Treasure Island Beach, Florida - Part One
Posted August 7, 2009 , add a commentMost people believe that Treasure Island was named for its pristine white sand beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters. It’s an understandable assumption; the island’s name and marketing slogans (”Treasure of the Gulf Coast” and “A Jewel of the Gulf Beaches) do not exaggerate the beauty of this three mile islet. But the origin of Treasure Island’s name has nothing to do with its natural assets.
Treasure Island Beach Access Park
In the early 20th century when Florida was just being discovered by a new affluent upper class, several local developers and land owners attempted to boost property sales by first burying and then “discovering” a couple of wooden chests on the beach, claiming they were filled with treasure. As the news spread, people began calling the island Treasure Island and the name just stuck. Fortunately, the name suits. With its uncrowded, laid-back beaches, the island has an “Old Florida” feel, yet its location in the greater Tampa Bay region provides guests with access to all the amenities and attractions one would expect to find in a major metropolitan area.
Volleyball nets and playground equipment line the wide beach
It is, however, the beaches that attract most visitors. Although the entire Gulf Coast side of the island has a sandy shoreline, most visitors congregate in one of three main beach areas. Treasure Island Park and Treasure Island Beach Access Park, both located mid-island on Gulf Boulevard, provide easy access to the widest portion of the beach. With a total of 218 public parking spaces, restrooms, changing facilities, water fountains, beach showers, bicycle racks, and concessions, these two parks are preferred by most families. There is something for everyone here: sports-minded head for volleyball nets that stretch between the concession stand and the beach, while those who prefer to soak up rays in a less strenuous manner claim one of the royal blue chaise lounges that hunker beneath bright yellow shade cabanas at the water’s edge.
The Town provides chaise clouges and shade cabanas
After a day of sunning and swimming, visitors find that most of the island’s gulf-front motels and hotels, restaurants, and shops are located within short walking distance of these two beach accesses. There is a fee for parking, however even that can be avoided by hopping aboard one of the reasonably priced trolleys that travel up and down Gulf Boulevard on a regular basis. Treasure Island beaches are open from sunrise to sunset.
Watch for part two of this series next week, an overview of Sunset Beach, the place where Treasure Island’s party animals congregate.
Photos and article by Barbara Weibel of Hole In The Donut Travels
First All-Inclusive Staycation Package in Atlantic Canada
Posted July 30, 2009 , add a comment) July 10, 2009 - West Bay, Nova Scotia. As many Maritimers are facing tight travel budgets this summer, they are seeking vacations close to home. Dundee Resort is making it easier for vacationers to get the most out of their hard-earned dollars by introducing the first all Inclusive Staycation Package in Atlantic Canada.
Florida, Cuba, Mexico and other sunshine destinations are popular for their all-inclusive packages, which you do not generally see in Atlantic Canada. However, Dundee Resort on Cape Breton Island has just introduced an all-inclusive package to give tourists an easy economical staycation in Nova Scotia.
“Times are tough but everyone needs a getaway. For a very affordable price, this package gives visitors access to all resort amenities-it’s everything you need to have a great time, said Scott MacAulay, Owner of Dundee Resort. “By getting creative and developing an all-inclusive package, we are introducing an ideal spot for a staycation. This is the first of its kind, that I am aware of, in Atlantic Canada”, he added. Dundee Resort is located 20 minutes from Port Hawkesbury on the Bras d’Or Lakes. With an 18-hole championship golf course and a supervised children’s program, Dundee is the perfect place to getaway on Cape Breton Island. Dundee also has an indoor and outdoor pool, hot tub, spa and a fully equipped water adventure centre where kids of all ages can have fun on the lake. Dundee offers spacious hotel rooms and one and two bedroom efficiency cottages.
Inn on 5th in Naples, FL Delivers Old World Elegance
Posted July 22, 2009 , add a comment
The Elegant Lobby at The Inn on 5th in Naples Florida
Naples, Florida is one of those old-money type of vacation cities, so it should come as no surprise that when it came time to open a hotel smack in the middle of the chic 5th Ave. shopping district, it would be housed in a former bank.
What’s nice about the Inn on 5th, is that it has retained a lot of the elegance of the bank both inside and out. The lobby was absolutely gorgeous, with marble floors and chandeliers. I would classify this as more of a boutique hotel, since there were only 87 rooms and suites. My room was a king-bed Jr. suite with a private terrace that overlooked 5th Ave at the front of the building.
The room was rather large and the recently renovated bathroom had a shower with more marble everywhere. I was surprised for all the upgrading that the towels were regular bath size and a bit worn, but housekeeping was quick to respond when I called down for extra (though I didn’t get the extra pillows I’d requested). There was also a small sitting area in the room, with a couch. The room decor was definitely more Florida than the hotel’s common areas.
A Jr. Suite at The Inn on 5th in Naples Florida
The room was equipped with free Wi-Fi that I made use of later when I came back to the room with a bottle of Amarula and sat out on the terrace watching the street light up at dusk. Other nice touches were the in-room plush robes and the iPod docking station/alarm clock.
In the morning, I made use of the pool that sits on the second floor rooftop, which was surrounded by short towers of rooms on two sides. The vibe was Italian/Mediterranean, with a walk-down shallow pool with a small waterfall and a neighboring jacuzzi. I felt like I needed a wide-brimmed hat and a pair of big sunglasses to complete the whole look poolside.
The hotel has several restaurants, of which I tried the Irish pub, McCabe’s. The Guinness-battered Brie appetizer was delish, the burgers were cooked to order and a pint of cold Guinness rounded out the meal. Tasty, if a tad high priced.
Deluxe rooms start at $150/night during the off-season, which in Naples is pretty much the warmer summer months. During the winter months, all the snowbirds come down, so expect rates to start around $209, with holidays more. Self-parking in the back is included, but valet at the front entrance is extra.
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The Inn on Fifth
699 5th Avenue South
Naples, Florida 34102
1-888-403-8778
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Related Post:
First All-Inclusive Staycation Package in Atlantic Canada
Posted , add a comment) July 10, 2009 - West Bay, Nova Scotia. As many Maritimers are facing tight travel budgets this summer, they are seeking vacations close to home. Dundee Resort is making it easier for vacationers to get the most out of their hard-earned dollars by introducing the first all Inclusive Staycation Package in Atlantic Canada.
Florida, Cuba, Mexico and other sunshine destinations are popular for their all-inclusive packages, which you do not generally see in Atlantic Canada. However, Dundee Resort on Cape Breton Island has just introduced an all-inclusive package to give tourists an easy economical staycation in Nova Scotia.
“Times are tough but everyone needs a getaway. For a very affordable price, this package gives visitors access to all resort amenities-it’s everything you need to have a great time, said Scott MacAulay, Owner of Dundee Resort. “By getting creative and developing an all-inclusive package, we are introducing an ideal spot for a staycation. This is the first of its kind, that I am aware of, in Atlantic Canada”, he added. Dundee Resort is located 20 minutes from Port Hawkesbury on the Bras d’Or Lakes. With an 18-hole championship golf course and a supervised children’s program, Dundee is the perfect place to getaway on Cape Breton Island. Dundee also has an indoor and outdoor pool, hot tub, spa and a fully equipped water adventure centre where kids of all ages can have fun on the lake. Dundee offers spacious hotel rooms and one and two bedroom efficiency cottages.
Anne’s Beach, Islamorada, Florida Keys
Posted , add a commentby Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels
At Anne’s Beach in Islamorada in the Florida Keys, it is possible to grab a patch of soft sand on the postage stamp beaches that jut from beneath the mangroves and loll the day away. However, its real beauty can only be experienced upon entering the water. Tidal flats stretch for nearly half a mile beyond the tiny scalloped beaches, covered by just inches of water. The major activity here is not sunbathing, sunning, or boating; people come here to wade.
One visitor exercises by striding through the shallow tidal flats for miles
I stepped into this giant bathtub (because of the shallow depth, the water temperature is always extremely warm) and sank into sand so soft it felt like mud or silt squishing through my toes. Some visitors turned their dogs loose to romp in the water. Others beach-goers strode purposely through the shallows, aiming for a workout. I wandered aimlessly, head down, peering beneath the water to discover its mysteries.
A quarter mile from shore, the water is not even calf high
At first glance, this shallow bay seemed devoid of underwater activity. But looking more closely I realized that life was everywhere. Transparent minnows darted back and forth between the sparkling ripples in the turquoise water. Where sea grass covered the bottom, soft shell crabs scampered sideways, then suddenly stopped and disappeared, perfectly camouflaged by the surrounding sand. Hermit crabs tentatively ventured out of their borrowed homes and clawed their way across the bottom. When I touched their shell or disturbed the water they instantly ducked back inside and sank to the bottom, becoming just another discarded snail shell.
Look closely - the bottom is covered with critters like this hermit crab
In addition to two small parking areas (one with restrooms) connected by a boardwalk, several little covered decks have been built beneath the trees lining the boardwalk; these are perfect for picnics and most have steps leading down to the beach. Anne’s Beach is not for everyday sunning and swimming, but it is an intriguing beach that every visitor to the Keys should experience at least once.
Located at mile marker 73, just off the Overseas Highway on Lower Matecumbe Key in the town of Islamorada, Anne’s Beach is open each day from sunrise to sunset.
Photos courtesy of Barbara Weibel
