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The Top 7 Florida Resorts for Outdoor Lovers

September 30, 2022 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

The great outdoors provides plenty of opportunities to get your body moving, your mind working, and your blood pumping. If you are planning an upcoming vacation to Florida, you might want to stay in accommodation that offers fun activities that will get your heart racing and adrenaline running.

There is no reason to accept a boring hotel with limited activities in the Sunshine State. Learn about the top seven Florida resorts for outdoor lovers.

Source: Instagram, posted on May 10th, 2022, Westgate Ranch's official profile.

Source: Instagram, posted on May 10th, 2022, Westgate Ranch’s official profile.

  1. Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo – River Ranch

You will feel more in love with rural America after a visit to Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo. The luxe dude ranch is jammed with outdoor activities to suit every guest, from pony rides and mini golf to horseback riding and guided hunts.

Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo is bursting with outdoor activities to beat boredom, challenge your skills, and help you maximize every second in a beautiful backdrop. An hour from South Orlando, you will go back in time to the rustic Old West during your stay while enjoying various luxurious modern amenities.

For example, the luxe Conestoga Wagon camping accommodation is inspired by the 18th-century wagon design used to transfer cargo by oxen or horse. Yet, you can enjoy many comforts of home once you step inside, such as air conditioning and heating, a full bathroom with a walk-in shower, electrical outlets, premium linens, and countertop appliances.

Of course, as an outdoor lover, you will likely want to spend much of your stay outdoors, and you will not be disappointed at this stunning resort. Try the following activities for a fun-filled break:

  • Airboat rides
  • Horseback riding
  • Fishing
  • Archery
  • Tennis
  • Rock climbing
  • Swamp buggy rides
  • A trap and skeet range

Also, step out of your glamping tent or wagon to watch the Saturday Night Rodeo at the 1,200-seat Rodeo Arena. You might even want to tackle the skill for yourself on a mechanical bull at the resort.

Source: Instagram, posted on September 13th, 2022, Steinhatchee Landing's official profile.

Source: Instagram, posted on September 13th, 2022, Steinhatchee Landing’s official profile.

  1. Steinhatchee Landing Resort – Steinhatchee

Steinhatchee Landing Resort has charming one- to three-bedroom cottages, providing a private base for fun outdoor pursuits, such as scuba diving, fly-fishing, and canoeing.

Get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life at Steinhatchee Landing Resort. This hidden gem provides one- to three-bedroom cottages and is a short distance from the Gulf of Mexico and Steinhatchee River converge.

Embrace many affordable recreational activities at the enchanting resort, such as scuba diving in Florida Springs, kayaking along the Steinhatchee River, or exploring Gulf Coast State Parks.

Anglers will never want to leave charming Steinhatchee, as it is home to shallow grass flats and an untouched shoreline, providing a safe habitat for many saltwater fish. Also, if you stay at Steinhatchee Landing Resort during summer, you can enjoy some of the best scalloping on the planet along the river.

Source: Instagram, posted on September 23rd, 2022, Margaritaville Hollywood Beach's official profile.

Source: Instagram, posted on September 23rd, 2022, Margaritaville Hollywood Beach’s official profile.

  1. Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort – Hollywood, Florida

Sunny days don’t get much better than riding waves on a surf simulator, paddleboarding outdoors, or cycling along Hollywood Beach Boardwalk. Create fond memories at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, which offers stylish suites, unique dining experiences, and endless water fun.

If your heart is set on a beachfront break with your loved ones, you will likely remember a vacation at the laidback Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. The little slice of paradise in Hollywood, Florida, exudes family-friendly fun, offering sports activities, nature tours, and unmissable local festivals.

Water fun is a given at this visually stunning resort, as it features two pools, a surf simulator, and canals. Also, you can rent a paddleboard from its 5 O’clock Somewhere Bar & Grill to explore the calming waters of the Intracoastal Waterway, which is across the road.

Those looking for a fun experience on land can cycle, run, or rollerblade up and down the scenic Hollywood Beach Boardwalk, or spend a sunny weekend exploring the popular Yellow Green Farmers’ Market.

Also, Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort is a superb pick for those who want to explore many nearby parks between riding waves and lounging in the sunshine, as the resort is a short walk from Charnow Park, West Lake Park, and Hollywood North Beach Park.

Source: Instagram, posted on June 29th, 2022, Hawks Cay Resort's official profile.

Source: Instagram, posted on June 29th, 2022, Hawks Cay Resort’s official profile.

  1. Hawks Cay Resort – Duck Key

You would struggle to find much better than Hawks Cay Resort for South Florida fun. It will be hard to forget swimming with dolphins in the sunshine, enjoying a scenic view while kiteboarding, or fishing on a paddleboard.

Hawks Cay Resort is a tropical paradise in South Florida, offering beautiful resort rooms and cottages to meet many guests’ needs and tastes. Located on Duck Key, a small, secluded island, you and your loved ones can enjoy many outdoor activities along the aquamarine waters, including kiteboarding, paddleboard fishing, kayaking, and swimming with dolphins. The fun isn’t over once you are back on dry land, as you can play tennis on one of many courts or cycle around the resort at your leisure.

Non-stop activities will cause you to build up quite an appetite throughout the day. Satisfy your cravings by visiting one of the six restaurants available at Hawks Cay Resort, such as Sixty-One Prime, Angler and Ale, and Coral Grill.

Source: Instagram, posted on September 22nd, 2022, Cheeca Lodge & Spa’s official profile.

  1. Cheeca Lodge & Spa – Islamorada

Spend every day of your vacation having fun outdoors during a stay at the 214-room Cheeca Lodge & Spa. Pack many fun-filled activities into your itinerary, such as parasailing, fishing, Hobie cat sailing, or guided jet ski tours.

Cheeca Lodge & Spa is a serene oasis in relaxing Islamorada, offering a pretty backdrop of turquoise water and towering palm trees with a cooling breeze. The accommodations are just as magnificent, as it is home to 214 elegant rooms and suites for a luxurious getaway.

Despite its soothing environment, it is a must-pick for outdoor enthusiasts wanting to get their muscles pumping and body moving. When not dining at its first-class restaurants, you can play a round of golf on the 9-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed course, cycle around the resort, or go on a snorkeling tour.

Cheeca Lodge is also based in the sportfishing capital of the world, as you can charter a boat during your stay to catch 500 fish species or cast a line from the resort’s 525-foot pier.

Source: Instagram, posted on July 12th, 2022, South Seas Island Resort's official profile.

Source: Instagram, posted on July 12th, 2022, South Seas Island Resort’s official profile.

  1. South Seas Island Resort – Captiva Island

Fun and excitement are included in your stay at South Seas Island Resort. You can select from countless outdoor activities at the 330-acre retreat on Captiva Island, such as boating, parasailing, kayaking, and more.

Families, friends, or couples who adore the outdoors will want to return to South Seas Island Resort time and again. The secluded retreat and wildlife nature preserve is home to two-and-a-half miles of white sand beaches on the Florida Gulf Coast.

The elevated rooms, suites, and villas provide a luxury, comfortable environment to help you and your loved ones recover from a busy day of activities at the resort. You will not know where to start when it comes to outdoor pursuits, as you can go:

  • Banana boating
  • Wave running
  • Parasailing
  • Swimming with turtles or dolphins
  • Kayaking
  • Fishing

After you have dried off from the water fun, you can play tennis or pickleball on one of seven courts, go shelling along the beach or enjoy a sunset serenade cruise to watch a Gulf of Mexico sunset.

Source: Instagram, posted on April 10th, 2022, Tarpon Lodge & Restaurant's official profile.

Source: Instagram, posted on April 10th, 2022, Tarpon Lodge & Restaurant’s official profile.

  1. Tarpon Lodge & Restaurant – Pineland

Passionate paddleboarders, kayakers, and anglers will want to move to Tarpon Lodge & Restaurant in Pineland. Providing a mix of old and new Florida, you will remember every second of your stay at this gorgeous retreat.

Tarpon Lodge & Restaurant in Pineland, South Florida, has it all: history, luxury, and recreation. You will spend every night of your stay in the 1926 lodge, which blends old Florida charm with modern comfort and fun.

Wake up every morning of your vacation in a boathouse or cottage filled with character, providing more privacy and comfort than nearby hotel rooms. After making breakfast and enjoying a hot shower, you can enjoy select from many exciting activities throughout your stay. For example, you will never regret fishing or boating along the backwaters of Pine Island Sound, which is known for spotted sea trout, snook, and redfish. It is an angler’s dream vacation.

Passionate kayakers and paddleboards will be glad they made the journey to the resort, too. You could happily spend every waking moment of your vacation on The Great Calusa Blueway, as it connects 200 miles of inland tributaries with inlets and wetlands. It is an experience you will never forget.

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: family travel, florida, travel, travel tips, travel with family, travel with kids, traveling, traveling with kids, traveling with teenagers

Destin Florida is a Great Florida Vacation Spot for Families!

July 10, 2018 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Destin Florida, Beach

Beach vacation anyone? Destin, located along the Emerald Coast in Florida’s panhandle, is a must-visit with the family. As a dad, there is a ton to be had with the kiddos at the beach, and at Destin’s beaches in particular.

beach

Known around the world for its soft, white sand and emerald green waters, there is no end to fun beach experiences that happen here. Think about it. Snorkeling and exploring the world beneath the waves, as the kids get excited when they find small fish, crabs, sand dollars, and more. Building sandcastles on the beach with moats and bridges to protect the fortress from imaginary sea creature invasions. Relaxing under the sun while the kids bury your legs in the sand, turning you into a mermaid, and using their creativity to decorate your new tail with shells they find in the sand. And this is just the start of your beach vacation fun!

 

When you need a break from the sand and sun, Destin also offers a number of attractions that are fun for both dads and the kids. Check out these spots to add another level of excitement to your vacation.

fishing on a beach

Destin Kids Fishing

Love to fish? Never fished before, but want to give it a try? No matter your fishing experience, Destin Kids Fishing by Destin Inshore Guides provides an awesome venture for the whole family. This charter fishing experience is the only one that focuses specifically on kid trips. With experienced captains at the helm, you and the kids will have the opportunity to learn more about fishing in the area, as well as have fun casting and catching plenty of fish! Besides a chartered fishing boat experience, there are also general, family-fun boating packages that include all sorts of fishing, dolphin cruising, and exploring secluded areas that will have you making memories that last a lifetime.

 

Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park

With over 40 attractions, Big Kahuna’s is the largest water park on the Emerald Coast, and it is a dad and kid-friendly adventure. Attractions include water slides, rivers, pools, kiddie rides, and an adventure park. Have a mini-golf tournament with the kids – winner gets to pick the restaurant for dinner! Or relax as you float down the lazy river and the kids enjoy the giant wave pool or surf the halfpipe. With so many options, this attraction will keep you busy all day long.

 

The Track Destin

The awesome vacation experience does not end with the beach, a fishing boat, or a water park. The Track Destin is the ultimate spot for family fun. This venue features multiple go-kart tracks, including a unique elevated track, which are perfect for some father/kid competitions! Additional attractions include an arcade, thrill rides, kiddie rides, and bumper boats.

 

Experience Destin the right way with each of these vacation attractions that will have you and the kids laughing and having a good time – the whole time! Ready to start planning your getaway? Visit the Ocean Reef Resorts website to book your stay at one of their family-friendly Destin vacation homes or condos.

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: beach, Destin, Destin Florida, family fun, family travel, family vacation, fishing, florida, fun, travel, vacation

Visiting Walt Disney World Brings Your Family Together!

April 5, 2018 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Walt Disney World The Magic Kingdom

Over the past week my family and I stayed on site at Walt Disney World’s Saratoga Springs Resort. As a part of this we decided to be able to take the kids to the parks over three of our days. While this was not enough time to be able to see everything, we focused our attention on Walt Disney’s The Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios on this trip.

Walt Disney World The Magic Kingdom

My family has been HUGE Disney fans forever. I grew up on Disney and have continued this love with my own girls as they have grown up. We have been a bit lucky to be able to bring the kids to the parks a few times in their lives thanks to another family member who is a part of Disney’s vacation club.

Walt Disney World The Magic Kingdom

Staying on-site definitely has its’ perks. If you are staying at one of the Disney resorts, not only is their transportation from the resort to all of the parks and Disney Springs, but you also have access to the parks early on days where they have Magic Hours (where they open an hour early). One thing we learned this go around about these hours though for Hollywood Studios was that the whole park does not open early, it was specific rides, and for when we went, we only really were able to ride one ride in that hour because there were so many people!

Walt Disney World Saratoga Springs

The resort that we stayed at was wonderful. As you will find in all of Disney the culture is that of total customer service and this transcends into the parks, resorts and everywhere you go. Saratoga Springs is set up with a few different areas. We stayed in The Grandstand. Each of the areas is just a little different and is setup like the old says within Saratoga Springs New York. There are a ton of walking trails and even a golf course (I did not use as I do not golf). Almost all of the areas within the resort have their own pools which were also unique and two of them have their own water slides. There is also a walkway from one of the areas at Saratoga Springs that will allow you to walk over to Disney Springs for shopping or nightlife entertainment.

Walt Disney World Hollywood Studios

Walt Disney World Hollywood StudiosWalt Disney World Hollywood Studios

As I mentioned we took time to go to Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios on this trip. It had been a while since we had last gone to Hollywood Studios and not a lot had changed except for the Great Movie Ride being gone and having the Star Wars Launch Bay now open.  There was a lot of anticipation for Toy Story Land to open in only a few months and you could see the new Star Wars land being built as well. While there was still construction happenings, the people at Disney keep this under wraps and allow you to experience and enjoy the other areas of the park. There are new Star Wars shows throughout the day that were great and we loved riding the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, The Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster, Star Tours: The Adventure Continues, Toy Story Mania and more!  The one thing that we found was to make sure that you get fast passes for Toy Story Mania at least as the lines were very busy! Also, the Roller Coaster lines could also get long!

Walt Disney World The Magic Kingdom

At Magic Kingdom, we decided to spread this out over two days and I am so glad that we did. We found that there were a lot of people in the parks and the lines did get long on some of the rides, so it was nice to be able to spread out the park and not feel like we did not have to rush through things and we could actually see every show and ride every ride if we so chose. I have not been to the park since the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Ride opened and we added this to our fast pass which is definitely a must as lines were over two hours at times and sometimes longer. The ride was worth it though and the amount of effort to add in amazing visual effects along with the thrill was a ton of fun too!  This park was such a great one for families and for kids specifically. The rides are fun, and some even thrilling. There is a bit of everything for everyone, and you definitely get to see so many of your favorite characters at this park.

Walt Disney World The Magic Kingdom Walt Disney World The Magic Kingdom

One of the things that I definitely encourage you to do if you go to the Magic Kingdom is to make sure you see the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade which happens every afternoon, and you stay for the electric light parade and the Happily Ever After Fireworks show at night (Simply amazing!) . While I know this can make for a long day, it is something that you and your family will never forget.

 

Eating while in the

Walt Disney World The Magic Kingdom parks is easy and convenient. The staff in the parks have food service down to a science and while you may wait in a bit of a line, you will get your food pretty quick and it tastes great. One of the things that I love about the food at Disney in general is the wide array of variety. They rank their restaurants by dollar signs. They have restaurants that rank from one to four dollar signs based on how expensive the restaurants are. Thus, whether you want something quick or a sit down meal you can definitely get it. The one thing you need to keep in mind though is planning things out. If you want to have a character breakfast or a nice meal out as a family or as a couple, you need to plan this or you may not get to go to the restaurant that you want to go to when you want to go there. J-Mom and I decided to use a park hopper ticket which was provided by Walt Disney World, to do and experience a restaurant at Hollywood Studios on the second day that we visited the Magic Kingdom. By setting things up on MyDisneyExperience.com we were able to select the day, time and look at the possible restaurants that were available. We chose to eat at The Crystal Palace for a character breakfast with Winnie the Pooh and his friends and it was such a great experience and the food was great too. On top of getting to meet characters up close and personal the chefs use high quality ingredients and create food that you will remember.

 Walt Disney World The Magic Kingdom Walt Disney World The Magic Kingdom

I mentioned park hopper tickets, and probably should explain for those that have never been to Walt Disney World. Park hopper tickets allow you to visit multiple parks in one day. This allows you to not be bound to only visiting one park, but instead allows you to split your day the way you wish. These tickets are more expensive than single park tickets, but if you want to be able to have the flexibility of moving around the parks during the days, they are well worth it.

 

The final thing I will comment on this go around, is the importance of setting up your fast passes ahead of time! Depending on the park you can set up a specific number of Fast Passes for your visits. At Magic Kingdom it was three and at Hollywood Studios it was two. While you can change them when you get to the park if you so choose, it is important to set these up early, especially if you are going at a busy time of year. So if you have purchased your tickets in advance you can also set up your week at Disney at the MyDisneyExperience.com and when you have selected your parks, you can set up fast passes for some of the most popular rides.

 

Walt Disney World is a magical place and a place where you definitely can feel at home. The Walt Disney Company has done it right and continually makes you feel like the most important guest when you are visiting. I started a fan and remain one. If you have never experienced this, you should!

 

 

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New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews?

Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader

Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

Filed Under: disney, travel Tagged With: disney, family, family travel, florida, travel, travel with kids, traveling, traveling with kids, vacation, walt disney world

Flying the Friendly Sky??? What I learned in flying with kids…

December 10, 2009 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, we took the kids to visit my family in Florida over Thanksgiving and the trip on the way down was a bit of a nightmare as I blogged about. I have to say though the the trip on the way back was much nicer and I think I know the reason. Besides the fact that I didn’t get soda spilled all over me right before we took off, or that we had much nicer flight attendants than the ones on the way down that could have cared less for their customers, the main reason that it was better was that we had 2 seats together on one side of the aisle and 2 on the other side of the aisle, and lucky us, there was no one in the 3rd seats in our row, so J-Mom and I had lots of room to spread out and the girls could be focussed on by one of us at all times. It also allowed Diva-J the opportunity to move from one side of the aisle to the other without causing too much strife.

So a few things that I learned on this trip that I will take with me:

  1. Never carry on a soda from McDonalds and ask your five year old to carry it onto the plane…this is a disaster in the making.
  2. If you have two kids, always try and get two seats together on either side of the aisle. You may have someone sit next to you, but at least you are not having to deal with two kids by yourself in very close quarters.
  3. Ask for what you need from the flight attendants. Most will do whatever we can to assist you (and to help you get back into their seats).
  4. Keep the kids moving and try and tire them out so that they’ll take a nap on the plane. This will free you up to read, blog or whatever you wish during your plane trip.
  5. Bring an arsenal that can be used to keep kids occupied (including snacks, games and the like).

I hope that these hints were somewhat helpful!


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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: advice, Diva-J, florida, J-Mom, tips for dads, tips for fathers

Not Quite Wordless Wednesday

April 30, 2008 by dadofdivas 1 Comment

Filed Under: photo Tagged With: florida

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