WHAT ARE FLORIDAS PET FRIENDLIEST CITIES

Hello all,

Some of us may be trying to sneak in that last  minute vacation before school starts . But then the question remains, what to do with Fido? For those of you who don't have a small petting zoo as I do , Florida may be the place to go! Florida has 582 dog friendly cities for that last minute vacation. Here are just a few:

Key West- this city has 8 pet friendly hotels and resorts. Some of them are very nice ones including Banana Bay Resort,  and the Westin Key West Resort and Marina. More reasonable priced ones would include Best Western Key Ambassador Key Inn  and Sheraton Suites Key West. This city has many pet friendly things to do like Lazy Dog Kayak,(where Fido rides with you in the front of the kayak), Key West Dog Beach, and Key West Charters Eco-charters( where your pooch and the ships captains golden retriever usually comes along). And if you're looking for a place for Fido to dine with you, you should try the New York Pasta Garden, Sarabeths, and Schooner Wharf Bar among many others.

Orlando - This city has over 78 pet friendly hotels. This list includes the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal, Wyndham Orlando Resort, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal, and Omni Orlando Champion Resort. They have many dog parks here for Fido to run like Avalon Park, Lake Eola Park and also the downtown Orlando Farmers Market. For eats, try the Relax Grill, Wildside BBQ and Grill, and the Boston Coffeehouse among others. Orlando has 49 pet friendly restaurants in all! A pets paradise!

Tampa- This city boasts 57 pet friendly hotels, These include the Seminole Hark Rock Hotel and Casino, the Westin, and the Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk. It has 16 dog parks, including Picnic Island Dog Park, Davis Island Dog Park, and Lake Park. One of the nicer dog friendlier places to eat here is Sail Pavilion on the Riverwalk. Here guest can arrive by car and boat. They have stainless steel water dishes, a clean up station, free doggy treats and a dog menu with Frostypaws and Mr. Barksmith Smoothies. Also Grill Smith in Carrolwood is nice.

Jacksonville- This city has 65 pet friendly hotels. This would iclude the Sheraton Jacksonville, Hotel Indigo, and Aloft Jackonsonville Tapestry park. For pet friendly things to do here you can go to one of many dog parks including the Confederate Point Dog Park, Dogwood Park, and Julington Creek Animal Walk. It boasts pet friendly eateries, 36 in all , like the upscale The Brick Restaurant, and the Taverna where they bring you water and treats for your dog. For dessert visit Bruester's Real Ice Cream where they will bring you a free sundae with crumbled dog bones on top for their furry customers.

Fort Lauderdale- This city has 64 pet friendly hotels in all including the Westin Beach Resort, II Lugano Suite Hotel, and LaQuinta Inn.  For places for Fido to go they have the Fort Lauderdale Canine Beach which boasts dog bags, water and beach showers. Then there is Snyder Dog Swim and Bark Park that has a fenced in dog friendly beach with  a clean lake  for swimming. Some of their 39  pet friendly places to eat are the YOLO which has an outdoor lounge for you and your dog with a firepit and the H20 Cafe where you and your pet can dine on a large oceanfront patio.

All these things make Florida a truly dog friendly destination!

GYMBOREE AND STITCH FIX JUST MADE BACK TO SCHOOL EASIER!

Hello all,

Back to school time is almost here and I have some big news to share with you! Gymboree-  the  creater of  quality children's clothes and accessories that are the fabric of childhood have partnered with Stitch Fix. What Stitch Fix has created is awesome! Stitch Fix stylists have put together back to school bundles. Stylish outfits for your children already assembled to make  school mornings easier. Think of it as a cheat sheet for kids fashion!

http://www.gymboree.com/shop/girls-clothing/styled-by-stitch-fix?SSAID=1328149&utm_source=sas&utm_medium=aff&utm_campaign=sas

They have so many styles, colors, and fabrics to choose from. Clearly there is something for every personality  to choose from. I would be a proud mom  to see my child rocking these back to school fashions! After looking through all of their awesome clothes I put together my own bundle. Take a look!

http://www.gymboree.com/shop/item/girls-swan-peplum-tunic-140157232

http://www.gymboree.com/shop/item/girls-the-best-friend-pant-1401568

http://www.gymboree.com/shop/item/girls-floral-french-clip-140155189

http://www.gymboree.com/shop/item/girls-gladiator-sandals-140155152

Gymboree celebrates childhood and creates quality clothes. In Gymboree, they make kids shine bright and families look great together for the special occassion that is every day of childhood. The partnering of them with Stitch Fix makes back to school time so much easier and fun!

 **This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. I was compensated for this post.

FLORIDA'S CREEPIEST URBAN LEGENDS

Hello all,

Each state in our country comes with its own unique set of stories and urban legends. I  just wanted to share a few of Florida's with you. I think the last one is the creepiest:


1. Florida Skunk Ape  - Some places have Bigfoot,  Florida has the Skunk Ape. In 1959 three boy scouts came out of the Ocala National Forest saying their camp was attacked by a big hairy monster having the face of a human and body of an ape. Since then there have been literally hundreds of other sightings. One in particular was from a trucker who claimed he was pulled from his truck by a hairy creature that  smelled awful.He said he was carried a few yards and kicked himself free. He then ran to his truck and he  frightened it away by blasting his air horn. Two anonymous photos of the creature snooping around in a backyard sent to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Department have kept the legend alive. The creature even has its own commemorative silver coin! In 1959, three boy scouts emerged in a panic from  or a skunk. It’s this skunk-like stink that gives the skunk ape its name, although old timers in rural areas often refer to it as a “swamp monkey.” My theory, if this thing reall exists, is that when the creature is upset it gives off musk. This is not just a slight scent, wit

1998 photo of skunk ape by Dave Shealy

2.  Mexican Pet- -  While vacationing from new York, a couple while on their way to take a boat trip rescued a dog on the side of the road. Unable to find its owner, they take it back home with them. There it attacks and eats the family cat. When they take it to the vet, he tells them its not a dog but a Haitian rat. boy scouts emerged in a panic from the Ocala National Forest with a wild tale of having been routed from their camp by a


3. Fairfield Oak-  Legend says back in the 1800's in Ormond Beach a majestic oak tree was on property owned by Norman Harwood. He killed himself under the oak tree by committing suicide.   Years later James Ormond II bought the land and built a plantation on it he named Damietta.  A few years later Ormond was also found dead under the same tree, a suicide as well. People say when you go under the tree you feel intense sadness and have  suicidal thoughts. Sometimes you can see a ghostly figure under the tree also. The tree sits in the Bulow Creek State Park.

4.  Spook Hill- Centuries ago, legend states a native American chief fought in a battle with an enormous alligator to protect his village. It ended with their deaths and a giant sinkhole formed at the spot. Pioneers later started calling the spot Spook Hill because their horses were laboring too hard to be riding downhill.  In later years, a merchant parked his truck on the hill and was terrified to see his car going backwards up a hill on its own. he blamed it on "Spooks" and that's how it got its name.  Today many people come from all over . They park their car in on the white marked line put their car in  neutral and see them roll uphill backwards. The hill is actually an optical illusion, sometimes called a gravity hill. The area makes them appear to roll up hill when in actuality they're rolling downhill.

5. Devil's chair- There sits a red brick bench in a cemetery that is on the borders of the towns Cassadaga and Lake Helen. They call it the Devil's Chair. The devil is said to speak to anyone who sits in the chair. Also if you sit in the chair around midnight, you supposedly cannot move from it for a whole minute, like it has a hold of you. Some people say if you leave an unopened can of beer on the bench over night,when you return the can is empty with the can never have been opened. The town of Cassadaga is a strange little Florida town. It was founded in the 19th century by a medium from Iowa name George Colby. He is buried in this same cemetery. The town became a haven for spiritualists and those who say they can speak with the dead. 

MY TOP 10 WORST CITIES IN FLORIDA

Hello all,

Florida has a lot of wonderful things to do and a lot of nice places to live. But like all other states, they have some really bad cities too. After reading several other sites with their rankings, here is my list of top 10 worst places to live in Florida:

10. Palatka- It has a crime index of 7.  Its national media is 3.8 meaning 1 out of every 155 residents will be a victim of a violent crime. 39% of  them live below the poverty line.

9. Riviera Beach- This city is made up of both wealthy and poor residents.  It has a crime index of 4. One out of every 84 people will fall victim to a violent crime.

8.  Homestead- This city has a high rate of poverty with 31% living below the poverty line. It has a crime index of 4.  One out of every 76 people will fall victim to a violent crime.

7.  Miami- This city was picked as #1 worst city for last year. This year its doing better. Its crime index is a 4. It experiences 71 murders and 2500 assaults annually. One in every 84 people will be a victim of a violent crime.

6. St. Pete- This is one of those cities that has parts for the very rich and the very poor.  It has a crime index of 3.  One out of every 117 people will be a victim of a violent crime.

5.  Lake Worth-  This city has 2500 crimes per year.  It has a crime index of 3. One out of every 89 people will be a victim of a violent crime.

4.  Fort pierce- It has a crime index of 3. One out of every 92 people will be a victim of a violent crime. It has a very high unemployment rate of 9.6  It ranks in the worst 10% of the country for its crime rate.

3.  Daytona Beach-  It has a crime index of  2. One out of every 78 people here will be a victim of violent crime. 31% of its population live below the poverty line.

2.  Panama City-  this city is the 79th largest community in Florida. It has a crime index of 1. One out of every 110 people will be a victim of a violent crime.

1.  Florida City-  yes this is the worst city to live in the state of Florida. It has a crime index of  0- you cant get no lower of than that. 1 in every 35 people will be a victim of a violent crime. It is in the worst 10% of the country. 41 % of its residents live below the poverty line.

MY REVIEW OF THE CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM

Hello all,

Sunday afternoon my family and I decided to visit a local aquarium. We decided on Clearwater Marine Aquarium since we've never been there. Its also the home of Winter the Dolphin from the Dolphin Tale movies.

First of all the admission was pricey $21.95 for adults.  When we got there the place was very confusing to maneuver since they were under construction. We couldn't park in the main lot because they were very crowded , but at least out spot wasn't too far away.  At the front entrance was the snack bar that led to the front door. This place is a lot smaller than I envisioned.

It was extremely hot, and only the bottom where the gift store is was air conditioned. On that level was a small animal hospital. When you head left you're met by a small tank with stingrays for petting.  That was nice. A bit further and you see a medium sized tank with one sea turtle in it. I think they named her Mavis. Then in another medium sized tank you can see an underwater view of the  Winter the dolphin.  Then you head up the stairs to the second floor.

And there in the middle was a tank with Winter the Dolphin. I envisioned the tanks much larger and seats for many since this was the star! But no, the tank really wasn't all that big. It was circled by a gate, that unless you were one of the lucky few who had gotten a seat (there weren't that many!) you really couldn't see much of anything. There were two employees interacting with winter, but there microphones were so low you couldn't make out anything they were saying. And since it was so crowded, you really couldn't see what was going on either. I was very, very disappointed! I couldn't get one good picture of the dolphin. Also upstairs were a few very, very small rooms that they said were classrooms. a few otters in a tank by themselves, and the Pelican from the movie. Did I mention this place was so very small?

Outside  they had another medium sized tank with stingrays that you could pet. If you look down from the platform you can see another place for underwater viewing. This one was for smaller sharks.
I was so very disappointed in this place. Knowing how adored the Dolphin Tale movies were they should be offering more activities or shows, especially for the price they were charging. They at least could have more seating and make it easier for all to see Winter since that's why people are here in the first place Besides . They did offer a free visit of their movie set. But you had to wait in the heat for the next trolley to take you since it was down the road from this facility. We didn't take them up on this offer, it was too hot.

So sorry Clearwater  Marine Aquarium. I cant recommend you yo my readers. I've even overheard some of your patrons remarking that they would probably see more animals if they just went to the beach. If you want to go to an aquarium I recommend the Florida Aquarium in Tampa. You  get your moneys worth there with loads of animals to see, and its air conditioned!

AWESOME OPPORTUNITY- KIDZ BOP/CRAZY 8 TALENT SEARCH

Hello all,

I just ran across a great contest from one of my affiliate partners crazy 8/gymboree.  I just wanted to share, it looks like a great opportunity!

Crazy 8 is joining The KIDZ BOP Kids on their "Life Of The Party" concert tour as an official sponsor. To kick off the partnership, KIDZ BOP and Crazy 8 announced today that they are launching a Talent Search where one lucky kid will win the opportunity to fly to Los Angeles to star in a KIDZ BOP music video and receive a $250 Crazy 8 shopping spree. Parents can visit KIDZBOP.com/talentsearch to see rules and enter their child. The popular children's apparel retailer—known for its cool styles for a steal—will also debut the first-ever fashion capsule collection of pop star looks inspired by KIDZ BOP this November.

Beginning today, through August 31, 2016, parents or legal guardians of children ages 14 and under can enter their child in the KIDZ BOP + Crazy 8 Talent Search online, or visit one of the five live audition stops at malls throughout the country. For online entries, parents can upload a 60-second video of their child's talent to YouTube.com and then visit KIDZBOP.com/talentsearchto submit their URL. Live auditions will be held on the following dates at the below shopping locations, from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.:

• July 23: Newport Centre, Jersey City, NJ
• July 30: The Avenues, Jacksonville, FL
• August 6: West Town Mall, Knoxville, TN
• August 13: Brea Mall, Brea, CA
• August 20: Ingram Park Mall, San Antonio, TX

Ten finalists from all submissions (in malls and online) will be selected on September 7, 2016 by a panel of judges from KIDZ BOP and Crazy 8. From there, fans will be encouraged to support their favorite videos. The KIDZ BOP Kids will help select one Grand Prize winner, who will be announced on October 3, 2016. The grand prize will be a trip for two to Hollywood, a feature in an upcoming KIDZ BOP music video, and a $250 Crazy 8 shopping spree. 

Good Luck everyone!

<a href="http://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=891325&u=1328149&m=46239&urllink=&afftrack=">Learn More About the Crazy8 and Kidz Bop Sponsorship</a>

SPOTLIGHT STORY- GREG SMITHWICK FROM SO LOCAL PASCO

Hello all,

Today my Spotlight story is about  Greg smithwick. He is the owner of Spare Room Studio Inc., and producer, writer and host of the podcast and blog So Local Pasco. Here is his story:

Greg has worked in radio broadcasting across the Tampa Bay Area, in formats ranging from classical to oldies, to talk radio.  He is an accomplished radio commercial producer, voicing and writing hundreds of original radio ads and promotional spots. He and Joebucsfan.com publisher Steve Isbitts had the first national soccer talk related radio show in the U.S. during the 90s.  Soccer Friendly Radio was heard in 18 cities, from Miami to San Jose.

He works from Spare Room Studio, Inc...Which is LITERALLY a spare room in his home.  His idea was to simplify systems, and create a broadcast quality program with low overhead and an organic, LOCAL feel.  The Studio runs on a seven year old PC, and mostly analog audio gear.  This is what gives the show an authentic feel...That it is being made by an old broadcaster, who knows the tools are less important than the ideas and words.  While he strives for technical excellence, he is learning that sound quality is really only important to OTHER media people. His goal is to create a network of broadcast quality news and information programs for web and streaming distribution.

So Local Pasco is a daily (Mon thru Friday) podcast, usually under 20 minutes in length.  The podcast covers news, culture, events, and music in WEST Pasco County. Greg defines “So Local Pasco” country as county line to county line, from the US41 corridor to Anclote Keys in the Gulf. In its first month, the solocalpasco.com website garnered 1800 page views, which showed that there was a need and desire for a new form of media delivery in West Pasco County.  As of July 28th, 2016, his monthly page views have shot up over 4,000. A result of more directly challenging programs related to local government. Between the website, the subscriptions to the podcast via iTunes and other streaming services, and Facebook and Twitter, So Local Pasco is positioned to be one of the foremost providers of LOCAL content in Pasco County. If you are involved in a charitable effort, or a community service effort, we will cover your efforts. If you are a self promoting band or musician, we will do our best to cover you. If you have a story idea, you can contact him at :



WEB-

www.solocalpasco.com
Facebook:

Greg Smithwick
So Local Pasco page

Phone:

(727)859-8537

E Mail:

gregsmithwick@gmail.