Restaurants – Journeys with Eileen Diane

Edison & Ford Winter Estates ~ Favorite Restaurants ~ Fort Myers, Florida ~ Photos

July 24, 2022July 23, 2022Journeys with EileenDiane

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page ~ St. Augustine

A neat place to visit in the Fort Myers area is the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. They date from 1885 and in addition to the winter homes there is an historical museum, a 21 acre botanical garden plus a gift shop and a garden center where guests can purchase plants and trees. Plan on spending several hours as you explore this beautiful area ~ Check out the web site for additional information. www.edisonfordwinterestates.org

Favorite Restaurants ~ Happy Hours

Matanzas ~ the main restaurant has a fabulous Happy Hour, with good drinks and super appetizers ~ plus a fabulous bartender. The restaurant has a very good lunch & dinner menu ~ best Key Lime Pie! ~ eat inside or outside ~ or choose Petey’s Upper Deck ~ also a marvelous place to relax and enjoy the ambience. The restaurant is located at Matanzas Inn, where I stayed for several days and highly recommend ~ great location ~ short walk to the beach and next to the marina.

Matanzas on the Bay | Waterfront Restaurant on Fort Myers Beach

Matanzas Inn | Fort Myers Beach Bayside Resort & Marina

Courtney’s Continental Cuisine ~ mouthwatering menu, including many terrific Italian entrees and Key Lime pie for dessert ~ the food definitely lives up to your expectations (or surpasses them!). Bon Appetit!

courtneyscontinentalcuisine.com

Lani Kai Island Resort ~ the bar on the top floor has a fabulous Happy Hour ~ terrific drinks and a special menu ~ plus a spectacular view of the beach

Fort Myers Beach Resort | Lani Kai Island Resort | Book Today!

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St Petersburg. Florida ~ Dali Museum ~ June 2022 ~ Photos

July 10, 2022July 10, 2022Journeys with EileenDiane

I do not bring back from a journey quite the same self that I took ~ W. Somerset Maugham

A highlight of my recent journey to Florida was a visit to the Dali Museum in beautiful St. Petersburg. It was a short walk from my hotel (The Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown St Petersburg, which I recommend) along parks and the waterway.

I met a friend at the Museum and it was great fun exploring it with someone who had already visited this impressive museum. After a delicious cappuccino at their café, we downloaded the free Dali Museum app for a self-guided tour and set off to explore. https://thedali.org/ .. check for hours and note that at this time, advance tickets are required.

Let me share a few of my favorite Dali paintings (Photos below):

Gala Contemplating the Mediterranean Sea, Which at 20 Meters Become the Portrait of Abraham Lincoln (1976)
Slave Market with the Disappearing Bust of Voltaire (1940)
The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory (1952-54)
The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus (1958)

The app goes into marvelous detail about all of the exhibited artwork and after touring the Museum, we explored the enjoyable and very well stocked gift shop where you can purchase guide books (which give detailed information about the collection), clothing, magnets, jewelry, puzzles, etc.

Then we walked about the avant-garden, including the wish tree, from the admission bands given when entering the Museum.

Afterwards, we walked back to the town, checking a few restaurant menus and settling on one that is now one of my favorites.

Favorite Restaurants:

Parkshore Grill ~ Home | Parkshore Grill | Saint Petersburg FL | Contemporary American Cuisine | Fine Food Wine & Spirits ~ A terrific place for lunch; especially the “Parkshore Picnic” which includes a salad, main course (salmon was excellent) and a mini dessert. The dessert was exquisite and definitely not mini!
Bacchus Wine Bistro ~ Bacchus Wine Bistro – St. Petersburg, FL (bacchusstpete.com) ~ A fabulous spot for “Happy Hour” and dinner ~ You will definitely want to visit more than once to try items on their extensive menu.

St. Petersburg, with its beautiful beaches, parks, terrific restaurants and shops plus the Dali Museum, is certainly on my list to revisit.

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Journey to Fort Myers, Florida ~ June 2022 ~ Photos

July 2, 2022July 10, 2022Journeys with EileenDiane

Who lives sees much, who travels sees more ~ Arabian Proverb

Last month when I flew to Tampa, I liked the area so much I decided to fly to Florida again, this time to the Fort Myers area. I had to connect in Charlotte, NC and two of the four flights I took were delayed. Fortunately, I made my connection going to Fort Myers (after running thru Charlotte Airport – why are connections so far apart when there is little time?) and coming home, while missing a shuttle, there was another an hour later.

Travel Tips:

Always try to get a non-stop flight (earliest in the day) and if connecting, always opt for the earliest flight.
Check with friends or travel advisors about which airline offers best connections to where you are traveling.
Download the airline’s app to keep up to date re flights.
If you HAVE to get to your destination (a wedding, cruise, etc.) perhaps book your arrival for a day or two in advance.
Be patient and keep your sense of humor as plane travel will not be “fun” this summer.

I spent several days in beautiful Fort Myers, seeing friends, enjoying the beach, Happy Hours and some terrific restaurants plus one of the best Barnes and Nobles that I have ever visited. Since this is Florida’s rainy season, I witnessed some spectacular thunder/lightning storms in the evenings.

Then I drove north to St Petersburg, stopping at Punta Gorda for a terrific lunch at Fishermen’s Village, at the Village Brewhouse. It was fun exploring all of the local shops. Village Brewhouse | Fishermen’s Village | Punta Gorda, Florida (fishermensvillage.com)

After visiting St Petersburg (the Dali Museum is a must!) for a few days, I headed south staying in Sarasota for a few days, loving Siesta Key Beach. It is ranked as one of the best beaches and I definitely would agree. Also in the area, are the beautiful Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

I drove south to Naples for lunch, then headed back to Fort Myers. This time, instead of a chain hotel, I opted for a local hotel near the beach that a friend recommended. Great recommendation!

I’ll have several more posts and photos about St. Petersburg, the Dali Museum, the Botanical Gardens in Sarasota plus some favorite restaurants, especially in Fort Meyers and St. Petersburg.

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Tarpon Springs, Florida ~ Photos ~ May 2022

May 27, 2022July 10, 2022Journeys with EileenDiane

Tarpon Springs, about 13 miles north of Clearwater, has the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any city in the US. It’s a cute town to walk about and definitely time it for lunch or dinner. The restaurant I chose for a late lunch was fabulous, from appetizer to dessert. I selected the restaurant that seemed to be the busiest – and I understood why once I tasted their food.

Hellas Restaurant ~ A friendly waiter brought the menu with many popular Greek dishes, plus some unknowns. The waiter spent time answering questions and giving recommendations. My favorite appetizer (Taramasalata with pita) was incredible. LOL – there were no leftovers! It was perfect with a glass of a delicious, white Greek wine, Kretikos. Because I knew I wanted dessert, I followed the appetizer with a very nice salad. The dessert menu is very extensive. I chose kataiffi – it’s a rolled type baklava and is terrific. The restaurant definitely warrants many trips to try other items on their menu. Bon Appetit (in Greek: Καλή όρεξη. [Kalí órexi]

Hellas Bakery | Hellas Restaurant | Wholesale and Retail Greek Patries | Greek Festivals | Tarpon Springs, Florida – Hellas Bakery and Restaurant

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Dunedin, Florida ~ Photos ~ May 2022

May 17, 2022July 10, 2022Journeys with EileenDiane

Dunedin is a delightful town less than an hour west of Tampa, bordering the St. Joseph Sound. It is also close to Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, St. Petersburg and Tarpon Springs. You can easily get about using Uber or the Jolley Trolley. Jolley Trolley – Welcome Aboard Clearwater Jolley Trolley!

Main Street is fun to browse and explore. Get a map at your hotel and spend several hours leisurely perusing the many shops, including apparel, jewelry, arts and crafts and restaurants.

Favorite restaurants include:

Frenchy’s Outpost Bar and Grill ~ Frenchy’s has a Tiki Bar, terrific outdoor and indoor dining ~ very good menu, including excellent Fried Zucchini, grilled Mahi Mahi and a super Key Lime Pie

Criketers British Pub ~ extensive menu ~ Superb Fish N Chips and marvelous Portobello Fingers (fried mushrooms) ~ and the best Moscow Mule drink ever!

Yes, I want to return and explore more of this beautiful part of Florida, including Honeymoon Island State Park.

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Road Trip ~ Western Washington to Boise ~ Photos

May 25, 2021July 10, 2022Journeys with EileenDiane

I last visited Boise in September 2019 and it was fabulous to be able to plan a road trip and visit again. This was my first journey since the pandemic. It was very special to be able to visit favorite places (Boise and Meridian) and discover a new area (Eagle).

The beautiful Boise River Greenbelt is a paved path which follows the river through the heart of the city and beyond, along many parks. It is 25 miles long with many bridges to make it easy to loop back.

The walk in Boise takes you past Boise State University, to Julia Davis Park where you can stop and explore the gorgeous Rose Garden. Note to self: plan trip next year in June, as many of the rose bushes were not yet in bloom.

About a 15 minute drive from Boise is the Village at Meridian Mall. I am not a fan of shopping centers, but this one is an exception. Many interesting shops to explore, nicely laid out and all outdoors.

Stop in the locally owned Royal Coffee Company for a terrific latte, cappuccino or fruit smoothie. Enjoy it while sitting outside, deciding whether to browse the shops, walk about, dine or stay in the Fountain Square area and people watch.

My favorite places to dine in the area include:

The Cottonwood Grill (on the Boise Green Belt), Anthony’s (recently opened, downtown, near hotels) and The Yard House at the Village at Meridian Mall.

It’s an easy drive from western Washington to Boise via I-90 to I-82 to I-84, especially when the weather is good. For my return trip I was planning to drive via the I-84 to the Portland area and then north via I-205 and I-5. It is a longer route, going along the Columbia River in Oregon and is quite beautiful. However, as it was raining, I opted for the faster route and did encounter wet snow in the Oregon mountains. Very glad it was wet snow …

Below are some photos from my journey; will be posting more photos of the River Walks (Boise and Eagle), the Rose Garden and Boise Capitol Building.

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Photos ~ Gig Harbor, Washington ~ Feb 2020

February 20, 2020July 10, 2022Journeys with EileenDiane

On a beautiful crisp sunny, winter day, it’s marvelous to walk about Gig Harbor. A clear, sunny day in February is delightful as it’s so rare. After walking about, I stopped for a lunch at my favorite Italian Restaurant, Il Lucano

I discovered that you can order from their extensive dinner menu at lunchtime, which meant a fabulous lunch of Caesar Salad, Veal Saltimbocca, White wine (Sicilian) and Cappuccino … Fantastico! Maybe we will have an early Spring?? And yes, that is Mount Rainier in the distance .. on a clear day, it is visible and very beautiful.

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Boise, Idaho ~ The Village at Meridian

October 14, 2019July 10, 2022Journeys with EileenDiane

About a 15 minute drive from Boise is the marvelous Village at Meridian Mall. I am not a fan of shopping centers, but this one is an exception. Many interesting shops to explore, coffee shops and restaurants to try and it is nicely laid out.

My favorite place to dine is The Yard House. They have a very good, varied menu (fabulous fish ‘n’ chip), an extensive bar (including 140 unique beers) and multiple TVs showing sports. Terrific place for lunch or dinner.

Savor your journeys … enjoy the ride …

Road Trip ~ Western Washington to Coeur d’Alene and Boise

Favorite Restaurants ~ Road Trip ~ Western Washington to Mt Rushmore

June 21, 2019July 10, 2022Journeys with EileenDiane

When on a road trip, I prefer to dine close by my hotel, i.e., walking distance. I lucked out as there were several very good restaurants on my recent road trip from Western Washington to Mt Rushmore close to where I was staying. I would definitely go back to each of them.

The Stone of Accord, Missoula Montana

An Irish Pub serving fabulous comfort food (including pork chops, meatloaf, fish n chips), soups, salads, desserts (including Guinness Chocolate Cake, Irish White Chocolate Cheesecake). The staff have terrific customer service skills. I highly recommend the Peppercorn Pork Chops (served with delicious champs (best mashed potatoes, with scallions!) and vegetables) and the cheesecake is superb. As expected, there is a terrific bar menu, including Moscow Mule or an Irish Mule. Check out their menu on-line for ideas.

http://thestoneofaccord.com/

A Moscow Mule

Delicious Pork Chops, Champs, Soda bread

Montana’s Rib and Chop House, Billings Montana

Terrific place for either a quiet dinner or the sports bar area. I chose the latter and enjoyed a fabulous meal (champagne plus a delicious Caesar salad, salmon & baked potato). Great customer service skills. It is a chain (other locations are shown on their web site) and I would highly recommend.

https://ribandchophouse.com/

Terrific Caesar salad with anchovies

A Vodka Mule

Delicious Salmon & baked potato

Anthony’s at Coeur D’Alene, Idaho

I’ve eaten at Anthony’s prior to this trip and always enjoyed it. This time I ate in the bar area and loved it. The drinks and food are very good, terrific customer service and the view is lovely (overlooking a pond in Riverstone Park). The salmon was excellent as was the marvelous dessert (a Baily’s Mousse). Plus, there were some uninvited guests: ducks had somehow managed to enter. The staff immediately escorted them out and put up a stuffed animal which is supposed to keep the ducks at bay. We all had a hearty laugh and enjoyed the show.

https://www.anthonys.com/restaurants/detail/anthonys-at-coeur-dalene

Savor your journeys!