Beer Trade Company in Delray Beach

Tucked away from the main drag of Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach is a cool little beer spot called Beer Trade Company.

The only real identifying exterior features of this watering hole are the prominent craft beer signs. Beer Trade Company has a laid back and relaxing vibe. There is outdoor seating where you can choose to sit at a high top table or an outdoor couch/lounge area. There are T.V.’s outside – which is unusual for a place like this. But, during football season this place would be a dream (c’mon can’t beat craft beer and football).

Inside there are about 6 coolers filled with a variety of beers. There are tables and some games provided for entertainment.

All in all it is a cool little spot for Delray Beach. Plus, it is more laid back than many of the other spots in that area. The beer selection is pretty solid and the staff is super nice. Also, the outside is pet friendly so feel free to bring fluffy.

Now the bad news, although located in another county, this place has nothing on Riverside Market in Fort Lauderdale. Riverside’s food selection and beer selection definitely beat Beer Trade Company any day of the week. It has the exact same concept at Riverside except on a smaller scale.

So – if you are in Delray then definitely check this place out. If you are closer to Fort Lauderdale- save yourself the trip and head to Riverside Market instead.

For more cool spots check out my instagram @lets_go_florida

Zombie Prom – Delray Beach

Get ready to die and be fabulous.

Stumbling towards to Old School Square Fieldhouse covered in blood with pale faces are the creatures who came to dance. Okay, so we may have been stumbling from the alcohol and the “blood” is really food colored water and the paleness created from a large supply of white make-up – but dance we did.

The theme for this year was 80’s. The DJ played all the favorite 80’s tunes and everyone was really into it! There was even a magic movie moment where the whole crowd danced to the the thriller. Could not believe it myself! (Google it!)

One of the most shocking parts of the evening was that almost everyone in attendance really put in the effort to dress for an 80’s zombie prom. Those who were “too cool” to dress up were actually the outcasts of the group. The amazingness of the overabundance of the lace, teased hair, neon, and leather was indescribable.

Of course, no prom is complete without pictures and a king and queen. Well no sweat there! Everyone was able to take a picture when walking in and a queen and king were donned with crowns and a dance.

The best part was that all the proceeds went to benefit the performing arts center of Delray Beach. I would definitely recommend putting this event on your calendar now! It takes place in October.

For more cool ideas check out my Instagram @lets_go_florida

 

 

 

 

 

St. Patty’s in Fort Lauderdale

So it’s that time of year to put on the green and throw a couple back. But where are the best spots to get your Irish on?

Well it depends on what you are looking for. If you are going for a 20 year old festival of debauchery- then head down to Himmarshee Village. The usual suspects will be packed and a hot mess express of fun.

Now- if you are feeling a little more grown up (or even if you are not) then I would recommend heading towards Riverwalk in downtown Fort Lauderdale the Saturday prior to the big day.  The city puts on a pretty great festival for the day – complete with traditional Irish music, step dancers, and cover bands.

There are a ton of vendors – beer, food, crafts, toys, etc – so you have everything you need all within a short walk. The crowd is very friendly and everyone is just there to have a good time.

The best part is that they have plenty to do for the kids and it is all (drumroll) FREE! I could not believe it either but you can put junior in a free bouncehouse or carnival ride and breathe a deep sigh a relief while enjoying an adult beverage.

Now- let’s talk about my favorite St. Patty’s day tradition. The Sunday prior to the big day we always go on the boat and stop for an Irish Car Bomb at Briny right there on the river. It is great way to toast my Irish roots and then head out for an afternoon of fun in the sun.

For more be sure to follow my Instagram @lets_go_florida

 

Going over the tracks to LauderAle

Tucked away in the industrial section of Fort Lauderdale is a laid back brewery called LauderAle. There is only one way to describe this place: cool.

Walking into the bar area, you will instantly notice the unique hanging light bulbs, picnic tables, and open garage door leading to the corn hole and food trucks. Tucked away in the back are shiny brewing tanks bags of hops lining the walls.

LauderAle has some unique nautical touches. For example, the flights are propeller shaped and there is even a giant shark hanging from the ceiling.

The staff is very friendly. I would recommend just asking them for a bartender’s choice flight. Our bartender provided us with a wide variety of selections. He was even so kind to inform me that if there were any that I really didn’t like, he would be happy to replace them.

The most unique beer of the night was a habanero and mango beer called La Nina. Definitely worth a try.

Adventures in Sebring, Florida

It is pretty clear from the moment you step foot in this place that the residents are very prideful of the race held every March. From the welcome sign to the napkins at the restaurants, it is advertised prominently.

The only problem for me was that I was here during a non-race time (I mean c’mon that is majority of the year people!). Sooooo that leaves me with the question, what in the world is there to do in this place?!?!

When asking the very sweet bartender for recommendations, she replied “ummmm…..ya….. I mean…. you can eat and drink.” Although I appreciated the effort, I just ate and drank so it left me without any real helpful insight.

So it was time to explore. I started by heading to the downtown area. It is very small, but quite charming. The streets are very clean and there are a handful of cute little shops to explore.

While walking in the downtown area, I saw a sign for a beach. As I was in the middle of the state of Florida, my curiosity was instantly peaked. So back to the car, to find this beach. It didn’t take long, I probably could have just walked,  and I was walking towards a decent size lake.

The lake is very cute, with a park area containing a pier, pavilions, and even a small beach. The most interesting part of this whole day happened next. There were people actually sunbathing on the beach! Not normally that out of the ordinary except I was in a winter coat, boots, tights, and a sweater. And here they were in 63 degree weather sunbathing!

Overall, this is a cute place to take your grandmother for an afternoon. It is filled with chain restaurants, shopping, and a cute downtown. If you are looking for something a little more exciting, then steer clear.

Be sure not to steer clear of my Instagram @ lets_go_florida

LuLu’s Oyster Bar and Tap House

If you are in the Indian Rocks Beach area (West Coast of Florida) and are craving some yummy seafood with some flare then LuLu’s is the place for you. 

Let me start by saying I hope you like pink! The whole restaurant is basically an homage to the majestic creature that is the flamingo. Pink buoys, pink beads, pink menus, pink shirts, and even a pink marlin. But, of course, the main attraction are the flamingos which are located all over the joint. My favorite is the giant flamingo outside!

Now, onto the food, it is great. I would highly highly recommend coming on a Monday night. For only $22.00 you can get an all you can eat seafood feast.

This is not your ordinary all you eat crab legs or shrimp deal. You get a variety of delicious seafood as part of this deal- shrimp, crab legs, steamed clams, mussels, plus two sides.

In addition to the yummy seafood variety, they have a nice selection of craft beers to top off your belly full of the deliciousness of the sea!

Sea what’s happening on my Instagram @lets_go_florida

 

 

Cycle Party Fort Lauderdale

Get ready to drink and workout! Cycle Party is a group bike that peddles you to all the hottest bars in the Fort Lauderdale area.

The concept is pretty simple: get a group of fun people together, get on the peddle cart, put on some awesome jams, peddle to the first bar, go in and get hooked up with drink specials, wait for time to be called, and then repeat the aforementioned steps about 4 more times.

When we went on the bike, we made it a theme party of tacky tourist. We sang along to our favorite songs and were pretty well lit up by the end. It is really a fun time.

However, I can see this adventure easily going downhill with the wrong group of people. Leave the princess who doesn’t want to peddle at home because you do have to go over some small hills and it does take a little effort. Also, leave judgmental joe at home because this is the time to let loose, sing, and be merry.

I would definitely recommend for bachelor/bachelorette parties, birthdays, and friend reunions. Not sure if the pub crawl is the best idea for many corporate events- although seeing your boss get wasted and dance to the thriller may provide an interesting story.

 For more fun, peddle your way over to Instagram @lets_go_florida

The North v. South Seafood Battle in Fort Lauderdale

There are two restaurants tucked away on Cordova Road in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. One displaying fresh local seafood the other displaying specialties of the North. Only one can win…but who will it be?!?!

First up, Southport Raw Bar. A little local waterhole and place of dining right on a canal off of the Intercoastal Waterway. Once you walk in, you are greeted with a colorful ceiling filled with local ads, happy birthday shout outs, and even a family portrait. If you sit outside, the evenings will bring a musician and a beautiful view of the water.

 The seafood here is just YES! Get the steamed clams, chicken wings, old bay shrimp, and fish dip. Steer clear of the subs. If you are there for lunch, try a burger – they grill them fresh on an outdoor grill. Be sure to know that french fries are extra!

Word to the wise- definitely check out happy hour where they have half off pitchers and appetizers!

Now, if you are in the mood for northern seafood, just walk right across the street to Kelly’s Landing. I would definite splurge and go for the Maine lobster. It is freaking delicious. The other food is solid, but the lobster is the dish to get.

Kelley’s Landing is a small restaurant and during season (Octoberish to Marchish) expect to wait for a decent amount of time. The service at this place is excellent and the staff is super awesome.

So what one do you guys think? North or South? Let me know on Instagram at lets_go_florida!!!

 

Saltwater Brewery

Driving over the train tracks to the “other side” of Delray Beach you are immediately greeted with Saltwater Brewery. We drove around for what seemed like an eternity to try to find parking and just ended up leaving the car on the side of the road like many others. Walking towards the brewery, hoping that the truck did not get towed, we passed the food truck and entered the gate.

This has to be one of the most ascetically pleasing breweries in the whole state. Once you walk in, you will see a clean wooden bar, saltwater fish tanks, and shiny brew tanks.

The staff is super friendly and I would recommend trying a flight. We asked for bar tender’s choice and she provided us with some unique in house brews. Honestly, they were all pretty darn good. So we picked our favorites and checked out the place.

The bathrooms are super clean ladies – which is always a huge plus! There is shuffle board, comfy leather couches, cornhole, the ring game, and plenty of outdoor seating. This place is definitely worth an afternoon visit!

Oh and we didn’t get towed (Yay!)  For more tips, be sure to follow me on Instagram @lets_go_florida!

10 Awesome Things to Do in St. Pete Area

1. Karaoke your little heart out at Friendly Tavern in Reddington Shores.

2. Head to Brown Boxer in Madeira Beach for some yummy food, sports, and games.

3. Get lost in eccentric heaven in Mahuffer’s Bar in Indian Shores. You will discover things in this place that you didn’t even know existed.

4. Go to Nitally’s for some awesome Thai-Mex food. Yep…. Thai and Mexican fusion. YES!

5. Play giant Jenga at Mad Beach Brewing Company in Madeira Beach.

6. Grab a little slyce of delicious pizza at Slyce in Indian Rocks Beach.

7. Rent a kayak from Island Marine Rentals and head to the sandbar at John’s Pass.

8. Challenge your friends to old school trivia at the front bar of Red Lion Pub in Indian Rocks Beach.

9. Break out the board games at Postcard Inn in St. Pete.

10. Grab some fishing rods and head to the Pier in Reddington Shores.

For more great ideas follow us on Instagram @lets_go_florida!