Posts From September 2009
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Renata • September 25, 2009 •
I found a new blog for all of you Florida nature lovers. Bill Belleville has the Florida Nature blog, which is lazy and relaxed and introduces us to some very special places near Daytona Beach, Florida !! This particular post is also for you adventure seekers…Stephan Crane’s SS Commodore
http://floridanature.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/salvaging-a-literary-memory-naturalism-is-born-off-the-florida-coast/
This is an article about visiting the watery grave of the SS Commodore the vessel sunk — sending Stephan Crane into the Atlantic waters so he could wash up on shore and write “The Open Boat”
Image stolen borrowed from Bill’s Blog….
I was somewhat apprehensive to send you away to a REAL WRITER”S site… but I think that this is good info for all of us to enjoy. A gentleman who writes articles about “Losing it all to Sprawl” may not appreciate being featured here — on a site that is focused on helping the vacationer find great things to do — places to stay and restaurants to enjoy…
We don’t even proof read here… ( sorry…)
Staying completely focused on finding interesting and exciting locations — Bill has some greaat articles about St John’s River, Silver Springs State Park and he blends history with nature. I certainly receommend a bookmark to keep up on any new posts…
I thouroughly enjoyed the read !!!
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Renata • September 24, 2009 •
There are several types of balconies at Daytona Beach Resort. If you are going to rent a condo from the owner — it is best to understand what you are getting.
The resort was updated in 3 different phases. this does have an effect on the balconies and age of furnsihings.
Phase 1 was the 5 story main building — shown below with the purple – yellow and red balconies, this is the south end of the building – closest entrance would be the main entrance. ( Completed 2002 – 2005)
Phase 2 was the 7 – 14th story of the 14 story tower with the red – blue and green balconies. (Completed 2006)
Phase 3 was the orange balconies (Completed 2007)
OK — this is kinda rough — OK — really rough, but it is an illustration !!!!
Red Balconies:: Large and private. and there are a very, very limited number of condos with this type of balcony. 710-713-810-813-910-913-1010-1013-1110-1113-1210-1213 are all in the tower. Here are pictures these are approx 10 x 13 ft, which is about equivalent to a small bedroom…
I am standing by the chairs with the above pic…
This condo has chairs and small table, perfect location for coffee with the sunrise, very large, great view of ocean — southern get full sun most of the day, northern gets the afternoon shade.
You can see the balcony size from the ground — and the wall of windows that is the nice thing about the corner condos in the tower.
The Red Balconies on the bottom left — are pictures down below — see the space but not really much privacy as this is your entrance AND you are next to the pool deck… these are about 10 x 8 and have the pavers and walkout to pool.
The view from these rooms — looks out on the pool deck –
Blue balconies :: These are private and oceanfront. Balcony size is about 13 ft x 30 inches. We can fit 2 chairs out there..not much more.
Orange Balconies::
These are the same as the Blue Balconies — size is 13 ft x 3 ft ( 36 inches)
so you will have a bit more room for the knees. Walls on both sides make these private — very private….
Unfortunately, we were uable to get into a room to get pics…of the balcony –
Expect this……..as the orange are all oceanfront.
Green Balconies:: These are all private and oceanview. These are standing room only. Some folks have placed stools out for use.
So the view from here is quite spectacular too –these are oceanview and the closer your room is to the ocean — the better the view — this is 2 from the ocean…….
These pictures were taken on the balcony
From the room ….
This would be your view from your room from this location.
Purple Balconies:: These are not really balcnoies.. this is a walk way. The 4th & 5th floor in the 5 story bldg has a walkway with chairs-tables. Not very private……but these condos were remodeled without an additional entrance — so the entrance is on the walkway and the walkway is where your chairs are…..
Yellow Balconies::
The yellow balconies are on the 2nd and 3rd floors in the 5 story building. These rooms had the same walkway as above — but these condos have a seperate entrance. On the remodel they enclosed with additional railings. These are not private — but they are spacious. You probably have about a 7 x 13 area for yourself.
You can see the railing from this vantage point.
This oner might be a tad better…
As you can see, there is a huge variety of balconies — depending upon the room you get. If you are planning on heading to Daytona to stay at the Conference Center and have further balcony questions…feel free to ask. !!!!
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Renata • September 23, 2009 •
These shots are from April of this year…
I was driving back from visiting Ponce Inlet Beach and I see this little dude heading into the rushes on the side of the road. I have been coming to Daytona for years…YEARS and have never seen a wild turtle. Have seen hurt sad broken turtles at The Marine Science Center. I have seen little captured turtles for sale at the flea market,( I always consider buying them to let them go free…..)
So when I saw this little guy I stopped the car dead and started snapping pix…. probably should have used the other lense… but I only had a few seconds to snap him…..
I heard somewhere that if you scare turtles — they loose their fresh water reserve that they carry and they could die, so I did not want the little guy to “loose his water” so I stayed kinda far away…..
I thought he was just adorable. He was just slinking his way forward and paying no attention to me…. he was really big — his shell was about 16 inches in diameter…so I wonder how old he was….
Then he stopped and started poking his head back and forth a bit…. I don’t even know what kind of turtle he is….
and sticking his wrinkled little neck out there….
And then started to snack…on grass… as much as I love Florida… the grass there sucks….
I can take my shoes off and run thru grass in Illinois and it’s soft on my feet…in FLorida – sandpaper is easier on the foots…. he would like it at my house… I have a lawn perfect for a turtle….
Isn’t that freaking cool ??? Hope you get to see one too !!! I had to go — cuz I really did stop my car in the middle of the road……….
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Renata • September 20, 2009 •
Oceanfront Studio at Daytona Beach Resort.
Renting by owner at Daytona Beach Resort and Conference Cneter is the best way to get a great deal at this resort. Not only do you save the “$11.00 Daily Resort Fee” your condo will most certainly be in better condition than the condos rented thru the front desk.
This is one of the condos in the 14th story tower. On floors 7-14 – there are 4 oceanfront condos. These are the interior units. Wanna take a tour ??
2 Queen Sized Beds – to sleep 4 comfortably.
Efficency kitchen – full sized refrigerator – microwave – 2 burner stove top
Table for 4 — perfect for dinner or a bridge game.
There is a view of the ocean from all locations in the main room.
This is the view from the bolcony — full ocenview. This balcony is 13 ft x 30 inches, there is enough room to have 2 chairs — these are larger balconies than the oceanview condos offer.
View of the private balcony from the ground, as you can see there are walls between condos — so you will have privacy.
Here is the floorplan of this condo — it is about 450 sq ft, large for this building. Make sure you check you ask about the square footage of any condos and the balcony situation before you rent !!
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Renata • September 20, 2009 •
Daytona Beach Newspapers
If you are preparing for a trip to Daytona — you may want to check the paper for events, coupons, church service schedules, TV guides and those other little conveniences that we have all gotten used to finding in the local paper. Now that local papers are on-line in most cases you can read and plan from home if needed. Here is my list of Daytona Beach Newspapers.. and their on-line links…..
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Online edition of daily newspaper covering the Greater Daytona Beach Area. Publishes a GoDo section on Fridays, outlining cultural and social activities for the coming weekend.
Student college publication of Embry-Riddle University in Daytona Beach.
http://www.avionnewspaper.com
Daytona Beach Pennysaver – Weekly publication with coupons and classified ads.
http://www.floridapennysavers.com/daytona_beach/index.aspx
My Hometown News -
http://www.myhometownnews.net/
Monthly Publication Focusing on county news — great coupon deals and also some facsinating articles about Florida history.
I always check the newspapers (and the weather) about 10 days before we are to make our trip. These are the best links – if you have any other recommendations…please pass them along !!
