Everyone has done a countdown to an upcoming vacation. Precisely, everyone counts down to their first ride aboard Amtrak. Whether the journey is taking them to Boston, Washington, DC, Williamsburg, VA, Norfolk, VA, or Pittsburgh, PA, looking forward to any first-time train ride cannot be more exciting. The anticipation, the energy, and the plain joy can be felt from beginning to end. The countdown, along with the anticipation is what makes every first-time vacation experience so joyful, exciting, and above all-thrilling. The lyrics in the old Amtrak jingle were, “There’s something about a train that’s magic”. Like magic, the traveling experience of a lifetime has arrived. The countdown to ‘zero hour’ is almost here.
The countdown is on! I can vividly recall my first overnight train journey aboard Amtrak. The trip took place in Winter 1984. My family and I traveled aboard Amtrak’s Broadway Limited, from Chicago to Newark, NJ. This time, I will be traveling overnight aboard Amtrak’s Silver Meteor. It will be my first overnight train journey since then. Forty-two years later, I am looking forward to experiencing the Viewliner, a sleeper car of a totally different design. What makes this trip so unique is that I will be traveling by myself. One of my colleagues said, “Some of our best travel experiences are made alone”. This trip to Hollywood aboard the Silver Meteor will be more than my first overnight journey in forty-two years. This will be my first ever time staying in the Miami area on ‘bleasure’. What will that week be like? I can only share the roughed out view of the trip. How the trip will turn out in reality is a canvas just waiting for the paintbrush to be applied. The finished masterpiece is only a dream in the making.
June 7th, is a day which I’m patiently and diligently counting down the days. The countdown cannot be more astonishing. In a recent article, I shared a packing list for traveling overnight on Amtrak. The significance of this trip is that I’m writing a full-length feature story about Amtrak’s Silver Meteor for Trains Magazine. Drafting the story is one thing, but the journey aboard the Silver Meteor will be an experience like no other. Recently, I have been assembling an assortment of items I need for my carry-on bag and my small roll-on suitcase. Since I’m traveling in a roomette, I must pack smart. Both bags have to fit on the overhead shelf in my roomette. Hollywood Station is Amtrak staffed, but doesn’t provide baggage service. With that in mind, I am remembering to keep my packing under control. One of my colleagues at the post office will be lending me his portable DVD player. I have a rough idea which DVDs I will pack in my carry-on. I’m thinking at least three railroad themed movies, including the Disney classic “The Great Locomotive Chase”. It’s a “must-have” in my carry-on. In recent weeks, I have been studying the Amtrak dining car menu. The Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad is definitely calling my name at lunchtime. For dinner, the Flat Iron Steak is highly spoken about. At breakfast, I will most likely get the Amtrak Signature Railroad French Toast. The following day, at lunchtime, I will ask if I could order the Homestyle Mac ‘n’ Cheese or the hot dog off the children’s menu.
The Silver Meteor is scheduled to arrive in Hollywood at approximately 6 pm. Stepping off the train, the countdown to the rest of the fun will be on. Once checked into the DoubleTree by Hilton in Hollywood Beach, I’ll take an Uber ride to Dave & Buster’s in Hollywood. After dinner, I’m definitely going for a walk on the Hollywood Beach Beachwalk. After a long train ride, I’ll need to stretch out my ‘land legs’. After my stroll on the Beachwalk, I will most definitely go for a swim in the hotel pool. The following morning, I will take my Uber ride to Everglades Holiday Park for my air boat tour. It’s been a long time since my last air boat ride. The last time I rode on an air boat was in December 2008 near Port Canaveral. It was chilly! Not one alligator was present. Not one pair of eyes could be seen lurking above the water. I cannot be more esthetic about this air boat tour. Plus, I will probably get to meet the “Gator Boys”. They humanely rescue and relocate problematic alligators from South Florida neighborhoods.
After the air boat tour, I can’t decide whether to go to Haulover Beach or visit the Miami Beach Botanical Garden. I want my visit to the Miami area to begin on a laid back note. When visiting the area on ‘bleasure’. why would anyone want to have it any other way? To kick the week off on the right note, a beach visit is the right way to begin. Haulover Beach is the rival to Sandy Hook’s Gunnison Beach. Haulover Beach is the largest clothing-optional beach on the Atlantic Coast. Gunnison Beach is the largest clothing-optional beach in the northeastern United States. The only difference is that Gunnison Beach can only be experienced during the summer months. In Miami, the weather is merely perfect. Haulover Beach is visited year-round. I cannot wait to enjoy the ocean, sand, and surf the way Mother Nature intended. Plus, I cannot wait to mix and mingle with like-minded people of all ages. Further, the FIFA World Cup crowd will be making Haulover Beach an experience like no other. During the summer months, countries including Brazil, the UK, France, Germany, and Russia practice the clothing-optional way of life regularly. Meeting avid soccer fans of all ages in an environment such as Haulover Beach will be an unforgettable experience.
After enjoying the ocean at Haulover Beach, I certainly cannot wait to visit the Miami Beach Botanical Garden. Botanical gardens are a travel experience not to be passed up. No matter what city they’re located, they’re must-sees. I heard that the Miami Beach Botanical Garden is truly amazing. The plant and floral exhibits found around its grounds are mesmerizing. I will definitely be taking pictures by the dozens. Having visited the New York Botanical Garden and the United States Botanical Garden, I cannot wait to add the Miami Beach Botanical Garden to my “been there, done that” list.
The following day, June 10th, I will be going to the Miami Marlins game at Loan Depot Park. The Miami Marlins will be playing host to the Arizona Diamondbacks. I’ve read much about Loan Depot Park. My seat is in the Clubhouse section, field level, nearest to the Marlins dugout. I couldn’t get over how cheap the ticket was-$48.00. I’ve read much about Loan Depot Park’s concession stands. The stadium food is unbelievable. I cannot wait to sample all of the food favorites. The Miami Marlins are so-so in the standings, but I am truly looking forward to the experience. I will definitely buy a Miami Marlins t-shirt or jersey to mix and mingle with the fan base. When going to Loan Depot Park, I will take the Brightline train to downtown Miami, where I’ll take a shuttle bus to the stadium. On the return to my hotel, I’m going to play it by ear. Should the home team be winning, I’ll try to stay to the end. Should I decide to leave early, I’ll take the Brightline back to Aventura, and an Uber ride to the hotel. Returning from the Marlins game, nothing would be a better than soaking up in the hotel pool before bed. Sounds like an exciting week so far, agree?
Thursday, June 11th I have much of the whole day to myself with nothing on my to-do list. What I may do is with a day pass, I’ll visit the Rooftop Resort in Hollywood Beach. The Rooftop Resort is an adults-only resort, with a saltwater pool on its roof. There’s nothing like enjoying a saltwater swimming pool with like-minded adults, ranging from low 20s to their 40s. Dinnertime, I cannot wait to visit the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. There, I will be experiencing Lobster Thursday at their Fresh Harvest Buffet. What else will be featured at the Fresh Harvest Buffet, is my wildest guess. I will be mentioning the Fresh Harvest Buffet and Lobster Thursday in a South Florida highlights overview story in VIE Magazine. I will also be highlighting the Fresh Harvest Buffet and Lobster Thursday in a South Florida trailblazer’s story in Iconic Life Magazine. Despite the amount of writing the week’s itinerary entails, the level of fun and excitement will be hard to top. There will be more than enough to share in the postcards.
June 7th, is going to be a day I cannot be more excited about. The countdown is on. It’s more than just a day. It’s going to be a week of firsts. It will be my first ever overnight train journey on Amtrak in over 40 years. The moment the Silver Meteor pulls into Newark Penn Station, my energy level will be at a lifetime high. The moment the train arrives in Hollywood, I will feel like I’m on top of the world. From sleeping in a roomette, to pondering the dining car menu, to mingling with fellow passengers, I cannot be more excited. This trip to the Miami area will be my very first time touring the Everglades. What makes this vacation even more intriguing is seeing the alligators that call the Everglades ‘home’. The two bigger highlights are soaking up the warm ocean at Haulover Beach and routing for the Miami Marlins against the Diamondbacks. From appreciating nature at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, to enjoying Lobster Thursday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, to taking it all in on the Hollywood Beach Beachwalk, the week cannot be a more exciting and rewarding experience. First-time experiences are what make every vacation noteworthy. It will be a vacation with merely forty postcards in the mail. Ultimately, it will be a monumental vacation-a week which will truly rejuvenate the body and soothe the soul.