Vacation Recap

 We're back and had a lovely time!!

We thought long and hard before we decided to pull the trigger and take a vacation. I was able to use points & vouchers for all our hotel rooms, which kept costs down. Because the Keys have been very strict about masks & safety and our activities were largely outdoors, we decided the physical risk of potential exposure was outweighed by our mental need for a break

Day 1 of our trip was boring driving. We left home, stopped in Columbia for lunch at a place a friend recommended called Henry's. Sadly she was in quarantine so wasn't able to meet us. After a yummy burger we pressed on, stopping for dinner in Jax at a Cracker Barrel. We had hoped to make Merritt Island and have dinner with my step sister, but it wasn't to be. We didn't even get to her place until nearly bedtime! She is an interior designer and her home is a really cool contemporary design that is reminiscent of art deco - lots of curved walls and glass block. She has some art that is reminiscent of Florida in the 30s and 40s - all in all a lovely and unique home. We had a brief visit before crashing. It had been a long day and what I thought would be the single longest day of driving.

Day 2 was breakfast and a nice visit with Tracey before we pushed on to Morikami Gardens in Del Ray Beach for a lovely stroll and Japanese lunch from their restaurant. Then we were off to Coral Springs to do a drive by of my old house, stop at Costco for booze, and a long visit with my dear friend Ellen. After that we were off to the Mai Kai -- longest running Polynesian show in the US! And while it is a bit cheesy, the band and MC were all from Polynesia and the dances were very well done. It was truly special and a unique experience. After that it was about an hour and a half to our hotel for the next 2 days - the Hampton Inn in Key Largo.