Help for Hurricane Irma: What you can do

  From Tortola to Tampa, the Caribbean and Florida hold special places in my heart – the people, the music, the landscape and island life in general. I’ve walked along Cane Garden Bay, eaten at Quito Rymer’s Beach Bar, swam to shore from a catamaran at the Soggy Dollar Bar and explored the Keys from […]

Sail to Cuba with Royal Caribbean International and the Empress of the Seas

Royal Caribbean is fueling my desire to explore Cuba with its latest itinerary news (well, it’s been a month, but I’ve been a bit preoccupied with planning imaginary trips to post about it). So, here’s the scoop. After undergoing a $50 million revitalization, Royal Caribbean’s Empress of the Seas will make history for the cruise […]

Photo Essay: Florida Keys part 1 – Key West

I could spend a week (at least) in Key West just taking pictures … palm trees, chickens, famous bars, unique restaurants, street signs, sunsets … oh, the sunsets … Anyway, you probably get the idea. I gathered a few of my favorite photos into a couple of photo essay posts. Maybe they’ll inspire you to […]

Disney Cruise Line: New Caribbean Cruising Destinations for 2016

My various versions of a “happy place” have just collided in a big tropical way. The fun and adventure of Walt Disney World and the tranquility and relaxation of crystal clear Caribbean waters … What could be better than that? Disney Cruise Line has just introduced two new Caribbean destinations – Tortola, capital of the […]

Half Shell Raw Bar, Key West, Makes Cover of Kenny Chesney single ‘When I See This Bar’

Laid-back beach bars, island locations and good music always seem to go hand in hand. If anything can bring it home even more, and toss in an artistic touch, it is an artist/performer like Kenny Chesney. A Key West establishment that sings of the images and feelings evoked in many of Chesney’s songs has just […]

Mmmmmm…..motorboating…

Little Big Town had me at “Boondocks” and they’ll be keeping me for a long time with their latest song “Pontoon.” We owned a pontoon boat for several years. As a matter of fact, here it is….. As fun and convenient as they are, they do not go fast. And that’s okay. But when you […]

Penguins, Palm Trees, and Other Sandy Things

If you’re wondering how the name Somewhere in the Sand came about, here’s the scoop…. I have somewhat of a love (okay, obsession) for sand. I collect the stuff (yes, on purpose, and not just in uncomfortable, inappropriate places). My bathroom is a veritable chemistry lab, except, instead of beakers full of strangely colored liquids, […]