We arrived just after noon, and he was checked out and waiting for us. It is an absolutely beautiful facility...
And so we set off for Dania Beach.........which was about a three hour ride. About $14 in tolls along the way between Orlando and the Turnpike. We stopped almost mid way for a quick lunch at one of the service stops along the Fl Turnpike........grabbed a sandwich... and back on the road.
First stop was at the Hotel Morrison, on Federal Highway in Dania Beach. Computers were not working too well, so check in took a bit longer.... actually quite a bit longer.........probably 35-40 minutes, after which time they had successfully checked in ONE room and gave us our key. We said we'd be back, probably before midnight - to check in the second room. So the three of us went to our room and got ready for dinner and then off to PLAY!
The hotel itself is excellent. The rooms are very spacious, very clean, and the beds were the most comfortable I've ever slept in. HUGE are for breakfast in the morning which was free ( waffles, scrambled eggs, cheese omelets, sausage, toast muffins etc......) Raised pool area in the back........4 Stars for sure!!
Headed out for dinner and found an excellent restaurant withing walking distance, Grandpa's Bakery and Restaurant. Rich ordered the 1/2 pound burger with fries and slaw, Dennis, the Join the Club triple decker Turkey Club which came with fries and slaw...........and which was HUGE, and I just ordered the French Onion soup, which was the best I've ever had! The bakery was filled with goodies, but the Cheesecake portion we saw at the nearby table was HUGE....We did not have room for dessert!
After dinner we headed over to the Casino and Jai-Alai Fronton. We were trying to figure out when it was that Dennis went with us to Jai- Alai ...... remembering that it was many years ago.......and thinking that it was in the 90's when we lived in Connecticut. Twelve games tonight starting at 7:00 PM... It was well after 11:00PM when we headed back to the hotel. A fun night, a few adult beverages, AND Dennis had the biggest win of the night with a win, quinella and trifecta in the same game!!!
So, we got Dennis checked in to his room and called it a day! The hot buffet in the morning was until 10:00AM - so even Rich joined us for breakfast on Saturday. Everything was excellent. We headed back to the Jai-Alai Fronton
around noon to get our programs and get ready for the games to begin at 1:00 PM. Another cup of coffee - and Dennis went for the cheesecake! No big losers again today!!!
It was after 5:00 - and we all agreed that we should eat first - before we started our trip back to Lake Placid.... so we returned to Grandpa's Bakery and Restaurant......for one more chance to check out what's good for dessert!
We all ordered pasta!! Dennis had the linguini with broccoli, Rich the linguini with meat balls, and I had the stuffed shells. Talk about HUGE portions!!!!! Rich's dish came with FIVE meatballs, Only Three shells, but they too were HUGE.......And we also filled up on the salad, bread and sticky buns that came with the meal!!!
Next destination - HOME! We had a couple hour drive to get home. We needed to get GAS! But before we knew it, we were going north on US 27...... most of which runs through the everglades with NO towns for several miles. We were very very close to empty when we found the first small town with gas!!! What was worse .... the BUGS - The windshield was just covered..... and turning the washers on definitely was not a good idea. No water or wands to clean the windows where we got gas - so found a pilot up the road and the two guys started cleaning!!
And then we were home - not long after 8:00 PM. We were all in bed early Saturday night.........
Sunday we celebrated Rich's 70th Birthday! I had ordered a whip cream cake for him at Publix before we had left for Dania Beach - so Dennis and I made a trip to the store, got the cake, a balloon and some ice cream. He opened his cards. We don't do big gifts for birthdays - but I gave him a box of Chocolate covered cherries (to make up for the ones that were melted at Christmas!) and a couple of koozies for his beer cans.....one of which has an icepack sleeve that can be kept in the freezer!
And Rich wanted to go to Dock 633 for his Birthday Dinner.......to have the Dock Onion! Food was excellent! Rich did the Caribbean Burger with fries, Dennis did the Seafood Combo with Mahi, Gator, Shrimp and Clams and I had the fish and chips. Good time... great end to a great birthday celebration.
Dennis left Monday morning...........we'll sure miss him. Safe travels back to Iowa!
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