Take off your shoes and feel the beautiful sand under your feet as you dine at the waters edge.
Sorry for grainy picture, our waiter from The Netherlands was having a hard time getting a good photo. This was very dark, I lighten as much as I could to try and show you the setting. The name of the restaurant is actually "Barefoot". It's located on Palm Beech near the airport in Aruba. There are tables in the sand at the waters edge. Behind us you see a bit of deck area for those who don't wish to be right in the sand, and beyond is an inside area with floors to walk around; but where the tables are you can still take off your shoes and enjoy the sand. Perhaps on a really hot night people like one of the indoor areas with fans better.
Truly an elegant night out. Yes the couple you see, just got married and she is wearing her wedding dress with her toes in the sand. Though they were "next" to us, you can see no one is crowded in, there's lots of room between the tables. It's very private really, you don't hear others conversations. A definite go to back to location.
Our waiter tried several times to get a better picture. He was very sweet. See the cute foil left over basket? Everything about the meal, the service, the ambiance is truly perfect.
If you can afford one really nice evening out, this is The One!
This is the only night we didn't walk to and from dinner. We were staying a The Marriott's Surf Club and could have taken a bus there and taxi back, but it was the one day we had rented a car. Public transportation is reliable and affordable, but doesn't run late enough for a return trip, thus the taxi back was an option.
***This is most definitely NOT a family restaurant so please leave the kids home. It's a place for love to bloom.
I had some fabulous tenderloin, hubby had some delicious seafood meal. Sorry, was too long ago to remember what we actually had, plus the menu is every changing. Just rest assured it was good, and we will be going back.
*Heads up all who use google+, many of you may not be aware and wonder
why folks aren't returning your visits and comments. Google+ has a
setting now that does not allow others to comment, in some cases your
blog isn't even visible unless people register with google+. You are
losing people without knowing why, as many of you don't have means of
contact. I've been able to alert several, who did not of the problem
and change in settings; some have been able to fix the problem. If
you're one who's fixed the problem, please leave the instructions on the
fix so that we can pass along the information to help others. Please
leave it here the comments and or email me directly at sandycrochet at
gmail.com*
Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.
Travel tips for people of all ages to make your travel more interesting and more pleasant. As well as things not to see or do. Come explore with me.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Get Your Kicks on Route 66, Missouri
Drive In's popularity lessened with more available on tv, with folks going to the movies and having air conditioning. 66 Park in Theater closed after the 1993 season, and was demolished March 19th, 1994. Though I also found information that said it was razed in 1996. It made room for a grocery store, National and after that a Schnucks. Now there's a shopping center there and all that remains is memories of historic route 66, drive in movies are a thing of the past.
Hope you'll take time to listen, Nat King Cole Singing Get your kicks on Route 66
Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.
(10)
Friday, May 3, 2013
Reflections of The A-Z April Blog Challenge
WHEW! This traveling suitcase has been out and about alot this past month. April's A-Z blog challenged challenged us to write a post everyday, except Sunday during the month in Alphabetically order. It also challenged us to make at least 5 visits to other blogs daily and to leave comments on said blogs.
However, I did enjoy most of my visits and have increased my blog log for my future visits. I've added everyone who visited here more then once to my list and hope the back and forth continues.
Will I do this again next year? Jury's still out on that, only time will tell.
I think there are things that might improve the challenge if it comes round again next year.
Thank you to all who visited and took time to post comments:
Christine Rains
Maggie Winter
Linda Ann Nickerson
Annis Cassells
corallevang
A month of Blog
anothercleanslate
Liz
Joe Richardson
Brandy
godhasnoproblems
Jennifer Solo Travel Girl
Aidl Weoh
Threesia
Kaye Draper
Amanda Dollak
anya Padyam
Talya Tate Boerner
Tami Van Zalez
Beth
Naila Moon
Bonnie Gwyn
DayDreamer
Karen Michelle Nut
C.Kirk
Julie Flanders
Katka Lapelosova
Jo
Carol Kilgore
Rosanna
Betty Taylor
myguiltypleasure
raisingthecurtain
TaMara Sloan
Lucy
Donna Sexton
Megan
Beverly
Pat Hatt
Margaret Spain
Jan
Clarissa Draper
Tronster
Elizabeth Seckman
Jana Grissom
John Wiswell
Katka Lapelosova
Denise Flynn
Colbymarshall
Archana
Lisa
Sylvia Ney
Stephsco
Your visits and comments were appreciated. Thank you!
Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.
(10)
- Made the 26 posts
- Made a total of 251 blog visits and comments (an average of 9.6 visits and comments daily)
- Received 136 comments back, for an average of only 54% return, pretty disappointing, had expected more then that. 136 total divided by 26 days (though we didn't write on Sunday's people did visits on Sundays, so the number of days is perhaps skewed a bit) averages 5.2 visits back daily.
- I did gain some followers, though how many I don't now, as I forgot to notice what my numbers where before hand
- When I signed up Traveling Suitcase for the challenge I was #1888, very close to the bottom, as I signed it up with less then a day left. I ended up at #1581, a jump of 307 spots on the linky. That shows you how many folks either dropped out, or were removed from the linky for various reasons.
However, I did enjoy most of my visits and have increased my blog log for my future visits. I've added everyone who visited here more then once to my list and hope the back and forth continues.
Will I do this again next year? Jury's still out on that, only time will tell.
I think there are things that might improve the challenge if it comes round again next year.
- I think a mandatory deleting captcha vs a strong suggestion is in order.
- I think requiring all sign ups to be the actual blog url vs google + profile, circles profile etc, where you have to click multiple times to even find the blog registered
- No blogs that require signing in or joining something, like the Disgus blogs that want you to join Disgus or sign in with your facebook or twitter profile
- No one with comments turned off should be permitted
- Requiring the logo and or A-Z post D etc to be very visible, like the first line of every post, vs scrolling around the blog to see if the badge is even there when you're not sure if they are really participating
- A separate linky for adult content (AC), hit too many that had a disclaimer of adult content in the text of the blog that weren't so marked on the linky.
- Is is possible to have the linky be alphabetized? So you can more easily see where you left off on the list.
- Maybe it would be a good idea to have separate linky's for each category? Though it appeared most didn't choose a category and I enjoyed visiting all categories, just wondered if it would be helpful?
Thank you to all who visited and took time to post comments:
Christine Rains
Maggie Winter
Linda Ann Nickerson
Annis Cassells
corallevang
A month of Blog
anothercleanslate
Liz
Joe Richardson
Brandy
godhasnoproblems
Jennifer Solo Travel Girl
Aidl Weoh
Threesia
Kaye Draper
Amanda Dollak
anya Padyam
Talya Tate Boerner
Tami Van Zalez
Beth
Naila Moon
Bonnie Gwyn
DayDreamer
Karen Michelle Nut
C.Kirk
Julie Flanders
Katka Lapelosova
Jo
Carol Kilgore
Rosanna
Betty Taylor
myguiltypleasure
raisingthecurtain
TaMara Sloan
Lucy
Donna Sexton
Megan
Beverly
Pat Hatt
Margaret Spain
Jan
Clarissa Draper
Tronster
Elizabeth Seckman
Jana Grissom
John Wiswell
Katka Lapelosova
Denise Flynn
Colbymarshall
Archana
Lisa
Sylvia Ney
Stephsco
Your visits and comments were appreciated. Thank you!
Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.
(10)
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Historic Maplewood's Saratoga's Bowling Lanes in Missouri
St. Louis Missouri is a most unique city with many different sections and very different neighborhoods. There are in fact, 79 different neighborhoods listed on official records. One area is Maplewood. The historic area of Maplewood is fun and interesting place to spend a day. There many shops, cafe's and area's of interest. We did not see a shopping mall, but cute, unique and old school shops as well as newly formed shops to visit.
Walking down the main street you see these historic markers for landmarks along the way. Notice the sidewalk isn't plain ordinary concrete. Saratoga Lanes is the oldest bowling alley of it's kind west of The Mississippi River. It's been in existence since 1916. This small, 8 lane upstairs bowling alley is truly old school. There are pencils and paper to keep your score, not electronic flashing screens posted on the walls. It's located at 2725 Sutton Blvd, Maplewood Missouri 63143. It's often rented out for corporate and birthday parties. It has been designated a National Registered Historic Place.
You can bring your own food, or have your event catered; as food isn't served...though snacks are available in vending machines. You do need to purchase beverages there. It is highly suggested you book your event or your game well in advance, as it's quite popular and books up early. In addition to bowling you can shoot pool.
Reviews I read indicate it's quite smokey there, but I wonder if that was before St. Louis got up with the rest of country with smoking bans in public spaces.
I'm sorry we didn't go in, and actual see the place; but it was raining and I very quickly took this photo with the thought I'd look at it later, so didn't actually even read it between the rain drops. There will be other trips though, so may re-visit this site.
Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.
(6 & 4 log)
Walking down the main street you see these historic markers for landmarks along the way. Notice the sidewalk isn't plain ordinary concrete. Saratoga Lanes is the oldest bowling alley of it's kind west of The Mississippi River. It's been in existence since 1916. This small, 8 lane upstairs bowling alley is truly old school. There are pencils and paper to keep your score, not electronic flashing screens posted on the walls. It's located at 2725 Sutton Blvd, Maplewood Missouri 63143. It's often rented out for corporate and birthday parties. It has been designated a National Registered Historic Place.
You can bring your own food, or have your event catered; as food isn't served...though snacks are available in vending machines. You do need to purchase beverages there. It is highly suggested you book your event or your game well in advance, as it's quite popular and books up early. In addition to bowling you can shoot pool.
Reviews I read indicate it's quite smokey there, but I wonder if that was before St. Louis got up with the rest of country with smoking bans in public spaces.
I'm sorry we didn't go in, and actual see the place; but it was raining and I very quickly took this photo with the thought I'd look at it later, so didn't actually even read it between the rain drops. There will be other trips though, so may re-visit this site.
Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.
(6 & 4 log)
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
A Month Long Blog Challenge
The month of April presented with a blog challenge to blog everyday, in alphabetical order. You could choice a theme or make your post without a theme. Obviously my posts here were all travel related. Additionally you were to make at least 5 visits and day to other blogs in the challenge, read their post and leave comments. Taking Sunday's off you end up with 26 days for 26 letters. Below is the complete A-Z listing of blogs written for the challenge for this blog.
**Been trying to re-visit everyone on the blog list, it seems some of you have changed your blogs now that the challenge is over? For some, you can only leave comments if you've joined google+. That really limits you, you might want to change that. Made contact with one person who didn't know it had been changed for her by google. So, Carol Kilgore, hope you see this and are able to change your settings.**
If you missed any, please do pop in and read, and let me know you were here. Just because the challenge is over; doesn't mean we need to stop our blog visits.
Hope you'll see something below that strikes your fancy.
A=Aruba
B=Bluffton and Beaufort
C=Crystal Cove California
D=Palm Desert California
E=Efficiency's Safe Money When Traveling
F=Fairs
G=Beaufort Natl. Cemetery (Graveyard)
H=Huntington Beach, CA
I=Isla Navidad, Mexico
J=Making the Journey Count
K=What to do With the Kids
L=Loopy Road Leads to Landmark
M=Marriott Time Shares
N=Marriott Newport Coast Villas, CA
O=Ocean Pointe, Palm Beach Shores, Florida
P=Provost Dungeon Charleston SC
Q=Quilts, more then a Blanket
R=Reasons to Take Vacations
S=Sunsets Newport Coast, CA
T=Temple Square, Salt Lake City
U=Ullr in Breckenridge
V=Villa Paraiso Mexico
W=Thornton Winery
X=X Out Your List
Y=Yellowstone National Park
Z=Zion National Park
Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations. (18)
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Zion National Park
(Z post)
Zion National Park in Winter. Bundle up and enjoy a picture tour both from the car and on foot of this beautiful park. I read an interesting comment on my Q post (Quiet on another blog), that said summer is noisy and winter is quiet, thus the person preferred winter.
Does make you feel quiet, and it was during our time in the park. Not many people there. Hubby is the one in the red coat in front of you, the other couple my younger brother and his wife. I blogged about this park previously HERE, if you'd like a bit more commentary.
Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations. (5)
Monday, April 29, 2013
Yellowstone National Park
(Y post)
You could probably post daily for a year about something regarding Yellowstone National Park, so I won't pretend to do it justice in one post here.
- The part was established in 1872. Can you imagine the foresight to establish a park just 7 years after The Civil War?
- It's the very first National Park
- There are parts of Yellowstone in 3 different states: Wyoming, Montana and even Idaho. The largest area is in Wyoming
- There are 5 entrances: East, North, NorthEast, South, and West. It's important to know where you want to go in the park to select the correct entrance. Not all gates are open all year long, and traffic can be so heavy through the park that getting from the wrong entrance to where you want to go difficult and time consuming.
- The park has 1,000 miles of trails, and 2.2 million acres of land
- Has the worlds, not just the country's but the worlds largest collection of geysers
- It's nearly an intact natural ecosystem
- There's hiking and biking trails, camping, ranger programs, historic buildings
- It has 12 camping grounds and over 2,000 camping sites; not including the back country. Seven of the 12 areas are managed by a private company, Xantera where reservations can be made, the 5 smaller areas are controlled by the park on a first come basis.
- Camp sites typical fill as early as 11 am, often requiring you get in que by 7 am for a specific spot. The key is to be flexible, and plan ahead and always have a plan B.
- Wolves were re-introduced to the park in 1995 and 96, after finding none in 1994. Currently there are 300 and their descendants. Without the wolves the balance of predators and the food change were disturbed.
- In a typical year more people are injured by Bison in the Park, then Bears. Stay the appropriate distance from ALL wild animals, don't put yourself and your family in danger for the sake of a stupid picture. When you do something stupid, typically the animal has to be put down. You're instructed to stay at least 100 yards from bears, 25 from Bison.
- Camping in the back country is free but requires a permit that can be obtained 48 hours ahead in person, there's a fee to reserve ahead of time on line or through the mail.
- The park is larger then the 2 states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined.
It was quite an experience camping and hiking in Yellowstone. Old Faithful was disappointing as, it didn't do much when we were there, the thermal areas have a nasty smell like rotten eggs. In general, though we enjoyed our time there we thought The Tetons were prettier and enjoyed our time there more. (Pictures from a free on line site, not mine. Old Faithful didn't do anything even close to this when we were there. You sit around the circle, waiting for it and we saw just a small trickle. Others in our group said they'd been here several time and never saw it erupt like this. We understand from the Rangers, they had to clean it because people used to throw things in it...which is why you now have to sit back from it.
Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.
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