Mosquito County Tours – How to See the Real Orlando

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September 14, 2018

To be honest, we’ve never been big on taking guided tours as we wend our way through the Sunshine State. However, recently we have become aware of a group in central Florida that might change our minds.
   Ingeniously dubbed “Mosquito County Tours,” it’s the brainchild of Mandy Longo.
   About a decade ago, she began taking walking tours hosted by local residents in during her travels across the country. After such experiences in far-flung locales such as San Fransisco, Manhattan, and even Birmingham, Alabama – Mandy fell in love with the experience.
Living in Orlando, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, it became increasingly apparent that most people think of “O-town” as “Disney” or “theme parks”…which is absolutely not the case.
   Moreover, she also found that many locals don’t know the rich history and dining experiences Orlando has to offer. So in an effort to provide this experience for out-of-towners and locals alike Longo began doing tours herself.
   She began by doing tour fundraisers for the Audubon Park Garden District. It’s one of Orlando’s 10 Main Street Districts, It’s the area where she grew up and still lives today -which made her ultimately qualified to lead the group.
The tours were an unqualified success and left guests asking for more. That’s when the idea for Mosquito County Tours was born.
   The original county name for most of central Florida (before Orange, Seminole, Osceola, or any other counties existed) was Mosquito County – which is where the company name originated.
Planned for the next several weeks are forays to the Audubon Park District Brunch Tour, the Barley Row Craft Beer Tour and The Mills 50 Food & Walking Tour among other things.

In deciding where to take her groups. Longo said she started off by selecting the areas of town she knew, enjoyed and was able to share their stories. However, as time went on, she branched out buying history books on other areas of town that she was familiar with, but didn’t really know many details.

“I have learned so much, and I am constantly coming up with new ideas for tours as I learn new and interesting facts about a certain part of town,” she said. “I am amazed at how much history there is here that is, in a way, hidden.”

Whether locals or visitors, Longo said she has been amazed that most folks are completely unaware about the history of Orlando and its many neighborhoods and districts. She says her greatest joy is sharing the oral narrative and helping keep the stories alive for another generation.
Longo said it appears the craft beer tours may be her most popular excursions.
“People seem to be more interested when there is a beverage involved and any time I do a food tour – the reviews and comments I get from people afterwards are astounding!” she said,
   It appears that initially, people seem to be more hesitant to buy a ticket for a food tour because of the higher price point However, afterward her feedback shows tour members appear to feel as though they got much more than what they paid for and are quite happy with it.
   “Once people go on one tour they are hooked and want to return for more fun experiences – and that makes my heart happy,” she said.
   Any time you get people together for fun and fellowship, there always are great stories to tell, Longo recounts an experience on one of her tours – a progressive dinner where the group walked to seven different stops in one neighborhood sampling food along the way.

The menu included; cocktail, soup, appetizer, salad, cheese plate, main course, and dessert. The place where the appetizer was to be served actually was a new restaurant that was about to open, but hadn’t officially yet opened to the public.

It was to be a sneak-peek into what this new place would be like.

Longo said the owners were so excited they went all out – providing not only an appetizer but a full table of food as well as wine.

“We all had so much fun that the owners told us to come back after we had completed the tour. So we traveled on and went to the rest of the stops. When the tour was finished we headed back to the new restaurant and partied until midnight with more food, wine, and a lot of music and dancing! It was a lot of unexpected fun!” she said.
Those wanting additional information about Mosquito County Tours can call Mandy Longo at (407) 432-1597 visit the Mosquito County Tours Facebook page or try their web page.

Checking Our Room is a habit – and a Good One

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Florida Funmeister

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September 11, 2018

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Checking our room has become a habit. It’s one we think you should pick up. When we travel, we always check out our accommodations before we begin to settle in for our stay

In fact, those who follow us, know that checking our room before we get settled has become a routine. It’s easier if we find something early. Then, if we have to move – or even leave – we don’t have to pack up again,

Checking your room should be a habit for you as well. We always start at the front door, looking in the bathroom and closet. Then we check out the bed and make certain everything else is OK.

We usually find everything in order. But now it’s a habit for us.

That being said, we found this great article. It’s written by a subject matter expert. The piece gave us a lot of good tips about how to make sure everything is right from the get go.

Our first look is to cleanliness. We then check out safety. We look at the locks and check out our proximity to the fire escapes. Then it’s on to other amenities. All in all, it is a fairly quick and easy way for us to determine if the condition of the room meets our standards.

Moreover, once we began the routine, it became second nature and now do it almost without thinking.

Incidentally, we always have handi-wipes for the phone and the TV remote – and we always check to make certain there is a Bible in the room.

For more information and another view, just click here

Welcome to September

Reasons to Celebrate

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Florida Funmeister

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September 9, 2018

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Welcome to September! There are lots of reasons to celebrate in the Sunshine State during the ninth month of the year, and over the next few weeks we’ll touch on a few. In fact, there are some really cool monthly observances to be had (more on that later). Please join us on our Facebook and Instagram pages as we celebrate the stupendous month of September.

AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Month Link
All American Breakfast Month Link
Attendance Awareness Month Link
Baby Safety Month Link
Backpack Safety America Month
Be Kind To Editors & Writers Month
Bourbon Heritage Month Link
Childrens’ Good Manners Month
Classical Music Month Link
College Savings Month
Eat Chicken Month
Fall Hat Month
International Strategic Thinking Month
International Square Dancing Month
International Women’s Friendship Month Link
Library Card Sign-up Month
Little League Baseball Month Link
National Americana Month Link
National Bake & Decorate Month
National Cheese Month Link
National Chicken Month Link
National Coupon Month
National Fruit and Veggies Month (Also June)
National Home Furnishings Month
National Honey Month Link
National Mushroom Month Link
National Organic Harvest Month Link
National Preparedness Month Link
National Prime Beef Month Link
National Prosper Where You Are Planted Month
National Rice Month
National Sewing Month Link
National Service Dog Month
National Shake Month (Ice Cream)
National Skin Care Awareness Month
National Piano Month Link Link
National Preparedness Month
National Wilderness Month
One-on-One Month
Save Your Photos Month Link
Sea Cadet Month
Self-Care Awareness Month Link
Self Improvement Month Link
September Is Healthy Aging Month
Shameless Promotion Month
Subliminal Communications Month
Superior Relationships Month
Update Your Resume Month
Whole Grains Month
Women’s Friendship Month
World Speak Out Month

An Evening with the Lakeland Flying Tigers

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September 6, 2018

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In our ongoing effort to enjoy minor league baseball here in Florida, we took an evening out to indulge ourselves with a trip to Joker Marchant Stadium in Polk County to see the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Previously, we had made our way over to Osceola County to see the Fire Frogs play.

Because of a rainout the previous night, we were treated a double-header/ They took on the Charlotte Stone Crabs (another great baseball nickname). Despite some wet and humid weather, we had a lot of fun.

All We Could Eat

The promotion for the evening was “All You Can Eat for $10.” Those participating were able to have all the stadium food they could consume for a single price (drinks were extra). Although we saw some people handing the cards around to their friends, it looked to be a successful promotion.

We did not participate, inasmuch as we already had found a nice little restaurant downtown and had all we could eat – more on that later.

The stadium apparently is the oldest of those we have visited so far, originally opening in 1966. Since that time it has had a lot of renovations and now holds a capacity crowd of 8,500. The crowd fell quite a bit short of that the evening when we were there, with an usher gesturing in the general direction of our seats and telling us to “find a spot you like, we have plenty of room tonight.”

Plenty of Protection

One of the nicer features was a netting that went nearly around the seats from third base to first. It cut down on the chance to get a foul ball, but also provided security from some of the screamers that came off the bats.

Joker Marchant Stadium is a more compact venue than others that we have visited. It put us right on top of the action where we could yell and holler and generally become part of the game.

The home team won both ends of the twin bill, despite a persistent light drizzle that periodically wet down the field. Early on we sat down closer to the field but as the night progressed, we moved up under the overhang to stay dry.

The first game was exciting as the Lakeland Flying Tigers came from behind to win. After a half hour break, both teams changed their jerseys giving a different look to the second half of the contest. The Tigers won that one convincingly with a no-hitter going on into the last inning of the game.

Southpaw

The Flying Tiger mascot, named Southpaw” was not as prevalent as some of his counterparts but we surmised that may have been due to the wet weather. He was out for a while – and we did see him several times in the covered concourse downstairs during the break between games.

There’s lots of fun things to do at a Lakeland Flying Tigers game, there are a couple of “selfie-spots” in the concourse downstairs with a backdrop showing all the teams in the league. There’s also plenty of food and an official merchandise store.

They did not have as many “kids’ games” between innings as some of the other teams although there were a few. They did have youngsters do a couple of ceremonial tasks including delivering a rosin bag to the mound, and giving the official command to “play ball!”

One thing that we missed was the ability to hear the official play by play. There is Wi-Fi available at the stadium, there was no official call of the game.

Pre-Game Dinner

Before attending the game, we discovered a great little restaurant in the downtown area, a little coffee house called “Black and Brew.” There are plenty of seating options including regular tables or high tops for two or four, bench seating along the wall for those on their computers, a few stools along the front window and some tables inside the outside foyer.

The ambience inside is great with a natural brick wall festooned with hand-painted designs on one side, and a mirror on the other giving added depth to the space.

Great Menu

There’s a wide selection of sandwiches, salads, flatbreads and soups, with an option to “choose two” and have a pair of selections. It’s a great way to try more than one offering by people who pay attention to what they’re serving.

Being a coffee shop they naturally have a full line of coffees, cold press, frappes, lattes, cappuccinos, macchiato, mochas and expressos. There’s also a lot of different teas, craft beers and specialty wines.

Did I mention the desserts? The sweets are featured in a glass case and one of the first thing you see as you enter. They admittedly were hard to resist. Although we arrived late in the day, there still was a good selection of cookies and cakes on display.

For dinner we each selected the “choose two.” I had the Meltaway sandwich with a Caesar Salad, my wife had the Grilled White & Cheddar sandwich with a Sweet Tango salad. The portions were just right and absolutely filling. It made a great start to the evening.

Dinner and a ballgame make a great night and both these choices were entertaining and more than reasonably priced. If you’re headed to Lakeland, we recommend both.

A Rich Look at Florida’s Tourist Attraction History

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Florida Funmeister

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August 29, 2018

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Sebring International Raceway Press Officer Ken Breslauer has released a new book that is a must for anyone who enjoys the Sunshine State and the tourists who come here.

“Florida Roadside Attraction History” in fact is a complete guide to the Florida tourist attractions before Disney and offers a real insight to the wide array of ideas that promoters had to try to lure travelers off the beaten path.

A follow-up to his 2000 soft cover book “The Golden Age of Florida’s Tourist Attractions 1929 – 1971,” the new hardbound book delves more deeply into the era of roadside attractions and is rife with both black & white and color photographs of the parks as well as advertising logos, posters, bumper stickers and souvenirs.
The book is a little bittersweet , inasmuch as most of the places outlined have long since closed, were abandoned or in some way have become converted. Breslauer notes, for instance, that between the time he started writing the book and the time it reached publication, a brace of quintessential Florida attractions had ceased to exist in their original state.
Cypress Gardens has been absorbed into Legoland Winter Haven, Silver Springs has become a state park, Parrot Jungle was relocated and renamed and the original Marineland was demolished.
Starting with an historical perspective of the conditions that gave rise to the era of small tourist attractions smattered around the Sunshine State, the book then outlines the routes that tourists took to find these points of interest and finishes with a definitive A to Z listing of familiar and some not so familiar locales.
While mentions of Florida’s natural wonders such as Silver Springs date as far back as the 1870s, entertainment-style attractions like alligator wrestling apparently didn’t start until the early 1900s. Over the course of time a wide array of options became available to tourists as the highway system through Florida began to develop.
There were lots of different roadside attractions – although most began to congregate along three major routes – The Dixie Highway, Tamiami Trail and the Orange Blossom Trail. However, as Americans went to air travel, much like when the new highway passed Radiator Springs in the Disney/Pixar film “Cars,” those attractions faded quietly into history.
While many people have forgotten, Bresaluer has not and his A to Z list of attractions may well be the best part of the book.
Starting with Africa USA in Boca Raton and ending with Earl Gresh’s “Wood Parade,” the listing winds through an amazing collection of attractions including botanical gardens. automobile collections, wild west themes, zoological parks, religious displays, towers, and a variety of alligator, chimp, ostrich and other “farms.”

Some of the more interesting entries include “Bongoland,” a wooded area populated with giant, stone sculpted dinosaurs, the Coral Castle – with it’s unique structures and even more interesting back story, the canine-dedicated park called Dog Land, the miniature village called “Midget City” and the ubiquitous “Moonshine Exhibition.”
As interesting as the chronicle of the more than 200 different attractions, is the way various promoters tried to entice tourists through their respective front gates. Breslauer has amassed an astonishing collection of photos, promotional pieces and advertisements that you won’t see anyplace else. Page after page of these examples of period art are alone well worth the price of this coffee table book. In short, it is another star in a long list of books by this Florida historian and a must for anybody who enjoys the wonderful culture and history of the Sunshine State.

Hammerhead Fun in Jupiter

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Florida Funmeister

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June 23, 2018

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As those who follow us have seen, one of our favorite fun travel destinations has become Florida minor league baseball games, After visiting several contests involving the Florida FireFrogs in Osceola, we decided to take a trip over to Jupiter and see the Hammerheads play.

A Hammerhead Visit

The Hammerheads also are a Class-A Advanced team and are a feeder for the Miami Marlins Baseball organization. Yes, the Hammerheads is another of the great nicknames in sports and we found the experience there to be another good one.

To start, Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium is a pretty nice place to watch a ballgame. Like most minor league venues, finding a seat was easy and there did not seem to be a bad spot in the house.

That being said, our biggest disappointment was that there was no public wi-fi in the facility, meaning we could not hear the play-by-play guys Nick Medjool, Shawn Connor, and Chris Pollock. The trio are available on the Hammerheads iTunes internet channel and add a lot of fun and information to the game.

The Fun

In addition to the on-field action, there was plenty to see and do at the stadium. The team’s mascot, a jersey-wearing shark named Hamilton R. Head (Ham R. Head) was very enthusiastic and was all over the stadium getting the crowd laughing, whooped-up and generally excited about the game.

The night we were there, three of the Chick-fil-A Cow characters also were about, posing for photos and interacting with the mascot and having a great deal of overall tomfoolery and shenanigans.

The promotion of the evening was “School’s Out Night” presented by Jupiter Medical Center. The hospital had a wide array of displays and giveaways in the main corridor. We had a good time talking with the docents before the game – not to mention a good sized bag of free giveaways.

Hamil;ton R. Head delivers goodies for the kids

As in all these games, each player has his own song when he comes up to bat and there’s all kinds of information about him on the Jumbotron. Being that this is the minor leagues, there is a lot of action with diving catches, stolen bases and other strategic baseball plays that you don’t see in the majors.

They also were very free with game balls, tossing a lot to the kids in the stands as souvenirs. That, coupled with the low ticket and concession prices, make it a great entertainment value.

The Hammerheads went up against the Palm Beach Cardinals who brought a contingent of fans with them making for a lot of cheering on both sides. After a spirited game, the Hammerheads fell in extra innings and in all in all it was a really fun night.

Following the game there also was a great fireworks display which came at no additional charge.

The Aftergame

Afterwards we had a bit of a snack at the Stadium Grill. It’s a big sports bar right across the street from Roger Dean Stadium. We split an order of nachos and had some of their on-tap root beer.

The server was a great kid and a lot of fun. He was very attentive without being annoying and the fare was both tasty and reasonably priced.

Being a sports bar, we were ringed with widescreen televisions showing everything from mixed martial arts to baseball and even golf. I will tell you the music was a bit loud, but it was tasty and fun.

Our Hotel

For our lodging we selected the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Mariott on Indiantown Road. It was not far from the stadium but we still had to use our GPS to get there and back.

The hotel itself is not a bad little place. The rooms are a bit small, but they have all the creature comforts including flat-screen TV with cable, a fridge and microwave, free wi-fi, coffee maker, blow dryer, plus and iron and board.

Our bed was a king and it was comfortable.

Although we didn’t use them, the hotel also features a heated outdoor pool and whirlpool, an exercise room and complimentary fax and copy service.

Just as a lot of hotels in this price range, there was a free breakfast and they did their best to have a lot of options. There was a waffle maker as well as a wide selection of cereals and breads. Additionally, they offered fresh fruits and juices as well as eggs and bacon.

Jupiter Eats

As part of our trip we always look for a couple of good restaurants and Jupiter did not disappoint. We found another location of the TooJays Gourmet Deli franchise, which consistently goes above and beyond.

We actually stopped at this TooJays on the strength of our visit to this one in Lake Worth. My Triple J sandwich was fabulous and on request our waitress brought us some fresh ground horseradish for my wife’s roast beef sandwich.

When it came to service, we cannot say enough good things about our waitress Jennifer. We give her six stars.

We also found another gem, the Berry-Fresh Cafe on Military Trail. One of three such restaurants in the area, they offer what they describe as “jazzed up comfort food” and they’re right.

I had the burger with Gorgonzola cheese and bacon (how could you not?) with the red bliss potato salad. My wife had the Applewood Bacon Chicken with the tomato basil soup. There was a full half chicken breast on the sandwich. Far more meat than she could eat (I did help with that a bit). Everything was quick, fresh, hot and good.

This is the kind of place that – if it were closer – we would visit frequently just to try all the different menu options.

In Conclusion

So when it comes to good, inexpensive entertainment, we are zeroing in on minor league baseball and have a couple more stops in mind. And when it comes to a great place in Florida to visit, Jupiter is as good as any.

Next time I promised her we would take a long walk on the beach. make a stop at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum and maybe even play a game of miniature golf.

AAA: Nearly 47 Million Americans Will Set New Independence Day Holiday Travel Record

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Florida Funmeister

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June 22, 2018

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Officials of the American Automobile Association predict more Americans will travel for this Independence Day than every before. In fact, they say record-breaking 46.9 million Americans probably will journey 50 miles or more away from home/ That’s up five percent from last year and the highest number since AAA began tracking 18 years ago.

And those who follow us know we like to travel – so we’ll be among them.

Florida Above Average

The Sunshine State will be over the average. Nearly 2.4 million Floridians will travel for during the holiday weekend. The 6.3 percent increase represents nearly 142,000 more travelers than last year. Additionally, nearly 2.1 million Floridians will take a road trip. 121,000 more Floridians will be on the road than last year; an increase of 6.2 percent.

The Independence Day holiday period will be measured from Tuesday, July 3 to Sunday, July 8. For the 39.7 million Americans planning a Fourth of July road trip. They say Tuesday will be the busiest day on the roads.

Could Take Longer

INRIX, a global transportation analytics company, predicts travel times in the most congested cities in the U.S. could be twice as long than the normal trip.

“We already are seeing a busy summer travel season and Independence Day will be no exception,” said Vicky Evans, Assistant Vice President, Travel Sales Development, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Consumers remain confident in the economy and have additional disposable income to put toward a summer getaway.”

In addition to strong economic variables, the expected increase in travelers this year is aided by Independence Day falling on a Wednesday, giving travelers more flexibility to schedule a trip that begins with the weekend before or ends with the weekend after the holiday.

Travel Up

The survey says travel will be up, despite the fact that motorists will find the most expensive Independence Day gas prices in 3-4 years. Last year’s holiday, the average price was $2.15 in Florida and $2.23 nationwide. On July 4, 2015, gas prices averaged $2.67 in Florida and $2.77 nationwide. During the 2014 holiday, a gallon of regular averaged $3.60 in Florida and $3.66 nationwide.

The most recent poll indicates prices at the pump averaged $2.73 in Florida and $2.88 nationwide. Fortunately, fuel prices are falling. Since peaking at $2.97 Memorial Day weekend, the national average declined 9 cents.

“Declining gas prices will give Americans one more reason to celebrate this Independence Day,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “After paying some of the highest gas prices in more than three years, this break couldn’t come at a better time, as Americans prepare for the most-traveled holiday of the summer.”

The AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Markit. INRIX is the global leader in connected car services and transportation analytics. Leveraging big data and the cloud, INRIX delivers comprehensive services and solutions to help move people, cities and businesses forward. Their partners include; automakers, governments, mobile operators, developers, advertisers, as well as enterprises large and small.

Eight Restaurants on Florida’s Ridge You Need to Try

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Florida Funmeister

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June 15, 2018

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BiistroDinner — Delicious fare at Bistro Pizza

Those who follow us, know we like to dine and there are some restaurants on Florida’s Ridge you need to try Let us take you south down US 27 and highlight some great opportunities. We think there are eight restaurants on the ridge you owe it to yourself to try.

The Ovation Bistro & Bar

Our first stop is just below the exit off I-4 on US Highway 27 in Davenport. There we found a little restaurant called The Ovation Bistro & Bar.

There’s a peasant outside waiting area at Ovation

Ovation is located at the south end of the Deer Creek Plaza. We’re told it’s the “number one smokehouse in Central Florida.” They say they’re “unashamedly passionate” about the food and drinks they create and serve. We believe it.

They are famous for their steaks and ribs, to entree salads, pasta, fish, sandwiches and items off the woodfire grill. Our experience shows this is a great little place for good food, tasty drinks and good times.

They gave us options for dining inside or out. Plus, there’s a bar and a comfortable waiting are on busy evenings. It’s one of the best little chains on Florida’s Ridge.

The Cornerstone Grill

Skipping south, we turn onto Highway 17-92. Our next stop is in the town of Lake Alfred. That’s where we find another great restaurant on Florida’s Ridge. This hidden gem is called The Cornerstone Grill. It’s a small family restaurant created with an eye toward local farmers and growers.

We’re told it’s the vision of Executive Chef Matthew Arbuthnot and his wife, Lisa. All of the dishes are made to order, from scratch. They say the idea is to be “100-percemt sustainable/ They do that through a close relationship with local farmers and agriculturalists.”

The Cornerstone has artistic food and decor

Specials when we were there included such tasty fare as the “Seafood Trio”- Seared Ahi Tuna, Scallop and Shrimp Ceviche served with Avocado, Herb Crackers and House Slaw. I opted for a simple Angus Burger with pickle chips or sweet potato fries.

Nestled amongst a pair of quaint antique stores, Cornerstone Grill is a treat we would not expect to find in such a tiny central Florida town.

Bistro Pizza

Down the road in Winter Haven. we discovered one of the great little Italian restaurant restaurants on Florida’s Ridge. Bistro Pizza on Central Avenue. We loved the brick oven pizza, the great ambience and a full menu of Italian favorites.

As far as we were concerned, the best part was the fresh ingredients. The salads are as fresh as they come. They’re made with crisp greens, firm tomatoes and cucumbers and other ingredients.

Seriously, it was as if they had a garden in the kitchen.

All the cheeses – from the mozzarella to feta – also taste fresh-made. We’ve had the garlic knots, calzone and even stromboli – which are to die for.

We recommend a window seat by the natural brick wall to people watch and enjoy a great meal.

The Krazy Greek

Now comes the crazy – or krazy – part of our review.

Those who like Greek fare would do well to make a stop in Cypress Gardens at the delicious but unassuming Krazy Greek. This great restaurant Florida’s Rdge is located in a strip mall along Cypress Gardens boulevard. Don’t let its fast food appearance fool you – the Krazy Greek is both krazy authentic and krazy good.

We recommend the Greek Salad. It’s large and packed with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and onion. My tastebuds were piqued by Kalamata olives, feta cheese, pepperocini. And it’s done real Greek – with potato salad underneath.

I think their Spanakopita is the best in the state. Plus there’s Moussaka and tha Domades Platter. Those hand-rolled grapevine leaves stuffed with rice and fresh herbs drizzled with lemon sauce are something special.

The Crazy Fish

A few miles south, just at the intersection of Highways 27 and 60 we find another crazy place – The Crazy Fish. It’s been featured on “Emeril’s Florida” the Food Network program starring Chef Emeril Lagasse. This funky little place in Lake Wales has already made a name for itself.

We’re not seafood lovers – but it’s a seafood lover’s delight for those who are. Their fare comes straight from the ocean. They serve Blue Crab and Lobster. Some of our other choices were Pompano, Fresh Gulf Grouper, Mahi Mahi and Yellow Fin Tuna.Fortunately for us, they have a wide menu We had options from burgers to Fillet Mignon or Pork Chops.

For seafood lovers we agree it’s one of the best restaurants on Florida’s Ridge.

The Wild Turkey Tavern

As we roll south down Highway 27, we arrive at one of our of our favorites. In fact, we think it’s the most unique restaurants on Florida’s Ridge. It’s the Wild Turkey Tavern in Avon Park. The Turkey is easily spotted by the camouflage paint job and the dinosaur holding up their sign. I’m here to tell you it’s a great place for cold beer, great food and friendly service.

We can attest to their claim they have the “Best Gator tail, Wings and Burgers in town!” The Turkey boasts a wide selection of Cracker Cookin’. Their selections include frog legs, fish, chicken fingers, fried oysters and barbecue shrimp.

The Wild Turkey is a great place for all ages

We like something more tame. Fortunatly they have burgers, subs and club sandwiches. Our plan is to make an evening of it. We can sit back and watch one of the big, flat-screen television sets populated with sporting events.

Our favorite is the live music on the patio.

Faded Bistro

As we head south we come up on the Faded Bistro and Beer Garden in downtown Sebring. We think it’s one of the best restaurants on Florida’s Ridge, built on “seasonal ingredients and warm hospitality.”

The dining area is dominated by a pre-civil war mahogany bar, ringed by a set of varied stools. Have your favorite brew or mixed drink while nibbling on a cheese board with artisan cheese, marinated olives, local Honey, dark chocolate trail mix and seasonal fruit.

You like salads? Our favorite is the turkey cranberry, spinach and fruit. You might like the Smoked Norwegian Trout Salad.

Their signature dishes include Black Angus Tenderloin & Lobster Mac ’N Cheese, Pesto Chicken Fettuccini and the Vegan Buddha Bowl. The Faded Bistro may be a bit pricey – but it is one of the most restaurants on Florida’s Ridge.

Jaxon’s Bar & Grill

As we head down Highway 27 then out Lake June Road, we windf up at Jaxon’s Bar & Grill in Lake Placid. It too is both a great dining and entertainment experience. Customers come by car and sometimes by boat to enjoy the laid back atmosphere and periodic live music.

There is a large screened in dining area in the back which also features a tiki-bar. Inside is a cozy, friendly atmosphere with a small stage at one end where the restaurant holds live entertainment on the weekends.

As for the menu it’s a sure bet you’ll want to try the Hookiemelt, the signature appetizer and a most ‘wickedly-delicious’ combination of chicken tenders (grilled or fried), hot sauce (mild, medium or hot) and smothered with cheeses, chopped onion and sour cream – all melted in the oven.

Jaxon’s screen room gives a great dining experience.

But in any event – save some room for Jaxon’s fried cheesecake.

In Conclusion

Those are just a few of the options one has between northern Polk and Southern Highlands county – but it’s clear, when coming to the area – bring your appetite!

June is full of Reasons to Celebrate

Reasons to Celebrate

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Florida Funmeister

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June 3, 2018

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June is;

Adopt-A-Cat Month Link Link
Adopt A Shelter Cat Month
Beautiful in Your Skin Month Link
Country Cooking Month Link
Entrepreneurs “Do It Yourself” Marketing Month
Great Outdoors Month
International Surf Music Month Link
Dairy Month Link
June is Lane Courtesy Month Link
June is Perennial Gardening Month
June is Turkey Lovers Month Link
National Bathroom Reading Month Link
National Camping Month Link
National Candy Month Link
National Fruit and Veggies Month (Also September)
National Ice Tea Month
National Oceans Month
National Pet Preparedness Month Link Link
National Rivers Month
National Rose Month Link
National Safety Month
National Smile Month Link
National Soul Food Month
National Steakhouse Month
National Zoo and Aquarium Month Link
Rebuild Your Life Month
Skyscraper Month
Sorghum Month Link
Sports America Kids Month
Turkey Lovers Month Link
Women’s Golf Month Link Link
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Dr. Plotka’s – A New Travel Toothbrush

By

Florida Funmeister

-

May 23, 2018

0

When we travel, we have been carrying foldable toothbrushes as a way to save space. These are made by a nationally-known company, so we figured we were pretty well covered.

Then we were alerted to Dr. Plotka’s Mouthwatchers. They come in regular versions, but also in a foldable model – so we thought we’d try them.

Dr. Plotka’s

The Dr. Plotka’s brand has silver-infused bristles. They say the silver naturally eliminates “99.9 percent” of bacteria that grows in the bristles between uses.

They say the idea of using silver as a healing agent is not a new one. In fact, it dates back to ancient times. However, it fell out of use in the medicinal market in the early 20th century. However, apparently silver is getting its fame back as a safe, multi-purpose bacterial killer. It is known to kill superbugs such as MRSA and has been tested with some success against 650 common and exotic infections and diseases.

The dual-layered structure on the Dr. Plotka brush is said to provide a better cleaning method. The outer bristles, thin as a human hair, brush away food and plaque and reportedly are ten times thinner than the regular ones. Meanwhile, the thicker inner bristles are designed to provide a more complete cleaning of the teeth and gums.

They also say that due to polyester bending and upgraded properties, users can get up to one extra month worth of use

The Test

My wife is a dental hygienist , so I asked her to field test Dr, Plotka’s and give me her opinion, She reports: “I liked the silver infused bristles as toothbrushes are generally stored in the bathroom where each flush adds more bacteria exposure.

Dr Plotka’s and our current Colgate model

“Though it does not take the place of flossing, the extra thin bristles do seem to get between the teeth better and leave a cleaner feel. The soft bristles are also important to me to reduce damage to the gums and softer exposed root area.

I also like the extra open spaces on the folding toothbrush which allow it to air out more than the model that we have been using.

Overall I like this toothbrush and will continue to use it. This brush also comes in a standard non folding model with the same bristle features. It is just another of the great gadgets we have added to our travel basket.

All We Could Eat

Plenty of Protection

Southpaw

Pre-Game Dinner

Great Menu

The Fun

The Aftergame

Our Hotel

Jupiter Eats

In Conclusion

Florida Above Average

Could Take Longer

Travel Up

The Ovation Bistro & Bar

The Cornerstone Grill

The Krazy Greek

The Crazy Fish

The Wild Turkey Tavern

Faded Bistro

Jaxon’s Bar & Grill

In Conclusion

Dr. Plotka’s

The Test

WEATHER

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