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Rosemary Beach: On Florida's Gulf Coast is "Green" Spirited
By Mel and Ronnie Greenberg
Like the native lavender blossoms of wild rosemary that frame sandy paths giving the town its name, Rosemary Beach has elegantly become part of its coastal surrounding. The town came to be along stretches of white sand beaches, warm gulf breezes, gently lapping surf, dunes sprinkled with sea oats, and chirping sandpipers.
With the traditions of both classic small town and beach-side living, Rosemary Beach is a natural element of the landscape. More than 200- one of a kind beautifully appointed rental cottages and carriage houses are available year round .Their rich natural tones reflect sights and shapes of New Orleans' French Quarter, the West Indies and St. Augustine.
Alternative accommodations are available in the beautiful new Hotel Saba on Main Street, a full service, first class luxury hotel offering 55 rooms including two unique spa suites, a signature fine dining restaurant, retail shops, lounge and pool, overlooking the emerald coastline of the Gulf of Mexico.
The 107 acre community was designed where everything is within a five minute leisurely stroll. Designed to discourage driving with winding, narrow streets and the planting of scrub oaks, which force the slowing of traffic and a heightened level of attention by drivers. Instead footpaths, boardwalks and pedestrian traffic encourage people to park their cars and walk or ride their bikes to the market, to the beach, to the pools and shops.
The Town Center contains most of the public buildings. Amenities include the Rosemary Beach Racquet Club, with 4 lighted clay tennis courts, and a rooftop seating area with views of the courts. The Fitness Center adjacent to the Sky Pool is a 1620 square foot exercise room with rubber sports flooring and features Bodymasters select equipment. The three pools include the Cabana Pool, the Sky Pool and the Barbados Pool. The Day Spa is located in a peaceful "Bali" inspired tropical setting.
Getting hungry
The Summer Kitchen in the Town Center provides casual, family style fare for breakfast and lunch; then changes to Blue by Night to serve dinner. The Sugar Shack also located here serves up ice cream cones, malts, homemade lemonade, cookies, and real sugar cane stalks. Main Street's Cowgirl Kitchen "Where Beach meets West!" offers a wide selection of snacks and appetizers, salads, homemade meals and refreshing beverages in a festive setting. www.cowgirlkitchen.net Courtyard Wine and Cheese in the Ground Garden Courtyard is an ideal location to enjoy a glass of wine and gourmet American and Europe cheeses.
Parks and Greenspace
Common "green" areas located throughout the town provide a great place for picnicking, reading a good book, playing an impromptu game of croquet, or simply enjoy socializing. East Long Green Park (featuring a knot garden) and West Long Green Park, both with tree lined sidewalks, are 2 beautiful area parks.
The Rosemary Beach Butterfly Park illustrates a careful approach to butterfly gardening. A boardwalk protects the native natural scrub vegetation, while necessary non-native butterfly plants are cultivated within raised garden beds This enables butterflies to lay eggs and gather nectar for energy and growth.
Untouched terrain is home to endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, gopher tortoise, and to indigenous wildlife including the fox and deer.
Outdoor Adventures
Bicycle enthusiasts can travel through the most picturesque roadway, Scenic Highway 30-A. Wide off-road pathways wind through leaf pine, flatwoods along the white sand beach, freshwater coastal lakes, saltwater inlets and over sandhills. Bamboo Beach & Bicycle Company in North Barrett Square provides one stop shopping for cycling and beach recreation needs. Bikes, kid's bikes, baby joggers and scooter
For hikers, the Rosemary Beach Fitness Trail & Walking Tour is a 2.3 mile trail that winds throughout the unique townscape via a sand-clay pathway system. Four fitness stations that include exercise apparatus for stretching and strength training are available along the way.
Secluded and sun-drenched beaches beckon the sun worshippers, swimmers, and beachcombers. For the more adventurous there's Hobie Cat sailing, sea kayaking, sailboating, canoeing, diving and snorkeling.
Area highlight
Eden State Gardens and Mansion was the location of the Wesley Lumber Company in the early 1890s. In 1897 when the Company closed, a white columned mansion overlooking the Choctawhatchee River was built on the site.
In the 1960s Lois Maxon, a wealthy New York publisher bought the property and created a Tara plantation with a Victorian inner core. Here she made a showplace for her collection of family heirlooms and antiques. In 1968 she donated the house to the state of Florida. Giant moss blanketed oaks, and manicured gardens sprinkled with azaleas and camellias, dot the landscape. Located at 181 Eden Garden Road in Santa Rosa Beach, phone (850) 231-4214 www.floridastateparks.org/edengardens
Deer Lake is the areas newest state park, an undeveloped natural environment with unmarked trails that wind through native vegetation. Rare plants such as gulfcoast lupine, spoonflower, pitcher plants and curtiss' sand grass are found here. Located at 356 Main Park Road in Santa Rosa Beach For information phone (850) 231-4210
www.floridastateparks.org/deerlake
(888) 855-1551
www.rosemarybeach.com
Kia ora "Welcome" to New Zealand Onboard Regent Seven Seas Mariner
By Mel and Ronnie Greenberg
From the grandeur of the awesome fjords, majestic mountains that dramatically unfold , to the meandering pristine lakes and broad deserted beaches, the breathtaking splendor of New Zealand beckons you on a journey of intriguing discovery.
Fall under the spell of the staggering beauty of this unique land on a dream cruise onboard the six-star Regent Seven Seas Mariner.
Elegance and informality go hand in hand on the sumptuous all- suites 700- passenger vessel featuring separate living area and sleeping quarters, verandahs, walk in closets, European king beds with luxury European linens, feather down duvets, robes and cotton slippers and marble appointed bathrooms. Complimentary champagne, wines, liquor, soft drinks, and bubbly water are yours for the asking, and Butler service in specialty suites, is the ultimate luxury offered.
At sea surround yourself in a stunning vista of sea and sky as you relax in a deck chair poolside. Catch up on your reading in the well -stocked library. Check your e-mails at the computer stations. Get involved in the Enrichment programs where guest lecturers provide insights and perspective on history, ecology and culture. Take part in the Art program showcasing events for your viewing and purchasing pleasure. Participate in the panoramic fitness and separate aerobics rooms with an incentive to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Walk, run, step, row, lift or pedal using the latest state of the art machines and free weights. An array of aerobics, yoga and stretching classes are available as well. Then head over to the Carita Spa. For a lingering afterglow, round off an indulgent afternoon with a new "do", manicure and pedicure; and then browse the duty-free boutique
Dining options are plentiful. The ships four dining venues are renowned for celebrated cuisine.
Compass Rose, the main dining room features a superb fusion of international cuisines and regional specialties that change nightly. Feast on the likes of duckling, mahi mahi with Kalamata olive sauce, or fresh grouper with truffle foam. The specialty menu offers daily Spa, low carb and vegetarian selections. Prime 7 is a glamorous classic American steakhouse. Avant-garde appetizers include a trio of steak tartars and foie gras sliders. The stars of the evening include eight USDA prime dry-aged steaks to choose from including a 32-ounce Porterhouse that is carved tableside, "Cote de Boeuf" a bone-in rib steak, and the signature surf & turf- filet mignon accompanied by a Canadian cold water lobster tail or Alaskan king crab legs. Irresistible desserts include a monumental 14-layer Valrhona chocolate cake with roasted pistachio sauce. La Veranada is an indoor-outdoor Mediterranean trattoria with the accent on Italian. Selections include tapas, mezze, antipasta, eggplant rolls, and pan fried fresh fish fillet of the day. The Pool Grill with themed barbecues, hamburgers, hot dogs and sandwiches is available lunchtime.
Night brings in the symphony of sound throughout the ship. Enjoy a captivating evening in the plush two-tiered Constellation Show Lounge showcasing dazzling Broadway style entertainment accompanied by the Regent Signature Orchestra. Quiet lounges include dream dancing, light jazz, guitar and classic pop, while other clubs invite late night revelers to dance into the wee hours of the morning. Those in the gaming mood can try their luck at the perfect draw at the elegantly appointed Casino.
The Regent's vast array of shore excursions lets you experience each timeless destination with activities that range from the mild to the wild. In addition to group choices the Concierge Choice tours are designed for smaller groups who want to customize their time ashore in ultimate comfort
The beautiful Regent Seven Seas Mariner sailed gracefully from Australia's Sydney Harbor to Hobart Tasmania, to New Zealand through Milford Sound and its fjords, and onto Port Chalmers ( Dunedin), Picton, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga the Bay of Plenty, and Auckland the City of Sails.
For a complimentary brochure on the Regent Seven Seas Mariner as well as information on all Regent Seven Seas Cruises, consult your travel professional, phone (800) 285-1835 or visit the website at: www.RSSC.com