Feb14-18 Mark and I took a little
vacation to Florida. Mark likes to go to the same places, so we flew to Clearwater Beach just like last year. We booked a room at the Sandpearl, a 5 star hotel on the
beach. We got the Valentine package so the rates were the same as all the
others in the area. I felt like royalty staying there. It was fabulous, but I did feel indulgent, out of place, and wished the kids were along. I don’t think we will have another trip
like that for a long time. So for the stay I decided to enjoy it
to the fullest. In front of the hotel on a daily
basis you saw, porches, BMW, Camaro, corvette, Jaguar, and very fancy vehicles
pull up for valet parking. The hotel was elaborate, high vaulted ceilings throughout , even the rooms. We had an incredible view from our room, looking
straight out over the ocean and over the pool.
It was dreamy with the palm trees and view. The sun was shinning when we arrived, but the temperature stayed below 60 and breezy. We took a walk on the white sandy beach. The sand is just amazing, fine and white and the beach is so wide and goes on for miles. We watched the sunset, then things got very cool outside. In our room we had chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of wine, part of our Valentine package. The hotel also had chocolates on our bed and turned down the covers each night.
Included in our package was daily breakfast in bed, or in our room anyway.We enjoyed picking our breakfast each day and eating it in our pajamas. Day 2 was the nicest day of our entire stay. Looking at the
forecast, I did not know that it would be the best day. We walked to the
Clearwater Aquarium with high expectations. It was well advertised and the two dolphins from the movie “Winter’s Tale” were there. We walked the mile and a
half walk in the warm sunshine to get there. The aquarium was very
disappointing. The dolphins were very neat to see, but other than that it was a
let down. They had a few sea turtles and sting rays and that was it. The
facility was old, rusty and the aquariums were dirty. For what they charged it
was not at all worth going. From there we rented a cabana on the
beach and soaked up the sunshine. I love just being in the warm sunshine
hearing the ocean waves and watching people on the beach, kids run, people walk
, it is so relaxing. I read my book awhile, close my eyes awhile and sun bathe. It has been so long since my body has soaked up sunshine and it just feels fabulous. It is warm enough to feel hot, but not so much that you sweat. There was a
breeze so when you are not in the cabana you actually feel cold. When I would
get hot, I would walk to the edge of the water and by the time I got back I was
cold. The employees are so kind from setting up your cabana exactly where you
want it to serving you food while relaxing. They are there to meet any needs and make your stay pleasant. Mark had a Pina Coloda and I a
Daquari on the beach. Now that is the life!
In the evening we went to
Beachcomber to eat. It is a very nice restaurant with the four course meal. You can't be in a hurry when eating there. It took us almost 2 hours. Our hotel is located right in the middle of the strip with
all the restaurants and shops, so we never has to walk far. Monday we started our morning walking the beach, then back for a double massage. The spa was so elaborate. i have never been to a hotel spa and it was an experience in itself. The Swedish massage was relaxing and wonderful. Afterwards they had a fancy Jacuzzi area to sit in with waterfalls and all. Outside the sun was shinning, but it was pretty breezy. We decided to sit in the pool chairs around the poolside. We had a waiter bring us our lunch and we sat in the chairs all afternoon. The sun would peek in and out of the clouds so much that I spent most of my time covered in my towel to stay warm. Mark made reservations to go on a catamaran. I told him that was fine with me and I would just wander the shops. I get sea sick so bad i knew I could not go. The shops were full of cheap souvenirs and I couldn't even find anything to bring home for the kids. I got them each a pair of sunglasses. I am sure they will be thrilled- not really.
It was dreamy with the palm trees and view. The sun was shinning when we arrived, but the temperature stayed below 60 and breezy. We took a walk on the white sandy beach. The sand is just amazing, fine and white and the beach is so wide and goes on for miles. We watched the sunset, then things got very cool outside. In our room we had chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of wine, part of our Valentine package. The hotel also had chocolates on our bed and turned down the covers each night.
Included in our package was daily breakfast in bed, or in our room anyway.We enjoyed picking our breakfast each day and eating it in our pajamas. Day 2 was the nicest day of our entire stay. Looking at the
forecast, I did not know that it would be the best day. We walked to the
Clearwater Aquarium with high expectations. It was well advertised and the two dolphins from the movie “Winter’s Tale” were there. We walked the mile and a
half walk in the warm sunshine to get there. The aquarium was very
disappointing. The dolphins were very neat to see, but other than that it was a
let down. They had a few sea turtles and sting rays and that was it. The
facility was old, rusty and the aquariums were dirty. For what they charged it
was not at all worth going. From there we rented a cabana on the
beach and soaked up the sunshine. I love just being in the warm sunshine
hearing the ocean waves and watching people on the beach, kids run, people walk
, it is so relaxing. I read my book awhile, close my eyes awhile and sun bathe. It has been so long since my body has soaked up sunshine and it just feels fabulous. It is warm enough to feel hot, but not so much that you sweat. There was a
breeze so when you are not in the cabana you actually feel cold. When I would
get hot, I would walk to the edge of the water and by the time I got back I was
cold. The employees are so kind from setting up your cabana exactly where you
want it to serving you food while relaxing. They are there to meet any needs and make your stay pleasant. Mark had a Pina Coloda and I a
Daquari on the beach. Now that is the life!
In the evening we went to
Beachcomber to eat. It is a very nice restaurant with the four course meal. You can't be in a hurry when eating there. It took us almost 2 hours. Our hotel is located right in the middle of the strip with
all the restaurants and shops, so we never has to walk far. Monday we started our morning walking the beach, then back for a double massage. The spa was so elaborate. i have never been to a hotel spa and it was an experience in itself. The Swedish massage was relaxing and wonderful. Afterwards they had a fancy Jacuzzi area to sit in with waterfalls and all. Outside the sun was shinning, but it was pretty breezy. We decided to sit in the pool chairs around the poolside. We had a waiter bring us our lunch and we sat in the chairs all afternoon. The sun would peek in and out of the clouds so much that I spent most of my time covered in my towel to stay warm. Mark made reservations to go on a catamaran. I told him that was fine with me and I would just wander the shops. I get sea sick so bad i knew I could not go. The shops were full of cheap souvenirs and I couldn't even find anything to bring home for the kids. I got them each a pair of sunglasses. I am sure they will be thrilled- not really.
Tuesday would be our very last day in Florida. When looking at the forecast prior to the trip, this was to be the warmest, nicest day. A rain front was coming. I wanted to get outside in the sun as much as I could before the rain. After our morning breakfast we headed to the beach for our morning stroll and then back to the poolside chairs. It was the windiest day. I never got into my bathing suit as it was chilly. I was in jeans and a long sleeve fleece and still needed a towel when the sun was under the clouds. I stayed by the pool enjoying every ounce of the sun until it just stayed under the clouds and I was just too cold. It was so windy and then it rained. We just didn't have much else to do, so we watched a movie in the hotel room. We got dressed up and went to the restaruant in our hotel to eat dinner. It was very elegant and the food was unique and tasty. We even saw Hulk Hogan a couple tables away. Our vacation came to a close and we had to be to leave our hotel at 5:30AM for a trip back home to the bitter Iowa cold. It was a nice relaxing vacation and soaking up that sunshine will get me through the rest of winter.
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