Archive for July, 2011

Summer in CW Florida

Sunday, July 31st, 2011
Salvador Dali Museum Bench

The Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida

Summer in Central West Florida means splashing in cool waters, boating in Tampa Bay, and lounging on the beaches of Sarasota. It means escaping the heat in cool museums: the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, the Ringling Museum of Sarasota, and the Tampa Museum of Art.

Summer in Florida means lingering over dinners in such restaurants as: St. Petersburg’s Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant, where pitchers of sangria accompany live flamenco; Restaurant BT in Tampa, home to perhaps the most innovative (and delicious) Vietnamese cuisine in the country; and Café L’Europe in Sarasota, featuring elegant French, Caribbean, and Spanish fare.

Guests of Central West Florida Bed and Breakfasts take advantage of all these places and activities, and more. They also enjoy their luxurious accommodations. The Stanford Inn, a Bartow Florida Bed and Breakfast, boasts a heavenly wrap-around porch that is the perfect place to enjoy a gourmet 3 course breakfast, read a book, or converse over a glass of wine.

If you hope to find a place to relax during your Central West Florida Vacation, stay in a Florida Bed and Breakfast.

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Historic Cocoa Village

Monday, July 25th, 2011
Cocoa Village, Cocoa, Florida

Picturesque Cocoa Village.

Historic Cocoa Village sits on the Indian River, across the river from the more well known Cocoa Beach. The village is a destination unto itself. Whether you are staying at a Cocoa Beach Florida Bed and Breakfast, an Orlando Florida Bed and Breakfast, or simply traveling along the east coast of Florida, consider spending and afternoon and evening in Cocoa Village.

It isn’t large, but Cocoa Village is home to more than 50 boutiques and shops. Most are located along Brevard Avenue and Harrison Street, so it’s easy to explore them all on foot. In addition to clothing shops and gift/souvenir boutiques, there are a number of respectable antique shops and art galleries.

BadBirds Gallery displays the work of several contemporary local artists and artisans, as well as antique art. Browse Miss Bailey’s Antiques, Stone Street Antiques, and the unique Horse Feathers Antiques. Antiques & Collectibles Too has a little of everything, as does the Cocoa Antique Mall. All these shops are close to the Riverfront Park, a good spot to sit in the shade when you need to rest.

Cocoa Village is also home to many restaurants, both fine-dining and casual. You can enjoy a piece of pizza and homemade ice-cream in your shorts, or dress up and dine in elegance.

  • Café Margaux features creative French and European Cuisine.
  • Murdock’s Bistro and Char Bar has tasty BBQ pork and live music several nights a week.
  • Cara Mia offers fresh Italian food and lovely views of the Indian River.
  • Brasas Grill is a Brazilian Steak-House Churascaria with hearty meats and flavorful sides.
  • Black Tulip is a wonderful spot for a romantic evening.

Cocoa Village is worth a look, so much so that it may be worth lodging in a nearby Florida Bed and Breakfast so you can explore it at your leisure.

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Paddle Estero Bay

Friday, July 15th, 2011

Estero Bay is a large aquatic preserve south of Fort Myers, in Southwest Florida. The long, shallow waters are clean and clear, making it an ideal place to paddle. Mangrove islands dot the waters, providing habitat for manatee, dolphins, and numerous species of birds. Plan to visit Estero Bay the next time you stay in a Southwest Florida Bed and Breakfast.

The Great Calusa Blueway is a 190-mile long paddling trail in Southwest Florida, and the section through Estero Bay is ideal for experienced and novice paddlers alike.

Estero Bay thrills and delights its visitors. Explore the maze-like mangrove tunnels of Hell Peckney Bay and take moonlight paddles along the Imperial River. Picnic on the beach at Lovers Key State Park and enjoy a drink overlooking the bay at Flippers Grill. You can rough it or indulge in luxury when paddling Estero Bay.

It would be impossible to experience all Estero Bay has to offer in just one day; travelers who lodge at nearby Southwest Florida Bed and Breakfasts in Cape Coral or Bokeelia will have ample time to explore the many cultural, historical, and natural attractions of Estero Bay.

Estero Bay Historic Attractions:

  • Koreshan State Historic Site: location of a former utopian society.
  • Mound House: a Calusa Native American site, and the oldest home in the area.
  • Mound Key: an island with large shell middens.


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The Best of Loxahatchee Florida

Thursday, July 7th, 2011
Grand Prix Show Jumping, WEF

The WEF in Wellington, Florida.

Wellington and Loxahatchee Groves, Florida, are well known internationally as superlative equestrian areas, and with good reason. The largest horse show in the world – the Winter Equestrian Festival – is held annually in Wellington mid January through March or early April. Additional equestrian events are held throughout the year.

Nearly 60 miles of equestrian trails traverse the area – another reason  Wellington and Loxahatchee Groves Florida Bed and Breakfasts are a destination for folks who enjoy horseback riding. Some Loxahatchee Groves Florida Bed and Breakfasts allow guests to bring their own horses – and the horses lodge as luxuriantly as their owners. Folks bring their horses for equestrian events, then linger to explore miles of trails.

Eventually, even the most dedicated equestrian eventually craves another activity. Loxahatchee Groves and Wellington are close to West Palm Beach, an area rich in culture, the arts. After a morning or full day of riding, a short drive to West Palm Beach brings the ocean and a plethora of cultural activities. Norton Museum of Art currently offers exhibits about Altered States, Photographs, and Eternal China: Tales from the Crypt. The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts brings such big names as Bryan Adams, regional concert series, and more. And West Palm Beach offers restaurants galore.

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