Saturday at the #NINC2025 (Novelists, Inc.) writers’ conference consisted of Solution Sessions, which were roundtables where seasoned authors could discuss different topics. None of the sessions at the Ninc conference are recorded, but reporters attend so summaries can be written for the monthly newsletter. However, none attended the roundtables so authors could talk freely. The … Read more
On Day One of the Novelists, Inc. (#NINC2025) 2025 conference, my friend Janice Hardy and I checked into the Tradewinds Island Grand Resort at St. Pete Beach. I’d attended this writers’ conference many years before and remembered this resort with fondness. The Grand Colonnade main hall is still impressive and was the site for many … Read more
On Day Two of our 3-night voyage on Utopia of the Seas, we visited the Port of Nassau. Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas. Once a pirate haven, today the islands are a popular tourist destination. The tropical weather and natural wonders bring in many visitors. Since I’d been here before, I didn’t need … Read more
We ate in the Main Dining Room early seating on Utopia of the Seas for dinner each night. Our server was excellent, being prompt with the menus and the food and making paper origami designs for my grandson. For this first night, I chose a crab cake appetizer, prime ribs and this yummy chocolate … Read more
The pool deck on Day One of our 3-night cruise on Utopia of the Seas was lively, with bodies crowding the lounge chairs and music thumping at the two pool areas. We saw a food truck that offered wrapped snacks later in the voyage and free soft ice cream at a dispensary called Sprinkles. … Read more
If you enjoy visiting historical sites, you’ll relish this one. The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum was established in 1887 and is considered a National Historic Landmark. All the dwellings and support buildings remain intact. Located between St. Augustine and Cape Canaveral, Mosquito (now Ponce) Inlet was the recommended choice of the U.S. Lighthouse Board. … Read more
Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens is a hidden gem in Central Florida worthy of a visit. It’s a botanical garden with an old sugar mill ruin offering a fascinating glimpse into our state’s history. On our second day staying at New Smyrna Beach, we started out with a beach walk. We parked in a twenty-dollar lot … Read more
New Smyrna Beach has many tempting restaurants, so many that we tried two different ones each evening of our two-night stay. When we arrived in town, we began our culinary adventures at the Third Wave Café & Wine Bar where I got a Chicken Salad Sandwich. I didn’t want to overeat so that we could … Read more
New Smyrna Beach is a charming place to visit on Florida’s east coast. It’s about an hour’s drive from the northern end of Greater Orlando. We stayed at the Riverview Hotel at 103 Flagler Ave, New Smyrna Beach FL. It is located about a ten-minute walk from the beach past numerous quaint shops and restaurants. … Read more
The Leu House Museum is located inside Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando, FL. Overlooking Lake Rowena, this stately residence is on the National Register of Historic Places. Although we’ve been to the botanical gardens many times, this was our first tour of the house. The original owners were the Mizell family who claimed … Read more