Nature Abounds at the Plantation on Crystal River

 

Coming face to face with a mild-mannered manatee or looking into the 30 to 40 bright blue eyes of a scallop are just some of the more inimitable opportunities you’ll have at the Plantation on Crystal River.

Described as a “hidden gem” by its general manager, Andrew Bartlett, the resort is located in Crystal River, which is about 80 miles north of Tampa, 90 miles northwest of Orlando and 240 miles northwest of Palm Beach Gardens. It’s surrounded by the natural springs of Kings Bay and more than 25,000 surface acres of unspoiled lakes, rivers, wildlife refuges and state parks.

“It’s a unique location, one of the areas not taken up by Tampa,” Bartlett said. “There was a period of heavy development that reached up the coastline, but these areas haven’t seen much development … there have been huge efforts to preserve nature here.” More…


Bridal Venue June 2013 | Wonderful Weddings

 

It’s arguable that more thought will go into your wedding day than any other day in your life. For most, it will require months of intense preparation, coordinated efforts and a generous amount of patience. Whether you’re a blushing bride-to-be hoping to alleviate some wedding-prep stress, or you’re still dreaming up your perfect wedding and are seeking a little inspiration, let PBG Lifestyle help you prepare for one of the most important days of your life as we avail you with beautiful jewelry and dresses, stunning photography and distinctive destinations found right here in Florida.

Kimono My House

Be the showstopper you truly want to be when choosing a one-of-a-kind wedding kimono by Kimono My House. Intricate fabric and jewelry designs will impress guests and the bridal party alike. More…


Travel | The Forbidden City: Beijing’s Former Imperial Palace

 

A little more than 600 years ago, in 1406, ground was broken for the world’s largest palace complex – known today as the Forbidden City. It was the fifth year of the reign of the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty. The walled area that is now in the heart of Beijing, China, took only 14 years to build. This seems like an astronomical feat considering that the complex consisted of 9,999 buildings contained within a 20-ft.-high wall that encapsulated some 72 hectares (178 acres). The wall that encloses the city is 2,300 ft. from east to west and 2,900 ft. from north to south. It is 26 ft. wide at the base sloping to a width of 20 ft. at the top. A moat that is 20 ft. deep and 60 ft. wide surrounds the city, further buffering the interior from the outside world. Records indicated that more than a million workers, of which around 100,000 were artisans, worked around the clock to compete the construction of the complex. More…


The CouTOURe Club: Where Golf Meets Glamour

 

With their pink and white ensembles and megawatt smiles, the CouTOURe Club has become an integral part of the hospitality available at The Honda Classic. The group hopes to take that notoriety and expand their philanthropic work in the coming years.

“They have become a very important and a critical piece in our hospitality element,” said Ken Kennerly, executive director of The Honda Classic, which has been held at PGA National’s Champion Course since 2007.

The “girls in pink” began as 15 women acting as hostesses and has grown into a group of more than 70 women who work throughout the tournament.

“It’s a group of women who really love living here and want to make a difference,” said Kelly Kennerly, Ken’s wife and the group’s co-founder. More…

Dr. Civin - Palm Beach Gardens Cosmetic Dentist

There’s something to be said for saying, doing, trying or experiencing something for the first time. Who doesn’t remember those important first milestones that helped shape your future life? The first of anything can make lasting impressions. Few people forget their first kiss, first date, first love, first pet or even their first day of school. I can barely remember my last good night of sleep so I’m fairly convinced that my ability to remember anything remotely resembling my first night of uninterrupted slumber is equally elusive. Let’s just call that a wash. More…


With school out for the summer, kids will be off to both day and sleep-away camps. To ensure your child’s health and safety, be sure to get them a physical before they head out of the house. And if your child has other activities for the summer that don’t require physicals, get them into the doctor’s office now because they also conduct school physicals.

In Jupiter, Papa Chiropractic and Physical Therapy gives physicals for just $20. You can’t beat that price! Although appointments are always suggested, walk-ins are welcome. The office is located at 2632 W. Indiantown Rd. and is open Monday through Saturday. More…


My mother has Alzheimer’s disease. My father is a Holocaust survivor. Four days after leaving my ex, he had a freak accident. Six weeks later he was dead. What’s a girl to do?

It’s not like I won the lottery with topical humor (that I can get away with publicly). No, I didn’t have the warm and fuzzy drunk uncle or the “curious” cousin who wore thermometers in her hat so she could determine the temperature of her lobster thermidor from any bowling alley. I had real people and real situations that protocol does not allow us (or at least not me; at least not yet) to make fun of in any sort of public forum where someone would actually pay me to tell the story. More…


The other day I had an appointment for physical therapy (I’m still dealing with the remnants of a fractured and severely sprained ankle as well as torn ligaments and tendons; it’s no picnic, I assure you). As the elevator slowly rode up, it stopped one floor ahead of my destination. A distinguished, elderly gentleman entered and I politely informed him we were going up before it would go down. More…


I wish honesty and good will would make a comeback, like bell-bottom jeans and comfort food. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone knock on your door who made you think you were going to be the recipient of great news or a check from Publisher’s Clearinghouse? Instead, we wonder who is trespassing and what they’re trying to sell. We worry more and venture less. We live in a culture of fear and suspicion. More…