|
A warm and sunshiny winter day is the perfect time to go out on a SunCruz Casino Cruise. SunCruz has several boats, sailing out of Mayport/Jacksonville, Ponce Inlet/Daytona Beach, Cape Canaveral,...
A warm and sunshiny winter day is the perfect time to go out on a SunCruz Casino Cruise. SunCruz has several boats, sailing out of Mayport/Jacksonville, Ponce Inlet/Daytona Beach, Cape Canaveral, John's Pass Village in Madeira Beach, Key Largo and Palm Beach (soon). I've been on the SunCruz XII out of Cape Canaveral several times, so I'll review that cruise in particular.
The SunCruz XII is the biggest ship SunCruz has in Florida. It carries 1,200 people and is 308' long. The boat sails twice a day. The day cruise leaves at 11:00 a.m. every day and the evening cruise sets sail at 7:00 p.m. Each cruise lasts from five to six hours. There is no charge to get on the boat and parking is free.
You'll find they have four decks with gambling on every deck. There are over 640 slots, including nickel machines. Some machines bet up to $100 per pull. They also have more than 35 tables with blackjack, roulette, mini baccarat, craps, Caribbean stud poker, let it ride, 3-card poker and live poker (cash games). One of the decks has a poker room, which is where the cash games are played. There are also tournaments held on some of the cruises but the schedule varies. Check the schedule at this http://www.suncruzcasino.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=75 if you're interested in playing one of the tournaments. There are quite a few special promotions each month, too. You can check the calendar http://www.suncruzcasino.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=30 to find the current month's offerings.
SunCruz offers a lunch buffet ($7) on the afternoon cruises and a dinner buffet ($10) during the evening cruises. There is also an a la carte menu. Free well drinks available while you are gambling, but you'll pay for sodas and bottled water. You'll find live entertainment at the Tiki bar, outside on the rear deck.
I've had mixed feelings about the employees I've dealt with on this cruise. I've had one dealer who was extremely rude, a couple who were very slow and inefficient, but three or four who were wonderful. The manager in the poker room has been extremely helpful when I've had questions about different rules and policies. After one cruise where the seas were quite high, I needed a wheelchair to leave the ship. I had not taken mine with me because I felt good when we went out. The first manager my husband approached practically ignored him when he asked for help. There was another employee, however, who bent over backwards to find a wheelchair and bring it to us. He even wheeled me out to our car when we disembarked. I would give this cruise a 4-star great rating if I hadn't had so many negative experiences with the people who work on the ship.
The port is very easy to find; however, if you don't feel like driving or just want to save the expense of gas, SunCruz has several busses that will pick you up at many locations across Florida. Some of these are located in Orlando, Cocoa Beach, Jensen Beach, Port St. Lucie, Ft. Pierce, Indian River, Vero Beach, Melbourne, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Zephyrhills, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Haines City, Ocala and Leesburg. You do need to make reservations to use the bus. Call 1-800-474-DICE (3423) or look at the bus schedule http://www.suncruzcasino.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=28 for more information.
Note that everyone must show a valid State or Federal photo ID in order to board. You must be 18 to sail and 21 to consume alcoholic beverages. You will have to pass through a metal detector and may be scanned with a metal-detecting wand before you are allowed to board. Purses and anything carried on will be searched. Knives, scissors, anything with a blade, etc., will have to be returned to your car or will be confiscated.
If you get seasick, you may want to call 1-800-474-DICE (3423) to find out what the waves are like before going out. This boat is small enough that you can feel the up and down motion if the seas are very high. Cruises can be canceled if the weather is deemed too dangerous to sail.
A few hours spent on the SunCruz XII is a fun experience. I've even come away a winner.
Hide
|
|
Cypress Gardens, Floridaโs original theme park, originally opened on January 2, 1936. After providing 65 years of fun-filled memories for tourists and local citizens, it closed April 13, 2003. ...
Cypress Gardens, Floridaโs original theme park, originally opened on January 2, 1936. After providing 65 years of fun-filled memories for tourists and local citizens, it closed April 13, 2003. This popular vacation destination was bought by new owners and reopened Dec. 9, 2004, much to everyone's delight.
The 35-acre park has a variety of activities to keep visitors busy. There are the beautiful historic gardens where you might see beautiful southern belles strolling in their hoop-skirted dresses. Enjoy a different view by taking one of the Botanical Garden cruises. First introduced in 1938, these boat tours will take you through the cypress swamps and lakes surrounding the park.
You may enjoy spending time in Wings of Wonder, a delightful butterfly arboretum; watching the water ski shows, featuring a human pyramid, or graceful ice show.
Natureโs Way is home to more than 150 animals, including Tarzan, a 75-year-old alligator that once starred alongside Johnny Weissmueller in the โTarzanโ movies. There are also reptiles, mammals and a variety of birds. This area has been reopened after months of redesign and refurbishment. Many buildings were completely rebuilt and several new structures were added.
If you're hungry, head on over to Jubilee Junction where you can choose from several restaurants or snack stands. Jubilee Junction is a quaint village that has been built with a Victorian look. There are also shops with names like Tan Yer Hide leather shop, Crepe Myrtle Candle Company and Longwing's Emporium from which you can buy a variety of merchandise.
If you enjoy something more thrilling, Adventure Grove has five roller coasters with a sixth opening this year (2007) and 40 rides. There are heart-stopping, jaw-dropping rides and easier rides for children, a big and colorful carousel and a train ride that will take you all around Adventure Grove.
There are special events throughout the year, including Christmas Wonderland during which the grounds are decorated for the holidays and special music programs are held; Beaus and Arrows, a four-day wedding-vow renewal event, which includes cake and a reception each day; and Blooms and Blossoms, a flower and garden show that includes demonstrations on water gardens, container gardening, landscaping, lawn care, fern care, topiaries and other gardening topics.
Cypress Gardens also hosts some great concerts, especially for us "vintage" folks. Concerts this winter include Charlie Pride; Bobby Vinton; Trace Adkins; Willie Nelson; Tommy James & The Shondells; Diamond Rio; a Hippie Fest, featuring Iron Butterfly, Melanie, Country Joe McDonald, The Rascals, Eric Burden & the Animals and Badfinger, as well as singers from the Hollies and the Moody Blues; Riders In The Sky; Tracy Lawrence and Tracy Byrd; Loretta Lynn; Neil Sedaka; and Sara Evans.
Cypress Gardens is a fabulous place to visit all year-round but especially so in the winter, when temperatures are a bit cooler.
Hide
|
|
The Avon Park Library offers a free year-round film series. The films are shown every Saturday (except holidays) and begin at noon. A different theme is chosen each month. A wide variety of films...
The Avon Park Library offers a free year-round film series. The films are shown every Saturday (except holidays) and begin at noon. A different theme is chosen each month. A wide variety of films are shown - vintage and classic, American and foreign, some are in black and white, others are full color, a few have subtitles. Some movies are chosen because they focus on a featured director, producer or actor. If you're interested in seeing a free movie, call the library at 452-3803 for the latest information.
Although movies are shown all year as part of this program, they are very popular with the snowbirds who visit during the winter months.
Hide
|
|
I opened a savings account with ING Direct http://home.ingdirect.com/ in April 2005. At that time, they had a promotion that deposited $25.00 into your account when it was opened. Since there was...
I opened a savings account with ING Direct http://home.ingdirect.com/ in April 2005. At that time, they had a promotion that deposited $25.00 into your account when it was opened. Since there was no minimum amount needed for opening a new account, I deposited a mere $5.00. One month later, my $5.00 deposit became $30.00 due to the bonus from ING. Each time someone opened an account using my referral code (up to a maximum of twenty-five referrals), they received $25.00 and I received $10.00. I couldn't believe how hard it was to get people to sign up for this amazing program! While many people got a free $250.00 for getting the maximum number of referrals, I only got three or four people to sign up under me. Still, I received $10.00 each time one of them did.
When I opened the account, I also signed up for their Automatic Savings Plan. Although I only have $25.00 transferred to my ING Direct savings account each month, it does add up. It was very easy to sign up for this automatic withdrawal program and I never miss the money.
ING Direct has offered a phenomenal savings rate since I opened an account. I have a checking account with Bank of America and just called to find out what their interest rate on a savings account is. I learned it is a paltry .20% (less than one-quarter of one percent) and they have a $300 minimum balance in order to earn that rate. I also called my local credit union and was told their interest rate is 1% on a regular account, with a $0.01 minimum balance. In comparison, ING is paying me 4.40%!
I first heard about ING Direct through an e-mail I received about the $25.00 sign-up bonus promotion. Under the circumstances, I was afraid this was a scam so I did a little bit of research. I found this review http://www.epinions.com/content_6747557508 on Epinions.com very helpful.
I also learned that ING Direct only does business online, over the phone and by mail. Without the overhead and high operational costs of a normal brick and mortar bank, they are able to pass the savings onto their customers through higher interest rates for earning accounts and lower rates on mortgages.
I further learned that ING Direct "is backed by ING (NYSE:ING), a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management to over 60 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. ING employs over 112,000 people in 50 countries, including more than 10,000 in the US, and has been operating in America for over 100 years. ING Direct is a member of the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) which insures bank deposits up to $100,000."
All of this information helped me feel secure enough to open my account with ING Direct and I've never regretted it. I must say, however, that the one drawback to having an account with ING is that my money is not immediately available. I needed some emergency funds one time since opening my ING account and it took two days for the money to be transferred to my savings account. While I thought the two-day time frame was above average, I did have to take out a temporary payday loan advance from AMSCOT to cover the emergency. Since then, I keep a small amount of money in a local savings account should I ever be caught in an emergency situation again.
If you'd like to open an account with ING Direct, I'll be happy to send you an invitation to join. Their current promotion requires that you open your savings account with a minimum of $250.00 in order to qualify for a bonus. If you do, ING Direct will deposit a $25 bonus in your new account and I will receive a $10 thank-you bonus in my account.
Hide
|
|
News-Sun
Category:
Newspaper Advertising
2227 US Highway 27 S
Sebring, Florida 33870
(863) 465-0426
Although my opinion is in the minority, my favorite local newspaper is The News-Sun. http://www.newssun.com/ They have been publishing the local paper since 1927. The News-Sun is a small hometown...
Although my opinion is in the minority, my favorite local newspaper is The News-Sun. http://www.newssun.com/ They have been publishing the local paper since 1927. The News-Sun is a small hometown newspaper that's only published three times a week - Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. That means if something happens on Monday, The News-Sun won't be able to tell you about it until Wednesday. Sometimes they never do tell you about it. I guess they figure after two days, it's too old to talk about.
The coverage isn't the latest or the most accurate and important national news stories are sometimes ignored. There is just a friendliness about this paper that I like, though. My favorite section of The News-Sun is the Lifestyles section, as it almost always includes a profile article about a local resident. I enjoy getting to know my neighbors, even if they don't live right nextdoor.
Subscription rates are as follows:
1 month - $4.90 including tax
3 months - $14.71 including tax
6 months - $28.36 including tax
12 months - $50.83 including tax
If you're a snowbird who thinks they might miss The News-Sun when you return home or a student going away to college who wants to keep abreast of local happenings, you can have The News-Sun delivered out of town. For those rates, please see http://www.newssun.com/main.asp?SectionID=22&TM=64936.5 .
Hide
|
|
Dollar Mania is located in Lakeshore Mall, next to Pocket Change (the game arcade). The easiest and quickest way to get there is by entering the mall at the Kmart entrance on the Bealls side. I...
Dollar Mania is located in Lakeshore Mall, next to Pocket Change (the game arcade). The easiest and quickest way to get there is by entering the mall at the Kmart entrance on the Bealls side. I find there is usually more parking available on the back side, by Bealls, than there is on the front of the mall, by JC Penney.
Dollar Mania is a great, inexpensive store where you can buy party supplies and seasonal decorations for your home. Along with lots of other things, they sell paper cups, plates and napkins; candles; picture frames; party favors; Halloween decorations; glassware; vases; Mylar balloons; and cleaning supplies. All of these things would be a great help when you're getting ready to have a party. And, no matter what you buy, everything is priced at just $1.00!
There have been several dollar stores come and go from this same location. I hope this one is here to stay. Unlike some of the other dollar stores (which didn't always have everything priced at $1.00), this business stays neat and organized so it is always easy to find just what you're looking for. On the rare occasion when you can't find what you're looking for, the staff is always readily available and willing to answer your questions.
Hide
|
|
I have been a collector at least since I was in elementary school. I enjoy decorating my home in the fall with vintage items like pumpkins, turkey figurines and platters, and pilgrims. I used to...
I have been a collector at least since I was in elementary school. I enjoy decorating my home in the fall with vintage items like pumpkins, turkey figurines and platters, and pilgrims. I used to be able to find these items quite readily and inexpensively at thrift stores. With the invention of eBay, however, it has gotten harder and harder to find these bargains even at stores that have merchandise given to them. This Goodwill store is definitely a thrift store for those who have money to burn.
When this store was located farther north on Florida Avenue, there was a book room in the back that had excellent buys. That disappeared when Goodwill built and then moved into this cavernous, Art Deco inspired building.
First, I'm not sure why Goodwill felt compelled to build such an expensive architecturally unique building. It must have cost a lot of money to design and erect. In my humble opinion, it was a huge waste of money. I'd much prefer shopping in a thrift store in a run-down building that has bargain basement prices.
Almost all of the merchandise is new. The few things that are vintage or collectible are priced so high that they sit on the shelves so long they get dinged up and chipped - and Goodwill still doesn't mark down the price! An example of this is three or four vintage Lefton birthday girl figurines which are collectible. They were exorbitantly priced between $15.00 and $25.00, depending on their size. Everyone of the figurines either had damage or had been repaired. After several months, hey were still there the last time I visited the store.
The one good thing about this store was the new bathroom, but even that was in disrepair the last time I was there.
Hide
|
|
I have a sister-in-law who lives in Atlanta and she asked me 15 years ago if we had a Michaels in town. I'd never heard of it. It's only been three or four years since I first stepped foot into a...
I have a sister-in-law who lives in Atlanta and she asked me 15 years ago if we had a Michaels in town. I'd never heard of it. It's only been three or four years since I first stepped foot into a Michaels Arts and Crafts store. I was blown away immediately!
The store is immense, as is the variety of goods that they sell. They carry every area of arts and crafts, too - scrapbooking, card making, jewelry, beads, Fimo clay, knitting, crochet, tole painting, stenciling, oil painting and calligraphy, to name a few. They also sell finished products like baskets, posters, frames and vases. They sell how-to books and the supplies to make the things in those books. I could spend days in this store!
While I think most things in Michaels are a bit high priced, I've often found good sale prices. Last Christmas for example, I bought several boxed arts and crafts kits for under $5.00 each. These kits included crayons, colored pencils, specialty papers, watercolors and similar items kids could use creatively.
I love to decorate my home with preserved fall leaves in the autumn and Michaels has lots of those. They also have blank wreaths and dried flowers you can use to create your own decorative wall hangings and table decorations.
The staff at Michaels in Lakeland has always been very helpful, although the store seems a bit dingy and disorganized. The biggest negative about Michaels is that the closest store is at least 75 minutes from my home!
Hide
|
|
I have been shopping at Cindy's Hallmark stores about as long as I can remember. I moved to Avon Park almost 20 years ago and, to be honest, I'm not sure if Cindy's was already opened or not. The...
I have been shopping at Cindy's Hallmark stores about as long as I can remember. I moved to Avon Park almost 20 years ago and, to be honest, I'm not sure if Cindy's was already opened or not. The first store I shopped at was located in Avon Park near the Winn-Dixie. It then moved next to Walgreens, but had to close when Walgreens moved to its present located.
Mike Cowan, the owner of that shop, still owns two Hallmark stores - one in the Lakeshore Mall and the other in the Sebring Square shopping center. Mike usually opens a second store in the mall (for a total of three stores) during the fall and winter months.
While the second location is closer to my home, I was in the store in the mall most recently. I found lots of wonderful items which would be perfect for decorating your home for the holidays.
When I was young, we went trick-or-treating for UNICEF and collected money to donate to this charity. I hadn't heard about that campaign until visiting the Hallmark store last week. This year, Hallmark stores are giving away cutely designed orange boxes to help raise money for this organization.
We laughed uproariously at the singing, dancing trick-or-treating ghost that was on display. This prankster stands about 1' tall and operates on batteries.
Most people who celebrate Christmas decorate a Christmas tree. About 15 years ago, I began decorating an Easter tree and maybe three or four years ago, I started collecting ornaments for a Halloween tree, as well. Hallmark has quite a few Halloween ornaments, including some beaded ones and some from the Peanuts (Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, etc.) line of products.
Hallmark puts out some great music CDs for various holidays throughout the year, and Halloween is no exception. I didn't buy this year's version because I have several from other years, but they are really fun to play during a Halloween party or while you're waiting to hand out candy to costumed-kids who come trick-or-treating at your door.
Of course, it goes without saying that Cindy's Hallmark has umpteen different cards for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and every other holiday of the year - including some you've never even heard about.
One of the great things about this store is that sale items are placed out front. In fact, there is usually a special table set up just inside the store's entrance so it's hard to miss. There are glass display cubicles just instead the front of the store which often hold sale items, too.
The staff has always been friendly and courteous whether I've been shopping or just browsing.
Hide
|
|
We have two bakery thrift stores in our county - Flowers and Merita. I much prefer the Merita Thrift Store because it's closer to my home and because I think the prices are better. Although the...
We have two bakery thrift stores in our county - Flowers and Merita. I much prefer the Merita Thrift Store because it's closer to my home and because I think the prices are better. Although the everyday prices for Wal*Mart's Great Value white and wheat bread are better than I can find at either bakery thrift store, I can sometimes find specialty breads at the Merita thrift store marked down to what I consider a reasonable price. They sell packaged cookies, chips and drinks at prices I think are very high.
I hear women in some of my Yahoo groups talk about bakery thrift stores where they can buy bread marked down to 10 loaves for $1 and stuff like that. There isn't anywhere in Highlands County that I can find those kinds of prices. The best deal I've ever bought at either of our two bakery outlets was two-packs of Twinkies that were marked down to 12/$1. Of course, they were at or nearing their expiration date, but I stuck them in the freezer and they were fine.
Located just outside the city limits on the north side of County Road 64 (Main Street), the store is open from 9:30 until 5 Monday through Friday and from 8:30 until 4 on Saturday. They're closed on Sunday. They accept cash, checks and debit cards.
Strata is a great dish to make for a brunch and/or a crowd. If I want to make some but don't have any day-old bread on hand, I go to the bakery thrift store. Although they don't put it out on the shelves, they usually have some in the back. Day-old white bread is one thing I can buy less expensively at the outlet store than I can buy a loaf of white bread at Wal*Mart.
Here's a delicious strata recipe you might enjoy. One of my sisters-in-law made this recipe for my family the morning of my wedding. My family all came in from out of town and met at my mom's house for breakfast that day. She chose it because she quickly prepared several pans the night before and just popped them into the oven that morning.
Cheese and Sausage Strata
6 slices white bread
1 lb. cooked meat (ham, sausage or bacon)
1 lb. grated cheddar cheese
6 eggs, beaten
3 cups milk
1 teaspoon dry mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
Butter
Butter a 9 x 13 inch pan. Line bottom with bread. Layer cheese and meat ending with meat on top. Mix eggs with mustard, milk, salt and pepper. Pour over other ingredients. Cover with foil and refrigerate up to 48 hours. Bake uncovered 45 to 60 minutes at 350 degrees.
Hide
|