Passports from the Heart

The King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort in St Simons Island, Georgia

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FTC Disclosure *I was offered a complimentary visit to the King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort as part of a Press Trip however all opinions are my own. No other compensation was received.*

In May I had the opportunity to visit the historic King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort in St Simons Island, Georgia. What a beauty this place is with a story to tell.  The King and Prince dates back to the early 1900s and wasn’t always a resort. In it’s beginning days it was intended as a private club which was later destroyed by arson. After numerous renovations, the King and Prince opened it’s doors to the public in 1941 but soon closed to be occupied by the Navy during World War II.

Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the King and Prince has gone through many changes over the last 80 years. One thing that’s for sure, there’s a reason this resort is a favorite among so many. With beautiful accommodations, oceanfront dining, and a host of amenities everything you need for a perfect vacation is right at your fingertips.

The resort has an array of accommodations including the Oceanfront Building, Oleander Building, Historic building, Beach Villas, and Resort Residences (with up to five bedrooms!).

In addition to a stunning outdoor pool, tennis courts, a fitness facility, and the Royal Treatment Cottage the King and Prince also has a stunning award winning golf course that overlooks lakes, lagoons, and tidal marshlands.

Chef James Flack will not disappoint you at the resort restaurant ECHO. Our dining experience was superior from presentation to quality. During one of our 5 course dinners we enjoyed this small plate of Smoked Sea Scallops, Lemon Curd, and GA Caviar which was paired with Drew Barrymore’s Carmel Road Winery Pinot Grigio.

This grilled Georgia Peach with Foie Creme Fraiche, Pickled Blueberries, Summer Greens, and Maple Pecan Dressing was one of my favorites!

The King and Prince has won a plethora of awards. It has received the Certificate of Excellence Award from TripAdvisor for 7 years straight and in the past year won awards from Hotels.com, Family Vacation Critic, Elegant Island, and Open Table. One unique award was given to ECHO’s awesome bartender Chad. While checking out ECHO, make sure to order ‘The Chad’ a twist on a White Russian named after it’s creator, of course. This cocktail using coffee infused dixie vodka won the Inaugural Coastal Stir Cocktail Challenge at The St Simons Island Food + Spirits Festival. Find the recipe HERE. 

                                                         Photo provided by the King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort 

I’ve traveled the world and seen the sun rise and set in some of the most remarkable places. The sunrises and sunsets in St Simons Island are truly unforgettable. I can assure you that it’s worth waking up early for this bit of Heaven.

How does the King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort ‘Give Back’? 

  • Two Tesla charging stations for guest use
  • Recycling of cardboard and paper in all staff areas.
  • Recycling of batteries
  • Recycling of ink cartridges
  • Eco-friendly disposal of fluorescent light bulbs
  • Cloth hand towels provided in public restrooms to reduce paper waste
  • Donation of discarded linens to local charities
  • Donation of outdated historical print materials to local schools
  • Usage of eco-friendly cleaning products for the vast majority of our general cleaning needs
  • Implementation of towel and linen re-use program in our guest rooms
  • Implementation of microfiber cleaning system
  • In-room recycling equipped with bio-degradable, eco-friendly bags.
  • Membership in the Clean the World Program
  • Utilization of low-flow shower heads and toilets
  • Recycling options for both plastic and aluminum in-room and throughout the hotel.

 

Interested in booking a romantic getaway or family holiday?

Check out -> http://www.kingandprince.com/booking.aspx

 

Three Unique Things to See and Do in Tooele County, Utah

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*This post is sponsored by Tooele County however all opinions are my own.

I have visited Utah a few times over the years. Each trip was for work so I never had the opportunity to truly experience the area. This is really a shame because there’s some incredible things to see and do just a short drive from the state capital Salt Lake City. Twenty five minutes from the Salt Lake City airport is Tooele ( too-will-uh) County which is located in the north western part of the state. The first settlement in the area was in the 1800s which means there’s a great deal of historical landmarks to stop and see. There’s also hiking, biking, camping, hunting, and even scuba diving!

Tooele also has some other pretty unique things to enjoy. Here’s three things to see and do in Tooele County that I think you and your family will love.

Bonneville Salt Flats

I have always wanted to visit the Salar de Uyuni  in Bolivia. This is high on my Travel Bucket List. But, did you know that you can see something just as beautiful right in Utah? The Bonneville Salt Flats is the largest salt flat located west of the Great Salt Lake. These salt flats are known for the car racing that take place in the flats at the Bonneville Speedway. It’s said that if you believe what your eyes see then you’d be looking at water that goes on forever. The ancient Lake Bonneville filled most of the Great Basin. When it began to dry up, the water became salty. This left salt deposits in areas which formed the Salt Flats.

The Bonneville Salt Flats stretches across 30,000 acres. I find it interesting that car racing has been taking place here since the late 1800s with drivers returning year after year to break land speed records. Many drivers have hit record speeds between 400-600 mph! I honestly could not even imagine being in one of those cars.

Each year the World of Speed event is held at the salt flats where you can of course enjoy watching cars and motorcycles speed by but do you know what else you may catch a glimpse of? Bar stool racing! Can’t make this up friends. The bar stools are limited to electric power and some records indicate that these bar stools have hit over 50mph! There’s truly something for everyone.

 

 

Pony Express National Historic Trail

“Men Wanted” The undersigned wishes to hire ten or a dozen men, familiar with the management of horses, as hostlers, or riders on the Overland Express Route via Salt Lake City. Wages $50 per month and found.” – Ad in Sacramento Union, March 19, 1860.

Operating for only 18 months beginning in April 1860, the Pony Express was the mail delivery service from Missouri to California. These original mailmen traveled 1,800 miles in 10 days, by horse of course.  Pretty impressive! You can actually retrace the steps of history in Utah by visiting a variety of museums and camps along the route. There’s also plenty of opportunities for horse back riding.

I think this is a great way for parents to teach their children about life before digital communication!

Wild Horses

Track the wild horses of Utah. Think of it as a safari right here in the United States. Tooele County is home to the largest herd of free-roaming wild horses in the state of Utah. The herd is also one of the largest in the country. My daughters, especially my oldest who was an equestrian, would love this. I can only imagine the feeling of seeing these wild horses, one of the most beautiful animals, in their natural habitat. This is something not found just anywhere. The Pony Express Road is actually a great place for viewing access of the herd plus many other historical stops along the way. It’s important to mention that you should not approach these horses. They are wild animals. Keep your distance and enjoy them from afar.

Looking for other cool things to do in Tooele County? Check out these upcoming events.

May 20th – Lantern Festival

Apr-Jun – Salt Flats Racing Association Test & Tune

July 27th-30th – Country Fan Fest

July 4th Weekend – Bit N Spur Rodeo

Myrtle Beach Safari Tours

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“In the end…

We will conserve only what we love,

We will love only what we understand

We will understand only what

we are taught.”

Did you know that a 50 acre animal preserve is tucked away quietly in small town Myrtle Beach, South Carolina?

I’ve been to Myrtle Beach a handful of times and had no idea. In fact, during my recent trip  I asked many locals about this place that is home to over 100 animals. 98% of the Myrtle Beach locals I spoke to had never heard of it. This made my trip to Myrtle Beach Safari Tours even more of an adventure.

I admit it. As I arrived to the large bamboo gates outside of the preserve I was a bit nervous. For the next four hours, I had to give up my phone and camera as neither were allowed. This is so there are no distractions for you or the animals and so that you can truly enjoy the experience. I’m the first to admit that my phone is in hand pretty much at all times. It controls work, family, and anything else going on in my life. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing to have to close it away in the glove compartment of my car.

After signing a few waivers stating we understood the rules including the fact that there’s always a risk that injury could occur,  we were allowed to enter. I was under no illusion that I was going to come face to face with predators. After returning home I was called ‘brave’ and asked the question over and over “weren’t you scared?” No. I wasn’t. I didn’t really think twice about that after driving through those gates.

There is no glass between us!

After an explanation of what to expect, we had our first encounter. A liger named Hercules weighing in at over 900lbs and standing at 11 feet tall when on his hind legs! Now, that’s a big cat. I should also mention that Hercules is a Guinness Book of World Records three time winner.

Throughout the tour, we were not allowed to come in contact with any adult animals (with the exception of Bubbles the elephant)  for good reason. While they are trained, they are still predators and are capable of causing harm to someone in certain circumstances. Education is important but so is safety!

Play Time!

One of my favorite parts of the tours was the opportunity to interact with the baby tigers and wolf pups. One question I’ve received a few times  is “are these animals sedated?” The answer is no. Not at any time during my visit to the preserve did I feel the animals were being harmed. The cubs and pups were playful and loved chasing their stuffed animals. The preserve is beautiful, it’s clean, the animals seem very happy, and they were not caged as you would see at a zoo.

During the tour we were also introduced to Ahren, the African Fish Eagle that was rescued from Tanzania, Ramses the Cheetah, Siberian and Bengal Tigers, Wolves, Gibbons, and Chimpanzees. Throughout the tour you are educated on each animal and what Myrtle Beach Safari is doing to help them. I was impressed at the relationship the trainers had with these animals. You could tell they spend an incredible amount of time with them. In fact, their entire lives are surrounded around the lives of them. They are all treated as family. Many of the animals are hand raised from the time they are very young which allows the trainers to build a strong bond with them.

I really loved the story of Bubbles. You may have seen her on social media or even t.v. She’s quite famous! Bubbles was rescued by Doc Antle, the founder of Myrtle Beach Safari Tours, over 30 years ago! Her family were all killed by poachers and Doc has raised her since. This 5,000lb big baby has a funny and sweet personality.

I’ve traveled a great deal and had some incredible moments in life. This was by far one of those moments that will be with me forever. Something I heard a few times during my time at Myrtle Beach Safari was that this experience is a bucket list item being checked off. Many travel from far away just to get up close and personal with these beautiful creatures. I met a couple of people that came from New Jersey but I heard people have traveled from as far away as Japan, England, and Canada.

Your visit to Myrtle Beach Safari Tours helps support the work being done by the Rare Species Fund which provides funding to international wildlife conservation programs.

If you are in Myrtle Beach, I highly recommend visiting the preserve. It’s a trip you will never forget. http://myrtlebeachsafari.com

FTC Disclosure *I was offered a complimentary visit to Myrtle Beach Safari Tours however all opinions are my own. No other compensation was received.*

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