travel

Top 10 Things To Do In Clearwater Beach!

March 12, 2021 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Just north and west of St Petersburg and Tampa, you’ll find the beautiful sandy beaches of
Clearwater sprawling along the Gulf of Mexico coastline. The area has a subtropical climate, so
it’s always amazing to cool off in the water – but don’t miss out on Clearwater’s inland
attractions. Hop on the Jolley Trolley to tour the town in comfort, or take a stroll on historic
Cleveland Street to enjoy a busting entertainment scene.

1. Clearwater Beach
What is it? A family-friendly white-sand beach has shallow water and an active nightlife.
What makes it unique? Follow the causeway to this barrier island for the area’s best
sandy beaches and a nightly sunset celebration at Pier 60. You’ll find beach volleyball
tournaments, kids playing in gentle waves, and lovely sugary sand. Sunset festivities
include street performers and free outdoor movies.

For more information: http://attractions.timeout.com/en/11312/Orlando-
attractions/Clearwater-Beach/d663-a1136

2. Palm Pavilion Beachside Grill
A casual waterfront eatery serving fresh seafood and signature cocktails.
Locals know this is the best place in town for great food in a relaxed environment. It’s
been that way since it opened in 1926. Their grouper sandwich is a popular favorite, but
you also won’t want to miss the house burgers served on toasted brioche buns. Save
room for tasty key lime pie.
For more information: https://palmpavilion.com/

3. Big Storm Brewing Company
An award-winning craft brewery with all-day pub fare.
Big Storm Brewing Co is part of the local Craft Beer Trail, but this is the must-visit
watering hole if you only have time for one round. In addition to a huge variety of
stouts, ales, and lagers, you won’t want to miss the menu of shared plates, local
seafood, and grass-fed beef burgers. Drop in for trivia night and order a beer flight to
sample Big Storm’s most popular brews.
For more information: https://www.bigstormbrewery.com/

4. Capitol Theatre
A historic art deco-style theater now hosting musical acts and classic films.
Step back in time at the old-school Capitol Theatre in downtown Clearwater. The venue
opened in 1921 as a home to vaudeville performances and movies, and reopened in
2000 after extensive renovations. Take a balcony seat for a night of live jazz, touring
comedians, or a movie like ‘The Sound of Music’.
For more information: https://www.rutheckerdhall.com/bilheimer-capitol-theatre

5. Aspirations Winery
A family-owned micro-winery producing small-batch low-sulfite wines.
It may feel like a scavenger hunt as you navigate through an industrial complex to find

this hidden Clearwater gem, but your reward includes sipping free samples of award-
winning wine. The behind the scenes tour is extremely popular, providing guests a

thorough winemaking experience topped off with a flight of five wines. Be sure to try
Chocolate Grand Finale – a classic port for chocolate lovers.
For more information: https://aspirationswinery.com/

6. Clearwater Marine Aquarium
An aquarium focused on rescuing and rehabilitating local marine life.
Remember the Warner Brothers film, ‘Dolphin Tale’? It was filmed right here at
Clearwater Marine Aquarium and there are plenty more inspiring stories to take in
during a tour. Whenever a local critter is injured or ill, this team of biologists and

veterinarians work to rehab the wild sea creature so it can return to its original home.
All the while, guests are invited to visit the dolphins, sea turtles, stingrays, and more.
For more information:

http://attractions.timeout.com/en/11312/tours/Clearwater/Clearwater-Marine-
Aquarium-General-Admission/d22457-7327P1

7. Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill
A colorful beachfront dining venue with pool tables and live music.
Pull up a chair on the back patio for great views of the beach along the Gulf of Mexico.
This casual eatery focuses on local seafood and specialty salads, though the tacos pair
nicely with a rum runner from the bar. Daily live music adds to the cheerful community
vibe here, and the service is top notch.
For more information: https://frenchysonline.com/frenchys-rockaway/

8. The Florida Botanical Gardens
A dog-friendly county park with nature trails and wildlife across more than 25 different
gardens.
This free-admission 120-acre park is open year-round and it’s perfect for leisurely strolls
with the family. In addition to aromatic rose gardens and butterfly habitats, the park is
home to hundreds of birds, mammals, and reptiles. Catch a glimpse of an alligator,
explore the tropical fruit garden, or follow the Art in the Gardens trail.
For more information: https://www.flbgfoundation.org/

9. Shephard’s Tiki Beach Bar
A popular beachfront bar and grill with live music and dancing.
Shephard’s is the go-to spot for live reggae and rock on a waterfront stage. Join the
party on the dancefloor or kick back on the patio to watch the sunset with a margarita in
hand. No need to dress up. Resort-casual is the norm, with beach bums and vacationers
mingling with locals. Curb late-night hunger with fish tacos, chicken wings, and Angus
beef burgers.
For more information: https://www.shephards.com/venues

10. Clearwater Beach Uncorked – Returning November 6 & 7, 2021
An annual food, wine, and microbrew festival celebrating local chefs and restaurateurs.
For two days each year (dates vary between November and December), thousands
descend on Clearwater Beach to nibble, sip, and celebrate regional culinary excellence.
Local chefs compete and provide cooking demonstrations while Clearwater residents
take part in unlimited wine tastings. Insider tip: don’t miss the dessert tent!
For more information: http://savortheburg.com/

Queen’s Bath Kauai!

December 14, 2020 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Queen’s Bath is on the North Shore of Kauai, near Princeville.

This is a beautiful and somewhat hidden spot that’s worth the hike! It’s a short, steep and sometimes muddy, hike to the bath. Once you’re over the bluff, go left over the volcanic rock and you’ll see the bath.

There’s limited street parking so very early, or sometimes very late, in the day may be best. If possible,
though, also try for low tide. Once you reach the baths, you’ll understand why. At high tide, and in some weather, the water could be crashing over the rocks of the bath, making it dangerous. Pay attention while walking on the rocks as unexpected large waves and/or currents have carried people
away!

Summer is a more calm and better time of year to visit, where Winter can be more dangerous.
Once you are there, it’s a beautiful place and well worth the journey.

Thank you to our Marvelous Mouse agent Karen Fitting for this unique look at Hawaii! When you are ready to plan your Hawaiian vacation reach out to be connected to one of our vacation experts! Join our Hawaii Facebook group for lots of great travel tips and information! https://www.facebook.com/groups/273478080049202

Take a Look at the Carnival Panorama!

October 31, 2020 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Our Marvelous Mouse agent Jaclyn Vercillo had the opportunity to check out the new Carnival Panorama! Let our experts help you plan your next cruise vacation!

The last time I was on a Carnival Cruise ship I was nine years old and believe it or not I came home with a 1st place trophy for a bikini contest. Now I know what you are thinking, but this was the early 90’s people. I heard “Bikini Contest in 5 minutes” and I raced to my room to grab my T-shirt that had a body with a bikini on it. Needless to say I beat out quite the crowd of contestants and my family was left with a fond and hilarious memory.Flash forward to almost 30 years later, I stepped onboard Carnival’s new ship the Panorama for the Feast of Fun and the ship naming ceremony. I truly didn’t know what to expect because I have been an avid DCL and Royal Caribbean Cruiser and in all honestly I have viewed Carnival as a cheaper “party cruise” boat. Well from the moment I stepped onboard, I started to eat crow. I was completely blown away but the decadence of the ship and all it has to offer. When we walked in we were swept through the Casino where they have a 2 story tall Panoramic screen (see what they did there) with floating stingrays hovering over the bar area. It was stunning. I then headed into the shop atrium to enjoy the music and see what was available. Well if diamonds and jewelry are your thing (they should be) then this is your stop, and gents the watch selection will make your mouth water. Beauty shops and Swarovski items are also glimmering throughout the shopping plaza. It’s 3 stories so give yourself some time to shop. They also have an adorable candy shop for the kids with a Dr. Seuss theme.

Speaking of kids, I snuck away to check out the tween and teen centers. Parents get ready to not see your kids at all on your trip because these areas are kid heaven. They also have a full arcade for kids and wait for it…they have the indoor trampoline park Skyzone ON THE SHIP! That was a first for me and I think it will be enjoyed by big and little kids.

Next I headed to the outside pool decks for the ship naming ceremony and the beautiful Vanna White did the honors as the ships Godmother. Emeril Lagasse also made an appearance since his culinary works will be on future ships and Guy Fieri came out since his restaurant is on the ship. It was quite the crew.

After the ceremony we roamed around the ship and had fantastic appetizers from the restaurants on the ship. Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse is beautiful, I ate a ton of sushi from Bonsai Sushi, and the pulled pork sandwich from Guy’s Pig and Anchor Smokehouse was incredible. With a full belly I decided to head into the piano bar and listen to some wonderful music.

Next up we sat down to a 3 course dinner. The menu featured a wide variety of cuisine from each restaurant but since I already had sushi, pulled pork sandwiches, and rock shrimp tempura, I decided to go the Italian route. First, can I talk about the bread basket?! It was incredible and on par with any fine dining restaurant I have been to. The Focaccia bread melted in your mouth and the butter was served with a little olive oil and sea salt. For my appetizer I had Il Capitano’s Signature Arancini which also melted in your mouth and my main course was Cavatelli with veal and pork shank bolognaise. Now I am Italian and have been to some of the best restaurants in Italy, and I have to say this pasta was amazing! There is a difference with handmade pasta and it showed in this meal and the sauce was amazing. My only downfall was dessert. You guys I was too full to eat it! But it looked beautiful and my fellow travel agents looked like they were enjoying it!

A few other highlights from this ship that delighted me were the Carnival Culinary Experience, the Havana Bar, the kids waterslides and play area, as well as all the live entertainment and shows. The Carnival Culinary experience looks amazing and I was able to meet the chefs. The kitchen is beautiful and you can enjoy gourmet cooking classes with wonderful wine pairings. Perfect date night while the kids are in the kids club! The Havana Bar was beautiful and had fantastic music. And the live entertainment and shows will blow you away! I don’t want to give away too much but you will be on the edge of your seat.

A major highlight for me was the Hero Bar in honor of those who are currently serving or have served our country. It’s a beautiful space and what a great way to meet up with other service members, or for people like myself, to drop in and thank them for their service.

Last thing I will touch on are the accommodations. What I loved about this ship was that they had a large quantity of suites and larger rooms for families. It’s often hard to accommodate larger parties but the Carnival Panorama has taken care of that. The rooms are not cramped at all and the theming is spectacular. But I have to say on this ship, you won’t be spending much time in your room with everything they have on board!

I was really impressed and I am lucky it’s home port is so close to me. Thank you Carnival Panorama for broadening my travel horizons!

Navigating the Airport with Ease!

October 26, 2020 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

If you have flown in the last few years, you know probably already know that getting through airport security can be stressful and may even lead to significant delays. Before I became a Travel Agent, I used to work for Homeland Security as a TSA officer, and I have picked up a few tips that will help you navigate security easily and hopefully as quickly as possible.

Get to the airport two hours early.

First one you have probably heard over and over again, but it is essential, especially in larger airports. While most of the time, this will leave you with spare time at the gate, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Many times, an entire checkpoint can be close for various reasons which can cause major delays, having extra time will ensure you make it to your flight on time. Don’t count on the airlines holding the flights even when there are significant issues with security.

Find the checkpoint with the shortest wait times.

If your airport is the hub for a major airline, the checkpoints furthest from that airline will typically have much short wait times. Several airports are actually, now posting wait times near the airline check-in counters. If you are in a larger airport, take a peek at these and see which ones are shorter. But be sure you can get to your gate through that checkpoint first, many airports are set up where you can only access specific gates through certain checkpoints. Some airports are even listing wait times on their websites. Now if those numbers are low, don’t think you can now get to the airport later than the two hours, things happen, and those numbers can drastically change quickly.

Have your IDs and tickets out and ready to go

Once you arrive at TSA, have your IDs and tickets ready. To help expedite, each person should be holding their own paper ticket, even kids. Kids under the age of 18 do not need an ID to get through TSA, but the agent at the podium may ask them their name to verify they are the person on the ticket. If you have digital tickets, make sure they are open on your phone and ready to go. Don’t wait until you step up to the podium to open the app. Also, have a printed back up in just in case. Phones are not always 100% reliable (cell service is out, battery dies, it decides to update at that exact moment, etc.), if you can’t pull up your ticket you will have to get out of line and back up to the airline check-in counter then back through the line.

Take out those toiletries.

To get through the line as quickly as possible, be sure to take out your toiletries, even if they are within the legal limit. The limit is each item can be no larger than 3.4 ounces each, and they must all fit into a quart-sized bag, and only one bag per person (3-1-1 rule). If you have them out, they will not need to search your bag if something looks slightly large or just strange. Plenty of bags are pulled and searched just because the agent on the x-ray couldn’t tell what it was. If they are in a bin, the agent can pick it up to make sure it is good to go.

It’s not just liquids.

The rule above is not just for liquids. It also goes for gels, aerosols, and paste. That includes toothpaste, body scrubs, lotions, and even butter. Yes butter, you would be surprised what people fly with. If it is weird, you are better off taking it out of your bag and putting it in a bin. Things like the five pound Hersey Kiss you got at Hersey Park, or the giant bag of jelly beans, or the human femur (yes it happened), or your dog’s ashes. Even though all of those are ok to fly with, they look very strange on an x-ray. If you take them out of your bag, you will avoid having your bag pulled, swabbed, and searched. Also, just because you bought it at the airport does not mean it can go past security. Be sure to purchase those toiletries and gifts like snow globes after you get past security at the gate. The exception to this is duty-free liquors, but they need to be packed correctly by the shop, and you must have your receipt.

Laptops out

One of the biggest reasons why bags get checked is laptops and other large electronics left in the bag. If you don’t have a bag designed to have the laptop one side, take the laptop out of your bag and place it in a bin by itself. If it is small enough, you can put stuff on the side but not on top or under it. That goes even for jackets or hats. If they can’t get a good view, they may have to re-run the bin slowing down the process and causing you a delay in getting to your gate. Even if you do have a bag where the laptop is by itself, make sure there is nothing else in that section like papers, folders, or other electronics.

Everything out of your pockets

If you are traveling with a child under the age of 13, the entire family can go through the metal detector. Stay together as a family until everything is in the x-ray machine, and then the officer at the metal detector should wave you through one at a time. If you guys split up, they won’t know that you are all in the same family and may send some of you through the AIT (the body scanner). Everyone over the age of 13 still needs to take their shoes off.

If you are not going through the metal detector, you will be going through the AIT (Advanced Imaging Technology). Be sure to take off your shoes, hat, jackets, belts and everything out of your pockets and send it through the x-ray. That means everything. Even tissues will be picked up. Also, if you are wearing ‘bling’ on the back of your jeans, don’t be surprised if the machine picks it up. Might want to save those for non-traveling days or you might end up getting a brief pat down to your backside (or where ever the bling is).

TSA Pre-Check

These tips will help you get through faster and without issue, but the number one way to get through security fast is to sign up for TSA Pre-Check. The cost is around $85 for five years, so about $17 per year. You do need to fill out an application and do a background check, but after you are approved, you can leave your shoes on and everything in your bag. You can even wear your favorite pair of blingy jeans. On average passengers with Pre-check wait 5 minutes or less to get through security.

Thank you to our Marvelous Mouse agent Jennifer Suissa for this great information! When you are ready to plan your next vacation reach out to one of our travel experts!

www.marvelousmousetravels.com/contactus

Visiting Haleakala National Park

August 13, 2020 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Haleakala means House of the Sun and has been a sunrise visitor attraction since Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) wrote “It was the sublimest spectacle I ever witnessed, and I think the memory of it will remain with me always”.

Sunrise and Sunset are extremely popular and beautiful times to visit. A sunrise visit requires a reservation 60 days before you arrive. Sunset does not require reservations. These can also be the busiest times at the park.

The weather is highly unpredictable, especially at Sunrise. Dressing in layers is suggested. When I went, it was the middle of the day, however we did see the temperature change from the base to the summit as we drove.

We enjoyed the drive to the summit, stopping many times to take short hikes/walks and to see the landscape. The summit (over 10,000 feet) was amazing and the view were spectacular! It was mid-afternoon and quite warm on the day in late October, when we visited. Thankfully there was parking, as it can be limited during peak seasons and times.

This is part of the US National Park system and the entrance fees work like many other parks. Typically, it’s a single fee per vehicle. However, the entrance has limited staffing so there are self-pay machines which accept credit card only.

The park typically offers free fee days a couple of time a year! Check the website for more information.

Official National Parks Website: https://www.nps.gov/hale/

There are many tours that include Haleakala such as a Sunrise Bike Tour or Helicopter tour. Your Marvelous Mouse Travels Planner can assist with planning your Hawaii vacation!

Thank you to our Marvelous Mouse agent Karen Fitting for sharing her experience at Haleakala National Park!