Magnificent Marco Island

Posted in Travel & Adventure by listen2mama

I love the west coast of Florida. I have often blogged about my love for Sanibel, Captiva, Naples and Marco Island. So, when my husband asked me how I wanted to celebrate my birthday last month (given Covid-19 is limiting our options right now) I immediately chose to spend some time at the beach, where I am always happiest! We decided to head over to Marco Island and stayed at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, which is absolutely stunning. We have stayed there in the past but had not been since 2015, and boy has it changed. The property was completely remodeled in 2017 with the addition of a gorgeous new building, new restaurants, event spaces and an arcade for kids. We stayed in a beachfront view room which had amazing views and celebrated my birthday at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Ario, which I highly recommend.

Hotel lobby (Photo courtesy of JW Marriott)

The beautiful beach resort (Photo courtesy of JW Marriott)

Our room

Ario Restaurant (Photo courtesy of JW Marriott)

Sunset view from our room

We also tried out a few restaurants around the island and one that we really enjoyed was Fin Bistro. We each had the Panko Herb Crusted Yellowtail Snapper over rock shrimp and squash risotto served with coconut brown butter sauce. Delicious! And of course we had to end the meal with a Key Lime flan, which was delectable. Take a look:

Snapper with Risotto

Key Lime Flan

Next came the cute shops which I always like to peruse. Now I will say, Marco Island doesn’t seem to have that many specialty shops or boutiques, when compared to Sanibel or Naples, however I did manage to find a few interesting places.

Beachworks. Located in the Marco Town Center Mall, Beachworks carries a good selection of Fresh Produce clothing and Big Head t-shirts. They also offer a variety of summery tops, dresses, sandals, a few small souvenirs and SunBum suntan lotions.

Butterfly Beach. Located at the Esplanade Shoppes, (they also have stores in Naples, Sanibel, Fort Meyers and soon Sarasota) this cute boutique carries adorable bathing suits and clothing for kids and adults, as well as jewelry; as their website says, bringing West Coast style to the beaches of Florida.

Blue Mangrove Gallery. Blue Mangrove Gallery is one of my favorite places to visit on the island. Many local and Florida artists are on display, including original oils, photography, stain glass, jewelry, ceramics, notepads, a kid’s section, books, accent furniture & more.

Here are a few more photos from our beautiful weekend trip:

View from our balcony

The beach in the afternoon, the water was so warm.

The shells I collected…

One of the many gorgeous homes throughout the island

Another gorgeous home

Have you visited Marco Island? I would love to know what you enjoyed most?

18Aug2020

Summer of Sanibel

Posted in Travel & Adventure by listen2mama

The Summer of 2020 has definitely presented some challenges for vacations and trips, as my family will not be flying anywhere just yet. Thankfully, living in Miami allows us the flexibility to drive over to the Southwest coast of Florida often. We love all of the towns in that area, Naples, Marco Island, Ft. Meyers, Sanibel and Captiva. But by far, Sanibel has always been our favorite. Given the current situation, we took advantage and recently spent a few weekends in Sanibel, as it is also a great place to escape the crowds. A few years ago I posted some of my favorite Sanibel shops. Sadly, a few of those have since closed but I did find some more new shops and restaurants when we visited recently. We also stayed at the Sundial Beach Resort & Spa for the first time, which was really nice as well. There is lots to do on this tiny island, something for everyone, great restaurants, awesome little shops, bike-riding, shelling (some of the best in the world), swimming, kayaking, you name it. And one of the things I love most is the laid back, cozy (almost bohemian) lifestyle of the island.

Sundial Beach Resort & Spa
Most of the accommodations that you will find in Sanibel are typical 2-3 story motel type properties. Many of them are in need of some major upgrades or remodeling as they are quite old. But then one doesn’t come here for the luxurious high rise hotels. However, this summer we stayed a few times at the Sundial Beach Resort, which we really liked. We reserved a one-bedroom suite with a pullout couch. The room was very clean and comfortable. We didn’t use the kitchenette (I do not cook on vacation), but it can come in very handy if you are traveling with young kids and are staying for a week.

Entrance to the hotel (photo courtesy of Sundial Resort)

Pool/cabana area (photo courtesy of Sundial Resort)

The comfortable king size bedroom.

Our daughter kayaking, one of the many complimentary activities provided by the resort.

Traders Sanibel
We finally got around to having dinner at Traders. I have to say it’s now one of my favorite places on the island for a nice meal. They offer a variety of great starters and many yummy seafood dishes. I had the scallops and ravioli and my husband had the macadamia encrusted grouper with mango sauce and yellow rice. Our daughter opted for a parmesan encrusted chicken breast. Everything was delicious and we also loved the decor of the place. Make sure you also check out the amazingly beautiful gift shop on the way out, selling everything from stuffed animals to sea salt scrubs. Definitely one of our favorite stores in Sanibel.

Traders Restaurant (photo courtesy of Traders)

All so yummy!

The gift shop

Synergy Sportswear
Synergy is located in Tahitian Gardens, one of the small shopping centers on the island. Synergy is a “Life is Good genuine neighborhood shop.” They carry a large selection of men’s, women’s and kid’s Life is Good clothing, apparel, and accessories. Synergy is also Sanibel’s only authorized Alex & Ani retailer.

Life is Good stickers

Great selection of t-shirts

The Blue Giraffe
We had heard of this place many times but had never tried it. We decided to have lunch here one day after a morning at the beach. The food was really good. I especially loved the Mexican street corn, charbroiled corn on the cob, topped with queso fresco, avocado cream, cilantro and blacked spice. As with all places in Sanibel, the decor was also very cute. The menu offers many different items to choose from.

Club sandwich, Mexican street corn and shredded pork sliders

The interior dining room

Outdoor dining area

Whims
Tucked away in the corner of the Bailey’s shopping center, you will find Whims. Whims sells unique clothing and accessories, as well as some decorative home items, along with some distinctive Sanibel keepsakes. The saleslady (possibly owner?) is also a sweetheart. My daughter found some beautiful little bracelets for her baby cousin and she also purchased a very pretty small leather purse.

Whims

Lots of items to choose from.

Sea Glass Lane
We stumbled upon this gorgeous (and a bit pricey) shop while browsing through Periwinkle Place. The store sells beautiful resort style women’s clothing and accessories. The decor is also beautiful, very beachy.

Sea Glass Lane

Bailey’s General Store
And last but certainly not least, Bailey’s is amazing! Not only do they sell anything you may need in terms of food, sundries, liquor and gifts but they also have a coffee bar at the entrance (many consider this the best coffee on the island) and the bakery makes all of the donuts, pastries, muffins, cookies and fudge (yes fudge) fresh daily! You can also order amazing cakes and pies for special occasions. We bought some amazingly yummy key lime cookies on our last visit.

The coffee bar

Variety of fudge flavors made fresh daily.

Here are a few more photos from our various trips this summer:
We love Sanibel and visit every summer. Have you been to Sanibel? I would love to hear what you enjoyed most.

9Jun2020

Gilmore Girls Road Trip

Posted in Travel & Adventure by listen2mama

A few years ago, my daughter and I binge watched Gilmore Girls on Netflix. We have a very close relationship so naturally we immediately fell in love with the show, all of the characters and the fictional town of Stars Hollow. As I like to say, she is the Rory to my Lorelai. Since we love to travel and Spring Break was approaching at the time, my daughter planned a Mother/Daughter Gilmore Girls road trip, visiting some of Connecticut’s most picturesque small towns (similar to our own Gilmore Girls Fan Fest).

We flew to Hartford and then ventured through Litchfield, Kent, New Milford, Washington Depot (which inspired the show’s creator Amy Sherman-Palladino to develop Gilmore Girls during her stay in town) and back to New Haven. My daughter put a lot of thought and planning into this trip and came up with the perfect itinerary. The only thing I would suggest to do differently would be to maybe go in the fall, as in March the weather was cool and cloudy. We had so much fun, here’s how our trip panned out.

Day 1, Hartford

We stayed at the Residence Inn Hartford Downtown and explored Hartford in search of “Emily & Richard’s house” and “Chilton”, where Rory went to school. We decided to also do a bit of sightseeing as this was our first time in Hartford. During our drive through town we stopped at Mozzicato DePasquale Bakery and Pastry Shop for a snack. This is a beautiful, genuine, Italian neighborhood bakery, which we loved and sadly do not have any of in Miami. We also visited the Mark Twain House & Museum, the Old State House and the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. In the evening we drove around West Hartford and had dinner at Barcelona Wine Bar. Very yummy tapas.

Residence Inn Hartford Downtown

Mozzicato DePasquale Bakery offers a very large selection of goodies!

Mark Twain House and Museum

Connecticut Old State House

Wadsworth Atheneum

Day 2, Litchfield

Litchfiled was definitely a quaint little town. We stayed at the very cozy Litchfield Inn and drove around searching for “Kim’s Antiques”. We found many charming shops in the center of town, in particular, Litchfield Candy Company. We took some pictures of the First Congregational Church, visited the Shrine of Lourdes and finally stopped for a late lunch at the West Street Grill.

The Litchfield Inn

Lobby of Litchfield Inn

Litchfield Candy Co.

Tons of goodies to choose from

First Congregational Church

Lourdes Grotto

Lunch at West Street Grill

Shops and restaurants on West Street

Another cute shop in town

A very charming art, antiques & furnishings store

Day 3, Kent

The drive to Kent took us through some hilly roads so please have your GPS handy and definitely do not drive at night, unless you know the area. We stayed at The Inn at Kent Falls, a very beautiful B&B, which has sadly been permanently closed since our visit. We also strolled along Main Street, where most of the shops and eateries are located. We had some warm coffee and picked up some specialty chocolates at the Kent Coffee and Chocolate Co. and then stopped in at the House of Books. Very quaint little town, with many beautiful Victorian homes.

Welcome to Kent

The entryway into the Inn

The bathroom in our suite

The homemade breakfast served each morning

The beautiful farm kitchen

A visit to the House of Books

Day 4, New Milford & Washington Depot

New Milford was the least of my favorite towns, however, this is where we found the gazebo, similar to the one in Stars Hollow, on the New Milford Town Green. We walked around and took in some of the shops and eateries on Main Street and Bank Street. Before heading out, we drove up to the Canterbury School, which my daughter says appeared similar to Chilton, where Rory went to school.

The gazebo on the town green

The Canterbury School

A church in town

The New Milford Public Library

We then headed to Washington Depot, the town that inspired the show. We stayed at the famous Mayflower Inn & Spa, which is absolutely gorgeous, I highly recommend a stay there. While exploring the town, we had some coffee at Marty’s, the “Luke’s” of the town and we also stopped in at the Washington Food Market, which resembled a small market like “Doose’s”. Washington Depot has many charming shops and restaurants, we also visited The Hickory Stick Bookshop which is a beautiful, independent book store that also sells cards, gifts, plush and toys for kids. Later in the evening, we had dinner at Community Table, which had amazingly fresh and delicious food.

Mayflower Inn & Spa, simply stunning property

Welcome sign, Do Not Disturb sign and brunch

Our beautiful room

Marty’s Cafe

Not quite Luke’s Coffee Shop, but it was cozy and yummy

Washington Food Market, similar to Doose’s

Yummy meals at Community Table restaurant

Hickory Stick Bookshop had lots of great books, cards and stationery gifts as well

Day 5, New Haven

A stop in New Haven was a must, as we had to visit Yale, where Rory went to college. We stayed at the New Haven Hotel and explored the campus and its surroundings, including the shops on Broadway and of course the Yale Bookstore for t-shirts. We also had pizza at Pepe’s Pizzeria, still considered one of the best pizzerias in the country. I must say our pizzas were delicious. In the evening we stopped by Atticus Bookstore and Café for some coffee, scones and pretty postcards.

Yale University

More of Yale

Yale

We truly enjoyed our Gilmore Girls adventure. Have you been to any of these Connecticut towns? I would love to know what you enjoyed most.

12May2020

Tantalizing Taormina

Posted in Travel & Adventure by listen2mama

Sicily, in particular, Taormina, had been on my bucket list for a while. If you follow my blog, you know that I LOVE Italy and have blogged about many of the cities I have been to. So I finally decided that I could no longer put this off. Being that Sicily is an island (the largest in the Mediterranean) we decided it would be best to leave it for the end of our 2-week trip throughout Italy, figuring we would be pretty exhausted (we were) and would benefit from relaxing by the hotel pool or beach. We flew from Rome to Catania and hired a private driver through Viator (very affordable) to drive us to Taormina. As usual, I must start with our hotel. We stayed at the NH Collection Taormina, located in the heart of town, a few steps away from Corso Umberto I and the city center. The room was spacious with a gorgeous bathroom and the best part was the panoramic view from our balcony, simply stunning. I would advise staying at any of the hilltop hotels, there are several nice ones to choose from offering magnificent views. Here are some of the views from our room:

Views of Taormina from our room

More amazing views…

The infinity pool area overlooking the town

Our daughter admiring the views from the infinity pool

Our room

Taormina is full of quaint shopping streets, beautiful architecture, breathtaking sceneries and delicious food everywhere. Here are a few things I loved in Taormina:

Stroll Corso Umberto I
Bordered to the north by Porta Messina and to the south by Porta Catania, the Corso exhibits many buildings from different eras. Also full of numerous shops, bars and restaurants, the cobblestoned, pedestrian street is always very busy, especially in the evenings. While you will encounter the obligatory typical souvenir shops, make sure you don’t miss some of the other boutiques selling some beautiful ceramics and high end items, typical of Sicily. The Corso is the main street in town, which also has many small alleys and side streets to discover, leading to more shops and eateries up and down some steps.

The many buildings on Corso Umberto I

Steps leading up to a beautiful ceramic shop right off the Corso

Balconies seen all over the Corso

Fruit stand on a side street in Taormina

Piazza IX Aprile
Piazza IX April, Taormina’s main square, is a fantastic stopping point along your stroll on the Corso and a perfect place to enjoy a gelato while people watching. Make sure not to miss the breathtaking views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna from the piazza over the water, truly spectacular! You can find many important monuments on this piazza, such as the early-18th-century Chiesa di San Giuseppe, which represents a beautiful example of Sicilian baroque, with its double staircase located in front of the entrance. Another beautiful church on the piazza is the Church of Sant’Agostino with a commanding presence and a terrace that overlooks the Messina Gulf. Also on the piazza is the Torre dell’Orologio (the 12th-century clock tower) which leads you through to the Borgo Medievale (Medieval Quarter) and eventually to the Piazza del Duomo.

The beautiful Chiesa di San Giuseppe

Also on the piazza, the Church of Sant’Agostino

Torre dell’Orologio (photo courtesy of continentaltaormina.com)

The piazza full of tourists in the evening

Piazza del Duomo
The path on the Corso from the clock tower though the medieval quarter will lead you to the Piazza del Duomo, another great gathering spot. On the piazza stands the Duomo of Taormina, hence the piazza’s name. In the center of the square you will also find the Quattro Fontane di Taormina, a Baroque-style fountain featuring a centaur, representing Taormina’s city symbol. However, the statue atop the fountain isn’t a straightforward centaur. Not only is the figure female rather than male, it also only has two legs (the back two) rather than four. No one knows why the centaur is not typical but the people of Taormina have adopted the statue as the town symbol. You will find many folks sitting around the fountain in the late evenings, enjoying the crowds and having gelato.

Duomo of Taormina and the Quattro Fontane di Taormina

Sitting by the Quattro Fontane on a beautiful evening

Another view of the piazza

Another side street off the piazza

The Duomo at night

Pasticceria Gelateria D’Amore
One item you can find all over are cannoli, as they were originated in Sicily. We enjoyed many cannoli and gelatos in various places but we really liked Pasticceria D’Amore. The store has a window where one can observe them while they’re making the cannoli, and they offer a great variety of gelatos and pastries.

Pasticceria D’Amore

Cannoli with a variety of fillings being prepared

Greek Theater (Teatro Greco)
A visit to the ancient Teatro Greco is a must, especially if you love the ancient monuments and ruins found throughout Europe. Despite its name, the Greek Theater is actually an ancient Roman structure. The ruins you see today date primarily from the 2^nd century A.D., although the theater was started in the 7^th century B.C. Taormina’s Greek Theater sits high above the town’s famous beaches, so visitors who climb uphill to see the ruin are rewarded with gorgeous views of Taormina, the beaches below and the Mount Etna volcano. Many events are held at the theater, click here for the schedule of artists, plays and concerts. This is also the venue for the Taormina Film Festival held every year in June.

Teatro Greco (photo courtesy of Akos Hajdu)

Another stunning view of the theater

Taormina Funivia
The Taormina Funivia (cable car) connects the town center with the beach at Mazzaro. It makes getting down to the beach or back to your hotel easy and quick, especially in the hot summer months. There are eight cable cars in the Taormina-Mazzaro Funivia system that are in constant rotation, depending on the season. During the busiest months, cable cars run every 15 minutes, and the trip from one end to the other takes less than five minutes.

Cable Cars (photo credit unknown)

Here are some more photos of our trip for your enjoyment:

The stunning views of the sea from Piazza IX April

More amazing views from the piazza

And some more views…

Dinner at this delicious pizzeria

YUM! Pizza in Sicily!

One of the MANY cannoli we had on this island!

One of the side streets off Corso Umberto I

One of the gates into the old town, Porta Catania di Taormina

We started our stroll onto the Corso through the other town gate, Porta Messina di Taormina

Have you visited beautiful Taormina? I would love to know what you enjoyed most!

24Feb2020

Fabulous Florence

Posted in Travel & Adventure by listen2mama

Florence is one of Italy’s most visited cities. Delectable food, magnificent shopping and some of the most beautiful works of art in the world. I have visited Florence a few times but always on very short trips so I still feel the need to experience more of it. Florence does not disappoint, plenty to see and do. I would also love the opportunity to explore more of the Tuscan towns, which make great day trips from Florence. I have been to Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano, which are all breathtakingly beautiful as well. On our last trip we were fortunate to stay within the pedestrian area of Florence in the beautiful Hotel Calzaiuoli. Our room was spacious and very comfortable, not to mention it had a magnificent view of the Duomo from our window. Staying in this area was wonderful as we were a very short walk from all of the sights.

Lobby of Hotel Calzaiuoli

View of the Duomo from our room window

Our room

Piazzale Michelangelo
Piazzale Michelangelo is my favorite place to visit in the city. Not only can you catch a perfect sunset here, but the 19th century piazza has the absolute best panoramic view of Florence. The square is decorated with copies of Michelangelo’s sculptures, but it’s truly the view people come here to see.

Enjoying this view!

Views of this amazing city from Piazzale Michelangelo

View of Ponte Vecchio

Duomo & Giotto’s Campanile
The Cathedral di Santa Maria del Fiore (The Virgin of the Flower), nicknamed the Duomo after the enormous octagonal dome on its east end, is the cathedral of Florence and considered by many as the birthplace of the Renaissance. There are many other Catholic churches in Florence, many of them associated with the Renaissance, including Santa Maria Novella, Santa Croce, and the Brancacci Chapel. However, the Duomo is the home church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Florence and the third largest church in the world (after St. Peter’s in Rome and St. Paul’s in London).

The Duomo dominates the Florentine landscape and can be easily spotted throughout the city. Whether you are seeing it from the outside or inside, it is truly a beautiful piece of architecture not to be missed. Now I will warn you that if you are visiting during the peak of the summer months, the lines to enter the Duomo can stretch for hours in the summer heat. I strongly recommend you purchase tickets in advance.

The front of the Cathedral

Artwork inside of the dome.

Once at the Duomo you must also visit Giotto’s Campanile, a free-standing campanile that is part of the complex of buildings that make up the Florence Cathedral. If you are brave enough (and in shape) to climb the 144 steps to reach the very top (there are no elevators), then you will most definitely find incredible panoramic views of the city, not to mention a totally unique perspective from which you can admire the Cathedral and the Cupola of Brunelleschi (the dome).

Galleria dell’Accademia
The Galleria dell’Accademia, usually referred to as the Accademia, is without a doubt most famous for its sculptures by the great Renaissance artist, Michelangelo, primarily the magnificent statue of David within the Tribune. No doubt, most everyone visits David before leaving Florence. Again, if your time is limited, make sure you purchase advance tickets, as the wait times can be pretty long, especially during the summer.

The amazing sculpture of David.

But don’t get confused, as there is another statue of David situated right within the heart of Piazza della Signoria, however this is a replica that was placed here to protect the original. If you really want to see the original David you must visit the Accademia.

Entrance to Palazzo Vecchio on the Piazza della Signoria.

Ponte Vecchio
I love the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge). It is the oldest bridge in Florence and possibly the most recognizable bridge in Italy. The Ponte Vecchio is full of tiny little shops and stalls mostly selling gold jewelry and it’s always pretty busy with visitors. Make sure to wander the banks of the river Arno, as you can also find beautiful views of the bridge from there as well.

On my visit in 1992.

The beautiful Ponte Vecchio bridge.

And after you are finished seeing all the sights and museums, feel free to enjoy getting lost in this amazingly gorgeous city. There are so many beautiful little streets and open piazzas in Florence, with great restaurants, top designer stores, coffee shops and gelato places. Here are a few more photos from my trips:

The Church of Ognissanti (All-Saints Church)

Gelateria Perche no!… An amazing little gelato shop around the corner from our hotel selling many flavors including lavender gelato, which I loved!

Basilica of Santa Croce, another one of my favorite sights in Florence.

Views along the Arno River.

Our daughter posing by the Leaning Tower.

Duomo di Siena

Piazza del Campo in Siena, regarded as one of Europe’s greatest medieval squares.

Typical shop in Siena

View of Siena from outside the city.

Walls outside of San Gimignano.

Typical ceramic shop in San Gimignano.

Duomo di San Gimignano

Hilltop views from a side street in San Gimignano

Have you been to Florence or Tuscany? I would love to hear what some of your favorite spots are.

3Feb2016

Be Our Guest…

Posted in Food & Recipes, Travel & Adventure by listen2mama

We like to visit Disney quite often, my daughter loves going there, she considers it her second home. I’ve always had a special place in my heart for the Magic Kingdom, as hubby and I would drive up and spend the day during our early years of dating, and living in Miami, it makes for an easy weekend trip. I will say however, I have never been a fan of the food options at Disney. I get it, people don’t visit the parks for the food, unless you’re at Epcot, which is an entirely different experience. However, I have always felt that the parks should have more options than the stale sandwiches (I recently had one that was absolutely awful) and the same boring hamburgers and plain salads offered at most of their eateries. The only other place where we have had a decent meal at times is when we have reserved at Cinderella’s Royal Table. Well, someone must have been listening because the dining experience at Be Our Guest, the recently opened restaurant inside of the Beast’s castle, is exactly what I was looking for. So much so, that on our last trip a month ago, we decided to just call them up on the same day and see if any reservations were available, and sure enough they were, at 10:15 PM. Well can I tell you, that we grabbed that reservation right away, and the restaurant was completely packed with more people coming in for dinner after us.

Be Our Guest Entrance

The beautiful stained glass window at the entrance.

You see, we had already had the pleasure of dining at Be Our Guest on our trip last summer and we loved the entire experience. First and foremost, the restaurant offers 3 meticulously “imagineered” dining areas, each designed to immerse diners in the heartwarming mystery and romance of Beauty and the Beast. The first is The Grand Ballroom, which is where they always seat us. It’s absolutely gorgeous, you really feel as if you have actually stepped into the movie, with its high, domed ceiling, the beautiful chandeliers and snow-laced Gothic arches. The second room is The West Wing, which is a bit darker, may even be a bit scary for the little ones but this is where you can catch a glimpse of the enchanted rose. And the third is The Castle Gallery, resembling Belle’s private library, with the enormous figures of Belle and Beast dancing. As far as I know, you cannot choose which room to dine in, but you are invited to walk around and take a look at the entire interior of the restaurant.

The Grand Ballroom dining room

The gorgeous 12 foot chandeliers

The West Wing

The enchanted rose in the West Wing

Figurine of Belle & the Beast Dancing in the Castle Gallery

Now on to the food…

When we first arrived at our table, we saw the beautiful red napkins, folded like roses, my daughter (and I) loved that. Then came the yummy hot bread rolls (keep in mind we were starving). Of course my daughter fell for the tourist trap of the Souvenir Castle Goblet, a light-up castle-themed souvenir goblet with choice of fountain beverage, for ONLY $16.99, typical Disney. I started off with a cup of the Potato Leek Soup and it was one of the best I’ve ever had. Next came a menu full of divine options, including dishes like Sautéed Shrimp and Scallops with seasonal vegetables and mushrooms served in a puff pastry with a creamy lobster sauce and Layered Ratatouille, oven-baked zucchini, eggplant, mushrooms, tomatoes, and caramelized onions sliced and layered on quinoa served with a bell pepper sauce. Well, we all decided on the Grilled Strip Steak with garlic-herb butter and French fries. All I can say is that my daughter devoured hers. It was absolutely delicious! Important to note that the kid’s menu also offers items such as Mickey meatloaf, seared mahi mahi and whole-grain macaroni with marinara sauce. This is also the first restaurant in the Magic Kingdom to offer a variety of beer and wine (this has actually caused some controversies with some die hard Disney fans). I’m not a big drinker but who doesn’t enjoy a nice glass of wine with a late dinner?

The menu and the rose napkin…nice touch.

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Potato leek soup.

Grilled strip steak with French fries!

On to the dessert trolley….where do I start? They all looked amazing! My daughter of course ordered The Grey Stuff, a chocolate shell, cookie crème topped with Lumiere’s special “Grey Stuff”. We had heard about this and boy are we glad she ordered it, it was really yummy. I decided on a Strawberry Cream Cheese Cupcake, yummy vanilla sponge cake, strawberry mousse filling and cream cheese icing!

The dessert trolley…YUM!

The famous light-up castle themed goblet and the yummy desserts!

Well, we almost rolled out of this place, but the best was yet to come. Everyone has a chance to meet the Beast and have their photo taken with him on the way out (too bad Belle is not available too). Even though our daughter is already a teen, this was probably her favorite part of the night.

Meeting the Beast!

Dancing with the Beast…priceless!

All in all, we love this restaurant and will probably continue to have meals here on our visits to the Magic Kingdom. Next time I think I’d like to try breakfast! But make sure you make reservations WELL in advance, as they are extremely busy all the time.

Have you been to Be Our Guest? I’d love to hear what your thoughts are on this restaurant?

Be Our Guest Restaurant
Magic Kingdom Park, Fantasyland
(407) 939-5277

Breakfast
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Lunch
10:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Dinner
4:00 PM – 9:30 PM (although they take reservations past 11pm)

6Jan2016

Dazzling Dubrovnik

Posted in Travel & Adventure by listen2mama

Dubrovnik, or as it is known, the “Pearl of the Adriatic” is simply breathtaking, and according to playwright George Bernard Shaw “Those who seek paradise on earth should come to Dubrovnik”. I agree with him. While I have had the pleasure of visiting magnificent places along Italy’s Amalfi Coast, the French Riviera, and the Greek Islands, Dubrovnik was simply a place that was still on my bucket list, and I just had to check it off. After seeing so many glorious photos of this sleepy, medieval town (a UNESCO Heritage site since 1979), I just knew a visit to Croatia was a necessity. Luckily I was blessed with the opportunity of visiting Dubrovnik recently and it certainly lived up to its reputation, how could it not…beaches, cliff diving, ancient medieval town, beautiful terracotta roof tiles, great food, fantastic nightlife and add a bit of romance. And one of the things I also really enjoyed about this place was that even though we visited during the peak of the summer in August and yes, there were hundreds of tourists everywhere….I could still feel the difference, it’s not quite as spoiled as some of the other destinations like Venice or Mykonos, which was pleasantly surprising. Entering the city through Pile Gate, there’s still the feeling that not too much has changed.

Beautiful Dubrovnik.

More beautiful views…

But first I must brag a bit about our hotel, the Hilton Imperial…wow! Since I am all about the views on my trips, I had researched that certain properties in Dubrovnik offered amazing views of the old town and city walls. After looking into a few, we decided on the Hilton and splurged on a suite which guaranteed the coveted Old Town views, and it did not disappoint…here is what we saw while peeking out our windows:

View out of our suite window.

More views from our room…

Hilton Imperial Hotel

View of our hotel from the city walls (that’s how close we were).

In addition to the views, the hotel offered a delicious buffet breakfast and a number of different amenities, along with a fantastic location just a few steps away from the historic entrance at Pile Gate. There are also plenty of buses and taxis available right outside the hotel, making it easy to get round town and to the nearby beaches.

Dubrovnik’s picturesque city wall surrounds this gorgeous city perched above the Adriatic Sea. Tourists flock here to parade down the old town’s shiny streets, which again, in the height of the summer, can get quite crowded. But in my opinion, walking the city walls, cannot be missed. While walking the full perimeter atop the old city walls, (and no, you don’t have to walk the entire perimeter), you will be rewarded with the most amazing views. Perched up above all the orange rooftops and church spires, you can circle the city and gaze down on it while you take in the ocean and surrounding islands.

The steep stair you must climb to go up to the city walls.

The steep stairs you must climb to go up to the city walls.

Onofrio Fountain, one of Dubrovnik’s most famous landmarks.

Crowds of tourists walking through the main street of the old city.

The views from the walls.

More beautiful views…

For a fantastic panoramic view of this walled city, take the funicular up Mount Srd to the Napoleonic Fort Imperial, which overlooks the entire city. Scrub surfaced Mount Srd, stands 400 meters above Dubrovnik. It can be also be reached by car (15 minutes) or on foot (90 minutes walk). If you decide to visit the mountain, you’ll be able to enjoy some of the best views over the city.

Taking the funicular up …

The views of the old town are amazing!

Our daughter enjoying the views on the way back down.

As with most popular European cities, Dubrovnik has its fair share of traditional tacky tourist shops, as my husband likes to call them, along the main drag but don’t be discouraged. You can also find some places selling beautiful embroidered tablecloths and linen, Dalmatian wines, spirits (known as rajika), and delicious preserves and dried fruit, all beautifully packaged. Oh and the old city is a pedestrian zone, so you don’t have to worry about traffic as you wander through the marble-paved streets.

Some of the beautiful linens sold in some shops, all embroidered by hand.

Beautiful linens sold at Bačan Handmade Products, Prijeko 6

Beautiful linens sold at Bačan Handmade Products, located at Prijeko 6

Sugar coated lemon and orange peels are sold in certain shops, and packaged in cute souvenir bags.

My daughter loved these pretty ceramic figurines.

And of course in the 100 degree weather we were experiencing, a long day at the beach accompanied by a sunset cruise, is a must. We chose to visit Banje Beach, because of its location, with beautiful views of the walls of the old town and Lokrum Island which is nearby. I will say, as much as I enjoyed the beach with the crystal clear, cool water, I wish I would have brought some water shoes, as the beaches here are full of large stones and pebbles and by the time we left our feet were hurting quite a bit. There is a 2-hour sunset cruise along the Dubrovnik coast where you’ll need your camera to capture the most glorious sunsets while in your own private boat. See the city walls from the sea as well as various reefs, the lighthouse and Lokrum Island. In addition to this cruise, there are many other boat excursions leaving from the harbor, also offering terrific views of the coast.

Famous Banje Beach with views of the old town in the background.

Hubby and daughter enjoying the crystal clear and cool water…

Getting ready to board the submarine ride…

Here we go…

Views from the sub…

More views…

View of Banje Beach from the sub.

While there are many good restaurants in town to choose from (although for the more popular ones make sure you have reservations), fresh yummy seafood can be had almost anywhere. Take a look at this, right by the harbor:

Ready for a late lunch!

Fried sardines.

Fried calamari

And last but not least Dubrovnik is home to several locations used in filming the hit TV show Game of Thrones, which I know nothing about (gasp). Take a three-hour tour around the Dubrovnik old town to see where most of the filming took place. Upgrading your tour will include an extra one and a half hour trip to Trsteno Arboretum.

Here are a few more photos of our trip for your enjoyment.

Rooftops of Dubrovnik

Near Pile Gate entrance.

One of the many side street cafes.

The famous Clock Tower.

St. Blaise with its monumental stairway at center, and the Gothic column of Roland right in front.

The beautiful Venetian looking Sponza Palace.

Having some of the best pizza at Domenica Pizzeria…yum!

Enjoying some crepes and gelato at Dubrovka Cafe, which also offers amazing views.

Have you visited dazzling Dubrovnik? I would love to hear what you enjoyed most…

12Oct2015

Radiant Rhodes

Posted in Travel & Adventure by listen2mama

Rhodes, (Rodos) is one of the most beautiful of the Greek Islands. Situated in the gorgeous Aegean Sea and the largest of the Dodecanese islands, it’s actually closer to Turkey than it is to mainland Greece. We have traveled to Greece several times, primarily to Athens, Mykonos and Santorini, and somehow had never made it to Rhodes, until last summer. And boy am I glad we finally made it.

To begin with, out hotel was magnificent. Rhodes was the last segment of our 17 day trip and we were exhausted from so much sightseeing, not to mention the August heat. After extensive research (like we typically do), we decided to stay at the Atrium Platinum Hotel in Rhodes Town. This place was gorgeous from the moment you walk through the lobby and we had the luck of getting upgraded to an Executive Family Suite which had a sea view and a personal pool on the balcony! The room itself was super spacious and our daughter had her own bedroom and bathroom. The beds were so comfortable we had a hard time leaving the room after our nap. The breakfast buffet in the mornings offered everything you could possibly imagine, my hubby’s favorite being the crepe station with all sorts of toppings, especially melted white chocolate! However, if you’re planning on having dinner in the restaurant, men have to wear a jacket and pants (no shorts), and since we packed light for this island trip, we couldn’t have dinner there. Not a big deal for us though, we rarely have dinner at our hotels, as we love to explore and find recommended places in town. And the hotel’s main pool is amazing. My daughter never wanted to leave. Also worth mentioning is the mini-mart by the pool, selling everything from food and suntan lotions to souvenirs. Extremely convenient and less expensive than ordering from the poolside café, which took 30 minutes to bring us cold drinks. And if the beach is more your thing, just cross the street and enjoy the water. Take a look at this:

The pool at the Atrium Platinum

The Atrium Platinum Hotel

Crepes with white and milk chocolate.

Our daughter enjoying the heated private pool on our balcony.

The Old Medieval Town of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the oldest continuously inhabited medieval town in Europe. To wander through the town is a unique experience for all to enjoy, since it’s mostly a pedestrian area, with streets full of shops and restaurants. Although the back streets are mostly residential, particularly in the Jewish Quarter. The town is surrounded by medieval walls with several gates as entry points, most folks enter through Marine Gate, the main entrance to the town from the harbor. Inside of these walls are roughly 200 streets or lanes that simply have no name. However, in my opinion, getting lost and wandering around the streets is half the fun. It reminds me of the winding streets of Mykonos, which also have no rhyme or reason.

The entrance through Marine Gate.

The largest shopping streets appear to be Orffeos, Socratous and Aristotelous. Orffeos Street is a wide road with tourist shops and restaurants near the Gate of Saint Anthony, which connects with Socratous Street, the main shopping street of the old town. This becomes Aristotelous Street when you get to Ippokratous Square, the main square in front of Marine Gate, which surrounds a modest Castellania fountain, and is framed by the old Chadrevan mosque on the west and the Palace of the Castellan on the east. All around, coffee shops and restaurants are bustling with tourists hanging around, eating ice cream, sipping drinks and snapping a million photographs.

Shopping on Orffeos Street

More shopping streets

Shops on Socratous Street with the Suleiman Mosque in the background.

My daughter not knowing where to go next?

Beautiful ceramic hand painted crosses

After touring the sites of the old town, you might want to walk around the walls, which is a remarkable example of a fully intact medieval structure, although it can be viewed from just walking around the outside. Here are a few more photos for your enjoyment:

The d’Amboise Gate

The beautiful Suleiman Mosque, located on top of the town's hill at the end of Socratous street.

Beautiful Suleiman Mosque, located on the town’s hill at the end of Socratous street.

Ippokratous Square, the main commercial hub of the old town.

Gorgeous ceramic pottery sold at various stores.

St. Catherine’s Gate

The beautiful fountain on Ippokratous Square

Beautiful building behind us.

Another view of the shops.

A view of the harbor from St. Catherine’s gate.

A view of one of the island’s beaches.

View of the Acropolis of Rhodes from the taxi.

I would also strongly recommend if time permits, to take a day trip to Lindos and to also visit the nearby island of Symi. Unfortunately we ran out of time, but both places are high on our bucket list when we return to Rhodes. And don’t worry about driving if you aren’t renting a car, there are plenty of bus and ferry excursions available.

Have you been to Rhodes or any of the other Greek islands? I would love to hear what you enjoyed most…

21Sep2015

Sanibel Shopping

Posted in Beauty & Style, Travel & Adventure by listen2mama

Sanibel is one of my favorite places to visit for a quick, relaxing vacation. Living in Miami, we have the luxury of being less than a 3 hour ride away, so we take advantage of this, and spend many weekends (sometimes even day trips) in Sanibel. If you’re not familiar with the area, Sanibel is a barrier island located near Fort Myers off the Southwest Florida Gulf Coast. The island has a laid-back tropical, Caribbean feel that also offers breathtaking sunsets, great eateries (my favorite being The Island Cow) and fantastic shopping. It’s no wonder Sanibel was recently named the #1 family-friendly vacation spot in the country during NBC’s Today show. We love everything about the island and while we also enjoy visiting Naples and Marco Island, Sanibel remains our favorite. It’s so relaxed and cozy, I just love to spend my days on the white sand beaches collecting shells or riding bike through the adorable streets with the beautiful houses, and finishing off the day with a great meal and some fun shopping. And if you’re looking for beachy themed and preppy stores (think Lily Pulitzer, Vineyard Vines and Spirit Jersey), look no further. On our last trip it rained pretty heavily, so I had hubby take me from shop to shop (after all, I had to make use of my time there). Here are my favorite stores on this amazing little island.

FantaSea
2075 Periwinkle Way, #37
239.395.3300
www.fantaseasshells.com

This has to be the store that I loved most on my last trip. Everything in this shop is beach themed, including gorgeous bedding, scented candles, bath & body products, clothing, home accessories….you name it. Simply gorgeous, both the items sold and the store layout. Trust me, once you walk into this place, you will convince yourself you need to by a beach house and completely decorate it with items found here. Take a look at these…

I just had to buy the wooden sign and add it to my beach life collection on my windowsill.

Naples Soap Company
2075 Periwinkle Way
239.312.4236
www.naplessoap.com

So lately I have been coming across so many new soap, bath and body products stores (I have blogged about a few already). And I can’t help it, I love them all. On this last trip to Sanibel I came across The Naples Soap Company, offering all sorts of sea salt scrubs, bath bombs (I love those), olive oil soaps, body butters and shampoo and conditioner bars. Their soaps are all hand made in the US, and they use quality ingredients, which are all vegan-based, eco-friendly, and never tested on animals. Well, all of this sounds terrific, but all I know is that I bought my daughter a lavender lime bath bomb, which was literally…the bomb. The scent was amazing and she loved her bath. I also splurged on a Lavender Vanilla Sea Salt Scrub, which I just fell in love with.

Sand Castle Gifts & Gourmet
2075 Periwinkle Way, #20
239.472.2201
www.sandcastlegiftsgourmet.com

When you walk into Sand Castle Gifts & Gourmet you are immediately drawn in by the spicy scent, a result of their Sand Castle Seasonings, party dip mixes and seasoning blends, made in small batches on Sanibel, and sold exclusively in this store. This terrific little shop also sells many other Floridian treats like coconut patties, salt water taffy, Tortuga rum cakes, local honey and drink mixes in beautiful gift packaging. They also sell adorable coastal themed home accessories and gifts such as tumblers, kitchen towels, mugs and beach bags. You can’t miss this place.

I had to by one of these starfish kitchen towels, so cute!

Gifts for all!

Three Crafty Ladies
1628 Periwinkle Way
239.472.2893
www.threecraftyladies.com

OK, so I am super crafty, but sewing and knitting have unfortunately never been my thing. I can barely sew a button on. However, when I came across this beautiful shop, (the name of course caught my eye), I just had to stop in. The store had an incredible and unique selection of quilting fabrics, sewing notions, cross stitch patterns, scrapbooking papers, paints & canvases, arts and crafts supplies and so much more! They specialize in high-quality cotton fabrics, including a large selection of batiks and tropical prints. And if you have time and love to craft, drop by and create one of their Make-it-and-Take-it Souvenir Crafts, available most Thursdays from 10:00-4:00! I actually found some very unique Sanibel and Captiva scrapbooking papers that I had never seen anywhere else. Definitely a place to make a stop at, especially if you enjoy sewing.

My daughter, being the crafter that she is, loving this store!

Sanibel Island Bookshop, Jewelry & Boutique
1571 Periwinkle Way
239.472.5223
www.sanibelbookshop.com

The Sanibel Island bookshop carries a large selection of books, many by local authors, of which I picked up a few and can’t wait to read and review on the blog soon. They also carry some exclusive lines of jewelry, including Trollbeads, Kameleon and Lovelinks, as well as, Lindsay Phillips switchflops, Spartina bags, candles, toys and stationery items. Definitely a very unique bookshop, as their tagline says “A Great Place To Be Stranded”. Also worthy of a mention is MacIntosh Books & Paper.

Beautiful notebooks and journals for sale.

Many books by local authors.

Fresh Produce Sportswear
2075 Periwinkle Way, #33
239.395.1839
www.freshproduceclothes.com

This is one of the many locations of Fresh Produce Sportswear stores, offering fun, coastal designs and also a great selection of jewelry and Vera Bradley products (you know how much I love VB). Make sure to check them out when you’re visiting all of these great stores of Periwinkle Place. Also worth a mention, Simply Boutique, a few doors down from here, selling Lily Pulitzer, Spirit Jersey and various other accessories and clothing.

Great Vera Bradley selections at Fresh Produce.

Jerry’s Foods
1700 Periwinkle Way
239.472.9300
www.jerrysfoods.com

This is a charming grocery store, which anchors Jerry’s Shopping Center, also on Periwinkle Way, (most everything in Sanibel is located on Periwinkle Way), and it’s only one of two supermarkets on the island. The shopping center has a pretty courtyard, which offers outdoor seating for the eateries and also houses some gorgeous tropical birds in some very large cages, which attract a ton of attention from the tourists. You will also find some great shops in here, but the market is the main attraction. Oh, and inside the market, there is a café, serving local favorites such as the Grouper Sandwich. But what cannot be missed is their famous Jerry’s Key Lime Pie, voted the best in all of Sanibel, and trust me, I tried it and it’s got my vote as well.

The courtyard with outdoor seating in Jerry’s Shopping Center

One of the many tropical birds outside in the courtyard.

Jerry’s Cafe Interior; the best Key Lime Pie in Sanibel!

H2O Outfitters (Jerry’s Shopping Center)
1700 Periwinkle Way, #2
239.472.4717
www.beachstuffinc.com

Conveniently located inside of Jerry’s Shopping Center you will find H2O Outﬁtters, carrying a complete collection of apparel, accessories, swimwear and jewelry. Some of the premier clothing lines include Tommy Bahama, Tori Richards, Columbia, Billabong, Quicksilver, Life is Good, and the famous Spirit Jerseys (my daughter loved her Sanibel one). Definitely stop in if you’re looking for some good quality t-shirts and beach accessories. Owned by the same company, check out Beach Life in Chadwick’s Square, directly across from the South Seas Island Resort in Captiva, for additional brands from Lily Pulitzer and Vineyard Vines.

H2O Outfitters, photo courtesy of Beach Life.

H2O Outfitters, photo courtesy of BeachStuff Inc.

Sanibel Spirit Jersey

No matter what you like to shop for, I am sure you will find it in Sanibel. Have you ever visited Sanibel? I’d love to hear which shops you enjoyed most.

7Sep2015

Pasteis de Belem

Posted in Food & Recipes, Travel & Adventure by listen2mama

My family and I recently visited the gorgeous Portuguese capital city of Lisbon on our summer vacation. I promise a full post on this stunning place very soon, but today I would like to share one of our favorite memories from this trip….the cream custards found all over the city, the famous pasteis de nata. Let me start off by saying that we all love sweets in my family, but oh my….the moment I tasted these warm custard mini pies…I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Being Cuban, I have had my share of pasteles in my life, but I guarantee you, these were something quite different.

The yummy pasteis de nata

Pasteis de nata, traditional Portuguese custard tarts, are everywhere. All the cafes and bakeries have them, and in both of the hotels where we stayed at, they were a staple in the breakfast buffet. It is a common sight to see the locals enjoying their pasteis with their cafe in the morning. However, if you are looking for the absolute best ones in town (even considered the best by the Portuguese themselves, as our taxi driver was telling us), you must pick up some pasteis at Pasteis de Belem, a bakery in nearby Belem that’s been making these treats since 1837 when monks from the neighboring Mosteiro dos Jeronimos started selling them as a means of making money (their history is quite interesting and can be found on their website). The cafe is usually bustling with tons of tourists just waiting in line (yes there is a line outside most of the time, but it moves rather quickly), to order their delectable pasteis. Once I tasted these, I understood what makes them so famous. While most of the other pasteis throughout the city were also delicious, (they truly are sold everywhere), these were simply perfect. The flakiness and crispiness of the crust combined with the smooth, warm and creamy egg flavored custard was just divine. Oh and if you first look at them and think you got a burned one, do not worry, the tops are slightly burned so the sugar caramelizes. Some folks like to sprinkle cinnamon or powdered sugar on top, but I just ate my plain, I truly wanted to savor the flavor of these heavenly tarts everyone was talking about.

The lines of tourists and locals outside of Pasteis de Belem in Lisboa…

All I can say is thank goodness we walked for miles everyday in Lisbon, because we were eating these pasteis on a daily basis, and boy are we glad we experienced that slice of heaven.

Other delicious pastries and snacks sold in the cafe.

Pasteis with a cafe.

Pasteis de Belem, Lisboa

Interior of the cafe. Photo courtesy of Maisturismo News.

Have you ever tasted the famous Portuguese pasteis de nata? I would love to know your thoughts.

Listen2Mama

lifestyle. family. travel. food.

Category Archives: Travel & Adventure

Magnificent Marco Island

Summer of Sanibel

Gilmore Girls Road Trip

Day 1, Hartford

Day 2, Litchfield

Day 3, Kent

Day 4, New Milford & Washington Depot

Day 5, New Haven

Tantalizing Taormina

Fabulous Florence

Be Our Guest…

Dazzling Dubrovnik

Radiant Rhodes

Sanibel Shopping

Pasteis de Belem

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Day 1, Hartford

Day 2, Litchfield

Day 3, Kent

Day 4, New Milford & Washington Depot

Day 5, New Haven

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