FL Spring Break need help please

[DryMartini]

Looks like my family and I will be going up to Florida for spring break coming soon. I have some questions an I'd reallly appreciate it, if I can have some help on this. Thanks very much- Sam.

SPEEDBOATS:
LipShip: Where in FL is it, when is it usually open and what I can do/see there, and what do I do if I come (ie- call or something)

Cigarette Racing- I do know that some of the people on OSO had been shown around the factory by a worker or someone. This is at the top of my list and I'd dreamed of seeing the factory and the boats there one day. Do I have to call and make an appointment to come in, or do I just show up. Who do I talk to?

EATING etc:

Are there any good waterfront resturaunts around the Miami or Palm Beach area that have great food and service?
Any of them popular with the performance boat crowd?

MORE BOATS:

- any places in Miami or Palm Beach where you can rent a speedboat or sailboat or anything??

- ANY people around Miami or Palm Beach who would be glad to take me for a quick ride or something in a Cigarette or anything??
("Lucky Strike" etc..)

-any poker runs etc that I can see??

RANDOM:

swimming- i know the water is great! but, I am concerned about my family and i encountering jellyfish while swimming. any experts on that??

Thats all, again, id appreciate some help

-Sam Bartels
__________________

[Ziemer]

Do yourself a favor and skip the Cigarette trip. Give a call to Jo or Pepe at Pantera and get a personalized tour. You'll probably learn more than you could ever hope for from either of them. :thumbsup:

[Li'l Toy]

But feel free to call me-we can cover so much more talking. My cell number is in my signature.

Eating--I ca't say that I know of any particular restaurant that is a hangout for hot boaters, though the big boat crowd (OSO)may have some answers. In Miami, I have never eaten there but I hear good things about the Rusty Pelican--on the Maimi Marine stadium property (I used to race there) on the Rickenbacker Causeway on the way out to Key Biscayne.

When we are boating, we often stop at Monty's in Miami Beach located in the Miami Beach Marina. Lots of fish and other dishes, informal (seved in baskets), with a really great view of the Port of Maimi and lots of boat traffic in the daytime. The food there is good--nothing special, but the setting is great.

In Fort Lauderdale, I love to eat lunch downstairs at 15th Street Fisheries. Again--informal, basket food, but it sits in a Marina right where the Intracoastal goes into Port Everglades. You are right next to the fuel dock at the marina, tarpon often roll in the slip, you can eat outdoors, wonderful boat watching in the day. Upstairs is a really good fish restaurant, higher end ($50/person w/ little liquor) that can have a view, but at night it is not so great and you need to be near a window to see much.

There is a restaurant on an island that you get to by being picked up by a launch in Deerfield Beach (between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm)--Cap's Place. Old Prohibitin era speakeasy, unique.

Boat rentals--lots of places rent 18 to 23' runabouts or open fish. I would just try the internet. They go in and out of business regularly. There has been, from time to time, something in the nature of a 36' toy ocean racer (usually Cigarette) available with a captain--pricey, I don't know if there is one now. I don't know much about sail, but I am sure they are available. My son knows a family that charters bigger sailboats out of Miami if you are looking for more than a day trip.

Depending on your timing, I might be up for a ride in an Eliminator 21 Daytona, though I expect that that is smaller than you have in mind. Nowhere in Fort Lauderdale to go fast. Miami can be rough on a weekend.

Depending on your time and interests, I would consider taking the Jungle Queen cruise out of Bahia Mar yacht basin in Fort Lauderdale--no jungle, but a nice tour of the really fine houses in Lauerdale. If you have any interest in history/geology/ecology, I would take an airboat tour at Everglades Holiday Park west of Fort Lauderdale--a whole different side of South Florida.

I wouldn't worry too much about Jellyfish--they don't show up that often, if you swim at a beach with lifeguards, they post warnings. And I can recall going to the beach many times when I was younger, seeing many of them on the beach, but never encountering one in the water.

[stvhelm]

Pat is a great tour guide. a few years ago I had this pleasure as pat took my son and I for a ride down the intercoastal. we had a great time as he showed us around. even got to meet the coastgaurd.;)
And, as a matter a fact I will be going down again the first weekend in april with my family. may even take my boat:cool:

[DryMartini]

Thanks all! I had alot of fun! I will post pictures on my website.