Flats Fishing For Kids

When in Florida, you've got to go fishing. There is nothing more relaxing than throwing a line in the water and there's nothing more exciting than when a fish hits your bait and you start reeling!

Kids love fishing but if you've been hesitant to take them out in a boat, flats fishing may be your ideal solution. Flats-fishing is perfect for children of all ages: The water’s shallow; there’s plenty of marine life to spy and action on the rods keeps boredom at bay.

Where to go:

Destin

Nicknamed the “world’s luckiest fishing village,” Destin offers everything from speckled trout on the flats to cobia near shore. Do “hook & cook” at Fisherman’s Wharf (bring your catch; they’ll cook it). Nothing better than fresh fish you’ve caught yourself!

Everglades City

On the west coast of Florida, about 35 miles from Naples, you’ll find the stone crab capital of the world! But you’ll also find amazing fishing on winding creeks choked full of redfish, trout, snapper, and more. The scenery is Old Florida and fabulous. Stay in the cabins at Miller’s World and walk across the street to Everglades National Park.

Florida Keys

From Key Largo to Key West, flats fishing here is not only a thrill, it’s educational – and it’s year round.  Glide along the mangroves and keep your eyes open for rays and manatees. Hook & cook at Hog Heaven in Islamorada, or most any restaurant in the Keys.

Fort Myers Beach

Kids will love reeling in catfish, ladyfish, snapper, redfish…and bottlenose dolphin are known to swim right up to the boat to say hello in Estero Bay. They’ll even play in the wake of the boat. Camera ready!

St. Augustine

Discover something new in the nation’s oldest city! Kids will love looking for creatures above and below the water (which is generally only 8 inches to 5 feet deep on the flats). What a great city to explore on land and by sea.

Stuart

The areas of Fort Pierce, Stuart, Jensen Beach and Jupiter are synonymous with some of the world's best inshore flats fishing, every month of the year. Hook up with trout, snook and redfish on the grassy flats. 

Tampa

Did you know that Tampa Bay is one of the country's largest estuaries? It’s not only excellent for flats fishing, you just might spot bobcats walking the mangrove shores or manatees surfacing for air. There is so much see here, your kids will love it, and so will you.

Girls Gone Fishing! Captain Pip's Hideaway, Marathon

My girlfriend Michele is a fishing fanatic. Her husband? Not so much. And he’s always working so she never gets to fish. Well my friend, I have the answer to your dilemma. A Girls’ Gone Fishing Weekend at Captain Pip’s Marina & Hideaway in Marathon.

Captain Pip’s has guest rooms, efficiencies, and one- and two-bedroom suites (12 in total) and they’re nestled right on the bay in the beautiful Florida Keys. Each unit has a private backyard with bbq grills, chairs, loungers and gorgeous views of the bay. But here’s where it gets really good – when you rent a room, included in the price, is the use of a 19' to 21' guest boat. You even have the option of keeping your guest boat right behind your unit, at your own dock. Or just next door at the marina. Does it get any better than that? Yes, it does.

If you’re not handy with a boat but love to fish like Michele and I, Captain Pip’s has charter boat rentals and guides who will take you fishing. Check out this Three Day Budget Getaway, perfect for a girls’ weekend, moms’ getaway or single moms to take their kids out on the water:

Three-Day Budget Getaway includes:

• Three nights of first-class lodging at Captain Pip’s Marina & Hideway
• Two full days of fishing with a guide
• Upgrade to a pro series boat rental
• Bait
• Ice
• Fuel

The cost is only $1,385 for 1-2 people and $1,785 for 3-4 people. Now, do the math and divide that up and you’ve got an affordable, unforgettable weekend on the water! (Additional costs would be what you’d expect, like sales tax, $17 fishing license fee, food, drinks and customary 20% tip for your hard-working guide. Don't be chintzy!)

The rooms here are super clean, comfy, and come with beach towels, a cooler, drink coolie cups to use, a full size refrigerator, and either partial kitchen or full kitchen facilities. And Captain Pip’s lives up to its name, it’s a hideaway that you can’t even see from the main road (US1). The buildings are shaded and hidden in lush greenery, flowers and trees. And if you like BBQ, Porkie’s is literally a few steps away, on the water, featuring live entertainment each day, good food and cold drinks.

Captain Pip’s is even the recipient of the Superior Small Lodging White Glove Award so you can feel comfortable coming here with just the girls or your kids. They have other fishing and lodging packages as well, just log on to their website for more info, or call Barbara at 305-743-2844 or 1-800-707-1692. She’ll hook you up.

See you there. Michele, start packing!

Grown Up Getaways In Kissimmee

Daytime sun. Nighttime fun. Kissimmee’s not just a destination to enjoy with kids. It’s one very big playground for adults. No matter what your activity level, or your budget, pack up your sweetheart and head to Central Florida for a grown-up getaway.

Early risers

Lake Tohopekaliga (Lake Toho for short), is an 18,800-acre lake with waters that are clear and views that are inspiring. Pack a picnic (or bring a dozen Hot Now Krispy Kreme doughnuts) and watch the sunrise.

Need for speed

Want to see Lake Toho from a completely different perspective? Get off the shore and get onboard an airboat. Hold hands as you glide across the water at speeds of nearly 50 mph.

Sun worshippers

No need to leave Central Florida to find a beach, there’s one right here, at the St. Cloud Lakefront. Lie in the clean white sand, relax in a lounge chair by the water, or bike along the shores. Rekindle that flame and share a dream for every different species of bird you see (and you’ll see plenty).

Nighttime thrills

What’s better than zipping a ½ mile across the treetops, 55 feet off the ground? I'll tell you what - doing it in the dark, baby. At Forever Florida, you’ll see more stars that you ever imagined as you zip in the darkness. Feeling really brave? Gatorland takes ziplining to new heights with their Eco-Zip line. Whiz right above their jumping Cuban crocodiles (um, no thanks, I'm not brave at all)!

Need more thrills and chills? Try a nighttime airboat adventure. With eyes that glow red in the dark, you can easily spot alligators – everywhere. Green eyes are deer. Great excuse to hold on tight to the one you love, or the one you're with.

Foodies rejoice

Central Florida is home to some of the best restaurants in the country. Toast your good fortune at Charley’s Steakhouse, rated one of the top ten Prime Time steakhouses in America. Their beef is aged onsite 4-6 weeks, seasoned to perfection for 30 hours then grilled over a 1200˚ open pit filled with oak and Florida citrus wood. You’ll find them in Kissimmee, right across from Celebration, on US192.

Bull & Bear® is legendary in Manhattan and now you can dine here - at the Waldorf Astoria. This is the only restaurant in Orlando that exclusively serves USDA-Certified Angus Beef®, the highest quality grade available in the United States. (Rumor has it they do an amazing presentation with steak knives that are custom to the temperature your steak is served.)

At the Gaylord Palms, you’ll find several fine restaurants in the most romantic settings, but none like Sunset Sam’s. Step aboard a 60’sailboat, anchored in a beautiful lagoon – all underneath a 4-acre atrium. You will not believe it when you see it. Gaylord Palms is amazing and so are their restaurants.

Got a hankering for something different, and delicious? The Columbia Restaurant is Florida’s oldest and most honored Spanish restaurant, serving authentic cuisine since 1905. Their Celebration location overlooks the lake and serves up traditional favorites like tapas and Paella a la Valencia. There is also a location in St. Augustine.

For a delightful after-dinner treat, stroll along the shops of Downtown Celebration, stopping at Kilwin’s for homemade ice cream and chocolates. And just when you thought you couldn’t possibly earn any more brownie points for being romantic, along comes your horse-drawn carriage. Friday through Sunday evenings, from 6 p.m. till 10 p.m., enjoy the soothing sounds of the clippity clop as the horses make their way up

Celebration Avenue

. You’ll definitely fall in love, with Kissimmee.

Food Tours in Florida: Foodies Rejoice!

Got a family of “Foodies?” Check out these family friendly food tours around the state that you can really sink your teeth into.

Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory, Daytona Beach

Is there anything better than free chocolate? How about a free chocolate tour? Since 1925, Angell & Phelps has been making luscious candy & chocolate the old-fashioned way. Tours are about 30 minutes followed by a tasty, chocolaty reward. Tour times are Monday-Saturday, on the hour from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m., excluding noon.

Whetstone Chocolate Factory, St. Augustine

Chocolate Tasting or Chocolate Indulgence? Two tours to choose from, both offering euphoric results. Chocolate Tasting is 50 minutes of white, dark, milk, cream chocolates and truffles mixed with intriguing history. For true chocoholics, Indulgence is 90 minutes and you’ll make your own chocolate bar and a chef will prepare chocolaty drinks and treats for you.

Chalet Suzanne, Lake Wales

A soup cannery may not sound “souper” fun, but the creations at this beloved restaurant and inn are out of this world. In fact, this soup went to the moon with Apollo 15, and into space with Apollo 16. The Smithsonian even carries their “Moon Soup” (as it’s nicknamed). Upon entering, belly up to the crock pots to taste scrumptious selections. Their #1 soup man, Taysser, will then tour you for free and show you how 10,000 cans a week are produced. Soup is available for purchase by can or case, along with “I got canned at Chalet Suzanne” t-shirts.

Miami Culinary Tours

Finally, food tours in the culinary melting pot of Miami! And they’re entertaining, educational and appetizing. On their Little Havana tour, small groups are escorted around the area of “Calle Ocho” to savor authentic dishes from Cuba at mom-and-pop locales. Try traditional, freshly made favorites like fried plantains, yucca, empanadas…plus desserts and drinks. The cost is $55/person, food included, and you’ll even receive a goodie bag.

Kermit’s Key Lime Shop, Key West

This corner shop (which you may have seen on the Today Show, FoodTV and Travel Channel) is home to award-winning key lime pie, cookies, candies, sauces, dips and Kermit – who loves enlightening his guests about everything key lime. Come visit his charming corner shop, sample, and delight in his tales. Then relax in the outside garden. Be careful as Kermit is famous for pie-in-the-face antics. He loves to surprise unsuspecting passerbys with a fake pie. Gets me every time.

That's Kermit. Be sure to say hello and duck!

Florida's Most Romantic Escape

I had wanted to come here my entire adult life. Honestly, I just couldn't afford it. Then fate stepped in and I was invited. Life is good, my friend. And it's even better now that I've experienced this secluded, romantic and awe-inspiring island.

Little Palm Island. Remember the name. This place will seriously change your life for the better. First, let me tell you this – the only way to get there is either by boat or seaplane. And that is just the beginning of your exemplary, romantic journey.

Little Palm Island is a five-acre islet off the Lower Keys that has everything you could wish for in a romantic getaway: thatched-roof bungalows (like you see in Fiji brochures), exquisite dining by the sea (with your feet in the sand if you like), remarkable ocean views, wandering key deer, lush trails that meander, oodles of privacy and unmatched five-star service. You will, undoubtedly, think you have discovered the most romantic spot on Earth, and I think you’d be right.

No telephones. No TVs. No distractions. There is truly nothing like it.

If you were here in person listening to me rave about Little Palm Island, you would definitely see my eyes light up as I describe the tropical, thatched roof bungalows. There are only 30 on the island. Each offers plenty of room with a king-sized bed (draped in butterfly netting), a separate living room, indoor and outdoor showers, and a private verandah. The outside shower is splendid! You can see the stars at night as the water washes over you. Divine!

Since I tend to talk with my hands when I’m excited, you’d probably have to duck a few times as I’d definitely be excited as I told you about the key deer that roam freely, grazing on flowers. Michael and I would admire these dainty creatures late each afternoon, as they gingerly walked right below our verandah (where we’d share coffee each morning in our plush robes). The key deer would also wander onto the tranquil pool deck where we’d lie in comfy chaise loungers beneath the rustling palm fronds.

Ready to pack up and head to Little Palm Island? Here’s how to get here: Drive south to Mile Marker 28.5 in the Lower Florida Keys and there you’ll find Little Palm Island’s Welcome Station, oceanside.  Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted with a Gumby Slumber, a refreshing cocktail with a kick, made with fresh juices, topped with toasted coconut. Delish. The attentive bellman will take care of your luggage (pack light, as you won’t need much on an island). Then, each hour (on the bottom of the hour) you can board a shuttle launch for a twenty-minute boat ride to this hidden paradise.  Keep an eye open for dolphins as they love to play in the wake of the boat.

Now, as you arrive, take a moment to realize where you are. On an island! You’re certain to already be impressed, but now you’ll be escorted to your bungalow and given a quick tour along the way so you can find the facilities: a spa, fitness room, restaurant, pool bar, salon, marina, life-size chess set, the game room, and the phone booth.

Forget counting calories. You’ll savor every bite.

The restaurant at Little Palm Island offers an array of fresh, succulent ingredients for every meal. How about Crab Cakes Benedict in the morning? Or, perfectly cooked, local spiny lobster tails in the evening? Each course is a masterpiece of presentation and taste, and the fact that your table is merely inches from the water, and your toes are in the sand, well, that just adds to the surreal experience.

Do it all or nothing at all.

As you’re on an island, dive trips are an easy excursion. They’ll arrange everything for your excursion to Looe Key, a barrier reef teeming with vibrant marine life. You can also use their kayaks for free or a 13’ Boston Whaler. Just be back before sunset. And you’ll want to be back because watching that magnificent, orange, glowing ball slowly sink into the water (from an islet!), will render you speechless.

Do yourself, and the one you love, a big favor and plan the most romantic escape of your life to Little Palm Island. No kids are allowed so line up a sitter for at least two nights. And bring a box of Kleenex because when it’s time to board the shuttle launch back to reality, you will cry! Or, just do like I did, and extend your stay a little longer.

It’s true what they say, "Once you sleep on an island, you’ll never be the same.” You’ll see.

Our view from breakfast. Seriously, it was THAT spectacular. My blood pressure lessens just looking at this photo.

JJ's Big Chill, Key Largo

I have a new favorite restaurant in Key Largo, JJ’s Big Chill. Owned by former NFL coach, Jimmy Johnson, this place is worth the visit.

On one end is a sports bar with numerous flat screen TVs and small area with video games. Then there’s an inside bar area, an inside dining area, an outside dining area (on the deck), a huge tiki bar, and on the far end is a swimming pool. Purchase $10 in food and you’re welcome to swim. There are also several cabanas that you can rent for $150 for the entire day. And did I mention, it’s waterfront? Yes, you can sit inside or out, right on the shimmering Florida Bay, and endlessly gaze at sailboats, soaring birds, and parasailing bravehearts.

Appetizers
The first item we had to try was Tuna Nachos. At $13, I hoped they’d be spectacular. They were! Mounds of crispy wonton chips, heaped into an over-sized bowl, topped with freshly chopped, sushi-grade, barely seared tuna, noodle-y strips of seaweed (wakame) salad, and drizzled with a not-too-spicy wasabi sauce. Wow. A heavenly explosion of textures and flavors, indeed. You will crave these in your sleep.
They have a brick oven on premises for pizza and calzones but it also happens to aid in their delightful offering of brick-oven roasted chicken wings. Forget blue cheese and wing sauce, these crispy morsels are smothered in sauteed onions, garlic and rosemary. And they’ll make you give back things you never stole. Mmm. Mmm.

We also tried the fried shrimp, parmesan crusted snapper, slider burgers and several side dishes like Asian fried green beans and mashed sweet potatoes - all were generous portions and quite good.

Just Desserts
I’d like to be best friends with their pasty chef. The Ultimate Crusted Key Lime Pie and the Macadamia White Chocolate Cheesecake were so good, I’d drive to Key Largo just to get a slice, or two. And don’t get me started on the Apple Cobbler.

Yes, you will find me at JJ’s Big Chill often. I’m addicted. And the man himself was there. I happily ogled from a distance, as I enjoyed every last crumb of my ultimate-crusted key lime pie.

Shiver's BBQ, Homestead, Florida

I love BBQ. All kinds. Dry rub from Memphis, wet in Kansas City, smoked in Austin, tangy in the Carolinas…I’m an enthusiastic connoisseur. BBQ gets me excited. I love when the distinctive scent of hickory blasts my olfactoy as I  enter an establishment. My mouth begins to water, my tummy rumbles, and my willpower fades into thin air like the thick smoke from the roof vents.

 

This Is Shiver’s
I always get that excited feeling when I pull into the parking lot of Shiver’s BBQ in Homestead, Florida. Shiver’s is an institution, and can boast that they’ve been serving customers for over 50 years. Best of all, it’s consistently good. Their baby back ribs always fall off the bone. Their brisket is always fall-apart tender. And the collard greens are the best. Period.

A Diverse Menu
Chicken, ribs, pork, catfish, brisket, prime rib, burgers…all cooked over a hickory fire - and served up with your choice of two sides. And there are lots of sides to choose from. Those famous collards, sweet potato fries, black eyed peas, mashed potatoes, hush puppies (the really cripsy old fashioned kind), garlic toast, green beans, corn or sweet potato souffle. What more could a girl ask for?

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
It will be hard to save room after all that succulence, but try, because the desserts are actually worth the calories. My boys (6 & 12) love the fried cheesecake. I’m partial to peach cobbler, pumpkin cobbler (in season), and the strawberry shortcake.

Next time you’re traveling through South Florida, perhaps on your way to the beautiful Florida Keys, stop in to Shiver’s on US1 and SW 280th Street. You can’t miss it, it looks like an old cabin home with a little neon in the window. Owners Perry and Martha will probably be there to say hello.

Cantina Beach, Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne

Cantina Beach is Miami’s only oceanfront Mexican restaurant. And if the seaside location isn’t impressive enough, just wait till you sink your teeth into any of Chef Andres Parlange’s authentic creations.
First you should know that Chef Andres is a native of Chiapas, Mexico. You’ll probably see him greeting guests beneath the enormous thatched-roof palapa, passionately explaining the history of each dish and which fresh ingredients he incorporated. Delightful, indeed. (It’s no wonder that Catherine Zeta Jones scooped him up to be her personal chef for three months while making  a movie. Smart girl.)

Guacamole Made Tableside
If you’re a fan of freshly made guacamole, layered with flavors, and just the right amount of chunkiness, run to Cantina Beach and have a seat. Skilled hands use knives and forks to create bowls of heavenly goodness right before your eyes. Choose traditional Guacamole made with avocados, lime, tomato, red onion, cilantro and jalapeno. Or, treat your taste buds to Guacamole Con Mango or their Guacamole Con Chicharron. with pineapple and crispy bits of pork skin. Delish.

Appetizers (una maravilla!)
Three words: Flight of Ceviches. Shrimp, Snapper and Octopus are presented on a rectangular plate, perfect for sharing, or keeping all for yourself ($18). Simple yet exploding with freshness. The octopus is remarkable.

Tostadas De Cochinita Pibil (love the name!) are crispy morsels stuffed with Yucatan-style, pit bar-be-qued pork laced with pickled red onions ($14). And their Mini Crab Crispy Tacos topped with avocado salsa are a seafood lover’s dream $18).

Main Events
One of Chef Andres’ signature dishes is Cazuela De Mariscos ($34). Fresh Florida seafood (like grouper, shrimp and calamari) braised ever-so-gently with chipotle, onions and garlic. You will lick your fingers and the bowl.

And as much my lips loved all of the above-mentioned dishes, what really knocked my socks off were the Carnitas De Cerdo ($18). Imagine, slowly braised pork ribs that fall off the bone, so juicy, so tender…now, take a fresh, warm corn tortilla, wrap it around your pork rib, and gently pull. In one hand will be the pork bone, and in the other, a corn tortilla loaded with braised pork, ready to top with salsa verde. Oh my.
Cantina Beach offers a well-rounded menu that includes daily specialty items native to regions throughout Mexico, so even if you have friends who swear they don’t like Mexican food, I bet Cantina Beach will convert them to our equipo.

The Country’s First Tequilier
Tequila fans. listen up, rather, listen to Heriberto Ovideo. He’s the master Tequilier. Just as a wine sommelier knows about grapes, Heriberto knows about Agave, from white to golden and everything in between. So forget what you know about salt and lime, let Heriberto enlighten you about the 85+ premium Agave tequilas offered at Cantina Beach. “Tequila is actually a very sophisticated spirit and I enjoy…providing recommendations on how to best enjoy it.” Um, I thoroughly enjoyed being enlightened by Heriberto - and the tequila was good, too…

Oceanfront and Oh-So-Fabulous
Cantina Beach is one of those quintessential South Florida locations. It has wonderful sea breezes, sun, sand, surf and oh yeah, IT’S ON THE OCEAN. You will love sitting around the firepit, soaking in the views, before or after your meal.

If you’re looking for the perfect place to impress out-of-town guests or clients, think Cantina Beach at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. For more info, call 305-365-4286.



Cantina Beach, Miami’s only oceanfront Mexican restaurant, Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne.



Chef Andres Parlange, Chef de Cuisine at Cantina Beach, Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne



Pork Carnitas at Cantina Beach, Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne



Heriberto Oviedo, the authoritative voice on all things Tequila.

Hideaway Cafe, Marathon, Florida

The Hideaway Café is appropriately named. If you didn’t know it was there, you definitely wouldn’t spot it from the road, and you certainly wouldn’t see their sign. But let me tell you, it’s worth finding.

Tucked away on the second floor of the Rainbow Bend Resort on Grassy Key (mile marker 58 oceanside in the Florida Keys), Hideaway Café serves breakfast and dinner to lucky hotel guests and to those-in-the-know. I discovered it by asking some locals where to eat while I was staying at Hawk’s Cay Resort.

As you park, you’ll be wondering, “Is this right?” Rest assured, if you’re in the parking of Rainbow Bend, you’ve arrived. Then, as you trek up the concrete steps, you will surely think this is a dive, but you’ll be wrong. Small, yes. Unassuming, yes. Fab food and oceanfront views? Oh, yes. And the staff greets you like you’re a long, lost relative; they’re very happy to see you. Upon being seated inside (in air-conditioned comfort), or on the jalousie-window enclosed patio with faint sea breezes, you’ll be given a basket of warm, French bread.

Settle in. Have a look around. You’ll see Keys-casually dressed couples sitting comfortably at white linen clothed tables, sipping wine by candlelight. It’s a welcoming sight. Now, peruse the menu and you’ll find a good variety of fresh seafood dishes, pasta, chicken and beef. You’ll also find some unexpected choices (for a little place in the Keys), like delightful French Onion Soup ($8). My favorite appetizer is the escargot, but think way outside the familiar flat dish with little individual butter pools for each snail. I’m talking Escargot á la Edison ($9). These tender delights are cognac-flamed then arranged beautifully on a plate with creamy cognac, garlic, and pepper cream sauce - and perfectly julienned vegetables. So tasty and full of flavor, you’ll be tempted to order a second plate.

Main courses include a plethora of local seafood from lobster to hogfish. You’ll also find standout dishes, like Roasted Whole Duck á la Hideaway ($29), Full Rack of Lamb with herb coating ($32), and amazingly tender and flavorful aged steaks. As a Libra, I find it extremely difficult to decide. Ever time. Luckily, the waiters are always eager to offer their expert recommendations.

One of my favs is the Hideaway Seafood Special ($28). It’s their catch of the day (hogfish many times), sautéed francaise style and topped with large shrimp and sea scallops. Divine. Seafood Puttanesca is another winner ($26).

Now, about those steaks…they age their own, and the chef’s special is the nearly two-pound Rib Steak. You’ll also find Chateaubriand, NY Strip, and you will love the Filet Medallions á la Beurre Noir. Filet slices flambéed with cognac and garlic ($28). You just can’t go wrong. And forget everything being a la carte! Entrees include choice of house or Cesar salad, potato, and vegetable of the day (think broccoli with hollandaise or green beans with tomatoes).

If you saved room for dessert, treat yourself to either the Bananas Foster or their homemade cheesecake. Sigh.

Hideaway Café does offer a kids menu, although I’d rather NOT have my kids in tow at this romantic of a place, but it’s nice to know that they do, in case you absolutely have to ($9-$10). That reminds me, they have beer and wine!

So, next time you’re looking for a romantic spot to dine that’s off the beaten path, FIND the Hideaway Café. Reservations are highly recommended. Call 305-289-1554.