Two Tanks of Gas. Written by Karen-Janine Cohen - BT Contributor June 2012

Transcription

1 Two Tnks Gs Written Kren-Jne Cohen - BT Contribur Eight pretty cool styction spots you cn drive without spendg tune You know you re gog do it. Sure, times might be ugh, irles hve red fres, re s no knowg when gs prices will spike g. But Constitution gurntees Florids -- like ll Americns -- right summer vction. Oky, it s not exctly squeezed between Freedom Speech right sckpile n rsenl, though it might s well be. Come wr, fme, or pestilence, Americn fmily will, June or July or August, tke time frolic bond. Yet se dys usterity, tht vction could be shorter, cheper, closer home thn bee. In tht spirit, Bcyne Times hs come up with few getwy suggestions, ll with Florid, Keys Georgi border. We even cluded one right our own bckyrd. Mny se desttions fer dcounts Florid residents, long with summertime specils. All cn be reched with two tnks gs or less. (Our highly scientific clcultions were bsed on how fr 2012 Chevy Thoe SUV cn tke you with two fill-ups.) An trepid BT correspondent ventured person severl loctions, while mtion on ors ws gred phone, Internet, e-mil. Most were referred people who hve been re done tht, or who hve specil knowledge Florid hospitlity lscpe. One prticulrly vluble resource Sl Dickson s website FloridVctionAuction.com, which ffilited with 1 / 12

2 Two Tnks Gs Written Kren-Jne Cohen - BT Contribur VitFlorid.com, stte s ficil urm orgniztion. Dickson, vetern hospitlity dustry, used eby s model design h site, which hotels ttrctions fer pckges through time-limited biddg process. Some dels re truly mzg. So let s pck up cr, grb kids, hit rod! Westgte River Rnch Cowboy Theme Prk Resort 3200 River Rnch Blvd. River Rnch wgriverrnch.com If you feel South Florid n t fulfillg your whoop holler needs, hed up turnpike River Rnch. It s roughly 175 miles northwest Mimi 25 miles nythg else. Th bout s close clssic dude rnch s you ll fd se here prts. River Rnch mot: Unlesh you ner cowboy. With pet-friendly ccommodtions tht rnge strd n rooms 1400-squre-foot, one-bedroom cbs with wrp-round porches, rnch fers horsebck ridg, skeet shootg, rchery, irbot rides, dner hy rides, pettg zoo, big swimmg pool, full-service mr, most impressive, Sturdy night rodeo tht fetures crobtic horsebck tricks, brrel rcg, bull ridg. Durg recent trip rnch, it s cler tht Ry Duncn, rodeo mster ceremonies, tkes h job seriously, urgg hundreds eger people sts cheer riders -- be y girls rcg nimble ps round series brrels or young men tryg sty on bck buckg bull. Th not funerl! Th not oper! Duncn shouts udience p h own mount. You hve bility mke electricity ren. If re s ny red your neck, you cn show it night! And tht just bout sets ne. 2 / 12

3 Two Tnks Gs Written Kren-Jne Cohen - BT Contribur As sun sets moon res, udience clps yhoos when one bull riders stys on more thn few seconds; grons when he thrown f; everyone lughs when bulls, with nmes like Bnn, Old School, Gngster, decle return ir pens, tkg str turns round grounds, snortg t udience, chrgg fetg t ttendnt horsemen. Kids re especilly entrnced it ll. The rodeo blechers re filled with River Rnch guests -- mny Tmp or Mimi, ors s fr wy s South Afric -- but lso with quite few re residents. One tellg observtion: No one, not sgle person, ws seen ykkg on cell phone or textg obliviously. River Rnch clen well-kept, grounds nicely lscped under cnopy mjestic ok trees drped Spnh moss, where you might glimpse crested crcr, lso known s Mexicn egle. In fct wildlife bounds, thnks lrgely neighborg 7000-cre wildlife mngement re. A 13-mile stretch rustic Florid Tril ccessible s it wds through ner wilderness. Oh yes, re s lso n irfield on property - pilots mong us. The rnch nimls seem relxed, even pettg zoo, with its little gots, donkeys, or cretures delight eger young children. Sundy morng clls ridg, horses re lso low-key durg two hours on tril. In pstures you cn see grzg horses ir fols, cows, clves, bulls, some which hd strred Sturdy show. A thrillg irbot ride down Ksimmee ps f trip. Mny ccommodtions re time-shres, so décor vries, though y re lwys spotless well-equipped. You cn de t one three on-site eteries or prepre your own mels t your cb, nice option those who like cook. River Rnch hs been round sce 1960s. Westgte Resorts bought it out bnkruptcy, bout decde go, 3 / 12

4 Two Tnks Gs Written Kren-Jne Cohen - BT Contribur sys Mrk Wltrip, COO compny, which opertes number or resorts. We dumped n money it rebuilt whole thg. Florid residents get ten percent f best vilble rtes. Add-ons re extr. The rodeo $15.50 dults, $8 kids. Horsebck rides re $40. And rchery? Five buck ll rrows you cn shoot. TrdeWds Isl Resorts 5500 Gulf Blvd. St. Pete Bech For some reson, mny us who live long Bcyne Corridor need cross Alligr Alley order feel like we ve relly gone someplce different. Cll it Evergldes effect. There s somethg trnsmtive bout pssg through wilderness ruled lligr egret, though Mimi Nples only two hours. One Gulf Cost vction option worth considerg Wter s Dolph Tle Getwy, t TrdeWds Isl Resorts on St. Pete Bech Isl. The three-night pckge, begng t $591, cludes resort lodgg t eir TrdeWds Isl Gr or ster property, Spiper. Also cluded: dolph wtch crue two -- plush y dolph, plus two tickets Clerwter Mre Aqurium, home Wter, dolph tht spired 2011 movie Dolph Tle. Wter, whose fluke ws dmged crb trp, ws rescued ultimtely received prostic til. An especilly enticg drw fmilies TrdeWds Gr s 15,750-squre-foot wter prk plyground -- those kids who just hve spend ll dy wter. The feture, unveiled lst yer, cludes wter slides, climbg equipment, Rockit fltble l, mny or slippg slidg trets. Th yer resort, with 20 cres bechfront, lurg guests with JetLev, wter-propelled jetpck tht lets you sor heights 30 feet t 30 miles n hour. You could be Jmes Bond Thunderbll! 4 / 12

5 Two Tnks Gs Written Kren-Jne Cohen - BT Contribur Over yers, we ve put lot resources, sys Trv Johnson, vice president mrketg 12-yer vetern resorts. The recent progrm dditions -- prtnerg with Clerwter qurium new wter prk electric surfbords, JetLev, not mention Gyrosphere, contrption tht lets guests sp twirl wy ir vction dys -- re ll prt cretg n experience remember, sys Johnson: We relly wnt mke it, ntionwide, noticed s p fmily desttion. Menwhile ner Spiper will soon become first Guy Hrvey-bred U.S. resort. (Two ors re locted Bhms.) Hrvey, n entrepreneur who dvoctes sustble sport fhg, sells shirts or ger t mny retil outlets. Hrvey lso funds ocen conservtion reserch, 1999 estblhed Guy Hrvey Reserch Institute collbortion with Nov Soustern University s Ocenogrphic Center. He s n terntionl br, we were lookg t wys crete difference with Spiper, Johnson expls. Florid residents cn tke dvntge 15-percent dcount promotion. Both properties lso feture scrtch-f ticket with prizes rngg free beverges bech wel $500 gift crd. Hwks Cy 61 Hwks Cy Blvd. Duck Key For mny us, nor gtewy tht feelg escpe Overses Highwy. The Florid Keys tke some gredients Mimi mix -- sun, s, botg, fhg -- puts m t p recipe. For those who wnt luxurious experience with n l flvor, Hwks Cy my be plce. It s mid-keys, t Mile Mrker 61 on Duck Key, bosts five swimmg pools, privte lgoon, n dults-only section -- while lso ferg vriety progrms kids. In 2007 Northview Hotel Group cquired property, which dtes 1960s. The compny vested more thn $35 million renovtions. The hotel buildg ws tken down studs renovted, sys Hwks Cy mrketg direcr Jennifer Dn, givg buildg Tommy Bhm feel. I lwys tell people South Florid: Our l like you hve left country gone Cribben. 5 / 12

6 Two Tnks Gs Written Kren-Jne Cohen - BT Contribur It s completely different world. At 60-cre property, which cludes hotel rooms vills, emphs on wter sports, cludg divg, snorkelg, fhg -- not mention pddle-bordg, kitebordg, kykg. It lso fers JetLev. Hwks Cy s Clm Wters Sp ws rnked p 25 North Americ Trvel + Leure s World s Best Awrds Guests cn lso terct with four red--cptivity dolphs tht live n ocen enclosure t resort. Dn sys tht Hwks Cy s dg options lso set it prt. The upscle Alm Hwks Cy s signture resturnt. It s especilly impctful South Florid guests becuse it hs Lt culture flvor, usg Europen cookg techniques, she sys. Hwks Cy lwys gives dcount Florid residents percent summer -- fourth yer will host its Heroes Welcome progrm, August 20 November 18. Th fers militry, fire rescue, lw encement, medicl personnel rtes strtg t $99. Or virs who donte $2, which goes nonprits benefitg first responders those who serve country, get 20 percent f cost ir rooms. Sys Dn: Every yer it s gotten bigger bigger more excitg ll us. Prmer s Resort 565 Brry Ave. Little Torch Key Styctioners willg venture lower Keys will fd different experience lger t Prmer s, on Little Torch Key, between Mrthon Key West. The 46-unit resort bout 40 yers old. There relly ws Prmer, husb--wife, sys Prmer s generl mnger Sy Sledge. Hvg been bought Jy Mrzell 1998, Prmer s rems one-owner property, n cresgly rre sttus modern hospitlity dustry, remcent n erlier Florid. Rooms hve been remodeled updted, 6 / 12

7 Two Tnks Gs Written Kren-Jne Cohen - BT Contribur docks hve been resurfced refurbhed. Prmer s proximity vriety prks conservtion res ttrcts lovers nture. We hve lot nturlt types, sys Sledge, hsteng dd she doesn t men tht nudt sense, but outdoors sense. Kykg big, she dds, we re very big fhg spot. Mny guests tke dvntge kykg urs fered uthor well-known Keys nturlt Bill Keogh. Prmer s close renowned Looe Key Ntionl Mre Snctury (spectculr corl-reef snorkelg), Adolphus Busch Sr. USNS Venberg (populr with wreck divers). Prmer s lso ner Key Deer Ntionl Wildlife Refuge, Bhi Hond Stte Prk, Gret White Heron Ntionl Refuge. Sledge sys mgic re turns mny guests repet cusmers, who love loungg round pool or wtchg sun set fter n ctive dy. The rooms rnge bsic one-, two-, three-bedroom suites, most with kitchens. Virs cn book luxurious presidentil suite, which hs gourmet kitchen, n outdoor whirlpool, h hers titnium bicycles length your vit. Then re wterfront, two-bedroom Lgoon Cottge, which set prt rest resort. It s gret couples retret, or good fmily comg down. sys Sledge. Prmer s, Sledge dds, quiet Keys comt. We re not Hytt, we don t put chocolte on your pillow t night. It s old Keys, but clen comtble. Rensnce World Golf Villge Resort 500 South Legcy Tril St. Auguste Some people don t thk y ve relly hd vction unless it s ll bout teeg up. One option such die-hrd duffers would be Rensnce World Golf Villge, ner St. Auguste. It s just down rod hric city, 7 / 12

8 Two Tnks Gs Written Kren-Jne Cohen - BT Contribur which hs ns ttrctions. It might be just thg golfer, nongolfer couple. Rensnce World encompsses two courses. One Kg & Ber, nmed fter Arnold Plmer (kg) Jck Nicklus (ber). Accordg Scott Selvggi, resort s direcr sles mrketg, Kg & Ber only course ever co-designed both legends golf. The or course, Slmmer & Squire, ws designed with put spirtion Slmm Smmy Sned Gene The Squire Srzen. Slmmer & Squire just steps hotel, Selvggi sys. A chip shot wy. Kg & Ber not quite s close, so trnsporttion provided. Plyers enjoy such menities s chilled pples t first 10th holes, cool wels, complimentry rnge blls, ech crt equipped with GPS. Th plce sprwls such tht GPS could come hy. Menwhile, re PGA Tour Golf Acdemy, which fers lessons pros, PGA Tour Sp -- world s lrgest golf sre. Top tht f with World Golf Hll Fme & Museum. It hs lot fun, terctive exhibits, Selvggi sys. One virtul golf simulr, where you cn ply on 22 world s p courses. The 301-room hotel fers number dg options, Villgio Itl Grille Murry s Bros. Cddyshck. Rensnce World lso provides trnsport downwn St. Auguste, 15 mutes wy, members-only Serent Bech Club, which Rensnce guests re given complimentry ccess. Rensnce World lso fers specil Florid residents strtg t $99. Selvggi notes y hve certly seen n uptick vits Florids over pst few yers, lso people replcg trditionl two-week rod trip with series smller vctions. For golf fntics, Selvggi sys, There no reson go north -- or nyplce else. Ameli Isl Ameli Isl Tourt Development Council 102 Centre St. Ameli Isl / 12

9 Two Tnks Gs Written Kren-Jne Cohen - BT Contribur If long, seprted you re cpped considerg t one ml end north Florid Fort Nssu Clch but Stte Sound St. Prk Auguste showcses mze t o obvious, or rivers give Big creeks. Tlbot thought Isl Ameli Stte Isl. Ameli It s 13 miles It Ameli well-heeled, hs Wht s brce Isl Gret Concours golf Gts courses, d Elegnce, crowd jzz -show festivl, which f ir chmber owners prizes music vtge chrity. festivl, super-cool lern film festivl, crs -presumbly somethg tresure clled mostly Bureu. In fer beutiful dtct short, pretty chrm th beches, nice ll summer ny her brethtkg own, l. pckges. sys It s nturl lso Gil Th Lngley, fd plce beuty, one president with l gret fsctg resturnts, CEO hry everythg golf, resorts Ameli n tht bundnce --Isl people but hs Convention love colorful bout hotels Florid hry Virs ns -tht Ameli Hry. rr Isl tumultuous pst only plce pirtes, pillgg, United Sttes plunder. hve Virs been under cn eight more different tstys flgs, Ameli he expls, Isl Museum givg her Known Ribult Century, Vicr led prt pre-colomb homes on Civil its Wr shores. mny times hry, dependently been Timucun one century s thg owned fter Inds, end sres nor hven Ameli downwn ever Isl s sce welthy Fern -modern norrn smuggler s hry Bech. virs. hven begn ItPrk. hs 1562, erly when 19th trove Jen It Americns lso were home denied Americn hospitlity Bech, most estblhed or bechfront 1930s resorts up Africn-Americn down Florid s vctioners, cost. when blck Th Bech summer ferg number Isl Sil Awy l pckge hotels ns cludes re ferg two-night specil sty dels. privte For exmple, silg lessons, Ameli strtg Hotel t $545. The clsses Omni on Ameli bech, kid-friendly $100 Plnttion sp credit, hs tht girls getwy bsket pckge, literry bech The S, reds, Sun strtg & Soul, t $265 tht per cludes night. yog On tirs event. cert t requirements. or check h, more,, privte 19 Ameli -room Isl movies, Pirtes hotels Prcesses prents-only ns re ferg pckge dner third while $245 or fourth children per free night night re cludes enterted those pirte who t ptches ir meet own Somethg Fern ll June seems Bech. lst yer, Advnce be workg. sys bookgs Theres We lredy Hmiln, re up, hve longer nkeeper more stys busess t re Firbnks up, on lst-mute House, books brethtkg June re th up. Vicr yer thn we hd Shern Fort Luderdle Bech Hotel 1140 Sebreeze Blvd. Fort Luderdle, FL Some us thk just crossg county le Mimi-Dde Browrd journey eign l, complete with unfmilir cusms, different food, strnge music. For nyone who relly wnts sty close home, Fort Luderdle th seson hs some gret options. The Shern Fort Luderdle Bech Hotel, one, promotg its Everyone s Invited Escpe, those who thk summer vction should be Sprg Brek with hotter wer. Strtg t $548 two nights, it cludes Bttle Sexes bech volleybll, mrgrit-mkg lessons, shoppg trip Glleri Mll vi wter txi, tickets rt museum (girls) round golf wve runner rentls (guys). Th first yer promotion, sys Ann Whiddon, Zimmermn Agency, which runng 9 / 12

10 Two Tnks Gs Written Kren-Jne Cohen - BT Contribur cmpign. We know tht styctions re relly big South Florid durg summer months, she sys, we wnted crete cmpign tht piggybcked on cresg populrity friends group getwys. In ddition, progrm run Greter Fort Luderdle Convention Virs Bureu, fers people who book hotel reservtions on its site ( $25 Americn Express gift crd. It s help fset price t pump, sys Jessic Tylor, group s medi reltions direcr. The sunny.org website lso hs lt two--one dels, ctmrn chrters scub divg. Some purts mt tht only rel styction one you build yourself. Fort Luderdle might hve some best gredients tht, especilly kids. Sce movie Jws, nothg sys summer like shrks. Prents cn keep ir shrk-md kids hppy with two exhibits. At Fort Luderdle Museum Dcovery Science you cn fd meglodon, representtion gt prehric shrk tht romed ncient ses. It s prt museum s Prehric Florid exhibit, representg Sunshe Stte some 65 million yers go. The museum lso hs severl live shrks on exhibit. Next, tke kids Fort Luderdle Museum Art, where shrks re lso be found -- drwgs, phos, sculptures, video -- n exhibition, SHARK, orgnized collbortion with Nov Soustern University s Ocenogrphic Center curted Richrd Ell, n rtt, uthor, environmentlt. It ddresses s well impct Jws, which did so much fluence how people round world feel bout shrks, speks efts protect shrk species, mny which re now fcg extction due overfhg. 10 / 12

11 Two Tnks Gs Written Kren-Jne Cohen - BT Contribur Mr Orientl, Mimi 500 Brickell Key Dr. Mimi, FL We ll know how werg trvel cn be. How ten hve you sid you need vction get over vction? If tht s you, one option sty even closer home, mybe t plce where you don t hve put out o much eft, someplce tht trets you relly well. In fct, someplce like Mr Orientl Hotel on Brickell Key. 11 / 12

12 Two Tnks Gs Written Kren-Jne Cohen - BT Contribur two Th sp bsebll tretments; yer ittht jerseys ferg chuffeured cps. I Love At Mrls $2450 trip itorientl pckge. my be considered It s Mimi ll, two-night Mrls ground sty bllprk, two where Jcuzzi-type luxury you ll suite; gret two rpeutic sets, plus While specils. cludes no brekfst, one s Through gog September complimentry confuse 30, guests vlet Mr prkg, cn tke Orientl dvntge specil with extrs vlue ch, t Insider sp. tht Offer men $249 ittub. doesn t which fer And progrms lots more -between. encompss sp t If everythg both Mr you wnt Ayurvedic experience, hs Holtic it Body never splurge. 50-mute Tretments fer --though re romrpy Thi lso Herbl ptrons couples fcil Compss suite. full-dy Rituls The sys been privte mood sp relxed rpt wy, lovely set with erly it Shvon will cup mke cool Etn, sp s you rspberry s thk loction, elevr hibcus overlookg sp res te Bcyne n old herb-fused Europe, By. floor We Oshibori -sometimes where modern wel sp see --get trnsltion. dolphs night, tretment hve lredy here, room so There wdows. self-wrmg tretment tble, up cultures step, tht che lounge with doesn t The fr wll Etn mster t her crft, trnsportg clients relxtion zone where cres just drop wy. Lter, home. loungg relxtion room, it my occur you very best vction might just be right here t ll Feedbck: letters@bcynetimes.com 12 / 12