Miami, the most populous city in Florida, is a large tourist destination.  It is a major urban center, with a heavy emphasis on finance, commerce, music, tourism, the arts, and international trade (it is a deep water port).  You’ll find many corporate headquarters located here, and it is a home port for many cruise lines.

If you haven’t been to Miami, you’ve probably seen it in the movies or on television:  Miami Vice, CSI:  Miami, Top Chef (3rd season), There’s Something About Mary, Wild Things, Marley & Me, The Birdcage, and several James Bond movies.
Or you may be familiar with the …read more

My past trips to Miami and have been of the in and out type.  I’m here, spend an afternoon, sleep, and I’m gone again.  Now I find myself here for an extend period of time, and get to take a little sample of everything that the city has to offer.
There’s sun!  And coming from Seattle, there’s a lot to like about the sun!
I spent much of today out on the water of Key Biscayne, enjoying a little sun and getting into a little different state of mind.
I spent time aboard one of the boats from Island Queen Cruises, enjoying a …read more

The Miami Seaquarium offers ghoulish fun in a kid-friendly environment with its Monster Splash Nighttime Halloween Bash, a four night Halloween adventure.  You can feel scared, while still doing good, and hang out with some of the best creatures around!
This Halloween event features age appropriate activities for the entire family, including:

Trick-or-treating with costumes and candy
Field of Screams featuring rides, slides and a skeleton walk
The Frightening Manor – a kid-friendly haunted house
Trail of Terror Haunted House
Fall Harvest Festival with pumpkin carving contest, games, and activities
Grand finale fireworks

The Bash is open October 24-26th, 31st, from 5 – 10 pm.  Daytime guest …read more

In honor of April Fools Day, here’s a list of foolish and foolhardy actions that are a foolproof way to make getting through airport security as painfully slow as possible:

Wear metal studded pants.  You can’t take them off and put them through the metal detector, so they’re going to have to wand you.  What were you thinking?
Leave liquids in your carry on bags.  Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you should know about the security directive limiting liquids and gels in carry on items.  Even if you’ve missed it, there are explanatory signs located before you get into the …read more

Today is Admission Day for Florida, our 27th state, admitted to the Union on March 3rd, 1845.
Florida is located in the southeastern part of the country, with the Atlantic Ocean flanking one side, and the Gulf of Mexico the other.  Ponce de Leon named it, and many believe that it was in Florida that he claimed to have found his fountain of youth.
Before the formal declaration of Civil War, Florida seceded from the Union, and became a founding member of the Confederate States of America.  Full representation was restored in 1868.
For much of its existence, Florida was the least populated …read more

When you hear the destination Miami Beach, what do you think of?  If you’re like me, you probably think about sun and sand, the beaches and swimming pools, lazy days and wild parties at night, and a pretty laid back, carefree attitude.  You aren’t far wrong if that’s what comes to mind.
Situated among all the frivolity, however, is the Holocaust Memorial, a dramatic tribute to the six million Jewish Victims of World War II.  The site was designed by architect and sculptor Kenneth Treister, who was charged with interpreting the events of the Holocaust into a memorial that would honor …read more

After yesterday’s cold post, I wanted to get back to my warm comfort zone.  In this case, that means Key West for the Pirates in Paradise Festival, November 30th-December 3rd.
All sorts of scurrilous sorts will appear for reenactments of pirate battles on the high seas, along with the National Walk the Plank Championships.  You can also visit the schooner “Wolf” for a sunset cruise.  But beware of attacking pirates!
If you’d prefer your confrontations with pirates to be on land, you can grab a tankard of grog or browse through the Thieves Market, located in Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park.  …read more

Orlando is a city of theme parks, tourists, and is frequently plastic and sterile.  It’s also the angriest city in America.  I guess that fake smile starts to grate after awhile.
Since I’ve been stuck at a hotel near the major theme parks, it’s been hard to find a restaurant that is enjoyable, has good food, is fairly priced, and is not too over the top touristy,
I may have found such a place in Tu Tu Tango.
Before I go any further, Tu Tu Tango is a concept chain restaurant.  There are locations in several states and in Canada.  The restaurants are …read more

If you want to splurge for Halloween, you could try Orlando’s SeaWorld Spooktacular, where kids get to combine artificial trick-or-treating events with artificial sea life.  It may seem plastic and artificial, but kids love it, and there’s no disputing it’s safe.
Included with the price of park admission, Spooktacular includes trick-or-treating at 15 different stations throughout the park.  Kids will get to see friendly sea witches, octopuses, and mermaids, as they collect their Halloween treats.  Other options, for an additional charge,  include a Spooky Sleepover and character breakfasts.
Taking a family to SeaWorld is an expensive proposition.  If you’ve promised the kids, …read more

A recent MSN article listed 15 tourist traps that the writer recommended avoiding, claiming they weren’t worth the time and/or money.
I disagree with most of them, believing that they are things you need to do at least once in your life.
Read my reasoning here, compare with MSN writer Jon Douglas here, and then weigh in with your own opinion.

San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf:  C’mon, it’s free.  And on a sunny day, it’s a nice walk with a view of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Chicago’s Sears Tower:  OK, sure, you could go to the Hancock Tower instead, but you’ve …read more