Enjoying the Sights and Flavors from around the USA and the world
Lakeland is located in Central Florida in between Tampa and Orlando. It is home to many lakes, hence the name. Downtown you will find Lake Mirror, breweries, cigar bars, food trucks, craft shops, and so many other great things to see and do. The Terrace Hotel is one of those places that is a must visit in downtown Lakeland. It is a hotel from 1924 that has been restored to its former glory. Located inside the hotel is the Terrace Grille. They serve a nice Sunday brunch. Naturally I started off with a mimosa. If you have read…
Leave a CommentThe town of Winter Garden has a cute downtown main street. There are several places to sit in Centennial Park and enjoy music or people watching. There are walking and biking trails, and several shops and restaurants. It was around lunch time and I went to check out The Whole Enchilada. The restaurant has a walk-up counter to order. Then they bring the food to your table. It is a great set up. It really allows for customers to come and go quickly. I placed my order and headed over to their salsa bar. They have four different salsas ro…
Leave a CommentI love a good steakhouse. When visiting San Diego, I was lucky to get to visit Donovan’s Steakhouse. They are a high-end restaurant known naturally for their steaks. When I walked in, I headed straight to the bar where I got to enjoy a fun cocktail. I ordered the Orange Mark. It was a blend of green mark Russian vodka, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and San Pellegrino blood orange. This drink was sweet and smooth. I loved the orange flavor. It was not overpowering, yet still refreshing. It went down very easy. After pre-dinner cocktails, we headed over to our…
Leave a CommentWhen visiting a town or city I have never been to sometimes it is a challenge to know where the good hang outs and restaurants are. I find that asking the locals is a great way to start. But there is something even better to try, ask a local bartender. Why? They will know the hot spots that stay open late. Bartenders and kitchen staff from other restaurants want to go out and party too, unfortunately they have to wait till their places close. I have discovered tons of places that stay open late just to make sure they can…
Leave a CommentWhen people think about Florida beaches I am sure that Daytona Beach is top of mind. However, about 30 minutes north is a small community called Flagler Beach. This beach was named after Henry Flagler who was an oil tycoon and a Florida railroad developer. Do not think that this is a quiet beach town because there are several hot spots that I found on my most recent visit. One of those spots was Tortugas. Located right across the street from the beautiful Atlantic Ocean sits this two story restaurant. This place was hopping with a live music and tons…
Leave a CommentThere is a specialty food item that visitors must try when they are in Michigan. That food item is called Pasties. These are essentially a meat pie. These hand held treats date back to the turn of the century. They were created for the workers in the mines. They needed something that they could easily carry with them. Those pasties were filled with different meats. The pie shell trapped in the heat so when the workers were ready to eat them, they were still warm. A side of gravy is also served so that the pies could be dipped. Some…
Leave a CommentMackinac Island, Michigan is a really special place. It is located in Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsula. What makes this place so special? There are no cars on this island. You can only get there via ferry or seaplane. To get around the island you can walk, ride a bike, or take a horse drawn carriage. It really takes you back to a simpler time. There are many things to do around the island. This includes eating and drinking. That is exactly what I decided to so when I visited the Pink Pony Bar. It is located…
Leave a CommentWhen I told people I was going to visit Mackinac Island in Michigan, they all said I had to make sure to get some fudge. That is what they are famous for. There are a few places to go but visiting Murdick’s is a must. Murdick’s Fudge is the original fudge shop. They have been making the creamy treat for over 125 years. Before I even opened the door, I could smell the chocolate fudge being made. When I opened the door, the sweet aroma just hit me. I was in heaven. As I walked around the shop I was…
Leave a CommentDuring my trip to Michigan I drove through the small town of Kinde. It was around lunch time, so I decided to check out a local restaurant called The Pasta House. It is located on the main street of Kinde. It is right across the street from some grain silos. They have been serving the folks f this town for over 20 years. It was a cute restaurant inside with a fun retro feel, complete with a juke box. They also had old pictures of the town on the wall. It was really cool to see what the main street…
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