Yummy Reservations and Delightful Destinations!

The best thing about sharing great places with you for “yummy reservations” and “delightful destinations” is that most of the time I’m experiencing them with my husband.  After all, he is my official photographer that brings all of this to life.

For our anniversary in September, (42 wonderful years!) we set out on a very “delightful destination” to the east coast of Florida, to the little town of Flagler Beach.  This was a driving vacation, so having the flexibility of when you leave and stops along the way is a plus.  I always think of it as an adventure.  We had our car all packed when we left for work in the morning, put in a ½ day of work (but dreaming of vacation) and hit the road.

Our first stop (other than gas and restroom) was planned for New Bern, North Carolina; and we arrived just in time for a late dinner.   New Bern has that small town feel but I was pleasantly surprised by how upscale it was.  Just driving over the bridge in to town, makes you fall in love with it already.  Along with some great local shops, quaint restaurants, and a very picturesque riverfront, we also discovered that New Bern is the birthplace of Pepsi (https://www.visitnewbern.com/birthplace-pepsi/).  Who would’ve thought?  We had planned to stay a couple of days to do some exploring in the area, before moving onto Florida.  Our favorite “eat” for breakfast was Baker’s Kitchen (www.bakerskitchennewbern.com).  It was full of activity each morning, and obviously it was “the” place to go for many of the locals.  And you haven’t lived until you experience their “butter syrup” drizzled on top of their pancakes or waffles – OMG! 

For dinner, our favorite pick was Captain Ratty’s Seafood.   Check out their menu on www.captainrattys.com.  They have a great little rooftop deck, which unfortunately we couldn’t experience due to a little rainy weather.  However, it was cozy inside, with a wonderful staff, and very enjoyable meals of mussels, crab cakes and a scallop salad.  And what would dinner be without some good wine too!

Time to get back on the road again to our next destination – Florida!  We had been following the news regarding Hurricane Irma that had just hit Florida the previous week.  We had concerns about our reservations at Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast (near Flagler Beach), but they assured us that everything was operating at 100%.  The resort was amazing, and except for a couple of small challenges during our stay, it was worthy of an anniversary getaway.  We had a 3-bedroom unit in the main part of the resort with a view of the ocean.  I wanted to just move in – definitely first class and very reasonably priced.   If you look at www.hammockbeach.com, you can view all of the amenities at their resort, including several restaurants, pools, fitness center, etc.  Our first night there we tried the resort’s “Sushi Bar. ” It’s small and intimate and was a great way to kick off the Florida portion of our vacation.

During our stay at Hammock Beach Resort, we tried many of the local restaurants located a short distance down A1A in Flagler Beach, some which we have been to before.  Our #1 favorite beach front restaurant (don’t expect fancy here) is “High Tides at Snack Jacks,”  http://www.snackjacks.com/.  It is located ON the ocean!

Their conch fritters are scrumptious and takes me back to memories of the Caribbean.  I also had a craving for their fried clams, which did not disappoint.   Another fantastic restaurant during our stay was the Flagler Fish Company, one block off of A1A Highway.  We enjoyed a wonderful dinner with friends that have just relocated to Palm Coast.  Again, not a fancy joint and just our style.  You can even select your own fish and is cooked to your preference.  My Ahi Tuna was very yummy indeed –  http://flaglerfishcompany.com/.

Next on the list, but in no particular order, is The Golden Lion, right on A1A.  The view here is amazing, especially if you opt for their top deck – and we most certainly did!  We had an absolutely delightfully, fun waitress and equally amazing meals of fresh seafood.  This place is high on my list of good food, perfect ocean view and great service.

Other plans during our stay included travelling north to St. Augustine.  It was my husband’s idea to get up a 6 a.m. on our anniversary and drive the 30 miles to celebrate Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, the oldest church in Florida.  We both thought it was very appropriate to start off this very special day with giving thanks.  Afterwards, we chose a little place on the harbor front called “Brunch at the Casablanca Inn” – www.restaurantbrunch.com.  We ate on their outside porch, taking in the morning sunshine and beautiful views.  We enjoyed it so much, we went back a second time during our stay.  We absolutely love St. Augustine.  There are so many things to do, historic cobble stone streets and lots of cool shops and eateries.  We were both content in just strolling around town and taking in all the sights that surround this both historic and fun town.  Check out https://www.visitstaugustine.com to plan your next vacation that is definitely a delightful destination.

After enjoying a wonderful breakfast, we HAD to plan an extra-special Yummy Reservation for dinner, right?  So, after much discussion, we agreed “Caps on the Water” sounded like a possibility, which is located north of St. Augustine.

It had gotten great reviews, but we had to make sure it was the right pick.  Yes, you’re right – we stopped by after breakfast to check it out.  It has a huge deck practically level with the Intercoastal Waterway, trees reaching up to the sky through the decking, and wrapped with little white lights.

We knew this was the place!   They did not take reservations, but when we arrived later in the evening, were lucky to land a “front row” table for two on the inter-coastal.   We wanted to take our time with ordering, not only just to experience the romantic setting, but also to be able to witness the sunset.  It worked!  We stretched out ordering our drinks, then appetizers and our main courses.  A perfect setting and will definitely be on our “return to” list when we go back to the St. Augustine area.

During our entire stay in Florida, our days were filled with activities like laying by the pool at our resort, floating down their lazy river, playing putt-putt golf, relaxing on the beach, eating more great food and just enjoying some quiet time together.  Oh – and we did have a drink or two!

By the way, we also threw in 1 ½ days to visit Disney World.  I love that we are both still young at heart and enjoy rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and It’s a Small World.  Who needs kids?!  You also can’t beat Disney World and Epcot, and the surrounding resorts, for some fantastic food experiences.

In closing, I want to say a loving thank you to my husband for 42+ amazing years since we met.  It’s been a wonderful ride – sometimes like a Disney roller coaster.  However, I wouldn’t change one single second!  I hope you will “take a chance on romance” and travel to one (or all) these delightful destinations and come up with some different yummy reservations of your own.  If  you do, please share with me at www.yummyreservations.blog.  Who knows where I’m going next??