Trish Riley - Explorers Guide Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami & the Florida Keys: A Great Destination ()

Palms along the beach James Steele

SECOND EDITION

Trish Riley

This book, like everything I do, is for Rachel and Bud.

Copyright 2005, 2009 by Trish Riley

Second Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any way by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages.

Website URLs listed in this book were current at the time of publication. If you find information that has changed, let us know at and we will use that in preparing future editions.

ISBN 978-1-58157-098-4
ISSN 1554-2696

Cover photo James Randklev
Interior photos by Trish Riley unless otherwise specified
Book design by Bodenweber Design
Page composition by Chelsea Cloeter
Maps by Mapping Specialists Ltd., Madison, WI The Countryman Press

Published by The Countryman Press, P.O. Box 748, Woodstock, Vermont 05091

Distributed by W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110

Manufactured in the United States of America

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Recommended by National Geographic Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazines

[A] CRISP AND CRITICAL APPROACH, FOR TRAVELERS WHO WANT TO LIVE LIKE LOCALS. USA Today

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PALM BEACH, FORT LAUDERDALE, MIAMI & THE FLORIDA KEYS

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TOURING EAST COAST WINE COUNTRY

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Floridas Gold Coast

PALM BEACH COUNTY
The Icing on the Cake

BROWARD COUNTY
Developed Delight

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
Glittery Cookie Crust

Floridas Keys

MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDAS KEYS
The Conch Republic

MAPS

Updating this travel guide to Floridas Gold Coast has been a pleasure. Revisiting the towns and attractions Id included when I wrote the first edition in 2004 was fun, and far simpler a task than the first time around. Nonetheless, I could not have done such a thorough and comprehensive job without the help of many area professionals and friends. Barb Freda, good friend and food editor for Florida Table magazine, was indispensable in her recommendations for great new restaurants throughout the region. Friend and colleague Patti Roth provided great information on restaurants in the Fort Lauderdale area, as well as a tip on the environmentally intriguing new research on using recycled glass to replace lost sand along south Floridas beaches. Imagine how cool and beautiful this unique eco-solution could be! Im excited to see if it works out. University of Florida journalism student Jennifer Jenkins was a big help as my assistant, doing much of the preliminary work of contacting those listed in the first edition of the book to confirm their current status. Josie Gulliksen, representing the Keys for the public relations firm NewmanPR, Thomas Gibson of the Moorings Village, Paul Pecor of Morada Bay restaurant, Noah Kincaid at Alma restaurant at Hawks Cay, and Dave Taylor at Cypress House in Key West were all immensely helpful as I made my way through the Keys. Finally, my daughter, Rachel Rector, and friends Sandy Fruits and James Steele were very kind and patient to accompany me on my research trips, taking photos, notes, and turns at the wheel along the way, as was my faithful terrier, Teddi, who rested on my shoulder while I typed away on the finishing touches. Thanks to all of you for your much appreciated contributions to this work. I could not have done it without you!

Trish Riley
www.trishriley.com

Welcome to beautiful Florida, an amazing paradise of unparalleled beauty, a place where people from all over the world go for rest and relaxationas well as relief from winter cold spells. Florida is our American Riviera, our Mediterranean coast. Soak in the deliciously warm sunshine, breathe the sweet jasmine-scented air, and indulge yourself in bliss... weve got it here.