4 Days/ 3 Nights on the 80ft Presidential Yacht leaving from Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Cost $3,900.00 plus tip 15-20% (we did 20% per couple), no points are needed. Its all done with $. Trip was Nov 23-26, 2019 Cost is for rental of entire yacht. You can take up to 6 people for this price, price is the same if you only take 2 guest. We took 3 couples and split the cost 3 ways. ($1,300.00/couple plus $260 per couple for tip). There is a master bedroom with large bathroom with queen bed, a guest room with bathroom and queen bed and a guest room with a bathroom and twin beds (not able to put together). To book your vacation with Grand Yacht Club. Log-in to your Bluegreen account. Go to Travels Plus Tab, then choose Outdoor Travel Experiences, then Grand Yacht Club. Call the Bluegreen Number the site lists and let them know you are interested. They will get it all set up and then Grand Yacht Club team will contact you and take it from there. They are more than happy to answer any and all questions you have. Breakfast and Lunch were provided and set out each day. Bottled Water is provided. Dinners are out. You are welcome to bring your own snacks or give the first mate a list of grocery items you will need prior to check-in. You can bring your own alcohol. Breakfast- 3 continental style breakfast- examples: sausage and egg sandwiches, gourmet donuts, yogurt, fruit, OJ, Coffee and oatmeal. Lunch-2 continental style lunches- examples: pulled pork sliders, shrimp po boy sandwiches, shrimp cocktail, chips, fruit, or sub sandwiches with the fixings. Dinners- Dinners each night were off the yacht, you will be docked and able to go to a local restaurant. The crew had many great suggestions and helped greatly with finding where to go. The crew then uses the time you are away to clean up the yacht. This was a great time to enjoy the local area. Included in the cost were activities such as snorkeling, fishing, jet skiing, sightseeing, kayaking, etc… If you are on 3 night trip they suggest you pick 2-3 activates that interest you and let your crew know. This will help them plan accordingly since different activities are done in different areas. All equipment is supplied by the yacht. Motion sickness was not a problem for us. I am usually easily effected by this and took Bonine. I had no trouble at all. Seas were calm and weather was wonderful (75-80 degrees). While moving on the yacht it was a little cool but we had sweatshirts and they provided blankets so it was very enjoyable. Of course, rougher seas could have changed seasickness, so we were grateful for smooth sailing. We booked in May 2019 to sail in November 2019. We sailed the Saturday- Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving. The staff at Grand Yacht club answered all our questions (and there were a lot of questions, LOL) and even texted me pictures of our yacht and said I could text them with any questions I had. Then Leo, the first mate, took over and texted me many times the two days prior to boarding through our time on the yacht making sure we had all we needed. They were very attentive to all our needs and had thought of everything. Day 1: We arrived at the yacht at the 4pm check-in time. Our first mate Leo (who was awesome) had been texting with me since the day prior to ensure he had picked up everything we needed and was ready for us. He was able to get us wristbands for the beautiful Diplomat Hotel for the day of check-in since we were in the area early that day. He also, picked up a special dessert for us since we were celebrating a couple birthdays. He then let me know when our yacht was ready and met us upon arrival. He helped us get settled and then gave us a list of local restaurants to try for dinner. We chose The Tipsy Boar and it was delicious with a great beer selection. We decided to Uber to the restaurant since parking in the area is so expensive even though one couple had a car. That night we returned to the yacht and enjoyed an evening docked. We watch yachts come and go and even a wedding that was taking place close by. The movement was minimal since we were docked which was nice. Day 2: We set sail around 10am. Captain Dave joined us and gave us a brief sightseeing tour as we left Ft. Lauderdale and headed out to the ocean. We did some trolling (fishing) as we sailed down to the keys. Seeing many beautiful views of Miami and Stiltsville along the way. Since a short rain shower popped up we took a short tour of the beautiful homes along the water in the area. We arrived in Key Biscayne around 4:30pm. We tied off in Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park and took a short stroll to the Cape Florida Lighthouse and watched a gorgeous sunset. We then had a delicious cuban inspired dinner at Boaters Grill overlooking No Name Harbor. Boaters Grill would have even cooked the tuna we had caught earlier in the day even though we decided against this. If you like coffee I would highly suggest the Colada. That evening we stayed tied inside No name harbor which was nice because again there was minimal movement of the yacht. Day 3: We left No Name Harbor behind to head out into the open water to jet ski. After, some time jet skiing in the smooth water we climbed aboard the dinghy to head out to the sandbar. We were able to wade around and search for shells and sand dollars. Then we headed out to the reef for snorkeling. This was probably the roughest part of the trip. The open water tossed us about a good bit but it was well worth it! The reef, which included a shipwreck, was beautiful with many gorgeous fish, my husband even spotted a small shark. The crew also rolled out a large floating mat for us to hang out on and drove the dinghy around near by in case anyone needed assistance while in the water. We wrapped up snorkeling and headed back toward Ft. Lauderdale trolling as we went. All in all we caught a tuna, a yellow jack and 2 Spanish mackerel. Watching another beautiful sunset as we neared the dock where we had docked the first night. We again ate dinner in the area and spent one more night enjoying the yacht and playing cards in the comfortable living area. Day 4: We awoke to more delicious food and coffee and prepared to say goodbye. We were sad to leave and are already planning to go back. We checked out and called an Uber to take us back to the airport at 10am.
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Savannah, GA is a place I am drawn to and visit every chance I get. Im not sure if it is the history, the architecture, the food, the beautiful live oaks and gardens or the hospitality, but it's just a place I love to be. I am sure it is some combination of all these. There is so much to do in and around Savannah. Even though we have been many times there are many things still left to do. If I were to add in everything I love about Savannah this post might be a mile long so for times sake I am just going to list a few of our "current" favorite things to do when we visit Savannah. I say "current" because each time we visit we find something new we love.
Sky Valley is just as it sounds, a valley in the Sky. Nestled high above Georgia (at an average of 3500ft) it is the highest city in Georgia. It makes for a perfect spot to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery at every turn. Leaving the hustle and bustle of life behind. Sky Valley is the perfect mountain getaway. We headed north to Sky Valley in search of a little weekend fun in the snow. Though snow in Georgia only comes around once or twice a year and never stays long we had heard Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center offered snow tubing all winter. Our children had never been and we were looking forward to some winter fun. Mother nature had different plans for us. The weekend was warm even though it was only February. Even the machine made snow was beginning to melt. The kids were definitely underwhelmed as we pulled up to a hill of browning, snow. After a little convincing we headed up the hill with our tubes (on the conveyor belt thank goodness). Though it didn't meet the expectations we had in our minds it was tons of fun. The warm weather had kept the crowds away, we had the slope to ourselves, and had us leaving our jackets in a pile at the bottom of the slope. Round and round we went for hours. No lines, no waiting, no freezing, just plain fun. The beautiful weather of the weekend also enabled us to do a lot of hiking! We returned to one of our favorite hikes in the northeast Georgia area. Our friends had never been and we were excited to show them around. Tallulah Gorge offers many hiking opportunities but our favorite is the somewhat strenuous hike to the swinging bridge and to Hurricane falls. This trail consists of 1,099 steps taking you all the way to the gorge floor. Our girls were extremely proud of themselves for completing this hike. All that hiking sure did work up an appetite, so we headed into Clayton, GA for lunch at Universal Joint. It was a perfect day for sitting on the patio and the burgers were delicious. It was a popular place and we did have to wait for a bit but they had tons of fun stuff for the kids to do such as corn hole and hula hoops so we didn't mind too much.
My favorite waterfall of the trip was Minnehaha Falls. Located on the backside of Lake Rabun. Getting there was interesting. We traveled along a dirt road for miles. We weren't sure exactly how far to go but we just kept going and finally spotted a staircase with a sign leading up the trail to the falls. The dirt road was desolate for many miles and we even had to ford a small creek and then suddenly the lake came into view and and we began passing large lake homes and docks. The hike itself was a short, easy one and the falls were beautiful! As we traveled back out the dirt road toward the highway I noticed an Inn I hadn't noticed before. Glen- Ella Springs Inn looked like a neat off the beat path place. We just may have to give it a try one of these days. One of my favorite things about traveling is exploring and finding new places to go and new things to do. Adventure awaits in Sky Valley, GA...Go! Most people think only of Atlanta and maybe Macon as they make their way through Georgia. They don't give much thought to the little town names they see on signs as they fly down I-75, hurriedly trying to get to their destination. I know this because I was once one of these people. Thinking middle Georgia had very little to offer but miles of farm land and tiny towns. Then I discovered Forsyth, GA. Located about 60 miles south of Atlanta and 25 miles north of Macon, Forsyth is the perfect place to stop for a little small town fun only a mile off the interstate. Of course Forsyth has the easily accessible fast food restaurants, a Walmart and some gas stations just off the exit. Just the normal side of the interstate kind of stuff, but if you go just a half a mile further there you will find the quaint Forsyth town square. The red brick courthouse towering in the center of town surrounded by shops, restaurants and local businesses all beckoning the weary travelers to stop, relax and enjoy small town life for a while. Where to eat...
Why we travel and you should too...Since I was a little girl I have been fascinated with new places, different cultures and new experiences. I strongly believe that a person is happiest when their life is full of experiences and not material possessions. My husband and I both feel strongly about this and are trying (we still get suckered into buy toys far too much) to instill this in our young daughters. We believe that traveling together is our best use of the short time we have before they become adults. The quality time and memories we make along the way connect us and make us a stronger family. We also love teaching our girls through experiences. Learning and appreciating all cultures and ways of life. Traveling no matter if it is within our own state or abroad, creates the perfect opportunity to pour into each other and our children. The memories we are making will last forever. Why I decided to start this blog...This blog has two main purposes for me. I hope to inspire you to travel. Yes, even with your children. I know it can be hard especially with the younger ones but the memories you make and the things you will all learn will outweigh all of the bad. I don't just mean to the same old places you go year after year. While those places can be tons of fun and hold special memories there are so many new things to do, learn and new memories to make out there. Each time you do something new together your bond gets stronger. Sure we get lost sometimes, do things incorrectly and learn some big lessons along the way. It is not always comfortable or easy but at the end of the day we can sit and laugh about it together. I hope you will read our adventures and it will inspire you to get out and have some of your own. The second main purpose for my blog is to record these memories. Sure, I absolutely love the tiny following of travel bloggers I have, mostly because I love seeing their experiences, learning from their mistakes and writing the best ones down for our own adventures to come. But at the end of the day if no one reads this, or cares I'm okay with that. Years from now we will be able to look back and remember all the great times we had together. Why you should blog, post or share your experiences...It may seem like no one cares about your travel experiences, some may even see it as boasting. However, I believe that the majority of people like to see your travel experiences. I personally love seeing the places all my friends, family and new travel blogging friends go. It gives me ideas and a wanderlust! I love how we can each go to the same place and never have the same exact experience twice. It never gets old to see friends and family smiling and enjoying life. I love the advice that is given and the ideas for things that I may not have thought of on my own or just through my own research. I hope that you will all continue to post, share or even blog about your travel experiences. Even if it seems no one is watching you just never know who you might inspire!
Adventure awaits...Go! 1. Church of the Cross
Located just off the island in Bluffton, SC is a small church dating back to the 1850's. This picturesque church overlooking the May river is rich in history. A docent can be found Monday-Saturday 11am- 2pm to give you a brief history and tour of this beautiful building. You can also purchase Holy honey. A local honey found right in the walls of the church. This unique place is a must see when you are in the Hilton Head Island area.
2. Bicycle Riding
This island with its miles of paved bike trails is the perfect place for a family bike ride. If staying inside the Sea Pines area you often times can park and ride your bikes to everything. Bike trail maps and self guided riding tours are available. Many of the trails are shaded by the areas amazing oak trees making it possible to ride even during the hot summer months. The beach is another fun place to ride. Riding bikes along the beach is one of my children's favorite things to do. Splashing through the waves and exploring the island as we go. Just make sure, if you are riding with small children, you ride with the wind and head back the the shelter of the bike trail to ride against it. Many vacation rentals in the area such as this beautiful house www.vrbo.com/450996 offer bicycles with your rental. All you need to do is show up and start your vacation!
3. The Harbour Town Lighthouse
Situated in the middle of Harbour town, a small shopping district and yacht basin inside Sea Pines Plantation, stands a red and white lighthouse. This lighthouse is open to visitors ($4.25 for ages 5 and up) and houses a museum of the islands history. As you climb the 114 steps to the top to enjoy the views of the island, Calibogue sound and Daufuskie Island you can read all about the island and its history. Don't forget to keep your eyes on the water, dolphins can often be spotted as they swim through the sound.
4. The Harbour Town Playground
While in Harbour Town exploring the lighthouse don't forget to stop at this fun playground to let the kids run off some energy for a bit. It has many fun things for all ages and is shaded by some beautiful live oak trees. This playground is at the top of our list and never gets old every time we visit the island.
5. Lawton Stables
Another place we visit every time we are on the island is Lawton Stables. Lawton Stables is located inside Sea Pines Plantation and has a small petting zoo. The kids love feeding and petting the animals and watching the horses as they play and graze in the pasture. We hope to one day go on one of the stable's horseback riding adventures.
6. Deep Sea Fishing
Recently for my brothers 18 birthday we chartered a small fishing boat from South Beach Marina located in Sea Pines Plantation. A great time was had by all ages and a lot of fish were caught even though they had to return them all back to the water. We were there during the off season so it was very easy to find a boat to charter at the Blue Water Tackle shop located in South Beach.
7. Stoney Baynard Ruins
The ruins of a tabby planation dating back the the late 1700's. You can explore the ruins and read about the families that once lived here and view drawings of what historians believe the original house looked like. This is a great spot to stop and rest your legs as you bicycle through Sea Pines Plantation.
8. The Coastal Discovery Museum
If you are interested in learning about the wildlife, plant life and history of the the area you will not want to miss this. Located just as you arrive on the island is the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn. The museum offers 68 acres to explore including a butterfly house, trails, gardens, museum and historical buildings. The museum offers a wide variety of tours and programs. Stop in or check out their website to see all they offer www.coastaldiscovery.org.
9. Exploring the beach
No matter what time of year you visit, the beaches of Hilton Head Island are a great place to explore and relax. Whether watching for ships and dolphins to pass by, searching for shells and sand dollars, splashing in the waves or chasing sea gulls a day at the beach is always a must!
10. The Restaurants
There is a long list of great places to eat all along the island. Some of our favorites are Land's End Tavern, One Hot Mama's, The Sea Pines Beach Club, A Lowcounty Backyard, Fat Baby's Pizza and Subs, and Stacks Pancakes.
Bonus: Legendary Golf
We can't forget to throw in a little miniature golf. No vacation is complete without it. Check out Legendary Golf located at 900 William Hilton Pkwy. They offer some of the best individual rates and a good active military, law enforcement, fire fighter and group rate.
Adventure awaits on Hilton Head Island...Go!! Situated along the beautiful Georgia coast is a small island with a rich history. If you love history, beautiful scenery, outdoor fun and delicious seafood Jekyll Island has it all. Where to stay...Walk in the footsteps of some of histories famous millionaire families such as the Vanderbilt's and the Rockefellers. The Jekyll Island club is a historical hotel that was once a private club for many of the most famous millionaire families of the United States. Their homes situated around this beautiful hotel are available for tours. The tour guides are full of stories of the lives of these families and the time they spent wintering here on this beautiful island. The club was built for their friends who came to visit them during the winter months. You can now stay in many of these rooms as well as in some of the homes around the property. This charming, piece of history is so welcoming you will not want to leave. Where to eat...The Jekyll Island Club has several options right on site. Walk downstairs for a grand meal in the Grand Dining Room as the millionaire families once did, grab a quick breakfast or a sandwich before heading off to explore the island at the Pantry, or head to the waterfront for a delicious meal with a beautiful view at the Wharf. Each has a unique setting, delicious food and large portions. Around the island you will find several other restaurant options that are also delicious such as The Jekyll Market at Beachtown. We stopped in for an ice cream cone and found a collection of all types of foods. A great place to find some unique things. When to visit...Most people think of visiting the beach in the summer while the summer is a great time to visit the island our favorite time to go is the winter. The weather is generally mild and perfect for getting outdoors and exploring. There are fewer people crowding the beaches and the tours, restaurants have little to no waiting time and the hotels are advertising their cheapest rates! What to do...Jekyll Island offers many different things to do. Biking, fishing, swimming and historical tours just to name a few. There are miles of bike trails and beaches to explore. The millionaires village offers history tours, restaurants, golf, croquet and shopping. You can tour historical homes by carriage, trolley or bicycle and don't miss the phone that was the used in the first transcontinental phone call in 1915. Another must do is Driftwood Beach. This unique beach is littered with driftwood which creates a picturesque place to enjoy the evening or a place to explore and climb as you wander through the branches and tree trunks. If you are visiting in the months of January and February stop into visitor center and get the details for their traditional island treasure hunt. Over the years beachcombers have come to the island in search of glass floats that have washed ashore after breaking away from fishing nets. Through the years these glass floats have become popular with treasure hunters. To keep this tradition alive the island has created a treasure hunt for locals and visitors in the winter months. They hide clear plastic globes around the island. If you find a globe it can be returned to the visitors center and exchanged for a beautiful glass float specially designed by a local artist. These beautiful floats are on display in the visitor center. Many locals have said they look year after year and have never found a globe while first time visitors have walked right up on one. Whether you find a float or not this treasure hunt will have you exploring this island and enjoying all it has to offer. If after all your treasure hunting you end up with no treasure and you can't live without one they can also be purchased at the visitors center. Some things to note... The island does require an entrance fee of $6 dollars as you drive onto the island. It is not required daily just each time you drive through the gates onto the island. If you will be driving on and off the island during your stay a week long pass is also available. The trolley tour is the only tour that you gives you entrance to the historical homes in the millionaires village. If traveling south along I-95 to get to Jekyll Island make a stop in the tiny town of Darian, GA for an off the beaten path seafood restaurant you will not want to miss. Skipper's Fish Camp a river front Oyster Bar & Grill with its small town charm and delicious seafood is the perfect stop to grab lunch or dinner and stretch your legs as you make your way down to Georgia's golden isles. Adventure awaits in Jekyll Island, GA...Go!
1. The Bibbity Bobbidy BoutiqueIf you have a princess in your life the Bibbity Bobbidi Boutique is a must. You can visit the boutique at Disney Springs or at Cinderella's Castle in the Magic Kingdom both offer the same wonderful experience. Take along your own princess gown or buy one there either way the experience is magical just don't forget to reserve your spot in advance. Reservations fill up quickly during the busy season. 2. SanaaSanaa is a restaurant located in the Animal Kingdom Villas Kidani Village. As you watch the animals graze on the Savannah from your table you can enjoy a wonderful African Indian style cuisine. Make sure to try the Indian-style Bread Service with all Nine Accompaniments. 3. Mizner's LoungeMizner's Lounge is located on the second floor of the Grand Floridian Hotel. It is a great place to sit and catch up with friends and enjoy a cocktail. The salted caramel Manhattan is my personal favorite. Sip your cocktail and enjoy this beautiful hotel as the the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra serenades you with all your Disney favorites. 4. Sleepy HollowTucked back in Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom is a small snack bar that serves some delicious waffles. If you love waffles or funnel cakes this is a must for you. Have your waffle topped with fruit, powdered sugar, chocolate, whipped cream or get creative with a sweet and spicy chicken waffle or an egg and cheese waffle. 5. Epcot Food and Wine FestivalEpcot is probably my favorite park. I love exploring the world showcase anytime but the best time to enjoy Epcot is in the fall when the Food and Wine festival is in full swing. Tasting dishes and new drinks from around the world is a unique experience. If you love to try new and unique foods the Epcot Food and Wine Festival is a must. 6. 1900 Park Fare1900 Park Fare is a restaurant located in the Grand Floridian hotel. This hotel by itself is amazing and a must see but the character dining at 1900 Park Fare is outstanding. We have had dinner and dancing with the Cinderella characters and breakfast with Mary Poppins and Alice. The characters at each meal spent extra time making our children feel special. 7. SoarinMaking our way back to Epcot for my favorite ride. Soarin takes you an adventure exploring places around the world all from a birds eye view. This ride is not for everyone, especially those that may have extreme motion sickness, but if that doesn't bother you than it is a great way to see the world while never leaving Florida. 8. Dole Whips at the PolynesianRegular Dole Whips are delicious and for everyone. They can be found in Adventure Land inside the Magic Kingdom, but if you are over 21 years old and ready to take your Dole Whip to the next level visit Disney's Polynesian Resort Pineapple Lanai. Here you can order your Dole Whip with a twist (alcohol). 9.Enchanted Tales with BelleIn the Magic Kingdom you will not want to miss Enchanted Tales. After walking through the magic mirror the children are given small parts to play to act out the story of Beauty and the Beast. As the children prepare for their parts Belle herself comes to watch the show and play herself. She spends time with each and every child. This magical experience is our favorite attraction in Magic Kingdom. 10. Sitting on the lawn admiring Cinderella's CastleDisney recently added a grassy spot between the end of the main street shops and the castle. This area is gated and some people don't realize you can go in and enjoy this space. This is a perfect place to have a picnic, take a nap on a warm day or sit with your princess and admire Cinderella's castle.
Adventure Awaits at Disney World...Go! Dahlonega, a small, quiet town nestled at the southern end of the Blue Ridge mountains. Though it is small it has so much charm and chance for adventure! Next time you are traveling through North Georgia stop in and visit this quaint little town. Don't miss Dahlonega's top 10... 1. Hiking, Hiking, Hiking...There are tons of places to see some beautiful scenery here. Waterfalls, overlooks and day hikes are everywhere you turn. Check out my post on North Georgia hikes for some hiking adventures. adventuringwiththemillers.weebly.com/blog/adventure-awaits-in-the-appalachian-mountains 2. Panning for Gold...Dahlonega is the site of the first major US gold rush. Come try your hand at gold and gem mining or take a tour of a mine. 3. Wine Tasting...There are wineries all over the area. Relax and enjoy the view as you taste the many different wines these wineries offer. Don't have time to go to each winery? Stop in the tasting room on the square in downtown Dahlonega to taste wines from across the region. 4. Connie's Ice Cream ShopEveryone needs a little ice cream in their life. Stop in and say hi to Connie and Jim at this old fashioned ice cream shop. Too cold for ice cream? The hot chocolate is delicious too! 5. The University of North Georgia Drill FieldNeed a few minutes to run off your ice cream or your kids energy? Take a break on the drill field. The 12 acre field in the center of the University of North Georgia campus. UNG being a senior military college uses this field to practice drills but when they are not using it you are welcome to run, play and enjoy the beautiful college campus with its gold steeple shining above you. 6. Check out a Local Restaurant...There are many local restaurants located around the square. All are delicious but our favorite is Shenanigans Irish Pub which sits just off the main square. If you are looking for some good southern home cooking another good local restaurant that sit just outside of town is the Wagon Wheel. 7. The Walasi-yi Center...Sitting near the top of Blood Mountain between Dahlonega and Blairsville is a very unique hiking and adventure store. Stop in for a mountain top view, hiking gear, or souvenirs. Though this is not technically in Dahlonega the drive up is scenic and beautiful. 8. Trahlyta's Grave...If you take the drive up the mountain to the Walasi-yi Center you will pass an interesting pile of stones in the middle of an intersection not too far out of town. Stop here and read the legend of Trahlyta and leave a stone on her grave for good luck. 9. River Tubing and kayaking...Just outside of town you will find the winding Chestatee River. Here you can be outfitted with tubes or kayaks and float the day away. Watch for the River Outfitters along Hwy 60 as you come into town for all your river adventuring needs. 10. All types of outdoor adventure... There are some great places to explore, rappel, fish, camp, hike and swim. Any outdoor adventure you would like to have you can find in this area. Check the Walasi-yi Center or the Dahlonega Visitor Center for information on what the area has to offer.
Adventure awaits in Dahlonega, GA...Go! |
Vanessa MillerWe are a family that loves to travel. Any chance we get we are off on an adventure. We want to remember and share them all here with you! We hope that our adventures inspire you to have your own with your family and friends. Archives
August 2019
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