Archive for July, 2010
Florida Beaches NOT Affected By The Gulf Oil Spill
If you don’t live in Florida, you may be a little confused about which beaches are being affected by the Gulf oil spill. Many people don’t realize that Florida is a huge state, and it has thousands of miles of beautiful beaches. As of the date that this article was written, the only beaches that have been affected are those in Northwest Florida such as Panama City, Ft. Walton Beach, and Pensacola beaches. This is such a tragedy, because the beaches of Northwest Florida are beautiful, boasting bright white, sandy beaches. However, if you’re still looking to vacation in Florida, there are dozens of other great Florida beach destinations to choose from that have NOT been affected by the Gulf oil spill at all. Here’s our picks:
Tampa, Florida – Tampa, Florida is one of Florida’s most fun and vibrant cities. They have three major sports teams, beautiful beaches, and great nightlife. Even though Tampa is situated on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, it has not been affected by the BP oil spill. We recommend staying at a hotel on the beaches of Clearwater. You’ll have a great time and you’ll only be a short trip away from downtown Tampa.
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida – Ft. Lauderdale has so many great beaches and the warm Atlantic Ocean water is cold enough to cool you off, but warm enough to keep you in longer than a few minutes. Ft. Lauderdale has a great airport where you can find cheap flights to fly into, and it has plenty of accommodations and hotel resorts. It’s also centrally located between beautiful West Palm Beach and Miami, Florida.
Miami, Florida – South Beach just might be one of the most famous beaches in the world. If you haven’t experienced it, you need to! Miami is rich in tradition, latin culture, and it’s just a great cosmopolitan area that you won’t find anywhere else in the United States. Don’t forget to grab a Cuban sandwich while you’re there!
There have been reports of oil tar balls on the shores of The Keys and Key West, Florida, but any scares of oil washing up on the shores of The Keys has been taken away, and we HIGHLY recommend that you grab a discount rental car from E-Z and make the 3 hour trip from Miami to Key West, Florida. The drive is picture perfect, and Key West is a gem that most people don’t think about when visiting Florida.
photo credit: Brian E. Ford
Tags: BP oil spill, florida beaches, florida beaches oil spill, gulf oil spill, Tampa Florida, visit south beath miami florida
Best Cheap Restaurants To Eat in Dallas, Texas
Whenever I travel, I love finding out where the locals love to eat. Finding a great, locally-owned restaurant with great burgers or tacos is one of my favorite things to do, and I’m sure some of you share the same love! Dallas, Texas is a booming town, and a great place to visit whether it’s for business or pleasure. Here’s our list of great restaurants that are cheap and delicious!
1. Mi Cocina – This is a local favorite if you’re craving some Tex-Mex! It’s reasonably priced and everyone raves about their margaritas, gaucamole, and queso dip!
2. Original Market Diner – If you want a great, traditional diner atmosphere, this is the place to go. Many people always ask about where they should go for good breakfast when they visit a new town, and this place should definitely be on your list. They’ve got great coffee and great pancakes!
3. Angry Dog – If you’re looking for a great burger or hot dog, according to the locals, this is the place to go! The burger is nothing exotic or special, just a really solid, flavorful, traditional hamburger, and the prices are CHEAP!
4. Hattie’s Restaurant – If you want a true Texas southern atmosphere and the cuisine to back it up, then Hattie’s is for you. You can get fried green tomatoes, pecan crusted catfish, and shrimp and grits! This place can be a little pricey or very reasonable, depending on what you get. We chose to list it because for WHAT you get for the price, it’s definitely a deal.
5. Louie’s Pizza – If you want great pizza, this place is it! It was even featured on the TV show, “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives”. They have famous thin crust pizza, great burgers, and great salads as well! Try the Greek salad with one of their famous pizzas.
Are you hungry yet? I am just from writing this article! Dallas has some truly great places to eat, and these places have tons of character, relaxed atmospheres, and you won’t break the bank account eating there! If you’re in Dallas and you rented a cheap rental car from E-Z, then make the drive to one or two of these restaurants in Dallas for a great experience!
Tags: cheap places to eat dallas, cheap restaurants dallas, dallas cheap rental car, DFW discount rental car
Safety Tips For The 4th Of July Weekend
Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays. I love the patriotism and the time for family and friends to come together to celebrate our freedom in a world where freedom is hard to come by in many countries these days. I love the idea of neighborhoods coming together to hang out and get to know one another, because after all, it’s middle-class America that makes this country so great. Many of you will also be traveling this weekend, so here are some tips to stay safe over the weekend whether you’re having a party or traveling.
Road Travelers
- Drive on off-peak times. Try to avoid leaving for your destination Friday after work and Sunday night. Those will be the times when people are driving the most for the 4th of July weekend, and it’s the time that you’ll be most likely to get in an accident.
- Avoid speeding! Cops love to pull people over on the holidays for speeding. Make sure you’re obeying the speed limit and keep watch for changes in speed on highways and country roads.
- Be smart when drinking alcohol. It’s obvious that you should NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE. If you find yourself without a designated driver, wait at least 1 hour for every drink you’ve had before getting behind the wheel. Also, eat a heavy meal and hydrate yourself, because that will absorb the alcohol in your system quicker.
Lighting Off Fireworks
I love fireworks, but they can be SO dangerous. Make sure you supervise your children if they are lighting off fireworks, ESPECIALLY if they’re teenagers. Teenagers love to do ridiculous things, and they might push the limits with how they handle fireworks. Make sure you keep a hose or a large bucket of water near you just in case something catches on fire. Also, make sure you always stand at least 50 feet away from lit fireworks.
Grilling Out
Getting behind the grill on the 4th of July is an American tradition. Take the standard precautions when using your grill. Never grill underneath trees or bushes. Always grill outdoors in a well ventilated area without anything surrounding you. Remember to turn off the propane tank when you’re done using the grill!
Boating
Taking the boat out is another fun tradition by many people on 4th of July. However, many people don’t act wisely when they’re out boating on the holidays. Make sure you’re always strapped in or holding onto something when the boat is moving. Also, the SAME RULES apply with drinking and driving in the car as they do on BOATS! You can get in just as much trouble for operating a boat while drinking as you would if driving a car. Make sure you have an emergency plan and a way to communicate with the coast guard and police if you were to capsize or get stranded out in an uninhabited area.
Unfortunately, there is always a sad story in the news after the 4th of July weekend, but follow these steps and your holidays will be safe and A LOT of fun!
Tags: 4th of July, discount rental cars, fireworks, safety tips