Your travel guide to Florida, the sunshine state: from Tampa to Orlando: shop until you drop and dine in style

Everlasting summer, yes please. Stepping into the orange sunshine state warms the heart.

The last part of my USA trip was dedicated to family. Lets discover together Florida’s top cities: Orlando and Tampa as well as Winter park and Clearwater.

Orlando:

“The City Beautiful” Most of you would know Orlando for the numerous attractions such as Walt Disney, Universal Studios, Sea world as well as Orlando Eye. I actually visited most of these during my first trip, and it was much fun!

This time, Orlando was my ultimate shopping destination and you should not miss it either!

The Orlando Vine Premium outlets are any shopaholic dream come true. You name it, they have it. From high-end to street wear. Good deals in every corner, and watch for the occasional deals of the day that are announced on their website. Also make sure to buy the additional saving card, from 10$ only, it offers you either further discounts or gifts upon purchase from a list of participating shops.

I had good deals from Karl Lagerfield, Ted Baker, MCM, Tommy Hilfiger, Loft, Clarks, Kate Spade, Fossil, Steve Madden and how I wished to have room for more!

Plans a new extension of her wardrobe!

A food court is available, because hey, you will be spending the whole day “cough” DAYS there! What I really loved though, you know me, the ice cream parlour, and when they come in healthy version, that was music to my ears: Shopping and Ice cream, Heaven!

The TCBY serves the BEST frozen yogurt which has ice cream texture, calories are displayed for every flavor, but seriously it was sooo good.

As for Frozeberry , it serves your regular fro yo, and yeah ut was better than our poor options in Lebanon.

Time to get the fancy dress on, you really don’t want to miss Eddy V’s prime seafood.

Overlooking the lake, a charming eve with live Jazz music and enjoy your meal.

We had the goat cheese salad with orange beetroot and greens as a fresh start of te meal along with a scrumptious crab cake. Then hit the mains with the Mediterranean grouper with sprouts and the sea-bass with anchovies ,quite different wakening your the palettes each with different contrast, totally recommended.

Winter park:

Near Orlando, it was originally named Lakeview, then Osceola to be later changed to Winter Park by its founders who wanted the name to reflect the park in winter as it was a winter resort to the wealthy northerners.

A beautiful area with greenery making it a great destination with the family and plenty of restaurants.

We enjoyed our healthy vegan conscious lunch at The Sanctum, before heading for an afternoon stroll. The weather was not helping much, I would recommend visiting either early morning or late afternoon.

Tampa

It was my first visit, and I was pleasantly surprised. From Tampa bay, to Tampa Downtown and Hyde Park, each area has its charm.

Hyde Park neighborhood mixes a calm residential area with Tampa’s Soho. As many boutiques, restaurants, bars and yoga studios are in this district.

After a walk, it was time to enjoy the brunch at On Swann. And maybe a little treat at Hyppo!

Tampa Downtown is more of the business section of Tampa, unfortunately I did not have much time to check the museums, the aquarium nor the theater.

However we visited the Riverwalk Tampa and we made sure to watch the sunset over the river. The early dinner at Columbia Restaurant café was a bit disappointing and I knew later that the Columbia Restaurant serves better food than the Café. The sea-bass was literally tasteless, the tomato salad with onions was the only thing I ate, and I am not even a fan, as for the fried chicken and polenta was less than average as my brother-in-law judged.

The remarkable destination for the fine dining experience and sunset watching was surely at Armani’s. Located in Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, prepare your taste buds to an italian trip.

And last destination was Clearwater, not to be missed. The paradisiacal views of the endless sandy beach with well, Clear water. Just get your towel, sunscreen and a good book and you secured yourself a pampering day.

Sandpearl resort is a great option but we had a not so top experience at Caretta on the gulf, though my sister said usually it was better.

Leave time to take a walk, and have endless photo shoot and again ice cream in the one and only Ice and Cream, with its wild flavors, it is a palette spoiling destination.

Hundreds of photos, heartwarming moments from good food to great company, the luggage was full of good catches and the heart with memoirs.

Until very soon,

La Petite

Xoxo