Slice of Heaven

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/04/2016 (3641 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sunshine, blue skies and warm sand squishing between our toes — those were the thoughts on my mind when my mother, daughter and I decided to escape the winter to a warm destination in the sun.

I thought a trip like this would be easy to plan. After all, we all wanted quality time together in a warm climate with flowing beaches and a stress-free environment. An all-inclusive holiday to the Caribbean would’ve been an easy fix. Most do a great job catering to families travelling with grandparents and kids together. But we wanted to book our vacation a la carte with airfare, hotel and attractions separately. This would allow us the flexibility not to be pinned to one resort or timeframe. Most importantly, we needed to stay in North America. My mother, in her late 70’s, is on heart medications and staying in close proximity to good medical care was a must. So the hunt was on to find that perfect property. But checking off the wish list of threee generations of family that span more than 50 years took more effort than I had expected.

My daughter in her early 20’s wanted basically three things: the beach, the beach and, oh, did I say close proximity to the beach? Aside from that she also wanted a pool (by the beach), shops within walking distance and lots of space to hang all her clothes — which she would undoubtedly have too much of.

My mother also desired a beachfront property, but not for lying out in the sun. Rather, to be close enough so she could enjoy an afternoon cup of tea in her room, with a view of the ocean and a quick nap, if so desired. Also on her wish list was complimentary breakfasts. After years of making meals for her family the last thing she wanted to do was wash dishes on her vacation. Lastly, she wanted a direct flight from Winnipeg. Travelling can be quite exhausting for my mom, especially if there are long delays and layovers.

For me, one of the most important desires I had for this trip, aside from making sure my mom and daughter were happy, was to give my mom an opportunity to escape the winter. She had never been on a warm, winter holiday and I wanted to share that experience and memories with her while she was still able to travel.

After digging around a few travel sites I came across a sensational little boutique hotel called The Tides Inn. This quaint, recently renovated property is situated in a small town called, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, just north of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Nestled on the beachfront of the Atlantic Ocean, the two-storey property resembles a double decker riverboat.

This little gem satisfied everyone’s wish list with modern, spacious rooms, a full kitchenette and complimentary breakfasts served at the poolside each morning. Liliana Duarte, who has managed the hotel for more than 15 years, puts a high priority on making her guests feel comfortable by providing extras such as sea kayaks, bicycles, iPads and lounge chairs for the beach. It’s amazing how these little touches make you feel right at home. A few blocks away is the town’s main strip with quaint shops and restaurants within walking distance and a long pier perfect for sunset strolls over ice-cream.

Most of our time was spent reading and talking at the pool or beachfront, watching the sunrise each morning and taking long walks along the meandering oceanfront. There are many great attractions in the Fort Lauderdale area, which we enjoyed, but this place was our own little slice of heaven.

ruth.bonneville@freepress.mb.ca

Ruth Bonneville is a Winnipeg Free Press photojournalist