If you are familiar with the movie The Truman Show, and know enough about my family to know that our favorite beach spot is along Highway 30-A in Florida where Seaside, the charming beach town where the movie was filmed, sits squarely upon, then you, like the shop owners in that town who take a second glance when we call our son by name, may think we named our son after the main character in the movie. We did not.

But this place is as much a part of us as the air we breathe. This is our heaven on earth. And just like the false Utopia that was portrayed in The Truman Show, even vacations have to end. So as we drive away, I’ve just one thing left to say to our quaint home away from home … “Good morning, and in case I don’t see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!”

Photo, JWJourney
Video, YouTube, Grineed

It you’re ready to get down on bended knee and pop the question to your best gal,  the LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort in Naples, Florida is ready to work with you to make sure that your proposal is memorable and goes off just the way you planned it.  If you’re the spontaneous, “hey let’s get married” kina of guy, you can skip on by.  But if you’re a creative type, looking for a way to make the proposal a big surprise, or an over-the-top experience, LaPlaya’s Betrothal Butler is there to help.  Make it a vacation and a proposal.

The two-night package includes standard resort facilities (deluxe beachfront accommodations, spa treatments, meals, and in-room amenities), and it also includes some pre-proposal assistance.  A carriage ride, couple’s massage, and in-room Champagne and rose, set the mood for the romantic questions, and after the answer is YES, you can celebrate with a penthouse party where you’ve cleverly snuck in family and friends.  Additional options include an engagement photo shoot, DVD recording, and private online album.  And if you need some help with crafting the right words for your proposal, or finding the right engagement ring, the Betrothal Butler can help with that as well.

Creative ideas are the norm for the Betrothal Butler, whether it’s finding a ring in the 18th hole (for a golf lover), inside an oyster (for the foodie), in the sauna (for the fitness buff), or anything else that you can think of or start to think of.  These people can make it happen, and make it happen in a big way.

LaPlaya has 189 guestrooms, featuring private balconies with views of the gulf, bay or garden.  Other features include marble bathroom, twice-daily maid service, CD players, and high speed internet access.  I’d hope that the latter would be used to share the news with others, rather than mean you couldn’t stop Twittering your latest blog post!  The resort has a white-sand beach with umbrellas and cabanas, a spa, gym, and salon, several pools, a lagoon, and a new 18-hole golf course.

Betrothal Butler packages start at $998.

Photo credit: SXC

When Truman was old enough to realize the concept of vacation, he took to the idea quite warmly. His favorite place in the world became the beach.

The age when Truman fell in love with the beach!

When he was not quite 2 years old, we spent a week on the Gulf Coast of Florida (along Highway 30-A between Rosemary and Seaside, if you are familiar with the area). Truman took to the water like a fish. He played in the surf (probably drank a gallon of seawater) and rolled in the sand (probably ate a pound of that) and played in the pool and slept hard every night. The day we packed up the car and headed home, my son slept the entire way. He woke as we pulled in the driveway and began wailing. We eventually got him inside and for a solid hour he laid on the floor, kicking and screaming, “BEACH HOUSE! BEACH HOUSE!”

We stood over him in amazement. I said to Rick, “Quick, call your parents! Tell them he wants a beach house!” (Rick’s folks buy Truman a gift every time they seem him – which is almost weekly – and they let him want for nothing.) Unfortunately, (and amazingly) they didn’t bite on the beach house request.

We’ve decided, once Truman is in college, that we must retire to the beach - any beach. Right now our top choice is Costa Rica. I’d put Santa Barbara second but we wouldn’t be able to afford much there. I suppose we could live inland near the wine country but then we’d be drunk the whole time. (For that same reason, I couldn’t live in Belgium.) My Our third choice would probably be our favorite strip there along Highway 30-A in Florida. But I’m not ruling out Hawaii. Especially now!

WinHawaiianHome.com is having a contest where you can win this custom-built Hawaiian home “nestled in an enchanted forest with singing frogs about a mile and a half from a gorgeous black sand beach that is home to 30-40 dolphins.” No kidding.

Win this house in Hawaii!

To enter, all you have to do is write a 101-word or less essay and pony up $101. The contest is supervised by legal council and guarantees that each entry will be read. A group of judges will decide the winner of the house as well as second- and third-place winners who will receive $10,000 and $5,000 respectively. Other prizes may also be given.

You’d better hurry because the deadline is May 1, 2009.

If the goal of 6,000 entries is not met by that time, the contest will be extended 101 more days. And if by then the entries still come up short, cash prizes will be awarded based on the number of entries received.

For details, visit www.winhawaiianhome.com.

HURRY!

JWJourney

Miami Beach is known as much for the hip celebrities that visit as well as for the actual beach.  But a trip to Miami probably will feature at least a stop off in the area.

There’s more to Miami Beach than just the beach!

Lincoln Road is a popular area of Miami Beach, and is a hip, creative, pedestrian-only shopping area that features specialty shops and restaurants tucked in between some of the large national retail chains stores.  Although it likes to bill itself as more than just touristy, as I looked around I couldn’t identify anyone who wasn’t one.

Lincoln Road, Miami Beach

You’ll find lots of outdoor dining spots with the inevitable umbrella covered tables, but you’ll also find sofas and easy chairs put out for a more relaxed environment for cocktails.  It’s almost like having cocktails in your living room — except for the chair-side service and expensive bar tab.

On the cocktail front, however, I found most to be a little overpriced ($13 was a common price for a drink), especially considering that many of the bars offered little in the way of ambiance and the service was largely indifferent.  I think these are definitely “tourist” prices rather than “local” prices, especially when a half block off the main street prices dropped by about a third.

For dinner, I’d definitely recommend stepping away from the main street.  A block or so off of Lincoln Avenue you’ll find El Rancho Grande (1626 Pennsylvania Avenue), a charming Mexican restaurant.  This is not a typical Mexican restaurant — you’ll find strong Cuban influence, as well as other flavors and seasonings from the Caribbean.  Service is excellent!  Dinner for two, including a couple of beers, will run around $50.  Still a bit on the high side for Mexican food, but a bargain compared to the rest of the neighborhood.

If you’re 21 years old with a body to die for, you’ll probably be willing to spend the higher prices of Lincoln Road simply for the opportunity to see and be seen.  But if you looking for a better experience, at a more reasonable price, get off the beaten path.

Mother Nature has been teasing us into believing that “Global Warming” is just a big fib.

In many parts of the U.S., there have been blizzards, severe ice storms and temperatures so brutally cold that even my big Labrador is hiding from his daily walk.

There is no phrase more prosaic or bursting with hope than “Spring Training”.

In two little words, come thoughts of both the warmth of spring (opening day) and the coolness of fall (World Series).

Today I saw a shot of our Derek Jeter, a girl’s Yankee fan’s answer to Matthew McConaughey (Derek is more of a class act).

OK, guys…we felt your pain…two whole weeks without any significant sports to speak of (especially if you read The New York Times sports section).

Only to be followed by the onslaught of Valentine’s Day.

Soon, there will be new grass on the field and a whole new season of outdoor grilling…Play Ball!

Image: Newsday.com