Time to explore a bit more of West Palm Beach in Florida!
Our 9 days of vacation together with the family in West Palm starts with our flight at 9:55am towards Oslo.
It is 1625 and we are en route! Looking forward to some great days with sun and the family!
We are on board a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with comfortable seats, spacious place for your carry on, a light system that adjusts so that you get less jetlag, are just some of its features.
In the past you chose movies and music, now it is possible to order blankets, snacks and more with just a touch of the screen.
You can get some of the the suggestions of places to visit solo or rather book a tour.
Book a tour
West Palm Beach is a coastal city, and booking a tour will ease communication barriers and avoid the hassles of planning and logistics in this big city and area in Florida. Book ahead your tour in WPB here.
We were gladly surprised by the welcoming migration officers and friendly staff all over the airport at Fort Lauderdale. We arrived at 1930 and had went rather smoothly through migration and customs. In 40 minutes we were outside, sitting in a bench and enjoying the warmth.
Then we went to join the rest of the family to enjoy a nice family dinner.
June 1st I woke up at 6:00 am, perfect timing to capture this breathtaking shot from the balcony!
Sunrise and a wonderful view is the perfect way to start the day.
Taking into consideration the sun and the gorgeous weather, we have decided to start the day going for a swim at the pool which is part of the complex.
On our way, this is the apartament seen from outside
Well-equipped common area with gym and pool for the neighborhoodi / residents of the Palm Beach Grande condominiums.
After a nice swim, we went out to visit downtown West Palm Beach
Our first visit was to the Ann Norton sculpture gardens. An ideal place
The gardens have as aim not only the preservation of art but also the natural surroundings.
Fact: palm trees are not endemic of West Palm Beach, they were brought or found in ship wrecks and planted, now admired all over the place.
Discover nature in an urban environment
An ample living collection of over 300 palm trees can be admired while exploring the gardens.
There are sculptures made from different materials. Here a picture of a statue made of Norwegian granite.
The atelier of Ann Norton, now allows visitors an insight into the artists life and work.
The public library was also part of today’s tour.
It is open every day and offers free activities and courses for every taste.
Complimentary downtown trolley! Great option to explore downtown west palm beach
Party of 8 for hibachi on a teppan oven at City Place.
Time to visit the family at Boynton beach
Like fish at the sea, we decided to enjoy the afternoon swimming
These are all the department stores and outlets we visited today:
Marshalls, Ross, TJ Maxx and Bealls
Then we went to enjoy some delicious raw organic food in dowtown West Palm Beach
The salad was a delicious mix of raw ingredients
Day 3
Am pool, relax and reading
1330 library as meeting point and visit to the museum oh History to learn about the history of the West Palm Beach county, dating from 1909.
Video: http://instagram.com/p/oynRlNqq_G/
The exhibition of the people of the water gives a thorough insight into the live of the Indigenous people living here before the colonization by the Spanish
Site dating from AD 700 – 1500
Fact: Florida’s native people fled Spanish rule and got refuge in Cubs facts on #florida at the people of the water exhibition #historymuseum #westpalmbeach
Scenic wonders and attractions attract local and intl visitors to Palm Beach County.
Lunch was another highlight! We visited a nice and centrally located restaurant serving tasty salads, desserts and drinks made of raw natural products.
Field of greens offers Mouth watering healthy food in Downtown West Palm Beach
The norton museum of art is a legacy to preserve and promote art, in a 3 floor building with a wide selection of works of art from main periods of art and painters in Europe,
Come to think about it… First selfies where made by Dutch painters. Here S van Hoogstraten self-portrait #nortonmuseumofart
Masterpiece looted during WWII, titled King Pyrrhus is among the works of art
Exhibition on Chinese art, depicting most important dynasties and periods if history. Chinese were wine connoisseurs, as it was customary to have 6 types of wine made of rice, millet and sorghum.
The chinese exhibition at Norton Museum of art hasover 100 examples of carved jade from the 18th and 19th c,
Our last stop of the day was to Northwood to O-BO restaurant.
At this place we enjoyed a delightful dinner al fresco
Day 4 is shopping day!
Good shopping day at Sawgrass, a shopaholic hotspot
Time to enjoy some wonderful tea during our day shopping at Sawgrass.
for lunch we stop at Sushigami,
got some maki with sake and for dessert red bean and mango mochi ice cream
After our shopping spree at Sawgrass we went to meet cousin Fernando, his wife and son at Las Olas boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. We found a nice restaurant ideally located by the seaside called Cafe del Mar, offering tasty seafood, 2×1 cocktails and live entertainment.
We were about to join the dance.
Day 5 at West Palm beach started with our beauty glow smoothie in the morning, which cleans the body, boosts the energy, and lots other benefits
We went to enjoy the lovely weather, as today the sun is shining. First swimming and then reading out under the sun
At lunch we ate all together some homemade quinoa salad and quesadillas with ham, cheese and mushrooms.
Then after a short 20 minute drive we arrived to was going to be a very exciting and educational African Adventure at the Lion Country Safari
A leader in conservation and actively involved in species survival programs, it strives to ensure genetic diversity and sustainability.
And so, we drove inside the park through the different preserved and a succession of encounters with animals we had never seen up-close.
Have your camera at hand! You will find a myriad of great picture opportunities
The park is divided in areas in order to resemble different habitats, from las pampas in South America with pelicans and tapirs to the Serengeti in East Africa with antelopes.
Ruaha National park unspoiled African wilderness including impala -> video: http://instagram.com/p/o4jwnoKqzK/
At Kalahari bushveldt a dry plateau on southwest Africa
Video: http://instagram.com/p/o5sBuvqq-6/
Asiatic water buffalo up close! The African adventure at lion Country safari @visitflorida
The GIR forest, well known national park located on Gujarat India, the lion Country safari video: http://instagram.com/p/o5p08_qq8m/
Gorongosa reserve located in northern Mozambique, one of Africa’s famous wildlife areas lion Country safari video: http://instagram.com/p/o5qmOAKq9d/
A blackbuck the smallest of the antelope family
Are you mad about mammals? This is the place to be!
Awww! Cuteness to the max!
Wow experiece! My first close encounter with one!
Day 6 we went around 11 am to Boynton to spend some time at the beach. Aunt Marisabel lives in the area and took us to a great spot, a short walk from the showers, restrooms and in front of the life guards.
There are plenty postcard views in the beaches of Florida. The water is crystal clear and tranquil and the weather is gorgeous. Dad, aunt and Kjell Anders enjoyed playing racquet ball.
Day 7 we were happy to gather with more family living in Florida, cousin Eddy with his girlfriend came to join us this weekend and we had a lovely time!
Clear blue waters, sun, warm! Ideal conditions for swimming, snorkeling and fishing at Peanut island
This is a hotspot for boat owners and kayaking, there is a nice hiking trail around the island, with small huts all along and well equipped with benches, grills and restrooms ideal for all visitors wanting to enjoy a pick nick
At night we went downtown West Palm beach to get some drinks, we went to the bar called Rooftop as the name clearly says, it is an open area on the rooftop, with great music and nice sitting areas on the sides.
We bought some rhum and I was the designated driver of an automatic car that night, turned out being a great experience.
We had a fab and fun night that ended playing pocker
Day 8 we headed to Sawgrass to what was about to be a ver exhilarating and educational experience in the Everglades
Today we have an airboat your to explore the exotic wildlife and swamp yard exhibits at the Everglades
Our half hour tour allowed us to admire some pretty amazing views and a very dramatic scenery as there was an imminent storm and that made the scenery even more special
We stopped to get some explanations on our tour. Three types of grass are part if the Everglades ecosystem. cattails which contains aloe vera
Evergaldes fact: Seminole Indians lived here and used them for band aids, and wove them to hold together the roofs
Tip: buu your tickets in advance with groupon
After the tour we went to the wildlife exhibit which allowed visitors to admire not only gators and cocrodiles and learn more about them, but also other species in order to create awareness of the importance of taking care of the environment and the important role we play.
Special experience, to hold a baby gator
Not to eat..
We got a Knowledgeable guide shows us the behavior of gator, there is no risk unless you step on them of get closet. They defend their territory but there are very few fatalities. Less than the ones caused by cows!
– they eat very little
– they go for small prey
Lunch consists of gator meat and gator tacos among other things just at the exit of the exhibit
We ended the day at our parents friends, an extremely warm and friendly couple of Rusia- Ecuador who live near the Everglades. (Hollywood)
We were happy to get some whine wine tasting with our hosts as they could teach us more about them.
We went for a couple of hours to IKEA to figure out if and how to improve the kitchen in the apartment.
We were back for dessert at 8. Both are great hosts, who enjoy reading, had anecdotes from their many trips worldwide and plenty of books that went from art to cooking.
Day 9
Lunch at the apartment and then to Boynton to aun and uncle’s Marisabel and Carlos, where my parents stayed part of the time.
Then we picked up Pablo and went to Ft Lauderdale. We stopped at Ross for some last shopping then had something to eat and drink and at 8:15 pm we were sitting inside the airport ready to take our flight with Norwegian
Florida, warm and sunny, there is always something new to do here!
Thank you for reading.
Cristina
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