Category: Road Trips

  • Deep Freeze Recap

    Deep Freeze Recap

    Blogposts about our 2020 road trip to Florida are now complete. As with last year’s road trip Escape the Tundra – Finale, this post will provide an outline of where we went, what we saw and links to posts associated with each stop.

    If you haven’t seen any of them, you may want to start at the beginning. Near the bottom of each post, there is a green link that will take you to the next one – it’s pretty simple to navigate. If you’ve seen some but not others, pick and choose from the list below. I’d also suggest a desktop or laptop rather than your phone so photos are a little larger. If you click on the first in a series, you can scroll through them by clicking the arrow. Enjoy!

    Our itinerary:

    Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020
    This intro speaks to the fact that I’ve grown to dread three months of each year – the inspiration behind “Dodging the Deep Freeze.”

    The Emerald Coast
    Panama City Beach, FL (14 nights) Landmark Holiday Beach Resort. The Packers dash our Super Bowl dreams. Day trip to Destin, Grayton Beach State Park. Our first warning sign about gators, but no gators.

    Pines, Swamps and Springs
    Our stay in PCB continues with visits to Conservation Park, Vortex Spring, Ponce de Leon Springs State Park, and Morrison Springs.

    Gator Lake*
    Our stay in PCB continues with a visit to St. Andrew Bay and its State Park. You’d think with a name like Gator Lake, there would be gators – but no! (hence the asterisk). Plenty of Herons, so that sorta made up for it.

    Farewell PCB
    We finish up our stay in PCB with a trip to Camp Helen State Park.

    The Scenic Route
    Perry, FL (1) Hampton Inn. En route to our new home base, stops along our scenic route included: Port St. Joe, Cape San Blas Lighthouse, St. Joseph Point Lighthouse, lunch at the Owl Cafe in Apalachicola, St. George Island and its lighthouse, Crooked River Lighthouse, Bald Point State Park, St. Mark’s National Wildlife Reserve, and Cedar Key Museum. A long, but wonderful two days.

    Island Living
    St. Pete’s Beach, FL (6) Bluegreen at Tradewinds Resort. Lots of relaxing and “beach time.” Day trip to Fort De Soto.

    Gardens and Glass
    One of my favorite blogs: flowers, flamingoes and floats. Sunken Gardens, a stroll around the resort, and the Chihuly Collection in St. Petersburg.

    Between the Greens
    Kissimmee, FL (7) Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort – West Village. Day trips to Celebration, a jaunt to Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park with gators!, and lots of down time.

    Swan Lake
    We continue our stay in Kissimmee, at Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando.

    The City Beautiful
    Orlando, FL (7) The Fountains. Visits to: Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek, Kissimmee Lakefront Park, the Fountains’ Lake Eve and its wildlife and pools, the House of Blues at Disney Springs, Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve.

    Drink, Dine, Relax, Repeat
    Oranjestad, Aruba (14) La Cabana Beach Resort and Casino. Introduction to the island and some thoughts about us being beach and pool people.

    Exploring Aruba
    We continue our stay in Aruba in the Palm Beach area: Bubali Bird Sanctuary, bird-watching at the salt marshes, sunset cruise on the Jolly Pirate.

    Up North
    We rented a car to explore the north side of Aruba including: Arashi Beach, the California Lighthouse, Faro Blanco Restaurant, Chapel of Alto Vista, Baby Bridge, Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, Baby Beach, and Charlie’s Bar and Restaurant in Sint Nicolaas.

    It’s Party Time!
    They know how to party at the Lighting Parade at Aruba’s Carnival, Arubian Taste, and the Kukoo Kunuku party bus.

    The Capital City
    We explored Oranjestad with an Aruba Downtown Walking Tour: Aruba’s oldest house of worship, the “I Heart Aruba” sign, the Aruba Parliament Building, Fort Zoutman, sculptures of eight blue horses, and more.

    Back to the Sunshine State
    Weston, FL (5) Vacation Village at Weston. Day trips to Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse, and a Shark Valley Tram Tour.

    The Great Escape
    We continue our stay in Weston with an airboat ride and live alligator show at Everglades Holiday Park. We stopped at Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum on our way north.

    There’s No Place Like Home
    Ormond Beach, FL (1) Casa del Mar. Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum, St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum in St. Augustine, FL (7) (1) Grand Villas at World Golf Village. Originally seven nights, but left after only one to avoid the ‘rona.

    Deep Freeze Recap
    That about does it for this road trip! I can’t wait to get started on the next one!

    Visit YouTube to see a slideshow of my favorite photos along with a song I love.

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • There’s No Place Like Home

    There’s No Place Like Home

    In this post we’ll finish up our road trip and return home to Wisconsin. It was an abrupt ending – much different than the relaxing week in St. Augustine and the vacation with our kids and grandkids that we had planned in Williamsburg, but we are not a family of quitters. We are trying again next year.

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020.


    USAF Restricted Entry

    This morning we left Weston and visited the beautiful Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse in The Great Escape. Since we were traveling along the Space Coast, our goal was to see Port Canaveral Lighthouse on our way through. We were on the coastal route (A1A) and entered an area that was restricted by the United States Air Force. When we inquired with the gentleman at the gate, he made sure we turned around, but offered no alternative route by which we could see the lighthouse. Assuming it was now closed, we continued our way north.

    In doing the research for this blog, we found that it IS still open and offers tours! Visit the link above for information on tours.

    Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum

    It’s unusual to see a red masonry lighthouse – let alone two in a row (also Jupiter Inlet)! At 175 feet high, Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in the state and the second tallest masonry lighthouse in the U.S. It is one of the best preserved and most authentic historic light stations in the nation.

    All of the original structures are here to be explored – and there are quite a few! Since we didn’t have nearly enough time to see it all, we decided to get a few pictures and return on another day. Clearly an entire afternoon should have been allotted to see all there is to see here.

    “Step back in time and climb 175 feet of fun in the Florida sun at the Ponce Inlet Light Station and Museum! Constructed in 1887, the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse has guided mariners along the Florida coast for more than 130 years. Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1998, this world-famous lighthouse museum is conveniently located ten miles south of Daytona on the World’s Most Famous Beach and offers a treasure trove of experiences for young and old alike. Not to be missed, a visit to the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is guaranteed to take your Florida vacation to new heights of adventure!” – READ MORE

    Ormond Beach

    A scheduling blunder was solved with a bonus night at Casa del Mar in Ormond Beach. Although our one night stay cost us two night’s pay, it was still cheaper than any hotel we could have found last minute – on the last Saturday of Bike Week! This was the only blunder in two nine-week road trips, so that’s not too shabby. Where is some wood I can knock on?

    Yet another Change of Plans

    We checked in, unloaded the car and walked across the street and down just a bit for a drink and some dinner at the Tipsy Taco Cantina. It was pretty packed and once we got home and the Coronavirus numbers were growing, I was a little concerned about this stop. Our only saving grace was that – since it was pretty packed – the turnover was very low. We sat at the bar for quite a while and enjoyed a margarita (or three) and had a great dinner.

    Some time that evening, we decided we would not cancel our last stop in St. Augustine after all. We had always heard wonderful things about the resort there, but have never been. There is lots to see and do in the historic district in St. Augustine and, although the resort is a good twenty minutes to the action, if it’s as fabulous as I’ve heard, we would be OK with that. Spoiler alert: it was!

    The next morning we drove the coastal route to get more ocean views. For quite a while we were following an old hot rod with a coat of primer in lieu of paint, and the driver and at least two dogs were not in any hurry. We settled in for an enjoyable ride up the Atlantic coast. We sure didn’t make good time on this trip, but it sure was relaxing.

    St. Augustine

    We saw a billboard for Redfrog & McToad’s Grub & Pub that looked intriguing. We were pretty hungry and hadn’t stopped till now because all along the way, restaurant parking lots were full of motorcycles making their way home after a busy week. Our waitress said they were only serving breakfast for another ten minutes, so we quickly made our choice and settled in.

    Since we’ve been back home, we checked out their full menu and realized that we missed an opportunity! Growing up with Iowa tenderloins as big as your head and nowhere to get good ones in Wisconsin, this sounds like the place for us! Next year when we come back, we’ll give one a try!

    St. Augustine Lighthouse

    We came into St. Augustine from the south on A1A, and oohed and aahed at all the sites we’d be seeing over the next week. We decided to visit the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum on our way through today and were immediately impressed. Beautiful diagonal black and white stripes decorate this lighthouse in a more traditional way than the red ones we saw earlier in the day, although they did add a splash of bright red on the observation deck and lantern room – which was pretty beautiful.

    Keeper’s House

    We came onto the grounds in a central area – the back yard of the keeper’s house, so we decided to check that out first. It was gorgeous on the outside with bright white railings all around. The interior rooms were decorated beautifully in the style of the late 1880s. “At Home with the Harns” is an interactive display that tells a story of each family member. There you could read about what life was like for the light keeper’s family in St. Augustine at that time.

    Another interactive exhibition was down the spiral staircase to the basement. WRECKED! tells of St. Augustine’s ties to the Revolutionary War with a display of some artifacts from a 1782 British loyalist shipwreck. You can also learn how underwater archaeologists locate historic shipwrecks on the ocean floor, which was very interesting.

    USCG Memorial Bell

    The keeper’s house is in fabulous condition and the grounds are impeccable. As we came out of the front door facing the street, the front porch and yard were just beautiful – with that old southern charm. The “United States Coast Guard Memorial Bell” was recently restored and is “the crown jewel” of the museum.

    “This bell is connected to our lighthouse family and our beginnings in so many different ways. It is important to us because it reminds us of sacrifice and that giving back is at the center of the museum’s mission. It touches our heart and those of our visitors.” ~ Kathy Fleming, executive director of the First Light Maritime Society, which runs the lighthouse and museum.

    “Try your hand at Toting the Oil”

    Next up was the oil room, the keeper’s office and the tower. In the oil room were several storage tanks and the display below where you can “Try your hand at Toting the Oil”. Can you imagine carrying this five-gallon bucket weighing about thirty pounds, filled with HOT oil up 219 stairs several times a day? I get tired just thinking about getting myself up 219 stairs! He also had to wind the clockworks, to rotate the lens every two and a half hours. They had a tough job saving ships from demise on their coastlines, and their families had to step in where needed.

    Days Gone By

    Lighthouses serve as a reminder of days gone by. They each have a story of the dedication of their keepers and their families, and their detailed records offer a snapshot into a certain point in history. Most are beautiful, with fantastic views – perched high on some craggy coastline or jetting way out into the sea. I love that so many are being restored and maintained, and that visitors will be able to enjoy their charm and hear their stories for many years to come.

    Pack it Up Buttercup

    We arrived at Grand Villas at World Golf Village and the woman behind the counter said that the very next day, the lighthouse would be closed until further notice because of the Coronavirus. After checking in, unloading our stuff and catching up on the news, we assumed that other places of interest would probably be following suit rather quickly. We heard that the kids’ schools would be closed starting Monday, so after only one night in this beautiful condo, we decided we would call it quits and head home in the morning.

    I Guess This is Happening

    All the way home we were very careful of what we touched and only drive-thrus were open for meals. Our hotel was pretty deserted. We stopped just across the border of Wisconsin at a rest stop. Usually a friendly face is there to welcome us (back) to Wisconsin, but there was not a soul in the place. Not the welcome we had hoped for, but at least it was open!

    We got home on Tuesday, March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day – and went straight into quarantine. Since we had been vacationing in the hot spot of Florida, we felt it mandatory to stay away from our kids and grandkids for the suggested 14 days. After that, since someone from both of their households was still working, we decided they should stay away from us for another 14 days, which was just too long. What a long, strange (but wonderful) trip it’s been!

     

    Next up: Deep Freeze Recap

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • The Great Escape

    The Great Escape

    As cases of the Coronavirus continued to escalate, we were encouraged (mostly by my brothers) to write off the rest of this vacation and get home. Although we weren’t totally sold on our decision, the plan was that we would finish off our Weston stay, visit several lighthouses en route to Ormond Beach for a one-night stay and head home from there. ~ March 12, 2020

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020.


    Everglades Holiday Park

    Many years ago on our first trip to Disney World, we went on an airboat ride east of Orlando. Although our captain was more interested in showing off his big engines than the beauty of the Everglades, the thrill of racing thru the lily pads and seeing a few gators was a blast!

    Fast forward thirty years and today’s airboat ride at Everglades Holiday Park was totally different. Yes – our captain revved up his engines more than once during our ride – but the rest of the trip was a very respectful journey through the pristine landscape that surrounded us. He would get moving pretty fast in the straight-aways, but in the marshy or wooded areas he would slow up so he wouldn’t disturb what’s happening near or on the shore.

    If you’ve never been to the Everglades, you should read my previous post called Back to the Sunshine State. On that day trip we took a tram tour along a paved road through Cypress domes and areas where fish, more birds and alligators (and their babies!) make their homes. From an observation deck we could see twenty miles in any direction. I had always thought of the Everglades as a swamp, but that day our tour guide set us straight on a few of our misconceptions about the area.

    But back to today! Our airboat driver was always on the lookout for wildlife and when we didn’t see any, he would pause so we could take in the silence and serenity of this place. At one point we could see the bright blue sky and the clouds reflecting in the calm of the water.

    It’s Time for Lunch

    Although I usually prefer photographing a bird’s frontside, the next series starts with a great view of this osprey’s – lunch. Our captain took great care to make sure everyone had the opportunity to see as much as they could, and in doing so we got great views of this osprey from almost every angle. As he maneuvered the boat, we were lucky this osprey had a huge fish to finish, so he wasn’t going anywhere – for a while.

    Serenaded During our Boat Ride

    There was plenty of variety when it comes to birds in this area and their singing and chirping made for a peaceful afternoon. While invasive in some areas, water lilies are native in the Everglades where they grow in the calm shoreline waters. Their shade cools the water, they produce natural oxygen and beneficial bacteria, and they also provide cover for lurking gators (last photo).

    We’re Checking out the Gators (and vice-versa)

    It was fascinating to see alligators in their natural habitat and not being exploited by zoos or sideshows. These guys didn’t seem too intimidated by us as the boat maneuvered so we could get a better look.

    Alligator Presentation by the Gator Boys

    At the end of our airboat ride, we were treated to a short alligator presentation featuring one member of the Gator Boys Alligator Rescue Team from the Animal Planet. He did a few stunts and tricks and told a few jokes, but mostly he gave us important information about their conservation and preservation efforts for the alligator and their wetland homes.

    The show was funny and the alligators were not man-handled or wrestled, so it was very enjoyable. Turns out Holiday Park provides a safe haven for many of the captured nuisance alligators featured on Animal Planet’s hit show.

    “It’s quite possible your idea of fun isn’t wrestling alligators. Well, that’s what’s keeping the Gator Boys busy! They’ve become Florida’s go-to guys when locals find themselves crossing paths with deadly 1,000-pound reptiles in shocking locations like master bedrooms, swimming pools or outdoor cafés! The goal of ‘Gator Boys Alligator Rescue’ is for the team to capture nuisance gators and move them to safety before trappers get to them, and then kill and sell the animals for their skin and meat.” READ MORE

    Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse

    We said our goodbyes in Fort Lauderdale the night before, so we could get an earlier start this morning. We were looking forward to another scenic route up to Ormond Beach for one night. Our first stop was about an hour up the road in Jupiter. The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum “has played a vitally significant maritime and communications role since 1860, saving countless ships from wrecking along reefs and shoals between the Florida coast and the Gulf Stream.”

    As we walked up to the Visitor Center, the views of the inlet with its gorgeous turquoise waters and large boats were well worth the stop already! On our next trip up this way we hope to explore Jupiter more, with a lunch stop or a walk in the park that’s across the inlet.

    Lovely Red Lighthouse

    A brief history of the lighthouse can be seen on the sign in the photo, and if you’d like more history, visit the link just below.

    “Brick by brick, the tower slowly rose to its preordained height of 108 feet. A circular stairway with 105 treads led from the base of the tower to the lantern room, where a magnificent first-order Fresnel lens manufactured in Paris by Henry-Lepaute was installed. When revolving, the lens’ four bull’s-eye panels, grouped in two pairs and separated by metal panels, produce the repeating cycle of two flashes followed by a period of darkness.” – READ MORE

    In 1931, Captain Charles Seabrook (head keeper of the lighthouse from 1919-1947) planted the Banyan tree below, which has been thriving ever since. It provides much-needed shade and frames a lovely view of the inlet.

    Time Crunch

    Since we were on somewhat of a time crunch and Jim was waiting down below, I only climbed up to the first landing to catch some views out the window. If you’d like to see a view from higher up, visit the Live View from the Top of the Lighthouse! There is also more of an aerial view here that shows the lighthouse in the view that is pretty spectacular. If you are interested in Sunset or Moonrise Tours, Lighthouse Story Time & Crafts for Kids, or Twilight Yoga, check out the Calendar to time your visit accordingly.

    The museum was very interesting as well. The map of the lighthouses of Florida is nice to show where Jupiter is located in the state. My last blogpost of this series will outline our stops on this road trip and have links to the posts where more of the lighthouses that we visited can be seen.

    Goodbye Jupiter. It’s been really beautiful!

    Next up: There’s No Place Like Home

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Back to the Sunshine State

    Back to the Sunshine State

    Who knew that 2020 would be such a wild and crazy year. Starting with wildfires in Australia, Daylight Savings Time ending on the same week as a full moon and Friday the 13th, widespread protesting against racial injustice and the Coronavirus – and we’re barely into June! 

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020.


    Best Laid Plans

    Our original plan for the end of this trip was to join up with our kids and grandkids for six nights in Williamsburg, VA followed by two days in DC during their spring breaks. By the time we returned from Aruba, the Coronavirus was on everyone’s mind. After an email from our Congressman stating that our White House tours had been cancelled, we assumed that other items on our itinerary would soon follow suit. Shortly thereafter, the kids’ schools were set to close down so we cancelled the last ten days of our trip.

    While keeping a close eye on the ‘rona situation at hand, we continued our road trip with one week at the Vacation Village at Weston, FL. Although my brothers balked about its location being way west of their Fort Lauderdale home, we had several day trips to the Everglades pencilled in which were in that general direction so we booked it anyway. Although it was a very nice resort, we will probably never stay there again because (don’t tell them this) they were probably right – it was quite a hike from Fort Lauderdale. A lot of our time in Weston was spent making a plan while cancelling plans, but we still had some good times with my brothers.

    Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse

    One day we ventured about ten miles north of Fort Lauderdale to Pompano Beach to see the Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse. If you can plan ahead, about once a month a shuttle boat runs from Sands Dock out to the lighthouse where you can take a tour and climb its 175 steps. Since ours was a spur-of-the-moment visit, we had to be happy with our view from Hillsboro Inlet Park. It really was a beautiful view, even if only from afar, and makes me want a re-visit when we can get up closer.

    The lighthouse has quite a complicated history, but here’s the gist:

    • 1855: Hillsboro Inlet was deemed hazardous, but no money equals no congressional action
    • 1890: Thirty-five years later a new bill stated: “This light is very much needed by vessels bound through the Florida straits into the Gulf of Mexico or to the island of Cuba. Its erection will complete the chain of lights which extend from Jupiter Inlet to Tortugas, so that the navigator can make one light before losing sight of another.”
    • 1904: Three acts of Congress and fourteen years later, funds were finally secured and three acres of land were purchased
    • 1905: A Detroit, MI company was hired to build a skeletal lighthouse (in Detroit), and a construction company in West Palm Beach was hired to build three houses, one oil house and a barracks.
    • 1906: The new lighthouse was completed, inspected, approved, disassembled and shipped via Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, Mississippi River, Gulf of Mexico, around Key West, and north to the Hillsboro Inlet (4,000 nautical-miles). The lens was shipped from Paris and yet another construction company from New Orleans cleared the land, laid the foundation and re-assembled the lighthouse.
    • 1907: Fifty-two years from start to finish, Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse was finally illuminated and placed into service under the jurisdiction of the United States Lighthouse Board.

    Located between Palm Beach and Miami, Pompano Beach is often called the Heart of the Gold Coast. It’s a pretty classy neighborhood, so have someone else do the driving so you can check out the houses!

    We’re done sightseeing for the day and we’re off to Happy Hour at Thai Spice back in Fort Lauderdale. We only had (several) appetizers, but they were absolutely delicious and the drinks were awesome as well!

    Two-hour Shark Valley Tram Tour

    Next day, after my brother arrived at our very convenient location in Weston, we travelled on the Tamiami Trail (US 41) for a day trip to the Shark Valley Visitor Center. It is about an hour’s drive and as with most visitor centers, it offers educational displays, a park video and a gift shop. But this Visitor Center also offers guided tram tours (2hr tour from 9-4) and bike rentals (15-mile paved) available from Shark Valley Tram Tours, Inc. Since the trams are open-air, we were safe from the Coronavirus and had great views of the gators and birds.

    I always thought of the Everglades as a swamp, but I was immediately set straight when our guide told us the Everglades is actually a very shallow, slow-moving river that in some places is just inches deep and 50 miles wide. Here is some more information about the Everglades:

    The River of Grass

    “Sometimes called The River of Grass, it forms as water from Lake Okeechobee, which historically overflows the lake’s banks, moves onto the southern Florida plains. The waters then make their way to the Gulf of Mexico at the amazingly slow rate…

    The Everglades River is lazy, and its pace creates an ecosystem that’s friendly to about 150 species of trees, 40 species of mammals, hundreds of types of colorful birds, and an array of reptiles and amphibians, including crocodiles and alligators. It’s a unique habitat that you won’t see anywhere else on Earth.

    Everglades National Park is a big place, covering approximately 2,357 square miles, which makes the park bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware. It is the third largest park in the lower 48 states, surpassed by only Death Valley and Yellowstone.

    Everglades National Park has been designated as an International Biosphere Reserve and a Wetlands of International Significance by the United Nations. So it is not only crucial to the local region and state, but recognized on an international scale.” – READ MORE

    Our Tram Tour Continues

    Pictured below are Cypress trees that thrive for up to 600 years in very wet or flooded conditions. Cypress forests often grow in the shape of a dome, with taller trees in the center, along the flow of water. If these domes are very dense, they are probably teeming with all sorts of nasty animals, so don’t think you’re safe if you find a pretty grove of trees – it’s probably just the opposite!

    All along the roadway culverts provided a hangout for alligators where they can sun on the grass or head into the water if they need cooling down.

    This was the perfect time of year to see some new families in action. All along the way were baby gators learning survival skills from mom. Baby alligators stay together in a group close to their mother for one to two years. I don’t remember our guide telling us how old these babies may be, but seeing the little ones was worth the price of admission!

    The wetlands also provide a beautiful habitat for birds of all sizes and shapes, so expect to see more of them below.

    Observation Deck

    At about the half-way point of our tour, we stopped for a break at a very cool observation deck. Its gradual swooping ramp provided easy access to panaramic views of the Everglades – for about 20 miles in each direction! We could see the road we came in on, and the water below was home to many fish with many varieties of birds staking-out the shoreline.

    70 Endangered Species

    The Everglades is home to nearly 70 endangered species, including the manatee, the Florida panther and the American crocodile. This is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles co-exist. Hundreds of different types of birds also live here so needless to say, my camera was kept pretty busy.

    Fabulous Tour

    Many of our misconceptions about the Everglades were set straight on this wonderful tour today. It was fun riding around on a tram finding gators and their babies and more beautiful birds. Our driver did her best to stop when she saw things of interest or when folks signaled that something was moving, and our guide was eager to tell stories of these fascinating wetlands.

    We didn’t plan our meals too well today and were very hungry by the time the tram tour was over. Luckily the Miccosukee Restaurant was just down the road. A very pregnant employee recommended the Indian fry bread. Actually she was rambling on and on about all the things she liked on the menu, so she must have been hungry too! The Indian fry bread was delicious.

    Up next: The Great Escape

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • The Capital City

    The Capital City

    We continue our escape from Wisconsin’s winter with two weeks in Aruba. Although the temps at home haven’t been nearly as brutal as last year, we are enjoying way more sunshine… while walking on the beach in a swimsuit… than we would be at home in February. I think these road trips are the best idea we’ve had in quite some time.

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020.


    Welcome to Paradise

    While Florida temperatures are an upgrade from Wisconsin’s, Aruba’s are paradise. It was well worth the very reasonable flights from our last stop in Fort Lauderdale to enjoy them. Every day is in the 80s and although it was definitely more windy on this trip than our last, the wind actually increases the temperature and humidity. No wind chill like at home.

    The two cruise ships on the left side of this map are heading to the island’s capital city of Oranjestad (O rang estat). The airport is located here and this bustling harbor city has a charm that shouldn’t be missed. Its blend of old and new come together beautifully for great shopping, dining and exploring.

    The bus ride to the city takes a while with many stops to pick up and drop off passengers along the way. Its air conditioning feels pretty good – especially after a day of walking in the hot sun. Since we didn’t have a pool or a sea to plop into whenever we overheated like we did at La Cabana, several times during our visits to Oranjestad we had to seek out shade and hydration – either by enjoying a great meal or just a beverage under cover in a cross breeze of the trade winds.

    On our first trip to the city we decided to get the lay of the land with an Aruba Downtown Walking Tour. Transportation to the meeting point was provided and our “local expert” made the tour both fun and educational.

    The first landmark we walked by was Aruba’s oldest house of worship – a protestant church that was built in 1846. The square bell tower and its “wings” look almost like a space shuttle ready for blastoff.

    I Heart Aruba

    On the evening we went to Carnival in It’s Party Time!, we stood by the street in front of the “I Heart Aruba” sign (below) to watch the parade. That night it looked pretty awesome all lit up, but it was covered with people posing for pictures or taking selfies. I like it better today without people crawling all over it! Just to the right of this sign is the Aruba Parliament Building. For some history about Aruba, please click on the link.

    Just past the Parliament Building is a statue of Jan Hendrik Albert Eman (below). “Henny” was pivotal in the 1986 event where Aruba obtained its separation status within the Dutch Kingdom. With that event, the Island Territory of Aruba changed to the Country of Aruba, and Henny became its first Prime Minister. Fort Zoutman can be seen in the background, just to the right of his statue.

    Queen Wilhelmina Park

    We continue our walk and cross the street to a park with two statues of historic women and the Caribbean Sea as its backdrop.

    Queen Wilhelmina Park is named after the leader of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948. Wilhelmina was only ten years old when she inherited the throne after her father’s death. She was still a minor and under her mother’s regency, which is probably why the dates on the stone in front of her life-size marble statue (below) read 1898 to 1948. Including those first eight years her reign lasted nearly 58 years later – longer than any other Dutch monarch. She ruled through some very tumultuous times. Visit the link to read more about her.

    Just a few feet from Wilhelmina is a statue of Anne Frank. The statue shows Anne looking up at the sky with her wrists bound. Dedicated in 2011, it symbolizes tolerance of all religions, colors and creeds. On one of the four sides of its square base are her words in English: How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment to improve the world!

    “Make sure to take a stroll along the pedestrian pathway that meanders along the Caribbean Sea. It runs from Queen Wilhelmina Park, to Renaissance Beach and up to the boat harbor.” – READ MORE

    Fort Zoutman

    Built in 1796 for coastline protection, Fort Zoutman is the oldest building still standing in Oranjestad. The Willem III Tower was built in 1868 and served as a lighthouse and public clock tower. The light was extinguished in 1963.

    On our tour we were able to walk to the top of the tower and also catch a glimpse of what life might have been like by peering into some of the small rooms in the courtyard. Each Tuesday night in the courtyard, Fort Zoutman puts on a Bon Bini Festival (Welcome Party) where you can “enjoy the island’s history, traditionally-costumed folkloric dancers, local music, culinary specialties and local art”. We have yet to try the celebration, but it sounds like fun! Although the “Museo Historico” was closed today during our tour, we returned on another visit to give it a look.

    Fabulous Restorations

    Due to increased government interest in maintaining the island’s cultural heritage, a number of old buildings and houses have been fabulously restored. We saw many along the way, such as the Historic Town Hall – where city business is taken care of and legal marriages are performed. We were told that the inside is gorgeous, so why not schedule your dream wedding here!

    Across the street from this gorgeous building is an extremely run-down building that was for sale during our first visit. The price of that money pit was staggering, given the fact that there are no windows and the inside was basically gutted. Our local expert reminded of the three most important things when considering a home or business purchase: location, location, location. The beautiful buildings surrounding this fixer-upper may just make it worth all that money.

    A Taste of Pan Bati

    As we continued our walk, we stopped by CocoPlum Restaurant for a taste of Pan Bati. This staple of the Aruban diet is a simple, slightly sweet pancake-like bread that pairs well with many soups and stews. We thought about stopping back for dinner on their glorious patio, but they close at 4pm, so maybe next time we’ll get here earlier and have lunch (and Pan Bati).

    Hop-on Hop-off Trolley

    Between the colorfully restored landmarks and other artwork along the way, Oranjestad is really a beautiful town to explore on foot. The National Archaeological Museum of Aruba is one of many museums, and is located in the green portion of the building behind the blue horse.

    “Hop-on hop-off explore and shop in Oranjestad. Getting around the city has never been easier or more fun due to the addition of a state-of-the-art trolley. Connecting the cruise ship terminal with the center of town, the tram passes through the Main Street, now totally remodeled and an attractive pedestrian mall. The tram makes six stops at monuments and museums along the way, as well as at the key shopping areas.” – READ MORE

    Blue Horse Exhibit

    Speaking of blue horses – I have photos of seven of the eight blue horse sculptures around town. Oranjestad was originally named Paarden Baai (Horses Bay) in the 17th century when selling horses to Europeans was a major source of income. In 2015, this Blue Horse exhibit was created and represents an important historical moment where the horses jumped from the ship deck into the Caribbean Sea and swam to the Aruban Bay. Each horse represents a different strength and are shiny and blue as if they are still wet from the waters of the Caribbean.

    If you’d like to see photos of each of the eight, along with their names and a description of each, visit this link. They really are beautiful!

    Our Tour is Over

    We said goodbye to our local expert and decided it was time for lunch. Iguana Joe’s Caribbean Bar and Grill had a beautiful and inviting exterior, so we decided to give it a try. We were certainly not disappointed with the food OR the views!

    The elevation gave us a great view of the cruise ship port that can hold up to five cruise ships at one time. I’m not sure how often it’s full-up, but I can imagine what a zoo this city turns into if it happens often. I’m glad on this day there was only one, which had little impact on the madness of the city. With so many wonderful excursions available on the island – from snorkeling and horseback riding to four-wheeling and sight-seeing, I’m sure the crowds disperse pretty quickly.

    West Deck

    On another visit we walked in from the east to the West Deck, where just walking up to the place is a treat! But the food and drinks were also very tasty! From old, rusty boats to fabulous bird houses, we loved this place and returned both times we were here.

    Just Snooping Around

    After lunch we took a stroll along Queen’s Park to visit Wilhelmina and Anne again and walk further out to the beach of the beautiful Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino. I wasn’t sure that I should be walking out on what seemed like a private beach, but according to the link about Queen’s Park (above) a public walkway continues all along the Caribbean to the boat harbor. Looks like we’ll be coming back (at least) one more time!

    It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere!

    We had thought about taking in a movie this afternoon at the Renaissance Mall which was very near to the Park, but the one we wanted to see wasn’t showing for another couple of hours. So as we usually do, we opted for a cool beverage at the 5 o’clock Somewhere Bar & Grill at the intersection of a four-way wind tunnel to cool off.

    Fabulous Tans!

    This two-week portion of our winter road trip turned out to be fantastic, and we flew back to Florida with some fabulous tans!

    Ayo, te aworo! Goodbye, See you later!

    Next up: Back to the Sunshine State

    Happy trails,
    Barb