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Been to a RACE Location?? POST IT HERE!
RachelLeVega:
I flew back on a two-day business trip from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Florida today so here we go, a short and sweet Miami/Fort Lauderdale trip written out long and detailed from me! Went to the middle one a few hours before my flight out of Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood today. 8)
Everglades National Park (barely) - TAR3
Bright and early at 6:30, I made my daring journey two hours away to Homestead to experience the beauty of the Ernest Coe Visitor Center. It's the first junction before officially entering the wetlands preservation and I was willing to bet my company reimbursement that you can experience Florida in a classy way while still running a conference later without a hitch. The road to the Everglades was unassuming. Along the way, I saw a bunch of tropical tree nurseries and even an iconic fruit market called Robert Is Here. (Highly recommend it as a trip bonus, the smoothie baristas there make the tastiest mamey sapote milkshakes!) After seeing the national park signage, the landscape to and from became day and night. Cypress dome trees overtook the view, swamp waters began to pool around, and the weather was simply lush and humid. At the visitor center, I saw brochures on opportunities for swamp slogging tours, backcountry camping, and our most known TAR style of enjoying the scene - airboat rides! I would love to cover this region more in-depth later on a one-time camping trip, but as a first light splash into the figurative waters, this wasn't too overwhelming and I very much enjoyed learning about the different animals that live in the region and protective efforts from interactive voices of the local rangers. I headed back into city life within the hour, but I took away a bigger appreciation for the Everglades.
Bonnet House - TAR7
The stop I went to this morning and could not wait to post! Going in, I was not expecting to be mesmerized. I was assuming I would walk in, take a few pictures, and leave. I quickly learned that the Birch and Bartlett family, the old owners of the estate, could let the art speak for themselves, and each and every facet of their manor was meticulously crafted to match their bohemian personas. Would it be bold of me to say this is 100 times more captivating than all metropolitan art museums? Between the multiple hues, plants, and textures used to cover the estate, I was most impressed by their art studio. It showed a breathtaking collection of mixed media creations including woodwork, tapestry, furniture, sketches, and formal paintings. The dedicated studio guide is a true historian, being able to recall how all the art pieces were conceptualized and presented. The kitchen and dining room also saw a glimpse into their fascination with imported fine china and fish mounts from their outdoor adventures. And I found the drawing room to be an incredible portal back in time with every furniture piece restored so lovingly. Of course, I could not miss the iconic pond that many early TAR fans will remember so vividly. As an extra treat, I took a picture of the street Uchenna & Joyce were desperately in search of an end to their $55 taxi fare. Next door are two beach resorts so they truly spun the jackpot with a couple of good samaritans nearby, potentially giving them their extra vacation money.
I did make my flight back to Chicago smoothly after this. Thankfully no deja vu like U&C barely making theirs in Puerto Rico. :funny:
Charles Deering Estate - TAR11
The starting line to one of my all-time favorite seasons, hidden gem and all its glory! As my lunch break, I sat at a picnic bench underneath the palm trees and enjoyed the waterfront view before maneuvering up the jetty to examine Biscayne Bay closer. The water was very soothing to hear it brushing up against the rocks. I zoomed in on some neat rocks directly next to the dock and noticed some larges ones had clams or limpets attached (not a marine biologist, I truly don't know haha). Thick mangroves also grew out on the sides of the property and directly in front of the selfie photo-op. The heat took a toll on me so I went inside the Stone House to cool off. Although the house was not as remarkable as the Bonnet House, I did love the Prohibition-era cellar and the breeze-welcoming sunroom decked out with rocking chairs facing the bay. The rest of the property also had an artist-in-residence dwelling, an old pump house, and an enormous expanse of landscaping. I found out from one of those menu-board stands that they host seasonal concerts and am intrigued about returning to enjoy one of these series.
As a bonus, I reenacted the All-Stars season Starting Line with my phone camera's timelapse! :2hearts:
http://[b]https://youtube.com/shorts/umJgSA7kaQk[/b]
If the video does not play because Flash is broken or phased out: https://youtube.com/shorts/umJgSA7kaQk
Hope you all enjoyed this mini side-quest/vacation/on-business-dime update. :funny:
Xoruz:
So funny story, I was also in Southern Florida recently. I was in Fort Lauderdale last month for a day, so I didn't do much. I did make sure that I went to the Bonnet House, or at least the gate.
RachelLeVega:
--- Quote from: Xoruz on June 14, 2024, 07:45:13 AM ---So funny story, I was also in Southern Florida recently. I was in Fort Lauderdale last month for a day, so I didn't do much. I did make sure that I went to the Bonnet House, or at least the gate.
--- End quote ---
Out of all odds :lol:
G.B.:
Just visited Salt Spring Island (TAR Canada 6). I saw the marketplace where everybody ate pies and threw up
RachelLeVega:
Big international trip in a few months... will try to hit multiple seasons of one country. :hfive:
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