing in our room all afternoon after a rainstorm downpour forced from our morning beach location. With the door open, it was like we were right there. The day we left, we sat mesmerized, gazing out at the ocean and enjoying every second of the view and the sound. Each time we leave, we fear the old building will be no more.
We had a rental car during our 2002 visit so we drove to Las Olas Blvd. We enjoyed a stroll down through this very upscale neighborhood and had a great lunch at Mango’s, a brie cheese spread. On our most recent trip, the weather turned a little cooler our last full day in town, so we decided to walk to Las Olas. It was just shy of 5 miles but as a half marathon walker, I didn’t find it to be a big challenge and Carol held up quite well too. Most all of the walk is right along the ocean so you can’t beat the views. We crossed the inter-coastal waterway and passed some really beautiful homes and boats. After walking the boulevard looking for seafood, we settled on sushi at an eclectic Japanese place called Shizen, right on Las Olas Blvd.
The most interesting sushi we had was fresh conch, not as good as the cooked conch we had in Key West but tender and tasty even so. Another local item was grouper but the local snapper was unavailable that day. We took a taxi back to the Pelican and amazed our driver by telling him we had walked there in the first place.
Our eating options changed over the years. On our first visit, we walked down the beach each day for lunch at Irelands. This was our favorite standby as we might even have the same waitress from one visit to the next. Irelands is an even older hotel, a salmon colored arc shaped structure with no patios overlooking the ocean. The bar/restaurant is steps from the ocean and could get quite windy. Winter weather in Ft. Lauderdale can be a little dicey and at times it wasn’t really that warm. But the atmosphere made it. There seemed to be an older New York crowd that frequented Irelands. This last visit found the place to be closed. We heard that the Ritz Carlton bought this prime property and will be demolishing the old to bring on the new.
By 2002, the Pelican was having its bar/casual dining “grand opening.” They tried out lots of tasty appetizers on us and as the liquor license was not yet issued, we got some free drinks from the bar as well. The restaurant was still under construction. In 2007, it was opened, just in time for the demise of Irelands. We found ourselves quite content to enjoy our meals there. The free continental breakfast buffet was a thing of the past though so nothing was cheap.
The best part of the new restaurant was of course the view. There was outdoor dining, overlooking the ocean on a continuation of the beautiful rocking chair lined front porch. Our New Year’s Eve dinner was quite an experience. We started with scallops. Carol and I then order different entrees and shared, the lamb chop with mint jelly was very tender, very New Zealand. The duck was good but way too much food and so we stuffed ourselves. Crème Brulee was the dessert and we found thr0ughout our stay that the McWilliams Cabernet was a good wine and a good value. Later that night, we took our bottle of champagne out to the beach and experienced the warmest evening ever, while toasting 2008. The fireworks display from downtown Ft. Lauderdale was very visible and there was another display to the north, probably Hollywood.
On our previous trips, we usually took a taxi somewhere close and had experienced a lot of great places that way as well. Our favorite was ShirtTail Charlie’s which now seems to be closed. Dinner was served on a wooden picnic table overlooking the intercoastal and the featured item was alligator. After dinner, you could enjoy a free boat ride on the waterway.
This time, we went to dinner with our friends from the cruise, Jim and Warren. They took us to their favorite burger place. After dinner, we got a nice tour of the city, including Wilton Manor. A new women’s bar, the New Moon had taken the place of the sports bar we went to with Alicia and Sandy. But Alibi’s was still there as was Gay Mart. We got to see Jim’s condo in a great Wilton Manor’s building with a gorgeous swimming pool. It was helpful for us to see what our options might be in the event we ever decide to live in our favorite travel destination city.
While I was lying on the beach, I read two books. The first book that I enjoyed was one of the Elaine Viets dead-end job series mysteries. Elaine used to be a reporter in St. Louis but moved to Ft. Lauderdale some years back. This series features her heroine who leaves St. Louis on the run from the law (civil law that it is) and works a series of dead-end jobs in Ft. Lauderdale. In this book, she is working at a bookstore on Las Olas.
The other book was a history of sorts and one of the best non-fiction books that I have read in a while. The 2004 book, “Dream State: 8 Generations of Swamp Lawyers, Conquistadores, Confederate Daughters, Banana Republicans, and Other Florida Wildlife,” by Diane Roberts was a humorous, twisting tale of Florida today and yesterday. It starts with the invasion of native cultures by the Europeans and is written with what could consider a “liberal” perspective, making it seem to be a fair-minded and light-hearted look at the ugliness and beauty of Florida. She likens the displaced Cuban culture as a return to that of the conquistador, pointing out the irony of those who are unhappy that everyone in Florida doesn’t speak English or embrace the ever-changing American way of life.
She calls Disney World the cartoon mouse empire and details the legacy of Henry Flagler who built the road to Key West. There is some great perspective on the Civil War era and why some Floridians are southerners and some are not, making for a split personality state. She describes Palm Beach as a place like Camelot, “It’s not allowed to rain until after sunset and no one is poor, no one is fat.” Her own childhood memories of early Florida tourist destinations, Cypress Gardens and the many reptile displays finish off the picture of a Florida that is like no other U. S. state.
Now if you are looking at any of the photos, here is a funny story. My wife, the photographer, only took one camera on our 2007 trip, the one we just bought for the cruise. Well we got to Florida and it quit working. So those 28 or so photos were taken with a cheapie from the gift shop. The important thing to me was to record us in the Lazy River. In 2004, it was just a tad too cold to really enjoy the lazy river as it was brand new and the heater had warmed up the water yet. In 2007, it was quite warm the first few days we were there, so we spent hours in there and these few photos record those moment.
More Reflections on Florida:
I have been to Florida many times. As a child it was the place we were always moving to but never did. We drove all up and down the Gulf coast, looking at houses and thinking about it. Florida was the destination of my college graduation trip. But then I didn’t go back again until February 1999. During the intervening years, I spent my beach time in the Caribbean and fell in love with the easy going life of the islands. But still they are islands and Florida is attached, drivable, and full of familiar cultural landmarks. Sparkling white sand on the Gulf side and wild, pounding waves on the Atlantic, just 150 miles apart, providing a place of two spirits. Optimistic young people live side by side with the retired who layer every part of the peninsula with the aimlessness of no work. Conservative icons like Anita Bryant share an unwilling space with a vibrant LGBT community in places like Ft. Lauderdale and Key West.
Ft.Lauderdale sites
http://www.inlauderdale.com/
http://info.ci.ftlaud.fl.us/http://www.sunny.org/
http://www.webcityclassifieds.com/food.htm
A vacation to Orange Beach Alabama also had us with a two day detour through Florida and the introduction of Navarre Beach, another must return destination. We spent Carol’s 40th birthday in Key West, a place that truly felt like home. Not long after, her work took us to Tampa where we escaped for a few afternoons to the beaches of Clearwater.
We have also been to Disney World in Orlando.
We hear the Cocoa Beach is a great destination.
A visit to St. Augustine, the oldest city in America seems imminent as well.
More Florida things to see:
Seminole Indian Reservation
http://www.seminoletribe.com/
http://www.floridasmart.com/commculture/nativeamericans.htm
http://susdl.fcla.edu/fh/themes/NAmericans.html
http://www.tampabayhistorycenter.org/1stpeople.htm
Florida everglades
Boat trip from Ft. Lauderdale to the Bahama island of Eleuthra is a 1 hour boat trip
This sounds pretty interesting
http://www.hotspringsenthusiast.com/FL.asp
More Florida History
http://www.floridamemory.com/
http://myfloridahistory.blogspot.com/
Florida Seafood and Wildlife and Underwater
http://www.flseafood.com/index.htm
http://www.ecofloridamag.com/archived/alligators.htm http://www.floridasmart.com/subjects/ocean/fl_diving.htm
On the way back to Ft. Lauderdale from the Keys, we stopped at the Dolphin Research Center
http://www.dolphins.org/
EducationUniversity of Florida (Gators)
http://www.ufl.edu/
Kennedy Space Center
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/home/index.html
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