It’s been awhile that I have visited the beach. I miss the smell of sea breeze, the feeling when stepping on to fine sands, the sounds the waves make, and the different glow of the sun. I am already past due for vacation. Thus, it was time to hit the beach for me.
I’ve searched the web and maps on what beach to hit. I was looking for a beach location that is near to my current location which is Dallas. For weeks of searching, I’ve found Fort Walton Beach which is in the middle of two popular beach destinations of Destin and Pensacola Beach. Since I got a location to go to, I’ve booked a hotel for 2 nights with friends. It was in The Island by Hotel Red Lion in Fort Walton Beach.
The Island by Hotel Red Lion in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
We drove for 10 hours straight from Texas to Florida. It was exhausting but I know it was worth it. We arrived in our destination at 8PM. It was already dark which I couldn’t really appreciate the beauty of the surrounding. I went to bed then. By morning, I woke up early and went to claim my prize for driving long hours. This what welcomed me.
My friends and I branded our group as ‘Single Hearts’ since we all are single. We decided to see Destin. We’ve explored Henderson Beach State Park, Harborwalk Village, and Harborwalk Marina.
Henderson Beach State Park in Destin
Harborwalk Village
HarborWalk Marina
After our whole day excursion, we stopped for food. We dined in the Crab Trap back in Fort Walton Beach. We ordered the ultimate triple crab combo. The combo has Dungeness crabs, wild Alaska Bairdi crabs, Alaska snow crabs, and Alaska red king crabs. It was delicious.
Ultimate Crab Combo Experience in the Crab Trap
It was just a 2-day and 2-night Fort Walton Beach experience with my single hearts friends but it was the right time to hit the beach. The beach was amazing with its fine sands, the sea breeze, and the waves. I planned this trip on the same week of the NOLA Mardi Gras so, I can also experience the parade when we head back to Texas.
I have never tried to go on a cruise and since I am already living the American dream so, I have thought of venturing on a Caribbean cruise. The Caribbean is close to the state of Florida, a convenient location for out-of-country travel by sea. It was in the month of November where most states in the northern part of the United States are getting colder each day, thus, I have decided to go somewhere south and sunny by choosing in sailing the Caribbean Sea thru Carnival Cruises.
Carnival Glory
The itinerary for the 7-day long Caribbean cruise goes like this:
Day 1: Sail Away
Well, it says what it says. It was the sail away day when the cruise ship pulled the anchor up and started navigating the sea. We were in the port of Miami and check-in time was at 1400H. The boarding process was long since there were like a thousand passengers trying to get to the cruise ship but departure time was at 1600H. At around 1600H, the ship that we were in which was Carnival Glory went off of the port. I got to see Miami Beach view by the sea.
The sail away party in the cruise ship also started. Crew started calling all guests to come and have fun. There were drinks, dancing, foods, swimming and many more going on. It was one of the liveliest days.
Sail Away Party
Party Dancing in Lido Deck
Day 2: Half Moon Cay, the Bahamas
The second day was a first stop of the cruise in the Half Moon Cay. Half Moon Cay is a private island with 9 mile of beaches, a 1700-acre interior lagoon, and exotic vegetation.
Stunning Beach View with Carnival Glory in Half Moon Cay, The Bahamas
On the third day, Carnival Glory docked at the port of Nassau, the Bahamas. We were allowed to disembarked from 0700H to 1600H. Nassau is the most popular island out of 700 Bahamian islands.
Carnival Glory and Carnival Liberty in Nassau Port, The Bahamas
View from the Government House overlooking the Caribbean Sea
In Nassau, guests can do some sightseeing since there are tourist attractions in the island. It was scorching hot though but I was able to stroll around the place. Click here for the full story.
Day 4: Fun Day At Sea
It was a whole day just cruising the Caribbean Sea. But vacationers won’t get bored when confined to the whole ship coz there are a lot to do in the ship. Travelers can have fun in activities hosted in the Lido Deck, bars are open most of the time, pools and Jacuzzis are available to everyone, foods are overflowing, casinos is open, trivia quizzes and board games are provided, the spa and adult retreat are awesome relaxation, some sports such as basketball, golf, corn hole, and jogging are also available. You won’t be bored if you know how to have fun.
Slide and Dive in Carnival Glory’s activities while onboard
Sex on the Beach cocktail
Day 5: Amber Cove, Dominican Republic
The next day on my Caribbean cruise experience was a whole day spent in the Amber Cove, Dominican Republic. Amber Cove is Puerto Plata and the cruise ship provided excursions for sea-goers for a fee. That day, I got the opportunity to see the best of Puerto Plata.
Amber Cove
Carnival Glory in Amber Cove, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
San Felipe Fort in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
The last leg was in Grand Turk in Turks and Caicos Islands. The capital of the TCI is named after the Turk Cap Cactus. The island is abundant of different species of animals from the land to the sea. But during my visit, it was still recovering from the damages it got from the hurricanes that hit.
On the last day at sea, we were having the farewell day. It was the same activities that we did when we were on day 4 but this time, it was like a culmination of everything. They had the last lip sync battle and were doing a lot of functions in every stages and decks in the cruise ship. It sure was memorable but a little sad coz my Caribbean adventure was about to end the next day.
Enjoying Jacuzzi on Farewell Day At Sea onboard Carnival Glory
Sailing the Caribbean Sea was one of the best moments of my life. I will definitely sail back again but in other different locations. There are still a lot to see in the Caribbean such as St. Maarten, St. Lucia, British and US Virgin Islands, Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago and many more to mention. The whole experience was fun and relaxing and I love cruising the Caribbean Sea.
For my Sailing the Caribbean Sea vlog, just check this out.
I’m back posting trips in the United States. I was out of the country for almost a month and when I got back here in the US, it was fall season but the temperature just kept on dropping. I was not ready yet of the cold weather matched with gloomy surrounding. I was feeling sad and lonely so, I have decided to take a trip to a place where I can see the sun rays. I went to Florida, the Sunshine State.
Florida is the southernmost state in the southeastern region of the United States. The state is bordered with bodies of water of Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, and the states of Alabama and Georgia. The state is the 22nd most expensive and the 3rd most populous in the US. Tallahassee is the state’s capital.
Florida Flag
I stayed in South Beach, Miami for the main reason that is famous to a lot of tourists. It has the beaches, the fun, nightlife, the freshest seafoods, and the sunshine. I arrived in Miami International Airport at midnight and the drive from the airport to the hotel I booked was almost half an hour. When I got to the hotel, the front desk informed me that my reservation was cancelled since the system rolled over after midnight and that time was already 30 mins past midnight. I ended up having no hotel to stay for the night. I hopped to hotels lining the Collins Avenue but I never intended to check-in a hotel that costs more than $50 for a 10-hour stay. It took me some few calls and checking hotels until I found one hostel that wasn’t fully booked. It was an adventure strolling around the streets of Miami Beach early dawn but I felt safe coz there were crowds all over the area and partygoers. Finally, I got to rest on a comfy bed.
Early morning, I got out of bed. It was probably around 0700H and directly headed to the shore for a quick sunrise pictorial. The weather was fantastic. The breeze from the sea was perfectly cold, tolerable to wear a beach outfit, the sun glared that was good enough to get a tan, and the sands was acceptable with not so strong waves from the sea.
Lummus Park
A Random Vintage Car in downtown Miami Beach
After my stroll, I went to stores and restaurants near the beach. I got to dine in one of the restaurants in Ocean Drive. It was an Italian restaurant in Ocean Drive and I ordered a grilled salmon since I’ve been craving for food that comes from the sea.
It so happened to that it was Veteran’s Day and they have a parade to thank the veterans for their service. I was already sitting in the restaurant that I don’t have to move an inch to see the parade.
Veteran’s Day in Miami-Dade
Police Car during the Veteran’s Day Parade
US-Taiwan veterans
When my tummy was full, I have decided to roam around the area. I passed through places such as the Lincoln Road Mall, World Erotic Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-Florida International University, and South Pointe Beach.
Lincoln Road Mall
Stores in Lincoln Road Mall
World Erotic Art Museum
Wolfsonian-Florida International University
South Pointe Park
Miami Beach Marina
Random street photo
I got tired and went back to the beach and sat on the sand looking at people swimming, getting a tan, and doing their business. It was a nice view with the waves, the sun, feeling the sand, the sea breeze and I also met a friend from France.
When the sun set, I headed to a restaurant for dinner. I was in Madero and ordered their signature sausage, linguica and a dessert, petit gateau. Then, I walked back to my hostel and called it a day since I got a cruise to go the next day.
Florida is indeed the Sunshine state and sunshine for me brings happiness. The whole time I was in Miami Beach, I had fun and everything was just nice. It was an awesome trip I had over there and one of these days, I’ll be back in Florida to discover the other parts of the state.
Should rather live life close to the bird rather than waste time wishing for wings,they said. Not everyone are born equal, they said. You can aspire but you cannot have all things, they said. But you know what, I might have wings, I said.
For the full story, visit my previous blog article titled, 
When the sun set, I headed to a restaurant for dinner. I was in Madero and ordered their signature sausage, linguica and a dessert, petit gateau. Then, I walked back to my hostel and called it a day since I got a cruise to go the next day.
The Traveler Carl 