Gulf Beaches, Mental Health Day, Sandpiper

Life is busy. But it doesn't mean we can't escape for a day or two. In fact, it's imperative that you schedule regular mental-health days, or a creativity break. We need to debrief our brain and body from the organized chaos we live and breath from day to day.
    Walk out your door, from the Sandpiper Inn (www.sandpiperinn.com) on Longboat Key, and you'll be stepping onto one of Florida's best kept secrets. A beach where the tide gently rolls in, proffering her treasures. Beachcomb, walk along the beach, jog or bring your beloved pet too. A beautiful sunset, calming breeze and fresh air beckon you to come back regularly. Sip cocktails on your private beach and make new friends, walk among the mangroves, bays or go birding with local resident egrets and more than 200 species of birds. A wonderful park is across the street for biking and walking, Joan M. Durante Community Park.
    Rent or bring a bike to explore bike paths along Longboat Key and St. Armands Circle. (www.sarasotafl.org) Browse the unique stores and boutiques for the hard to shop for family and friends, or just for yourself! Hop aboard a fishing charter, enjoy eco-touring in local wild life habitats and reel in some fun (and memories) with your mackeral, grouper  or giant flounder.

    Stroll through Motes Aquarium (www.mote.org), great for one, two, or the family! Learn about sharks and Florida's native species. There are touch pools for adults and kids. Kids can get a bucket of sand and pan for sharks tooth and more! Marvel at John & Mable's Ringling Museum of Art (www.ringling.org) and the Ca d'Zan mansion. A must see and experience from the private art collection to the beautifully maintained home to the International Arts Festival coming in October.
    The evening wouldn't be complete without a decadent meal in a relaxing atmosphere. Our personal favorites include: Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub. This charming, weathered beach house dates back to 1912 and is accessible by land or sea. The manager told me that most of his clients don't know how to come by land, they all arrive in their boats. The Sandbar, on Anna Maria Island is also a legend dating back to 1913, offers tropical music and fresh seafood. The website for these two and a third restaurant on the beach, is www.groupersandwich.com. We ate at mar Vista and the view as well as our meal was superb and our waitress did a wonderful job making sure my scallops were just right!
    We also enjoy Harry's. A very charming restaurant where you can get a delicious german pancake with apples and bananas. They are open for breakfast and lunch with a varied schedule during off seasons. They also offer catering.
    Revisit old Florida. Leave your cell phones, blackberries and laptops at home. Bring your camera and a pair of sandals as you will be swept away in Longboat Key's peaceful respite.

    More photos and places to stay and visit in Longboat Key and Sarasota at www.newtraveladventures.com
  Another one of my favorite places to stay ad I hope will be yours, is the Cypress Bed & Breakfast  (www.cypressbb.com) in Sarasota, overlooking the bay! Their rooms are spacious, elegant, comfortable and the innkeepers will make sure you have everything you need, including a welcome glass of wine and light snacks before dinner on the town. You can walk to the historic art and theatre village only one block over. Only minutes from Sarasota's wonderful attractions including Selby Botanical Gardens, to boating and water sports, right from the marina across the street.

See Sea Turtles, Ft. Lauderdale

Every year thousands of sea turtles make their way onto the beaches at night and lay their eggs deep in the sand. Weeks later , tiny hatchling turtles dig their way out and crawl to the sea. It is estimated there 1,900 nests and 150,000 hatchlings in the area of Ft. Lauderdale, just over 20 miles north of Miami.
There are guided trips visitors can go on in hopes of witnessing the awesome sight of a giant sea turtle making her nest. These trips fill up fast and only so many people can go due to protection of the sea turtles. There are no guarantees of sightings, but you can be pretty sure to see turtles during June, July and August. One tour lets visitors watch a hatchling release.
I have been to Ft. Lauderdale in the summer with my niece and we tried to get on one of the tours, but the week we were there, they were filled up. If you're planning to go, call ahead. Guided tours minimize disruption for the sea turtles and you can learn a lot.
With the moonlight you might get to see a 400-pound Loggerhead sea turtle emerge from the ocean and lay her eggs. The Museum of Discovery & Science offers a program about sea turtles on a guided tour. The museum has a resident female Loggerhead, Dulce. The program starts at the museum at 9 p.m. and ends at approximately 1 a.m. There is a fee, r.s.v.p is required. Learn more here: www.mods.org
The Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island offers rehabilitation for sea turtles and non-sea turtles. They have a wonderful education center and also have guided walking tours of nesting turtles. Visit them at www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org
For more information about sea turtles and guided tours, visit our website; www.newtraveladventures.com

St. Simons and the Georgia Golden Isles

It's been a while since I've been on a road trip. I have been so looking forward to relaxing on the beach up here at St. Simons, I didn't even check the weather forecast. That's very unlike me. But even with the slight rain shower we've had today and the blustery winds, it's all worth it.
It was a beautiful drive up, traffic wasn't the usual unorganized chaos. I enjoyed watching the sun come up as I was crossing over another smaller body of water in Central Florida. I'm relishing sipping green tea and marveling at the sunrises over the next few mornings.
As I gaze out my balcony doors, the waves are crashing into the rocks. Literally. The wind has been steadily increasing with the threat of sever thunderstorms, I'm even more intrigued. When you see the enormous blue-gray body of water, whipped into a frenzy, it goes on as far as the eye can see.
Whether its balmy and warm or windy with a light rain, there's something romantic about the beach. Even Georgia's 100 miles of coast, beckon any rider on the road to stop and gaze. It's captivating. Drawing you into it's kaleidoscope of versatile cultures. Yes, cultures. From the beautiful creatures that call the sea their home to the storms and weather brought on or intensified by the warm or cold water, or even the lives made; from crab fishing to transportation. The ocean is a true treasure trove. The bounty may be buried with sunken ships, a rainbow of coral and mammals or the pleasure one derives from living or vacationing on liquid gold, the ocean and other bodies of water can be calming, intoxicating, romantic and yes, even intimidating or daunting.
From anglers and pirates, to merchant ships and search and rescue expeditions, many a men have heroic tales to entice us further into their cave, the lure.
(stay tuned for more)

South Beach Adventure

The beach beckons. Warm, soft sand and turquoise waters offer the perfect playground 

for any age. Welcome to South Beach Miami. We're staying at the Z Ocean Hotel a few sandal-clad steps from one of America's Hottest Beaches. 

Valet your vehicle and step into a new adventure.

Guests can enjoy jet skiing, para sailing, boating, biking and helicopter rides, to peek your adventure. Shopping alone is a sport not for the faint at heart. If you're going to visit Miami, South Beach is the place to be, and Z Ocean Hotel is in the heart of the action. Walk to great restaurants, whether you're looking for pasta, steak or sushi, you'll find plenty of choices along the beachfront, Ocean Drive, or on Collins Avenue one block over. Or, at the hotel's restaurant, Table 8, partake in a light or hearty fare with hundreds of candles, earthy plants and decor, watch a game on one of the large screen tv's or dine with friends over drinks with hip music. 

After a hectic day playing in the surf or shopping, step into your Spa Suite, with a jacuzzi (for four) on the balcony, plush king-size beds with overstuffed pillows and an entertainment center to chill out. Bose surround sound both inside and out, on your private balcony. 

We know men and women a like will enjoy the partitioned bath. With frosted glass and four wall sprays, a handheld spray and rain shower, a separate vanity area, you'll feel like you're in heaven. 

Oh, did I mention the pool on the second floor? A great lap pool with lounge chairs in the sun and in the shade, a bar and even a few small waterfalls to help you forget the hustle and bustle around you. 

Elegance surrounds you--both inside your suite and outside on the sizzling beach.