A Day at John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk

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September 25, 2019

Recently we visited Maderia Beach and had the opportunity to spend a day at John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk. We discovered what many have known for years. This place is a great compendium of shopping, dining and entertainment experiences.

In all, we counted more than 100 different shops, services and experiences at this multi-level complex. In addition to the restaurants and souvenir shops, you can find almost anything from hand-rolled cigars to Birkenstock shoes to rescued alligators. Originally, we had planned for about an hour to breeze though the place. We ended up walking, browsing and patronizing for better than four hours.

Getting Oriented

We had not visited John’s Pass previously. Fortunately they are well prepared for first timers. A welcome center that is well stocked with maps and brochures greets you. There also are several kiosks and locator maps scattered about the facility. It’s easy to find your way around the area.

At the entrance to the Boardwalk, there’s a posted map as well as tri-fold brochures you can carry with you to find your way about.

We actually started on the boardwalk. The place is peppered with restaurants and all kinds of dining options. There’s also a wide variety of water entertainment services. There are Waverunners for rent, deep sea fishing charters and guided tours to see the dolphins. You can go parasailing or even take The Royal Conquest Pirate day cruise.

We discovered the Royal Conquest while researching our article about Arr-gust being pirate month.

The Royal Conquest preparing to sail with its newest band of miscreants.

The Dining

After looking about, we decided to have lunch at the Friendly Fisherman. This three story facility is part of the Hubbard’s Marina. It’s run by the multi-generational Hubbard family who have been providing fishing and tourist cruises for decades – and also providing dining excellence on the boardwalk.

We scored a window seat on the upper deck. This enabled us to see a lot of the water traffic traveling up and down John’s Pass. There were private boats, tour boats and a deep sea fishing charter departing and arriving. The Royal Conquest Pirate ship went out for a mid-day cruise as well.

The dining was delicious. We sampled a wide variety of fare. There were fried oysters and calamari, gator bites, corn fritters and onion rings. Everything was great and Audrey was a wonderful waitress.

In fact, it was Audrey who suggested we take a walk down the boardwalk, head under the John’s Pass Drawbridge and make our way over to beautiful Maderia Beach. We did just that and it was wonderful. Although the bridge is said to be haunted, we only experienced some wildlife looking for lunch.

The walk under the John’s Pass Drawbridge is a great place to see wildlife up close.

Maderia Beach

Maderia Beach itself is long and spacious. The day we were there it was not crowded. There were a few families enjoying the sun and surf. The small jetty was a wonderful place to watch the water traffic coming into and out of the Gulf. There were a few fishermen trying their luck against several shorebirds which were plying the waters nearby as well.

The Shopping

Back at John’s Pass Village, we spent quite a bit of time browsing the shops – and there are a lot of them. We picked up some Birkenstock sandals (on sale) at 5:00 Somewhere. There was resortwear and accessories at Fantasia’s Boutique. Island Rags and Laska Surf provided great opportunities to find style for the beach.

Additionally, there are numerous outlets for jewelry, there’s The Leather Shop and The Spice & Tea Exchange. Windworks, the home of spinners, whirlygigs and kites, is by far is one of the coolest places in the complex.

If you are a cigar smoker – Cuban Paradise is on the property. Watching Oscar roll cigars is great entertainment in and of itself. We stood amazed at his ability to roll cigars of equal size and weight – one after another.

Sadly, we did not have time to get to the Florida Winery and sample their wares. Nor did we make it to the alligator attraction and feed live gators. Those will have to wait for another time.

When visiting Maderia Beach we recommend John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk. We also recommend you budget plenty of time for this great place.

September is Bourbon Month Celebrate in Florida

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Florida Funmeister

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September 23, 2019

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As you may, or may not, know – September is Bourbon Heritage month. And there’s still time to celebrate!

When it comes to Bourbon whiskey many folks don’t know that the Sunshine State offers you a lot of options. We have had the opportunity to visit some of these locations and they are fun as well as producing a great product.

St Augustine Distillery

For example, the St. Augustine Distillery Company is a great little business collaborative. A group of locals who shared a dream. They have worked diligently to distill super premium, small batch spirit. Their goal – to be better than anyone in the world. They are succeeding on a number of levels.

They started by bringing some of the world’s best distilling experts to St Augustine — the oldest and coolest small city in America. Then, they combine it with locally grown sugar cane, wheat, corn, and citrus. The notion was to develop a ﬁner quality spirit than just about any other place in the world.

While the business fairly is new, the location is not. They operate out of St Augustine’s Historic FP&L Ice Plant. Built as part of St. Augustine’s ﬁrst power and ice complex in 1907, owners have restored and brought it back to serve the community for the next century.

The Ice Plant is a contributing building to the Lincolnville Neighborhood. It’s also on the National Register of Historic Places and was the ﬁrst of it’s kind to make commercial block ice in Florida over 100 years ago. Today, it is helping us make Florida’s ﬁrst bourbon and other ﬁne craft spirits.

When you visit St. Augustine, you need to budget some time to go through the St. Augustine Distillery tour. It is fun, informative and you get enough of a sample to stock up on their product before you leave.

Timber Creek

On a family farm located just north of Destin, Florida is the Timber Creek Distillery. These folks are so far out into the woods they have to come back toward town to go hunting.

Their vision is to take the best local fruits and grains from the Florida Panhandle and turn them into the finest Craft Spirits. They take great pride in hand making every batch and hand bottling every bottle.

The Florida Panhandle and Gulf Coast are blessed with some fantastic local crops. For their Whiskeys, they use local Red Soft Winter Wheat, local Yellow #2 Dent Corn, and local Florida 401 Black Rye.

The Timber Creek Distillery is unique inasmuch as they use a custom designed pot still, “thumper”, and copper worm condenser to allow the bold favors of the raw ingredients to shine through.

The Winter Park Distilling Company

The Winter Park Distilling Company was founded in 2010 by Paul Twyford and Andrew Asher. Both were raised in Winter Park. They were later joined by Andrew’s wife, Francesca, a transplant from Palm Beach County.

Starting with just a handmade 50-gallon still and a few old recipes for whiskey, they established the Winter Park Distilling Company as the first and finest craft distillery in Orange County, Florida.

Their Bear Gully Classic Reserve Bourbon is the very first craft bourbon made in Florida. A single barrel bourbon, it is crafted with a rich local corn mash and aged in a naturally heated rackhouse to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. In this thick, humid, summertime air our award-winning Florida bourbon gets its smooth and rich finish imbued with a proud Central Florida pedigree.

Those are just a few of the Sunshine State distilleries and definitely Florida Fun Travel locations. In addition to their stock, each also offers tours of their facilities.

Time to Celebrate

And finally, no Florida Fun Travel report would be complete without a festival – and this is no exception. The Bacon & Bourbon Festival now has been moved to Wellington.

The two-day event will feature great live music, artist & crafters, an eclectic menu of bacon-infused culinary delights. They also will have a collection of over 60 bourbons and whiskeys for your tasting pleasure. The Fest also offers participants exclusive bacon and bourbon pairing seminars including exclusive Pappy Van Winkle tastings.

South Florida’s foremost Bourbon experts share the distiller’s art and patient techniques in the seminars and tastings. All intended to enhance your knowledge and pleasure of American made Bourbon and whiskey. Additionally, an Irish whiskey or rye will be thrown into the mix for historical purposes.

For those who cannot be convinced to partake in Bourbon, we will have a few fine wines and ice-cold beer too.

Our plan is to blend our own custom bourbon thanks to the fine folks at Timber Creek. Visit our Florida Fun Travel Facebook page or drop us a line at [email protected].

Bake Chop of Deland – A Dining Must-Stop

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Florida Funmeister

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September 20, 2019

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We were in Deland for their weekly farmer’s market and discovered Bake Chop. This probably was the most rewarding dining experience we’ve had since finding Cafe Evergreen in Nokomis.

Artisan Alley is a narrow way just off West Georgia Avenue

Don’t Blink or You’ll Miss it

Walking through the vendors down Artisan Alley, we found it at the end of the street. It is a modest entryway almost easily missed in the hubbub of shoppers. Walking through the door, we were greeted with a beehive of activity. The place was packed with early evening diners.

The Bake Chop was packed the night we ate there

Fortunately, the turnover was quick and we landed a corner seat. It was the perfect place to both watch the frenetic activity in the kitchen.

It was easy to watch the4 people and the Bake Chop kitchen staff.

From the soups and salads to sandwiches and seasonal sides, these are people who really pay attention to what they do. It is easy to see why they are one of the most popular restaurants in Deland.

Locally Sourced

Moreover, the Bake Chop uses as much product from local vendors as possible. For instance, many of the vegetables they use come from Common Ground Farm in DeLand. Items for their daily sides originate from Noble Roots in Eustis, Samsula Farms and Green Flamingo Organics in Oak Hill.

The kale, collard greens and many of the herbs they grow themselves.

The Bake Chop sources beef from Fort McCoy, while the shrimp comes from Seafood Connection in Cape Canaveral.

Our Bake Chop dinner was a delight on many levels.

Our Dining Experience

Picking dinner from the menu at Bake Chop was not an easy task. We found a myriad of things we wanted to try. In the end, I selected The Boulevard. This is a grilled chicken breast with herbed goat cheese. It’s complimented with balsalmic glazed shaved red onion, tomato and spinach – all sandwiched between slices of toasted sourdough bread.

Mrs. Funmeister opted for the Vegan TLT. This creation is organic tempeh, avacado spread and pickled red onion. It’s complimented with lettuce and tomato – also on sourdough bread.

Let me tell you, these were two of the greatest sandwiches we have had since we have started traveling.

Our waiter Matinicus was extremely helpful in guiding us through the menu on our first time out. Mrs. Funmeister chose the German potato salad as her side. I, in turn, went to the edge and took a watermelon and feta cheese salad. It was out of this world.

Other Options

We are suckers for sandwiches. However, Bake Chop also has a wide selection of small plates. We saw choices ranging from “Magical Fruit,” to quiche, beef or seafood. They even had one dubbed “Taylor Trash” which is a medley of french fries, sweet potato fries and onion rings.”

They also have plenty of salads and desserts. Did we mention their desserts? They have their desserts displayed prominently on glass cases by the check-in counter. This is very handy. If you stuff yourself (as we did), you can always get a couple to go.

There’s always plenty of dessert options at Bake Chop.

We would be remiss if we didn’t tell you that Bake Chop also has a gluten free menu for those who need such items. They are extremely responsive to special dietary needs.

In the end, we cannot say enough nice things about Bake Chop. This is one of the places that begs us to return. We want to go back and try a number of the other options on the menu.

One of the nicest things, is that this is not a cookie cutter restaurant. Matinicus told us that many of the items were crafted by their own staff – another thing that makes us want to return.

So we give Bake Chop of Deland five stars – our highest rating. We would recommend that when you visit Deland, seek out Artisan Alley and this fine little eatery. To find more, visit the Bake Chop webpage.

A Klingon Feast Farewell – or nuqneH

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Florida Funmeister

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September 18, 2019

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We have blogged about the Klingon Feast in Daytona in the past. So we were saddened to learn that this year’s qepHom will be their last. We learned this in an official announcement from Admiral K’rum epitai-Urussig (Retired).

While writing that “Many issues have led to this decision,” he did hold out hope that “it does not mean that this is the end of some type of special Klingon event in the future.”

Having been Star Trek fans ourselves, this kind of thing always drew our interest. Yet, we never had the opportunity to attend. Nor will we be able to go this year as we have a prior commitment.

Nobody…or everybody…is safe when the Klingons have their Bat’Leths out.

quaStaH nug

This is an annual Klingon event. It appropriately has been held in Daytona Beach since it’s inception, and will be again this year. They boast that this science fiction Star Trek weekend is an “event by the fans for the fans.”

That means that there are no dealers or guest stars – just fans being Klingon, games, contests and gathering for a traditional Klingon Feast.

As the Admiral epitai-Urussig has pointed out, over the years the group “broke bread with people from all over and created friendships that will always be with us.” Events have included lessons in language, make-up and costume design.

tlhlngan maH!

And of course, what would a Klingon Feast be without games? There have been costume contests, warrior contests, synthahol contests and Klingon Jeopardy. In addition, there are arm wrestling bouts, an escape room challenge and even a Tribble Relay.

Sadly, Klingons are reduced to eating Earth food for this event (non-organica0.

majQua’

This year, the event will begin September 26 with the Klingon Mini Golf Adventure at Congo River Golf. It was unclear as to whether they would use putters or the more traditional Bat’Leths.

The event itself will be held at the Daytona Best Western Aku Tiki Inn. That’s where the Klingon Rite of Ascension, Klingon Story Time and the Klingon Family Feud will be held.

It will be a bittersweet time, but Trekkies may want to put this final Klingon Feast on their bucket list of events for the ages.

Ron Jon’s – The Mega Surf Shop

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Florida Funmeister

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September 17, 2019

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We had seen the Ron Jon’s Surf Shop billboards for years. So when we visited Cocoa Beach, we decided to pay them a visit. Even if you are not a surfer yourself, you have to be blown away. If nothing else, by the sheer volume and scope of their inventory.

After all, it’s not only the flagship of the 14-store chain, it’s the biggest surf shop in the world.

The giant edifice that is Ron Jon’s Surf Shop

The Beginnnings

The Ron Jon Surf Shop began in New Jersey in the late 1950’s and quickly headed south to Cocoa Beach Pier. It has grown to a massive two-story outlet full of surf boards, clothing and accessories.

How big is it? – 52,000 square feet! We tried to get the whole building in one shot – but it was impossible. It’s open 24-hours a day, 365 days a year and garners 1.5 million visitors annually.

There are literally racks of surfboards in every shape and size.

There’s a huge line of surf equipment. For instance, We saw surf boards and boogie boards. Some are long, others are short. There are wide ones and there are narrow ones. There’s every design you can imagine (and some you cannot.) Plus, there’s a full line of accessories for the avid surfer.

But Wait – There’s More

Are you looking to make a fashion statement? There’s two floors of clothing for men, women and children. There are T-shirts and sweatshirts. You can find racks of hoodies and jackets. There are shorts and swimsuits – and lots of different options for hats and footwear.

We saw seasoned shoppers rifling through the displays looking for the exact right outfit in the exact right colors with the right accessories. Naturally. most all of them bore the trademark Ron Jon logo.

If you could not find the outfit you wanted – you weren’t looking very hard,

We also took time to browse their accessories, there were Ron Jon cups and mugs. There was plenty of jewelry, bumper stickers, magnets, decals and even Ron Jon logo phone cases. And of course, suntan oil and other beach accessories for those heading out for sun and fun.

The 60th Anniversary

When we were there, Ron Jon’s was celebrating their 60th Anniversary. To that end, they had mounted a huge sand sculpture in front of the building in honor of the occasion.

The Trademark

Since the beginning, Ron Jon has been all about the marketing. The Ron Jon Surf Shop logo and name has become recognized around the globe.

They claim that it has been spotted on the space station Mir. It has purportedly embraced one of the legs of the Eiffel Tower. And every day, it is seen on vehicles ranging from ’65 Ramblers to ’14 hybrids.

And yes, we even got one for the Funmobile (Mrs. Funmeister has not yet warmed to the idea that it should be prominently displayed on our bumper).

When you go to certain cities, you go to see the sights. In New York it’s the Statue of Liberty. In Cocoa Beach, it’s Ron Jon’s.

An Ovation for Ovation Bistros

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Florida Funmeister

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September 15, 2019

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We found the Ovation Bistro & Bar first while looking for a place to eat near I-4. This one was in Davenport. It was mid afternoon and we ended up having a late lunch.

It was a nice place, a lot of dark wood and leather, with an extensive bar. The food was good and the service was personable. These are things we later would find are emblematic of the Ovation chain.

Ovation Davenport

Because of their location at the end of a strip mall, owners were able to wall-in the area along the sidewalk They then used outdoor patio furniture in groupings for an outside seating and a waiting area. It both gave people a comfortable place to sit and provided a means for customers to interact on a more personable level.

Our initial experience was a good one both the food and the service was wonderful. Little did we know it was part of a local chain.

Ovation Winter Haven

A few months later we found their second restaurant while we were in Cypress Gardens – near Winter Haven. Known as the “Ovation2 Bistro & Bar.” We again got a good lunch and wonderful service. In fact, our greeting came from the manager himself who had been working the front desk.

Like the Ovation in Davenport, the Winter Haven location made use of their outside sidewalk space. Despite the fact they were not able to enclose it. There was outside seating on the one side, and an outside sofa on the other.

There were a pair of 4-tops under a small awning for those who wished to sit outside and enjoy the evening.

It was a good enough experience that we have revisited this location a couple times when we were in the area.

Ovation Lakeland

Their third location is in Lakeland. It took us a while, but we finally found it.

Having visited the other two, we decided to finish out the trifecta. The place is significantly larger than the other two – and does not have the same cozy feel. Our experience was that it wasn’t nearly as good foodwise. However, I noted they do have a giant bar area – which probably is where this location makes it’s money.

The bar area at the Lakeland Ovation is spacious.

But in the end – the wait staff was quick, pleasant and attentive. We considered it to be overpriced for what we got. Plus, it lacked the atmosphere of the Winter Haven location. From the looks of it, the place probably hops at night.

The Ovation Story

We first mentioned Ovation in a blog where we suggested Eight Restaurants on the Ridge You Owe it to Yourself to Try.

A veteran-owned and operated chain owners of the Ovation Bistro & Bar say they are “unashamedly passionate” about the food and drinks they create. And they back it up. Ovation was voted the Number One Restaurant in Davenport and they have been voted The Best Smokehouse in Central Florida.

Apparently, it has grown in less than a decade. Our first experience was at the Davenport location – that also was their first restaurant. It opened in 2014. The Winter Haven and Lakeland locations followed.

All three are located in strip malls.

They also have a charitable arm. The Ovation Bistro Foundation is a non-profit company. Its announced mission is “to help Polk County residents.” At last report, they had donated over 30,000 meals with Feeding America Tampa Bay and supported hundreds of charities and even given out scholarships to local deserving students.

When it comes to good food and good service, when in Polk County, a visit to any of the Ovation Bistro & Bar locations is a pretty good choice.

Village of the Arts – A Different Experience

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Florida Funmeister

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September 12, 2019

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It appears the experience you get when you visit the Village of the Arts in Bradenton depends on when you go. We recently visited Cortez and decided to take in a side trip to VOTA as it’s called. It was a Friday afternoon about 2:00. It was plenty of time, we thought, for even artists to be up and around.

As we drove around around the neighborhood, we noticed the CBD light was on at The Village Mystic. We pulled up in front – as there was virtually nobody else on the street – and went inside.

The lady at the counter of the self-described “metaphysical emporium,” invited us to look around. The smell of incense was heavy in the air and we could only stay a few minutes. We asked her if she had a map of the community we might use to find our way around.

Actually, not. However, she told us that there were plenty of places where maps were posted so we could see the layout. She was right. There were several places that had such displays. The problem was, virtually nobody was open.

There are periodic signposts around the Village of the Arts.

Browsing The Village of the Arts

We strolled the streets and looked at the brightly colored houses. Some were better kept than others. In fact, in some cases, it was difficult to tell exactly what was supposed to have been an artistic display and what was something perhaps headed to the curb.

I guess patina is in the eye of the beholder.

Apparently, there were some houses that were not businesses and wanted people to know it. On several gates there were very artistic signs that read “private residence.”

Nevertheless, there appear to be a number of very interesting places that deserve a visit once they are open. There are two dozen galleries and studios such as Art Junkies, Fun Girl Art and The Village Veranda. There are specialty shops and services like Jerk Dog Records, Frank Peter Antiques or Bits & Pieces Fabric and Quilt Shop.

And there are a few restaurants. We saw the Arte Cafe, The Bird Rock Taco Shop and the upscale Ortygia. Sadly, we did not get an opportunity to experience very much of any of this.

We did find there were Historic Walking Tours available – we might do better next time to take one of those.

Another Time

We think that perhaps next time we go, we will wait until there is a special event. That being said, they don’t advertise their special events all that well. When we went to their webpage and their Facebook page, all the events listed were things that had happened in the past.

We don’t agree with one TripAdvisor review that “this area was the scariest I’ve been to in the USA.” However, if they are to hold themselves out as a tourist destination, they could use a community spruce up day .

A Quiet Weekend on the St. John’s River

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Florida Funmeister

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September 9, 2019

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We’d always heard about the St John’s River, but never visited. This past weekend changed all that.

Earlier we blogged about our trip to Deland. That was a great time and we vowed to return. As we made good on our pledge it led us to the St John’s River, It was one of the most rewarding trips we’ve had to date.

Our decision to make the trip came suddenly. We decided to go to the Friday night Deland Farmer’s Market. Fortunately, we keep our picnic basket and travel basket packed. In fact, our suitcase is almost always at the ready as well.

Upon making the decision, Mrs Funmeister hit TripAdvisor and began looking for lodging. She found one of the best facilities we’ve enjoyed since we have started traveling.

The Huntoon Landing & Resort

Once again we stayed off site. In fact, Huntoon Landing is just a few miles out of Deland but it is worlds away. Located on the banks of the St John’s River, it literally is three driveways down from Huntoon Island State Park.

When we arrived we were impressed by the quiet. The only sounds were birds chirping and the crunch of gravel beneath the tires as we drove up to the office.

Even walking up to the office you get a feel for the peacefulness of the place.

I must say, for the price this place is a steal. They have 18 rooms and suites spread over five buildings. We had a simple room with a queen-sized bed. However, there are some suites with fully equipped kitchens. Our room came in at less than a hundred dollars.

One of the nicest features for us was a shared deck that overlooked the beautiful St. John’s River. This elevated patio was equipped with a number of umbrella-covered tables. Moreover, guests are admonished not to use it between the hours of 11pm and 8am, so that everyone can enjoy the tranquility.

The deck at the Huntoon Landing’s deck was scenic and serene.

We had a wonderful little room. It had all the creature comforts including a refrigerator, coffee maker and television set. There also was a small table and even a work area for our computer.

But the real attraction was the great outdoors.

If you want to tour the river, the resort has boats for rent. For sightseers and bird watchers there are pontoon boats. You also can rent a fishing boat if you have angling on your mind. In addition, they have a 30-passenger tour boat. Known as “The Bill Flowers,” it takes groups for two hour “heritage tours.”

The View

Hands down, the best part was the scenery. We sneaked out onto the deck early in the morning with coffee and sweet bread. Quietly we watched the sun come up. Again, we were struck by the absolute quiet – save the call of the egrets. We watched the birds fly languidly across the river in search of breakfast.

It was relaxing to watch the birds skim across the water

Every once in a while we would see a boater come by. It was unclear whether they were on their way in, or their way out. Sometimes they would stop for gas or breakfast, inasmuch as the Huntoon Resort apparently is a destination for such fill-ups.

Periodically a lone boater would break the silence and motor by.

Whitie the Great Egret

While we were there, we did make the acquaintance of Whitie. He is the mascot of the Huntoon Resort. He also apparently is the self proclaimed “bait manager” of the facility. This bird rather has the run of the place and more or less “oversees” the operation.

In fact, as a member of management, he apparently feels that the “no fishing” signs on the dock do not apply to him.

Apparently, somebody saw something in the water.

It’s not surprising then that as popular as he is, Whitie has his own Facebook Page.

The Ambiance

But nothing beats the view. Walking out on the deck and getting a look at the St. John’s River at sunrise is something special.

Because you are at the end of the world, the owners of the Huntoon Resort & Marina have provided facilities so you don’t need to go into town to shop.

For instance, there’s the Dockside Deli for your breakfast, lunch or dinner needs. In the morning, there are breakfasts, omelets and breakfast sandwiches. For lunch or dinner they serve sandwiches, subs and salads.

Those wanting them, meat, cheese, fruit and vegetable trays are available at the restaurant.

Then there’s the Ship’s Store. They feature clothing, gifts and snacks in addition to bait & tackle and even fishing licenses are available.

It’s Worth the Trip

Our trip to Deland showed us a whole new getaway on the St. John’s River – just 10 minutes from downtown Deland. It’s not the coast, but it is waterside and every bit as wonderful. We will be back and report on our boat rides and other adventures.

Watch Out for this Travel Scam!

News

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Florida Funmeister

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September 8, 2019

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We have just been alerted by the Better Business Bureau about a travel scam that is costing some people a lot of money!

As we understand it, criminals are impersonating major brands. The idea is to confuse travelers into making unnecessary payments. One of their telltale moves, is when they ask you to pay with a prepaid gift card.

Apparently one of their favorite targets is booking.com.

An Online Scam

The victims thought they were contacting booking.com to make a change to their travel plans or to get a refund. They found a phone number online by using a search engine or on social media. But they got a fake number.

The person answering the phone identified themselves as working for booking.com. They told the customer that in order to complete the change they’d have to go to the store and purchase hundreds of dollars worth of prepaid gift cards.

Of course, the impersonators promise the money will be refunded. Once the payment has been given – the scammers find a reason to ask for more money. They give an excuse, like claiming the card didn’t work.

For instance, one victim wanted to change a reservation. But in order to make the change, he was told he had to make a transaction in the same amount of that reservation. To do that – he had go to the store and buy a “booking.com” gift card. Well, of course, those don’t exist, so they told him that a Google Play gift card would work too. So he did that, and allegedly the codes didn’t work.

They kept all the money.

Another called what she thought was Booking.com to cancel. She was told their server couldn’t take any major credit cards, Therefore, she had to buy a hotels.com gift card to pay for the room.

She bought one for the amount of the room. For some reason, that card “wasn’t sufficient.” She then was instructed to buy two $500 gift cards (apparently not from the same place). After she bought those and called them back. She was told she needed to buy another $1,000 of cards to receive her reimbursement. She never saw a dime of that money again.

Hint: When somebody wants payments in gift cards, it’s probably a scam.

Not Booking.Com

In fact, none of these customers actually spoke with booking.com. Instead, the customers were tricked into calling scammers. They were impersonators. Booking..com is a Better Business Bureau Accredited Business.

Booking.com is one several companies being targeted for this travel scam. The company says its own investigation has found impostors have created fake customer service numbers and posted them online. They are bait to lure unsuspecting customers searching for a way to contact booking.com.

Take This Advice

1. Only contact Booking.com through their official communication channels. Those are listed on their website or apps.

2. No legitimate transaction (e.g. payments and/or reservation changes) with Booking.com will ever require you to pay with gift cards. Nor will they require you to give your credit card details by phone, text message or email

3. Never provide any credit card or gift card details (such as the claim code) to someone you don’t know and trust

Furthermore, you should report your experience to the Federal Trade Commission. They can be found at ftc.gov. You also can use BBB’s Scam Tracker at bbb.org/scamtracker

Go to the Source

We agree with the Better Business Bureau when they recommend that you be specific when you look for business contact information. The BBB has received reports from across the country from consumers who thought they were communicating with a major company, only to later learn they were dealing with a third party who had a similar phone number or web address.

Victims told the BBB that they found the fake contact information through popular search engines or on social media. That’s where scammers have created fake accounts impersonating popular brands.

In many cases the victims paid for a service they did not need, or could have received at a lower price from the real company. Customers can always search for a company at BBB.org, which lists verified contact information for companies across the U.S., Canada and parts of Mexico.

Lawn Mower Racing Season Set to Begin in Avon Park

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Florida Funmeister

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September 6, 2019

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There are plenty of unique things to see and do in central Florida. From the Monument of States in Kissemmee to Solomon’s Castle in Ona there’s a lot of fun there. But nothing is more wacky. exciting and fun than lawn mower racing in Avon Park.

Yes, they soup up lawnmowers and take them racing. It happens the second Saturday night of each month from September through May. The races occur at the Avon Park Mowerplex. That’s located on the grounds of the Avon Park Executive Airport.

We actually have attended several of these events, and they are as exciting as they are entertaining. It’s hard to believe, but some of these guys get going as fast as 60 miles per hour!

NASGRASS

Known as NASGRASS, the North American Society of Grass Racers And Sod Slingers has been racing lawn mowers for decades. And the Avon Park MowerPlex, as it is known, is the oldest for-purpose lawn mower racing facility in the United States.

Because it was the first such facility in America. Avon Park is known as “the Cradle of Lawn Mower Racing.”

The night we attended, it struck us that this looks much the same as many dirt racing tracks we have seen across the Sunshine State. They have bleachers, lights, concession stand, a flag tower and an announcer booth.

The Pits

For a small upcharge, we were able to get into the pits and see these racers up close and personal. Let me tell you, that’s where the fun is!

Mower racers were fun and very forthcoming.

Walking through the pit area it was easy to approach the racers and their families. They were very forthcoming and eager to talk to us about their hobby.

For many, it was a family affair. They packed up their RV’s and headed for the track. In some cases, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters all had a hand in preparing or even racing the mowers.

They even have classes for youngsters to race.

We also were impressed by the amount of humor injected into mower racing. While the competition is keen on the track, a lot of teams have fun with their names and even the paint schemes on their mowers.

One of the mower racing teams went for the “bumble bee” look.

The NASGASS races always are on the second Saturday of each month. We learned the biggest weekend is in March. That is when they hold their “Snowbird Nationals.” Competitors come in from all over the United States for that one.

NASGRASS President Wes Pyburn said they even have had international participation.

“Last year, a guy flew in from England and borrowed a mower to race here,” he said.

A Fun Time for All

In the end, lawn mower racing is wild and wacky fun. But it also is good family entertainment.

We were impressed by the tamber of the crowd. They do not serve alcohol at the MowerPlex and we really heard no rough language.

If you’re looking for a great time out – we suggest NASGRASS competition at the Avon Park MowerPlex. You also can check the NASGRASS Facebook or the Avon Park MowerPlex Facebook pages.

Our best wishes to the mow-it-alls….

Getting Oriented

The Dining

Maderia Beach

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Timber Creek

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NASGRASS

The Pits

A Fun Time for All

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