Sea Garden - Tour ALL South Florida on a budget!

I looked up a few reviews on the Sea Gardens. After reading a few, I was a little afraid of the choice I had made in our accommodations in South Florida. Upon arrival, my worries were gone. This place was one of the nicest resorts I have ever stayed in (of course, I usually stay at a La Quinta off the interstate, but still, this place was very nice).

Now I know why they named this place the Sea Gardens -- every nook and cranny of the place is a spectacular garden. There are flowers and plants everywhere you look! The three swimming pools were very nice and two were heated. The resort has a nice gym. The location is ideal, just out of all the crowds.

My brother and I had a studio apartment, right on the ocean. The studio had a comfy queen size bed and a pretty decent fold out sofa bed. We had a small kitchen, dining area, and everything we needed to be comfortable for a week in 80-degree sunny weather.

Here are the few complaints I had. As soon as we got to the room, we realized the A/C did not work. The next day, they had changed out the A/C and we had no more troubles with it. The other small trouble was ants entering our room. These were not red ants (the kind that bite and hurt), but tiny, fast-moving, black ants. The locals called them sugar ants. I don't know if this is because they taste like sugar or eat sugar (but suspect the latter). The resort folks sprayed for ants and I think they entered the great anthill in the sky (or maybe they hid behind the oven until we left).

The beach was great. It had a lot of old people on it, but if you want to see the pretty people, just cruise on down to South Beach. After a few hours of that, you will yearn for the old folks back at the Sea Garden beach.

We got this hotel by using RCI Bonus Vacations. We paid $475 for the studio on the beach. I would stay at the Sea Gardens again in a heartbeat.

Finding a place to stay can cost a fortune in the Keys. We found a place, only about 18 miles from Key West. The Big Pine Motel is not fancy. It was very basic. It did have a nice pool. The owners were friendly. And it just barely passed the clean test. I suppose it is just under what one would expect at a Motel 6. The cost was only $79 per night. Compared to rooms in the Keys that run between $150 and $250 per night during the busy season, Big Pine is a deal.

You won't find Tark’s in many guides (although I did see it in one). This was our second trip to south Florida and the first place we hit was Tark’s. This great little restaurant will fill up your belly, as well as a few bps on your digital camera memory card. It is a 1950s style restaurant. Shawn is the owner and he is always behind the counter.

You sit at a counter in a horseshoe around the cooking area. If you order fish, ol’ Shawn reaches in the cooler and pulls out two giant hunks of grouper, batters them inches from your face, and tosses them in the fryer. Oysters? You guessed it: he pulls them off the ice and shucks them before your eyes. This place is as fresh as fresh can get and tasty too. You can get a brewsky for a buck or two and the happy hour special is $.25 Buffalo wings. If you want something a bit healthier, the mixed grill is great – the shrimp are plump, fresh, and juicy.

The place does not look like much from the road, but just park the car, cram in the door, and belly up the bar with some healthy (large) locals. If you fly into Ft. Lauderdale, get your rented car and hit Hwy 1 toward the beach. Tark’s is about four miles down the road, just past downtown Dania Beach, on the left. Tark’s is very easy on the budget -- prices are between $5 and $12 for meals.

Man, we were starving, and we could not find a place where regular people eat. Every eating establishment we found had wine lists and dim lighting. We were just looking for cheap local food. Then we found it, the FAU campus food court. The food wasn't great, but the price and variety was right (not to mention the eye candy). The food quality was about like a Ryan’s buffet or Shoney's. The price... $6.50...all you could eat. They had a great salad bar, Italian bar, burger bar, and American (chicken-fried steak, vegetables, bread) bar. There just are not many cheap restaurants in this area, so if you are near FAU, stop in for a quick, variety-laden bite to eat. Oh yeah, it costs $1 to park.

It is hard to find good, cheap food in Pompano Beach. This Mexican restaurant was just what we were looking for. We ordered the Jack fajitas and split them - they were very tasty. Margaritas were $2 each from 5-7pm. Very good chips and salsa.

What a find! This park is almost free -- they ask for a $2 donation, but it is worth 10 times that much. This little hike is a wonderful thing to do to get a real feel for the south Florida experience. You can spend $20 + to go to the butterfly garden down the road or do this budget adventure for next to nothing (and they have a butterfly garden too!).

Your journey begins at a very nice nature center. Here you can learn as much as you want about south Florida in elaborate displays. We skipped all that and headed out to the incredible raised walkways that they built through the mangrove swamp. On this walk, trees and plants are marked. The sunlight filters through the palms, and dances on the flora below. Bring your camera and bet ready to click that shutter. Halfway through the walk you climb a tower to the top of the canopy. What an amazing sight. Everyone should see the canopy from a treetop view. At the end of the walk, you will come to some giant saltwater tanks. In these tanks are all kinds of fish and turtles. They nurse sick critters back to health and them let them go in the wild -- very interesting. Rangers will tell you as much as you are willing to listen to about the trials of these handicap critters. We saw one of the most amazing fish in one of these tanks. They call them sea hares and they look like something in a Chinese buffet, but they have eyes and swim -- amazing.

We spent about two hours at this fine park/hiking trail. It’s located on A1A between the Intracoastal Canal and the ocean in Boca Raton.

This was not at the top of my list of things to do. I am not Jewish and came to Florida to have fun, not to be too serious. However, after visiting this monument, my appreciation for the freedom I have in America, even to enjoy a vacation, has hit an all-time high. We are so very lucky. This monument is about four stories tall and is in the shape of a giant hand reaching out of a pool of tranquil water. Etched into the arm are images of the Jewish Holocaust. It is amazing. I have never seen anything like it. Allow at least 30 minutes, maybe an hour, at this must-see sight.

The Botanical Gardens of Miami are just across the street. To chill out a bit, head over to these beautiful gardens and unwind. It is located right across the street from the Convention Center in downtown Miami. On your vacation have fun at the major tourist sights, eat some wonderful food on your vacation, but take a moment to see this monument. It will make your vacation twice as nice.

Yep, you guessed it. . . another free, but really nice thing to do in south Florida. I had just gotten a new digital camera and was eager to try it out. This garden was the perfect place. Hundreds of beautiful flowers dot this tranquil little park. A quaint little trail takes you on a journey into relaxation. We saw couples feeding each other grapes on the green lawns as we strolled along the red tile path. Fountains, flowers, and nature make this a nice little pause in the middle of a busy vacation. Oh, and you should see the cool pictures I captured!

I'm from Louisiana, and the best way I can describe South Beach is to compare it to Mardi Gras... Everyone should see it at least once in their lifetime.

First the problem with South Beach... parking. If you go to Soo Be when it is crowded (and that is the only time to go there), expect a trial finding convenient parking. Here's a hint... There is a great high-rise parking lot at the intersection of 6th street and US 1. It is only about 2 blocks from the skin...ummm, I mean surf and sun.

The beach and water is some of the highest quality in the area. It is packed with pretty people of all ages. The traffic is horrible, so unless you have a cool car and like to cruise in traffic jams, park and walk the beach. If you don't want the kids to see butt cheeks and nipples, stay at the beach at one of the many family resorts in a surrounding bedroom community.

Otherwise, slip on the flip-flops, and go for a walk in one of the unique places in this world. Soon the curves and bulges all become a blur...then head over to A1A (the street along the beach) and have a pricey, but entertaining, meal (my brother and I ate at Finnigan's. We split a veggie pizza and had a few cold ones, cost us about $25. You could spend much, much more if you wanted to) at the many restaurants along the strip. The best thing to do is get a seat by the sidewalk and watch South Florida unfold before your eyes. Allow at least 3 hours, go when the sun is shining and stay for dinner! The place is really a kick in the pants.

I was surprised that I enjoyed this mall so much. This is the place to go if you want reasonably priced food, much of it with a local flair. There are about 25 restaurants and food stands in this place (a few Cuban joints). There also over 100 shops at this mall. The cool thing about it is that it is built along the bay. From the center of the mall, you can take boat tours out into the bay, watch street entertainers, or grab a bite to eat. Of course, if you want to shop, that is the main attraction. But to my surprise, at about 6pm a local Cuban band started playing at the center open-air theater. People started dancing and clapping. It was a really festive place, and very safe.

The mall has security provided at a three-level parking garage. The cost is between $2 and $5 to park depending on how long you stay. Safety note: When we left the mall, in our rented convertible, at 9pm, I am so glad we had the roof up and the door locked. About two blocks from the mall, on the way to I 95, is a slice of living hell. The streets are dark, and the shadows are filled with thugs. I'm talking 90 thugs per city block, just hanging out. This was the only time I was frightened the whole time I was in South Florida. Don't let this deter you from your visit to Bayside. Just roll up the windows, and lock the doors when you leave the mall and head to the interstate.

This is a neat little deal. You park your car at the little boat dock near the foot of the Spanish Fort Bridge. A small shuttle boat will come and get you and take you to an island rich with history. Unfortunately, I cannot vouch for this experience personally, as the tour ONLY DEPARTS ON WEDNESDAYS AND SUNDAYS. None of the information we read on this experience explained that to us. If you are in South Florida on those days, plan this little adventure into your trip. It sounds really fun.

This is a really cool experience. Muvico is testing this upscale movie concept. The bottom of the theater is just like all others. The upstairs of this Muvico is called Premier, and houses a fine restaurant and upscale theater seating. The idea is to not have to drive all over town for dinner and a movie. The bar/restaurant is pretty darn fancy. After dining, you go to the balcony area, where patrons have their own private loveseat to watch the movie. The price is about $20 per person, which includes the movie ticket, drink and the movie. Expect to pay between $12 and $25 per person for a nice meal at the restaurant.

Half the fun of going to the Florida is the fascinating drive through the Keys. Here you hop from island to island connected by a series of bridges. Card Sound Road, at the entrance to the Keys, is supposed to be a scenic drive. Skip it - there was nothing to it. Instead, roll down the windows and smell the fresh salt air as you drive by island sights. There is plenty to do. We chose to stop at Baha Honda State Park; it was very interesting. Eating is another favorite thing to do. Porky’s (at the foot of the 7 Mile Bridge) is the best place to eat. Be sure and order the fried key lime pie. Yumm. Next to it is the 7 Mile Cafe. It was good also, but not as tasty as Porky’s. Porky’s also has live music in the evenings.

You could spend a whole day at this delightful park. The remains of a historic bridge are the highlight of the park. It has the fascinating history of the first road to Key West. There are not too many beaches in the Keys. Bahi Honda has one of the best in the country. In 1992, it was ranked the best beach in America. The park also has nice nature trails, a butterfly garden and lots of history on Henry Flagler. Free lectures are given daily. Cost is $6 per car to enter the park.

There is so much to do at Key West. We wanted to really get the feel of being out in the ocean, so we spent a minimal amount of time in T-shirt shops and walking Duval Street. The highlight of Key West is Zachary Taylor State Park. Here is one of the best, and only, beaches in Key West. Many Europeans frequent this beach, when they depart from cruise ships that dock only a mile away. Warning: some of them wear clothes, some don't. All are slim and trim. The beach is very nice and has lots of shaded areas. The water is beautiful. In the park is the fort. They give guided tours of the fort daily. Check the time of the tours at the entrance gate. Allow at least 1 hour to tour the fort, and as much time as you like at the beach. There is a nice snack bar at the beach. Cost is $5 to enter the park.

If you go to Key West, you must go to the southernmost point of the US and take a picture. Get a map in a tourist guidebook (you can pick them up in every restaurant in Key West) and it is marked on the map.

Duval Street is the place to go for dancing, nightlife, food, and shopping. It is very safe, but to tell you the truth, does not have much edge to it. Walk the side streets and see the beautiful churches and houses.

Historic Seaport - This is one of the more interesting places in Key West. It is at the end of Front Street. It is a great place to take photos of boats in the morning or late afternoon. Here the bars and restaurants have a lot of charm and character.

Mallory Square Sunset Celebration - This is a must-do in Key West, and doesn't cost a dime. The day we were there, thousands of people crammed the dock to watch the sun set. Cruise ships were coming and going, street performers were doing their thing, and street food vendors were cooking up a storm. This is a really neat thing to do in Key West.

Higgs Beach - This is a interesting little beach in Key West. Here there is a beautiful monument in memory of 1500 slaves that were rescued from a ship that wrecked just off the coast. Memorial opens at 9:30am and is free.