Penut Island

If you like Kamping and the beach then this is a great spot!  It is basicaly an open island for those who want to come and kamp or just spend the day on the island.  If you want to kamp there you will have to make reservations.  You can grill out or Join the Fire Ring depending on the the winds.  Pets are allowed but you have to keep the on a leash. 

 

 There are a couple of landmarks on the islansd, With their red roofs and clapboard walls, the historic Coast Guard station and boat house, placed in service in 1930, are reminders of days gone by.

The Coast Guard station, boat house, and John F. Kennedy bunker are part of the Palm Beach Maritime Museum which is open to the public. 

They have some nice small beaches around the island and the snorkel is pretty good at the reafs.  There is a lot of diferrent wild life and sea life at the park.  Manatees are always in and out of the waterways there.  There arent any areas to rent things like Kayaks which was a negative for me since we came over on a water taxi just for the day but we brought what we needed and

had a long fun day there.  Im defanatly ready to go back for the weekend.

Now this is a party spot on the holidays and long weekends and a lot of

boats pull up on these days and just party the whole day, so I wouldnt recomend one of these weekends if you have small children.  If you are looking to hang out and party Holiday weekends are a lot of fun there.    Theres a lot more at http://www.pbcgov.com/parks/peanutisland/, have fun!!      

Deerfield Beach

This is my favorite beach in South Florida.  As far as the the beach goes the water is always nice and clear.  There are a lot of activities to do on this beach and there is always something going on, on the beach itself.  I like Deerfield because I like to surf and when we do get a good swell Deerfield is capable of clean overhead waves once in a while and down this far south that usually dosent happen.  There are always people playing volleyball on the 4 pro sand courts they have set up, it could be 11am on Tuesday it dosent matter!  There are a bunch of Kite surfing crues that are always out there.  The surfers are out there even when there are no waves.  They have 2 good breaking spots that are very long. The water is great for snorkling or kayaking. You can find anything you need at IWS http://www.islandwatersports.com/ from kayaks, surfboards, paddle boards (they are doing a full moon paddle out at Sulivan Park this month and offer free surf lessons) to buy or rent. Theres good fishing off the pier and if you want to rent a boat or jet ski http://www.dailyboatrentals.com/ has very good boats even tho its a little expensive its worth it.

This beach is a great place to vacation with kids because its such a nice area and there is so many activities to do. It has a real nice vibe and there arent the crazy people (including bums) that you would usually see in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. Not much of a nightlife scene but there are a couple of places to hang out at night on the the corner of N.E. 2nd St. and A1A there are some pretty cool spots. Theres JB'S that has awesome food and live bands that play all weekend. Theres Oceans 234 http://www.oceans234.com/ which is a very good resuarant bar and they are both on the sand and very laid back but with an upscale feel. Then theres Kahunas which has a nice regge vibe but its defantely for more of the college kidz they have live music Tue-Sun, Rock/Bluegrass/Reggae.

 

The only big nice Hotels in the area are The Embassy Suites and the Wyndham Beach Resort (links are at the bottom). The Wyndham is closer to everything and has a tikibar and resturant on the beach but the Embassy is more sacluded and has a much nicer pool. There are a couple medium size hotels and a lot of little ones but there are some really nice small ones like the Carraige House but I wouldnt stay at the Comfort Inn if I were you with the other options. http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/DEEFLES-Embassy-Suites-Deerfield-Beach-Resort-Spa-Florida/index.do

 http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/FLLDB/main.wnt

One of the events that stand out is the Inaugural Deerfield Wine and Food Festival.  Its some you would have to see so check out the website http://www.deerfieldbeachbites.com/index.aspx?pid=223, there is a video showcasing a lot the culture and great food there.  Happy Travels!!





KEY WEST

Key West, Key West!!! It is definitely one of the best places in the world to go snorkeling or diving. West Sambo Reef is the third largest coral reef in the world, just seven miles off the coast! Key West Snorkeling Tours has a lot to offer like one of the best snorkeling tours I've ever been on, diving tours, and even dolphin tours. Just visit http://www.keywestsnorkelingtours.com/

There is a lot of history to see in Key West like the three civil war forts. Fort Zachary Taylor was built in the 1800's and was Presidents Truman's beach house for 11 winter seasons. Old Town has some nice places to visit like the Key West Museum of Art & History. Fantasy Fest started in the 1800's and is Florida's Mardi Gras. With over one hundred thousand people attending this 10 day carnival its just off the chain including, a parade, costume competitions, body painting, costume parties, lots of drinking. Oh yea Key West has the most bars and clubs per capita in the U.S. so it might not be the ideal place to spend a family vacay. It also has the most church's per capita go figure.

Now when it comes to food Key West has sea food covered with restaurants like Blue Haven. Almost 5 stare out of over seven hundred reviews. Other places like the Roof Top Cafe, Michael's, and with Key West being closer to Cuba than Miami is there are some good Cuban restaurants there but El Siboney Restaurant is definitely the best in Key West. I would try and save some room for dessert at Better Than Sex Dessert's. If your trying to impress a lady this is the spot but if our trying to be cheap with the its not. Its all candle lit and sexy but it is expensive.

5 star Hotels are not easy to find on islands this small but Key West has a couple starting with Casa Marina Resort which has the largest private beach on the island and is a beauty in and out. You might want to check their website out so you can see what they have to offer at http://www.waldorfastoria.com/search/property-details.cfm?intPropertyId=3 . Another place that is all around freakin amazing is Ocean Key Resort and Spa, check them out at http://www.luxurylink.com/luxury-hotels/ocean-key-resort-and-spa?clid=634 .

That's all for Key West its a great place for diving or dinning, the beaches are not that appealing but they have some great things to offer.  Not the best spot for kids

Key Largo!!!!

Kamping is what Key Largo is all about and the best spot is John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. The park is just massive with 47 full facility sites for both tent and RV campers that are available. There is nice fishing right off the shore in designated areas. Three areas are designated for swimming, including Canon Beach, which features remnants of an early Spanish shipwreck 100 feet offshore. Guided nature walks along the Mangrove and Wild Tamarind trails are offered seasonally or upon request by individuals and organized groups.

The living, shallow-water coral reefs of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary are vibrant with color and activity. Thier 2 and a half-hour snorkeling tours are strictly non-scuba for the comfort of our passengers. The trips involve approximately 1½ hours of water time depending on the location. Adults rates are $29.95, children under 18 are $24.95. Masks and fins can be rented for $2 each, and the $5 snorkel is yours to keep. Departures at 9:00, noon, and 3:00. Minimum passenger requirements apply on all tours. Call 305-451-6300 or vist http://www.pennekamppark.com/index.html for more information.

Divers from around the world visit John Pennekamp State Park to explore the spectacular living reefs of the Florida Keys and experience diving amidst the area's extraordinary wildlife. Our PADI 5-Star Gold Palm facility offers two-location, two-tank dives twice daily, at 9:30 and 1:30.Dive tours are $60.00 per person. Equipment rental is available. Contact our dive shop about reservations and special rates for groups and pre-paid tours - (305) 451.6322 or (877) PARK DIVE (877-727-5348). Minimum passenger requirements apply on all tours.

Now if your not into Kampaing there are a couple of nice hotels. Marriott in Key Largo Bay is very nice. They have some nice little B&B's too. The best site to look them up is on trip advisor http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g34344-d224029-Reviews-Marriott_Key_Largo_Bay_Beach_Resort-Key_Largo_Florida_Keys_Florida.html . For dinning they have a couple good places. I love sushi and Num Thai Resturaunt is pretty good but I also like BBQ and Rib Daddy's Steak and Sea Food is really GOOOOD. You can also find tose on trip advisor. As you can see from the pics the water there is amazing but this beach is for anyone depending on what you plan on doing. For example if you want to go a snorkling tour I wouldnt recomend it for kids that are under the age of 12 because the water is about 10-17 ft deep. If you want to just snorcle off the beaches and go on the glass bottom boat than the little ones would be just fine. Oh yea and canoeing through the mangroves is a good time. All around the park is great.

SOUTH BEACH

This Beach has everything you can think of for adults. South Beach has beautiful beaches to start off with and all of the usual activities from kite surfing to Chartering a fishing boat. Although the beaches are very nice you will not be able to find parking after 11:00 PM close to the Ocean Drive, Collins, or Washington which are the three main strips because of the the crazy night life.

There is a club for almost anyone there Jazz, Techno, Hip Hop, Reggae, Rock, etc..... Whether your on Ocean Dr. or Collins you will find a spot that appeals to you. A couple of clubs at the top of the list would be Mansion, The Florida Room, B.E.D., and Louis Bar Lounge at the Gansovoort. To get a good picture what the night life and clubbing scene up close and personal is like go to but I advise you if your not ready for wild than don't click http://www.clubzone.com/h1/Miami/Nightlife.html ...

We all love to eat and some of the best Chefs in the country are right here in Miami at restaurants like The Forge, Devito, Bartoon G., and China Grille to see many more look here http://www.miamibeach411.com/Restaurants/dining_top20.html ...

Now for some fun in the sun we love to go fishing. When I say fishing I mean big game fishing in the Gulf Stream. One of the best charter boating companies in South Florida is http://www.reeladventurecharters.com/ ... They will make sure you catch some big game and have fun doing it. If you want to just take a boat out for a Cruz or some skiing http://www.reeladventurecharters.com/ has great rates starting at $69.00 an hour.

There are some ridicules hotels in in South Beach and to name a few we have the Fountain Bleau, The Strand Ocean Drive, The Savoy and right on Ocean Drive you have the Colony and The Betsy Ross take a look here http://www.southbeach-usa.com/hotels/south-beach-hotels.htm ... If you are heading to South Beach I suggest you visit Art Walk. It will be a great night if you like exciting and once you start heading into the design district where the higher end find art is you can cap the night off with some dinning or night life at Karu&Y. There is one last spot that I really like all around and that's Mango's from great Latin food to dancing on tables this place is right on Ocean Drive and a lot of fun. South Beach is a great place but in my opinion definitely more fore adults.

Red Reef Park

I started With this beach because I was there not to long ago and had such a good time. I brought my nephews and niece along with me and they had a blast. The reefs are man made and there are four total and they even have one for very small children. The water is only two to four feet deep on that reef. There are a lot of tropical fish there. At one point I was swimming with a school of forty or more three inch tropical fish. At the larger reefs its about eight to twelve feet deep but you see more exotic fish. We were amazed at this blow fish that's head was as big as mine and the body was about a foot and a half long. I think its great for adults and kids that are nine and up. Any younger and the fish might scare them but that depends on how adventurous your kids are. Red Reef Park is a 67 acre oceanfront park located in the picturesque city of Boca Raton at 1400 North SR A1A.

The park also includes the Gumbo Limbo Environmental Education Center that covers 20 acrers which was also fun and right across the street. The picture of the turtle was taken at Gumbo Limbo. There is no charge for Gumbo Limbo or Red Reef but the parkiing is at the park and its expensive $18.00 on the weekend. Some of the attractions within the Gumbo Limbo center include large aquariums with a variety of sea life, classrooms, displays, a forty foot high observation tower, a scenic boardwalk and a butterfly garden.

The Red Reef Park features picnicking areas, swimming, snorkeling, abundant wildlife, great bird watching opportunities, surf fishing, lifeguards, a very clean beach with soft sand, and an active artificial reef.