Topic: Travel

This week’s Road Trip takes you just north of the county line to a little place known as Ft Lauderdale. Contrary to popular belief, the city is not named after a certain ubiquitous newscaster, but instead got its moniker from a series of forts built during the second Seminole war. That, however, was ages ago. Today the residents of Ft Lauderdale and the Seminole Tribes of Florida coexist harmoniously. It’s a good thing too. We're pretty sure dad is going to enjoy playing a little bit of poker at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. If you feel gambling and nightlife are vices you can do without, there’s still plenty to do and the highlights are listed below. Road Trip’s favorite? Well, let’s just say you can drive right up to it, check it out.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino:Try your luck at this casino that serves as the centerpiece of a vast entertainment pavilion those features nightclubs, shops and restaurants. The hotel also boasts a crazy little pool party on Sundays that is nice respite from the heat.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino: 1 Seminole Way, Ft Lauderdale; 954-327-7625; seminolehardrockhollywood.com

IMAX Theater: Imagine seeing Superman and he’s the size of a five-story building. Just don the ridiculous 3-D glasses and get ready to experience a virtual reality scenario where the characters literally fly off the screen.
IMAX Theater: 401 SW 2nd St, Fort Lauderdale, 954-467-6637; mods.org.

Swap Shop: This is the place for the kids. Open seven days a week this market place is much more than just a place to shop. There’s a 14-screen drive-in theatre, amusement park rides and of course, stores, stores and more stores. Did we mention the circus?
Swap Shop: 3501 W Sunrise Blvd, Ft Lauderdale; 954-791-7927; floridaswapshop.com.

Las Olas Blvd: This place is very reminiscent of South Beach. Right on the water, the street is just littered with bar after bar. A little less international than the streets of SoBe, expect to find this entertainment district buzzing with restaurants, nightclubs, and party people till the wee hours of the morning. It’s also the best place to just lie out on the sand with a rumrunner or two.
Las Olas Blvd: Las Olas Blvd. and SE 3rd Ave, Ft Lauderdale; 954-937-7386; lasolasboulevard.com.

Bonnet House Museum & Gardens: This is the best place to indulge in scenic beauty. Walk the lush gardens and contemplate the fact that it is very likely you are walking the same path as Tequesta Indians, early European settlers, or the shipwrecked sailors of yesteryear.
Bonnet House Museum & Gardens: 900 North Birch Road, Ft. Lauderdale; 954-563-5393; bonnethouse.org.

The freedom of the open road – wind in your hair, sun on your back and 50cc’s of pure scooter power between your legs. While it may not bring you “biker” status, these little beauties are revered on the Beach.

Rightfully so, what better way to get around quickly, avoid high gas prices, defy traffic laws, and invent your own parking spaces? Here’s our guide on where to score your very own scooter.

Cubi-K Scooters, 7341 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-867-2834;
www.cubikscooters.com.

Hot Scooter Rental & Bicycles, 2910 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale; 954-564-2155; hotscooterrental.com.

Miami Scooter Rental Corp, 1700 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-538-1722.

Scooters, 2935 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-534-7433; www.starscoots.com.

Scooters South Beach, (2 Locations) 2445 Collins Ave. & 215 6th St., Miami Beach; 305-604-1414; www.southbeachscooters.com.

South Beach Scooter Rentals, 1341 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; 305-532-0977; www.beachscooter.com.

USA Scooter Rentals, 4720 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale; 954-267-1966; www.usascooterrentals.com.

Winter Haven Hotel, 1400 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; 800-395-2322; www.winterhavenhotelsobe.com.

If this Wednesday has you dreaming of a weekend getaway, you’ve come to the right place. You still have plenty of time to get it together, pack-up the car and clear your schedule for Friday afternoon. This weekend, we’re cruising to Key West.

Cruising this 120-mile stretch south down US-1 is one of the highlights of this road trip. Water on both sides, take the top down (or roll down the windows if you are sans convertible) and crank the tunes. Stop along the way for a photo op. Life is good.

As you roll into Key West, we recommend you keep going and take Duval Street to the Southernmost Point. You can't get any lower than this in the lower forty-eight. As you get your photo with the landmark buoy, you should know you are a mere 90 miles from Cuba.

From there, you can head over to the Hemingway House. Once home to famed writer, Ernest Hemingway, the home is now a historical museum dedicated to the author (and home to many six-toed cats).

Have a cocktail in honor of Hemingway (he was a big drinker) at Sloppy Joe's, over looking the docks. While there are plenty of great restaurants on Duval Street with seafood abound, we found a little hotspot off the beaten path courtesy of a handwritten sign posted in a shop window which said, "Vegetarian Food One Block (arrow pointing away from Duval)". Simply called "Café", the menu is mostly veggie, and absolutely heavenly.

Where to stay on your weekend vacay? While we were tempted to tie a hammock between two palm trees for the night, we decided to check the local Inns and Bed & Breakfasts. The Key West Inn Keeper's Association has a great guide, depending on what you're looking for.

With so much pleasure to be had on this island paradise, you may have to consider calling in sick on Monday.

Ernest Hemingway Museum; 907 Whitehead St; (305) 294-1136; www.hemingwayhome.com.

Key West Inn Keeper's Association; 922 Caroline St.; 305-295-1334; www.keywestinns.com.

Sloppy Joe's Bar; 201 Duval St; (305) 294-8759; www.sloppyjoes.com.

Southernmost Point Guest House; 1327 Duval Street; 305-294-0715; www.southernmostpoint.com.

Café; 509 Southard Street; 305-296-5515.

Yes, it’s true we live in a city of sun, sand and palm trees, and while you may believe that Miami is the end all be all, ask any surfer and they’ll tell you that when it comes to catching some waves this place is severely lacking. Well, bust out the sex wax and prepare to get super stoked, dude. This week’s Road Trip is (almost) all about you. Almost, because aside from the mondo waves, Rincón, Puerto Rico is an excellent getaway for the whole family and it’s just a short economical plane ride from the Ft. Lauderdale Airport.

It's Wednesday, and dreams of the weekend are filling our heads. Why not clear your schedule for Friday, pack up the family and head out on a road trip to Lake Okeechobee with Plum?

If this Wednesday has you dreaming of a weekend getaway, you’ve come to the right place. You still have plenty of time to get it together, pack-up the car and clear your schedule for Friday afternoon. This weekend, we’re cruising to Captiva Island.

Captiva Island will have you channeling an island vibe much different than our beloved Miami Beach. We’ve done the research, and here are the places to eat, drink and get married.

It will be impossible for you to miss the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge while visiting Captiva. Named after Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist and pioneer environmentalist Jay Norwood Darling, the refuge spans 6,300 acres and provides visitors more opportunities to camp, hike, canoe and nature watch than one could cram into a single weekend.

Tame your appetite at the Mucky Duck, a legendary locals spot. Here the food is great, the beer is cold and the sunsets are breathtaking. If you enjoy a great game of darts, this is also the place to be. For fine dining, head over to the Old Captiva House located in the ‘Tween Waters Inn. Here Executive Chef Jason Miller prepares mouthwatering island cuisine, plus all pastries and breads are baked fresh daily.

A must-see while there is the historic Chapel By the Sea. It was originally built as a schoolhouse that doubled as a church in 1901. Now, this charming chapel serves as a seaside meditation site, nondenominational church and popular wedding spot. (Perfect place to elope, perhaps?)

While there are hotels in Captiva, we recommend living more like a local and staying at one of the small cottages or inns on the island. Also, be prepared to pay a $6 toll to cross the Sannibel Causeway on your way to Captiva Island (although, no fee to return to the mainland). Get driving directions here.

See you on Monday!

Chapel by the Sea; 11580 Chapin Lane, Captiva; 239-472-1646.

J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge; One Wildlife Drive (off Sanibel-Captiva Road); 239-472-1100; www.fws.gov/dingdarling.

Mucky Duck; 11546 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva Island; 239-472-3434; www.muckyduck.com.

Old Captiva Inn; 15951 Captiva Drive, Captiva Island; 239-472-5161; www.oldcaptivahouse.com.