Travels With Carole

Come along with me and share the excitement as I explore the world researching freelance articles. These blog posts offer short chunks of travel that you can digest quickly as well as plenty of photos so you get the picture. You'll have some fun, make discoveries, and pick up great ideas and information for your own vacations. Think of me as your canary in the coal mine. For even more travel inspiration, visit my BERKELEY AND BEYOND website at http://www.berkeleyandbeyond.com.

Showing posts with label U.S.-Florida-Fort Lauderdale. Show all posts

May 24, 2018

Do-It-Yourself 5-Hour Layover Tour at Fort Lauderdale Airport; things to do

Do-It-Yourself 5-Hour Layover Tour at Fort Lauderdale Airport

When you book a cruise out of Fort Lauderdale, you might find yourself getting off the ship in the morning, and with a flight that doesn’t leave until late in the afternoon, like I did. Cruise lines usually offer some kind of shore excursion to fill that time--perhaps Sawgrass Recreation Park, like my Holland American Line cruise did. But I’d already been to that venue and wanted to see more of Fort Lauderdale. So I planned my own itinerary, and it turned out that it worked very well. Here is how I spent that airport wait time to see more of Fort Lauderdale.

First up was dropping my luggage at the airport. It is possible to check your bags for a fee, but since I did this after 10 a.m. I was able to check in my bags with my airline--Jet Blue--at no charge.

I kept my carry-on with me and headed out to the transportation area, where I called an Uber.

1. I was dropped off at the NSU Art Museum (I was almost foiled here, because it didn’t open until 11 a.m.).

Frank Stella show at NSU Art Museum in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

2. After viewing the show, we headed down a few blocks to the lively center of Las Olas Boulevard and strolled for a while, browsing shops and galleries.

Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

3. We stopped for lunch at Louie Bossi’s Ristorante for my husband’s birthday lunch. We did some people watching and enjoyed a tasty meal.

interior of Louie Bossi's Ristorante in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

4. Though I had wanted to tour the 1901 Stranahan House Museum--it is the oldest house in Fort Lauderdale--the timing was not right for us, so instead we rested on a bench under a huge sea grape tree in the front yard and called for an Uber pick-up. We returned to the airport a little early.

exterior of Stranahan House Museum in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The Uber cost about $11 each way.

More things to do in Fort Lauderdale.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

May 18, 2018

Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Louie Bossi’s Ristorante; restaurant review

Louie Bossi’s Ristorante

1032 E Las Olas Blvd./SE 10th Terr., (954) 356-6699. L-D daily.

entrance to Louie Bossi’s Ristorante in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

We were lured in to Louie Bossi's Ristorante by the sheltered yet open-air, sidewalk-side seating. That the Italian cuisine was so delicious was a pleasant bonus. Turns out, all manner of seating is available, including in a leafy back garden. It was lunch time, but instead of a panini or salad, we opted to share a tasty pasta fagioli soup and a gigantic portion of divine short rigatoni alla Bolognese (on the extensive menu, the pastas here are sorted into “long” and “short”). Almost everything is made fresh in house--pasta, bread, pastries, cookies, gelatos. For all the world, this Italian retreat has the atmosphere of a place that has been around forever. But actually, it opened only in 2015! Mama mia! I look forward to returning next time I’m in town!

dining room at Louie Bossi’s Ristorante in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

open-air dining at Louie Bossi’s Ristorante in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

wall of fame at Louie Bossi’s Ristorante in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

back patio at Louie Bossi’s Ristorante in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

complimentary bread basket at Louie Bossi’s Ristorante in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

fagioli soup at Louie Bossi’s Ristorante in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

rigatoni alla Bolognese at Louie Bossi’s Ristorante in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

More things to do in Fort Lauderdale.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

May 15, 2018

Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Shooters Waterfront; restaurant review

Shooters Waterfront

3033 NE 32 Ave., (954) 566-2855.

With many seating areas to choose from, I’d opt for the waterfront patio here every time. Maybe even in the rain--if it ever rains in this town. Out there, twinkling lights decorate the tall palm trees, and you can watch yachts pull up and unload. Popular choices on the Shooters Waterfront menu include coconut shrimp, lobster roll, and fried calamari but also items such as butternut squash soup and flatbread. The night’s fish plate special is usually a stellar choice--think cashew-crusted mahi with sticky rice and red Thai coconut curry sauce, or seared red snapper with fingerling potatoes and a fennel crushed tomato medley. Cocktails and live music are also a big part of the fun, and Sunday brunch must be simply divine. This popular spot has been here since 1982, making it pretty much a local institution.

waterfront patio at Shooters Waterfront in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

palm tree at night at Shooters Waterfront in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

calamari at Shooters Waterfront in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

salad at Shooters Waterfront in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

flat bread at Shooters Waterfront in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

mahi mahi at Shooters Waterfront in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

flan at Shooters Waterfront in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

More things to do in Fort Lauderdale.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

May 3, 2018

Weston, Florida: Sawgrass Recreation Park; things to do

Sawgrass Recreation Park

1006 N. US Hwy. 27, Weston, (954) 389-0202; www.evergladestours.com.

Though this family-owned and -operated attraction is located way out there, the experience is well worth the journey. A visit to Sawgrass Recreation Park includes a 30-minute airboat tour through the swamp grass of the Florida Everglades. Though the fastest they go is 40 m.p.h., it feels more like 100 m.p.h., so hold on to your hat! The amiable guides pass along some history and do their best to get you up close to the native wildlife. Our captain took us to a fabulous spot where he stopped the boat and let us enjoy viewing several alligators, plenty of grackle birds (which are nicknamed “sky rats”), and some big turtles. After, we toured the facility’s Exotic Wildlife exhibit--a small zoo that displays pythons and iguanas as well as the famous 1,000-pound alligator known as Cannibal. We also saw the endangered Florida Panther in several hues, plus a too-cute big-eared fennec fox. Also in the complex, the Gator Grill snack bar serves up gator tacos. This is a popular shore excursion tour with cruise ships.

speeding airboat at Sawgrass Recreation Park in Weston, Florida

driver/guide at Sawgrass Recreation Park in Weston, Florida

tour group at Sawgrass Recreation Park in Weston, Florida

alligator plus grackel bird at Sawgrass Recreation Park in Weston, Florida

alligator at Sawgrass Recreation Park in Weston, Florida

bird resting on sawgrass at Sawgrass Recreation Park in Weston, Florida

sea turtle at Sawgrass Recreation Park in Weston, Florida

python in zoo at Sawgrass Recreation Park in Weston, Florida

iguana in zoo at Sawgrass Recreation Park in Weston, Florida

sign description of Cannibal the alligator in zoo at Sawgrass Recreation Park
in Weston, Florida

Cannibal the alligator in zoo at Sawgrass Recreation Park in Weston, Florida

yawning black panther in zoo at Sawgrass Recreation Park in Weston, Florida

fennec fox in zoo at Sawgrass Recreation Park in Weston, Florida

Things to do in nearby Fort Lauderdale.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

January 10, 2018

Fort Lauderdale, Florida: NSU Art Museum; things to do

NSU Art Museum

One E. Las Olas Blvd./SE 2nd Ave., (954) 525-5500. Tu-Sat 11-5, Sun 12-5. $12, seniors $8, 13-17 $5. No pets.

Founded in 1958, the NSU Art Museum became part of Nova Southeastern University--one of the largest private research universities in the United States--in 2008. Its permanent collection contains the country’s largest collection of 19th- and early 20th-century paintings and drawings by American realist/French Impressionist-inspired William J. Glackens. Currently, the Frank Stella: Experiment and Change show fills most of the galleries through July 8, 2018. It is a big show with an entire room devoted to his preliminary drawings and collages, and a mini-theater shows an enlightening interview. Stella says, “In the end it’s all about geometry.” Cafe service is available in the lobby.