White Beaches On The Florida Gulf-Siesta Key Is Tops

Siesta by definition means a short nap taken in the early afternoon. When you visit the barrier island, Siesta Key, off the shores of Sarasota, napping is the furthest thing on your mind with all the things you can do. Although, laying in the warm Florida sun on some of its whitest beaches, a short nap may catch you off guard as you are surrounded by the soothing sounds and smells of the water.

Siesta Key is eight miles long and connected to the mainland by two bridges, Siesta Drive and Stickney Point Road. Siesta Drive is within the City of Sarasota and provides convenient access to the city, while Stickney Point Road provides access to south Sarasota County and a direct route to Interstate 75. Siesta Key's beaches have the honorary distinction of being one of “America’s Best Beaches", “Third Best Walking Beach in the USA,” by USA Today International Edition, and “The Best of the Best Sand,” by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine.

Great place for enjoying water sports of all kinds, bird watching, golf, dining, shopping, and for the heartier vacationer, plenty of night life after the sun goes down. Check out Gilligan’s Tropical Bar located in the Village. World-class volley ball tournaments, craft shows, art exhibits, and food and wine tastings are just a few of the many scheduled annual events. Florida fishing for the angler is always great.

Plenty of resorts and accommodations are provided for your convenience and relaxation. Top rated attractions and restaurants in the Sarasota and Siesta Key area. Come stick your toes in some of the whitest, softest, coolest sand on the Gulf Coast.-Vacation Rick Travel

Cedar Point-The Amazement Park Located On Lake Erie

Speaking as an original resident of Northeastern Ohio, when spring and summer finally arrived after the long and cold winter, plans were made for the yearly visit to America's premier roller coaster park, Cedar Point in Sandusky. It was about a two hour drive from where I lived. Year after year I watched Cedar Point's collection of roller coasters grow into what is advertised today as "America's Roller Coast", and that is no exaggeration. Each new addition got higher and faster with more flips and spins, stretching the limits of what our senses can handle.

I remember when the Gemini was the new coaster on the block and the first time I took my son on it. He was terrified, hanging over the side like he was going to be sick as we made the slow journey up the hill to the summit, but when it was all over the first words he said to me were, "Let's go again." It was a full day of fun for everyone in the family. Packing the cooler with drinks and food, sitting at the picnic tables on the edge of the park, and then going for another round of being flipped, spun, stretched and compressed by g-forces, and in a matter of seconds going from zero to 120 mph rocketing upward reaching heights of 420 ft, the Top Thrill Dragster. I can't leave out mentioning the Dodgem and Cedar Creek Mine Ride, two of my kids all-time favorites.

Cedar Point is more than just the capital of roller coasters, it is an amazement park. It is home of the Millennium Force, Magnum XL-200, Raptor, Mantis, Iron Dragon, Gemini, Mean Streak, Wicked Twister, and already mentioned, Top Thrill Dragster. The Blue Streak is the oldest coaster at 45 yrs. There are water rides to soak you. The latest addition, Shoot The Rapids, opens this year. There is a train ride, boat rides, and attractions galore. When you get hot cool off at Soak City, a collection of water slides and lazy rivers. The landscaping is beautiful, the scenery surrounding the park is striking. All located right on the shores of Lake Erie.

An abundance of places to stay and plenty of recreational activity to choose from all packed into the Sandusky area. So, if you are a roller coaster enthusiast, you haven't done it until you have experienced Cedar Point. If you are looking for family fun, then make plans to visit this playground capital by Lake Erie. You will not be dissappointed. Park opens May 15. For more history and a small video sampling of roller coasters go to Vacation Rick Travel Cedar Point.

Amelia Island-Not Just Another Florida Island

One summer while staying on Jacksonville Beach, we decided to take a drive up the coastline along Florida A1A. At one point of our journey, we had to board a ferry called Saint Johns River Ferry to continue our trek. The scenery was beautiful and the beaches great. There was a stretch of beach in Little Talbot Island State Park onto which we drove our four wheel drive vehicle. Driving along the surf was an exilerating experience. From there, we continued northward on Florida A1A and crossed a bridge that took us to Amelia Island. Up till then, I didn't know Amelia Island existed.

Amelia Island is the southernmost of the barrier islands stretching along the coast from South Carolina to Florida called the Sea Islands. It is south of Cumberland Island, Georgia. It is considered the only community in the United States to have experienced life under eight different flags. The island has a long and illustrious history that goes back 4,000 years. Amelia Island has a natural deep harbor on the north end of the island, which provided easy access for smugglers, pirates, and assorted sea captains.

Today, Amelia Island attracts a wide variety of recreational and commercial activity. For the vacationer, it features activities from golf and tennis at world-class resorts to kayaking, sunset sails and horseback riding on the beach. It has river cruises and charters, fishing, a museum, a community theatre, and walking tours of Historic Fernandina Beach. Or maybe you just want to take a quiet walk to enjoy the unique variety of birds and wildlife. To top it off, there are the 13 miles of beautiful, sandy beaches for taking in the warm Florida sun either to lay out on, walk on, or collect seashells.

Amelia Island offers a 1350 acre beach resort called Amelia Island Plantation. The resort offers four Audubon International certified sanctuary golf courses, 23 Har-Tru tennis courts, holistic spa, shopping village, year around youth programs, Nature Center, and Segway tours. Plenty of other resorts and hotels to choose from.

Southend Brewery and Smokehouse, Charleston, SC-Food and Fun

It was a beautiful sunny day in the Historic District of Charleston. We were sitting at a table outside of the Southend Brewery and Smokehouse absorbing the festive atmosphere and the happy people parading past us along the busy sidewalk. A gentleman sporting a very unusual bushy mustache walked past. My daughter couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a picture of this individual who politely obliged.

The waitress brought out the menus and asked us what we would like to drink. My daughters suggested I should try the brewery's sampler of the eight different microbrews it offers, to which I agreed. They each ordered a Bloody Mary. We took our turns posing for some quick family pictures and a few moments later the waitress returned with our drinks. While we waited for our orders we sipped our drinks and shared some laughs. My nineteen year old son snuck a few of my samplers. A good start to a delightful lunch.

The Southend Brewery and smokehouse is located in the historic Wagener Building downtown on East Bay Street close to the famous Rainbow Row and Waterfront Park. The first thing you notice upon entering the brewery is a distintive three story atrium housing large copper and stainless steel brew tanks. The presense of the tanks and open atmoshere heightens your dining experience. There is not just one, but three floors of dining space accessed by Charleston's only indoor glass elevator.

The indoor glass elevator will wisk you up to the third floor Southend Harborview Bar where you can have a brew, play pool, shoot darts, or watch sports. If Charleston's nightlife is your thing, Southend Brewery is the place for after-hours entertainment. All attire is appropriate and perfect for bringing the family or a date. Southend offers a diverse menu of regional American lowcountry cuisine. A full description of the menu offering oak-smoked and grilled dishes can be viewed by clicking on this link. Oh, just one more thing. While sitting at your table you might be surprised to find a stranger has joined your dining party. The building has a long fascinating history and is now featured on local ghosts tours. Enough said, come and see for yourself.

Vacation Rick Travel

Southend Brewery and Smokehouse, 161 East Bay Street, Charleston, SC.

The Spectacular Beauty of Santorini Island, Greece

I got a request to write about the Greek Islands. I have chosen Santorini, a small, circular archipelago of volcanic islands located in the southern Aegean Sea. Santorini has an explosive past being the most active volcanic center in the South Aegean Volcanic Arc. What is left of it after the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history around 3,600 years ago is impressive.

Today, Santorini is a beautiful water filled caldera surrounded by 980 foot high steep cliffs on three sides. The water in the center of the lagoon is nearly 1,300 feet deep. The views are spectacular from any vantage point. Santorini's primary industry is tourism. The summer months are most popular. Due to the expansion of tourism, the island has gained great wealth and population. Only a picture can describe the beauty and wonder of Santorini.

There are many beautiful resorts, luxury hotels, and spa hotels to choose from with dramatic views and miles of dark sandy or pebbled beaches to enjoy. It is also visited by cruise ships traveling through the Eastern Mediterranean and Greek Islands. You can go to this cruise link to check out and select those cruises with Santorini in its itinerary. Vacation Rick Travel

Pictures-Village on the cliffs overlooking the caldera and The Majestic Hotel.

A Hotel Right Out of Your Dreams or Nightmares

I am going to try and come up with the right word to describe this hotel I am now writing about. Weird, quirky, brilliant, amusing, peculiar, idiosyncratic, and strange is what I come up with, but when I look at those words I realize just one isn't good enough. You will most likely come up with your own expletive. This hotel is only for the adventurous and hearty souls who throw caution to the wind. You will have to venture beyond our borders to a faraway land across the Atlantic Ocean where fairy tales and castles abound. The place is Berlin, Germany and the hotel is Propeller Island City Lodge.

Now, I realize Germany may not be on everyone's list of places to visit, but it was worth a write just for entertainment itself. All rooms and objects in the hotel are the creation of the German artist Lars Stroschen who studied Visual Communications in Berlin Academy of Arts 1981-1987 and worked as a photographer and graphic designer. Stroschen swapped his camera for a microphone and started to collect noises and his recordings were published under the name Propeller Island. This pseudonym stems from a book written by Jules Verne at the end of the nineteenth century which describes an artificial island that travels with its inhabitants around the world.

The pseudonym and the idea of an artificial island that travels suits Propeller Island City Lodge and its rooms perfectly. Each room looks like it was plucked right out of your dreams, and maybe some of your nightmares. There are 30 in all, absolutely unique in every sense of the word, and give you the feeling of surrealness. The furnishings and other objects in the rooms are custom-made and an individual handiwork. I won't even attempt to describe what they look like, only a picture will do it justice. Two of the rooms are pictured here. For more pictures and descriptions click on hotel link. One of the rooms is to die for. All rooms are quoted in euros and according to today's quotes one euro equals 1.44300 dollars. Take a trip into the fanciful, if you dare, and if not, I hope you were entertained by this article. Presented by Vacation Rick Travel.

Sullivan's Island, SC-History and a Sandy Beach

Sullivan’s Island is a barrier island north of Charleston Harbor. The island was called O'Sullivan's Island prior because of Captain Florence O'Sullivan, who was stationed there as a lighthouse keeper in the late seventeenth century. The Town of Sullivan’s Island was formed when Atlanticville, a community on the north-east of the islands, and Moultrieville, located on the south-west half of the island, merged. Moultrieville was incorporated in 1817.

The history of the island has been dominated by Fort Moultrie, previously named Fort Sullivan during the American Revolution where a major battle was fought on June 28, 1776. The fort is now closed, but you can tour the remains and learn of its history. The remains of the Civil War sub the Hunley, which was the first submarine in history to sink an enemy ship, was discovered over 3.5 miles off the island’s shore.

The famous writer Edgar Allen Poe was stationed at Fort Moultrie from November 1827 to December 1828. His now famous short story “The Gold Bug” uses Sullivan’s Island as its setting for most of the story. You should pick it up sometime and read it. You can visit Poe’s Tavern near the Town of Sullivan’s Island where you will learn about his time there and enjoy an excellent meal too.

There are no hotels or motels on the island itself, but there are plenty of beautiful ocean front vacation rentals to choose from. The Isle of Palms is close by and has motels, resorts, and vacation rentals for your convienence and pleasure. In addition, the beautiful historic city of Charleston is across the Ben Sawyer Bridge and down the road where there are numerous places for you to stay. Plenty of sandy beaches, water activity, golf, shopping, and history to keep you pleasantly occupied for the duration of your visit. Vacation Rick Travel Charleston