Saturday, April 24, 2021

Key West, Florida...

 Key West is one of those places that I have always wanted to visit, but we never have.  We had a long weekend back in January and thought it was the perfect time to check it off of our list.  It was going to *hopefully* be a celebration of me passing my nurse practitioner boards.  Spoiler alert:  I passed!

We stayed at the Reach Resort, which is one of the few hotels with a beach.  We did not really have a lot of plans for the weekend other than relaxing and eating our way around the island.

Ironically enough, there was snow on the ground when we left Kansas City.


The first order of business was lunch and an Aperol Spritz!


We went for a walk and the next thing you know we were at the other end of the island.  We found a brewery and stopped for some drinks.

Stopping off for drinks.  We loved all of the outdoor seating.


Sunset at our hotel

Sunset watching with an Aperol Spritz

Our hotel was absolutely beautiful!


If this picture does not make you laugh, I have no idea what is wrong with you!  It is the same robe, just different heights.  This may have been happening while we were ordering pizza delivery.  He will do anything to make me happy.


Did you even go to Key West if you do not have this photo?  Sadly,  I took this on a run and did not get one of Ken and me there.


Out for an amazing brunch with this suspicious character behind me.  


Enjoying the beach at the hotel

Oceanside Aperol Spritz.  In case you have not noticed, an Aperol Spritz is kind of my drink of choice.


Key West is beautiful with the sun shining!


Such a beautiful view at the Reach Resort.


We wrapped up our trip with an amazing brunch that included key lime mimosas followed by an amazing dinner with great fish.   

Time away is always good for the soul and I am glad that we got to check Key West off of our list.  We will think of this trip with great memories for quite a while.  Now only if we could recreate those key lime mimosas at home...



Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Eureka Springs, AR...

On Black Friday this past year, we were supposed to be flying to Europe to enjoy the Christmas markets of Germany, France, and Switzerland.  Since Americans are still not allowed in Europe, we drove four hours South to Eureka Springs, AR, and stayed at the Crescent Hotel.  In all honesty, I have wanted to stay at the Crescent Hotel for years, we just never have made the time.  

I was able to reserve us in Theodora's room, room 419.  This is one of the most requested rooms as it is supposedly haunted.  Theodora was a nurse that worked for Norman Baker when the Crescent was used as a hospital.  She is known to be a friendly ghost and often "tidies up" your room while you are not there.  She is also known to be seen outside the room frantically fumbling with her keys.  We did not have any visits from Theodora, however, I did not get much sleep because I was so worried about staying in her room, even though it was my idea to do so!

Of course, we did the ghost tour where we learned all about Theodora.  


Ken with Theodora.


Truth be told, I have no idea if that is really Theodora, but that is what we called the lady in the picture during our stay.  

Theodora's room at the Crescent Hotel, Room 419


Just waiting on Theodora to stop by for a glass of wine.  I was not singing this same tune at 2:00 am when I was having a nightmare that Theodora was putting my moisturizer in my hand to let me know she had visited.  I screamed and woke Ken up.  I was really terrified.  I swore she was in the room watching us sleep.


The Crescent Hotel is really beautiful


Thanks to Covid, I was finally able to stay here for a long weekend.

We spent most of our time wandering around downtown shopping, stopping for drinks, and visiting a few breweries.  We also got massages, which was wonderful.  I had never been a huge massage fan before, but working as a nurse that prones 400 pound Covid patients, my back welcomed the massage!


Eureka Spring's Christmas Tree


Basin Spring, which was one of the original springs


One of the restaurants offered flights of margaritas.  Of course, we got two!  We got to try 8 different flavors.  It was definitely a highlight!


We were the only people sitting outside!  We sit outside in Germany every Christmas, so we figured why not in Arkansas?


While we were so sad that we did not get to fly to Germany, we had a great weekend away in Eureka Springs.  It was nice to relax after having a lot of stress from moving the week prior.  I can see us visiting the Crescent Hotel again soon!