Holiday Travel

Ponte Vedra Inn & Club

Whether you drive or fly, ski or cruise, there’s nothing like a holiday vacation with the family or friends for getting in the holiday spirit. Close to home, Gaylord Palms and Disney delight and you can always take a work break with a daycation at The Dolphin Beach Resort, The Postcard Inn, Don CeSar, or The Saint Hotel.

& Club is a fab family holiday featuring holiday-themed arts and crafts in the nursery all month long; breakfast with Santa 12/3-4; decorating gingerbread houses 12/4; holiday hayrides 12/10-11; and a kid-friendly noon year’s eve 12/31. For adults, don your disco duds for the resort’s annual New Year’s Eve Party’s ode to Studio 54. On Jan. 1, guests can kick off the new year with a Polar Plunge before grabbing a Bloody Mary and brunch. The Historic Inn guests and members can enjoy buffet-style dining on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, while signature fine-dining restaurant, Seahorse Grille, will offer multi-course menus on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

At their sister property The Lodge & Club, guests can enjoy oceanfront views from every bespoke suite with in-room fireplaces. Come for the annual Christmas Eve Buffet, Christmas Day brunch and dinner, and a prix fixe New Year’s Eve dinner at signature fine dining restaurant Sea View Grille. During Christmas week, adults can enjoy a complimentary Spirits Series Workshop 12/23 and enroll the little elves in Winter Kids Camp 12/26-30. New Year’s Eve features a DJ, champagne toast at midnight, passed bites, beachside bonfires and more.

If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, look no further than a family vacation at Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort, decked-out in holiday decor and featuring seasonal events – all along the sugar-white sands of Miramar Beach. It all begins just after Thanksgiving when Santa arrives by horse and carriage with much fanfare, live music, fireworks and in a celebration throughout the Village of Baytowne Wharf. Guests can join in on the festivities with a cozy hot cocoa in hand and enjoy refreshing temperatures in the low 70s.

THE BIG APPLE Plan a luxury holiday in NYC through Beyond Times Square (BTSQ) as they launch their 2023 VIP New Year’s Eve Gala in Times Square – The Best Live Ball Drop Party in New York City, a luxe private affair limited to 150 guests in the chic R Lounge and Living Room at the Renaissance New York Times Square. Here you can enjoy stunning panoramic views of Times Square plus an unobstructed, straight-on view of the iconic ball from three stories above the crowds from 8pm-1am while enjoying hors d’oeuvres, hot and cold food stations, sumptuous desserts, premium open bar specialty cocktails, champagne toast, live entertainment and dancing. BTSQ also offers luxury destination packages including Thanksgiving Parade Viewing Party at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, a VIP Radio City Roxy Suite Reception & Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes and holiday lights and window display tours in Manhattan and Brooklyn. www.btsq.com

SOUTH FLORIDA Elegant Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa features a Holiday Cocktail Class 12/21, a visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus and Nutcracker Tea at Loggers Kids Club 12/22; complimentary Holiday Ice Cream Toast at Melt 12/22; and a Sake and Sushi Making Class at Boken 12/23. On Christmas Eve, there’s a Holiday Breakfast Buffet, an Eggnog Making Class and a special Christmas menu at Angle, followed by bedtime tales Santa & Mrs. Claus. Christmas Day festivities feature holiday dishes and drinks. New Year’s Eve kicks off with Toasts Around the World, a New Year’s Eve dinner and Ocean After Party. Toast to the New Year and watch the ball drop at Stir with a Champagne Toast at Midnight or reserve a spot at the Grand Ballroom for a “Bubbles and Balloons” Black Tie Dinner and party presented by Dom Perignon while kids party in the Loggers Club.

A tribute to the Latino owners at The Balfour Hotel, its Noche Buena package celebrates the traditional holiday Coquito with a mixology demo in-room and available upon request at the bar. In addition, The Balfour Hotel would offer piñata-making kits for star-shaped piñatas – a nod to a Mexican holiday tradition. The hotel will have additional food and beverage specials for the holiday season, including the Noche Buena staple roast pig.

The Gabriel Miami, located in Downtown Miami, boasts views of the city most magical during the holiday season. Garlands and lights decorate the hotel interior, transforming a decked-out Alice’s Wonderland hotel playroom into a “Winter Wonderland” for guests of all ages to enjoy. The room would bring a white Christmas to Miami with lights, Christmas trees, cookie-making kits, and a station for children to write letters to Santa and drop them off in a red mailbox for Greetings from the North Pole program by USPS.

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In 2005, the Sunshine State declared November Manatee Awareness Month to promote the protection of Florida’s official marine mammal. The Florida manatee, a subspecies of the West Indian manatee, is a large, slow-moving marine mammal with an elongated, round body and paddle-shaped flippers and tail. Manatees are herbivores, feeding solely on seagrass, algae and other vegetation in freshwater and estuarine systems in the southeastern United States. Full-grown manatees weigh between 800 to 3,500 pounds and reach 10-13 feet in length. Females are larger than males. Manatees can hold their breath for approximately 20 minutes; however, they regularly breathe every few minutes.

Florida manatees can be found as far west as Texas and as far north as Massachusetts during summer but in the winter they congregate in Florida’s warm water habitats as they have relatively little body fat and a low metabolic rate. Loss of warm water habitats, decreasing food, red tides and unusually cold weather threaten manatees, and many die from being hit by boaters.

Report sick, injured, dead, tagged, orphaned, or harassed manatees to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), 24 hours a day, seven days a week: call 1-888-404-3922. Cellular phone customers: *FWC or #FWC.

The relationship between a mother and baby is a strong social bond. Gestation is 12 months before birth, and the baby will be about 4-4.5 feet long and weigh between 60-70 pounds. For one-two years, the baby (calf) stays close to Mom, learning food locations, rest areas and warm weather refuges.

If you see a manatee, simply enjoy the moment, and appreciate their grace and beauty. Do not reach out to the manatee; keep a safe distance. For more on Florida’s manatees go to Steve Traiman’s PN article in June/July 2022. www.paradisenewsfl.com/record-manatee-deaths

Happy holidays everyone! It is hard to believe that once again we are at that time of year. We all celebrate in different ways, however one thing remains consistent, which is how much we love our pets. Most of us (admittedly, even we veterinary professionals) express this with food. We have a large meal with various dishes varying from traditional and cultural fare to delicacies we would not otherwise have, and it becomes difficult not to share with our pets. Caution is advised as our pets may not be able to “stomach” our holiday fare.

Common ailments we see as a result of sharing table fare are:

Gastritis/Enteritis – Simply put this is vomiting and nausea that results from inflammation of the stomach and small intestine.

Colitis/Diarrhea – Typically this is a result of the table fare causing a shift in the natural bacteria in the colon. This inflames the colon and causes anything from soft stools to frequent, large volume liquid stools.

Pancreatitis – The pancreas is a very important organ that is responsible for secreting the main digestive enzymes that break down food (as well as other important tasks). Ingestion of foods rich in fats are typically, but not always, the cause of inflammation that induces pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can manifest as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea but can become severe, causing a painful belly, lethargy, and dehydration. In rare cases, this can become so severe that the pancreas can release the enzymes into the abdomen causing peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal cavity) and even necrotizing pancreatitis (in essence where the pancreas can die off).

The tempting smells that waft from our waste containers could cause our pets to help themselves, causing the above illnesses. This is also dangerous as ingestion of not only food can occur but also bones, corn cobs, food containers, etc. could be ingested and cause stomach or intestinal blockages. Make sure that your garbage containers are stowed away in an area that your pet can’t get to. The above illnesses may take very simple supportive treatment, however could become severe enough to require hospitalization or even surgical treatment. If your pet shows any signs of being ill, please contact your veterinarian.

Have a safe and very happy holiday season!

Dr. Danielle Gallo & Dr. Johnathan Pierce 5901 Sun Blvd., Suite 107, St. Petersburg

$5 off $25 coupon [ redeemable anytime!

12pm to 7pm (buffet only)

contact: Kbarklow@seadogbrewing.com 9610 GULF BLVD, TREASURE ISLAND, FL 33706

on Tierra Verde… but the developers are quite well known with previous success stories like Sunset

Watch and Hidden Lagoon on Tierra Verde or Boca

Sands on St. Pete Beach. Realizing it takes a team to accomplish such an impeccable track record, the developers prefer to have their product speak for itself.

It is a pleasure working with a local builder knowing that their great reputation has only strengthened over decades through hard work, integrity, and impeccable customer service coupled with an in-depth understanding of our local beach community.

In a world of substandard labor, supply shortages, and poor customer service; the developers of Quiet Cove refuse to compromise or yield. They not only listen to discerning waterfront buyers, they embrace their evolving requirements and make them reality. This hurricane season has reminded us of the desire for peace of mind. Elevating your current home to the latest Florida Building Code standards is not only expensive and time consuming, but stressful and incredibly disruptive to your lifestyle. Quiet Cove provides you with that peace of mind. Standard. 50-foot-long boat slips with direct deep-water access to Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Standard. A fourth bedroom that can serve as an office in today’s post-pandemic world. Standard. Semi-private elevator access to 3,126 feet of one-level living. Standard. Two car garage prewired for EV and private climate-controlled storage. Standard. Ample guest parking behind gated access. Standard. Heated saltwater pool and spa, lounge area with grills, and fitness room. Standard. And on top of all of that, the two penthouses and six lower residencies feature an oversized balcony with stunning sunrise water views. Standard.

Luxury. Serenity. Sanctuary. Perfectly located on Tierra Verde, your intimate gated island oasis awaits. The surrounding lush tropical vegetation provides well deserved privacy. Feel like boating? Your slip is steps away. Paddle board or kayak? The canal is frequented by gentle manatees, friendly dolphins, and is teeming with fish. Just want to relax? Your oversized balcony with stunning water views is right outside your sliding door. Want to take in a game? The Bucs and Bolts are just 30 minutes away in Tampa and the Rays and Rowdies are 15 minutes away in St. Pete. Take a walk on the beach? Fort De Soto, voted the best beach in the US, is a bike ride away. Hungry? The foodie scene in St. Pete and Tampa is beyond. Need to fly somewhere? TPA, PIE, SRQ, and Albert Whitted airports are close by. Extended travel? Just Lock & Leave. Truly, the location is perfection.

Well underway, Quiet Cove has four floors poured and is on track to have all floors in place and capped off with the roof by the beginning of November 2022. To celebrate we are hosting an Open House on Friday, November 18th, 2022. Intrigued? Want to learn more firsthand? We welcome you to check out this exclusive opportunity for yourself.

Completion is targeted for Summer 2023. However, time is of the essence. Securing one of the eight exclusive residences by November 2022 will allow you to customize your kitchen appliances, cabinets, countertops, lighting fixtures, and flooring throughout. The Quiet Cove interior designer is ready to assist you in making your dream a reality.