Discovering the Hidden Gem of Florida: Caladesi Island State Park

With 3 miles of untouched white sandy beaches, it’s easy to see why Caladesi Island consistently ranks as one of America’s top beaches.  It’s a great place for shelling, hiking the trails, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, or just lying on the beach.

The island is accessible by only by private boat, ferry, or a mile long walk from Clearwater beach.

The Caladesi Island Ferry is located within the Honeymoon Island State park. You will pay an entry fee for the park and then another fee for the ferry.

The ferry will dock on the bay side and then you will take about a 10 minute walk to the beach.

We took the ferry, but I have been told that you can walk from Clearwater Beach. It is about a mile north of Pier 60.

The Bay side

Tips for the trip:

1. Take a bag for all of your beach treasures. You can find a variety of shells, starfish, sea urchins, sand dollars, coral, and sponges.
2. Go early in the morning to get the best shells.
3. There is a store on the island to get food, drinks, and other things you may need, but it is quite a walk from the beach area. I would suggest carrying your own food and drink or purchase something from the store before heading to the beach.

Happy Travels! 

Sunset Celebration (Mallory Square) Key West, Florida

A nightly ritual to gather at Mallory Square Dock to celebrate the sunset has been a long standing tradition in Key West.

Mallory Square is located at 400 Wall Street.

It is situated on the waterfront in Key West's historic downtown area, adjacent to the cruise ship port.

About two hours before sunset, the crowd begins gathering at the water's edge to watch street performers

listen to musicians

and wandering along looking at crafts made by local artisans.

You can even find out what your future holds if so inclined.

Some of the performers entertain simply by just being there, while others are very talkative and quite the comedians.

I don't remember this guy's name, but he was so funny and pull the audience in on his act.

The Cat Man (Dominique LeFort) has been a part of the celebration for many years. It is amazing to see how much he cares for his cats and what he can get them to do!

In addition to all of the entertainment and beautiful surroundings, there are huge sailboats cursing around the area!

Unfortunately, it was cloudy the night we were there, but it was still a pretty sunset.

The Sunset Celebration is a big part of Key West and a definite must do! There is no fee to enter the celebration, but you will have to pay for parking if you are not staying near by.

Happy Travels! 

Aruba - A Caribbean Island Paradise

Carnival Cruise

Port : Aruba

I have lost most of the photos that I took in Aruba, (sad face) but I will do the best that I can with what is left...

For our Aruba stop, we purchased a day pass to the Occidental Grand Aruba Resort. It is a five star all-inclusive resort.

A tropical paradise is the only way to describe the resort.

At the center of the resort is a large lagoon style pool with a swim-up bar. Two hot tubs are located on an island in the pool.

The swim-up to bar makes amazing banana and mango coladas! And they are included in the day pass! 

The girls had fun playing with the large chess set.

The resort has two tennis courts.

Kayaks are included in the all day pass.

Lizards were everywhere around the pool.

White sand, palm trees, and turquoise water.....paradise!

A beach walk stretches along the beach with little shops, places to eat, and other resorts along the way.

This cute little store was the perfect place to get some ice cream.

The Desire is one of the 6 restaurants located at the Occidental.

The front lobby makes for a very elegant entrance.

We enjoyed our day at the resort. We lounged by the pool, snorkeled, kayaked, and played tennis, and chess.

I wish that you could have seen my best pictures, but you can tell that it was a beautiful place anyway!

Happy Travels! 

Experience the Caribbean island of Curacao

Carnival Cruise

Port: Curacao 

The most popular thing to do at this port is to walk into the nearby downtown area of Willemstad.

The Queen Emma Bridge  pontoon bridge connects the Punda and Otrobanda quarters of the capital city, Willemstad.

I always love looking through the street vendor booths for items unique to the area.

I purchased a painting  of the downtown area of Curacao. The artist was friendly and posed proudly with her work.

The floating market was stocked with amazing looking fresh fruit! I would love to have something like this at home!

A beautiful stroll through the color buildings.

The clothing was very unique in some of the stores.

Most of the stores carry a variety of items. You might find clothing, wrapping paper, home decor, and food all in one store.

I have to say that I was impressed with the McDonald's. It was very modern and clean. It was one of the few places that we found with free WiFi.

The local police are friendly and on constant patrol.

A view from the ship.

Overall, I just really was not impressed with the downtown area. It was interesting to see, but I wish we had have taken an excursion to see some of the beaches or other areas. Maybe one day I will get back there and see the rest of the island.

Happy Travels! 

A Day Trip to Saona Island from La Romana with Pro Excursions

When stopping at La Romana, Dominican Republic on your Carnival Cruise, taking an excursion to Saona Island is a must-do activity. Although shopping and exploring the port area might not be as desirable, the island is a tropical paradise worth visiting.

We chose to book our excursion with Pro Excursions, located in Bayahide. After being picked up from the port, we enjoyed a bumpy boat ride to the island while admiring the stunning views.

The highlight of our trip was a snorkeling adventure near some old bridge pilings. The crystal-clear waters, white sand, and palm trees surrounding the island made it a truly breathtaking experience. It's no wonder that many movies, including Pirates of the Caribbean and The Blue Lagoon, were filmed on Saona Island.

During our visit, we were treated to authentic Dominican cuisine under a huge palm-roofed shelter. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was perfect for a tropical island getaway.

On the way back, we made a stop at the Natural Pool, a 5-mile wide area that's only 3 feet deep and home to an abundance of starfish. It was a unique and memorable experience that we won't forget.

The rum!

If you're considering taking an excursion to Saona Island, we highly recommend booking with Pro Excursions. It's a fantastic way to experience the beauty and culture of the Dominican Republic. Just remember to wear mosquito repellent and have fun!

Enjoy You Visit!