Jun 27, 2006 11:24 PM
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It just so happened that I was given the opportunity to visit Florida- West Palm Beach to be precise on some Company work. Of course it wasnt the best time of the year to be out of Canada when it was summer and Florida was coming close to the hurricane season, but I was pretty excited to visit the Sunshine State. Florida is surrounded by the ocean on all sides and so there is the clean air that prevails and a gentle wind with mild temperatures can be expected all the day. Of course being the wrong time of the year, I did experience some very strong gale force winds and heavy showers accompnaied by some real spectacular lighting bolts.
Getting there
Getting to Florida is easy as it is a popular destination and almost all airlines have convenient connections. The West Palm Beach International airport is huge and has an organised air about it. The car rentals are all easily accessed and as the airport sts on the I-95, the entire state can be easily reached. West Palm Beach is almost midway in the state so getting to Miami or Orlando takes almost the same time. There is always a lot of construcion on, so one needs to be careful- there are all sorts of cops- and they are very liberal while handing out tickets- they are very big on speed limits.
Attractions
There are lots of beaches and many are private too. The beaches are a favourite place for the tourists and locals alike and they are a real eyeful especially on the weekends. The City Place is a unque area which has some high end stores, movie theatres, road side cafes, restaurants and the like. It also has some apartments where people actually live. The place really comes alive in the evening and is a popular place to hang out. Some bands set up their stuff and one can enjoy the music whlie walking around. Almost all types of shopping complexs and malls can be found. BrandsmartUSA is very unique to Florida and one can get real good deals especially on the electronic stuff. The low cost alongwith the rising Canadian $ and very low taxes(only 6%) make it very attractive to pick up stuff. If one is away from Canada for more than a week, one can bring in 750$ worth of goods without paying duty, so it works out good.
Eating out
Eating out is a pleasure since one can get a variety of cusine at very reasonable prices. The service is very good generally and the tips range to between 12-15%. Again the low taxes come to the rescue. There are a lot of immigrants from Mexico, the Carribean and the Latin Amerca settled in the area so you find that kind of authentic cusine at real low prices. The places may not be tops on ambience, but can serve great food. The atmosphere is very good and adds to the dining experience.
General Thoughts
I went with a lot of expectations and can safely say that they all were fulfilled. I had a real blast and enjoyed every minute of the two weeks I could get. I was booked at the Comfort Inn West PalmBeach and I was pretty happy with the service they provided. I found the people very nice, friendly and willing to help. The general laid back attitude should not be construed to be representative of their professionalism which comes out tops. They are hard working and believe in enjoying themselves. The Heat won the NBA while I was there and the West Palm Beach people celebrated alongwith their Miami cousins. I would recommend a visit to this beautiful place for anyone who wants to have a holiday at a fairly reasonable price with the sun thrown in. I for sure am getting back here soon- maybe this winter to get some sun while Canada is enveloped in a snow blanket!!
