Or Blogs

Let your inner explorer out to play with these fun and local South Florida activities.

The Museum of Discovery and Science

Locals know the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science by the 52-foot-tall Great Gravity Clock, which stands in front of the museum. The Museum of Discovery and Science is home to many fantastic exhibits. True, while parts of the museum are geared to children, curious and young at heart adults will also enjoy the many things to see and experience, including the brand new EcoDiscovery Center, which features the Everglades Airboat Adventure and an otter exhibit. The Museum of Discovery and Science is also home to the biggest movie screen in South Florida, the Autonation Imax, a 300-seat, surround-sound theater with a screen that’s five stories high. For more information about the Museum of Discovery and Science, please go here. Adult admission is $13; Senior admission is $12; children from 2-12 are $11.

The Buehler Planetarium and Observatory

Tucked away on the Broward College main campus (formerly the Broward Community College main campus) in Davie, the Buehler Planetarium offers patrons a unique chance to gaze upon the night skies from one of the most advanced planetariums in South Florida. Experience the skies for free on observation nights, which are Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 8 to 10 pm. The planetarium also offers a variety of shows, from musical shows to story time for kids. Most of the planetarium events are extremely affordable. To learn more about the Buehler Planetarium, go here or call 954-201-6681.

South Florida Amateur Astronomers’ Association at Markham Park

Every Saturday from dusk to midnight, the South Florida Amateur Astronomers’ Association opens Markham Park’s observatory for an evening of stargazing. Founded in 1965 and incorporated in Florida one year later, the SFAAA makes its home inside Markham Park in Sunrise. This free event is a perfect way to spend an evening. All are welcome and its perfect for the curious. For more information, call 954-384-0442 or visit the South Florida’s Amateur Astronomers’ Association here.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By osseous

Spring is here, or so we hear. (In Florida our weather is pretty much the same – gorgeous – all year round.) I understand that in other parts of the world, the cold is giving way to flowers and warmth. Spring means renewal: as the earth wakes up from ice and cold, so do we. Renew your eco-joy with these springtime steps.

Eco-Bags in Light Colors

Ditch the dull black and brown travel bags for fun and funky luggage in light, festive colors. Crisp white eco-friendly luggage can put a spring in your step. So can eco-friendly purses and backpacks in hues of pinks, greens, or yellows.

Declutter Before You Depart

Before you leave town, give your house a fresh sense of renewal by cleaning the clutter out of closets and garages. Go through what you find. Contact Goodwill or your local shelter and give away any old clothes, dishes, or furniture that have seen better days. Have an upcycle party and invite friends to trade their old stuff. One green traveler’s trash is another green traveler’s treasure – and if money is tight, trading items is a thrifty way to save your green.

Before You Leave, Clean

I like to tidy up before I leave town. There’s nothing more annoying to me than coming back to a dirty house, so before I leave I make sure that counters are scrubbed and bedsheets are changed. Ditch the toxic house cleaning products as well! Instead of glass cleaner or disinfectant, use vinegar. Instead of toxic scrubbing powders, use baking soda.

Spring Showers

Not only does spring bring color and renewal – it also brings the rain. If you’re hitting the road, protect yourself from blustery days and surprise showers with cute, non-toxic raingear. This umbrella is made of recycled steel and aluminum and has a bamboo handle.

Spring Friendly Travel Apps

If you need to track the ever-changing weather, check out The Weather Channel’s app – perfect for road travel. Going to be on the road? Try Roadninja – a travel app that lets you know what’s coming up off the next highway exit. You can look up exits from anywhere on the road and it’s handy if you need to find a potty or a vegetarian restaurant in a hurry.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By notamaiar

Florida’s weather can be notoriously changeable. It’s been a little cold and rainy in South Florida lately – and when I say “cold,” I really mean the  kind of weather that makes northerners think that we’re wusses and we have to drag out the extra blankets and layer our clothing. (When I talk to my friends who live in Boston, I truly understand that we have nothing to complain about.) I’ve really enjoyed our recent cold-and-rainy streak. It’s been gorgeous. Even though our rainy season doesn’t start until May and even though January saw Florida’s lowest rainfall since 1932, it seems like we’ve had quite a bit of rain. Follow these green tips to stay dry and safe in South Florida.

Rain Gear for Kids

Florida can be rainy and wet. If you’re venturing outside, make sure that your raincoat or rain slicker is PVC-free. Remember our old enemy PVC? PVC stands for polyvinyl chloride. It’s basically a toxic plastic that can cause cancer and do serious harm to your immune system. It’s used in a variety of items, from children’s toys to the outside of raincoats. It’s important to avoid PVC, so if you’re looking for a safe rain gear that’s good and green, check out some of these cute ones just for kids.

Rain Gear for Adults

Kids aren’t the only ones who can be harmed by PVC-laced items. Adults should avoid raincoats, rain hats, or umbrellas that contain PVC. For a traditional look on your rainy vacation, there’s nothing wrong with a classic yellow rain slicker. If you want to go traditional, check out this PVC-free raincoat. If you want a raincoat that can stop waste dead in its tracks, check this out. Although not exactly a steal at almost $300, the selling points are that the jacket can degrade in a landfill and the hood was made specifically with room to wear over a helmet, so you can stay dry while cycling around town.

Traveling in the Rain

Heading out in the South Florida rain? Make sure that your car’s tires are inflated before exploring in your own backyard. There’s nothing worse than popping a tire on a wet highway because your pressure got too low. Firm tires also help increase fuel economy.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By lemony snacker

Now that you have some green cleaning car tips, it’s also important to know how to give your car eco-friendly love. There’s plenty we can do to conserve resources while still having a great family road trip.

Don’t Let the Car Sit

It’s typical of any family vacation. One of the kids forgets something and runs back to the house to get it. Maybe your son forgot a favorite magazine or your husband forgot his eco-friendly phone charger. They jump out of the car to go get it – and the car is still running. In order to reduce the amount of carbon emissions caused by this, turn off the car when someone goes on a pre-vacation dash back into the house.

Pile ‘em In

While cars overstuffed with relatives is truly the stuff of hilarious vacation stories, there’s an up side to cramming yourself into a car with Great-Aunt Edna and Cousin Charley – you’ll use less carbon emissions and the decision to carpool is kinder on the environment.

Clean it Out

Believe it or not, all that accumulated car trash from the week can add weight to your car, making it use more fuel and release more carbon emissions into the air. Want to save some gas? Toss the car trash. Keep a bag for compost (food scraps) in the car so that your fruit and veggie peels can be used to help a garden grow. Also consider keeping a bag just for recycling and empty it into a recycle bin.

Check the Tires

Car experts advise that you check your tire pressure once a week to make sure that tires are inflated properly. The more deflated your tires are, the more gas you’ll use. If your tires don’t have the right pressure, your car’s fuel consumption can feel the impact.

Offset the Trip

Check carbon offsetting sites like Terrapass in order to find ways to offset the cost of your car trips. The environment will thank you!

Photo by Wetwebwork

by Marissa Cohen

Picture of the Hemingway House taken in the 1930's

When honeymooning in the Keys, there is plenty to do, from exploring Papa Hemingway’s home to watching a spectacular sunset in colorful Mallory Square. The rich history of Key West is alive with the romantic spirit of writers and pirates, and of course, a perfect place to celebrate your recent wedding vows.

If you want to feel pampered while you and your honey are in the Keys, then check out the Prana Spa. The word “Prana” means “breath” and “life force” in Sanskrit and the talented Prana staff will rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit with a selection of services ranging from Thai yoga massage, deep tissue massage, spa treatments. Long popular with locals and visitors alike, the Prana Spa is also owner-operated and managed by massage therapists Mark Goldstein and Jon Harper.

Want to get in touch with nature or enjoy a romantic sunset? Wait until the sun goes down and hang around in Mallory Square. If you’re hungry, try Antonia’s Italian Restaurant located on Duval Street. This Zagat-rated restaurant has been around for over twenty-five years and in that time, its received rave reviews from Travel and Leisure Magazine and Frommer’s Travel Guide. There’s also the Bagatelle , a restaurant that combines French and Caribbean style. The Bagatelle is also housed inside the historic 1880s home of sea captain Fredrick Roberts. Ask to sit on the Bagatelle’s wrap around porch and take advantage of some people watching.

If you and your spouse would like some more casual fare, try the famous Sloppy Joe’s Bar, perhaps best known for its most famous patron, Ernest Hemingway, who considered himself a silent business partner. Sloppy Joe’s has a rich history (legend has it that Sloppy Joe’s wasted no time opened its doors on the very day that Prohibition was repealed) and is also home of the renowned Hemingway Days Fest.

Speaking of Hemingway, The Hemingway House  is one of Key West’s most popular tourist attractions. The world-famous writer lived in this house with wife Pauline until their divorce in the late 30s and did some of his best work there, including For Whom the Bell Tolls and the final draft of A Farewell to Arms.

From spas to historic houses, Key West has something for everyone.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo by Florida Keys–Public Libraries

In the recent articles, Green Laundry, Parts 1 and Part 2, we looked at several great tips to make laundry day environmentally friendly. Thanks to the fact that driers use about as much energy as your average refrigerator, many experts suggest using a clothesline for at least some, if not all, of your laundry load. The world outside our laundry rooms can provide us with natural wind and sun, two things that can help save over 700 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per family per year. But how do you put up a clothesline?

How To Put Up a Clothesline

Clothesline should run north and south in order to maximize sunlight, but also should be more or less out of your daily sight, because who wants to look out of their window and see a clothesline and not, say, flowers? You can either purchase a ready-made clothesline pole set or set about the exciting weekend project of creating your very own clothesline. (Just make sure that Junior is inside and his Smartphone confiscated, unless you want this DIY adventure to go viral.)

Get some galvanized iron pipes, hooks, and cement. Dig a hole that is about one foot wide and one foot deep, put the pole inside and then pour in some cement mixed with water. Repeat the same process for the second pole. There are several different kinds of clotheslines and each has a different method of installation.

Many, many people find it very easy to install a clothesline. You can even purchase clothesline kits at your local hardware store. (In our family, we don’t have that kind of  coordination to get seriously involved with galvanized iron pipes and then be that daring to throw cement into the mix. I’m certain the dog would be lost forever.)

For more instructions on how to put up a clothesline, check out these great links from eHow or LiteGreenLiving.com.

How Far Apart Should the Poles Be?

Clothesline poles should be far enough apart to accommodate your laundry  because you don’t want heavy items dragging. Be sure to make the hooks (which hold the clothesline) high up. Once you put wet clothes on it, the whole thing will droop so making sure that the line is a bit taller than you is a good idea.

And, once your project is over, you can give Junior back his Smartphone.

by Marissa Cohen

Photo by MrB-MMX

The Desoto Hotel uses an array of fabrics in our top quality rooms. Bamboo sheets are just one of the types of sheets that we’re committed to using. Bamboo fabric is versatile, organic and antibacterial. Plus, they’re super soft and comfortable.

Bamboo Kills Germs

Bamboo bedsheets are antibacterial. Several studies show that bamboo fabric actually kills about 99% of germs.

Soft and Adaptable to Weather

The sheets also naturally adapt to the weather or room temperature, keeping you warm in the cold weather, and nice and cool in hotter weather. Why? Well, not only are the sheets softness wonderful for people with more sensitive skin, but the natural bamboo fibers helps to redistribute moisture, pulling any moisture deep into the bamboo fibers and away from the actual surface of the bedsheet.

No Pesticides, No Pests

Bamboo itself contains a natural antibacterial agent called bamboo kun. Thanks to the bamboo kun, bamboo plants don’t need pesticide or fertilizers to keep the pests away. The fact that bamboo kun changes form – from plant to bedsheet – doesn’t matter. Pests will still stay away from it.

Photo by Foilman

 by Marissa Cohen