Travel Feature Stories - Point! Publishing, South Florida

Travel Stories FROM POINT! PUBLISHING

Three monthly, glossy magazines serving affluent communities in coastal South Florida with a readership of 60,000 monthly, including in-room distribution at four local resort hotels.*

OCTOBER 2016

SEPTEMBER 2016

JULY 2016

Beach Bits

HAPPENINGS AROUND TOWN

Dining Out OVER 100 PLACES TO EAT

Capone Isle

THE MYSTERY AND THE HISTORY

By Sally J. Ling

resurrecting

American

DREAMER JULIANA CORTES

By Danielle Charbonneau

Rapa Nui

THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT LIGHTHOUSE POINT

UNDERWATER ART EXHIBIT GETS A SECOND CHANCE

Photo Opps COMMUNITY MOMENTS

Kristen Kiss

WWW.LHPMAG.COM

pompanomagazine.com

* Deerfield Beach magazine is the official, In-room magazine for Wyndham Resort, Embassy Suites, Royal Blues Hotel and the Doubletree Hotel.

VISIT US ON THE WEB Pompanofun.com serving Pompano Beach, Florida

DeerfieldBeachFla.com serving Deerfield Beach, Florida

LBTSGuide.com

serving Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Florida

Lhpmag.com

serving Lighthouse Point, Florida

Our Affluent Readers Travel the World Point! Publishing serves one of the most affluent areas in the United States with almost 50 percent of its readers living in affluent oceanfront or waterfront houses. Readers of our publications, both working professionals and wealthy retirees, travel often to every part of the world.

Our Readers Demand the Best Our 60,000 readers love — yes love — our publications.

At Point! Publishing we connect with our readers each month, and travel is a big part of the South Florida lifestyle. We bring trustworthy travel and lifestyle content to them.

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A MILLION THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT

PLUNGE

BY SUSAN ROSSER

A middle-aged couple finds the fountain of youth in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea

Details. Details. It was clear from the moment my husband Richard and I entered the aptly-named Plunge Beach Hotel, that no detail was too small for its creators to consider. In fact, what separates Plunge from the hyper-competitive beach hotel market are the smaller things that make you smile — and sometimes even laugh. Who doesn’t love a waiter wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the phrase “I hate tips — said no Juan ever.”

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L

et’s start at the beginning.

The front desk was completely covered with retro-style surf, skate and travel stickers. For me, these stickers served as both a funny reminder of my seventh grade algebra notebook, and a personal re-boot for the weekend. Immediately, I knew this was not an ordinary, stuffy and corporate hotel. We clearly had entered another world — one considerably more hip and youthful than our typical universe. The lobby decor was a clear tribute to the modern-industrial SoHo loft but with plenty of more personal touches that made us feel welcome. The colorful and plush furnishings served as a warm contrast to the cement grey floors and exposed duct work on the ceilings. So while there is a distinct and edgy “look how cool and hip we are” thing going on, we were also acutely aware that we were just steps from the ocean.

(The three colorful surfboards mounted on a lobby wall drove that point home.)

Even the walk to our room was fun. The royal blue hallways are lined with white, funky picture “frames” that are hand-painted directly onto the walls framing historical photos along with oldtimey scenes of Florida. A hand painted white wave runs the length of the hallway — another vivid reminder of the beach. In fact, the artwork throughout the entire hotel has been carefully curated to amplify the cuttingedge style of Plunge.

By the time we reached our ocean-front room, I had completely forgotten about my stressful week at work. (Do I even have a job? I wondered.) Finding a beach ball on the bed was just icing on the cake. Even at 53-years-old, >>>

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TOP Each cool and contemporary guest room has a cool surf-inspired feel; aerial view of “the blue brick road” at the resort LEFT Surfboards mounted directly on a lobby wall serve as beach inspired artwork. ABOVE A sign outside the coffee shop is a reminder that this is a hotel with a sense of humor.

FAR LEFT Hand-painted frames with retro photos line the hotel hallways. LEFT Plunge has an eclectic collection of art sure to bring a smile.

DINING OPTIONS

The Octopus Bar and Restaurant

The stand-out restaurant at Plunge is The Octopus Bar and Restaurant, which is completely open to the lobby and makes for great people watching. The funky gastropub and eatery serves an eclectic menu in tapas style or larger portions, and is open daily from 4pm to 10pm. Guests can mingle around a large, semicircular, copper-topped bar, or chill in one of the many colorfully plush lounge seating areas.

A sampling of Octopus’s appetizing, tasting-sized menu options include: salmon rillette topped with fried capers, lemon and crème fraiche; coco mussels in a kaffir-lime coconut broth; Napa cabbage with grilled country bread; and fried clam strips with roasted onion aioli and red peppers.

Tapas prices range from $11 to $15.

For those who’ve worked up an appetite on the beach, larger sized portions include Florida shrimp tagliatelle drizzled in a tomato-lemon fondue, thyme and tarragon; and grilled tri-tip roast with seared heirloom tomatoes. Entrée prices range from $13 to $25.

“Octopus has a distinctive and artsy vibe so we created the menu to have a sassy spin on traditional American comfort foods,” said Will Silbernagel, Food and Beverage Director.

ABOVE Grilled octopus with white beans TOP Tagliatelle with Florida shrimp

Backflip Beach Bar & Kitchen

Kick back and relax at Backflip Beach Bar & Kitchen the ultimate laid-back beach bar. Serving local brews and rum-fueled cocktails that would make Hemingway smile, their fresh juice-infused drinks have just the right amount of kick. Sit back and listen to the waves. Hungry? Dig into street tacos, delectable sandwiches and fresh salads, served right out of the beach kitchen so you never have to take your toes out of the sand.

Bean & Barnacle

Kick-start your day at Bean & Barnacle the coffee shop and market with local, fresh-brewed Wells coffee, served alongside platters of sweet, delicious pastries and breakfast sandwiches. Later, drop by for hand-carved artisan sandwiches and other savory, easy-to-snag selections. For a cool treat after the beach, enjoy a gelato.

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OPPOSITE Each cool and contemporary

guest room is adorned with a playful beach ball. THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE some rooms are equipped with kitcheonettes; a map of Florida serves as hallway artwork; an aerial view of Plunge, the resort pool and balconies overlooking the Atlantic

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Every day I welcome guests who come from all over the world to stay in my group of boutique lodgings by the beach in Pompano. They marvel that I get to live fulltime in a vacationland where I send them off to uniquely special places like Butterfly World, Shipwreck Park, the “Venice of America” waterways and the Everglades.

Guests at my Beach Vacation Rentals properties often ask me where I go on vacation, when I already live in greater Fort Lauderdale — one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. Just like them, I also yearn for the exotic and different, and most recently for a girlfriend and me, it was a week in Dubai — one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It was worth every bit of the 16-hour flight time and eight-hour time difference to get there.

Never mind that my visit to Dubai in May had afternoon highs that topped 100 degrees Fahrenheit each day. The temperature goes much higher later in the summer. Evenings in this desert land were a balmy, breezy 82 — perfect whether for heading out in heels to dance at the International Tango Festival (one of our purposes for going) or to relax under brilliant stars in a Bedouin–style camp during a camel safari.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY ELAINE FITZGERALD OPPOSITE: Interior of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi ABOVE: Dubai Fountains

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ABOVE: Sheikh Zayed

Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi

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This is a land of extremes, from ancient to ultra modern.

English is the common language used across the nation, where only about 18 percent of the inhabitants are UAE citizens. The rest are considered expatriates and come from many other countries to work and prosper there.

Considering Dubai has no language barriers, is a U.S.friendly nation, has easy and cheap public transportation and is safe (with almost no crime), Dubai makes the perfect mother/daughter or girlfriends’ getaway. Surprised?

No, you don’t have to cover your head unless you visit a mosque, or want to keep the blowing sand out of your hair and mouth on a camel or 4WD safari. While you can wear almost anything western and not be bothered, my friend and I preferred to respect the locals by not wearing sleeveless tops, and by wearing dresses or pants that went to, or covered, our knees.

We actually did enjoy being able to ride in metro train cars reserved just for women and children. A sign inside warned of a 100 dirham fine to any man who entered these reserved cars. We did not enjoy going back to our hotel apartment to check our emails and find out that the country somehow blocks all online dating sites.

TIPS FOR COUPLES: if you are not married and traveling together, make sure you wear wedding rings or you may not be able to check in to your hotel. And no touching or public displays of affection. It sends authorities scrambling toward you and talking on their radios. On our city tour, a honeymoon couple from Mexico did not know this and their movie-style kiss in a shopping area caused quite a ruckus.

Rifts from local customs by visitors seem to be more tolerated these days as the UAE shifts from an oil-based economy to one that is tourism based. This young country that became a giant in less than 50 years due to oil, now has only a small fraction of its oil reserves left. The ruling royal families of each of the emirates that make up this nation are making a concerted effort and vision to create the biggest and best of everything here, including two of the busiest airports in the world, so that the country will prosper long after the oil is gone.

What they’ve done so far is truly incredible to see.

Some examples: • OVER-THE-TOP SHOPPING MALLS like Emirates

Mall, with a full-blown snow skiing and toboggan mountain inside; and Dubai Mall — the world’s largest — with almost 2,500 truly lavish stores. It includes the world’s largest aquarium with divers and a submarine, and an ice-skating rink the size of a football field. An even larger mall is under construction nearby.

• FANTASTIC BUILDINGS, including Burj Khalifa — the world’s tallest, measuring 2,716.5 feet tall. At just over 160 stories (with an observation deck on the 125th floor), it dwarfs the other huge buildings below. Its base is framed by the world’s largest fountains display, which dances to music and lights at regular intervals. Another nearby building under construction will be even taller. Every building seems to be a work of art with a vast array of unique designs. We were told that 80 percent of the world’s operating cranes are being used right now in Dubai. Many of them are constructing a series of man-made islands off the coast; the most recognized built so far is the one in the shape of a palm tree.

• SHEIKH ZAYED GRAND MOSQUE — While there seem to be beautiful mosques on every block, this one in Abu Dhabi stands out as one of the largest in the world. It can hold up to 42,000 worshipers at one time, and inside is the world’s largest carpet. Everyone is welcome to visit inside and take photos including flash, but you must go through security first to ensure you are covered from your head to your wrists to your ankles. Be prepared to sweat profusely in the heat! You must remove your shoes, and I was glad I brought socks.

• THEME PARKS OF EXTRAORDINARY SIZE AND SCOPE are waiting for you. Many new ones are under

construction, including what will be Disney’s largest park.

About an hour drive from Dubai, we visited Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi with Formula One and Formula 3 racetracks, hotels, 22 rides, the world’s fastest roller coaster and more. You can also visit IMG Worlds of Adventure and Global Village, Dubai Sports City, Dubai Autodrome & Motor City, Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, Atlantis Aquaventure and more. Work is underway now to create World Expo 2020, sure to showcase Dubai in its efforts to vastly expand tourism.

• EXTRAORDINARY HOTELS — We loved our clean, welldesigned apartment hotel with kitchen and washer/dryer in the center of town near restaurants, grocery stores and the ultramodern metro that we could take to get everywhere. It was quite reasonable at about $100 per night and included a bountiful daily breakfast buffet of mostly Arabic and Indian foods that seemed to be more for dinner than breakfast. We would have loved even more to stay at hotels like the sailboat-shaped Burj Al Arab on the ocean, with suites that start at $3,000 per night and run to $19,000 per night. The plethora of hotels that catered to the very rich was mind-boggling.

Dubai is the “Las Vegas” of the Eastern hemisphere to a grand scale, with fabulous restaurants and nightlife and unending things to do. Alcohol is served in many

ABOVE CLOCKWISE:

Camel safari in Dubai Desert, an outside corridor of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Elaine Fitzgerald and Dubai’s skyline, clothes dry on a balcony in a middle class Indian neighborhood BELOW: Camel safari at sundown

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JUNE 2014

SPECIAL

SUMMER ADVENTURE

ISSUE

Diving the SS Copenhagen Trekking into Africa Kayak Fishing Max the to Building a Coral Reef Monster Swordfishing

Traveling with Kids

RE TIPS FOR A MO CATION PEACEFUL VA

Jack Weiss

s Happy Snap MENTS

M

WWW.LHPMAG.CO

MO MEMORABLEE POINT AROUND TH

Zambezi Queen

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Everything seems impossible until it’s done!

NelsoN MaNdela

into AfricA stoRY And photos BY JudY And Bill sullivAn

e

veryone has some kind of “bucket list.” Lists vary from person to person and center on as many different things as there are people who make

them. Mine deals with travel. It seems however that as soon as I cross off one item another appears…..the list never gets shorter. South Africa has been a staple for many years so this trip was a milestone of sorts. Our travel lately has been small ship cruises. These ply the smaller rivers and can reach areas that the larger cruise ships cannot, allowing passengers to disembark frequently, reaching the shore without the use of smaller boats. Our South Africa trip was land based as well as having a small portion of the trip on the water. That was the “hook,” my reason for the selection of the company used for the trip. I was hoping that we would be afforded the opportunity to see as much wildlife and bird life from the water as the land.

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Tips if you go memorize your passport number and expiration date. You will write it frequently.

Dollars are welcome almost everywhere. Credit cards are accepted in major shopping areas, but few accept American express.

Small bills are handy for tips.

Check for inoculation, passport and visa requirements. Some countries require a visa. many are available at border crossings, but some must be purchased in advance. many require multiple empty passport pages.

Laundry service is available and free at most lodges and for a charge at hotels. there are lodges and camps in all price ranges and formats. be aware that in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed from ours. they experience winter June to August with their summer in December through February.

Intra-country travel is mostly via South African Air. (they still serve food on every flight no matter the duration.) most planes are for the most part small aircraft. Be sure to check flight days and times as well as baggage weights and size requirements.

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Traveling with AMA Waterways our 16day trip included four countries: South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

We began as 26 intrepid travelers and at the mid-point, we split with half going on to east Africa and the rest remaining in the south. AMA has a reputation for first class small-group travel which is aptly deserved. The hotels were all five star with delicious, beautifully presented food and a never-ending supply of the famous South African wines.

Our guide, Kirstin, was a remarkable young man. he grew up in Cape Town and had a vast knowledge of astronomy as well as the flora and fauna of the area–especially birds. he spoke Afrikaans, english, French, Spanish and Italian fluently and a few of the African languages as well….including Zulu. he admitted to just a working knowledge of German. he had worked as a horseback and white water guide, loved surfing and was working on completing his Masters in business administration!

The company also sent two delightful young ladies. The company policy that “It’s easier to sell what you’ve seen” means their agents are sent on a tour once a year.

They were friendly, helpful and completely professional all the while having a great time. hats off to AMA for going out of their way to help four Mexican Senoras in our group who were unable to get a visa for Zimbabwe. The company arranged for them to see Victoria Falls from the Zambia side making all of the arrangements for their flights and hotel, even sending one of the girls (who spoke fluent Spanish) with them for this two day portion of the trip.

south africa: populatioN 43 MillioN Cape Town: has a population of four million.

It is often referred to as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, a designation well earned. Founded as a port for the east Indian Co., it is located in a spectacular natural setting at the foot of the 3,000 foot Table Mountain. Although the capital of South Africa is Pretoria, Cape Town houses the parliament and Johannesburg the stock exchange. Cape Town is relatively crimefree and safe with most of the crime petty and non-violent. The beautiful Cape Grace hotel, our home for three nights, sits on the Victoria and Alfred waterfront, the cultural heart of the city, crammed with restaurants, shopping, outdoor entertainment, theatres and a huge Ferris wheel. The dock area houses colorful fishing boats and is home to a colony of playful fur seals.

The Cape Flats, however, are a dismal township, which is home to the majority of the population and is notoriously dangerous. Barren and flat, it lies in the industrial southeast of the city and is often referred to as the apartheid dumping grounds. It is a grim reminder of the relocation of the non-white and colored population of the 1950s. (see sidebar on apartheid) Iconic Table Mountain, soaring 3,000 feet above the city is certainly the focal point of the city. Although frequently shrouded in clouds, it affords spectacular views. Robben Island, the prison where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were held, lies three miles offshore to the north. To the south are Lion’s head, Devil’s Rock, the

Twelve Apostle Cliffs and Signal hill and below, the city bowl. Originally, a canon was fired from Signal hill each day at 11:00 to allow for the setting of sextants. It is now fired each day (except Sunday) at noon.

The mountain is home to many species of birds and small animals, including the tiny dassies, distant relatives to the elephant!

A rotating cable car takes you to the top of Table Mountain in seven minutes.

OPPOSiTe fisherman pole the Chobe River.

ThiS PAGe TOP lighthouse at Cape of Good Hope miDDLe Cape of Good Hope BOT TOm penguin colony at Foly Beach

cape peNiNsula We began our trip to the Cape Peninsula traveling on two of the most famous highways in the region. The Ne Drive is a scenic feast of mountain slopes, soaring cliffs, turquoise bay waters and lagoons. On one side is the Atlantic, the other the Indian Ocean. Inviting as it looks; swimming can be hazardous with strong currents, cold water and Great White Sharks. Despite this, it remains a surfer’s paradise. The Peninsula Road hugs the shore and the dramatic Chapman’s Peak Drive, cut into the rock face, is one of the region’s most dramatic mountain drives. We passed through several small towns including Simonstown the headquarters of the SA Navy. It was bustling that day due to the Navy Days holiday when the base is open to visitors.

At the Southernmost point is Cape of Good hope so named by John II of Portugal. It is popularly perceived as the junction of the Indian and Atlantic oceans. There is a small still-used lighthouse and a short funicular ride takes you to a vantage point high above the sea. Baboons run freely and will gladly take any food right out of your hands. Failure to secure the doors on our bus during our absence resulted in Baboons coming aboard, ransacking purses and bags and leaving behind a “present” on one of the seats!

Nestled in a cove nearby is a thriving breeding colony of African Penguins.

Actually in the midst of a residential area, there is a long boardwalk at Foxy Bay for close-range viewing. The birds wander freely around and under it in a protected natural environment. These penguins have often been called Jackass Penguins due to their braying call similar to that of a donkey.

WesterN cape This is the home to the wine lands Stellenbosch and Franschoek. The route from Cape Town turns inland passing through rugged mountain scenery and wine estates, even some Ostrich farms. We paid a visit to the Babylonstoren Vineyard, one of the oldest in the area surrounded by the June 2014 | l i ghthou se point

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Road Trip

The

Jewels OF The

weST coaST

Fort Myers • sanibel • Captiva BY ellen schulMAn IS The STreSS of lIfe Too much? Try headIng weST on I-75 and discover a world where natural beauty, tranquility and charm are just what the doctor ordered.

My twin 14-year-old daughters, Leah and Carly, and I jumped in the car after school on a recent Friday afternoon to check out the other end of Alligator Alley. What I had always thought was the ‘tween spot between Naples and Sarasota actually is a magnificent community with offerings for the whole family.

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PHoNe INV

Random looks at aSIoN your last photos

HAPP

Taste of LHP, Y SNAPS Keeper Days and more!

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PoINT Book Sales, Bikin is and Boss Cars

MARCH 2014

ON TOP of the

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Retiring Mayor Fred Schorr sha of the past and res his hopes for the his view future.

By Earl Mau cker

Road Trip Go West to the Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel By Ellen Schulma

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Road Trip

After a little more than a two-hour trek from our Lighthouse Point home to exit 136 in Fort Myers, we crashed at the sparkling clean and comfy hampton Inn. General Manager and Owner Jeff Webb greeted us at the front desk, along with an exuberant front desk staffer named Vanessa.

The scent of fresh baked cookies also confirmed that we made the right lodging decision.

Our spacious suite included a kitchen area complete with microwave, refrigerator, sink and coffee maker. My girls plopped on the two double beds immediately leaving a full pullout couch, desk and armchair and ottoman all to myself.

We were so comfortable we simply ordered delivery pizza for dinner and spent a quiet evening in.

The alarm sounded early the next morning as we traveled north for about an hour to board Captiva Cruises’ Lady Chadwick for lunch on Cabbage Key. Although quite lengthy for my antsy girls, the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. excursion is a fun day for people of all ages. electronic diversions for the younger ones, cameras and binoculars are highly recommended. The company offers a variety of full and half- day adventures to Cabbage Key as well as the private island of Useppa, Cayo Costa State Park and Boca Grande. Private cruises are available, as are sunset sightseeing and dolphin adventures.

We had our own dolphin adventure, however, as several of the entertaining mammals put on a captivating show for most of the trip. Cruise director eric, and his colleague, Skip, offered a plethora of inside stories about this nature

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show. They pointed out the dancing dolphin constantly and explained – with a chuckle -- that these smart animals find humans on a boat entertaining spectacles much like our fascination with animals in a zoo.

We also passed a giant osprey nest perched atop a water marker where mom and dad were protecting their new eggs.

Skip said this same nest had been there for years, growing wider and taller each season as the mates-for-life created their family. The male osprey works hard for at least two months to feed the entire family, including the young chicks, who eat up to two pounds of fish a day.

Our nature lesson concluded as we arrived at the doorstep of the famous Cabbage Key Inn, believed to be the inspiration of Jimmy Buffet’s “Cheeseburger in Paradise.” The girls and I chose to start our exploration of the 100-acre island with a climb up the 41 steps of the island’s all wooden water tower built in the mid 1930s. It’s the only water tower not to be destroyed by hurricanes, although it did sustain heavy damage during hurricane Charley in 2004.

The nature trail, although a bit muddy from frequent rains, was a peaceful precursor to our lunch. Native plants are marked by fact-filled plaques along the path, which brought us full circle back to the Inn. We, of course, couldn’t resist following tradition by adding our own dollar bill to the more than $70,000 plastered on the walls. The practice started when a thirsty, but sometimes broke, fisherman, left his autographed bill taped to the wall

wheRe TO STAy the hampton Inn & Suites (Hilton property)*

Fort myers-Colonial Boulevard 4350 executive Circle Fort myers, FL 33916 owner:

Jefferson webb

mANAGeR: Landon Sturm

239-931-5300 www.fortmyerscolonialsuites. www.hamptoninn.com *sign up to become a HiltonHonors member for reward points and perks

of the bar, ensuring funds for a cold drink on his next trip even if his net came up empty. Since the walls can’t hold the signed bucks from every visitor, the money that falls to the floor is collected by the staff and donated to local charities, to the tune of as much as $15,000 a year.

Lunch at the famous Inn included a cheeseburger with a side of black beans and rice, capped by their highly touted frozen key lime pie, as recommended by the Captiva crew. The 100 percent Angus beef burger and saffron rice and beans were outstanding, but the pie tasted more like a lime Popsicle than the creamy desert us South Floridians love. The bill for the three of us was around $46, not including tip. Don’t expect french fries to go with that burger, however, as there’s no place to properly dispose of grease on this tiny island.

We tried desert again just a few blocks outside the gates of South Seas Plantation at a quaint and colorful spot called “The Bubble Room.” The whimsical cottage looks more like Santa’s workshop than a restaurant, but once inside guests are

made to feel like they are in a perpetual Christmas palace. Vintage toys, holiday displays and traditional “bubble lights” adore every corner inside and out. Most staff members wear scout uniforms, as according to Bubble Room Manager and mother of three Rachel Peach, the first employee hired was asked to come to work in something creative. She was a scout leader and dressed accordingly.

Thirty-five years later, it’s the standard dress code.

Most famous for its large and irresistible homemade slices of cake, this popular attraction features full lunch and dinner menus with such signature items as a 34-ounce prime rib, Bubble Bread and Socra cheese. We chose the unique orange crunch (yellow cake filled with brown sugar and almond slices), red velvet and chocolate tort. The cake is so moist and delicious it alone is worth the trek to Captiva. Rachel says that during the height of the tourist season (mid-February through March) as many as 700 cakes are sold a day and the wait can be as long as 90 minutes, starting at 4:30 p.m.

OPPOSIte The Sanibel Lighthouse tOP LeFt dessert at the Bubble Room, RIGht The bubble Room, BOt tOm cash on the walls at Cabbage Key

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must-see Destinations forT myerS

eDiSOn & fORD winTeR eSTATeS the tour features edison’s 1886, 14-acre riverfront estate, laboratory and experimental gardens, as well as a display of henry Ford’s three-acre estate and vehicles dating back to 1914.

2350 mcGregor Blvd., Fort myers, 33901, 239-3347419, www.edisonfordwinterestates.org Six mile Cypress Slough Preserve this mile-long boardwalk offers a free view of a pristine wildlife corridor 7751 Penzance Boulevard, Fort myers, 239-533-7554 www.leeparks.org/sixmile

downTown forT myerS recent redevelopment and revitalization projects have turned the Fort myers Downtown River District into a mecca of shopping, dining, art and events. Visit www.myriverdistrict.com for a complete listing of year-round events and listings of shops, restaurants and unique places to tour.

sanibel

J. n. “DinG” DARLinG nATiOnAL wiLDLife RefuGe

USA today has ranked the refuge among the top bird watching destinations in North America. Approximately 250 species of birds have been spotted there.

1 Wildlife Drive Sanibel, FL 33957 Phone: 239-472-1100 Fax: 239-472-4061, www.fws.gov/dingdarling/ this refuge is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States. It is world famous for its spectacular migratory bird populations.

TRAm RiDe tarpon Bay explorers (www.tarponbayexplorers.com) is the concessionaire to the refuge, offering narrated tram and boat tours, along with guided kayak tours.

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SheLLinG the beaches of Fort myers and Sanibel yield some 400 species of multi-colored seashells. For information on the types of shells found on the area beaches and how to identify visit www.fortmyerssanibel.com/discover/on-water/shelling. the best shelling beaches are: Lovers Key State Park, and North Captiva and Cayo Costa islands (known for their starfish, conch and sand dollars).For a list of shelling charters and tours, visit www.FortmyersSanibel.com.

Captiva

CAPTivA CRuiSeS Leave from South Seas Island Resort or mcCarthy’s marina $5 parking fee at South Seas 239-472-5300 www.captivacruises.com BuBBLe ROOm 15001 Captiva Drive, Captiva Island, FL 33924, 239-472-5558, www.bubbleroomrestaurant.com muCKy DuCK this english-style pub and restaurant offers a front seat view of a beach sunset.

2014 the mucky Duck, 11546 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva Island, FL 33924, Phone 239-472-3434 | Fax 239-472-2388

We also spent a few minutes strolling the neighborhood surrounding the Bubble Room, where more quaint restaurants, luxury rental homes and the beach side Mucky Duck tavern, known as a perfect spot to shell and watch the sunset, are within a few blocks.

The day ended too quickly as we headed back to home base at the hamptons, passing a number of sites on our “wish list” for next time, including the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum (www.shellmuseum.org) and Doc Ford’s Sanibel Rum Bar & Grille. The restaurant is themed after local author, Randy Wayne White, who writes in his novels about marine biologist Doc Ford.

The Fort Myers-Sanibel/Captiva area is chalked full of activities for families and visitors of all ages. Just leave enough time to enjoy what the community has to offer.

For more details on even more attractions, visit fortmyers-sanibel.com.

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1 REASONS 2 YOU SHOULD

Break Away

to The Breakers Palm Beach ...So close, yet a world away

The rich history, breathtaking grandeur and the impeccable luxury of The Breakers compelled me to write in clear terms why one should consider spending some quality time at this glorious hotel.

BY SUSAN ROSSER

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The puffy bed The bed here is just the most luxurious you’ll ever enjoy. It’s like lying on a cloud of cotton candy without the stickiness.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

South Florida was pretty much an isolated peninsula until Henry Flagler, the Standard Oil Company magnate, built and acquired railroads along the state’s East coast. So now, the region could be reached easily by rail. In 1894 he built The Royal Poinciana Hotel at Lake Worth. His hotel drew guests from the American elite and quickly became a top notch destination in Palm Beach.

In 1896, he built a second hotel called the Palm Beach Inn on the beach of the Royal Poinciana. Well, who doesn’t want a room by the beach? Pretty soon, hotel guests started requesting “rooms over by the breakers.” So, what ‘s a developer to do? Flagler added on to the hotel and renamed it The Breakers.

Unfortunately, during another expansion project, the hotel burned down on June 9, 1903. Thankfully, they rebuilt quickly and a brand new hotel opened on February 1, 1904.

During those years the hotel hosted the rich and famous—the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Astors, Andrew Carnegie and J.P. Morgan all vacationed at The Breakers along with United States presidents and European nobility. Not a shabby crowd.

But tragedy struck again in 1925. Another fire burned down the wooden building. Henry Flagler had died, but his heirs had the vision to build one of the finest resorts in the world modeled after the Villa Medici in Rome, Italy. 75 Italian artisans were brought over to paint the ceilings in the grand lobby of the hotel. The Breakers lobby still draws gasps from guests today.

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HMF

Wagyu Beef Sliders

The newly renovated dining area named after The Breakers’ founder, Henry Morrison Flagler, is an explosion of contemporary sites, sounds and tastes along with the feel of elegant times past.

It’s rare that the marketing hype you read after you visit a place matches the experience you had already. The grandeur of the venerable Florentine dining room was updated by the famous Adam Tihany and without knowing all this we set about to enjoy an evening there.

Richard was enthralled with the place. The lighting was perfect, the staff was impeccable, the cocktails were superb but he stopped our waitress Jessica to tell her the best part of the restaurant . . . was the soundtrack. Indeed, the music was all around you, setting a Las-Vegas-50’s-Rat-Pack-meetsmodern-New-York-City-meets-20’s Speakeasy. You felt like you were in a movie with the sound playing around you. Jessica responds to this assertion with a cheerful, “I’ll bring the DJ over so you can meet him” which was stunning since this was dinner at 7:30pm on a Monday night. He shared that music was so important to HMF that playlists are posted on the website blog (www. hmfpalmbeach.com) and as the evening progressed he adjusted the music to the mood of the room.

The small plates of amazing dishes include some updated basics like spectacular sushi and Wagyu Beef Sliders (with smoked bacon and antique cheddar) from the “Food Truck” section of the menu. They also offer more daring dishes like orecchiette with Tuscan duck sausage and wild mushrooms (which is even better when paired with a pinot noir that Jessica scurried over to the master sommelier for a recommendation.)

We’ve experienced what we consider the pinnacle hotel experience for the really young, trendy and obscenely wealthy; The Fontainebleu. But The Breakers smacks them for being silly and amateurish. If you really want to impress someone for a big date, birthday or anniversary, please take our recommendation that HMF will surely impress.

Road Trip

Southern BY susAn RosseR

Hospitality living the highlife

in the low country

I

must have lived in the South in a previous life because as soon as I see my first moss covered oak tree, I feel like I’m home. And yet, I’ve never actually lived in the south. (South Florida doesn’t count.)

Oh, and don’t even get me started on southern food. Well, not too far from South Florida (about a six hour drive) you can find St. Simons Island, Georgia, an incredibly quaint and small barrier island known for its expansive beaches.

As soon as you begin your journey over the five-mile causeway to the island, you begin to relax. You will see endless vistas spanning across rivers, vast salt marshes and of course the Atlantic Ocean. Once on the

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AroUnd

THe PoInT NEWS & TID BITS

HAPPY SN APS

PHO TOS FRO M ARO UND TOW N

roAd TrI

ST. SIMONSP ISLAND

Girl POWE

JANUARY 2014

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STARS OF THE LHP GIRLS 10-15 SOCCER LEAGUE

Taste Lighthouseof Point YOUR GUIDE TO THE 1OTH ANNUAL

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The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort 201 Arnold Road • St. Simons Island, Georgia 31522 Phone: 912/638-3631 Reservations: 800/342-0212

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Road Trip RIGht Ocean front villa beLow The Delegal Room.

OPPOSIte tOP The lighthouse OPPOSIte BOt tOm One of the resort’s five pools

Island, you will find, quiet ocean-side streets lined with mom and pop shops and restaurants with the occasional proverbial t-shirt store.

The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort is the epitome of southern charm. What can I say, they had me at “ya’ll.” The staff are full of authentic warm hospitality for which the South is famous .

Take a short walk from your room and stroll along the miles and miles of beautiful beach, enjoy ocean front dining at the King’s Tavern (don’t skip the shrimp and grits-see sidebar) or poolside at Ocean Terrace Grille, or take a dip in one of the resort’s five sparkling blue pools. continued on next page

PIT STOP Climbing St. Augustine Lighthouse

Six hours in a car can be a challenge.

On the way, stop off and climb the 219 steps of the St. Augustine Lighthouse to the observation deck for a 360-degree view of the historic city and the Atlantic Ocean. An active navigational aid, the lighthouse was built in the early 1870s and may be the most picturesque of the state’s 30 beacons, not all of which are operational (of course, we can think of one lighthouse we like better.)

Tickets are $3 to $7.50, depending on your age and whether you’ll make the trip up to the top. For more information call 904-829-0745 or visit www.staugustinelighthouse.com.

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The Resort Located directly on the Atlantic Ocean beaches of St. Simons Island, Georgia, the resort is on the National Register of historic Places and is a member of historic hotels of America. the Resort is 60 miles north of Jacksonville and 65 miles south Savannah.

• Ocean front dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner • Five pools, including an outdoor children’s pool and an indoor heated pool with hot tub • the Royal treatment Cottage specializes in massage therapies and treatments • 10, 000 sq. ft. of ocean front meeting, conference and function space • Award-winning golf at the newly restored and renamed King and Prince Golf Course, home of the hampton Club • exercise facility • har-tru tennis courts • Complimentary Wi-Fi access in all guest rooms, villas, private homes and lobby areas • Complimentary Business Center

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CHANGING

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VIEWS

BY SAMANTHA SPEEDY

Lighthouse Point’s Samantha Speedy set out on a global adventure, which expanded her perspective and brought unexpected joy.

JANUARY 2017 | LIGHTHOUSE POINT

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I

arrived in Europe with an American flag literally plastered on my back, in the form of a patch on an old denim jacket. As I waited for my baggage in Rome International Airport I watched Italian newscasters analyze a tape of one Trump controversy or another with the headline “Trump: the next Berlusconi?” and thought, “I gotta get a new jacket.”

Six months later, I threw it away in Germany. My backpack had gotten too full of magnets, ticket stubs and other souvenirs to continue carrying it despite our lengthy companionship and it’s remarkably roomy pockets. After months of being thrown under tables at bars, sat on for picnics and generally being treated like a napkin, it less resembled a denim jacket and more a burlap sack. It had suffered greatly under my ownership, but never brought me anything but good fortune—neither my American flag patch nor my thick South Florida inflection seemed to incite anything PREVIOUS PAGE Pulled our rental car over to chase rainbows in Iceland.

TOP One of Iceland’s many ridiculous landscapes LEFT The Northern Lights spotted in the parking lot of my AirBnB.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP The night before I had to unceremoniously part with my beloved denim jacket; Being denied a monkey’s friendship at Ubud Monkey Forest in Bali, Indonesia; Posing with a celebratory baguette at a peak in Saxon Switzerland National Park; Rainy day fashion at the Plitvice National Park in Croatia

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REASONS TO LOVE THE EAU PALM BEACH

au

what fun

Enter the glamorous world of Palm Beach luxury.

The Eau Palm Beach is only a 30 minute drive up scenic A1A, yet it’s worlds away from the daily grind. There are many reasons to love the Eau, here are our favorites‌ in no particular order.

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1 IMMEDIATE OCEAN VIEW. As soon as you enter the lobby, you are captivated by a gorgeous view of the Atlantic. Sure, many hotels are on the ocean, but that immediate, take-your-breathaway view of the sea is the perfect start to any get-away.

2 OLD PALM BEACH. As you sit in the lobby, reading your complimentary Wall Street Journal or New York Times, you half-expect to see Marjorie Merriweather Post walk on by.

While, much of the hotel has been redecorated by famed designer Jonathan Adler, the lobby still has that old Palm Beach feel. Croquet anyone?

3 OCEANSIDE CABANAS. The perfect place to relax by the sea. Each cabana is named after a planet. Curiously, there is not one named after the Earth—they really want you to feel as if you are in another world.

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4 WIFI. Everywhere you go, wifi is always available…for free.

5 THE CLUB LEVEL LOUNGE (MONKEYS). If you really want a treat, stay on the club level and enjoy the lounge—stocked with snacks, drinks, meals and of course a manager who thinks of everything you need before you know you need it.

6 PEACE AND LOVE CHAIRS. Each balcony has two chairs that say peace and love—just in case you are unclear about how you should feel while vacationing.

7 HIS AND HER COFFEE MUGS. Naturally, there is a coffee maker in the room. But you don’t want to mix up your coffee cups. And of course, with the recent Supreme Court decision, we bet you can get his and his or her and her cups too.

THE SCRUB BAR Why use a scrub out of bottle when you can create your own at the Eau Spa? Meet with a mixologist to create your own custom scrub—a touch of citrus, a hint of jasmine…let your imagination run wild.

JONATHAN ADLER REMODEL The guest rooms and suites are all distinctly Palm Beach with a twist of hip. Everything about the room highlights the sea and the beach with blue tones throughout and of course, splashes of yellow are reminiscent of the Florida sunshine. It’s as if you are sleeping in the world’s most decadent cabana. Most hotel rooms could be anywhere—these scream sunny, luxurious Florida. These rooms just make you happy.

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and other products. She is new to South Florida and already has discovered black persimmon in Delray Beach. Who knew? Try it on the Berkshire pork belly appetizer with Zill ‘s Farm Mango, and Delray black persimmon.

16 CHAMPAGNE AND CUPCAKES. The Eau Spa doesn’t do the wheatgrass thing. No pea shoots here. This spa is about indulgence.

When you check in, you are offered Champagne and cupcakes. What’s not to love.

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17 FOUNTAIN AT THE SPA. As you enter the spa, you are presented with a small candle that you set on top of a fountain in the center of the spa.

Make a wish.

ADORABLE BREAKFAST TASTINGS Many breakfast buffets at fancy-shmancy hotels are over-the-top. The Eau is no different except they take it one step further with tiny individual tastings of not-soordinary breakfast foods with a Mediterranean twist.

Beets for breakfast anyone?

11 SPA FAIRIES. Everyone who works at the Eau Spa is called a fairy and dresses in willowy white clothes which we will refrain from calling a uniform. Who doesn’t want a fairy looking out for their every comfort.

Even if it is for only a few hours.

12 SELF CENTERED GARDEN. Right smack dab in the center of the spa is the Self Centered Garden—aptly named, since a day at the Eau Spa is about as self-indulgent as life gets.

It’s all about you.

13 LOUNGE CHAIRS ON THE GRASS, overlooking the beach. Nice, cool grass is better for the feet.

14 FRIENDLY STAFF. We asked the conceirge staff what they thought was the best reason to stay at the Eau Palm Beach. In unison, two of them said “The friendly staff!” in a manner that conveyed a bit of disbelief at the question.

15 MANLEE SUI, Chef du Cuisine at Angle restaurant in the hotel. She is a woman on a mission. She spends her days search for local produce

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18 THE GOAT CHEESE-POTATO TERRINE. There’s cheese and there’s potatoes. Enough said.

19 A1A REEF MYTH. There is a myth that an old version of A1A lies beneath the sea just east of the resort. We tried to find proof—but we couldn’t. It’s a pretty romantic

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FUN STUFF The small shop at the Eau Spa carries unique dresses and tops. The buyer travels all over searching for off-the-beatenpath designs.

Be prepared to splurge.

Wearable souvenirs are the best.

notion—sort of like the lost city of Atlantis.

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20 PADDLE BOARDS. They are available for rental, although do you really want to stand for that long when poolside cocktails are so close?

21 S’MORES. Right outside the lobby, overlooking the beach is the conversation pit with fire pits. Order a s’mores

THE KASHMIR COCKTAIL Why are there so many songs about rainbows? It’s because they’re gorgeous—and this cocktail is as tasty as it is pretty.

22 GIRLS GET-AWAY. With the beach, the spa, great food and cocktails, this could be called lady-heaven.

23 SELF CENTERED GARDEN AT NIGHT. We hear this spot really gets going after dark.

24 ADULT POOL. Kids are great, but they’re not for everyone. Relax at the resort’s adult-only pool—no children allowed.

25 THE FALAFEL AT TEMPLE ORANGE RESTAURANT. These little balls of goodness could be the answer to peace in the Middle East.

26 THAI ME UP MARY. Secret spice bloody Mary made with Tito’s Vodka, served in a tall glass with a spiced rim, blue cheese olive and Florida jumbo shrimp. A great way to start any day.

31 AQUANUTS AND COAST. While the Eau is a great get-away for adults, you can also make it a family trip. Drop the little ones at AquaNuts, the resort’s camp for kids. They get to do kid stuff while mom and dad sip cocktails at the pool, get a couple’s massage and

THE BATH LOUNGE After any treatment, take a nap in one of the heated lounge chairs in the bath lounge and feel your troubles melt away.

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FLIP FLOPS AND BEACH BAG Just in case you forget to pack your flip flops, there will be a pair waiting for you upon arrival. And can’t you always use an extra beach bag?

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Road Trip MAY 2014

Hometown Sweethearts

TTIE McNEIL JACKIE AND SCO g story of

A weddin mitment true love and com

THE PARK NT ROCKIN’HTIN HO USE POI LIG

TIVAL MU SIC FES

AD TRIP

RO H ISL AN D TO KIAWA OLI NA SOU TH CAR GE EXCHANCAR CLA SSI C

CLUB

SHO W

Jackie McNeil

E POINT n AROUND TH on what’s going

in tow

SNAPS HAPPYLIFE AND MOR E! REL AY FOR

ARTISTS MEET THEBRENT ANDERSON DONNA SALLEE •

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WWW.LHPMAG.CO

The Eighteenth hole and clubhouse on Pete Dye’s Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, site of the 1991 Ryder Cup and 2012 PGA Championship

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g o n e To

Carolina a Multi-FaMily vaCation to kiawah island

B

ack in 2009, my sister and I decided to plan a family vacation somewhere on the east Coast. Our requirements were simple—our destination had to be driving distance from both of us (she and her family live in New Jersey and we of course live in Lighthouse Point.) My sister is the type who gets stuff done. She met with a travel agent (yes, they still exist) who recommended we rent a home on Kiawah Island. Kiawah is a barrier island off the coast of South Carolina. We picked a house and made the reservations during the kids’ Thanksgiving break.

BY lupe soMeRset

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Road Trip

It’s about a 10-hour drive to Kiawah. After that long in the car with two kids and both of my parents, I was ready for “big-gulp” size glass of Malbec. I don’t think I will ever forget the moment our car first entered onto the Island. We were all worn out from the trip and yet everyone of us gasped at the sheer natural beauty of this paradise. That may sound corny and exaggerated, but it is the absolute truth. The island was developed in the 1970s with a keen sense of maintaining the natural landscape. As the road curved around the island, it was hard to imagine how they had built all of these houses among the huge trees. The architecture is strictly coastal— with plenty of front porches and tin roofs.

The home we rented was simply lovely. All the houses are raised up about one story, so you always enter on the second floor. The ground level is usually reserved for a garage and maybe a bedroom or two. Ours was very spacious and furnished beautifully—a true seaside retreat. Many homes have gorgeous views of the marshes (or the ocean if you are a big spender.) We have rented three homes on the island over the past few years and each one surpassed our expectations— which is probably why we’ve been back a few times. The winter rates for home rentals are much more reasonable than summertime. But since it is summer in Florida all year long, it’s a great idea to take advantage of this paradise during the winter months‚ which are never too cold in the low country.

That first year we decided to celebrate Thanksgiving at the

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plan your trip Developed on a barrier island of coastal South Carolina only 21 miles from historic Charleston, Kiawah island Golf Resort lies along ten miles of one of America’s top beaches, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean.

This 10,000 acre island is a haven for a variety of wildlife including egrets, loggerhead turtles and alligators.

The SAnCTuARy AT KiAwAh iSLAnD GOLf ReSORT the Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort is a 255 room, ultra luxury oceanfront hotel and spa (AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star) The viLLAS AT KiAwAh iSLAnD GOLf ReSORT 500 charming villas available for great vacations Private luxury homes are also available for rental and are great for larger groups like family reunions.

GOLf COuRSeS Five championship courses designed by the world’s leading golf course architects: the Ocean Course by Pete Dye, home of the 1991 Ryder Cup, the 1997 and 2003 World Cups, the 2007 Senior PGAand 2012 PGA Championships; Osprey Point by tom Fazio. (renovated during the summer of 2014); turtle Point by Jack Nicklaus; Cougar Point by Gary Player; and Oak Point by Clyde Johnston.

TenniS fACiLiTieS two world class tennis clubs, which have hosted such prestigious events as the ’98 FeD CUP and the ’90 US men’s Clay Court Championship. together, the facilities include 19 clay courts and five hard courts, and an innovative practice court with an automatic retrieval ball machine. the resort offers an array of clinics and camps and has been rated as the No. 1 tennis Resort in the world by tennisResortsOnline (www. tennisresortsonline.com) for seven of the last eight years.

ReSTAuRAnTS:

SPA

The OCeAn ROOm at the Sanctuary is the resort’s signature steakhouse with a menu specializing in exceptional handselected cuts of beef and chops as well as other signature dishes.

At the Sanctuary: A Forbes Five - Star, 12 - room garden - themed spa featuring treatments based upon the ocean, forest and botanical gardens. there is also a sauna, steam room and whirlpool.

SuShi LOunGe AT The OCeAn ROOm is adjacent to the Ocean Room.

nATuRe PROGRAmS:

east meets south as traditional sushi dishes are served along with “sushi southern style.”

A nature center with on - staff naturalists for viewing local snakes, lizards, turtles and a young alligator. there are also walking tours and workshops that teach about indigenous island wildlife in their natural habitats. For outdoor adventure the resort offers marsh creek canoeing, ocean kayaking, back - river excursions and biking. Family Activities: Year - round activities include oyster roasts, ice cream socials, festivals, arts and crafts, productions and holiday events – such as easter egg hunts, 4th of July fireworks and holiday tree lightings.

JASmine PORCh, also at the Sanctuary, has a stunning ocean view and offers casual and traditional Low country favorites.

LOGGeRheAD BAR & GRiLL is located poolside at the Sanctuary and serves classic American fare and frozen drinks.

The OSPRey POinT CheRRywOOD BBQ & ALe hOuSe, offers southern

Bar-B-Que at its best.

TOmASSO AT TuRTLe POinT CLuBhOuSe is an authentic

Italian gathering place specializing in classic cuisine from all regions of Italy.

Located in the Ocean Course clubhouse, The ATLAnTiC ROOm is the resort’s premier seafood restaurant” featuring modern American twists on seasonal seafood selections .

SOuTheRn KiTChen, our low country classickitchen in the Straw market in West Beach serving breakfast and lunch.

The niGhT heROn POOLSiDe GRiLL & BAR features appetizers, salads, local

seafood, sandwiches and burgers.

The weST BeACh mARKeT has wine, beer, snacks, and gifts; also the market at town Center has a fully stocked deli with groceries, logo apparel, and newspapers.

ReCReATiOn SeRviCeS the 21 - acre heron Park, bicycle rentals, three swimming pool complexes, beach services, a game room, children’s camp (ages 3 -11) and a fitness center.

RATeS Villas (1 - 4 bedrooms): $120 to $1,130 per night; $650 to $6,225 weekly Luxury homes: $185 to $3,915 per night; $1,015 to $21,535 weekly the Sanctuary: $270 to $825 per night; $585 - $4,700 for suites nightly For more information call 843-768-2121 or 800-654-2924 or visit kiawahresort.com.

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TheSCOOP

[ urban adventures ]

The Whimsical & Mysterious Ode to Unrequited Love

The Coral Castle

In honor of Valentine’s Day, Urban Adventures sets out to Homestead, Fla., to visit one of South Florida’s most renowned monuments to love, the Coral Castle. The castle was inspired by unrequited love, was the inspiration behind Billy Idol’s song and music video “Sweet Sixteen,” and has been a topic of debate amongst conspiracy theorists and scientists who can’t figure out how the castle was miraculously and secretly constructed by one, five-foot-tall man.

BY MISS-ADVENTURE

MY FRIEND SEAN IS A BIT OF AN insomniac and a conspiracy nut (perhaps the two go hand-in-hand: the late-night, delirious hours watching extraterrestrial shows about the mysteries of the Egyptian Pyramids or the sunrises spent reading up on the Free Masons and Illuminati), so when I moved to South Florida, Sean raved about some mysterious monument called the Coral Castle. The castle, he said, is known as Florida’s own Stonehenge.

No one, not even scientists, can agree on how the 1,100-ton structure was created, by one man, in secret, with no modern machinery whatsoever.

When I decided to follow Sean’s suggestion and make the trek out to Homestead, Fla., to see this mysterious castle, I had high hopes. I imagined some spectacular marvel, wondrous and grand.

So when I pulled in to the empty parking lot to find what looked more like a dumpy roadside attraction than a medieval Disney castle, I admit I was pretty disappointed. “This is it?” I wondered.

I thought perhaps I had been duped. First off, the place is in the middle of agricultural nowhere-ness, and second, the structure looks, at first glance, like just a bunch of misplaced rocks. Don’t

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get me wrong, it’s kind of cool-looking — a fortress-like wall surrounding an open-air courtyard and sculpture garden with doors, chairs and tables made entirely of coral stone — but it’s not exactly jaw-dropping.

It wasn’t until the raconteur tour guide began recounting the tall tales behind the castle — the story of unrequited love that preceded its construction, the quirkiness of the man who built it, his near insane obsession with his long-lost love Agnes, the rich fantasy life he incorporated into the castle’s imaginative design, the secretiveness of its [CONTINUED ON PAGE 28]

field work

URBAN ADVENTURES

Wynwood Walls THE MAGICAL MIX OF HIP ‘N’ GRIT:

PHOTO BY BARIS VON COBURG | MURAL BY LOGAN HICKS

BY MISS-ADVENTURE

WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO SOUTH FLORIDA BACK IN MARCH from Venice Beach, California, the first reaction I usually encountered was: “What in the hell are you doing in Pompano Beach?” I would laugh and explain how I landed here quite by accident, visiting here while at a disorienting crossroads in my life and craving something new. “I came here on vacation and never left,” I joke.

After telling people about Venice — a quirky beach town near Los Angeles with a sidewalk circus of artists, fringe of grit and history as a bad-part-of-town-turned-hip by artists and hippies — people would then ask me if I had yet been to Wynwood Walls in Miami. I heard about the Wynwood district from about a dozen people before I actually got the opportunity to go.

Wynwood was described to me as a place to see some amazing street art (where every wall was covered in elaborate graffiti murals), sip coffee at unique cafés, listen to open-air DJs spin house in Wynwood Yard and enjoy a monthly art walk where food trucks would serve me greasy street tacos and piping hot Cuban sandwiches. I was told that if I loved Venice Beach, I

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Deerfield Beach!

would probably love Wynwood. And people were right. I do love Wynwood. I love the multi-colored madness of its street gallery, the sight of artists up on ladders with spray paint in-hand, the quirky fashions striding down sidewalks and the many little hidden pockets where bars and restaurants are tucked away behind old industrial buildings.

Like most hipster-infused, avant-garde arts districts across the nation, Wynwood is another example of a historically seedy part of town, once littered with abandoned warehouses, being transformed into a rebellious artists’ urban island. Like most arts districts, Wynwood maintains a delicate balance of raw grunge and gentrified coolness.

Wynwood is unpolished and unapologetic, and I love that. Some arts districts I’ve been to have become too polished, becoming overrun with yoga studios and organic, vegan bakeries, loosing the bohemian roots that once made them interesting (to some extent this happened to Venice, where it borders Santa Monica).

But Wynwood (at least from my limited, outsider’s perspective) has done a good job of maintaining its [CONTINUED ON PAGE 30]

Richard Rosser PUBLISHER

Point! Publishing

DIRECT LINE: 954-234-8518 EMAIL: richard@pointpubs.com

Featured titles: Pompano! magazine Deerfield Beach! magazine Lighthouse Point magazine PompanoFun.com City Guide Official Pompano Beach Visitor Map DeerfieldBeachFLA.com City Guide Official Deerfield Beach Visitor Map LBTSGuide.com City Guide for Lauderdale-by-the-Sea