Islamorada Beer Company

Speaking of Sandbar Sundays, let’s talk about Islamorada Beer Company! This place and the beer is ah-maze-ing!

First, the place. Located off the main drag of U.S. 1, Islamorada Beer Company is housed in a small yellow building bursting at the seems from fun and deliciousness. Walking in the super dog friendly (yay!) building, you are greeted with a cool relaxed island vibe. There is a boat with sand tucked away in the corner, plenty of seating, and a wide variety of games to keep you busy.

Adorning the walls are pictures of various beer lovers and patrons enjoying the brews at different locations (however, most people are pictured at the sandbar – duh! (READ ABOUT AMAZING ISLAMORADA SANDBARS HERE:  https://letsgofloridatravel.com/2016/05/23/sandbar-sunday-in-islamorada/). The staff is super friendly and many of them actually brew the beer. Which means you get inside knowledge not just good service.

Now onto the brews. Overall, this place has the most collective wonderful tasting beer I have ever experienced. It is truly hard to pick a favorite. For me, my top ones are Sandbar Sunday, No Wake Zone, and Channel Marker.

This past Saturday, Islamorada Beer Company rolled out Beaches be Crazy which was not only great fun but good drinking. The beer was delicious and the company offered live music, free pizza, and giveaways too!

So go check out Islamorada Beer Company where you can truly feel like a local. Or if you can’t make it to Islamorada- check out your local stores to pick up some great brews.

Oh and word on the street is that IBC may be opening up a location in the Treasure Coast – so keep your eyes open for that! Fingers crossed!!!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @lets_go_florida and check out Islamorada Beer Company at http://www.islamoradabeerco.com/beers.html and on Instagram @islamoradabeer

Sandbar Sunday in Islamorada

Sunday. The dreaded day that consumes you with simultaneous fear and loathing that Monday is fast approaching and it is back to the daily grind. So what’s the best cure for those Sunday blues? Sunday funday at the sandbar.

Islamorada offers amazing fishing, snorkeling, and diving. But it offers another delightful water based activity that requires only minimal amounts of effort: relaxing at the sandbar.

The sandbar right off of Whale Harbor is a beautiful location and a true sandbar during low tide. The water is crystal clear, the sand is beautiful, and there are some cute little sea creatures floating about.

The sandbar off of Whale Harbor  is one of the more interesting sandbars. Many others have a “thing”. Like this is a “family” sandbar or this is a “party” sandbar- Holiday Isle is a weird mix. There are young Miami kids with overpacked boats and booty shaking youngsters only there to have a good time, families with the little ones running around the sand trying to fight the current with their floaties, and the die hard fishing crowd that pulls up after a morning of angling. So in reality you have your pick of the day you would like to experience. As such, I would recommend taking a lap around before committing to a spot to try to find your ideal sandbar-mates.

The terrain, like the crowd, also changes pretty quickly. There are areas of beautiful hard white sand with the perfect level of water to sit comfortably and relax and then there are deep water areas with squishy sand that feels rather odd under your toes.

Overall, definitely a place to see and enjoy.  Oh did I mention we may have met Kenny Chesney? Not like any of us had the guts to actually ask him. But whoever he was- he was pretty nice.

For more adventures be sure to follow me on Instagram @lets_go_florida!

 

The End of an Era – Cafe de Paris

For more than 50 years the charming restaurant has stood as a staple on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.  The owner cautiously watching and kindly mingling with the customers. His wife quickly zipping around making sure everyone has a seat and is happy with the experience. However, everything comes to an end and it is time for Cafe de Paris.

The restaurant was one that transported you from the moment you walked in. From the authentic french cuisine, to the serenade of the live pianist, to the red, white, and blue,  awnings adorning the restaurant walls, you felt as if you were in another world.

It is very sad to see this place close. However, for the owners, it was time to retire. It will be interesting to see what will take the place of this piece of Las Olas culture. Hopefully, the company who now controls the fate will recognize the loyal clientele and need for uniqueness on the boulevard. But- time will tell.

Follow me on Instagram for many more adventures @lets_go_florida

Something a Little Different

I am obviously someone who loves my home state of Florida. But even I sometimes get the urge to explore. So that is what I did!

The great thing about living in Florida is that there are a lot of major airports and some really great deals on flights. For this trip, we scored Allegiant flights for $45.00 (yep – you read that right) to Chattanooga, TN. And boy it was a hoot!

Our trip started with a Friday evening flight out of the Clearwater Airport. Now let me be very honest about Allegiant. The flights are cheap and they get you where you want to go. That is about all. They ask you to pay for carry on bags, checked bags, printing tickets, any food or drinks on the plane, picking seats, etc. So your best bet is to use these flights like we do. Pack light, get the app, download tickets for free, and just go with the flow on your seats. If you travel this way, then you absolutely cannot beat the prices.

So our weekend away in Chattanooga was jam packed. Saturday we visited Urban Stack for some solid whiskey and killer burgers. Then off to a white water rafting trip with High Country Adventures. Which, to say the least, was memorable.

The first half of the trip was a normal outing. However,  someone dislocated a shoulder and everything changed. Our boat went ahead without the group. So here we are heading down the Ocoee River – alone. Well the wind starts to pick up. Then it starts to rain. Then there is thunder. Yep – now some lightning. Nope not done yet- it starts hailing. Not like a few drops of hail- but white out…can’t open your eyes..we are going to die hail. So at this point our amazing guide keeps us moving forward and out of the storm. Luckily, we lived and have one heck of a story. (Although hearing him scream if anything happens swim right was not the most comforting feeling in the world).

Sunday, we decided to calm things down and visit rock city. Of all the tourist attractions in the area, this is the one to see. The water falls, caverns, cliffs, and views are pretty amazing. That evening we checked out some cool craft beer spots like The Terminal and Heaven and Ale.

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Monday was our last day in town. Since we had a late night flight, we had some time to kill. So naturally, it was time for a Segway tour. OK. I know. They are dorky. BUT they are also pretty darn fun. Especially in a hilly city like Chattanooga. I would totally recommend that everyone lose a bit a dignity and hop on that Segway !

All in all you really can’t beat jetting out of town just to explore every once in while. But, my heart and my favorite state will always be Florida.

 

Boca Bash 2016!

Welcome to one of the biggest sandbar parties around. Boca Bash is a Facebook invitation party that gathers a wide variety of people to Lake Boca on the Intercoastal Waterway on a specific date each year.

 

 

Lake Boca is not what many of you would think of as a “lake”. It is a wide section of water on the ICW next to the Boca Inlet. In this wide section of water there is a very shallow area. During low tide the water comes up to about your knees.

So the way it works is this. Go on Facebook. Look up Boca Bash. Find the date. Mark on your calendar. Get yourself a boat or a friend with a boat. Head to Lake Boca. Have a great time. Watch the crazies. Go home.

Now where you anchor at Boca Bash is really going to influence the experience you have. The younger and wilder crowd will get the best spots in the middle of the lowest part. The perks – you can actually stand. The down fall is that the area is packed and honestly I cannnot even fathom what bodily fluids are in the water by 2pm. This area is filled with bikini clad wasted girls, testosterone-driven meatheads, and just recklessness.

The older crowds will typically hug the outside. The downfalls- you probably aren’t going to be able to touch the ground all day and the current rips through the area. The positives- you can still enjoy Boca Bash without some guy trying to cop a feel or some bro picking a fight with your male friends. Make sure if you are in this area to bring some floats and rope so you can hang out in the water.

 

Now the most important tip for Boca Bash. Please please please bring an experienced boater or hire a captain. This is not the place the learn how to drive a boat. There are a ton of people in the water and lots of boats moving. Plus add alcohol. It can be a very dangerous experience of you don’t have someone who knows what they are doing.

Finally, there are going to be idiots no matter where you anchor for this thing. We had a whole group tie up with 6 boats who started drifting into us because they thought one undersized anchor would hold everything. Keep your cool and maybe try to help these people. And if they are dicks – just calmly move a few feet away from them.

Overall, Boca Bash is a great time and probably one of the best people watching experiences around. So be sure to mark your calendars and enjoy the adventure!!!!