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beach, girls trip, the Tourist, Travel | May 7, 2015

Just A Few Things About Grand Cayman

Some say, “Variety is the spice of life.”  But for me, “VACATION is the spice of life!”  And a vacation with my girlfriends is VITAL!  This post is about our most recent trip.  We were all set to take a road trip but our planning took an exciting u-turn when we decided to fly to Grand Cayman!!  I hope this post has you booking a trip to Grand Cayman and knowing what to do when you get there.

 

Travel Time:  When I only have 3 nights away for fun I want to get to my destination fast!  For Houstonians, United Airlines offers non-stop flights to Grand Cayman and the flight is only 2 hours and 50 minutes.  That’s faster than my frequent road-trip to Dallas!  For other major cities, several airlines offer non-stop flights, here’s a chart to give you an idea:

 

Cab System: I’ve never met a cab driver in GC I didn’t like! This was our method of transportation. The drivers would give you their card and ask you to call them if you needed a ride.  If they weren’t available they’d call their friend for you.  This all started with the very first cab we stepped foot in upon arrival at the airport.

Where To Stay, Good Question:  We had the hardest time deciding where to stay.  I created this map  and a cost comparison to help us figure it out.  It was between a Deluxe Oceanfront Room at the Westin Grand Cayman (top green pin on map) or a Garden View room at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman (bottom green pin on map).  The two hotels looked like they had about the same linear feet of beachfront but the Ritz was a much bigger resort (so maybe more crowded on the beach?).  At the Westin we’d be able to slide open our patio doors and walk onto the beach or at the Ritz, the walk to the beach from the room (red pin on map) was estimated at 5 min. per the website room description.  So it was The View vs. The Luxury.

We chose the Westin where this was our view, morning, noon and night!  Can you hear the relaxing ocean waves slowly rolling in?!

And when you choose the less expensive hotel, then you’re more inclined to reserve a private cabana for two days!  This is where we ate lunch both days and when a short storm blew through we just closed the drapes and rode it out. 🙂

Red Sail Sports: One of the benefits of staying at the Westin is access to Red Sail Sports.  These are the people who put the adventure into your vacation!  In my opinion, they are the best way to get out to Stingray City (see below). After seeing the other sailboats I was happy we were in the hands of Red Sail Sports,  I was impressed with their practices and felt safe.  We took the 9 am sail on one of their 65′ luxury catamarans out to Stingray City and then to snorkel on a reef.  The trip was about 4 hours and cost us $80 each.

Sting Ray City: I wanted to go to Grand Cayman just for the sake of Sting Ray City.  It’s an area of sand bars where the stingrays come to interact with the people (because the peeps bring easy food).

I suggested it to my friends even though I had no idea how I’d have the courage to do it.  A couple days before the trip I led an Al-Anon meeting for the first time and chose the topic of Courage in hopes of combating the fear.  Then on the sail out to the sandbar I talked to a 6 year old girl who had nothing but joy and excitement and she couldn’t wait to get in the water with the Rays!  I also knew my God did not want me to live in fear and worry.  And with my friends, we were in it together, not alone!

By the time we anchored at Sting Ray City I was that 6 year old and could not wait to have my turn to hold the Stingray.  The fear was gone, completely!

Does this look like courage?  I hope so!  Now, how many tries does it take to get a selfie with a Stingray? Lost count! Ha!

Can’t wait to look back at this one when we’re Golden Girls!  What an adventure! Write Stingray City on your life’s to do list!

Dinner at The Wharf:  This restaurant is touristy but you’ve gotta go to it!  It’s oceanfront and located at the start of Seven Mile Beach.

You’ll get to watch the sunset as you eat dinner, glorious!

AND the biggest draw is all the tarpon fish!  You can feed them if you want, fascinating to watch how they go from 0 to 60 in 5.0 as they dart through the water at The Wharf.

Dinner at Calypso Grill:  This restaurant was recommended to us by everyone!  And we will do the same for you!  If you’re going to have one fancy dinner, make sure it’s at the waterfront Calypso Grill at Morgan’s Harbour, West Bay.

The ambiance inside and outside is charming and the food is delicious!  After you book your flight for Grand Cayman, send an email to Dine@CalypsoGrillCayman.com to reserve your table for dinner. “Order the Sticky Toffee Pudding!”

Friday Night at The Ritz-Carlton’s Silver Palm Lounge: This is a must if you like to dance and people watch.  Do you see the glowing light in the picture above? That’s where the DJ was and they got started around 10 pm.  For a while no one was dancing, but it only took one!  If you know my friend Laura, you know she has the courage to start a dance party at the Ritz-Carlton.

And before we knew it, the whole lounge was on their feet, no backs against the wall.  And the night was unforgettable!

Seven Mile Beach: Amazing relaxing water that we loved hanging out in as if it were the pool.

 

 

George Town Yacht Club:  This is a great place to hang out if you have a few hours to kill between hotel checkout and airplane departure.  And no worries if you realize you don’t have time to wait for a  cab to take you to the airport, you can walk. Ha!

Reward, Relax, Rejuvenate and cherish Relationships. These are the 4 Rs I’ve come up with to motivate us all.  Whether it’s a staycation or a trip to Grand Cayman, if you want it, YOU can make a vacation happen!  We booked this trip mid June and were on a plane at the beginning of August.  Forward this post to your girlfriends to get the ball rolling!

If this post has you feeling sporty, I selected a few rash guards I’m loving right now!  Click on the thumbnail picture above to shop it.

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Recommendations for Seaside!

family date, the Mommy, the Tourist, Travel, vacation | April 10, 2015

Recommendations for Seaside!

Last year around this same time we didn't have any plans for the summer.  But somehow before the Summer was over we went on three amazing vacations that I've been wanting to share with you.  I'm telling you this because it's never too late to plan a vacation and it is so important to take time off, Continue Reading

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New Finds in Round Top

Round Top, the Designer, the Shopper, the Tourist | September 26, 2014

New Finds in Round Top

We are back from another awesome early weekend at The World's Best Antiques Fair in Round Top, Texas!  Even though we've visited twice a year for about 6 years, this trip was full of wonderful firsts.  These firsts have qualified as "FINDS" worthy of sharing with your neighbor! Continue Reading

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World’s Championship Bar-B-Que 2014

HLSR, the Tourist, volunteer, WCBBQ | March 5, 2014

World’s Championship Bar-B-Que 2014

This was my 9th year as a volunteer for the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo's World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest.  I'm on the Judging & Scoring side of the contest's committee and I love every minute of it.  Last year I did a blog post every night when I got home of my favorite pictures Continue Reading

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Travel Edition: TRAVAASA Austin, Texas

Austin, friend, girls trip, the Tourist, Travel | February 12, 2014

Travel Edition: TRAVAASA Austin, Texas

This long lasting cold weather has me thinking about a sunny and warm vacation!  I really need to get something in the works so I can get through the rest of this cloudy and freezing season!  Y'all thinking what I'm thinking?  Spa, Pool, Sun, Girl's Trip!!!   If you are, please let me Continue Reading

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Hello Neighbor! I’m Erica Smith and this is where I share discoveries and tell a few stories!

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  • Sloppy Joe Sweet Potato Recipe
    Now remember, I’m not a chef… just a mom sharing yet another easy meal! Just in case you’re looking for a super simple recipe to whip up this weekend, this simple sloppy joe sweet potato recipe was a winner at my household this week! You can use any kind of ground meat you like on […]

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This is if your mom isn’t here any more or if yo This is if your mom isn’t here any more or if your mom isn’t the person you wish she could be or could have been for you. If she was here, if she could be or could have been that person for you, I think this is what she’d say 👆. It’s certainly what I’d say to us! 🤗 
Have you heard @andygrammer’s song, She’d Say? It is beautiful. His mom isn’t here any more, his kids didn’t get to meet her and the song is what she’d say to them if she could “use words”. I’m quoting the chorus in the visual but another favorite part is: “Remember God is like the sun, he always comes out
Just when you think the dark's here to stay" 🌇 If you haven’t heard the song, I’ll link it in my bio and play it in my stories. Happy Mother’s Day, love to you! 🤗♥️ #mothersday #mom #alateen #mentalhealth #andygrammer #shedsay #ladyblacksmithmambazo #titynquote
How goode is this?! Two Houston favorites (@parist How goode is this?! Two Houston favorites (@paristexasco x @goodecobbq) have come together and designed a bandana for the new A Texan Can Survive collection to help @feedthefrontlinehouston! 👏👏👏 You can find it online, at @goodecobbq restaurants or at the @paristexasco retail store! Go to their pages for more details. Tag your Texans!👇🤠🌵♥️💙😍#atexancansurvive #goodegoesaround #feedthefrontline #frontlineheroes #supporthouston #supporttexas #texasbbq #bbq #tityn
ICYMI: @goodecogrocers is GIVING AWAY an expanded ICYMI: @goodecogrocers is GIVING AWAY an expanded Family Dinner for 4 🥘 with a pecan pie 🥧, a bag of coffee ☕️, a cocktail kit🍹and next day delivery or pick-up (at @armadillopalace)! We’re drawing TWO WINNERS!! And it ends tonight! See two posts back to enter! Good luck, this is Serious Comfort Food! #goodegoesaround #houstontx #houstoneats #houstoncurbside #familydinners #supportlocalhouston #supporthoustonlocal #houstonstrong #coffeeandpie #pecanpie
Hi neighbors! Here are several Mother’s Day gift Hi neighbors! Here are several Mother’s Day gift ideas, some need to be ordered today, some soon and some last minute at the store. Swipe left and tap the picture to then tap shop for more info.👆 Or scroll down to do the same.👇
1) The spring @mostessbox is $25 off for Mother’s Day. I just opened mine and I’m most excited about the indoor garden kit!
2) Pie and coffee gift set from @goodecobbq.
3) Topo Chico succulents from @anvilcards.
4) The new Volume 2 of @joannagaines Magnolia Table cookbook from @paristexasco.
5) Flowers delivered from @heydayflowerco (order today).
6) Package from @festivities_tx includes a big balloon, flowers, skincare and a donation to the Women’s Center.
7) Coffee table book(s) and/or acrylic stand from @lambespoke.
8) The Moccamaster coffee maker from @beringshardware. 
All of these are #shoplocalhouston ideas! Act fast, because corona shipping delays! 
#tityngift #houstonstrong #shophouston
This giveaway is closed, thank you! 🎉 Happy May This giveaway is closed, thank you! 🎉 Happy May, we’ve got a 🍀⭐️Serious Comfort Food⭐️🍀 GIVEAWAY! 🎉 With @goodecogrocers!!! Two of you will win an expanded Family Dinner for 4 🥘 with a pecan pie 🥧, a bag of coffee ☕️, a cocktail kit🍹and next day delivery or pick-up (at @armadillopalace)! 🎉 
I knew I’d be a customer the minute Goode Company shared their new grocery concept. I thought it was genius, I trust them, it maintained jobs and they were contributing to @feedthefrontlinehouston! 🙌 I also knew that before I could fully recommend it to you, I would need to place my first order, so I made it big enough for free delivery and we’ve been eating off it all week! I’ve also been taking care with hand sanitizer and toothpaste because they sell that stuff, too! 🧻 I’ll be sharing the process and my experience over the next few days on stories. In summary though, I’m very happy and I’m more comfortable with groceries in a simplified way right now because there’s less people handling everything. 💯 So, you might give some serious thought to entering this Serious Comfort Food giveaway with #goodecogrocers and experience it for yourself! And there’s a better chance to win because it’s for 2 of you! ✌️Here’s how to enter, y’all 🤠:
1) Follow @goodecogrocers ,
2) follow or make sure you’re already following me @tellittoyourneighbor and
3) leave a comment tagging 1 friend.
4) For extra entries, tag additional friend(s) in separate comments. 
Each comment counts as an entry! (This is not affiliated with Instagram.) 🍀Good luck!!!🍀 This giveaway ends at 11 pm cst on Sunday night 5/3 and I’ll announce the winner on Monday morning! #goodegoesaround #familydinners #preparedmeals #houstoneats #houstoncurbside #houstondelivery #houstonblogger #groceryshopping #houstonstrong #supporthouston #tityngiveaway
As you might be able to tell from the heart shadow As you might be able to tell from the heart shadows, I took this photo in February for a @liketoknow.it post. I had just bought new kicks for our new treadmill, I loved them and wanted to tell you all about them because they’re black and white, TORTOISE shell and light pink! 🤍🖤🤎💗 Turns out these shoes had another thing coming! So many glorious spring walks outside. 😃🌳 Joseph and I took a 4 mile walk yesterday and we hadn’t done that since before kids! 🙌 During this time, are you, too taking more or longer walks than you have in a decade?! If so, do you need new shoes for these great walks? Because I noticed these are currently on SALE with free shipping and 60-day free returns. 👌 Long live the long walks, definitely a bright side!!! 👏 For a link to my sneakers, use the #liketkit app with a screenshot of my photo or go to my my bio 👉 @tellittoyourneighbor. http://liketk.it/2NRS0 #LTKsalealert #StayHomeWithLTK #LTKfit @nikewomen @nike #nike #longwalks #kotd #kickstagram #justdoit #fitness #nikefit #tortoiseshell #nikejoyride #titynhealth
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