Germans and Americans alike are all very familiar with Orlando. Micky Mouse, theme parks, large hotels, and dinner theaters often come to mind when this city is mentioned. All that is great in it’s own way, but I was pleasantly surprised to see Orlando has another side, an artsy, mom and pop, cobblestone street, vintage side….a side I find much more intriguing.
My husband and I took a trip last weekend to St. Augustine Florida, and although the weather wasn’t very cooperative, the stay at the Old Powder House Inn made our trip worth while. When visiting Florida’s oldest city, I highly recommend staying in a Bed & Breakfast to really get a feel for the area. I stumbled across this amazing little B&B online and we were both happy I did. The hospitality from owners Katie and Kal was amazing and made us feel right at home.
Everytime I head back to Florida from Munich, I am seriously craving some sun, saltwater, and seafood. Usually one of the very first stops when I am home is the Cortez Kitchen for a fresh blackened grouper sandwich and a beer after an awesome day at the beach. If you are looking for a locals spot with an authentic Florida vibe, you have to check this place out.
If you are on the Gulf coast of Florida, and wanting to try out fishing (or even just looking for something to do with friends or family), you really won’t want to miss this experience. In 2009 some friends and I went Deep Sea Fishing with a local fishing tour in the area called the Cortez Kat. Captain Gary (pictured below), and his crew mate Lance really made this an incredibly fun experience. We woke up early, got to the docks around sunrise, and headed out to a special spot where the fish were biting literally every 2 minutes. It was really awesome.
If you are in Key West and looking for somewhere authentic to have some good food in a laid back Key West atmosphere, look no further than Pepe’s Cafe. Of all my travel tips for Key West, this place is one of my favs. They have been around for over 100 years and are considered Key West’s oldest eatery. Pepe’s is one of those places where you will see regulars, those local faces that come in every day, and with good reason! The food is excellent, servers are genuine and funny, and an atmosphere you won’t find in too many places.