Fairs & Festivals are February FunZones

Upcoming Events

By

-

January 18, 2018

If you are looking to plan ahead, there will be plenty to do in Florida during February.
The second month of the year in the Sunshine State has wall-to-wall excitement from the beginning to the end. It starts with the Florida State Fair going on in Tampa from the 8-19. Then on the 9-11 there’s the Everglades Seafood Festival in Everglades City. It has all the Fun of a country fair – with live music and great, fresh seafood.
If that’s not your dish, Lake Worth will be hosting the 19th Annual Florida Garlic Festival. The “Best stinkin’ party in South Florida” as it is known, will take your breath away at John Prince Park on that same weekend.
The Lakeridge Winery also will be conducting their 28th Annual Winefest up in Clermont at that same time. It’s an opportunity to enjoy all the fruits of their bountiful previous year’s harvest, with their full range of award-winning table wines.
A bit closer to home is the Highlands County Fair on February 9-17.

The 10th of the month will be rife with events including – but not limited to – The Beer, Bourbon & Barbecue Festival in Ft. Lauderdale, the Taste of New Orleans Blues & Brews Festival at the Sailfish Brewing Company in Ft. Pierce, The Marine Flea Market & Seafood Festival in West Palm Beach and the Taste of Okeechobee in – Okeechobee.

If you missed the State Fair and the Highlands County Fair, the Hendry County Fair starts February 13 with the Hardee County Fair to commence on the 17th and the Pasco County Fair on the 19th.

The Port Canaveral Seafood & Music Festival will be held Feb 15-18 while the 29th Annual Sandestin Gumbo Festival on tap for the 16-17. Steinhatchee is the place for the Fiddler Crab Festival that weekend, featuring the Swampwater Cookoff and Crab Jam.
Beginning February 21-25 South Beach Wine and Food Festival will get underway with some of the world’s most renowned wine & spirits producers, along with chefs & culinary personalities. Hot on its heels will be the “30A Wine Festival” at Alva Beach February 22-25.
And who could miss the Florida Gourd Society’s Show Feb 23-25 in Melbourne?
In fact, the weekend of February 24 is just as packed with such events as Sarasota’s Beertopia and the LaBelle Swamp Cabbage Festival. That features many dishes made from swamp cabbage (also known as hearts of palm). Swamp cabbage actually comes from the state tree, the sabal or cabbage palm.
And those are just a few of February’s many events, watch our Facebook page and check back here often and we will help you find the most interesting places to celebrate in the Sunshine State.

Travel Perfect – Rubbermaid Travel Coolers/Warmers

By

Florida Funmeister

-

January 17, 2018

0

When we travel, there are some things we like to keep cold. However, after some experimentation, we found electric travel coolers fit our needs.

We first tried using an ice-chest style cooler but there has been leakage from time to time. Moreover, we have had mixed results with the re-freezable cubes in terms of how cold they actually will keep the contents of an ice chest. Believe me, if there’s no fridge in the room you can not refreeze them for the next day.

Now we have found a solution to add to our picnic and travel baskets.

Enter the Rubbermaid Cooler

A couple years back we came upon a Rubbermaid Thermo-Electric Travel Cooler & Warmer which both cools like a refrigerator and warms like an oven. Likewise, it operates on the power of the automobile plug and has an adapter for regular house current.

When we found the first of our electric travel coolers, it had never been used. Plus, came at a price point that made it an immediate candidate for experimentation. We have used it to keep drinks and food cold and even used it as an ersatz refrigerator when we stay in a room that does not offer a refrigerator as part of the accommodation package.

Yes, it is small, but holds more than a regular cooler as it does not need ice or ice packs. It is adequate for the two of us.

A few weeks ago, we discovered yet another Rubbermaid Thermo-Electric Travel Cooler & Warmer at about the same cost and again virtually unused.

This has enabled us to have one heater and one cooler. Both operate off the car’s cigarette lighter port, and also have converter units so we can plug them into a wall socket at home or at a motel.

Follow the Instructions

The instructions say that for best performance, we are to plug in the units approximately two hours before loading to give them time to warm up or cool down. To give them a head start and improve performance, we try to pre-chill / freeze or preheated food and beverages.

Generally, the units will cool to as much as 40°F below the surrounding temperature. To ensure optimum performance, we always keep them out of direct sunlight when running on the cold cycle. The warm cycle actually will warm to as much as 120°F.

On cold days, they generally need a bit more time to reach maximum warm temperatures. Conversely, on warm days, we use frozen ice packets to give it a bit of a head start. These are particularly helpful in keeping it cold – especially while it is unplugged.

The Rubbermaid Thermo-Electric Travel Cooler & Warmer can be used with most food and beverages, either cold or hot. Use with standard household containers or ready-to-use food and drink packaging. For cooling it can be used with all kinds of beverages – in cans or bottles as well as for salads, meats, condiments, fruit and dairy products.

But Wait – There’s More

It also can be used as a warmer either to maintain temperatures or to take some items and warm them up for consumption. there is a divider one can position mid way to keep the bottom either more cool or hot than the top area.

They are designed to sit on the floor and even between the seats of some vehicles, and have handy drink holders on top, They also come with a carrying strap, At 10 pounds, even I can sling them over my shoulder in case you have to tote them somewhere.

The Features Include:

Built-in battery auto saver prevents full discharge of the vehicle’s battery.
Efficient thermoelectric system cools up to 40 F below ambient temperature and heats to approximately 120 F (depending on surrounding temperature)
Rests on vehicle seat, tailgate hatch or floor for easy access
Plugs into vehicle or boat 12 volt DC outlet or any other 12 volt DC power supply
13 can, 2.3 gallon (9 Liter) capacity
Dual can and cup holders

Our electric travel coolers have been just the solution we have needed to no muss, no fuss refrigeration on trips.

Hot Tea Day at the Twisted Teapot

Our Travels

By

Florida Funmeister

-

January 16, 2018

0

TwistedTeapotHats — A delightful decor enhanced the experience

January 12 was National Hot Tea Day and of course that required a road trip. We selected The Twisted Teapot in Winter Haven as our celebration destination.

Once a flower shop, the Twisted Teapot has been converted into a comfortable tea room with a combination of shabby chic decor and a tea list, that looks more like a menu list for those who enjoy the myriad of tea blends they offer.

The stately Twisted Teapot in Winter Haven

Our Experience

Although we did not have reservations (which are recommended) and the place was packed, we got seated quickly and ended up with a window table overlooking busy First Street South.

Our waitress Alice appeared almost immediately to start us with our beverages.

Those who follow us know we will take any opportunity to try something new. Because it was “Hot Tea Day,” we each had a pot. I had asked for a “manly tea,” as I was one of the few men there. My wife suggested the Mango Amazon; featuring India Black Tea with mango pieces, marigold flowers and mongo flavor. My wife (the tea expert) took the Coconut Vanilla, comprised of Black Tea with coconut shreds and vanilla. Each of the teas on the menu had similar descriptions of content and came with recommended steeping times.

Both of our selections had a steep time of three minutes, although we let them go longer. Each was piping hot and came in their own pot. Mine was stoneware while hers was china (there were many different pots of different materials.

The tea cups also are unique, it seems no two are alike. Because this is loose teas, customers are given winged stainless strainers so they may pour their own tea and catch some of the ingredients that continue to flow through the liquid.

We each had a chance to sample the other’s tea and both were delicious.

The Fare

For lunch, I ordered the Royal Roast Beef on ciabatta bread, that came with a choice of sides including red potato salad, broccoli carrot salad or kale coleslaw. I chose the broccoli salad, while my wife had the potato salad to go with her chicken salad on a croissant.

There were several other sandwich options including; maple ham & cheese or turkey croissants as well as quiches and different salad incarnations.

Those coming for high tea always could get the Swan High Tea, a three-tiered presentation tea sandwiches, fresh baked scones an array of delicate pastries with a cup of soup and a pot of tea. the tower easily is enough for two looking for a decadent, light snack, which is exactly what constitutes a proper, British afternoon tea.

There are smaller versions dubbed “The Twisted Tea” and “The Single Twist” respectively, ranging from $23 down to $12 – no sharing please..

Although there were few empty seats, the noise level was minimal and the tables are spaced sufficiently so that patrons might have pleasant conversation without being overheard. There also seemed to be a chandelier over each of the tables.

A delightful decor enhanced the experience

Like the table service, they come close to matching but are not exactly the same. It creates an informal charm to the dining experience.

High Marks

Our food came quickly and again we shared and compared. The ingredients were a cut above most places without significantly higher prices. The only criticism might be the portions may have been a bit small…at least for a manly appetite.

One of the best things as far as we were concerned, there were no television screens inside the place. It was a fun time, a great place to take your wife as a treat or a great place for a ladies luncheon.

Christmas in St. Augustine

Our Travels

By

Florida Funmeister

-

January 15, 2018

0

After seeing many posts about the Christmas St. Augustine – called “Nights of Lights,” we were lured to the Nation’s Oldest City for a Christmas vacation. While it was fun on many levels, we did learn some valuable lessons.

It had been better than a half century since last I visited St. Augustine. The first time I was a small child and had few real memories of the place. However, I saw the photos of the monochromatic holiday lights of the old town. the horse-drawn carriages on the quiet streets and was sold on the idea.

Who couldn’t revel in the notion of walks on the beach during the day, a handsome cab in the evening with an ending at a wine bar or quaint Irish pub?

Apparently, there were about 100,000 other tourists from all over the world who had the same idea.

An Early Arrival

We actually started two days before Christmas and stayed in nearby Palm Coast. That was about a 25-minute trip and figured to be about a third the price of the room in St Augustine we had booked for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

This was a wonderful part of the vacation. We drove into St Augustine and experienced a lot of great attractions. It is an early example of staying offsite.

The St. Augustine lighthouse and museum was a great stop. We climbed to the top, browsed through the lighthouse keeper’s museum and had a wonderful time. There was no admission charge and parking was quick and easy. We dined at The Gypsy Cab Company – a great little restaurant with wonderful food at reasonable prices.

St. Augustine also has a great farmer’s market. Smaller than many, it is limited to local artisan products and is rich with great food, arts, crafts, and many, many organics. There also is a pick-up bluegrass band that plays in front of the amphitheater for the duration of the morning market.

We also took the opportunity to check out our room in St Augustine and to drive around a bit to get the lay of the land. Additionally we reviewed a computer printout as to what restaurants would be open and what churches would be having services for Christmas.

Packing up and heading out early, our plan had been to first stop and enjoy the early morning service at the only church that had a service at 8:30. We were disappointed, as were others, that the early service was cancelled on Christmas Eve morning.

Undaunted, we reset our schedule for the Christmas Eve service and headed out for breakfast. We found ourselves at the Hotel Casablanca and Restaurant Brunch where we had a sumptuous breakfast. Great cooking, ample portions and somewhat of a view of the Bridge of Lions and even some traffic on the Intracoastal Waterway through an early-morning fog.

We then headed over to Flagler College where we got a tour of the building which originally was built as the Ponce DeLeon Hotel. Our guide was a sophomore business administration student named Rose. Armed with information, humor and a great public speaking ability she took the tour group from the courtyard and through the building, giving us a great look at the vision of builder Henry Flagler and efforts of the school to preserve the legacy he left.

As the day wore on, we increasingly realized there is virtually no place to park in St. Augustine at a reasonable price. After checking into our hotel room, we vowed to simply gut it up and take a trolley through town. This service allows riders to get off at certain spots wander around that area, then get on a subsequent train and ride to another stop. This is done for a single price for the day.

Unfortunately, on Christmas Eve, they stopped running at 3:00, which would have given us about 90 minutes. We bought tickets for their tour of the Nights of Lights but still had no good method for getting downtown for a Christmas Eve Day tour of the old town section.

We finally decided to walk.

It was quite a haul from our hotel down the to the Castillo de San Marcos. But we did run up on some pretty fun places, not the least of which was “Cool and Collected,” a retro antique and curio shop which was almost a living museum where all the displays are for sale. The place conjures up tons of memories for anybody who grew up in the 50s – 80s.

Plus my wife found a very fine tweed coat at a bargain price.

At 315 years old, the Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest structure in St. Augustine and a national monument. We took a self-guided tour of the place, which had exhibits, docents and even a movie that showed the progression from Spanish, to British to American rule. It was capped by a demonstration of the firing of a cannon, which was both loud and fun.

We then headed back to the motel and decided to try someplace for dinner. The local tourist board had put out a listing of some of the restaurants which were supposed to be open Christmas Eve. Some of them were and we settled on a downtown Greek restaurant – which turned out to be one of the biggest and most expensive mistakes of our traveling life.

After dinner we grabbed a shuttle to to Nights of Lights tram tour. There was quite a long line, but it moved through fairly quickly as tram after tram pulled up and loaded carloads of those wanting to see the display. We were fortunate to get a front row seat – right behind the driver.

Unlike the brochures, there were tens of thousands of people cramming the streets and sidewalks. The buildings were decked out beautifully but unlike the vision of a quaint carriage ride, we were serenaded with back to back Christmas songs, aided by the driver who periodically cajoled the riders to holler “Merry Christmas” at passers by.

The tour was a lengthy one, as he wound through a maze of major thoroughfares and tight one way streets in the old town section.

On our way back to the motel room we did make one romantic stop. A small play park which featured a lighted carousel at the corner. At a dollar a whack it was great for Mrs. Funmeister and myself to take a few spins. She was beautiful under the lights and I managed not to fall off my steed.

Christmas morning we slept in, and finally pulled ourselves out of bed. Although the hotel offered a nice little breakfast, we opted to try our luck at the Village Inn. We had hoped it would be better than home – but it is, after all, a Village Inn.

Taking a Christmas morning auto tour of St Augustine, we happened upon a Christmas Morning Worship Service at an Episcopal Church. What a wonderful experience. We truly felt as though we had been led there by the Holy Spirit.

Following the service, we again cruised the streets, finally finding a parking space where we could walk the old town district to see what they would have to offer the next day when business resumes. It is a great walking mall with a wide array of restaurants, tourist shops, dry good stores and other places to find interesting pieces.

Before we left, we did have an opportunity to stop at the St Augustine Distillery, which proved to be one of the highlights of the trip. Established in an historic ice house, this award-winning facility is run by a group of people with a great sense of humor and even a greater product. Their tour is free and liberally sprinkled with free samples of their product. It is absolutely a must-stop.

In all, St. Augustiine is a wonderful place to visit, however, it will require a bit more research and information to be able to go and enjoy ourselves. One thing we would recommend – is to wait until the off season, when prices drop and the crowds subside.

Our Travel First Aid Kit

By

Florida Funmeister

-

January 12, 2018

0

Like the tool box we have in our car for minor vehicle repairs, we also carry a travel First Aid kit in case we suffer some minor cuts, scrapes, abrasions, bumps and bruises.

We actually found the bright red case at a garage sale. It was perf3ect -with Emergency written in large print on the top side. And it was under a dollar.

We since have updated the contents and customized it to meet our needs. Mrs. Funmeister also is “Nurse Funmeister” and is in full charge of the medical equipment. She cautions that most of the contents need to be reviewed a couple times each year, to make certain the contents continues to meet our needs, have not expired or deteriorated.

The Contents

Here in Florida, for instance, bandaids and adhesive tape can loose their stickiness when they are subjected to the high heat of an enclosed vehicle.

Some of the ointments and other applications also may be compromised, or simply go out of date.

Our little travel First Aid kit is fully stocked. There are two different sizes of regular bandaids, some “buttefly cut” bandaids for thumbs or the tips of fingers and one huge bandaid – for larger wounds or to control bleeding.

A small bag of coffee grounds to stop bleeding is included as a nod to Mrs. Funmister”s fondness for alternative non invasive treatment. Additionally, there is an elastic bandage and a roll of gauze bandage for securing gauze pads. there are a number of different sizes of gauze pads as well.

The kit contains a tube of “Liquid Skin,” some antibiotic ointment and to take care of dental emergencies there is a tub of oral gel and a small kit for temporary replacement of a filling or to re-cement a crown or cap.

For sterilization we carry moist towelettes, alcohol wipes and a packet of disinfectant wipe.

Our Tools

Our tools include a pair of scissors, a small magnifying glass, matches and a flashlight. A bag of non-latex gloves, face masks and a trash bag for proper disposal of waste are included.

Best of all, it all fits nicely in our First Aid kit. We have re-used some of the boxes that came with the kit, while putting other items in plastic bags. It is small enough to slide under a seat for easy access. Most of the items were found at a discount and over the course of time and we have constantly updated the case to make it more compact and better stocked. But like an insurance policy, we figure – if we have it, we probably won’t need it.

But as travelers we have found it is best to follow the old Boy Scout motto – “Be Prepared.“

Traveling in the New Year

Uncategorized

By

Florida Funmeister

-

January 10, 2018

0

FloridaCartoonTraveller — Exploring Florida is half the fun.

With the holidays in the rear-view, officials from the American Automobile Association say Floridians are beginning to make travel plans for the new year.

In fact, a new AAA Consumer Pulse™ survey shows that 83 percent of Floridians plan to take at least one vacation of three days or more this year, requiring overnight accommodations. While that would be three percentage points lower than those who traveled last year, there are still 10 percent of travelers who are still undecided about this year’s plans.

Survey Highlights

83% of Floridians plan take a vacation of 3 days or more in 2018. 10% are unsure
Last year, 86% took a vacation of 3 days or more
Most popular times to travel – The second quarter (53%) and the third quarter (49%)
Most popular vacations – city/major metro destination (34%), beach destination (30%), theme park (27%), and ocean/large cruise (26%).

“Strong economic growth led to a record number of holiday travelers last year, and we expect that momentum to carry into 2018,” said Vicky Evans, Assistant Vice President, Travel Sales Development, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Some of the harsh winter weather we have experienced could be the catalyst that drives more travelers to seek warm weather destinations in the coming months.

Spring Break
Although January and February are usually slower months for travel, things begin to pick up in March for spring break. More than half (55%) of travelers will take a spring break vacation of 3 days or more. That number is even larger among Millennials (80%).

“Spring Break has a reputation of being a time for students to go party with friends,” Evans continued. “While that is certainly true, more than half of millennials (61%) say they will travel with family. This is the time of year when cruises and beach hotels are booked solid, and things can get costly as a result. So spring travelers should make their plans now, to get the best options and price.”

Summer Travel
Traveling during the summer is even more popular than spring. More than three-quarters (79%) of Floridians will take at least one summer vacation (requiring overnight accommodations), sometime between the Memorial and Labor Day holidays.

43% – 1 summer vacation
32% – 2-3 summer vacations
4% – 4-5 summer vacations
13% – unsure

“Booking a vacation during the summer is similar to spring, in that beach destinations remain popular,” Evans continued. “However, travelers should not forget about hurricane season, and consider purchasing travel insurance. Certain coverages can help offset non-reimbursable expenses. One of the requirements is that you purchase the policy before a storm is named.”

Of course, our suggestions are that you watch and see if you can find a new fun zone here in Florida and enjoy it to the fullest! Keep your eye on the Florida Fun Zone and feel free to join us at the Florida Fun Travel Facebook group!

The Epiphany Experience in Tarpon Springs

Our Travels

By

Florida Funmeister

-

January 10, 2018

0

It is in January where the Florida community of Tarpon Springs takes on the nickname of “Epiphany City” and with good reason. This year an estimated 20,000 people came in for an array of activities staged by the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral as part of the annual observance, which culminates with the ceremonial retrieval of a small wooden cross from the waters of the Spring Bayou.

Orthodox Christians celebrate Epiphany on January 6th of each year in remembrance of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the waters of Jordan River more than 2000 years ago.

In 1906, the Greek community in Tarpon Springs decided that Epiphany – or “Cross Day”- each year would be celebrated with the sanctification of the waters and the immersion of the cross in the Spring Bayou.

The activities now actually begin the day before Epiphany, with a Blessing of the fleet and the Sponge Docks on January 5.

It is held at the entrance to the Sponge Exchange on the Anclote River which feeds into the Gulf of Mexico and began this year with the gathering and a briefing for 57 young men who would be diving the next day in the Casting of the Cross observance.

They gathered on a boat to hear instructions and a special address from the oldest living cross retriever, Hercules Ypsilantis – who retrieved the cross at the Epiphany observance of 1949.

The hopefuls then received a special blessing from Father Sampson Kasapakis. Each then was sprinkled with holy water from a sprig of Holy Basil.

The group then moved to the docks, where a special memorial was held for divers, sailors and others who since have passed away. This year marked the first time ever for such an event, with Father Kasapakis reading the blessing, then lighting incense. The divers ringed the memorial table, complete with Koliva cakes, lighting candles and offering hymns.

Koliva is a boiled wheat cake made with such things as powdered sugar, almonds, ground walnuts, sesame seeds, cinnamon, pomegranate seeds, raisins, anise and parsley. It generally is made for funerals and memorials, typically on Saturdays of the Souls as well as to mark anniversaries of deaths.

Following the ceremony, Father Kasapakis and other members of the clergy moved down the docks to bless an array of boats, including sponge boats, tour boats, fishing boats and recreational craft.

After that, the group moved throughout the sponge exchange, offering blessings to the businesses there which lasted well into the afternoon.

Saturday morning, events began in earnest at the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral with the Orthos and Divine Liturgy. At noon, the waters were blessed at the cathedral, and a processional moved from the church to the edge of the Spring Bayou for the culmination of events.

Hierarchs, clergy, dignitaries and thousands of faithful onlookers formed the impressive procession to Spring Bayou, led by altar boys, school children in traditional costumes, choir members and Greek Folk dance groups – some from as far away as New York.

This year, the procession was led by Dove Bearer Kiersten Spanos.

As part of the tradition, the dove bearer carries a dove, which is released just prior to the casting of the cross into Spring Bayou. It represents the Biblical scripture where the Holy Spirit descends on Christ following His baptism “like a dove.”

Tens of thousands of the faithful gathered around Spring Bayou for the annual event beginning early in the morning. Christians, onlookers and members of the media staked out their locations for the best seat.

Some observers came in by boat, there also was a helicopter overhead and even a drone buzzed the area taking shots.

The church service was broadcast from the Cathedral through loud speakers so the crowd around the bayou could hear the ceremonies in real time. The small boats from which the young men will dive, were roped in a semi-circle around the platform, and scuba divers and others used the opportunity to set up safety and other operations.

Wildlife also permeated the area, with seagulls and pelicans in lazily circling in the air and a number of manatee raising their heads from the bayou’s water while the liturgy continued.

The water level was down several feet this year, the apparent victim of a full moon, which had pulled out the tide. The breeze was stiff, unfurling the American and Greek flags on the poles across from the podium area.

A roar came from the crowd as the divers appeared from the processional. They then gathered on the steps to receive their final blessing before hitting the water. After the young men had swum to their respective boats for diving, the clergy blessed the bayou by sprinkling holy water into it.

Spanos then released the dove, which soared into the air, and it was time for the casting of the cross.

The yearly mad scramble ensued, with 18-year-old Christian Chrysakis, as this year’s cross retriever – replicating the action of his great-grandfather, who had retrieved the cross from the same bayou more than a half century ago.

Despite chilly temperatures, church officials said they were well satisfied with the events, and the ensuing party – called a Glendi – which celebrated the observance.

We have noted before, that one needs no special occasion to visit Tarpon Springs, but when it comes to occasions – none is more special there than Epiphany.

A Saturday in Sarasota

By

Florida Funmeister

-

January 7, 2018

0

Those wishing to spend a Saturday in Sarasota can have quite a bit of fun. We found a myriad of different things to see, do and experience. And, at relatively low prices.

Mrs Funmeister and myself recently packed up the wagon and headed out to the city by the Gulf for a bit of shopping and relaxation.

The Farmer’s Market

Of course no Saturday would be complete without our regular stop by the farmer’s market. It is as much an opportunity to people watch as it is a place to find interesting foods and entertainment as well as objects d’art – not to mention environmentally-friendly pet supplies.

In fact, the market is entirely pet friendly. There are many folks walking Lemon Street browsing the booths and enjoying the day with their dogs.

We took the time to stop by some of our favorite locations including Java Dawg for coffee, The Pineapple Man for our fix of pineapples and cores, picked up some fresh turmeric and ginger, then saw Angela over at the OBAVITA cosmetics location.

We also had the opportunity to be entertained by an elephant marionette playing the piano at the intersection of Lemon and Main for tips.

A Quick Bite

After stocking up at the market, it was time for some breakfast. A short walk down Main Street took us to the First Watch restaurant. This is an award-winning chain that actually started in Sarasota and now has spread throughout the United States.

First Watch is known for delivering an excellent dining experience and fast, friendly service. The menu features traditional favorites including pancakes, omelets, salads and sandwiches, as well as signature specialties such as the Chickichanga®, Healthy Turkey Omelet™ and Fresh Fruit Crepes. All menu items are freshly prepared to order and the restaurant does not use microwaves, deep fryers or heat lamps.

The place was packed so in order to get served more quickly, we sat at an 8-top community table, with a half-dozen random people. We were taken care of quickly, met some new folks and were privy to a few conversations.

All in all, it was an interesting experience.

The food was impeccable, I was hungry and had The Works omelet while Mrs. Funmeister had the Traditional Breakfast. True to their word, my omelet was packed with veggies, there was creamy cream cheese atop and an nice mixed salad. The multi-grain toast was thick and tasty.

Her eggs were over medium the way she liked them, the country potatoes were crisp, lightly seasoned and not greasy and huzzah – the bacon crisp and not burned!

Four stars there.

Sarasota Art

We then took a drive over to the Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy. We had seen this place several times but had not stopped. This time we toured the place and it is….unique.

A series of indoor and outdoor displays, there are paintings in oils and water colors, sculptures, multi-media pieces, steampunk art and some oddities and re-purposed structures that take a while to get your mind around. Inside there are docents in each of the rooms to answer questions about the pieces.

There is a five dollar suggested donation per person to experience the giant display.

Visitors are encouraged to go in each of the rooms (including both bathrooms) to have a look at the art within. There are giant pink flamingos and out front as well as lions, tigers, alligators and other creatures with moving heads. Others, like horses, giraffes and bulls are made from old horseshoes. Some have been crafted into giant benches that urge you to sit a spell.

Did we mention the giant monkeys hanging from the trees?

Although none of the art is for sale, many of the pieces have the artists names and contact information. The display is closed once a year when it is totally refurbished for another run. A Saturday in Sarasota would not be complete without this stop.

It’s something you won’t see anywhere else.

More Food

We then went back downtown for a late lunch at Pastry Art on Main Street. It was a soup and sandwich for the two of us – ended up with a giant Cranberry Orange muffin for dessert. The place specializes in coffee and pastries and was a great cap for us.

Had we wished, we could have gone over to the Unconditional Surrender statue or maybe headed out to one of the other evening activities for which Sarasota is so well known – but we headed back to FunTravel HQ for a bit of rest and relaxation before our next great adventure.

When it comes to a day trip or an overnighter, a Saturday in Sarasota is always a good option.

New & Improved Charging Essentials Multi-Plug

By

Florida Funmeister

-

January 4, 2018

0

In the past we have written about the little multi-plug we carry to extend our ability to have sufficient electrical sockets when we arrive at a motel that does not have all the facilities we need.

On a recent shopping trip, Mrs. Funmeister found a new and improved model made by Charging Essentials . This one not only handles double the electrical sockets as our old one (6), it also has a brace of four USB ports that provide for charging of all manner of devices from phones and tablets to power sticks.

We have been happy that a lot of motels seem to have located ways to add sockets in convenient locations. One of the best is the desk lamp that has both electrical sockets as well as USB ports. However, not all the properties have these and it pays to come prepared.

As we have found, many times each and every electrical socket already is in use. There are lamps, a TV, refrigerator or microwave plugged into each socket. That’s why we carry our own.

In the past, we had used a simple 3-port unit we found at the dollar store – and it served us well. Whether it was the diffuser, a charger, our laptop or some other device, it was worth its weight in gold more times than not.

Especially since, by the time you are settled in your room and find out that you are socket-deficient, you really don’t feel like going out again,

The new units came in a double pack for about $15. In addition to adding to our ability to plug in multiple units, these also come with a built-in surge protector and the USB units charging lights turn from red to green when the units are fully charged. How cool is that?

While it gives increased service, it is not appreciably larger than the other multi-plug we carried. In fact, both fit in a Crown Royal bag together for easy transportation inside our gadget bag.

We have had good luck with this improved multi-plug, although there are a few drawbacks. There is only one plug on the back that fits over the wall socket, and we have had to either get longer USB cords or leave our phones on the floor because this new multi-plug fit into the standard wall socket and most of them are closer to the ground.

Although it is a bit bigger than the three-socket model, it also travels well and certainly is a recommendation for your in-room bag for when you go moteling.

If you take our suggestions, please let us know. Visit our Florida Fun Zone Facebook page or drop us a line at [email protected].

Happy New Year!

By

Florida Funmeister

-

January 1, 2018

0

Happy New Year to all our Florida Fun Zone readers. First off, we would like to thank you and all of the folks who have stopped by here and our other social media platforms to look at our posts regarding our travels, helpful hints and suggestions for upcoming events.

It has been a little over a year since we started pursuing this in earnest and since that time we have logged in dozens of accommodations, restaurants, activities and points of interest.

And we are just getting started.

This coming year, our idea is to bring you additional ways to see what we have seen including the addition of a YouTube channel and even some podcasts.

We are learning how to make these things work as well as how to keep what we have at an operational level.

As always, we are interested in your suggestions. Sadly, because of spambots we have had to disable the comments on our articles. However, we welcome your comments on our Florida Fun Zone Facebook page, tweets on our Florida Fun Zone Twitter account or you can email us at [email protected].

We value your suggestions on places to go, things to see and your ideas on ways to plan, gadgets to use or your opinions on our articles.

Stay tuned – we think that there will be a lot more Florida fun – and fun zones in 2018. And thanks again for stopping by!

– Florida & Mrs. Funmeister

Enter the Rubbermaid Cooler

Follow the Instructions

But Wait – There’s More

Our Experience

The Fare

High Marks

The Contents

Our Tools

The Farmer’s Market

A Quick Bite

Sarasota Art

More Food

WEATHER

POPULAR ARTICLES

POPULAR CATEGORIES

Follow us on Instagram @floridafuntravel

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY