Florida Days, Florida Nights

My last few days in Florida meant taking in family time, relaxing pool side, filling up on German baked goods and coffee and nights of live music and cocktails lakeside.  Wednesday morning, I spent time reading in the sun-room before hopping on my Momma's bike to explore a bit.  I rode around their neighborhood and stopped into the diner for coffee and Floridian waffles.  By the way, it took me fifteen minutes to find the brakes on this bike...think old-fashioned bike with the cutest basket on the front, but no handle-bar brakes which had me totally confused.  Finally, I pedalled backward, accidentally, and hello brakes.  I was thinking the whole time, this is unsafe! But, got a good laugh anyway!

That afternoon, the three of us decided to spend some time at Lake Sumter Landing in The Villages.  Think quaint seaside village with a colorful waterfront, boats running on Cherry Lake and people gathering to enjoy a night on the square.  The famous lighthouse and sunken boat are two landmarks you don't want to miss.  We made our way to grab a bite to eat and enjoy happy hour and live music with a gorgeous lake view.  Lake Sumter offers many dining options, boutique-style shopping, and nightly entertainment all year long.  There is a reason The Villages is one of the fastest growing cities.  After filling up on coconut shrimp and fruity cocktails with oranges...because in Florida, you have to have oranges...we wandered around enjoying the perfect evening.

The next morning, and my final day in Florida, I had to make the usual stop at Yalaha Bakery.  The patio is always open here so we enjoyed iced coffee and baked goods, with a box of cookies to-go.  A quick stroll through downtown Leesburg before hitting up the pool for a little sunshine and relaxation.  Views of palm trees and marshland make this saltwater pool even more enjoyable.  A few hours of sun and we made our way one last time around the Plantation via golf cart, because that's how you roll here.  I made sure to have one more helping of my Momma's lasagna before I was packed up and headed back to the airport to catch my flight home.  

As I sat in the airport I had time to really think about this get-a-way.  Of course I enjoyed the day at the beach, hiking, and taking a swim in the springs but really, just time with them was the best.  Our nightly golf cart rides around the Plantation, taking Dodger on his morning walk, breakfast and dinner together, mornings and evenings in the sun-room or just being lazy watching a movie.  And it hit me, I was sad to leave but I'll be back Florida.  Flight already booked.  

See You Soon Florida Oranges 🍊

Shona

Follow Me ↠
Travel IG: http://www.instagram.com/dirtroadshighheels
Personal IG: http://www.instagram.com/shonamhouston

Sign up for blog emails here: http://www.thedirtroadshighheels.blogspot.com

Bathtub Reef and Cocktails by the Sea

An early flight from KC had me landing in Orlando at 9 a.m. My Mom picked me up right on time and we were off to the beach!  A short drive to the A1A and we made our way to Bathtub Reef, a beach located in Stuart.  The reef system if located just off shore and is home to more than 500 different species of marine life, including endangered sea turtles. The reef is created by tiny sea worms and is not only unique but also very fragile. The worms cement sand grains together and as they build on top of one another and over time, this creates a reef system that breaks up the waves, giving it the "bathtub" effect. The reef also serves to aid in beach erosion caused by waves.  This bathtub effect is one of the amazing features of these protected waters.

The water here is very clear and the temperature was actually warmer than I expected it to be.  There were many people snorkeling around the reef to get a closer view of the marine life below.  And if you are into seashells, the beach is filled with many sizes, shapes, and colors. It's a beautiful beach that is great for swimming; it is less crowded, more relaxed, and offers picturesque views.  I could stay here for days.

After leaving the reef, we headed to grab lunch making sure we could be on a patio with a waterfront view.  Our search led us to Conchy Joe's, located on the Indian River near Jensen Beach.  Dozens of Seagulls lined the dock, a lonely pelican perched high waiting to swoop down for fish food, and the breeze off the ocean was perfect.  The cocktail menu was full of fruity drinks; island style. I opted for the Voodoo Hooch which is filled with Cruzen, Pineapple, and Mango Rum, Orange and Pineapple juices and topped with a pineapple wedge and did I mention was...super delicious.  Fish tacos with mango marinated plantains was the perfect light lunch for a sunny day!

Next Up, Jensen Beach!!

Time flies when you're having Rum 🌴

Shona

Follow Me ↠
Travel IG: http://www.instagram.com/dirtroadshighheels
Personal IG: http://www.instagram.com/shonamhouston
Sign up for blog emails here: http://www.thedirtroadshighheels.blogspot.com

We Like Fried Food, Coffee, and Cocktails

On a recent weekend adventure I was seriously ecstatic to be able to try a few local places that included none other than food and drink...two of my favorite things!  On the way to St. Joseph, we made our way off the highway to a small place called Fords Drive-In.  We walked in and the folks there instantly knew we weren't from around those parts...but they didn't care. They found us entertaining and served up a big smile anyway.  Reason #48,295 why I love places like this.  The guy behind the counter, "You must be related."...why yes, yes we are.

We each ordered a burger and decided to split cheese sticks, mushrooms, and spicy cheese cubes and after polishing that off, ordered a large fry.  Our total bill, under $14.  Now, these servings are smaller, thank you for not super sizing anything...but fulfilling for us. I am not going to lie, I could have ordered a triple burger, but decided to take it easy.

Once arriving to our destination, we dropped off our bags...see previous blog post about Whiskey Mansion...and decided to head downtown.  We found the cutest little coffee house, Mokaska Coffee and each ordered something warm to "warm" up.  My sister had this whipped apple cider...and although my cappuccino was yummy, I wanted to steal hers!  Once we finished there, we headed to the Tiger's Den to up our game with cocktails.

This place had me instantly...it's a used book store/bar, let's call it a Book-Bar.  Prohibition-style drinks, walls of used books, comfy couches and friendly folks.  I am so glad we found this hidden gem.  They offer a variety of craft beers, many different wines, and great cocktails. I opted for the Paloma, a favorite of mine. Best part about it, no television. Bonus points in my book...see what I did there?

By the way, how could we not start out this roadtrip without a bathroom selfie? November is seriously my favorite time of year!

I can not imagine life that didn't include exploration.

Shona