Fabulous Florida

This weeks travel led me  to  the fabulous state of Florida.  This made me particularly happy since I have family in the area that I was flying into, which allowed me to at least have dinner with them .  A welcome sigh in the world of domestic travel where the familiar people tend to be the TSA officers you see on a weekly basis,  but still insist on patting you down each and every time.  Yes, that will be a rant in the near future I'm sure!

Jacksonville International Airport, what a beautiful airport.  I must say I would rank it amongst my top favorites, with it's bright decor, clean and uncluttered terminals.  I don't get a chance to travel through this particular airport too often but when I do I enjoy it.  This week it was the closest major airport to my final destination which was 2 hours away.

A late arrival was what afforded me the opportunity to dine with my relatives and we opted for a local establishment since I was still having to travel a couple hours that evening.  We chose Logan's Roadhouse.   I think everyone has experienced a place like Logan's at least once.  You know, the place where the juke box is a tad bit too loud, the wait staff seems always to be overworked and the peanuts that are graciously served in buckets on your table are strewn all over the floor.

Mesquite Wood-Grilled Salmon

We started the evening with the Rockin' Onion Petals, served in a small tin bucket with a side of southwestern sauce, I enjoyed a few of these, one nice thing is the way they are prepared they weren't greasy like most onion blooms at other establishments.

This night I chose the Mesquite Wood-Grilled Salmon which to my delight was quite tasty.  A fair price at 14.95 it was in fact too much to finish.  This particular entree allows the choice of two sides along with the hot rolls that come as part of every dining experience.  I chose the steamed broccoli and a sweet potato.  The sweet potato engulfed half my plate, a meal in itself, I was a candidate for a doggie bag the minute they set my plate down.

All in all for the food itself I would recommend this place but the service is another story.  One would think a Monday night with little to few tables would allow for a pretty pleasant and relatively quick dine.  Unfortunately that was not the case.  A table of four, we were hardly too much to manage and our orders were pretty straight forward with no substitutions from the menu.  First we were served a salad which no one at our table ordered.  Upon mentioning this to the server we were given the most surprised expression followed by a "Sorry, I'm the only person on this half of the floor."  My thought was So what? What does that have to do with bringing out extra food?  He took the salad and we didn't see him for another twenty minutes when our food arrived.  After our meal was finished we requested the check and waited almost 30 minutes in which time the server still didn't return.

We decided to take our checks to the bar where the bartender informed us he couldn't check us out because it was under another server. What? Did this guy leave? On a break, having a smoke? Another five minutes and the bartender returns with a card he swipes in order to ring up our checks.
As we were leaving the server is coming past us with a plate of food wishing us a good evening, silently I felt sorry for his next table.  Suffice to say, although the food was good, the service would be enough to keep me from returning.  I wish my family a good evening and head out on my two hour trek to Ocala, Florida where my business takes me.

Ocala, a seemingly nice city.  I only wished I had more time to explore.  Unfortunately outside of my hotel, The Hampton Inn, I didn't get to see much.  I have friends who regularly vacation in the area and from what I could see it's definitely a place I'd like to return to and investigate.  I did however make my routine stop at the Harley dealer.  Riding my Harley is my biggest joy when the weather cooperates in Wisconsin and collecting t-shirts from various Harley dealers for my mister and I has become quite a hobby over the last ten years.  Expensive but really fun, it's something I challenge myself to do in every city I visit.  One day I will take the backs from all those t-shirts and make a Harley quilt, a wall hanging for my bar!

Harley Davidson Of Ocala

My first dinner in Ocala was at Mi-Tierra-Caliente. Situated as an anchor of a shopping center adjacent to my hotel it was a quick walk across the parking lot for a tired gal after a long day at work.  When I walked in there was virtually no one there.  Probably not a good sign I thought.  Everyone has horror stories of Mexican food experiences gone awry.  Last thing I needed was a sour belly!  

Carne Asada with Shrimp

The decor was pleasant enough, the all too familiar red , green colors and Spanish flair.  I tossed around the idea of dining at the tables along the sidewalk of the restaurant but the stickiness of the evening had me opting for the bar.  As a single diner, I almost always opt to dine at the bar in most establishments that have one.  Not so much because I have a penchant for a drink after a long day, but mostly because I find myself irritated at a person who sits at a table or booth intended for 4 to 6 people as others wait.  Only one here, I try to take up as little space as possible! Besides a bartender tends to lighten up the lonely solace of travel with polite conversation most times.  Believe me I've had some pretty interesting conversation in all my years on the road!

My entree was the Carne Asada with Shrimp.  No drinks this time.  I opted for a water with lemon and dug right into my entree.  Ah-maz-ing!  My steak was so tender I could have cut it with a spoon, complimented by a light cheese sauce and fried onions and peppers my taste buds did a happy dance.
The shrimp, there were 6 of them, were of really good size and cooked to perfection.  I'm always excited when I find a place that gives the first impression of so-so and turns out to be so awesome.  My server, a very pleasant Latino gal with a thick accent had me really liking the whole flavor of the place.  I almost wanted to run out and buy the Spanish version of Rosetta stone so I could have a conversation with her.  The whole experience was well worth the walk across the lot on a sticky hot night.  Should I return to that area I will definitely dine there again!  That place gets an A+ 


When my business in the area was completed I headed back to Jacksonville the night before my flight.  Much easier to head to the airport that way, I wasn't looking forward to the two hour drive in the morning, might as well spend my evening driving.  One thing about Florida is the driving.  There's always something to look at.  From the vast array of souvenir stands and mom and pop diners its got  great scenery.  I can see why many folks retire there, including my own mom.

Once back in Jacksonville I opted for the closest and most reasonable hotel to the airport.  I wanted something inexpensive but clean and nice.  I was not disappointed!  I found a Clarion Hotel online and booked it at a whopping $59.  The price had me wondering if I made the right choice but the travelers reviews had me pushing the purchase button online.  The location was perfect, right on the airport grounds I couldn't have gotten any closer if I built the place myself.  My room was spacious, with a king bed, it was a bit dated (no flat screen TV here) but clean, cool and room to do much paperwork.  I spent the evening and planned most of the next morning for my work duties before heading on my flight back home. 

Clarion Hotel Jacksonville Airport

King Room

View from my window

The next morning after diving into some of my paperwork I decided to take advantage of my free breakfast coupon since my stomach growling was distracting me.  I headed down to the hotel breakfast and had their complimentary breakfast buffet.  Filled with fresh scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage and bacon, fresh fruit, toast, muffins, juices there was something pretty much for everyone.  The Clarion Hotel was a great choice and value.  Nice room, free hot breakfast and no "fake eggs" its definitely the most for your money. 


My flight is leaving in a few hours, I've finished up my work for the morning and it's time to gas up my rental, grab some lunch and get back on the plane to Wisconsin.  This always seems to be the most stressful part of traveling back from a trip, there's always so much to do in so little time, the packing of the weeks clothes the night before, getting everything ready to go, re-fueling your vehicle, just finding a gas station is sometimes a pain and checking in your luggage at the airport.  But not this day! This day I was on airport grounds, just a frontage road away from the gas station, some restaurants, shopping center and even the rental returns. Wow!  Since I had everything so readily close, I packed up my things, fueled my car and even had time to stop somewhere for a quick lunch before check in.  Where to go to eat?


As I fueled my car at a local gas station I noticed a shopping center close by, funny as it turned out to be the same complex as Logan's Roadhouse that I had eaten at three nights earlier with my family.  I decided to check for a lunch place and one caught my eye.  Fujiyama Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Lounge.  Sushi did I see sushi?!  This was a no brainer for me as everyone who knows me, knows I won't pass a sushi place.  Just the thought of eating sushi makes me want to sing out loud.  Most people who don't know enough about it think you're eating just a bunch of raw fish.  They couldn't be more wrong.  For those who have never tried it I invite you to open your pallet to a whole new world.  Not only does sushi taste good but a good sushi chef will serve up something so beautiful to the eye, artistry on a plate, you're almost afraid to eat it because the presentation is so good!

Fujiyama did not let me down.  A very nice modern Asian decor it was very inviting.  Again I opted to sit at the bar.  With not a whole lot of time on my hands I ordered the special, 3 rolls for $10.00.  This included the Misu soup, a salad with your choice of dressing I chose ginger of course and your drink.  Iced green tea for me today.  For the rolls I chose the spicy tuna, the spicy crunch salmon and the California.  My daughters will all attest the California is one we all favor. 

I'm only all too satisfied with my lunch at Fujiyama, my server was pleasant and attentive, my food fresh and delectable it was time to settle up and say good bye to Florida this time around.  I can't wait to go back, whether its business or pleasure I know I'll have some places to return to and...some new ones to try!

WEEKLY RANT:

  This weeks rant is dedicated to luggage woes.  All I can say is is anyone who travels has to relate to this.  Whether you travel for business or pleasure we ALL have come back with luggage that doesn't look the same as it did when we left!  I've watched the guys at the airports load my luggage, you would think it weighed 300lbs instead of the 30lbs it registered at.  They fling that stuff as if it were on fire, burning their hands for every second they hold onto it!  I really feel like a disclaimer from the airlines isn't enough when I'm spending over $500 a year on luggage.  If anyone has any thoughts on a good sturdy luggage they can recommend please leave me a comment, I am in the market for some new stuff again this is the 3rd time in a year!

Hard plastic not an answer, duct tape now holds the cracked pieces above the wheels.  This bag is 6 months old at $249.00 retail.

Loved this bag, paid $30.00 for a roller duffle bag, came back with the seam ripped out on the very first trip.  Lasted 4 whole days :(

Thanks for sharing my travel and trials, until the next post, remember those seat tray tables....