T.G.I.F.

It is Friday again and another work week has passed us by. Just have to make it through the day. Plans are the same as last week, Happy Hour at Alibi then home early. There are supposed to be showers in the area today, hopefully I'll make it home dry.
Tomorrow is lunch on South Beach. The excursion last week was postponed to this week while my roommate helped with the painting on the church building he attends. It is only a 45 minute drive to Lincoln Road from home, but a totally different atmosphere. The pedestrian street is closed off to vehicular traffic making for a great people watching environment. All the restaurants have seating outside to take advantage of the wonderful south Florida weather.
After eating a stroll to window shop will be in order. While there are some shops from large, international chains, most are locally owned and offer a wide array of goods. The farther east you head, the more the merchandise is geared towards tourist since it is the end near the famous sands of SoBe.
If lunch on Lincoln Road sound like a great way to spend a Saturday, why not visit? I'm lucky enough to live one county over, but the expert agents at Damron Vacations can help plan your SoBe Escape.

It's over

And I'm not talking about the recession. I'm referring to the work week. It is now 5:20 on Friday afternoon. The sun is shining and it is almost time to hit the streets.
The usual plan will be adhered to tonight. My boss will drop me off, I will consume a few gin & tonics and head home around 9:00. I might treat myself to a few pieces of Humpy's pizza. I have been craving pepperoni lately, hmmmm wonder if that is a gay thing. Alibi should have nice crowd and since there is lots of food served, no smoking inside the bar. One thing I really do like about that place. I can go home and not reek of cigarette smoke.
Tomorrow the plans are to head to Lincoln Road in South Beach for lunch. It is a nice little break from the norm and only 45 minutes away. Will bring my camera to get a few pictures to post. Also send them to people around the country to make them jealous.
It is a bit too late for this week, but check out Damron Vacations for a quick trip maybe next weekend or for Memorial Day. It is not too late and hotels are having some great deals to fill empty rooms!!!

Memories......

I commute to work with a fellow employee. She lives about 4 blocks away and picks me up after dropping her daughter off at school. We have a great relationship, I am dramatically older, 2 FULL days, her brother is gay and lives with is partner in Chicago, and I entertain her with jokes. On Friday she asked me to bring in a picture of my family. after hearing storied about them, she wanted a visual. So today I bought in two photos, one of my mom and one of the whole family. Mom's picture was taken just before her health started to fail, taken in my parent's home at the time. The second is my brother's wedding about 20 years ago.
My mom was just past her 70th birthday and is the last picture she had taken. Though this is the picture I have in my room of her, I remember her as she was in the mid 1960s. When our birthday parties were events to be celebrated, ice cream in individual containers with wooden 'spoons, cupcakes topped with coconut tinted in different colors, birthday cake and games. For my older brother's fifth birthday there was a rented pony for rides. This was a big deal in suburban New Jersey.
The wedding picture is from the late 80s when my younger brother got married the first time. It was held in a boy's school in Subiaco, Arkansas. Yes, out in the middle of nowhere, halfway between Little Rock and Ft Smith, right near the nuclear plant in Clarksville. It was a fun time, most of us flew into Memphis to my parent's home at the time and then we drove over to the wedding. I drove my father's Tempo(a real stylish ride) with Mitzi and Dawn my two sister in laws. I remember the drive and we had a good time.
Though I only looked at two pictures memories flooded back of these events and others too, family vacations, holiday preparations and meals among others. So break out the old photo album and take a stroll down memory lane with your family. For future memories, call Damron Vacations and plan a trip off your bucket list, time will not wait.

Holy Week

Yes we are officially into Holy Week. Christians around the world are celebrating the start of their religion. Tomorrow is Good Friday, and a long weekend in most parts of the country. It is also the week of Passover when the Jewish people escaped from slavery in Egypt.
Yes I know it is a little last minute to book an escape for the weekend, but not impossible. With the recent cold snap across the South and East Coast, warm south Florida might be the place to grab some sunshine. The white sand beaches of Miami combined with the fantastic Art Deco architecture is like having a part in The Bird Cage, remember it was filmed on Ocean Drive. Being an international destination, the sand in South Beach will be covered with barely covered hard bodies. European and South American women laying out topless, public nudity is not illegal in Miami/Dade. Latin men with almost no body fat will be covered in small pieces of spandex, making the temperature rise even a few more degrees. WOOF!!!
The nightlife in SoBe is known to be festive and starting late. This allows for a late lunch on Lincoln Road, a little shopping, maybe pick up a new outfit and then a disco nap before heading out to the clubs. Score is conveniently located in the heart of Lincoln Road, an easy walk from the South Beach hotels. The next morning maybe brunch at one of the hotel restaurants fronting Ocean Drive with a few bloody marys or mimosas to help get in the proper mood.
So with this weekend quickly approaching, call Damron Vacations and see if an escape is possible. And if not this weekend, maybe one soon? The economy seems to be at least breathing, as opposed to gasping, so maybe a little stimulus trip is needed. And if a hunky Argentinian man in a swatch of spandex isn't stimulating, better check your pulse.

Friday again

Yes, it seems that people enjoy working on Fridays. The weekend is almost here, thoughts of cold frosty adult beverages are common, people seem more relaxed. Only 76 more minutes, YEAH!!
Even though it is the kickoff for the weekend, that does not mean that work quantity or quality should decrease. Relaxed dress codes does not mean relaxed work standards. In my case, I have worked in three of my assigned duties, from 2GoMedia, Future Vacations Product Development, and Damron Vacations. Mostly just updating the week's work, some promotion at a chain of resorts, and trained one agent on 2GoMedia. I have sat in both of my desks today, I wear several hats at my job.
Tonight I will participate in happy hour at The Alibi, my favorite watering hole. The drinks are good, the videos entertaining and it is a no smoking establishment. I may wander over to Bill's or Sidelines. The Drive in Wilton Manors is the center for gay life in the Ft Lauderdale area. It is full of shops, restaurants and bars, all with in walking distance of each other. I cannot stay out too late since I am heading to Key West in the morning, I know, poor thing.
Tonight I believe is Art Walk too. Local artists will have their pieces on display at a collection of establishments tonight. So as customers walk from dinner to cocktails or the gym, they will have the opportunity to purchase. Never know when you might buy a future FAMOU$ artist. The nice weather in south Florida is conducive to many outdoor shows. Maybe a quick visit is in store for you? The agents at Damron Vacations can help with everything from flights and hotel to tickets to a gay Tea Cruise is you are here the first Sunday of the month.

Success

Well Sunday was the AIDs Walk in Fort Lauderdale. Team Damron Vacations had 15 active walkers and raised over $1,000. GO TEAM!!!
The fun began when my ride came and then two more joined the crowd on our way downtown. Luckily the walk started just two blocks from the office so no one would get lost trying to find it. And as an added bonus, free parking since we used the company garage. We all had bright red Damron Vacations shirts, I provided flower leis and a bubble blowing pistol, one team member brought doughnuts, YUM!
After we were all assembled, we walked over to the meeting place and regrouped at the Damron Vacations space. It was a beautiful morning after the few random showers passed. The entertainment included a few speeches from people involved in the AIDs Walk, a local singer, then some aerobics to warm us up. Blair Underwood gave a short speech, then we were off.
The whole crowd of 2,500 passed through a small arch and hit the streets of downtown Ft Lauderdale, tying up traffic for blocks. So drivers seemed annoyed that we were in their way, and postponing their caffeine fix from the local coffee shop. Eventually we ended up heading east on Las Olas Boulevard, heading past the Venice of America. Large houses surrounded by canals and the Intercoastal Waterway with large yachts. The only hill on the route was the drawbridge over the main channel which offered great views.
At the two pit sotp areas, local drag queens helped pass out water and posed for pictures. 6 foot tall men with beards should not wear pink chiffon so early on a Sunday. Plenty of snacks were also available, bananas, oranges, chips. Along with LOTS of bathroom facilities.
Once the hole team finished, we split up and went to a few restaurants for lunch. My group ended up at the Alibi. The homemade onion rings and chips were popular and the sandwiches were devoured quickly. After stopping at To the Moon for candy, it was home and time for a nap. Plans are already being made for next year's walk.

Left, left, left, right, left

Sunday, 15MAR is the Aids Walk in Ft Lauderdale. Being the foremost name in GLBT travel, Damron Vacations is entering a team. The event starts just a few blocks from the office, heads down Las Olas to the beach, loops around and heads back, 6.2 miles. It is supposed to be in the low 80s and sunny, and since it is near the water a nice breeze.
Our team is very diverse, from working mothers do divorcees, to gay men. From reservation agents to product development to the director in charge of the department. Damron Vacations has a very friendly atmosphere where coming to work is usually fun. Jokes are told and sometimes we can get a bit loud. But if you cannot have fun at work, you spend most of your time there, maybe you need to find a new job.
After the walk, a local restaurant will be hosting the after party. They will be providing specials for the walkers. Rosie's features a large outside area so it should be fun, during the Gay Pride festivities, they close their parking lot and put tables there too. Good thing it is pay day this week.
When the Aids Walk comes to your town, lend your support. If you cannot afford to donate money because of the economy, donate your time. There is a need for volunteers to help set up and dismantle, along with water stops along the way. A cure for Aids needs not just support in out community, but from the whole population. Being part of the walk will bring attention to the issues and hopefully inspire someone to donate.

More Staycation Information

This past weekend was beautiful in Ft Lauderdale. This is the dry season in South Florida. Translation: clear sunny blue skies, no humidity and a nice breeze. The reason that people move here. The only ice hazards here is too many mojitos.
On Saturday, a nice ride down A1A showed that Spring Break is in FULL SWING. I have not seen the sand that crowded in a long time. I guess the economy has curtailed some travel for Spring Breakers. Instead of flying to Mexico, 4 guys in a car driving to Ft Liquordale.
Also this weekend was the Atlantis Celebrity Solstice cruise. Celebrity's stellar new ship, the Solstice carrying over 2,500 gay men. That might be just a few too many men for me. The bars over the weekend were hopping with early arrivals, lots of new faces.
Since it was the first full weekend in March, the Las Olas Art Fair was held. The main shopping street in Ft Lauderdale is closed for several blocks and tent are set up along the median. Artists from around the country come to display their artwork. The items on display are towards the high end of traveling art shows. No puppets made out of socks. In one of the intersections was a display of large metal animals with bobbing heads painted in bold primary colors. I think a few of these by my pool on the intracoastal would be nice. Guess I better buy some LOTTO tickets so I can buy that point lot.
With the economy barely breathing, and budgets being tightened, check out your local newspaper for local events. Most museums have a free day during the month, or account holders at certain banks get discounts. Or check out your local fag rags to check out Alternative events. I know the Gay Rodeo is coming to town. YUM!! Gay cowboys.
If a trip out of town is what you desire, try Damron Vacations. With possibilities to fit any budget, Damron Vacations can make your travel dreams reality.

Cartagena

Official name, Cartagena de Indias, though known mostly by just Cartagena. A large city situated on the northern Caribbean coast of Columbia. Originally settled in 1533 by Pedro de Heredia, it became a major port during the Spanish Colonial period.
With its growing wealth, it became an object of interest to the many pirates of the time. After a ransom was paid for the city to Francis Drake in excess of $200 million US in today's market, the Spanish government paid for defenses to be built. With the construction of city walls and a massive fort, it became much harder to capture and plunder the city.
Being part of the Spanish colonies, Cartagena followed the practices of the motherland. One unfortunate issue was The Inquisition. People were brought up on dubious charges out of revenge and paid dearly for it. The Palace of Inquisition is located in the old city on a bucolic square. Inside it has been converted to a museum featuring the equipment used to extract confessions. Most seem QUITE painful.
Along the beachfront on a peninsula jutting into the harbor entrance is a forest of new high rise buildings. These gleaming towers of white with blue windows and balconies could be along Miami's famed beachfront. This is where the wealthy in Columbia either live or have a vacation home.
Back in the old town, traditional architecture is still the predominate theme. There are still some of the old colonial mansions surrounded by gardens that have been in the same family for generations. Many more modest houses fill the blocks. Open door ways to shops show men playing checkers in the cool breeze by the opening. Donkey drawn carts are a common site in the old city a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
I only had one day to explore the city, since I was on my cruise. The city's beat is definitely Latin in nature and vibrant. The colorful flowers cascading over balconies of the colonial town home would make Monet weep with joy. The tanned svelte men in small swimsuits would raise the temperature ANYWHERE! So call Damron Vacations and experience where the 21st Century blends with the 16th. Were tall concrete and glass towers are the backdrop for a colonial mansion whose caretaker rode a donkey to work. Don't forget to look for Juan Valdez, and pick up some REAL Colombian coffee.

Viva Las Vegas!!!

The modern day Sin City. What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas. One of the most popular travel destinations in the country.
The original settlement was farmers in the area. In 1905, the first plots in what is now the city of Las Vegas were auctioned off. The town was officially incorporated March of 1911. With the liberalization of divorce laws, a quicky divorce was one of Nevada's main attractions. During the Depression, construction of the Hoover Dam brought more population, power and water to the area. WWII brought with it military bases due to the sparse population in the surrounding countryside.
After the end of the war, lavish hotels and casinos began to spring up, first downtown and then along Las Vegas Boulevard, the Strip, as it was to become known. Iconic names like The Sands, The Dunes, The Stardust. Unfortunately, most of the original hotel/casinos have been torn down to make way for the new mega-resorts. Fantastic complexes with 1000s of hotels rooms, massive casino, high profile restaurants, and glamorous shopping arcades. Most with a theme, ancient civilizations, international cities, and stories.
In the downtown section of Las Vegas, there remains some of the original casinos, The Golden Nugget, the 4 Queens and Fitzgerald to name a few. A recent addition to the downtown scene is the Freemont Street Experience. The street has been covered with a canopy of LEDs that create an overhead show. Jet fighters, whales, floating clouds, an ever changing ceiling. Just watch out for pick pockets, with every one looking up, no one is watching around them.
The main resorts cater to all types of clients. The families wanting a cheap get away(though why bring children), high rollers from here and abroad, conventioneers from Peoria for the BIG shoe show. Though wonderful experiences, and welcome all visitors, alternative lifestyle travelers may feel a little out numbered. But do not despair, the Blue Moon Resort is Las Vegas's only exclusively gay male resort. Though not on Las Vegas Boulevard, its convenient location makes it easy to hit the Strip. And speaking of strip, part of the grounds is clothing optional.
So if mingling with international high rollers, a winning round of 7 card stud(or any stud) sounds like a nice way to spend a trip, but Monte Carlo would bust the bank, try Las Vegas. With the option of an all male resort, or a very gay friendly mega-casino on the strip, the knowledgeable agents at Damron Vacations can make your arrangements.

More close to home

When people think of Miami and Ft Lauderdale, visions of white sandy beaches, glamorous hotels and Art Deco buildings come to mind. While all this is true, the 'settled' area is just a narrow band stretching only a few miles westward from the tranquil waters of the Atlantic. The major north/south routes are A1A, US1, I-95, the Turnpike, the Sawgrass Expressway and farthest west, US29. The Sawgrass as its name implies is the last road before the Everglades, the River of Grass.
This area of sawgrass plains, shallow marshes, small islands with trees and slow moving rivers used to cover almost the entire area south of Lake Okeechobee. Low ridges along both coast diverted the slow moving water into the Florida Bay. As development encroached, houses and subdivisions sprung up on the eastern border, sugar and farmland advanced from the north. There is currently a major push to restore the natural flow of water to the area. many plans are in the works with the purchase of vasts amounts of farmland from a major sugar company the latest.
Along the western fringe of the cities are a few businesses catering to the exploration of the Everglades. Due to the the shallow water and many dense patches of grass, air boats are the predominate for of travel. Just a 5 minute ride away from civilization, one is surrounds by swaying grass that blocks the surrounding view from the channel. Wildlife proliferates here, birds, alligators and mosquitoes.
The alligators lounge on the muddy banks and swim lazily in the currents. The air boats will drift up close for many good photo-ops, so keep your camera handy. On the small hills that are really islands in the wet season, camps have sprung up to attract tourists. These camps usually feature information on the native Indian population, and wildlife displays. And since this is 'gator country, some wrestling with the reptile is almost required.
On the more tranquil and laid back western coast is Naples, a quick hour plus drive across I-75, Alligator Alley, as it is known. The interstate cuts across in an almost straight line. The view is mostly sawgrass and trees on the islands, an occasional building can be spotted. The drive at night is phenomenal with the abundance of stars.
One in Naples there is always the beach, more family oriented than the eastern relations. Sanibel and Captiva are known for the shelling done. There is also the Naples Zoo, though not in the big leagues, it is a nice experience. A water tour of the canals in the area is a great way to see Florida as it was.
So if South Florida is calling to you, especially those of you in the frigid north, call Damron Vacations and get the process going for a warm weather break. With accommodations from gay guesthouses to oceanfront resorts, the options can fit any budget. Just remember the sunscreen and insect repellent if visiting the River of Grass.

A little to the left......

Pisa, once a thriving port, entry to Tuscany, naval power. Now the city with the bell tower. Having been settled long before the birth of Christ, Pisa was the only port between Genoa and Ostia. Genoa was still just a small, sleepy seaside town, its rise in stature still several centuries in the future. Ostia was the port city for Imperial Rome. Archaeological digs have recovered evidence of trade with the Greeks and the Gauls.
It rose in power until the 11th century when it reached its peak in power and influence. At this point it was a major port for Mediterranean trade. By this time the city of Genoa had risen in power and rivaled Pisa in trade and naval strength. Along with competition from Venice, Pisa slowly lost its position as a power in the Mediterranean. Another factor was the silting up of the harbor. One of the important factors, positioned at the mouths of two rivers, was to doom it in the long run. The constant erosion eventually caused the city to become land locked and several miles from the cost.
But by this point, it had grown in favor with the Roman Catholic Church and a magnificent cathedral was to be constructed. The compound would include the cathedral, a baptistery and a bell tower as was the common arrangement at the time. Construction on the bell tower began in 1173 and continued for almost 200 years. Almost immediately the tower began to tilt. The massive weight of the marble caused the foundation to sink into the soft soil. During construction, the builders tried to correct the tilt, by making the columns on the lower side slightly longer. Though this corrected the lean for one level, it continued to sink.
Various pieces of the tower had been replaced due to the abnormal stress on the structure. Attempts were made in recent times to halt the tilt and return the tower to stability. Eventually by enlarging the foundation and removing some soil from the high side. After being closed for a few years, the tower was reopened for the public to climb.
Climbing the tower is accomplished by a staircase built into the outer wall. Light is provided by doors onto the balconies circling the tower. Once a climber reaches the last balcony, they must exit the tower and a small spiral staircase provides access to the open colonnade on the top of the tower. And even narrower stair provides access to a narrow path on top of the last colonnade. The view from the top offers a panorama of the surrounding river valley and the cathedral grounds.
The area round the cathedral is mostly souvenir shops with everything from miniatures of the tower to leather goods, to local handicrafts(Pinocchio is from Pisa). I usually lean towards locally produced items, since they are more authentic to the region and benefit the locals, not a large factory in China.
Damron Vacations can assist in planning your trip to Tuscany and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. From flights directly into Pisa, or maybe into Rome and a rental car, they agents can help your Tuscan experience be all it can be.

Memories......

One of the few things that can never be taken away from us by another person. Time my dim them, some diseases will make you live in them, but they are always yours. There are things from my early childhood I remember as if they happened yesterday. Memories of my mother are circa 1966 and a birthday party where she decorated cupcakes with colored coconut, ice cream was in individual cups with wooden paddles for spoons, and we played games like pin the tail on the donkey.
There were the trips into New York City to visit my maternal grandparents and the Museum of Natural History. The enormous blue whale is still vivid in my mind. The smell of Italian food cooking at my grandparent's apartment. My grandmother in her wheelchair, a harbinger of my own mom's fate. Summers were spent at Seaside Heights in a rented apartment or house, the nights spent on the boardwalk.
After the move to North Carolina, the vacations to Daytona Beach, my parent's favorite place to visit, the Blue Ridge Mountains. 1973, we were the Griswalds years before Chevy Chase and Company. Mom's Country Squire, yellow with wood siding, Charlotte to San Francisco, Painted Desert, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Death Valley(with broken A/C), Bristlecone pine trees, Yosemite. Then the loop through Tahoe, Grand Teton, Yellwstone and the Pacific Coast Highway. My first plane flight.
Senior year in high school was my first taste of international travel. Madrid and Seville with Mrs Cassale. College spring breaks at the beach and Bermuda for my senior year. Tips to Europe after graduation and cruises. Yes, I love to travel.
Along the way I have owned cars, a condo, watches, etc. Most of which are gone, lost or just worn out. But the memories of all those trips and many more will always be with me and are mine to keep. They include the sights and sounds of the destinations, but also the people I with who I traveled. Some are still good friends, some lost to the years. In a way they will always be with me, whether as a high school senior or as they are today.
There was a conference recently where Ryan Howell of San Francisco State University announced the findings of his latest research. Experiences provided more happiness than possessions. The glamor of a purchase might last for three months, but experiences provided happiness long after the actual event. The experiences provided more of a feeling of being alive, and involved social interaction and bonding. By the way, I have no idea what I got at that birthday party.
Let Damron Vacations help you create some memories to keep forever. Maybe a trip to Europe or teh Caribbean, or maybe a trip home to attend a reunion, remember living well is the best revenge. The knowledgeable agents can help make a trip you will remember for a long long time.

What is a Staycation?

Staycation, the new buzz word in travel. A staycation is when you do not travel for your vacation, you stay home. Sounds like a long weekend to me. Staying at home for vacation would result in lots of housework.
My last staycation was almost 5 years ago and I redid a bathroom. Yes, I did the work. I removed the vanity, sink, and toilet and replaced them with new. I also put up bead board panelling and trim to frame it and a nice long shelf along one wall. It was quite time consuming, though a neighbor lent me his table saw so the miter cuts was a breeze.
I know that staycations are the result of lack of funds, to be polite. Maybe the grand vacations of the past need to be put on hold until the economy rebounds, but there are lots of good travel deals out there. Instead of a two week stay in Paris, maybe a few days at the beach, or maybe a city you have never been too. With hotel occupancy falling faster than Bush's approval rating, rates are coming down almost as fast. Empty rooms generate no income, discounted rooms at least bring money in.n And if you are lucky enough to live in or near a cruise port, the fares are at the lowest in years.
So check out Damron Vacations for a vacation deal, and leave the staycations to to other people. And don't forget to bring your Damron Guide if visiting a new city. It is loaded with useful information

Live from the Jackie Gleason Theater in beautiful.....

Miami Beach. I remember the Jackie Gleason show when I was growing up. Little did I realize I would end up living 45 minutes away. One never knows the turns life will take.
Going to Miami Beach is a regular outing for my roommate and I. We drive down on a Saturday to have lunch on Lincoln Road and wander around. Years ago the City of Miami Beach created a pedestrian mall of approximately 9 blocks of Lincoln Road. Great idea. The various cycles of the economy and the surrounding neighborhood had led to ups and downs on the mall. Right now it is still doing well despite the economy.
Parking is easy at the city owned convention center lot, which is only 1/2 block away. Just remember to take your ticket and not leave it in the car. Drivers without a ticket have to produce a drivers license and the information gets recorded. This has cut down on car thefts. And the city lot is the least expensive in the area.
The variety of restaurants is only rivaled by the various nationalities of the visitors. All the restaurants have menus posted which makes selecting easier. Nexxt is our favorite, lots of food for the price. They have the largest outside eating area by far. And with the network of umbrellas and plastic channels, downpours, while numerous in the summer, are under control. After lunch a leisurely stroll past the shops is a good way to burn off the calories. One usual stop is the Ghiredlli shop, free samples, yum. There is a William Sonoma, a Pottery Barn and a long list of clothing stores.
Right about in the middle is Score, the only gay bar on Lincoln Road. I was in it years ago when it was the Kremlin in the mid 90s. That was when it was a slow time in the area. I remember walking down a fairly deserted Lincoln Road to get there. Now it always has a group of guys having a few adult beverages and watching the parade of people.
As you eat, drink or stroll, there is a varied assortment of languages heard. The predominant is Spanish, though Italian, French and German are also common. And lately, Eastern European languages are started to be heard. This is due to Miami International is a non-stop from most European and South American capital cities.
With the varied languages, the beautiful people and the abundance of sidewalk cafes, Lincoln Road is very cosmopolitan and more European than American. Easiest way to leave the country with out a passport, and it is LEGAL!!
At the eastern end of Lincoln Road is the sand of South Beach. Known the world over for young beautiful tanned bodies. The old Art Deco hotels that line Ocean Drive are as vibrant as in their heyday. Gloria Estafan owns the Cardoza, maybe a celebrity sighting? The movie The Birdcage was filmed nearby.
Though South Beach is not as gay as it used to be, it is still a great place to escape winter's hold. I think it is in the minus degrees in Chicago today. With the Winter Party right around the corner and the South Beach Food & Wine Festival, now is the time to contact Damron Vacations to plan your tropical escape. Great food, good drinks, tan lines, and warm tropical waters are just a few of the attractions in Miami beach. Do not forget your Damron Guide to find the perfect bar to make your own memories.