Sharks in the Gulf of Mexico may have made headlines this summer, but lionfish are the real Jaws of the sea. The Indo-Pacific fish has devoured up to 90% of native fish in areas of the western Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean. Destin-Ft. Walton Beach hosts the largest invasive lionfish collection and outreach event in the world. As a judge at the Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Restaurant Week, I met excited conservationists, divers/hunters, chefs, and servers who educate the public on the most effective way to combat the lionfish invasion one bite at a time.
Lionfish multiply and consume at a rate that sounds like science fiction. Females can spawn from 27,000 to 100,000 eggs every 2.5 days. They invaded the western Atlantic, Gulf, and Caribbean where they have no natural predators by way of people dumping them from aquariums and from transport boats sunk by Hurricane Andrew.
One lionfish can consume 20 fish (each over one-half of their body size) in 30 minutes. They eat over 100 species of native fish (including 30 Gulf species like groupers, snappers, and lobsters). With rising water temperatures scientists predict lionfish will also invade coastlines in France, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, South Africa, and New Zealand. Another study found that Lionfish can eat 42% more food during the months when the water is warmer. Unlike most fish, Lionfish use more energy digesting food than they do swimming. They can eat 30 times their stomach volume. The good news is they move slowly, so divers find them easy to spear. Even with puncture-resistant gloves, however, harvesters must be careful to avoid the fish’s 18 needle-like spines. If pierced by one of them, the venom is very painful and could cause an allergic reaction.
During Restaurant Week I spoke with Coastal Resources Manager and Fisheries Biologist Alex Fogg whose method of lionfish removal in the Gulf has been so successful that he has he has teamed with global researchers to quell the invasion in the Mediterranean Sea. While he continues developing traps and remotely operated vehicles for harvesting lionfish from depths beyond diver accessibility, his main initiative — the largest lionfish hunt and festival in the world — provides a successful means of removal already within reach. In 2023, over 24,000 were cleared from the Destin-Ft. Walton Beach area. In 2024 despite storm conditions, over 11,844 were harvested at the yearly event and a record number of prizes were won. Join or sponsor the 2025 hunt here.
Lionfish are safe, nutritious, and delicious. Unlike pufferfish that are poisonous and need to be prepared by a professional, lionfish are venomous because of their spines. Once the spines are removed, lionfish are safe to handle and can be fried, broiled, or baked. They can be, served as sushi or in tacos — in many delicious ways. As the authors of The Lionfish Cookbook claim, “there’s no ‘greener’ fish you can eat.”
You can request lionfish at your local fish market or — if you’d rather leave cooking to the chefs (imagine a Lion vs. Bear challenge), then request lionfish be added to your local restaurant menu. We can create a demand in the hospitality industry, greatly impacting removal efforts as one way of saving our seas.
I also joined a demonstration by local artist, Harley Van Hyning, who gave children an art/conservation lesson on lionfish. Check out his work using the century-old Japanese art form of Gyotaku below and here.
Disclosure: I was a guest of Destin-Ft. Walton Beach for this event. The cookbook mentioned has an affiliate link. The opinions here, as always, are my own.
Disclosure: I was invited by Destin-Ft. Walton Beach as a judge at the Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Tournament Restaurant Week (more in next post). Since 2021 I’ve attended their live virtual media events to learn about “Little Adventures” — interactive experiences offered after COVID-19 to get children and their families outside. The initiative was such a success that in 2024 they’ll offer 700 free classes through local businesses and four outposts. I’m convinced this is THE Florida beach destination laser-focused on children and conservation. They’re the experts at creating both a bonding family vacation and a summer camp experience for all ages. As always, the opinions here are my own.
Best of Both Worlds: Summer Camp AND Family Vacation
Since the 1940s, my mom’s family has vacationed in the Florida panhandle. My dad went with us. Once. He preferred camping and fishing with Mom, my sister, and me in Kentucky. Our den was full of his fishing tournament trophies, so — no surprise — on his first cast into the Gulf of Mexico, he caught (and released) a sand shark. I wanted to fish in the ocean, too.
Our family started vacationing on Florida’s Emerald Coast in the 1940s.
I went to a Conservation Camp at Land Between the Lakes when I was eleven with my friend Sally. We won badges for archery, boating, swimming, and fishing, but cried every night in our bunks. Instead of gaining confidence from our new skills or feeling energized by adventure, we felt like wimps for missing our families. Some kids are ready for a week away from parents at that age. I wasn’t until I was a teen.
I signed up for Conservation Camp to please Dad. I figured I’d love it because I loved fishing with him. He’d crank the Mercury motor to a roar, then tame it to a growl as we glided through the No Wake Zone. When we took off full throttle, the bow bucked as we slammed across the waves. My sister and I laughed until we cried in the spray. When we reached his secret fishing spots, we’d troll into the brush and bait our hooks with minnows slippery and cold. I still like lakes — so much so that I live on one.
Old Hickory Lake is part of Lake Cumberland running between Nashville and Hendersonville, Tennessee.
But since I was a kid, I dreamed of living on snow-white sand beside the emerald waters of Florida. I would have loved a summer camp where we studied creatures of the sea. When I watched Neil Armstrong walk on the moon, I remember thinking: Meh. Space is cool, but I want to see what lives in the deepest parts of the ocean.
Nothing but blue skies and emerald water for exploring the Gulf of Mexico. Photo Credit: Destin-Ft. Walton Beach
Dad passed away at 57. Too soon. I’m grateful for all the summers we fished in Kentucky and that wonderful week we spent on The Emerald Coast when he went, too.
Destin-Ft. Walton Beach Offers Little Adventures With BIG Payoffs
Many Experiences are Free.
I returned to Destin recently where I’d vacationed years ago with my daughter and son. We did a dolphin cruise there with their cousins, but now the area is THE Florida destination for LITTLE ADVENTURES with BIG payoffs. For parents stressed about choosing between the cost of summer camp and family vacation, here you get the best of both worlds: free classes in nature led by expert instructors (“scouts” much like camp counselors) AND SO MANY bonding experiences for the whole family. Most of the free classes last about an hour.
Destin-Ft. Walton Beach has Pickleball courts and reefs for diving for “Big Kid” Adventures, too. . Photo Credits: Destin-Ft. Walton Beach
To help you decide which class or experience is right for your child based on age, interest, and other factors, they have online “scouts,” too — a Mom Squad (see chat box). In an age when most websites are run by bots, I can not stress enough how helpful speaking with local parents is. I chatted online with several of them who gave me invaluable intel. I loved staying at Henderson Beach Resort which provides bikes for Henderson State Park. You can also camp at the park. One of the Little Adventures meeting points is a short walk away.
Little Adventures meeting point located off Florida 30-A near Henderson Beach Resort.
Special thanks to Hayley Ardoin who emailed me this list of free family activities:
Little Adventures include fishing from the pier, kayak, charter boat, or paddle board. Photo Credit: Destin-Ft. Walton Beach
Summer Camp and Family Vacation: Memories Across Generations
It turned out that while I was in Destin exploring Little Adventures, my cousins were having them — riding waves and building sandcastles with experts just down the beach.
Uncle Preston and his great-grandson, Preston, on Florida’s Emerald Coast.Patterson, Preston, and Parker with their instructor from Skim the Gulf Destin. Photo Credit: Courtney NolandDan Castles is another Destin-Ft. Walton Beach Little Adventure. Learn more here. Photo Credits for shots above and below: Courtney NolandSkim the GulfSkim the GulfDan CastlesDan Castles instructor shows Parker, Patterson, and Preston sandcastle options for inspiration. Photo Credit: Courtney Noland
Benefits of Playing in Nature: Family Bonding, Emotional Health, and Increased I.Q.
Traveling is therapy for adults and children. According to Dr. Margot Sunderland, child psychotherapist, author of What Every Parent Needs to Know, and Director of Education and Training at The Centre for Child Mental Health, family vacations make children happier and smarter. Time away from work, school, and other obligations gives parents and children time for “attachment play” — unstructured time together in the pool, playing miniature golf, or fishing. She says this is crucial for bonding and self-esteem.
She adds:
But holidays aren’t just about bonding; they also help develop a child’s brain. On a family trip, you get to exercise two genetically ingrained systems in the brain’s limbic area: for “Play” and for “Seeking” (terms coined by Professor Jaak Panksepp, a neuroscientist at Washington State University.) The Play system kicks in every time you bury your child’s feet in the sand; the Seeking system is exercised each time you go exploring together.
Once you activate these systems in your own brain and that of your child, they trigger neurochemicals which reduce stress and promote warm feelings. With both limbic systems firing, family members can refuel emotionally….Using the Play and Seeking systems well brings about growth in the frontal lobe, the part of the brain involved in cognitive functioning, social intelligence and goal-directed behaviours.
Dr. Sunderland also noted that scientists have proven that just 20 minutes of “Green play” in a natural setting improves concentration.
(Green play) calms the body, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels… enriched environments — those that offer opportunities for social, physical, cognitive and sensory interaction — turn on the genetic expression of key ‘brain fertilisers’ in the frontal lobe, enhancing functions such as stress regulation and concentration, and improving physical and mental health. The brain fertilisers triggered in enriched environments are also associated with higher IQ in children.”
Big Adventures for the Whole Family: Destin Inshore Guides
So about that dream I had of fishing in the Gulf of Mexico… thanks to Captain Josh and Anna Calhoun, owners of Destin Inshore Guides and Emerald Coast Bait and Tackle, and hosts of the new series on Waypoint TV, Goin’ Coastal, it finally came true!
Captain Josh and Anna Calhoun of Destin Inshore Guides offer Charters for Fishing with Kids in Destin-Ft. Walton Beach. Watch their adventures on Goin’Coastal on Waypoint TV.
Josh has worked on boats since he was 14. Since he and Anna were teens, the high school sweethearts have fished together. Now parents to two young daughters, they specialize in Charters for Fishing with Kids.
Unlike most companies in Destin that require a 4-hour minimum, they offer two or three-hour fishing trips that are kid-centric. Moms know that the old adage, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy” isn’t true. As Anna laughed, “Everyone knows the youngest child controls family vacations.” If children decide they don’t like fishing, no problem. Captain Josh revs the motor and off they go on a dolphin or sea turtle search. They are experts in making family time fun on and off the water. To their daughters’ delight, the couple recently bought Goofy Golf, a Ft. Walton family institution since the 1950s.
Storms were rolling in (later that night there was a flash flood warning and tornado watch) so though we could see schools of redfish, they weren’t biting. During our three hours of fishing, we spotted two dolphins and I did catch (almost) three fish. None were edible and the biggest, a ladyfish — you guessed it — was the one that got away. Smart girl, she flipped off the hook when I tried to get her into the boat. Still, fishing with this couple was the highlight of my recent trip to Destin-Ft. Walton Beach. It was such an adventure, and they’re the nicest people you’ll ever meet!
The Edge Restaurant and Sky Bar: Delicious Fresh Catch (Whether Yours or Not)
Fishing charters are gulf to table or catch and release. The Edge Seafood Restaurant was on standby to cook my catch. Anna called The Edge to say we were coming in empty-handed. I was thrilled to hear what they were frying up as Plan B — a whole red snapper with pineapple mango salsa and coconut rice — my favorite fish dish since living in The Dominican Republic! We pulled into a slip and headed upstairs to the Sky Bar for lunch with a panoramic view of Destin Harbor, East Pass, and The Gulf of Mexico and live music.
The Edge Restaurant and Sky Bar, located on Harbor Blvd, is easily reached by car or boat.
The award-winning local hangout is the best perch in town for watching 4th of July fireworks, Christmas Boat Parade, and the annual Blessing of the Fleet of the world’s largest charter boat brigade. I appreciated meeting the owners, Chris and Heather Thomas, on their way to their child’s graduation. Their family roots include local fishermen. The Edge, built over the water, is named for the popular fishing spot where the continental shelf drops off just a few miles off the coast. Downstairs is casual family dining. They have several parking slips for boats. Upstairs is adults-only where friends gather on couches and around fire pits and the spacious bar. The view was spectacular and the food and cocktail delicious.
I was so excited to be on the water in Destin fishing and seeing Crab Island that I called dolphin “big fish.” Sign me up for this class immediately!
Whether the weather and fishing in Destin-Ft. Walton Beach is typical or not, families go home with summer camp and family vacation memories. Children actually look forward to writing that first fall homework assignment — an essay on “What I Did On My Summer Break.”
Henderson Beach Resort is a New England- style luxury complex in Destin, Florida. Photo Credit: Destin-Fort Walton BeachGuests at Henderson Beach Resort and Henderson Inn enjoy a private, spacious beach that runs along the coastline of Henderson State Park. Photo Credit: Destin-Fort Walton Beach
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Disclosure: I was a guest of Destin-Ft. Walton Beach and partners, including Henderson Beach Resort. As always, the opinions here are my own.
I was invited to be a judge at the Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Tournament Restaurant Week and Festival to learn how we can best fight the lionfish invasion one delicious bite at a time. I grew up fishing with my dad in Kentucky and vacationing on the Florida Gulf. Also, I enjoyed editing articles about sea creatures for A-Z Animals and believe that adults — not just students — should be able to write an essay titled “What I Learned on My Summer Vacation.” So after some research and a Zoom call, my response was a no-brainer. “I’m in!” Now I’m obsessed with lionfish and I’ll explain why (stay tuned).
For over a decade, solo travel has been my go-to when I need to rest and reset, but I knew that returning to a place with so many memories of vacationing with family and friends would be bittersweet. After many years away, I wasn’t surprised that Destin is off the chain with so many locally owned businesses, but it’s also now a major hub for global brands. Destin Commons alone has over 85 stores and restaurants. See where to eat and drink — iconic hangouts and new finds — listed at the bottom of this post. In the next post, I’ll share my adventure on the World’s Largest Charter Fishing Fleet in the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village and “Little Adventures” with a Mom Squad to help parents choose what’s age-appropriate and of interest to their children. Orlando may be the “Magic Kingdom” with Disney and Universal Studios, but Destin-Ft. Walton Beach is Florida’s kid-centric beach “Wild Kingdom.” As a new grandmother, I love that.
I also LOVED Henderson Beach Resort. Its location makes it a great home base to explore all that the area offers but be warned. It’s like Hotel California (in a good way). You can check out anytime you like, but you may never leave.
Smitten at First Sight
My 72-hour stay was booked from Thursday through Sunday. My flight was scheduled to arrive by noon, giving me the afternoon to unwind at the resort. After finishing my 43rd year of teaching (I’m also a caregiver of a parent), I couldn’t wait to splash in the pool, hot tub, and Gulf, then nap on a beach lounger under an umbrella. Sadly, my Thursday morning flight was canceled due to storms and rescheduled for Friday. Thankfully, my prayer was answered. I switched airlines and got the last seat on Southwest (they have the fastest route from Nashville to VPS). I arrived at the property five hours later than originally planned — only an hour before I’d need to Uber to our group dinner — but that was long enough to fall in love! Cue Etta James!
A lounger and umbrella on the private beach of Henderson Beach Resort is my idea of paradise.
Below is a quick tour of Henderson Beach Resort’s private beach, adult and family pools, hot tub, lazy river, vintage photography, and suite overlooking Henderson State Park and the Emerald Coast. Staff members, like Crystal Wisdom in the video at the rooftop bar and Gabby Armijos at Henderson Inn (the resort’s sister property where you access the beach), give a Southern-sized welcome that makes you feel at home.
Where To Be When Blue Skies Turn Gray
Sadly, the theme song of the weekend changed to another Ella Fitzgerald classic.
I remembered nothing but blue skies over Destin on previous trips, but on Friday, there was a tornado and flash flood watch. Storms loomed the next morning, so my beach yoga class was canceled. The Lionfish Festival scheduled for Saturday was rained out. Conservation and Cocktails was moved to Sunday when I’d be on a plane headed home. And yet, I had amazing new experiences on and around the water with Captain Josh and Anna Calhoun of Destin Inshore Guides; the Destin-Ft. Walton team and other guests at Harbor Tavern and AJs; Heather and Chris Thomas, owners of The Edge Restaurant and SkyBar; and artist Harley Van Hyning — all of which I’ll share in the next post.
I’m energized by new adventures and nice people. When bad weather created an itinerary plot twist, I powered on in the rain Saturday afternoon. I planned to return to AJs on Saturday night after a bubble bath. It was my last night — last chance — to dance to the band as I’d done with friends for years. The rain had stopped, and I might meet someone interesting.
From the tub, I could see the city skyline in the distance beckoning. From the wedding reception below, I could hear the band playing Whitney Houston’s, “I Want to Dance With Somebody.”
I wrapped myself in a robe and took my glass of wine to the balcony. Straight ahead was the lush, green park. To my left, waves crashed along the coast. Below, under a big white tent, the wedding party was in full swing. Above, the sky was painted by a beautiful sunset. I stayed on the balcony in the dark, enjoying the music and glow of a bonfire beneath me. Rather than go out, I indulged in guilty pleasures.
I slid under cool sheets and toasted the new season of Bridgerton. I popped another chocolate truffle into my mouth. Who did I think I was, Queen Charlotte, the Queen of England, lounging about eating bon bons? I remembered the phrase Dolce far Niente that Italians taught me twenty years ago. Ah, “the sweetness of doing nothing,” I relaxed to the rhythm of the tide, breathed in the salty air, let go of doing, and enjoyed just being.
Welcome gifts — California wine, the chef’s chocolate truffles, and San Pellegrino — were waiting at Henderson Beach. Resort. There’s a station with my favorite Starbucks coffee in the room and across the hall where there’s also sparkling water on tap.
A Sunny Sunday Kind Of Love
On Sunday morning, Ella was singing a new song in my head.
I walked on the beach, then journaled and had breakfast on the wraparound porch at Henderson Park Inn just steps from the water. I met a couple who had returned to celebrate their 40th anniversary. Later I relaxed on the softest, whitest sand to the sounds of waves and children laughing in the surf. I had an 11 AM Uber to catch.I made a wish. Please let all departing flights be canceled today …
Henderson Beach Resort was the sum of my favorite things. New England-style seaside elegance. A safe community with onsite events, a fitness center, a spa, great restaurants, two bars with live music, and bikes included with the resort fee. White sand and Caribbean-colored waters on a private beach off Old Florida’s Highway 98.
They made everything so easy. Lingering over coffee on the balcony. Going up for a rooftop drink and live music. Going down for big breakfasts and dinner at Primrose where I had a luscious fillet of beef. My massage was so soothing I fell asleep. Kirstin is amazing!
Breakfast at Henderson Beach Resort is served in the Primrose dining room or you can opt for room service and eat on your balcony.Henderson Beach Resort has an adult-only pool but the result is family-friendly.The massage by Kirstin at The Henderson Spa began by choosing from quality oils (I always choose Neroli Blossom which reminds me of living in Morocco) and ended with Tibetin chime (needed because I was so relaxed I fell asleep).Henderson Park Inn is an adults-only getaway where couples honeymoon and return for anniversaries.200-acre Henderson State Park separates Henderson Beach Resort and Henderson Park Inn from high-season crowds.There’s nothing like Florida’s Emerald Coast.
When I did leave the resort, my favorite spot was the sister property, Henderson Park Inn, a beautiful place to journal and watch waves over breakfast.
*Thanks to Pier House for reviving my mind, heart, body, and soul. As always, the following opinions are my own.
Wishing you could just ride (or sail away) into the sunset?
Sick of winter or overwhelmed by a longer season of taking care of business, children, grandchildren, or parents?
Recently I found the port in the storm I needed.
Sure, Pier House Resort and Spa in Key West is a destination for dream weddings, honeymoons and anniversary celebrations. But it’s also PARADISE if you need a Solo Soul Retreat. A safe harbor of beauty and a launchpad for adventure. A place where I enjoyed some solitude and experienced the kindness of strangers.
If one of your resolutions this year is to take better care of yourself, this is the place. Put it on your Bucket List — not in spite of but because of loved ones depending on you.
Take a quick look at just a few reasons why Pier House Resort & Spa is the #1 place in Key West to rest and reset.
“I find there is a quality to being alone that is incredibly precious. Life rushes back into the void, richer, more vivid, fuller than before.”
— Anne Morrow Lindbergh,Gift from the Sea
Pier House Resort and Spa, a destination in its own right, is located on Fantasy Island, a.k.a Key West. If you’ve heard that all the beaches are manmade and that deters you, don’t let it. An island in the largest living coral reef in the Continental U.S. (and 3rd largest in the world) where you can play in the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico is something to behold. Key West is a three-hour scenic drive from Miami, a ferry ride from Fort Myers, and accessible by commercial airlines.
Key West feels like the Caribbean where I lived for a year minus the worries of what can happen if you leave the resort. The town is the best of Old Florida with a twist of New Orleans quirk. But members of The Conch Republic pride themselves in being different from the rest of the state — or anywhere — for that matter. You have to love rebels with a cause who are celebrating over 40 years of Fun-dependence since they staged a kind-of-coup in 1982. They’re an inclusive bunch, inviting you to celebrate this historic moment with them in April and every sunset year-round.
From the moment I saw from my plane fleets of sailboats bobbing below on emerald, turquoise, aqua, and midnight blue waters, I was smitten. I loved walking down the ramp and across the tarmac to the tiny airport (4 gates) as if in some classic movie. If you’re a romantic, too, I advise you to experience the Key West International Airport before the completion of the expansion in 2024.
Getting around couldn’t be easier. The Lyft driver met me at the pickup point a few steps from Arrivals within 5 minutes of my call. I paid $20 for the 15-minute drive to Pier House, and other than hitching a ride in a Pedicab and sailboat, I enjoyed walking everywhere during my 3-day stay. You can also rent a bike, Vespa, or go-cart to explore the 2 by 4-mile island.
Riding along the Malecón took me back to The Dominican Republic. The temperature was 75, 40 degrees warmer than the temperature in Nashville when I left. Palm trees, oh, how I love palm trees! waved a welcome as did the waves, clear and blue as the sky.
We rode through the Historic District of Old Town Key West where homes and churches circa 1800s – early 20th century line the streets. Pretty in pink, yellow, and blue hues, they have shuttered windows, verandas, and gardens with white picket fences. Similar to architecture in New Orleans, there are stately two-storied, white- columned homes, Spanish Colonials, and Queen Annes with gingerbread trim and whimsical gables, turrets, and towers. The single-storied conch cottages or “cigar houses” built by Cuban cigar makers are charming.
My plan was to drop my bag off at the resort and explore until my room was ready. I’d caught the Allegiant red- eye flight at 6 AM to get the $150 roundtrip deal. Allegiant flies to and from Nashville on Fridays and Mondays only, so I was happy to get an early start on my weekend. I got up with the chickens so I’d decided to have breakfast with the roosters at Blue Heaven built on the site of the Key West Arena in Bahama Village where Ernest Hemingway refereed open-air boxing matches.
Normally I like getting my bearings in a new place with a low-key food tour where I also get a local’s tip on where to eat. This trip I was THRILLED that I’d be eating meals at the resort not only because the menu looked amazing but also because I was too tired to make decisions. I’d left the house at 3:30 AM, but, to be honest, I arrived weary from becoming a full-time caregiver last April. As I often felt as a single mom from the time my kids were tiny, I just wanted someone to take the wheel. I was armed with a map and directions, but when a pedicab driver with big personality and a cute little friend named Oliver offered me a ride and impromptu tour in his pedicab, I hopped in.
In our short ride I learned about “South Vegas,” saw The Harry S. Truman Little White House Museum, the former home of Kelly McGillis (Top Gun, Witness actress who moved to Key West in the early ’90s to raise her family in the friendly, small town), banyan trees, roaming chickens, termites, Mile Marker 0 (end of Highway US 1), and “the best people on the planet.” It was a joy ride.
The Lobster Benedict, live music, and roosters lived up to the hype at Blue Heaven. The wait was over an hour, but you can eat at the bar straight away if there’s an empty chair. I like doing this when alone because it’s a way to meet locals and other travelers who’ll give you their must-sees and don’t-dos. Trey from Ohio who often comes to Key West with his sailing friends sat down beside me and did just that.
Quick Travel Tale for Caregivers on Why Getting Away is Important
As I started breakfast, the lady I’d hired to care for Mom called. I couldn’t hear her questions over the band or understand her text. Afraid something was wrong, I said I’d call her from outside as soon as I paid the check. Trey saw that I was shaking, told the waitress (who was slammed) to add my tab to his, and insisted that I go. He said, “My dad passed away a few months ago. It’s a good thing you’re doing.” I told him I haven’t been doing it so well lately.
I actually felt like a failure. I share this story because 1) there are kind people in the world and plenty of them in Key West, 2) if you’re a caregiver to the elderly and feel isolated, know that you’re not alone. According to the CDC, 80% of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia are receiving care at home. Approximately two-thirds of dementia caregivers are women… and approximately one-quarter of dementia caregivers are also caring for children under age 18. 3) Give yourself a break. Mom and I have had fun together and share moments I’ll treasure forever. But some days I’ve felt depressed, irritable, and frustrated, then guilty because I can’t imagine how hard many days feel to her. A social worker told me that no matter what we do, don’t do, or how we do it, when our parents are gone we feel we should have… could have… done more. She said burnout is real, and if we don’t put on our own oxygen mask we can’t care for others. My mom knew this when my kids were little. She’d take them once or twice a year while I went alone to a Tennessee B & B. I returned a better mother. After Key West, I returned a better daughter.
Beautiful Place
By the time I returned to Pier House, my room was ready. As the video shows, the property is a tropical hideaway in the #1 location in Key West. The address is literally 1 Duval (Duval being the main artery of town pulsing with restaurants, bars, and shopping all the way to the Southernmost Point in the US. Steps from the front door of the resort are Sunset Pier and Mallory Square where folks from everywhere on the 2 x 4- mile island migrate daily to toast the sunset. Everyone is invited to the party. I met new friends there and on the property. Pier House Key West is the perfect place to retreat or engage as needed.
These 2 photos are courtesy of Pier House Resort and Spa Key West
There was room for a party on my balcony, but I enjoyed relaxing to the rhythm of the Gulf below. The view from my comfortable bed in my one-bedroom suite was stunning. Pier House also has two-bedroom Ocean View Suites and a Presidential Suite, which encompasses the entire top floor of the building overlooking the harbour.
The property has 119 rooms, 23 suites, a private beach, pool and hot tub, an award-winning spa, a beach bar and One Duval on the Gulf of Mexico. Pier House was listed #1 Best Hotel in Key West by Southern Living magazine in 2022, received the Experts’ Choice Award in the 2022 Trip Expert Awards, and was voted Top 13 Resorts in the Florida Keys in the 2021 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.
Great People
People who Make Pier House Home
The resort and spa staff took such good care of me I was tempted to never leave. I immediately bonded with Thekla who has been working in the spa for over twenty years. She says Pier House feels like a family. She is from Salzburg, The Sound of Music city I adore and was intrigued about solo travel. I loved hearing about her journey from Austria to the Keys. By the time we were finished, she said she is going to take her first solo trip to her Dream Destination, and I had a podcast episode I’ll share with you soon.
Other staff members who made me feel at home were Roman from The Czech Republic, Joko at the beach bar, Naz and Cristina at One Duval, Marc, a bartender at The Chart Room, and Lee, the Concierge who gave me tips to chart my course when I arrived. Turns out, even when I went rogue, he saved the day. Literally.
I saved 2 Bucket List items for last — deep sea fishing and The Hemingway Museum. I planned to call the post, “The Old Lady and the Sea.” Being a do-it-yourself, bargain-hunting kind of girl, I booked a fishing charter online with my go-to tour company. I bought a sunblock shirt at CVS on the corner, a pair of shorts at a $5 shop a local lady volunteered to take me to, and a pair of wraparound sunglasses. I grew up fishing with my dad on lakes in Kentucky. A Hemingway sort himself, he’d caught a sand shark the one time he fished in Florida. I was soooo excited to finally fish on the high seas.
The Hemingway Museum was amazing. (More on that in another post.) When I stopped by Lee’s desk to ask where to catch the boat for the 2:30 fishing excursion I’d booked, he looked worried. He called the captain. There was no 2:30 trip on Sunday, just one at 8 AM. The captain offered to take me on Monday, but I told him I was leaving the next morning. I wanted to cry.
“Let’s get you on the water,” Lee said kindly.
It was too late to book a fishing charter, but he had many other options. I said a sunset cruise with food, drinks, and live music would be great. I mentioned a rambunctious crew I’d heard on a party boat my first night, but he steered me away. I listened because I’d learned a lesson. Let local pros handle your stay. They truly know best. He broke down several cruises by company, type of ship, food and drink, music, and number of passengers.
Lee’s expertise can also help with parasailing, biking, scuba diving, reef snorkeling, dolphin swimming, jet skiing, rain and trolley rides as well as:
Red Barn Theatre
Fort Zachary Taylor
Harry S. Truman Little White House
Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square
Mel Fisher Maritime Museum
Hogs Breath Saloon
Sloppy Joe’s Key West
Fort Jefferson and Dry Tortugas National Park
Key West Aquarium
Ernest Hemingway House
Don’t Miss The Chart Room
Pier House was actually built around this institution. Check out photos of Jimmy Buffet starting his career here and other celebrity sorts. Great drinks and free popcorn, peanuts, and hot dogs nightly.
The Key West Effect
Poets, pirates, parrot heads, and painters…bikers, hippies, cowboys, and sailors. Boomers to Zoomers … animals with attitudes … in Key West, fun is had by all.
In reel below, I learned at Island Cigar Factory all about Alvin’s Doggy Speed Dating and wedding. And at the Hemingway Museum, cats spread their paws in boredom knowing tourists are searching for that 6th toe. Pets are welcome at Pier House Key West. For a Pet Fee you get bowls for food and water, a luxury pet bed, a flashlight and waste bag holder and Pier House treats.
Fun Fact: The Hemingway Museum consulted a cat therapist to be sure the growing number of descendants of Snow White, a gift to Hemingway’s son, were doing ok. A couple of the cats were enjoying the bed during my tour of the home. Obviously, all is well.
Happy Sails to You, Key West, Until We Meet Again…
Something about the sun melting into the Gulf of Mexico makes everyone happy.
I met Dennis and Teri the first night. They had a rental for a month and had biked to Sunset Pier for the Sundown Celebration. Though retired, they help their daughter by caring for grandchildren. Thanks for the Rum Runner!
I met Jane and Joe on the last night on a sunset cruise celebrating Joe’s 75th birthday. They said they aren’t into partying, but found so much history to enjoy in Key West.
Pretty ladies from California enjoying the cruise, too.
By the time we glided into the port that last day, I was a different person. I’m still smiling. My administrator noticed it at our spring semester kickoff meeting, marking my 80th semester of teaching. Last August, I’d started this 40th year clearly exhausted.
“You seem so calm,” she said.
“I am,” I grinned. “I just got back from Key West.”
The post below was first published in December 2021. Since then, Fort Myers has rebuilt after Hurricanes Ian, Helene, and Milton and welcomes us back!
Fort Myers, Florida, “The City of Palms,” is worth fanfare. If you’ve joined my two-year expedition down the southwestern coast of Florida, you know that I’ve fallen in love with the southwest coast of The Sunshine State. Here I’ve found the white sand and clear aquamarine waters that I played in as a child on the Panhandle’s Emerald Coast. But I’ve also found educational, historical, and cultural treasures. I’ve felt welcome in a community that still marvels at manatees and dolphins and salutes sunsets with bagpipes, conch shells, and guitars. Fort Myers offers much more than a beach. The River District has a beautiful marina and charming downtown with cool restaurants, shops, historical sites, and events.
Built in 1901 as the Bradford Hotel, The Arcade Theatre opened in 1914 as a Vaudeville house and in the 1920s became a movie theater.
Why Travel?
If wellness is a goal for the new year, multiple studies have shown that merely planning travel gives our mood an instant boost. Amy Blankson, author of The Future of Happiness and authority on health and wellness in the digital era, explains in Psychology Today:
The anticipation and sense of hopefulness for better times can keep us motivated and excited for the delayed gratification of a getaway. This ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ often has a long-term mood-boosting effect and can help us relax as it puts us in the mind frame of a more soothing future.
And about that light…
Sunlight provides Vitamin D and releases higher levels of serotonin which lowers anxiety while elevating mood, focus, sleep, and immunity. (I can attest to the power of perpetually sunny skies. While living in Marrakesh, Morocco, I felt happier and had more energy year-round.)
Travel is also a way to reconnect with people we love as we create shared memories of precious moments. Solo travel provides opportunities to reconnect with ourselves and Creator as we discover (or remember) our passions and purpose. It can also push us to make new friends.
A getaway provides escape into a new world where we can try on another life, explore, learn. It provides not only adventure but also perspective. Miles create distance from our problems, sadness, or stress. We can rest, recover, rethink, and reset when we see the Big Picture. Sometimes this means rising above obstacles and changing our focus literally. I’ll never forget the beauty I saw and gratitude I felt looking down from a balcony on a Spanish hillside or out from ramparts on the African coast. Morocco taught me the gift of rooftops whether places to gather or to be alone. I started 2021 by looking down on the lights of Sarasota from a rooftop New Year’s Eve party at Art Ovation Hotel. I ended it by looking down on Fort Myers from Beacon, the appropriately named rooftop of the luxurious Luminary, another hotel in the Autograph Collection® of Marriott International. (No surprise that their 2022 Rooftop NYE Party quickly sold out, but you can still see fireworks and the Ball Drop at the New Year’s Eve Downtown Countdown. )
View of Fort Myers Bridge from Luminary Hotel Rooftop
Why Fort Myers River District?
If you like winters with sunny skies and 70 degree temperatures… a walkable downtown with eclectic shopping and dining outdoors on rooftops, by the river, or along a red-bricked Main Street… art galleries, live music, museums, theatre, symphony, opera, or ballet… Spanish Floridian, Art Deco, or Modern architecture… inspiring and beautiful places like the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, … then this is your place. Seriously, the downtown area is one of the prettiest I have seen.
Finds in The Franklin Shops on Main Street reminded me that travel inspires us to…
Inspiration found in Franklin Shops, Main Street, Fort MyersMain Street Fort Myers, FloridaThe original Ford’s Garage (located on Main Street just a few blocks from the Edison and Ford Winter Estates) is the place for craft beer and a burger. Vintage Fords and gas pumps give it a 1920s service station feel while the copper bar recalls the Speakeasys.And speaking of Speakeasys, Capone’sYou could make a day of exploring vintage and consignment shops here.
Other Reasons to Choose Fort Myers for a Getaway
Location
Approximately 20 miles from downtown are Fort Myers Beach located on Estero Island, Sanibel Island, and Captiva Island with world-famous shelling, wildlife preserves, and an “Old Florida” feel. And if you’re up for a vast adventure, The Everglades, an UNESCO World Heritage site, is only two hours away.
Fort Myers Beach Photo Courtesy of Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel
Attractions for All Kinds of Travelers in All Seasons
In 2021, MSN, Travel & Leisure, HGTV, Fodor’s Travel, Fishing Booker, Country Living, U. S. News & World Report, Yahoo Life, Coastal Living named Fort Myers, Sanibel, and Captiva as top getaways for many reasons, such as uncrowded family-friendly beaches and outdoor spaces, tropical beauty, charm, island living, wildlife, shelling, fishing spots, and other hidden treasures. And I can vouch for its allure for a couple, family, friend, or solo getaway because I’ve experienced all of them there myself.
Alligators in Fort Myers Six-Mile-Cypress-Slough Preserve (Photo Courtesy of Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel)
(Aerial shot courtesy of Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel) ‘Tween Waters on Captiva Florida (more on this “Old Florida” property in a later post)
Art is everywhere. (Photo Courtesy of Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel)
Shelling (Photo Courtesy of Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel)
Roseate-Spoonbill at Fort Myers Beach (Photo Courtesy of Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel)
Photo Courtesy of Fort Myers & Sanibel
Photo Courtesy of Fort Myers & Sanibel
Photo Courtesy of Fort Myers & Sanibel
Shelling (Photo Courtesy of Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel)
Luxury Stay: The Luminary Hotel & Co.
Luminary Hotel & Co. is located in the historic Downtown River District on the Caloosahatchee River, The AAA Four Diamond luxury property — the first in the area of the Autograph Collection® of Marriott International — first lit up the waterfront and city in late 2020. The hotel, decor, and restaurants are named for visionaries and innovators, such as Thomas Edison and Henry Ford whose winter estates are within walking distance. They converted the area from a cattle town to a historical, cultural center. Today snowbirds, locals, and tourists flock to the 12th floor rooftop bar nightly to do what’s customary in these parts, watch legendary sunsets with a drink or meal. My room was perfect. I felt like Kate Winslet in The Holiday when she raised some fancy window shades with a remote, read in bed, and took a dip in the pool below. The shower/bathroom was the largest I’ve seen in a hotel suite and the branding throughout was very Gatsby.
Florida Rep
Morning walks along the docks
Fritto Misto at Beacon Social Drinkery, Luminary’s Rooftop Bar
Southern grits, eggs, sausage and gravy at Luminary’s Ella Mae’s
Sidney and Bernes Davis Arts Center
Julie Obney’s oil painting Glasses on display at the Sidney and Bernes David Arts Center
At Oxbow I had fresh oysters and a Grouper Sandwich.
Virginia Newsome, Sean Royal, Hillary Ekwall, Leeds Hill, Jackie Schram, Gary Troy, Haley Clay, Julia Rifino, Ysabel Jasa, Dillon Feldman, Andrew Hubacher, and Alexis Fishman in “Cabaret” at Florida Repertory Theatre. Photo Courtesy of Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
Fort Myers is the class of a cosmopolitan city and the heart of a small town. The Edison Festival of Light Parade kicking off the holiday season Photo Courtesy of Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel
Island Hopper Songwriter Fest 2021, presented by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau, Cat Country 107.1 and BMI. Photo by Brian Tietz Courtesy of Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
Sincere thanks to The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, Luminary Hotel, the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, for your hospitality. You fed my mind, body, and soul with art, beauty, random roaming, and coral skies of hope.
I’ve used Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) twice and Dolphin Transportation and Punta Gorda Airport (Allegiant Air) once, both about a 30-minute drive from downtown/River District.
We celebrate the holidays with light, a symbol of hope that dispels darkness. This month as I walked the grounds of the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, I felt the restorative and illuminating power of light and beauty. As I listened to waves lapping the shore and watched the sun casting a golden glow on the Caloosahatchee River, I felt peace and renewal.
I’m not alone. From now until January 2, 2022 (closed Christmas Day), locals, resident snowbirds, and guests will continue to gather at the 46th Annual Holiday Nights Celebration at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. If you can’t join them this year, put the event on your calendar for next, but plan a trip to Fort Myers, Florida now where abundant beauty illuminates and rejuvenates visitors all four seasons. Located 11 miles from the Southwest International Airport, the Estates are a global destination, but if you want to stock your garden with plants propagated on the property, make it a road trip. There are also lectures and workshops on a variety of gardening topics.
‘There is only one Fort Myers in the United States, and there are 90 million people who are going to find it out.”
Thomas Edison
His words have proven true as Edison’s winter estate is one of the most visited historic home sites in America and named #1 of the 10Best attractions in Fort Myers by USA Today.
I admit it. Until recently I did not know the scope of Thomas Edison’s genius or his connection with Fort Myers. Until 2020, I knew little about the southwestern coast of Florida — its beauty, abundance, and power that inspires and restores. I didn’t know that Edison was one of the first snowbirds who not only spent winters in the Sunshine State but also created a retreat that fueled his passion, fed his genius, and sustained his work.
Thus before he created the first home phonograph in 1896, the first office dictation machine in 1908, the first disc record and phonograph in 1909, or most of his other accomplishments, Thomas Edison knew he needed a place to feed his soul. In 1885 he found a cattle town where he bought a 13-acre property for $2750 where he built a lab and home which he named “Seminole Lodge.” A widower with three children, he married Mina Miller. They honeymooned there and had three children of their own.
He died in 1941 in New Jersey. Ford sold his estate in 1945 for $20,000, the amount he paid for it. In 1947 Mina deeded the estate to the city of Fort Myers, and in that year she and Ford died. Below are photos of the home and guest house decorated as they were when the family lived there.
13 of Edison’s lights are in the home.
Edison built the pier first so materials from Maine could be shipped via river to build his new home. There was no train here until 1904 or good roads until after 1910.
“It is the marriage of the soul with nature that makes the intellect fruitful, and gives birth to imagination.” — Henry David Thoreau
On the 20 acres are more than 1,700 plants of 400 species from six continents.
I agree with Lisa Wilson, Marketing & Public Relations Director and my tour guide. The Moonlight Garden is my favorite space, too. In 1928 Edison built it behind his new study. (See video.) Photo: Courtesy Edison Ford Winter Estates
Edison built the first residential swimming pool in Fort Myers. The only other pool was at a hotel.
Almost as large as the Banyan tree (thought to be the largest in the continental US) planted in the late 1920s (located outside the museum) is Mysore Fig this one near the River. See both in the video. The roots are as tall and thick as park benches. Under its shade many couples have wed.
Palm trees are not only ubiquitous on the property but along McGregor Boulevard where the Estates are located. Once cattle were driven here to Punta Rassa to be shipped to Cuba. where the Estates From Central Florida, cattle drives went right through town and down the river to the port at Punta Rassa, where cattle would be shipped to Cuba.
Stroll by roses, coconuts, citrus trees, lilies, succulents, and flowering shrubs.
Darth Vader Tree Under the Stars at the Edison Ford Estates
Edison cared about making his inventions affordable and accessible as well as his estate. This year at Holiday Nights nearly 60 local schools are participating in the 13th annual Edison and Ford Winter Estates Children’s Tree Trail. Students created ornaments from recycled materials with stipends from the Estates. The Estates host children and their families —some who wouldn’t be able to do so otherwise —to see the decorated trees and Estates.
The Lilly Pond was added in 1929
The Luminary Hotel is where I stayed just a short Uber or Lyft ride or walk away.
I love that Edison didn’t spend all of his time in a lab but was curious about so much of life around him. He loved to travel, camp, and fish with friends and their families. He loved Florida’s warm temperatures, natural resources, and people which is why he named his estate “Seminole Lodge.”
Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone who formed the Edison Botanic Research Corporation (EBRC) in 1927. Photo courtesy of Edison Ford Estates
In 1896 Henry Ford meets Thomas Edison at a Detroit Edison Illuminating Company conference where Ford worked. In 1912 they worked together to improve the storage battery for the Model T. In 1901 Ford began spending winters at his Florida home. Famous guests included President Herbert Hoover, Colgate and Kellogg families, Harvey Firestone. In 1910 Edison did renovations to his Queen Anne home. In 1914 the Ford family first visits the Edison in Fort Myers for a camping trip to the Everglades. In 1916 Ford purchased The Mangoes, a Craftsman home next to Edison.
I love his story– a man with little formal education who was bored with school where the mode of learning was rote memory (difficult because he was partially deaf). Like many of the brightest people I’ve known, he would be diagnosed today with ADHD for his boundless curiosity and experimentation. Today he might be called “all over the place” for his interest in so many diverse projects where he used the skills of a writer, chemist, and inventor.
Most of all, I love his resilience. While known for his 1000+ patents, he also had 500-600 patent applications that were rejected or never finished. — which earned him the credibility to be an encouragement today.
Judy, one of many passionate volunteers, shared fun facts for music lovers of all ages.
In 1931 Thomas Edison spent 6 months in Fort Myers working on rubber research.
When you leave, take some beauty home with you. And if there are goals you hope to reach in the new year — old dreams that don’t die but you’re not sure how or when they’ll materialize — take some advice from Thomas Edison…
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
“I have not failed. I’ve just found ten thousand ways that won’t work.”
“If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.”
And my favorite as I look ahead into the new year…
“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.”
Getting There
The short drive to Sanibel Island and Fort Myers Beach Approximately 30 minutes from Southwest Florida International Airport ADA accessible with wheelchairs available Free parkingThe Edison and Ford Winter Estates are located approximately 30 minutes from the Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) and near Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island, and Captiva Island. (More on Downtown Fort Myers and Captiva next). There are guided tours, self-guided tours, and maps in English, French, Spanish, German and Chinese. Narration in English, German, French or Spanish is available with the new app and through a phone number. For more info go to http://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org.
Thank you so much to Edison and Ford Winter Estates and The Beaches of Ft. Myers and Sanibel and Lee County for the tour and hospitality. As always, the opinions here are my own.
