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Floradise

A lifestyle blog by Marette Flora

7 Favorite Things to Do in Chicago

Favorite Things to Do in Chicago During the Summer

Every summer that I’ve lived in Chicago I create a summer bucket list of things I want to do during the season. This year I am simplifying the process by sticking to just my favorite things to do in the city instead of trying to do everything. Completing my check list will be a bit more challenging with two kids, but I’m up for the task!

My favorite things to do in Chicago:

  1. Standup paddleboarding: I have really enjoyed trying SUP as a way to get a workout and see the city from a different viewpoint. It’s also a nice way to get away if you think about it: everyone’s on the beach and you get some of the lake to yourself while on the water.
  2. Kayaking on Chicago River: Graham and I had a memorable date night on a sunset river kayaking tour and I hope to find the time to try this again.
  3. Baseball game at Wrigley Field: No summer is complete without baseball! (You can sub a White Sox game if that’s your jam, I guess.)
  4. Architecture tour: The evening architecture tour on the Chicago River doesn’t get old. I like to do this whenever we have visitors.
  5. Sunset cruise: Graham and I have done this cruise on Lake Michigan every summer. We love the views.
  6. Running on the lakefront path: I want to train for the Chicago Half in the fall, and I miss the trail! I plan to sign up for group training again.
  7. Brunch (bonus points for a rooftop!):  Sure, you can have brunch any time of year, but it’s the best and most fun during the summer when you can sit on the patio with your mimosa(s) in hand.

What would you add to this list? Have you visited Chicago during the summer? What was your favorite thing to do?

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Our Stay at the Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort in Hawaii

Hilton Waikoloa Resort, Big Island, Hawaii

We’re typically low-key travelers who prefer affordable places to stay that are easy to get to and conveniently located near the activities we enjoy. However, the booking of our Hawaii trip was a bit last minute because we had to cancel our Puerto Rico plans. That meant that almost all the Big Island hotels in the Kailua-Kona area were near capacity and we had to book whatever was left. We decided to venture a bit farther north to the Waikoloa area because we had skipped that part of the island on our honeymoon trip in 2014. We had heard there were some beautiful beaches nearby that we wanted to check out. With the help of Ebates and Priceline I was able to find a deal on a stay at the Hilton Waikola Village Resort, so we went for it despite the slightly higher price tag than we are used to paying. (Use my referral link to get started on Ebates; you’ll get $10.) Today I want to share the pros and cons of staying at the Hilton Waikola Village Resort.

Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort in Hawaii

Waikoloa Village was like a small village. (Actually someone we met in town called it their Disney World.) We had to take a tram to our hotel room tower and walking to the lobby from the room could take up to 20 minutes (if you’re preggo like me). Overall, though, we enjoyed our stay at the resort. This was where we waited in the basement during the false ballistic missile alert in Hawaii, too.

Hilton Waikoloa Resort, Hawaii

Hilton Waikoloa Resort, Big Island, Hawaii

 

Pros

  • Activities are plentiful.
  • Nice views from the rooms.
  • The lagoon was convenient and perfect for V to swim in. There are plenty of lounge chairs to use and you can rent kayaks, paddleboards and other equipment. You can also snorkel and see fish and turtles!
  • Just about everything you need is available.
  • Close to Hapuna Beach.
  • Spacious, comfortable rooms.
  • The walkway to lobby was also a museum with incredible artwork.
  • You can take a tram or boat to your tower.
  • The resort is gorgeous.
  • Nice shops.

Hilton Waikoloa Resort, Big Island, Hawaii

Hilton Waikoloa Resort, Big Island, Hawaii

 

Hilton Waikoloa Resort, Big Island, Hawaii

Cons

  • Not convenient to leave the resort.
  • Parking was $20-something per day for self-parking. Also, parking is far from your room.
  • Dining prices were higher as to be expected.
  • Resort fee was $20-something per day.
  • Construction near our tower was an eyesore.
  • Waikoloa is a bit of a drive (30 minutes or so) from Kailua-Kona and seems a bit isolated.  We didn’t like having to drive so far for more food and activity options.

What kind of accommodations do you prefer when you travel?

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Unforgettable Beach Day: False Ballistic Missile Alert

 

An Unforgettable Hawaii Beach Day | False Ballistic Missile Threat

When you wake up one morning, grab breakfast and begin to get ready for a beach day, you don’t expect to hear what sounds like an Amber Alert ringing on your phone. I looked at my screen and read aloud the words I was seeing:

Extreme alert

BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”

This is not a drill. How could this be? I immediately suspected a hack. It had to be! I looked over at my husband, though, and his face said he didn’t think so at all.

We grabbed the remote and flipped through the channels, looking for any sort of news. We picked up the hotel room phone and called the front desk only to hear a busy message. I scrolled through Twitter looking for any sign of whether this was a real alert, but I only found tweets asking the same.

What were we supposed to do? Were we in danger?

After notifying a few family members, just in case, we decided to head downstairs to see what others were doing. From our balcony we had seen both people running toward the lobby and others lounging on their chairs, soaking up the sun.

On the elevator, a man told us he was headed to his room because “what else can you do?”

No one seemed to know whether to actually be concerned. Most figured a ballistic missile would be directed at Oahu vs. the Big Island, which is maybe true but doesn’t make the situation any less scary.

A small crowd had started to gather around the concierge desk, one of many throughout the sprawling resort, which had many towers. A maintenance/resort worker called out that anyone who wanted to follow him to the basement was free to do so. He unlocked a door and many of us followed him down the stairs to a service tunnel, where we spent the next, I don’t know, 25 minutes?

A woman came over to us and handed V a snack. Some people laughed nervously while others stared at their phones. You could see the stress in my husband’s eyes.

It wasn’t until then that we were notified by a manager that we were never in any real danger, and that he apologized for what we experienced.

It wasn’t until 38 minutes after the initial alert at 8:07 a.m. local time that a correction was sent out.

There is no missile threat or danger to the State of Hawaii. Repeat. False Alarm.”

By then we were in our room again. It’s weird, though, I didn’t feel any sort of anxiety until I knew it wasn’t real. But from then on, I was on edge. All day long. It was then that I thought, What if it were real? How can people live under this ever-present threat?

As you can imagine, I was reminded yet again how lucky I am for so many things.

We did end up going to the beach and you can watch the video below. While it looks like a magical, gorgeous day — and it was — just know that behind every social media post is a story. It’s not all rainbows!

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Family-Friendly Snorkeling at Kahaluu Beach Park

When we decided to visit the Big Island again, I wondered if the beaches would be suitable for a toddler. Many of the beaches we had visited during our Hawaii honeymoon in 2014 were rocky and the waves were sometimes rough. We were pleasantly surprised by how family-friendly Kahaluu Beach Park, a popular snorkeling beach in Hawaii, turned out to be.

The park doesn’t have a huge chunk of sand, but it has food trucks, picnic tables, a snack shop and restrooms. We spent our last full day on the Big Island at this beach. I relaxed and snacked on nachos (about $6) while G and V swam with the fish and turtles. Tip: Bring water shoes! (You can also rent snorkel gear and get reef-safe sunscreen, though on the day we visited rentals were halted due to the water conditions.) V had a wonderful time in the water and then making sand castles with me. Tip: We purchased a sand castle toy set for about $9 at an ABC Store in Kailua-Kona and we brought it back home with us. A life jacket was also super helpful for us. You can save money by bringing your own beverages and snacks vs. buying from a food truck.

One part of the beach is for surfing and the other is for snorkeling, so be aware of where you are swimming. (Lifeguards were on duty when we were there.)

The Kahaluu Beach Park parking lot filled up quickly, but we found that if you drove around someone was always leaving.

Have you visited Kahaluu Beach Park or the Big Island? What was your favorite snorkeling spot?

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Stay at the Islander Resort | Islamorada, Florida Keys

When searching for an affordable, beachfront hotel option in the upper Florida Keys, I came across the Guy Harvey Outpost Islander Resort. The photos caught my eye, and the resort had decent reviews on Booking.com. I booked a three-night stay for us to explore the Keys during our recent trip.

When we drove up to the resort, an outdated sign greeted us. I didn’t remember seeing that in any of the photos, and the rest of the resort was in better condition. The lobby was decorated nicely and the front desk agent was super friendly and energetic. She informed me that we were in a poolside suite, which according to her is the best option. 
We drove up to our unit and opened our door with a good old-fashioned key (no hotel key card). Our room had a full kitchen, something I appreciate because it helps save cash by allowing us to cook some meals. There’s also a screened patio area and lounge chairs outside.

We typically request rooms with two beds so we don’t have to share with our toddler. The room contains a large closet and drawers with plenty of room. (That’s where I found the safe, which wouldn’t open. I didn’t bother asking the front desk for help.) As I found out during our stay, the poolside location is nice, but it does get a bit noisy sometimes during the day. It was convenient when we wanted to go to the pool, restaurant or beach, though.

Have a seat and admire the view from the pier. 

The A/C in the unit was also a bit loud at times, but it wasn’t an issue. We weren’t in the room that much anyway and we only needed it one day.

The laundry came in handy. I was able to do laundry one day for $1.50 per wash and $1.50 to dry. There is no detergent vending machine, though. I bought a $1 bottle of detergent at a nearby dollar store. 
I enjoyed both restaurants at the resort, especially breakfast at Bonefish Flats. The service was great at the latter. (See my previous post for more details on the food and prices.)
Was Islander Resort the fanciest option? No. But it was comfortable and not too expensive. The amenities were nice (You can rent kayaks and other gear at the beach!) and the location was convenient for us. Nearby we found many parks, the scuba diving museum and lots of shops and restaurants. It was about 40 minutes from the Turtle Hospital in Marathon and about an hour and a half from Key West. I would stay here again.

Have you visited the Florida Keys?

Tortuga Lodge, Tortuguero, Costa Rica

Our first stop in Costa Rica after flying into San Jose was Tortuga Lodge in Tortuguero. It’s a village on the Caribbean side of the country that is known for the turtles who nest and hatch on its beaches. The village is only accessible by boat or plane. Our options were to rent a car, drive to a nearby village and take a boat, or we could take a 30-minute $90 flight (for both of us) to Tortuguero. We did have the option to take a guided tour with everything included, but we prefer to be on our own.

The Nature Air flight made getting to the lodge extremely easy. We called the lodge the day before we landed and told them we’d be arriving at 7 a.m. They said they’d have a boat waiting for us at the air strip. When our flight landed, we deboarded the plane to see a young man, who asked if I was Mrs. Flora. He was there to help us with our bags and escort us to the boat that was waiting. The boat took us on a two-minute ride across the river to the lodge. How convenient is that?!

 

 

We were early for check-in and our room wasn’t ready yet, so we headed to the lodge’s restaurant for breakfast. We ate al fresco while admiring the scenery. I opted for the gallo pinto breakfast.

 

After breakfast, we checked into our room, which was located in the building next to the office. On one side of our room we had a view of the river, and on the other we had a view of the grounds, which led to a nature preserve area that is part of the property. We received a map of the trails on the property; they allow you to hike on your own and see monkeys, birds, iguanas and tiny dart frogs. Guided nature walks are held every morning around 6 a.m. and you can also book private walks at any time. For your convenience, rain boots, walking sticks and maps are available at the start of the trail (behind the office). It was such a treat being able to hike whenever we wanted. The hikes allow you to see animals in their habitat, but the iguanas weren’t shy about roaming the grounds.

 

 

We hiked every day we were there. It was so beautiful and serene. We could start our hikes right outside our door, and we roamed every trail on the property several times a day.

 

 

 

 

 

Each morning, we awoke to the sounds of howler monkeys, which the lodge called nature’s alarm clock. You really have no choice but to adjust your schedule here because the lodge rooms have no windows, only screens. Every room has hammocks and chairs outside your door where you can sit with your coffee and watch the sunrise. You are open to nature, and this trip is about relaxing and exploring. You won’t find a TV or A/C in the room; the lodge considers itself eco-friendly. We found that we were OK with the fans that were provided. At any time we could ask for ice from the bar or a wet towel.

 

 

 

 

Another nice perk is that free snacks are offered every night before dinner. You can lounge in the bar area and grub on hummus and chips or whatever they provide that night. Coffee and tea are always ready as well, along with cookies or crackers.

The property also has a pool and hammock area.  Boats wait at the dock and regularly take guests into town. You can also book a water taxi if the lodge boats aren’t running. If at any time you want to go to the beach on the other side of the air strip, you can ask for a boat to take you and they will gladly do so. When you want to return to the lodge, you simply wave your arms in the air. People in the office will see you and send a boat to go get you.

 

 

Various tours are offered by the lodge. We booked a nature tour ($100 per person) on the rivers and canals and when we returned, we had lemonade and wet towels waiting for us. It was a much-needed treat on a hot, sunny day.

The weather tends to be unpredictable. It might start off raining but turn into a gorgeous sunny day. Or vice versa. That’s why those rain boots are necessary! The lodge has umbrellas and bug spray waiting outside the office for guests to use at any time. You can sit and watch the rain from chairs that are set up with a view of the river.

 

The service was excellent. When our transportation out of Tortuguero left us, one worker called multiple times to straighten out the situation, and another waited with us and tried to console me. I really appreciated their kindness. I would definitely stay at the Tortuga Lodge again.

Have you been to Costa Rica? What was your favorite thing to do?

Read more about Costa Rica

 

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Taylor and Capone’s Beach Day

The beach has gone to the dogs. Ask Taylor and Capone, they’ll tell you all about it. We took them to Montrose Dog Beach, their favorite place in Chicago, over the weekend, and they had a blast. In fact, they had so much fun that they napped for the rest of the day. Taylor’s not as young as she thought she was during their beach day, and now she whines when she gets up because her body aches. That’s how I feel the day after I go out. I feel your pain, Taylor.
Check out my GoPro video from their little outing.

Again, we used the GoPro dog harness to capture the fun. As you can see, Taylor guards her ball. Capone doesn’t stand a chance at retrieving it, but he has fun running around.

Montrose Dog Beach, Chicago, dogs, taylor and capone

Montrose Dog Beach, Chicago, dogs, taylor

When she’s ready for you to throw the ball, she has no patience. Throw it already!

Montrose Dog Beach, Chicago, dogs, taylor

Montrose Dog Beach, Chicago, dogs, taylor and capone

Taylor was in her happy place.

Montrose Dog Beach, Chicago, dogs, taylor

I love to see them so happy. I wish every day were a beach day!
post signature Interested in the GoPro dog harness? Shop here.

“Tutu

Our Stay in Pahoa

After visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Graham and I drove to Pahoa to check into our rental on Kehena Beach. We encountered the only traffic of the trip on the drive along Highway 130. (It became clear how the entire town could be cut off from the rest of the island if the lava flowed over it.)

Our beach rental was the Whale House, which is just across the street from the ocean. It was a one-bedroom cottage on the same property as two other small cottages. 

A banana tree grew outside our door.
We ate lunch on the patio before making our way to the water. 
We took the opportunity to throw our wedding leis into the ocean that day. We watched them sway on the water before disappearing. 

Later, we went down to the beach, promptly discovering that it is a nude beach. We were OK with that, but we were also aware of how much we stood out. We sat on a rock and watched the waves and the locals’ interactions with each other. At one point a man greeted a boat tour, which had stopped in front of the beach, by turning around, bending over, putting his hands on his knees, and showing them his bare ass.
We also witnessed moments of camaraderie. An older man started to get swept away by the strong surf, and two younger men dove into the water to help him. Graham complimented one of them on their efforts; he acknowledged us with a look but said nothing. 
I won’t lie, I felt uncomfortable being one of the few people in clothing among the locals. 
Later, we drove to the Wednesday night farmers market. This is probably the biggest crowd we were a part of at any time on the Big Island. It was difficult to choose what to eat — everything looked so appetizing. I opted for veggie tacos made from non-GMO, locally grown veggies. 

We also bought pesto and spinach pizza from a food truck, and I paired that with lemonade. 
Among the goodies for sale were locally made soaps, jewelry, artwork, clothing and incense. We learned from some people we met that Wednesday nights were when the entire town gathered. Someone even called it his date night with his partner. A few people we spoke with said they were actually new to the Big Island and that they loved it there. Graham said a few times that he felt at home among the crowd. 
It was an enlightening experience to be in a setting where you stand out because it’s clear you are not from the area. I see it as a positive and important experience. It’s why I want to travel more; to feel uncomfortable so I can learn more about myself.

Our Maui Wedding Ceremony and Reception at Gannon’s

In what seemed like a blur, I made my way to Gannon’s for our wedding ceremony after a day of snorkeling and getting ready. Gannon’s is a restaurant at a golf club in Wailea, and it was recently featured on “Top Chef.” It’s a beautiful and relatively affordable venue for a wedding on Maui.

My coordinator, our guests, the groomsmen and Graham were there waiting. Graham had decided to make the lei-giving part of the ceremony and it was captured nicely in our wedding video and photos.

Reverend Kahu Kamuela blew a conch shell once to signify that it was time for the bridesmaids to start walking down to the Lower Wedding Knoll at Gannon’s.

Then he blew on it twice to signify that it was my turn. My nephew and I tried to remain calm as we walked to “Over the Rainbow.” He was so sweet and I’m happy I asked him to walk me down the aisle.
There had been some concern that it would rain in the days leading up to the wedding. But it was warm and sunny — maybe even a little too warm. The guests were troopers about dealing with the heat.
Graham and I were emotional from the moment we saw each other. We began the ceremony by exchanging leis.

 

 

Reverend Kahu Kamuela made sure to keep us focused on each moment. He asked us to look at each other and listen to the music and his words. We kissed several times during the ceremony and stopped to listen to “Chasing Cars,” performed by our musician, Jamie Lawrence. (I would highly recommend him as a wedding musician.)
As Jamie sang, we took it all in.
It was absolutely perfect — exactly what we envisioned.
After the ceremony we took family and friend photos as Jamie played more songs, including “I’m Yours.” Then Graham and I went to a nearby beach with our photographer, Jana Morgan. Four sunset weddings were taking place on the beach but she managed to find a secluded area for us. The light was amazing!

 

We returned to Gannon’s for our dinner reception and a warm welcome from our guests. The restaurant accommodated my request for a pescatarian meal, while the other guests had filet of beef along with fish. The vegetarian options included pasta primavera.
Cell phone photos don’t do it justice.

 

 

I had worked with Susan from Gannon’s via e-mail for months, and she was always so helpful. We had toured the venue a couple of days before and discussed the rain policy, which gave us a backup ceremony location. I really appreciated that. Luckily we didn’t need it!

The wedding cake was chocolate with Tahitian vanilla frosting. It was delicious, and I now wish I had more. We even had a little left over, which we devoured the next day.

I handpainted our cake topper. You may notice that a tiny flower had fallen off, but I am proud of it.

Our first dance was to Johnnyswim’s “Take the World,” a perfect song for us.

And that was the best day of my life.

Wedding Day Snorkeling in Maui

Our wedding day came and went much too quickly. I woke up after finally getting enough rest to find Graham was gone. He had woken up early to purchase pineapples for our wedding table and get me an iced Granita from Lava Java in Kihei. There was a beautifully written letter waiting for me on the bathroom counter. I couldn’t believe the day had arrived!

This was actually the first time in a long time I was too nervous to finish my food.

He had also brought back a newspaper, because he knew it was important to me. And he had ordered room service — oatmeal with fruit and a breakfast wrap. His thoughtfulness knows no bounds.

We exchanged wedding gifts that morning. I gave him a card and a watch, and I played for him a video I made of our photos. He was so touched. The day was off to an emotional start, to say the least. His gift to me was my wedding jewelry: a single-pearl necklace and matching earrings. They were exactly what I wanted to wear.

There were some stressful moments after that as we tried to corral friends and family and get them to the beach for snorkeling. Graham is my rock when I start the spiral of anxiety. (Yet another reason I married him.)

Snorkel Bob’s outfitted us with our snorkel gear and gave us recommendations for snorkeling in the area. Their suggestion to go to Maluaka Beach was spot on. The water was clear and calm and we saw turtles!

Graham’s turtle selfie 🙂

Spending some time at the beach with our wedding guests was the perfect way to start the day’s festivities. Before long it was time to start getting ready!

**** Note: My wedding trip/honeymoon recaps have been out of order.

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