Come take a look! I was walking Christmas Eve afternoon around Fort Lauderdale beach and found that plenty of people like to hang at the beach during the holiday. The restaurants and bars were full, the walkway by the side of the beach was embracing the different characters that were just hanging there and the beach was happy that people considered it as a choice to spend the day. Let’s take a look.
Taking a picture is part of the fun when you are out in a place. Taking pictures is a part of the every day life for us. People love to document what they do, they love to share it to! 😉
Like all these people I was there too and taking pictures. But I wanted to see them, having fun and enjoying life!
Pretty Beach! That’s the name in English, but this past Memorial weekend it was only pretty to see from shore. All Florida East Coast had a warning issue for rough waves and a rip current alert. Despite the alerts people still got in the water.
In the other hand I decided to listen to the warnings and stayed dry but enjoying the sounds of the waves. While been kissed by the sun I studied a little of my travel agent work book, took some pics and even I was forced by my eyes to take a quick nap while I was trying to read.
One of the many perks of living in Central Florida is all the beaches we have in a relatively short distance and even I couldn’t enjoy the water this time it will be plenty of time for me to do it.
It is always better to listen the advises and warnings that are issued by the weather authorities. Unfortunately I heard this morning that three people were drowned during this Memorial Weekend because of the rip currents. It’s not worth it the risk! There always going to be another day to enjoy the beach without any issues.
If someday you want a vacation in Florida let me know! I can help you book any kind of vacation you want here, from Magical (Disney) to a simple get-away weekend!
Cook, go out, perhaps the outdoors, water sport, family time? What about reading, listening to music, traveling?
It’s important that we do things that we like, that we enjoy, because that help us motivate a balance in our life. We all have to work, to provide for our families, we all have responsibilities with our society. But, what about clearing your mind of the heaviness of the everyday life? What about breaking the routine once in a while? Those things that take us out of the loop, are the ones that bring balance to life. Those things are the ones that will give a real meaning of all the work that you do.
Traveling, having fun, taking time with family, explore the tourist area where you live, water fun, hiking, adventure, friends… The list could go infinite, those things are a need in our lives. Some people may think that those things are luxuries, but they are not. Everything that we do out of balance tend to be a problem sooner or later.
Personally I will love to travel 24/7… But I can’t. At least at this moment I can’t do it. But still there are so many things that I can enjoy close to home. I personally love spent time with my family, I think everybody should take time to do that, it’s very rewarding and everybody benefits from it. I combine the two things I like the most, the result:
Great time as a tourist close to home with the people I love.
I am always in the look out for things to do with my teenagers and Jorge. That is why I love Groupon! It give me so many options of things to do around the Orlando area with the great bonus of discounts. I encourage you to check them out, I am pretty sure they have something to offer in your city.
I found these two Groupon for kayaking and swimming with dolphins and manatees, we try them both in two different occasions. Both of this Groupon are from the same company, but sold separately. It really is a good deal! 😉
Jorge and I went for a little adventure for ourselves…. The tour lasted for two hours. I would say that is more for beginners. But still two hours were you can stop what are you doing and enjoy the sun, the warm water and the Florida fauna.
They take you to a little Island on the Banana River where dolphins and manatees pass by like cars in a highway. They don’t guarantee the encounter with the dolphins or manatees but its most likely to happen. Of course there are rules to this, if the mammals come by you can’t harass the animals or chase them, or go on top of them. You have to be gentle and always remember that they are wild strong animals. They are so used to people that they will come to you. Specially manatees! They like to be pet like dogs do. The tour guide was telling us to stay around in the area that sooner or later they will come to you. Exactly that happened! We had two visitors, and indeed they like to be pet and rub. So cute! One of them stayed with the group for a long time. It kept poking us, for us to touch him and rub his back. Later came another one, and this one roll to the belly to be touch and rub too.
We saw some dolphins passing by but they didn’t stop to say hi. Probably they were in a hurry or something. Our tour guide told us that sometime they stop by too and like to be touch and they are playful. We were not that lucky with dolphins but the manatees filled our heart with cuteness.
Take a look to our fun outdoor adventure here in this video.
If someday you are around Central Florida, you should stop by and have one of this tours. I will be taking another kayak tour soon with other company and see how it go. I will share my story with you later about that. If you want to know more information of things to do in Central Florida send me a message and I will do my best to help you.
Thank You so much for traveling my stories with me. Until then,
Learning to enjoy the beauty of life wherever we are, wherever we go. I love traveling, I wish I could do it full time. But that is not the case, I work 5 days a week, full time… so I have to make the best of what I have. I live in Florida, then I enjoy Florida at the maximum, I enjoy it with the ones I love. I enjoy so much to be outside, and if you know a little bit of me you know I love the beach. I don’t get tired of going, listening to the waves come and go and the breeze make me forget that I have a full time job, or responsibilities. Is a way of escaping for few hours, I feel like a tourist at home.
Even though I can’t travel full time, I do take vacation often with a purpose! This next Thursday, me and my family are going to do a road trip up north driving from Florida, and hoping to get to the Niagara Falls. I will be posting during our two weeks trip. Don’t miss it. First destination; Washington DC!
Well in the mind time I will leave you with a funny video of some crabby business…
As we were going down the river, feeling the warmed touch of the sun in my face, the wind messing gently my hair, I breathe freedom. I felt like I was in an expedition far, far away from home, even we were only an hour away. I saw the different birds flying and resting along the line of mangroves that marks the river bank of the Indian River Lagoon. Looking to the water Jorge told me that he saw a big jellyfish, but I didn’t see it. I keep looking around, and I hear my daughter saying the same thing, I missed it again. With a Titanic kind of feeling, me and my family were in the bow, in the from part of the 45 ft tour boat. When Kelly, the owner of the Good Natured River Tours, offered the opportunity to go to the front of the boat where we could have a better experience, we were the only ones that took advantage of the offer. While her husband, Captain Bill Reynolds, was pointing out all the point of interests of the river banks, birds, interesting houses and more, I was on my search for marine mammals. Kelly told us that the dolphins in the lagoon were very friendly, and that sometimes from the beginning of the tour they are already greeting them, swimming along the boat. Well this time we were not that lucky, and specially me! Up to that point, I had not seen, not even a jellyfish, just few fishes and birds. Still of my not so lucky encounter with the wildlife, I was having a great relaxing time, it was getting warmer, the sun was strong in my eyes, even with sunglasses, but still I loved every minute of the view and of the my outdoor moment.
The Good Natured River Tour last two hours and goes along the Indian River between the Pineda Causeway which we crossed under until the Dragon Point Dr. (where in the very end of that tip of property used to be a Dragon House that eventually was destroy by weather) – passing that the tip we went into the Banana River just a little bit in, then turning back to Indian River again but we kept forward until we got to the Eau Gallie Causeway. There by the Eau Gallie Causeway is where we head back, this was our last chance to encounter the friendly mammals. Our hopes were up, Kelly kept looking around with her binoculars, she told us that there was a lot of movement in the area; like boats and jet-skis, more than usual. It was Labor Day, everybody was enjoying that extra day off like us. Until that moment, before we got to the Gallie Causeway I had my first encounter with wildlife, I saw a funny blue crab swimming desperately… jaja! it was my first time seeing a blue crab or any crab swimming. Well, I learned that actually they are excellent swimmers they even have special adapted appendages that are shaped as paddles… interesting, the only thing I knew about them beside that they are crabs is that they taste very good.
The Captain was so nice that he kept our tour going until we found them! First we saw a solo dolphin, swimming around in his own business. We were excited, we took pictures of his fin, going up and down. “Well at least we saw one”, I said to myself.
I felt bad for Kelly because she was looking and looking, but wildlife is unpredictable, it’s impossible to guarantee that they will be waiting for us to make us happy. But then!!! Oh my God!!! Then!!! Two super friendly dolphins came close, swam by the boat, jump and took a good look at us. Thanks God I stayed in the bow even though the sun was melting me away, definitely it was the better place in the boat to enjoy the encounter. The were so close to us, it was literally, like they came to say hello. I took a super cool video, and you will hear my crazy moment of joy, please try not to laugh… -____-
We finished our day eating at the Grills Riverside restaurant, when you get this tour on Groupons like we did, it also includes a $5 voucher discount on food per person. We were 5 in total so we had $25 dollars discount on food!!
Food was great, and we even had dessert, fried cheesecake… Yummy!
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