Bird's Eye View of Paradise

I can't wait to go on another Seaplane ride! It's incredible to think that you begin in the water and end up in the air! At first, it is a little unnerving because you're basically sitting out in the open with no enclosure- the plane is completely open. But once you get used to it, you feel like a bird (albeit, a really large bird). You can smell the salty sea air, feel the wind in your face, and see so many fish and snorklers swimming around in the crystal-clear Florida Keys water.

We landed in the water near a coral head and pulled out our snorkel gear that we stored in the floats of the plane. We were mostly looking for good spots to catch lobster (as lobster season is quickly approaching...) and we found a couple of spots we could come back to during season. But we also saw many amazing tropical fish.

When we finished our snorkeling excursion, we took off in the plane again and just as we lifted off the water, we saw a school of porpoise swimming right next to our air/water craft. Apparently, they thought we were one of them!

As we celebrate Memorial Day, we would like to thank and recognize all the men and women of our military who have sacraficed to make our country safe.

Make your island dreams come true! The Florida Keys has beautiful weather year-round and many outdoor activities to enjoy. Now is an excellent time to buy property in the Florida Keys! There are also some great deals on homes and your little piece of paradise awaits you. Visit our website at http://www.placeinparadise.com/ or drop me a line at teammullins@bellsouth.net. I would love to hear from you!

Want to change your life? Just add WATER!

Roughin' It

One beautiful Saturday afternoon, my friends and I made plans to go to Bahia Honda State Park and relax on the beach. One friend thought it would be a good idea to bring along a tent and some camping gear, just in case we were having too much fun to leave. This plan turned out to be ingenius as we were, in fact, having way too much fun to leave.

We drove over to the campgrounds (our site was directly across from the water) where we grilled food (including s'mores!!), listened to music, told hilarious stories, and laughed all evening long.

In the morning, we awakened early to a stunning sunrise, crystal clear glassy waters and went for an early morning sunrise swim in the warm waters of the Caribbean. The water was perfect! I hadn't been on a camping trip since I was a kid and can't remember ever having this much fun. In our highly technical world, it's easy to forget how much fun you can have sitting around a campfire, enjoying the company of friends, and the beautiful Florida Keys.

Make your island dreams come true! The Florida Keys has beautiful weather year-round and many outdoor activities to enjoy. Now is an excellent time to buy property in the Florida Keys! There are also some great deals on homes and your little piece of paradise awaits you. Visit our website at http://www.placeinparadise.com/ or drop me a line at teammullins@bellsouth.net . I would love to hear from you!

Want to change your life? Just add WATER!

Eat! Eat!

Plan to make Mangia Mangia Pasta Cafe in Key West. I recommend any kind of pasta dish, since the pasta is homemade and amazingly fresh; the seafood is cooked to perfection; and every dish is made to order.

You have the choice of sitting outdoors in the garden area surrounded by twinkling lights, or the warm, cozy indoors to enjoy beautiful artwork on the walls made of Dade County pine.

Mangia Mangia is located in the heart of Old Town Key West, on the corner of Southard and Margaret- perfect if you want a more private meal away from the festivities of Duval Street.

Make your island dreams come true! The Florida Keys has beautiful weather year-round and many outdoor activities to enjoy. Now is an excellent time to buy property in the Florida Keys! There are also some great deals on homes and your little piece of paradise awaits you. Visit our website at http://www.placeinparadise.com/ or drop me a line at teammullins@bellsouth.net . I would love to hear from you!

Want to change your life? Just add WATER!

TGIF: Thank Goodness It's Florida!

For the past 2 months when I awaken and listen to the weather report, it's been all about blizzards and ice and freezing temperatures. I think about the people who have to wake up every morning and shovel their driveways and scrape the ice and snow off of their cars so they can go to work.

So imagine my relief when I look out my window and see the sunny blue sky, people in the neighborhood out walking in shorts, and nothing more than a cooler-than-usual breeze. It is then that I truly appreciate how lucky I am to live here on this beautiful island.

We're not kidding when we say "forever summer". Most locals don't own shoes that aren't flip-flops and some don't even own long pants! Florida Keys weather really is that nice.

Here are a couple of questions for you folks up in the freezing north: When was the last time you sat outside to watch the sun set into the glistening blue ocean? Or took a boat ride to an island to have a fabulous brunch? Or experienced underwater scenery you've only ever seen in photos? Believe me, the photos don't do it justice. Isn't it time you changed all that?

Make your island dreams come true! The Florida Keys has beautiful weather year-round and many outdoor activities to enjoy. Now is an excellent time to buy property in the Florida Keys! There are also some great deals on homes and your little piece of paradise awaits you. Visit our website at http://www.placeinparadise.com/ or drop me a line at teammullins@bellsouth.net. I would love to hear from you!

Want to change your life? Just add WATER!

Little Palm: The REAL Paradise Island

I want to share with you all possibly the most beautiful and relaxing experiences I've had in the Keys thus far-it was my day at Little Palm Island. Little Palm Island is a resort and spa just off of Little Torch Key that you can only reach by boat or seaplane. My friends and I decided to go for brunch on Sunday, so we hopped aboard the boat on Little Torch Key and took a scenic ride to the island. The boat ride takes about 20-30 minutes, but we hardly noticed because the view of the water from the boat is so breathtakingly beautiful.

A hostess was at the dock to greet us when we arrived and showed us to our table. We elected to sit outdoors so we could enjoy the beautiful tropical landscaping and wildlife that surrounds the island (a Key Deer actually strolled by our table!).

Now on to my favorite part-THE FOOD! Brunch is served "buffet style"- you can eat all you want and everything is all inclusive! There were tables and tables of cold salads, fruits, and shrimp cocktail, as well as bagels, muffins and coffee cakes. There was also an entire menu of hot entres that were made to order. The hot options change periodically, but usually include eggs benedict, french toast, and pancakes, to name only a few.

A mimosa and bloody mary bar was set up inside. The bartender made the classic versions of these cocktails, but he also got creative and made something called a Kir Royale. If you're unfamiliar with this drink, it is made with champagne and raspberries and is unbelievably refreshing!

After we had had enough to eat and drink, we took our time on the island just relaxing and chatting. The boat heads back to Little Torch Key every hour on the hour so there was plenty of time to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

I absolutely insist that everyone visiting the Florida Keys experience Little Palm Island, but especially those of you who are locals! You do need reservations and there is a dress code. Visit the Little Palm website for details. This is the ultimate Florida Keys experience!

Make your island dreams come true! The Florida Keys has beautiful weather year-round and many outdoor activities to enjoy. Now is an excellent time to buy property in the Florida Keys! There are also some great deals on homes and your little piece of paradise awaits you. Visit our website at http://www.placeinparadise.com/ or drop me a line at teammullins@bellsouth.net. I would love to hear from you!

Island Fortress

Since moving to the Keys, I've wanted to visit the Dry Tortugas- a group of islands about 70 miles west of Key West. So imagine my excitement when one of my good friends started working on the Yankee Freedom which is one of the ferries that makes trips to Fort Jefferson and Dry Tortugas National Park.

My day started bright and early. I was at the boat by 7 am to check in and get a seat before the boat departed at 8 am. A buffet-style breakfast with cereal, bagels, fruit, and an assortment of juices was served as people were boarding the boat.

The boat ride takes about 45 minutes so there was plenty of time to decide what I was going to do once I got to the island. I decided to take the tour of the Fort first. I learned all about Dr. Samuel Mudd who was imprisoned at the fort for aiding John Wilkes Booth in the assassination of President Lincoln. Mudd was eventually pardoned by President Johnson after he helped stop the spread of yellow fever that had broken out at the fort in 1867.

After the tour it was time for a quick lunch back on the boat and then... snorkeling! My goal was to swim all around the fort. I also swam pretty far out and found many beautiful coral heads and tropical fish. The water was warm and clear and it was a great experience!

Live the adventure! The Florida Keys has beautiful weather year-round and many outdoor activities to enjoy. Now is an excellent time to buy property in the Florida Keys! There are also some great deals on homes in the Florida Keys and your little piece of paradise awaits you. Visit our website at http://www.placeinparadise.com/ or drop me a line at teammullins@bellsouth.net. I would love to hear from you!

Want to change your life? Just add WATER!

All Is Calm...All Is Bright

Hello All!

The other evening, we had the pleasure of dining at Key West hot spot "Roof Top Cafe" near Mallory Square. Just off Duval Street, this restaurant is very quaint and quiet, not to mention the food is amazing! We opted to sit outside on the rooftop where we could view the activities of the Downtown Key West nightlife.

Following our delicious meal, we decided to take a tour of Old Town Key West on the Conch Tour Train to see the historic homes which were beautifully decorated with Holiday lights. At one corner of Old Town, down a small cobblestone street, a boy came out of his house to serenade the guests on the train with Holiday music on his trumpet. Only in Key West!

Make your dreams come true! The Florida Keys has beautiful weather year-round and many outdoor activities to enjoy. Now is an excellent time to buy property in the Florida Keys! There are also some great deals on homes in the Florida Keys and your little piece of paradise awaits you. Visit our website at www.PlaceInParadise.com or drop me a line at teammullins@bellsouth.net. I would love to hear from you!

"Want to change your life? Just add water!"