Tag Archives: USA

Best Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale

Ft. Lauderdale is a popular vacation destination for its miles of beaches and colorful reefs. While there are several restaurants that are well-known for their ability to draw in tourists, the real gems are those that garner loyal attention from the locals. Dine like a Floridian at the best restaurants in Fort Lauderdale.

Calypso in Pompano

Though it’s a bit outside Fort Lauderdale, locals are happy to make the drive a few minutes north to Pompano for Calypso. This seafood restaurant infuses its dishes with Caribbean flavor. The fish is prepared fresh and cut just before cooking, giving everything an authentic just-out-of-the-sea flavor. Though the menu includes burgers and chicken, seafood lovers should try at least one conch dish and pick their favorite sauce for one of the fresh catches on the menu.

Southport Raw Bar

Southport Raw Bar is a small local pub that touts itself as the oldest raw bar in Fort Lauderdale. With free dockage and patio seating, this is a popular spot for a fresh oyster lunch after a day on the water. Though the oysters take center stage, the entire menu gets rave reviews from loyal visitors with everything from crispy fish and chips to Old Bay shrimp. Located near several hotels in Ft. Lauderdale, this is an easy pick for visitors.

Tarks of Dania Beach

With views like this, it's no wonder that Tark's is among the best restaurants in Fort Lauderdale

Photo by Pixie Dust via Trover.com

A bit south of Fort Lauderdale, locals flock to Tarks of Dania Beach for the shrimp, conchs, and chicken wings. This hole in the wall is the perfect destination for laid back travelers who want to experience local flavor on a budget. You don’t go to Tarks for fine dining or an elegant atmosphere, but you can certainly belly up to the closely packed counter to quite literally rub elbows with local Floridians that love good food amidst views of some of the best beaches in the state.

Greek Islands Taverna

As the name suggests, the Greek Islands Taverna is a popular South Florida destination for Greek fare. The menu features many authentic Greek dishes and wines. The restaurant has local regulars who taste their way through the large menu, sampling all the delights over several visits. Some favorites include the dolmathakia, lamb chops, and octopus. This popular spot often has a long line, so show up early. This restaurant is easy to add to your agenda, located near the beach and several hotels like the Residence Inn Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal.

Blue Moon Fish Company

The Blue Moon Fish Company in Lauderdale by the Sea is known for its fresh seafood. You can sit outside and watch the water, belly up to the bar and people-watch in the restaurant, or enjoy a cozy table inside. The fresh fish always gets high points, as does the calamari and shrimp. The restaurant also serves a Sunday brunch that’s a local favorite for special events. This is a pricier option, but worth the splurge for fine dining.

If you want to add some delectable meals to your Ft. Lauderdale visit, these popular picks offer stellar food and service that’s consistently good, allowing them to keep local customers coming back for years. Ditch the tourist kitsch and try on the real Florida life for size at these establishments.

Top 10 American TV Shows

The cast of Seinfeld, which was one of the most successful American TV Shows of all time ... photo by CC user Alan Light on wikimedia

In United States of America Television show have played a significant role in influencing its people. Over a period of time there is a list of the best shows and there is yet another with the worst.

Seinfeld was a popular sitcom which ran from 1989 to 1998. It was broadcasted on the NBC, with 9 seasons and 180 episodes each running into 22 minutes. Created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David it was largely inspired by real life incidents of the former. The plot was set in a Manhattan apartment and its theme was appreciated as being postmodern.

I Love Lucy was another famous sitcom. It was a black-and-white series broadcasted on CBS. It had its run from 1951 to 1957. In 6 seasons it had 18 episodes, each of 23 minutes at least. Its plot was set in New York with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz leading the show. It was inducted in Television Hall of Fame.

The Honeymooners was shot Adelphi Theatre in New York and was filmed with live audience. It ran for 39 episodes and just 1 season. Aired on CBS it ran between 1955 and 56. The story revolved around apartment in Brooklyn showcasing story of a couple where both partners work.

America, its music and culture has attracted many for years. People from overseas intend to migrate and settle there. Others travel for holiday and enjoy its tourist destinations while on a tourist visa. Nationals of selected countries are exempted from this, though they must check ESTA visa status before entering the USA.

Another hit on CBS was the All in the Family. With massive 210 episodes it had 9 seasons airing from 1971 to 79. It showcased controversial topics integrated into comedy. Carroll O’Connor who played Archie Bunker pretty much led the show. HBO aired the much-watched The Sopranos. It was a crime drama series around the life and times of a mobster. It creatively depicted how he balanced is personal and not so routine professional life. It won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series twice. James Gandolfini played the protagonist in this series.

An offbeat show was the 60 Minutes, that it when it started. It has been airing since 1968 on CBS. When it was conceptualized and executed, it won accolade for its format. The theme of this news magazines program was investigations that centered on the reporter. As the name Late Show with David Letterman suggests it is a talk show with host David Letterman. It airs late night on CBS. It started in 1993 and still continues. It has been repeatedly won the Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series. With 566 episodes The Simpsons is the most popular animated show. Aired on FOX it inspired comics, film, ride and video games.

The Andy Griffith Show of the 1960s was multi Emmy Award winner and its popularity sold its merchandise quickly. Finally NBC’s Saturday Night Live is a comic variety show running since 1975.

What is the difference between camping and glamping?

Across America, the warm sunny days of summer are beginning to spread across the land, and the desire of outdoor lovers to get out into the outstanding natural spaces of this country is rising along with it. For generations, most of these folks would gather together groundsheets, sleeping bags, a camp stove, a cooler, and a tent, and head for the mountains, the forests, and the coastlines around the USA to take in the outdoors, rain or shine.

In more recent years though, outdoor recreation providers, in an attempt to draw a crowd that is less willing to give up the comforts of civilization, but still want to experience the wonders of nature, have come up with a sub niche called glamping. From reinforced canvas tents with a comfortable mattress to full-blown cabins, the options are many.

So which option should you choose this summer? This depends on what you seek from your outdoors experience, the aspects of which we will detail below…

Awesome Road Trips Within Several Hours Of Major Cities

Awesome road trips don't take long to reach truly epic places, like Waterton Lakes near Calgary, Alberta, Canada (photo courtesy of http://www.cgpgrey.com/)

These days, you’re really busy with your career, and you don’t think you have time for travel.  Well, you are wrong.  You might not be able to jet halfway around the world and lounge on an exotic beach for six months, but that doesn’t mean you can’t discover the world that lies immediately outside your home base.

Travelers explore your city and the area around it every day, and they are wowed by what they find … and so can you. Resolve to begin exploring the territory within quick reach of your home turf, as many surprises await.

Before you hop in your car, tell loved ones when you expect to be back, and let them track your progress by having them download a GPS tracking app that allows them to see where you are at all times, and with a function that lets you tell your relatives that you’ve gotten home safely, even the most neurotic mother will be set at ease.

To give you examples of the awesome road trips you can have within a short distance of home, here are three sample itineraries from centres around the world…

From Calgary, Alberta, Canada: Waterton Lakes National Park

Most folks hit the Trans-Canada highway for weekend day trips away from this dynamic Canadian city to see the uber-popular Banff National Park, but few take the time to head southwest along the Cowboy Trail (Alberta Highway 22) towards Waterton Lakes National Park, a considerably quieter natural reserve that sits adjacent to Glacier National Park in Montana. Check in for the night at the posh and iconic Prince of Wales Hotel, and you can either elect to admire the beauty of Waterton Lake from there, or get right into the thick of it by taking an international boat tour that crosses the 49th parallel in its quest to show you the epic views present in this off-the-beaten track park.

From Miami, Florida, USA: Key West

When the lavish sands of South Beach start to get too hectic for your tastes, taking to U.S. 1 and heading south is the perfect antidote.  Cruising over the aquamarine waters and tiny cays of the southern Gulf of Mexico, your stresses and cares will melt away.  Find a secret beach along the way, or head all the way to Ernest Hemingway’s favourite abode of Key West, where the locals have a way of life that stands in stark contrast to the urban reality of Miami.

From London, England: Cornwall and Land’s End

When the humdrum of daily life in London has you at your wit’s end, escape in your automobile and explore rugged seacoast, secluded beaches and ancient castle ruins of Cornwall.  If you want to contemplate the nature of your existence, or are just looking for a moment of zen, head all the way to Land’s End, where you can stare out into the open Atlantic, where the next bit of land lies thousands of kilometres away.

The Open Road Is Calling

Even if you don’t own a car, renting one will allow you to steer you and your friends to adventures you could never anticipate until the moment you bust loose from your city.  Give Netflix a break this weekend … a wealth of experiences are lurking outside your established comfort zone!