2 Night/3 Day Hotel Stay

Destinations include: Acapulco, MX ‐ Alexandria, VA ‐ Atlantic City, NJ ‐ Boston, MA ‐ Boyne Mountain, MI ‐ Branson, MO ‐ Cancun, MX ‐ Cocoa Beach, FL ‐ Daytona Beach, FL ‐ Destin, FL ‐ Durango, CO ‐ Ft. Lauderdale, FL‐ Gatlinburg, TN ‐ Honolulu, HI ‐ Kauai, HI ‐ Lake Havasu City, AZ ‐ Lake Tahoe, CA ‐ Las Vegas, NV ‐Laughlin, NV ‐ Myrtle Beach, SC ‐ Nashville, TN ‐ New Orleans, LA ‐ Orlando, FL ‐ Pagosa, CO ‐ Palm Springs, CA ‐ Poconos, PA ‐ Pigeon Forge, TN ‐ Puerto Vallarta, MX ‐ San Antonio, TX ‐ San Diego, CA‐ San Francisco, CA ‐ Sedona, AZ ‐ Sonoma Wine Country, CA ‐ St. Petersburg, FL ‐ Williamsburg, VA

3 Day Cruise to the Bahamas

Enjoy A 3 Day Cruise to the Bahamas! Includes All Meals and Shipboard Entertainment This travel offer entitles recipient to a fabulous 3 day, 2 night cruise aboard the Bahamas Celebration, from the Port of Palm Beach, FL to Nassau, Bahamas. Aboard ship, travelers will enjoy a comfortable inside state-room, all meals, live entertainment and shipboard activities for two adults.

7 Night Vacation in Orlando

7 exotic nights at a 4 or 5 star resort in Orlando for two adults and two children.

7 Night Resort Vacation Getaway

Enjoy 7 Night Resort Accommodation At One Of Thousands Of Resorts Worldwide! This travel offer entitles recipient to a 7 night resort stay, double occupancy in a one bedroom studio unit. You can view a list of destinations HERE.

Round Trip Airfare for 2 and 2 Night Hotel Stay

Round trip coach airfare for two adults from select continental US International Airports to most major US International Airport Cities, plus 2 exciting nights of hotel

accommodations based on double occupancy. Arrival locations include: Las Vegas, Nevada, Orlando, Florida, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo Mexico, and Puerto Rico.

Enjoy A 4 Day Getaway, A 3 Day Hotel Getaway Or A 4 Day Cruise!

• 4 DAY MEXICO GETAWAY

4 days of hotel/resort accommodations at one of four destinations in Mexico.

•   3 DAY HOTEL GETAWAY

 3 days and 2 nights of hotel accommodations in continental US.

• 4 DAY OCEAN CRUISE

4 Day cruise for two . You will enjoy a comfortable inside stateroom, all meals, live entertainment and shipboard activities. Choose to depart from Port Canaveral, Miami, or Los Angeles, CA.

If you do not find what you are looking for, you may be interested in checking out the Florida East Coast Road Trips on VeroBeachFloridaHub.com to get some ideas.

Cheap Vacation Packages

Vero Beach Florida Hub now offers cheap vacation packages for thrifty minded vacationers. If you think you are the only that has a small budget to take a vacation, you are not alone. It has been tough for many people in the last few years to have the cash to take a vacation. Vero Beach Florida Hub may have a solution for you. If you love vacation, but are on a budget, check out the cheap vacation packages below.

Imagine yourself taking a beach vacation where the weather is warm and you are relaxing in a tropical atmosphere, where the trees and flowers are igniting with vibrant colors and you have spectacular ocean views from your beach front room.

Or, imagine yourself swinging gently to and fro on a soft cotton hammock, surrounded by nothing but sea and sun. As you lounge on the broad, shady deck of a spectacular cruise ship, while sipping a tropical drink as the soft sea breeze blows through your hair.

VeroBeachFloridaHub.com can make it all possible by offering cheap vacation packages. Take a look at the popular destinations and cruise packages that can fit into everyone’s budget.

Season of Giving

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Sebastian, Florida, I experienced the meaning of the Christmas Season of Giving.  This is a short story that shows the kindness in people and the little blessings that happened along the way.

It all began with the decision to do a nautical themed Christmas tree this year.  I bought all the decorations for the tree except the tree topper because I could not find the right one. My sister in-law and I spent a whole Wednesday afternoon searching stores in Vero Beach for a tree topper, or at the very least, something we could use to create one.  We found the makings to do a nautical wreath for the top of the tree.

That following Saturday, the Catholic Church in Sebastian,was holding its first Saturday of the month flea market. My sister in-law and I went over to browse around and on the way over I was asking her for some ideas for this months blog post.  At the end of the day, I had something to share which is this short story.

Now, keep in mind that my sister in-law left her purse at my house and she only had $21 on her.  I had only $10 cash on me.

We stopped at one booth that had a special buy of two pair of earrings for $3.  There was only one pair that I liked and only 1 pair that she liked. I purchased the earrings and gave her the one pair and said “Merry Christmas”.

A little further along we go and we met a wonderful woman named Vivian.  She makes her own crafts to sell and had wreaths, tree toppers and some other unique items. Wouldn’t you know that Vivian had made the perfect tree topper for our tree.  It had the same color scheme as my ornaments and was made with beautiful antique lace that you can’t find anywhere. I didn’t have the $20 on me to purchase it, so I went to the booth next store to browse around.

My sister in-law was still browsing at Vivian’s booth while I looked around at the other one next store. I found a paperback for 25 cents and went to give the lady a $1 bill and she said “Take it, Merry Christmas”.

My sister in-law wanted to get a few items and asked me how much money I had which was $7.  She had $21 so we had $28 between us.  The items she wanted to buy came to $32. Vivian overheard our conversation said she would take the $28 and “Merry Christmas”.

We got back to the house and my sister in-law grabbed her purse and stated that she had her emergency funds and wanted to go back to buy me the tree topper.  It really was the perfect tree topper. We go back to purchase the tree topper and Vivian discounted it $5. “Merry Christmas”.

It was just a wonderful day with the ambience of the Christmas Season of Giving and thought it would be a great joyful story to share.  Have a Merry Christmas!

Vero Beach travel for residents and visitors usually means making the trek to Orlando to take flights in and out of the state of Florida. Although it’s only a 1.5 hour drive from Vero Beach, FL., the traffic, accidents and navigating the airport roads can be a hassle.

There is another option that has made Vero Beach Travel easier and that is Elite Airways. They offer direct flights to and from Vero Beach, FL. The downside is they offer limited destinations. However, if one those destinations are near where you want to be, this could be a great alternative.

The current destinations to and from Vero Beach, Florida are as follows:

• Ashville, NC
• Newark, NJ
• Portland, ME
• Whiteplains, NY

Elite Airways is based out of Portland, Maine and offer both charter and scheduled passenger flights.  It was founded in 2006 by airline veterans looking to provide a better travel experience for their passengers. The company’s goal was to focus more on the passengers and move away from the discount and legacy carrier services that were focused more on the bottom line than the quality of the travel experience.

The small airline offers a personalized flying experience with convenient non-stop routes. This has made Vero Beach Travel to the Northeast convenient for both local residents and vacationers alike. They are competitively priced for business and leisure travelers. They offer flexible charter options for sports teams, groups and corporations. There are no change fees and the first bag flies free. They are also pet friendly for those who want to travel with their cherished friend.

The company claims to have unmatched customer service and has a superior flying experience from customer service agent check-in to the flight attendant in the cabin. This gives it a more family friendly flying experience.

Elite Airways currently provides charter and scheduled service throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Caribbean and South America. Even though the company is headquartered in beautiful downtown Portland, Maine, the maintenance, crew training, sales and marketing are located in sunny Melbourne, FL.

Melbourne, FL is also a destination with Elite Airways that makes it easy for Vero Beach travel for those interested in going to Bimini, Bahamas or Portland, ME.

The company is growing and as it does, they are currently adding more destinations. Visit Elite Airways and see if there is a destination that fits your travel needs.

Coastal Living Magazine named Vero Beach, Florida a finalist in their America’s Happiest Seaside Town contest. Vero Beach once again tops the list as a great coastal place to live.  It is known as the “Jewel of the Atlantic Coast”, because of its sophisticated but laid-back lifestyle. The coastal community is located at the beginning of South Florida and attracts those wanting to escape the winter months, yet do not want the hassle of traffic and overcrowding that South Florida is known for having.

The Coastal Living Magazine finalists were nominated through a process that began by calling for nominations through social media outlets. Then, they looked at their rank on the Gallup-Heathway’s Well-Being Index. The Well-Being Index has decades of clinical research, health leadership and behavioral economics research to track and understand the key factors that drive well-being. It provides an in-depth, nearly real-time view of Americans’ well-being.

Other factors that were considered:

• Commute times
• Walk-ability
• Crime ratings
• The climatic region
• Healthiness of beaches
• Percentage of clear and sunny days
• Standard of living and financial well-being of locals
• The editors’ assessment of each town’s “coastal vibe”

Vero Beach, Florida is one of the top 10 finalist on the Coastal Living Magazine 2018 all-star list. Other coastal communities that made the list are Anna Maria, FL, Bellport, New York, Bluffton, SC, Cambria, CA, Cannon Beach, OR, Cape Charles, VA, Hampton Beach, NH, Ocean City, NJ and Traverse City, MI. Previous winners were not eligible to participate in the America’s Happiest Seaside Town contest.

There are countless reasons why people fall in love with Vero Beach, Florida. The Huffington Post entertainment writer, Xaque Gruber, remarks, “Unique in many ways, Vero is a quietly sophisticated coastal hamlet where blue-collar workers happily coexist with billionaires. Among its offerings: a world-class art museum, top-shelf street shopping, scenic natural wonders, and the best Atlantic beach south of Georgia. While most flock to Miami, Orlando, Tampa or the Keys let them, Vero’s under-the-radar charms make it the real resort getaway.”

At last count, Vero Beach currently held the #3 spot in the Coastal Living Magazine contest and is being considered for the top 10 Coastal Towns in the nation. Online voting began on February 6th  and  is now closed. The final rankings will be revealed on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. Stay tuned to find out what number on the top 10 Coastal Towns Vero Beach wins. There are many locals that would not be surprised if it is nominated as the America’s Happiest Seaside Town.

Most people think you need sunglasses if you live in sunny places like Vero Beach, Florida. However, the fact is that no matter where you live, you should wear them when the sun is out.

Although sunglasses are a great fashion statement, they are more important to protecting your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.  Some of the sun’s effects on the eyes can be very damaging.

• Cataracts causes blurry vision and 20 percent of the people who have cataracts,  have it because of extended UV exposure.
• Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in the United States. The UV rays from the sun causes damage to the retina, that destroys central vision, and causes blindness.
• Pterygium is a tissue growth over the white part of the eye and can reshape the curve of the eyeball. This causes astigmatism. Astigmatism is a defect in the eye or in a lens caused by a deviation. This makes images appear distorted.

The best sunglasses to protect your eyes are  ones that block out 99 to 100% of both UVA and UVB radiation.

It’s best to consider what type of sunglasses that you should get for the shape of your face. The size and shape of your sunglasses should be opposite of the shape of your face structure. A good pair of shades can protect your eyes and be a good fashion statement as well.

Finding a pair of sunglasses can be rewarding, but also challenging. The following suggestions should help you find the next perfect set of shades that are right for you.

Oval face shape
The oval face is shaped where the face is longer than the width of the cheekbones. The forehead is wider than the jawline, which gives a slightly rounded look. Oval shaped faces are the best of them all, when looking for that perfect pair of sunglasses. It is probably the most versatile of all face shapes and is suitable for all types of designer styles.

Square face shape
A square shaped face has a strong jaw line and wide cheekbones.  This makes up the square looking face structure. Sunglasses that have round rims goes best with this shape of face.  The roundness of the rims help to soften the bold facial features. It is recommended to stick to small and medium sized glasses that are not too overwhelming on the face. Rounded frames look better than angular ones.

Round face shape
Choose a size that is slightly wider than the head itself and has a style with a strong brow line.  This will make your cheeks appear slimmer, if you have a round face. Angular glasses will also help to elongate your temples and lengthen your face.

Long/ Rectangular face shape
Rectangle face shapes are very similar to square ones because they both have strong boxy jawlines and cheekbones. The only noticeable difference is that the length of the face is longer. You want to choose sunglasses that will help create a balance and soften sharp lines. Do not extend beyond the widest part of your face and avoid sunglasses with sharp lines.

Heart face shape
Unfortunately, a heart shape face structure is one of the most difficult to frame for sunglasses. The heart shape face has a narrow chin countered by a wider forehead. It’s important not to add extra weight to the top half of the face. This is not an easy task when that is where glasses sit. The recommendation for heart shaped faces is to  wear club-master style sunglasses. These glasses are semi-rimmed. You can also choose from other rounded styles that will add some curve appeal to a pointed chin.

Hopefully, this  article will help you find the best Sunglasses that meets your fashion needs.  Happy Shopping!

Voodoo Doughnuts is opening in Orlando which is about a 90 minute drive from Vero Beach Florida.  This specialty doughnut shop was an idea of two quirky and creative Portlander’s that have backgrounds in hospitality and entertainment. They did not have any experience making doughnut, but they learned and they have been creating fun voodoo imagery, funky local art and their love of music into the product and experience.

Kenneth “Cat Daddy” Pogson and Tres Shannon who had been friends for a while and they wanted to start a business together. They were looking to start a business that would be fun, different and one for the ages that would fit into an extraordinary Portland Oregon . They drew  crowds from the moment they opened their first tiny shop. This famous West Coast doughnut shop became popular and is known for its zany creations, like the Voodoo Doll doughnut, Dirt Doughnut and Bacon Maple Bar.

Voodoo Doughnuts  new location is at Universal’s CityWalk which is the resort’s entertainment and dining complex. The new shop is currently in soft opening mode until May 1st. This means their hours are limited and unscheduled until the official grand-opening is announced.   With shops in Oregon, California, Colorado and Texas, the Universal location in Florida marks the company’s first shop east of the Mississippi.

The buzz is all around and it’s positively inspiring. If you are looking to grab the famous Voodoo Doll, an ODB or a Diablos Rex, you can find it in this quirky company’s musical roots. Besides more than 50 varieties of doughnuts and 13 vegan options, the new over-the-top space is outfitted with antique chandeliers, skeleton mannequins and a “doughnut throne” for selfies. There is also a gift shop with various Voodoo swag.

Expect a waiting line. The “preview” opening day brought hours-long lines, but since then, things have calmed down. The wait time is between 10 and 90 minutes with an average of 30. The waiting is not all that bad because visitors can have a good time at Voodoo Doughnuts. It’s not just about getting great doughnuts, it’s about the experience.

Art embellishes the soaring space from duct tape murals to black velvet paintings to custom stained glass. Once inside, you will find art everywhere.  Over the doughnut creation station, you will find an eye-catching  mural of an alluring genie whose riveting eyes penetrate above a doughnut crystal ball. It’s the work of Portland artist Mona Superhero. Her pieces are made entirely of duct tape and appear at each Voodoo location. This one is called “Your Wish is my Command.”

Bright against the streaming Orlando sun, stained glass portrait windows by Portland’s Chuck Franklin Glass Studio depict Voodoo’s founders, Tres Shannon & Kenneth “Cat Daddy” Pogson, along with the company’s first CEO, the late Rob Ludwig affectionately known as Rob Lobster.

High above the shop’s patrons, the Spirit Channeler keeps watch from a black velvet painting. Each Voodoo location boasts an original by Portland artist Jen “Juanita” Kenworth and in Orlando, the honor belongs to native son Carrot Top. Other Voodoo Spirit Channelers, each relevant to the shop’s location, include Isaac Hayes Portland, Conan O’Brien Eugene and Pam Grier Denver.

While waiting, visitors can examine the doughnut selections up close while in the queue and watch staffers diligently dipping, topping and drizzling fryer-fresh doughnuts. Some of the crowd favorites are the Memphis Mafia, which is a peanut butter, banana, chocolate chip fritter that was inspired by Elvis’ favorite sandwich and named for his posse. The adorable Voodoo Dolls face conjures memories of SNL’s Bill is also among the favorites. Folks love tearing off his arms and playing with the pretzel stick. He’s so much fun and delicious!

The prices range from $1.65 to $5.25 per doughnut, but most are under $2. Only a few patrons walk out with just one, instead opting for one of three pre-selected baker’s dozens. The hungriest can opt for a coffin, which includes all three baker’s dozens in a cool wooden casket you can keep.

Voodoo fans looking for classics can find many at Voodoo Doughnuts. There are other doughnut shops around, but not all of them serve the same doughnuts. It’s quite likely there will be doughnuts here that you won’t be able to get at any other place.

Vero Beach Marketing and Advertising

Vero Beach Marketing and Advertising is located in the Vero Beach, Florida area and has over 20 years of experience with website development, internet/offline marketing and advertising. The company works with a team of experts to help businesses meet their marketing and advertising goals.

Vero Beach Marketing & Advertising LLC, offers a wide variety of website development, blogs, and online marketing strategies. One of the most popular features  Vero Beach Marketing and Advertising has to offer, is a video production franchise that is designed to help grow businesses & brands with videos. In recent years, much of content marketing shifted to video streaming.

Video’s give businesses and organizations a way to inspire, evoke emotion and appeal to the needs of their audiences in a real and authentic way. Here’s what you need to know about the growth of video marketing and why your business needs it.

Video Content Represents Pure Connectivity.  Businesses and organizations can now bring their brand to life. Video lends electroshock treatment to flailing marketing strategies and generates pulse. Your brand evolves continually. Telling that story is important to keep your audience connected and will bring in new viewers, which could eventually become loyal customers.

Video does what text does not do. It makes an instant, real and authentic direct course of interaction and connectivity with audience members, who can often provide reactions and comments in real time.

Word-of-mouth is an age-old marketing tool because trust remains essential among consumers. Consumers trust the experiences of others.  Videos Build that trust from the start by speaking directly to consumers and can establish pure connectivity.

91 percent of consumers around the world are likely to reward brands for authenticity and share the brand with friends and family.  62 percent of consumers are likely to purchase from, or show greater interest in purchasing from, a brand that authentically expresses itself.  Studies have shown that U.S. consumers were less likely to build trust with new brands compared to others globally. Video content is the key to building trust for U.S.-based businesses marketing domestically.  Most of Content Marketing Will Be Video.

Florida Coast Jellyfish

Florida Coast Jellyfish live in the marine waters and there is really no way to predict when they will appear. The Jellyfish often wash up in large numbers after several days of onshore winds.

During the spring, summer, and fall seasons is where most people will run into a problem with the Florida Coast Jellyfish. The problem is not as bad during the winter because fewer people venture into the Atlantic or Gulf during the coldest months of the year.

Most reports of the Florida Coast Jellyfish sightings are during the late winter and spring months of February, March and April. The heaviest concentrations of jellyfish usually occur on the Atlantic Ocean side of the  Florida Coast and in the Panhandle region on the Gulf coast.  There tend to be fewer jellyfish in the lower Gulf Coast peninsula, which runs from the Tampa area and down south to Marco Island.

The five most common Florida Coast Jellyfish:

• Portuguese Man O’ War
• By-the-Wind-Sailor
• Atlantic Sea Nettle
• Cannonball Jellyfish
• The Moon Jellyfish

The most dangerous of all the Florida Coast Jellyfish is generally the Man-of-War and the By-the-Wind-Sailor . The Man O’ War and By-the-Wind-Sailor are technically not a “true” jellyfish in the sense. Their structures are colonized, where as true jellyfish, have single multi-cellular organisms. Next to the Man O’ Ware and By-the-Wind-Sailor , the Sea Nettle delivers a painful sting.  The Less potent stings from the Florida Coast Jellyfish are the Cannonball Jellyfish and the Moon Jellyfish.

One of the best ways to avoid contact with the Florida Coast Jellyfish is to look at the water’s edge to see if dead jellyfish are present on the shoreline. It is recommended that if you see more than one or two dead jellyfish, that you should consider not going in the water or if you feel you must, be mindful and keep your eyes open. If you see Man-O’ War’s or  the By-the-Wind-Sailor’s on the beach, do not go in the water.

In the month of June 2018, more than 3,000 people have been stung in Volusia County, Florida. It has been said that it is one of the worst summers for the Florida Coast Jellyfish population. If you see Purple flags on the beach, this is  a warning to beach goers that there are dangerous marine life in the waters.

If you are stung by a jellyfish, the University of Florida Health recommends getting immediate medical attention.

According to UF Health, first aid measures include:

• As quickly as possible, rinse the sting site with large amounts of vinegar for at least 30 seconds, which is safe and effective for all types of jellyfish stings. Vinegar immediately stops the thousands of tiny unfired stinging cells left on the surface of the skin after tentacle contact.
• If no vinegar is available, it’s safe to rinse the sting site with ocean water.
• Protect the affected area.
• Do not rub the site with sand, apply pressure or scrape the sting site.
• Soak the area in 107 degrees Fahrenheit to 115 degrees Fahrenheit standard tap hot water, (not scalding) for 20 to 40 minutes.
• After soaking in hot water, apply antihistamine or steroid creams, which can help with pain and itching.

To avoid getting stung, it’s important to heed warning signs such as purple flags posted by local authorities and to wear shoes while walking on the beach. You can also drive them away by shuffling your feet in the water as you walk. Leave the water if you see jellyfish nearby.

For more travel information on Florida visit our blog page.

Home in Florida

Searching for a home in Florida can be exciting. Especially for someone that is moving from the colder and high taxed states to the Sunshine State. However, there are many mistakes that people make on their search for a home in Florida.

There are many communities that offer great lifestyles and have luxury amenities. It’s easy to look around and be sold instantly on the perfect community and perfect house, condo or mobile home park. After all, it is the Florida lifestyle that attracts most people.

There are a few things you can do to make sure it’s the right place for you before you sign on the dotted line for that perfect home in Florida.

• Speak to the neighbors. The neighbors can be a great source of information about how the community is ran or how things are in the neighborhood. It will also give you an idea about the people that you will be living near. Keep in mind, there are always going to be those that are constant complainers, but if you talk to a few neighbors, you can get a good idea about the neighborhood. Real estate agents are a great source of information, but their job is to sell the home and the neighborhood.

• Make sure that you read and understand all of the rules and regulations of the community, if purchasing in a HOA community. Some communities will not allow trucks, trucks with cabs, parking on the driveway, motorcycles, RV’s, boats, fences and have many other regulations. If you have such things that are not allowed, you will have to plan on storing them off the community property or getting rid of them altogether.

• When building a new home, Do your research on the developer and again, speak to the neighbors. Many times people are expecting to close on a specific date to find out it’s going to be a month or a few months longer. This can result because of the inspections, permits, and other obstacles that can extend the closing date. It’s a common occurrence and happens often. The banks are another story altogether.
• Be diligent and contact everyone involved in the process of purchasing your home in Florida. This will help ensure that everything is moving along to make the expected closing date. It is not recommended to hire the moving company and make the final plans unless you are sure the closing date is going to be close to accurate.    If you think that your closing date is going to be delayed and your belongings will need to be shipped, plan on getting a storage unit. When looking for a storage unit, you will need to contact a facility at least one month ahead of time to make sure you can get a unit close to your area and can fit your belongings. Storage is a commodity in Florida.

• Plan before you make the big move into your new home in Florida. Many times people find that after they move, the furniture and other belongings that fit in the old home do not fit into the new home.  Also, the old decor does not always feel the same.  It is recommended to do the measurements of your furniture to make sure it will fit into your new space. As for the decor, take plenty of pictures and make sure you are going to like it the same as you do in your current home. This way you can make the transition from your old home into your new home and it will have the look and feel you that you want when you move in.

Most people that move to Florida had basements, attics and large garages to store excess furniture and belongings in their old home. Homes in Florida often do not have the space needed for all the extras. You may want to consider living away or selling any extras to avoid the expense of having to pay for storage.

By taking a few simple steps when looking for that perfect home in Florida, can save you time, money and energy. Moving is stressful enough and planning ahead time can alleviate some of the stress involved in making the big move to your new home.