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No Home for the Holidays

Selling the nest and becoming GypsyNesters has given our adult chicks the joy of being hosts for the holidays in their homes.

It’s not about expensive gifts – instead we enjoy…  CONTINUE READING >>

Happy Holidays!

Selling the nest and becoming GypsyNesters has given our adult chicks the joy of being hosts for the holidays in their homes.

Once again this year we will be making our way to The Big Apple for the holidays. Oh, the anticipation! The joy!

Christmas is the one time we allow ourselves to hands-down spoil our kids — and, boy, do we ever!

As thrifty as we are during the non-Jesus-being-born part of the year, we let loose the coffers when we visit The Spawn during that “most wonderful time of the year.”

It’s not about expensive gifts – instead we enjoy spending foolish amounts of money going out on the town. Generally our time is spent chasing our black-wearing, taxi-flagging, fast-walking, subway-chasing, urbanite offspring, The Piglet and Decibel, around New York City – from ethnic restaurant, to Broadway show, to our favorite piano bar where aging bejeweled starlet-types show off the old vocal chords.

It’s a very civilized, blister-inducing, whale of a good time.

The REAL Santa Claus at Macy's on 34th Street

NYC is freaking magical during the holiday season. They really know how to deck them halls.

We go into full tourist mode and hit all of the famous holiday hot spots, the bigger than expected Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and the surprisingly itsy-bitsy skating rink at the bottom of it, the lights along Fifth Avenue, and the Macy’s on 34th Street with the enchanting window displays and most perfect Santa ever.

He’s the real one, we’ve seen proof of it in a movie.

As crazy as NYC can be throughout the Season with a Reason, we do slow down on the big day.

A huge meal is prepared in The Piglet’s teeny studio apartment. The miniature tree sparkles, and the hide-a-bed is festively extended for extra seating.

Our cheeks are nice and rosy, as The Piglet’s landlord likes it stupid hot, so we usually need to crack a window. Christmas tunes are played on an iPod while the fireplace channel crackles on the TV.

This is quite a departure from the Christmases we celebrated when the chicks were still nest-bound, but I have to say, it is MUCH easier on me, stress-wise.

I no longer have to find forgot-where-I-hid-them presents, then hurriedly wrap them while barricaded in a closet with a flashlight in my teeth and covered in packing tape.

There is no racing from Christmas pageant, to holiday recital, to endless Nutcracker rehearsals. Gone is the setting up of the fake tree (real ones always ended up making us sad when they turned brown) and the untangling of the strings of lights.

These days, we pick up gifts from different parts of the world as we travel about — instead of the mad mall rush of days of yore.

The best part of our new “empty” nest Christmas is the excitement on The Spawn‘s faces as they give gifts to one another. The love they share and the happiness they want to give each other is what makes “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, well, the most wonderful time of the year.

I couldn’t care less about presents, just give me that.

Oh, and world peace. And a bell for my bicycle. And… please consider a donation to our favorite charity, Habitat for Humanity, to help those truly homeless.

Veronica, GypsyNester.com

YOUR turn: How have the holidays changed for you over the years? Have you any new traditions you’d like to share?

Let the Meat Sweats Begin!


enlarge video

At the Parrilla La Estancia in Buenos Aires, Argentina is the big Kahuna, we attack an enormous platter of sizzling meat on its very own bed of coals CONTINUE READING >>

At the Parrilla La Estancia in Buenos Aires, Argentina is the big Kahuna, an enormous platter sizzling on its very own bed of coals, lovingly presented in the center of our table. The dizzying array of chicken, carne asada, sweetbread, kidney, chorizo, veal tripe, blood sausage, and udder, plus the fact that this was Argentine Barbeque for 1, sent a shiver of impending meat sweats down our spines.

To see more about Parrillas in Argentina: https://www.gypsynester.com/parrilla.htm

Visit our GypsyNester YouTube Channel!

The British Isles… Virgin That Is

In the Caribbean, often the best places to visit are not the ones that are easily accessible to most tourists. If you come on a cruise ship you are likely to miss many of them as you hurry from one major port to the next…

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As soon as we stepped off the plane in St. Martin we felt at home.

The warm tropical breeze filled our senses and immediately took us back to when we lived on St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. Having spent nearly a decade down here, we have learned a few things about the Caribbean.

One is that often the best places to visit are not the ones that are easily accessible to most tourists. If you come on a cruise ship you are likely to miss many of them as you hurry from one major port to the next. You may even want to look at visiting a private island for vacation.

Our itinerary for an eight day jaunt across the British Virgin Islands and St. Martin aboard the sailing catamaran Dream Canouan included stops or overnight anchorages at several out of the way places such as Jost Van Dyke, Sandy Cay, The Baths on Virgin Gorda, Anagada, the caves at Norman Island, and Grand Case, none of which are even remotely possible to reach on larger ships.

A few of these are some of the most prominent points of interest in these islands. We woke up our first morning at the Baths, where stunning rock formations of gigantic stones rise above the surface of the water, and quickly learned that beneath the waves can be every bit as fascinating.

Snorkeling between the massive boulders, we found many of the colorful tropical fish that we remember from our days of living down here, but also came upon a school of squid. Never having seen them other than on a plate, we were mesmerized by their neon colors and effortless flowing motions.

We spent that night at the legendary pirate hideaway, Norman Island. Without a doubt pirates did use the island as a base, but whether the stories of hidden treasures that have been found in the past, or might still remain, are less certain.

Didn’t matter to us, we were thrilled at the prospect of discovering natural riches beneath the sea in the caves of in Privateer Bay, then enjoyed the added bonus of a swimming circumnavigation of the rocks known as The Indians on our way to the next stop, Jost Van Dyke.

An unexpected surprise awaited us there, because we met perhaps the BVI’s most renowned citizen, Philicianno Callwood, better known as Foxy. In 1968, with an eye to the future of sailing yachts coming to on his idyllic island, he opened Foxy’s Tamarind Bar.

We first learned of Foxy’s while living on St. Croix, as their Old Year’s Night Celebration (that’s New Year’s Eve outside of the islands) was legendary across all of the Virgin Islands and throughout the Caribbean, but never made it over.

During our afternoon anchorage, we were lucky enough to sit a spell with the man behind the legend and he most certainly did not disappoint. After cordial introductions he regaled us with tall tales and bawdy ballads in the style of a true troubadour.

His welcoming manner and humor made it clear why his fame has spread far and wide over the past half century; even Queen Elizabeth of England is a fan and awarded him with the MBE (Member of the British Empire).

The establishment was certainly impacted by last year’s hurricanes, but escaped the worst of it and is up and running in full swing. Recovery was no doubt easier for open air structures such as the many beach bars and restaurants that dot the coasts of these islands than for some of the more substantial buildings.

Foxy showed us where his family’s homes had been damaged, yet the resilience of these islanders was inspiring to see. Throughout the BVI we were not only impressed by that, but also by the same warm and welcoming spirit that he exuded in almost everyone we met.

The following morning found us offshore of an uninhabited dot of sand known as Sandy Cay. For modern folks such as us, it was an extremely rare opportunity to visit a place where absolutely nobody lives. For some reason the theme song from Giligan’s Island kept popping into our heads.

Fortunately, no storm and no stranding was involved, but we did find an odd monument left behind. Perhaps some stranded castaways had been here.

For a change of pace, and scenery, we made our next call at Anegada. This island is geographically completely different from its sister Virgin Islands since it is a flat, choral atoll. The reef that formed it continues off of the southeastern tip as Horseshoe reef.

This is the largest in the Caribbean and forth biggest in the world, but unfortunately we didn’t get to snorkel it because is also the lobster capitol of the region. We arrived during the season, meaning the reef is off limits to everyone but fishermen.

It also meant that an abundance of the delectable crustaceans were available for consumption. We took the dingy in for a dinner of incredible fresh seafood and more of the hospitality that we experienced from nearly all of the British Islanders that we encountered.

On our way back to Saint Martin, we passed by the private islands, Necker and Eustatia, owned by Virgin Records and airlines billionaire Sir Richard Branson, and Google mogul Larry Page respectively.

We have to say that we now understand the desire to own your own secluded piece of paradise better than ever. Still, all in all we’d rather be seeing it from a boat.

The only bad part of the trip was having to put shoes back on at the end.

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

See more of our amazing trip here.

A big thank you to Dream Yacht Charter for providing this adventure, as always, all opinions are our own.

Discover the Magic of Morocco Desert Tours: A Journey of a Lifetime

A desert tour can be an incredible adventure that includes a chance to explore the varied landscapes, dive into the local culture, and even spend nights under the most amazing stars anywhere…
CONTINUE READING >> 

Morocco has been on our minds quite a bit lately. Last summer we spent a week on the south coast of Spain, near Marbella, and were intrigued by the idea of taking a ferry boat across the narrow bit of the Mediterranean to take a quick peek at Morocco. But alas, we were thwarted by the fact that the ferry only when to the Spanish town of Cueta on the north coast of Africa.

Then, just a few weeks ago we found ourselves in that same city of Cueta, which is completely surrounded by Morocco. But we were on a cruise so we only had one day and once again were denied seeing the country that now seemed to be teasing us.

So now we have decided that it is time to start making some plans for our very own trip to Morocco. And one of the top things on our to do list of must-see activities is to take one of the fantastic Morocco Desert Tours.

A desert tour can be an incredible adventure that includes a chance to explore the varied landscapes, dive into the local culture, and even spend nights under the most amazing stars anywhere. Yes, we definitely want to stay the night in a traditional nomadic camp so we have the chance to enjoy the local food and music.

The evening is capped off with a breathtaking sunset, followed by perhaps the most amazing sight. We also hear that the dry desert air, along the intense darkness far from any city lights, makes it feel as though the stars are hanging right in front of you, just out of reach.

After that, morning will greet us with a spectacular sunrise over the dunes of the one and only Sahara Desert. Then, of course, our desert tour experience wouldn’t be complete without a ride on a camel across the vast Sahara.

But we also know that we couldn’t possibly travel to Morocco without a visit to the historic capital of city of Marrakech. The city is probably most famous these days for it’s many bustling markets known as souks. But nearly one thousand years ago it held a place of high importance as the original Royal seat of the The Almoravids.

Their dynasty stretched down the west coast of Africa and well up into what is now Spain, as well as all along Mediterranean and North Africa. After that, from medieval times until about one hundred years ago, the entire country of Morocco was known as the “Kingdom of Marrakesh”.

Exploring the city would give us another great option worth looking into, an opportunity to join one of the Marrakech Desert Trips. From our research we have found that these unique undertakings can be a truly transformative experience. The type of once in a lifetime expedition that can be actually life changing.

Exploring the Kasbahs and Oases along the route is another great highlight. Departing from Marrakech, the route usually leads up into the High Atlas Mountains. We’ll pass by stunning landscapes, picturesque valleys, and traditional Berber villages clinging to the mountainsides, such as Ait Benhaddou.

This classic desert fortification was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and has been the location for many of Hollywood’s biggest pictures, including Lawrence of Arabia, The Man Who Would Be King, The Last Temptation of Christ, The Mummy, and Gladiator.

And even as dry as the desert is, there are also oases along the way. The Draa Valley is renowned for many lush oases that stand out starkly against the arid desert landscape. So we really feel that visiting an oasis is another must do.

And who knows? Maybe we can have our very own Midnight at the Oasis.

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

Help! There’s No One to Eat the Leftovers!

Are you sick of leftovers yet? We love them, but once the kids are gone who’s gonna eat all of this?!?!
CONTINUE READING >>

The GypsyNestersPretty much everything about life changes when that last kid walks out the door.

Veronica and I think we should make the most of these adjustments, that’s why we started GypsyNester.com, to celebrate life after kids. Most of the changes were easily anticipated but as always, some things are unforeseen.

Over the past few years, we have had to relearn how to shop and cook for just the two of us. That fell into the unexpected for me. I don’t know why, but it was not something that I thought of before the clearing out of the nest.

Throughout our over four decades of marriage I have been the primary cook in the house. One of the kids calls me about once a week to ask things like “how long do you cook a chicken?” or “what’s in that stroganoff you make?” or ” what was that stuff you made that one time that was so good?” About two hours, cream of mushroom soup and carbonara.

I like to eat, so early in life I figured out how to cook the things that I wanted to consume. A natural offshoot of cooking is shopping, so I learned to do that too. I’m such a hunter-gatherer. With three kids, I had to be!

Usually, a trip to the grocery store involved multiple shopping carts and severe wallet damage. By the time the three bottomless pits were teenagers it required a small truck and a second mortgage. Should The Spawn choose to come along, only perfect weather, no traffic, fast driving and sheer luck could get half of the provisions home before ingestion.

One red light and there would be nothing left but empty wrappers, paper products and canned goods… but that’s only because they didn’t like to eat paper and I had learned to check them for can openers before we left.

On one of these homeward sprints, I’m pretty sure they were trying to start a fire in the back of the van. Luckily I pulled into the driveway right as I started to smell smoke and they were tearing open the meat. After that, I learned to check for matches, lighters, flint, sticks, charcoal, grills, skewers, and long-handled forks… even if we were just going to the Kwik Sack for gas.

So there’s been a bit of an adjustment from shopping for a ravenous pack of teenaged wolves to supplying two middle-aged wandering gypsies. Even more so when the eating habits of said gypsies are completely different.

I like meat. Almost any meat. If it squeals, moos, gobbles, baaas, swims, pinches or clucks, I’m all over it. Skin it, pluck it or scale it and lob it on the fire. Veronica calls herself “a meat avoider,” not a vegetarian, an avoider. As near as I can tell, that means “Let me try a bite of that pork chop, it looks way better than this salad.” She claims that it’s my fault that I never get a carnivorous dish to myself because I make things look so good while I’m eating them. I can’t help it, I like food.

But back to the point, it’s hard to find foods sized for just one or two people. We are now punished for not buying the “family pack” of half a cow. I used to celebrate finding 27lbs of grade A beef on sale for pennies a pound. Now I get to buy the one strip steak for tonight’s dinner at $27.00 a pound, what a deal!

Yes, I could break up the giant bargain packs and freeze the portions but how long will it take for me to go through a side of beef all by myself (and of course Veronica’s bites as she avoids the stuff)? The answer is…. longer than it takes frozen meat to turn into that strange crystallized cardboard space-food product it becomes in your freezer. The bargains may not be available, but these days the final bill is certainly less of a shock. Dozens of dollars instead of hundreds, I’ll take that and like it.

Still, my transition from vats of spaghetti, cauldrons of soup and Fred Flintstone slabs of meat to dinner for two is far from complete. I know there are only two of us and I know that Veronica hardly eats any of the same things that I do (sneak attacks from her fork notwithstanding) but sometimes I can’t help myself. I must have burritos.

Then I have to buy the whole can of green chilis, tortillas come by the dozen, there is only one sized can of refried beans and nobody sells less than a pound of meat or cheese for one or half heads of lettuce… so… I either eat burritos for three days straight or we get a really cool science project going in the back of the fridge.

I’ve found that there are some things can help. First, cook different things. No more big pots and whole chickens, now it’s grilled or broiled meat and a smaller side dish. No more striving to fill bottomless bellies with massive amounts of starches.

I bake a couple potatoes instead of mashing several dozen. I cook a small pan of rice, not a washtub full, a small bowl of pasta with tuna instead of literally pounds of the stuff with gallons of red sauce. Pasta and rice are great because I can cook just the amount needed for today and the rest keeps almost indefinitely.

Tuna is one of the few things that actually comes in a can the right size for one or two people. Not so much with the crushed tomatoes.

It also helps to plan ahead a bit. I try to think about a second meal when I’m shopping. A small roast makes great sandwiches the following day. Fish goes into a salad. That extra steak or pork chop is mighty good with eggs the next morning. Most anything can be tossed into a can of soup to dress it up or mixed together with other leftovers to form a new meal. To me cooking is all about experimenting anyway.

Oh, and by the way, there are a lot of fates worse than eating burritos for three days straight… no doubt I’ll do it again soon.

David, GypsyNester.com

YOUR TURN: Do you find it hard to cook for two? Do you miss cooking for ravenous teenagers? Do you have any tips for us?

T’was the Night Before Thanksgiving

T’was the night before Thanksgiving and all through New York everybody was stirring in every apartment and house.

As I rounded a corner on Columbus Avenue what to my wondering eyes should appear
a festively dressed elf, face down sticking up his…. CONTINUE READING >> 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 

T’was the night before Thanksgiving and all through New York
everybody was stirring in every apartment and house.
As I rounded a corner on Columbus Avenue
what to my wondering eyes should appear
a festively dressed elf, face down sticking up his rear.

macys thanksgiving elf

Certain this odd sight needed more inspection,
I turned on 81st to check out more balloon’s inflation.

macys thanksgiving dino

While there were no tiny reindeer anywhere to be found,
a huge Dino the dinosaur was hanging around.

macys thanksgiving helium truck

With no help from Santa these giants would soon fly,
after being filled with helium from a nearby semi.

macys thanksgiving pumpkin

As the sun began setting in the far western sky,
I thought about turkey, potatoes and pie
for our feast on the ‘morrow after the parade.
We wish all Happy Holidays and a great Thanksgiving day.

David, GypsyNester.com

Little Rock / Big Gem

Join us on a rip-roarin’ tour of Little Rock, Arkansas!

We visited the Clinton Presidential Library, hit the Big Dam Bridge, witnessed history at the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site and ate avocado popcycles at the River Market!  CONTINUE READING >> 

Little Rock, Arkansas

We must admit that when we found ourselves spending a week in the heart of Arkansas we didn’t expect much more than the carrying of dozens of boxes from one house to another while helping parents move.

But in the downtime between loads of books, kitchenware, and knickknacks we enjoyed family company while uncovering a hidden gem.
President Clinton Avenue, Little Rock Arkansas

Even well into November, this southern city has inviting outdoor opportunities with gorgeous fall weather.

Our first observation was that Little Rock is an incredibly bike friendly town. Then, while riding its trails, we discovered all sorts of interesting tidbits such as yes, there really is a little rock. It’s on the river right downtown, just off the bike path.

The little rock that Little Rock Arkansas is named from!

Back in 1721 the French explorer and trader Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe dubbed an outcrop on the river bank La Petite Roche which is French for the Little Rock, as opposed to the much bigger rock formation a little further up The Arkansas River.

Actually the little rock was bigger back then, big enough that boats would use it as a dock, but much of it was destroyed in the building of the railroad bridge.

The Big Dam Bridge outside Little Rock Arkansas

From what’s left of the rock we set out to make the fifteen mile loop of The Arkansas River Trail up one side and down the other, from The Clinton Presidential Library to The Big Dam Bridge.

Wait, what?

Yup, The Big Dam Bridge, as in “yes, it’s a big dam bridge,” which legend has it was said by Pulaski County Judge F.G. “Buddy” Villines at the opening ceremony.

From that point on nobody called the bridge over Murray Dam The Murray Bridge anymore. Truth is it is one big dam bridge, in fact the longest in North America ever exclusively built for pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

River Rail Streetcar Line Trolley in Little Rock

The Clinton Presidential Library behind the Harriet Tubman Monument.

After we crossed the big bridge, we headed back into the center of town. Once downtown we followed the River Rail Streetcar Line, a line of replica vintage trolleys that run to the Clinton Presidential Center and Park.

The center is a seventeen-acre complex that includes the Clinton Presidential Library, the Clinton Foundation, archives, a replica of The Oval Office, and the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service.

The Clinton Presidential Library

The Clinton Presidential Library

The main building was designed to represent a bridge reaching across the river, inspired by Clinton’s “Bridge to the 21st Century” campaign theme.

To our eyes it missed the mark a bit, and we’re not alone since many locals refer to it as “The Giant Doublewide.”

Little Rock River Market

Near The Clinton Center we stopped in at the River Market to grab a bite.

The market district has been refurbished over the last fifteen years to become the city’s hub of arts and entertainment. Galleries, theaters and restaurants have filled the formerly rundown buildings around the central marketplace.

Little Rock River Market

The old market shelter now hosts a farmer’s market twice a week.

We missed that, but every day has a cornucopia of chow down choices inside the Market Hall. Like a giant food court, vendors offer cuisine from every corner of the globe.

After some Thai and tacos we spotted an interesting dessert option.

Le Pops in River Market in Little Rock Arkansas

All natural, handmade right in the shop, gourmet ice lollies at Le Pops. We were intrigued, but after the proprietor, Lori, offered us a sample we were hooked.

The flavors most certainly aren’t the typical frozen treat types, with salted caramel, avocado, and pineapple with cilantro among them. We tried avocado, different yet delicious, the somewhat more conventional tropical and tasty pineapple with coconut, and the seasonal selection, pumpkin pie, which tasted like it was fresh from the patch.

After another round of relocating boxes we took an autumn afternoon off to absorb the history of Little Rock Central High School and The Little Rock Nine.

The school became ground zero in the Civil Rights Movement when President Eisenhower sent troops from the 101st Airborne to enforce the Brown v. Board of Education ruling to end “separate but equal” segregated schools.

Little Rock Central High School and The Little Rock Nine

Little Rock Central High School and The Little Rock Nine

In 1957 Governor Orval Faubus refused to allow nine students, who had volunteered to attend the school to begin integration, to enter the school.

The governor went so far as to deploy the National Guard to block their entry. After several weeks federal soldiers escorted the students into the school, but that hardly settled the issue.

The rage of the segregationists grew so nasty that after an agonizing 1957 school year the entire Little Rock school system shut down for 1958 rather than allow integration.

Little Rock Central High School and The Little Rock Nine

The school is still in operation so we only got to see the outside, but in 1982 the site was designated a National Historic Landmark and The National Park Service opened a visitor center.

Inside the small center we found a trove of information, mostly audio and video, that gave us an excellent understanding of just what these students, known as The Little Rock Nine, went through.

By mixing clips from the time of the unrest and recent interviews with some of the nine, the entire story is brought to life in a moving, meaningful way.

Our last excursion through Little Rock came as a celebratory completion of the move. As a thank you for our help, we were gifted with a tour on Segways.

We were pretty fired up at the prospect because ever since seeing people riding Segways in Prague we had wanted to give them a try. So with all of the boxes safely stashed, we took off with Mom & Pop to the sidewalks on these two wheeled marvels.

David gets a Segway lesson

Our guide for the tour, Nez, began by showing us the ropes in a parking garage.

The Segway is designed to sense your shifts in weight and respond by moving forward or back while expertly remaining balanced. It’s amazing, and within minutes we all felt perfectly comfortable commanding our vehicles with just the slightest shifts of our bodies.

WATCH: As we Segway though Little Rock’s hot spots!


Bill Clark Wetlands, Little Rock Arkansas

Confident in our new Segway skill set, we made our way through downtown to Riverfront Park.

Nez filled us in on details via headset as we rolled along through the artwork and historic markers, past the little rock, and back toward The Clinton Center.

Just before reaching the Presidential Library we turned off into the Bill Clark Wetlands. This small preserve has a wooden boardwalk that winds through bringing walkers, cyclists, and – yes – Segway riders in for an up close look at the ecology of the Arkansas River’s edge.

Bill Clark Wetlands, Little Rock Arkansas

An egret in the Bill Clark Wetlands, Little Rock Arkansas

Headquarters of Heifer International, Little Rock Arkanasas

Rolling on through the grounds of the Presidential Center, Nez pointed out the adjacent headquarters of Heifer International.

Heifer is an organization that has distributed cattle and other livestock to farmers in over 125 countries in an effort to create a more sustainable solution to hunger.

We made our way back along the trolley route and completed our Segway tour without incident, something that seemed improbable just ninety minutes earlier. Sort of like finding a jewel in the middle of Arkansas.

The River Market Pig, Little Rock Arkansas

Or maybe not. Arkansas is the only state in the union where diamonds can be found… you just need to know where to look.

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

Miami Romantic Getaway

Miami is a modern marvel with one of the world’s most spectacular skylines, and the tropical weather makes it a perfect place for a couple’s retreat any time of year, but especially in the winter… CONTINUE READING >> 

Miami has been a popular pick for a romantic rendezvous for a long, long time. In fact, one of my earliest memories is of my dad watching the Jackie Gleason Show back in the sixties. The intro featured a camera shot skimming across the water toward Miami Beach… and it just looked so cool.

Some of that could be that I hardly ever got to watch TV back then, but no, it was really cool. And it really made us want to visit there as a couple all these years later.

Miami actually owes its existence to being a prime getaway destination. Long before Mr. Gleason ever laid eyes on it the city’s founder, Julia Tuttle, convinced railroad tycoon Henry Flagler to build the Florida East Coast Railway with the express intention of delivering tourists to the area. This was way back in 1896.

Fun fact: In doing this, Tuttle became, and remains to this day, the only woman to found a major city in the United States.

But let’s move on to today. These days Miami is a modern marvel with one of the world’s most spectacular skylines, and the tropical weather makes it a perfect place for a couple’s retreat any time of year, but especially in the winter.

And we have a big idea that will make your escape even better, hotels with a Jacuzzi in the room! Imagine relaxing in your very own private Jacuzzi after a day at the beach, or maybe diving or snorkeling in the crystal clear waters of Biscayne Bay.

I know that when ever we visit Miami one of our favorite things to do is drive through the Miami Beach Architectural District in South Beach. The area, more popularly known as the Art Deco District, features some of the coolest buildings anywhere.

Some of our favorites are Hoffman’s Cafeteria Building, the old Miami Beach post office, which has been looking good while delivering the mail for over 85 years, and the the Webster, that opened in 1939 as a hotel but now is a luxury high-end boutique.

Архитектура стиля Арт Деко на приводе океана в южном пляже, Майами Редакционное Фотография - изображение насчитывающей день, американская: 41105812

We have heard that Miami is home to the highest concentration of Art Deco buildings anywhere in the world and we certainly have no reason to doubt it. It is hard to beat cruising along Ocean Drive with Lummus Park and the beach on one side and the amazing collection of fantastic buildings on the other.

Of course Miami’s year-round sunshine makes it a great place for some romantic outdoor activities too. We feel pretty certain that skimming across the beautiful turquoise water with the wind in your sails should spark the romance for just about any couple.

Or if the water is not your thing then stroll hand in hand with your love through any of the over eighty parks and gardens throughout the city. We also love to pack a picnic with a couple of the Cuban sandwiches that Miami has become famous for.

As the home to many of the world’s largest cruise lines, and with over five million passengers per year, Miami is known as the cruise capital of the World. That got us thinking that next time we take a cruise out of The Port of Miami perhaps we will plan an enchanting pre or post cruise stay for a night or two.

And why not make it even a little more special by staying in a hotel with our very own jacuzzi right there in the room?

That sounds like just about the perfect Miami Romantic Getaway.

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com