Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate love and affection with your significant other. If you live in South Florida, there are plenty of things you can do to make the day special. From outdoor adventures to romantic dinners, there’s something for every couple.

Here is a list of 10 things to do on Valentine’s Day in South Florida:

1. Take a sunset cruise

Nothing says romance like a sunset cruise on a beautiful yacht. South Florida offers several sunset cruises that you and your partner can enjoy while sipping on champagne and watching the sun go down. Sit back, relax, and fall in love all over again.

2. Visit the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

If you and your significant other love nature, a visit to the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is a must. With over 83 acres of lush greenery, it’s the perfect place to take a romantic walk and spend the day together.

3. Take a hot air balloon ride

Take your love to new heights with a hot air balloon ride. Enjoy breathtaking views of South Florida from the sky and take your Valentine’s Day to the next level. It’s a day both of you will never forget.

4. Visit the Miami Beach Botanical Garden

The beautiful Miami Beach Botanical Garden is a peaceful oasis in the heart of Miami Beach. Take a stroll among the exotic plants and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Perfect for reflecting on how much you love each other.

5. Visit the Perez Art Museum Miami

If you’re an art lover, spend the day at the Perez Art Museum Miami. With a collection of modern and contemporary art, it’s the perfect place for an art enthusiast or someone just looking for a unique adventure.

6. Go on a beach day

South Florida is known for its beautiful beaches, so why not spend Valentine’s Day soaking up the sun and playing in the sand? Take a walk, swim in the ocean, or just relax on a beach chair – together. From West Palm Beach to Miami Beach, there are hundreds of miles of options in Florida to choose from. Decide which is most convenient for you and make a special day out of it!

7. Spend the day at the spa

Indulge in some pampering and relaxation with a spa day. South Florida is home to some of the best spas in the country, making it the perfect place to escape for a day of rest and rejuvenation. Many establishments offer couple’s massages so you can recharge together.

8. Have a picnic in the park

Pack a picnic basket and head to one of South Florida’s many parks for a romantic outdoor meal. Take in the scenery, enjoy each other’s company, and share your favorite beverages and treats.

9. Take a cooking class together

Spend the day learning to cook together. South Florida is home to several cooking schools that offer classes in a variety of cuisines. Find a dish you both enjoy and make a special recipe together!

10. Have a romantic dinner

South Florida has some of the best restaurants in the country, making it the perfect place for a romantic dinner. Whether you’re looking for fine dining, Italian cuisine, or sushi, there’s something for everyone.

No matter what you choose to do, spending Valentine’s Day with the one you love is what matters most. South Florida is the perfect place to make this special day even more memorable.

Do you have a good recommendation for Valentine’s Day activities in South Florida? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook!

The post 10 Things To Do in South Florida on Valentine’s Day appeared first on I Love South Florida.

Our first collection of the 10 Best Florida Winter Memes was so popular, we had to make second volume to document the ongoing hilarity. These memes are not owned in any way by I Love South Florida and have been collected from the viral web. A source is not always known, but is documented when possible.

Without further ado, the 10 Best Florida Winter Memes – Volume II:

1. If you’re cold, they’re cold. Bring them inside.

Don’t be rude! Give your fellow South Floridian neighbor a place to crash in the cold.

In all seriousness though, never open your door for a gator or crocodile.

2. 50 Degrees in Florida

New native (or extraterrestrial) species discovered? Nope, just a typical South Florida reaction to 50 degree weather!

3.  Spiderman Sitting in Florida

Who knew Spiderman hangs out in Florida for the Winter? Makes sense. Spidey sense.

4. National Hate Florida Day

This was an actual forecast on the news last year, and it forever became known as Hate Florida Day. The best part of this meme is it can be used on any day that resembles the above forecast. Beach, anyone?

5. First Day of Winter in Florida. First Day of Summer in Florida.

They say consistency is key, right? Not a Florida Key though.

6. Florida Snowman – Them and Us

The snowmen say it all. Them = ice cold. Us = sunshine and smiles

7. Will This Winter Ever End?

Wait, did it ever begin?

8. Come on Down to Florida, and You Will Cease to Freeze!

No, this isn’t from the Oprah 2020 campaign trail where she is attempting to win Florida voters. Just a simple, amusing meme.

9. Brace Yourselves. Winter Isn’t Coming.

Winter may not be coming, but I’ll still be inside watching Game of Thrones.

10. That Cold Front Gone Yet?

More like, is that gator gone yet?

And there it is, the new 10 “best” Florida memes circulating the internet making fun of winter to the rest of the world.

Have a Florida Winter Meme that you didn’t see on the list? Share it with us in the comments below! Then, stay tuned for Volume 3!

The post The 10 Best Florida Winter Memes: Volume II appeared first on I Love South Florida.

The benefits of incorporating lemons and lemon juice into your diet are astounding. I personally started drinking lemon water, a combination of lemon juice and water, instead of sodas, and I’ve never felt better! At the very least, I’m drinking more water because it tastes good.

If you didn’t know, lemons are a superfood that provide many benefits. Here is a small list of things lemons do once inside your body:

1. Aid in digestion and detoxing
2. Carry high amounts of Vitamic C
3. Alkalines the body
4. Relieves constipation
5. Burns fat and aids in weight loss Experts recommend drinking lemon water at a warm temperature to aid in the absorption process.

I’ve seen conflicting reports about whether or not bottled lemon juice is just as effective as fresh cut lemons. Some say lemon juice loses important enzymes within minutes of being cut, and others have claimed that bottled lemon juice has had just as a healthy effect on their lives as regular lemons.

How To Grow a Lemon Tree from Seed

There are several ways to plant a lemon tree using seeds, instead of having to pay for a full-price for a full-grown plant. One way is to collect the seeds from the lemons that you already eat. The literature on using this method notes that you should plant them immediately after you take them from the lemon. The reason for this is that they are not supposed to dry out like common garden seeds. For more detailed instructions on this, refer to Lemon Tree from Seed published by New Mexico State University.

I prefer to buy pre-packaged lemon seeds. Since this was my first attempt, I didn’t want to botch it. You can find seeds on Amazon for extremely cheap, which will make any errors in the process more tolerable. That’s what I did anyway! Make sure you read the comments in the product reviews to make sure there isn’t consistent problems with any one seed provider.

Here are a few things to remember when planting:

• Lemons grow well in full sun or part shade, W or SW exposure is best.
• Put indoors when conditions are freezing, outdoors when not.
• Plant the seeds about 1/2″ deep in well drained soil. (Potting soil is fine)
• Do not over water
• Place a plastic bag over it for about a week to help germinate.
• Some claim putting a nick in the seed’s outer layer will help it germinate
• Germination takes 10 – 30 days

The post How To Grow A Lemon Tree appeared first on I Love South Florida.

Follow the new I Love South Florida Pinterest page to check out some of the cool new boards we created, including Florida Travel, The Florida Keys, and Florida Everglades  – to name a few. Of course, the site is addicting and we expect to be creating new boards regularly.

As of this post, our Facebook Page has 2,547 likes and we think our message will be even more popular on Pinterest. Some of our favorite topics to follow so far include Old florida and Florida beaches.

Tell us your favorite Pinterest boards and topics related to South Florida in the comments section so we can connect and share with our network!

The post Follow I Love South Florida on Pinterest appeared first on I Love South Florida.

Often gluten-free translates to a very limited menu without any dessert options, but these restaurants will exceed anybody’s expectations.

A couple of the restaurants on this list, curated by our friends at Gluten Free Underground, are fit for date night or other special occasions.

Go ahead and indulge in the spectacular gluten-free cuisines these restaurants offer.

5. Grand Lux Cafe

Grand Lux Cafe has an extensive menu with several options. The restaurant is fairly casual with multiple locations. Gluten-free options include burgers and pasta.

4. Fresh First

Everything on the menu at Fresh First is gluten-free and delicious. The only drawback- the restaurant is only open for breakfast and lunch.

3. Market 17

While swanky and upscale may be used to describe this date and special occasion worthy restaurant, Market 17 showcases a fresh seasonal menu that changes daily.

2. Seasons 52

A variety of gluten-free healthy choices can be found at Seasons 52. The menu changes seasonally and the caloric count for each dish is printed on the menu.

1. Farmer’s Table

Farmer’s Table is number one on this list for good reason. All gluten-free options are clearly notated on the menu and there are plenty of them. They even have a selection of gluten-free desserts, including chocolate cake.

This list is a good start for those in South Florida trying to adapt to this unique diet and lifestyle. For additional gluten-free articles, recipes, resources, and more.

Know of other great, gluten-free options in the Broward, Palm Beach, or Miami-Dade areas? Let us know in the comments section!

The post Top 5 Gluten-Free Restaurants in South Florida appeared first on I Love South Florida.

Alas, here is a collection of the 10 most popular Memes shared on our I Love South Florida Facebook Page that make fun of Winter, in no particular order:

1.  Salt in the Winter

This Meme sums up the different priorities between Florida and the rest of the world by showing how salt is used in the Winter. Two margaritas sounds better than two stuck tires!

2. This is my view of Winter…from my cell phone in Florida

For most living in Florida, the best view of a real Winter is seen through this tiny little screen. And we’re okay with that.

3. This could be us, but we live in Florida.

We could be shoveling snow all day and watching our cars slowly sink into a freezing abyss, but we live in Florida.

4. I’m in Florida, so that’s none of my business.

Kermit the Frog enjoying his tea in South Florida, minding his own business.

5. I looking at the Snow. On Facebook. From Florida.

It’s beautiful. To look at. From here.

6. Messy the Mudman, Frosty’s distant relative.

The next time your out of town friends send you a picture of their perfect, powder-white snow man, show them this, and get on with your life. You can do more with your day than just building snowmen, like go to the beach.

7.  Florida in the Summer. Florida in the Winter.

Consistency is key.

8. The Florida Seasons

Even Frosty migrates down here after the Holidays.

See?

9. Time to break out the Winter clothes!

Socks and Sandals. A fashion taboo most of the year, totally okay in the Winter.

10.  Meanwhile, back in Florida.

Like I said, one of the best parts of Winter in Florida is getting to brag about it to your Northern friends – and getting to do this in the middle of January.

—-

And there you have it! Ten of the “best” Memes that sum up Winter in Florida. Not only do they provide the perfect seasonal humor, but provide gratitude for living in Florida after further reflection. A good Florida meme also makes you think twice before complaining about some cloudy weather when half the world is covered in snow!

Let it be known that these Memes were not originally created by I Love South Florida, and were collected from across the web. If there is a watermark on the meme, that is usually the source. Those without one have origins unknown.

Picking 10 of the funniest Florida Winter Memes wasn’t easy, and there are plenty more out there, so check back for the sequel to this post!

Have a Florida Winter Meme that you didn’t see on the list? Share it with us in the comments below!

If you liked those, check out The 10 Best Florida Winter Memes – Volume II.

The post The 10 Best Florida Winter Memes appeared first on I Love South Florida.

“We didn’t know how penicillin worked for many years, but it saved many lives in the meantime,” said Dr. Jeffrey N. Weiss of Margate, Florida, speaking about stem cell treatments he has used on hundreds of patients suffering from blindness.

Dr. Weiss has been enrolling blind patients in an unorthodox stem cell study that injects stem cells into the eyes of patients in one of three ways – around the retina, in the retina, and directly into the optic nerve – in hopes of restoring some people’s sight.

According to Weiss, 60% of his 278 patients with macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other diseases have regained some sight.

The procedure is not FDA approved and can cost roughly $20,000, to enroll, but to some, that is a price worth paying to restore their vision.

“I’m happy to be a guinea pig,” said Vanna Belton, who regained her sight after being treated by Dr. Weiss in Florida.

Read about Belton’s stem cell success story, reported by the Baltimore Sun, by clicking here.

As word of his success begins to spread, Dr. Weiss may be a boon to South Florida in the ways of stem cell tourism in the future.

The post South Florida Doctor Reverses Blindness Using Stem Cells appeared first on I Love South Florida.

Fortunately, you don’t need to wait for an invite or see a posted flyer to find out what’s going on. In today’s world, a simple search for “New Year’s Eve in South Florida” will yield a treasure trove of results for things to do in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties.

Broward and Palm Beach Counties

The top result while searching for New Year’s Events – with good reason – is South Florida’s New Year’s Eve 2016 Party Guide by the New Time Broward-Palm Beach, a daily South Florida news website with a weekly paper.

There is literally a plethora of options available in Broward and Palm Beach Counties that would make you wish New Years coincided with Ground Hog Day so you could attend each one of them and not miss a thing.

Sadly, this is reality and you can only pick one.

Will it be a countdown drink at Blue Martini in Downtown Ft. Lauderdale? Live music at Murphy’s Law? Maybe you’d prefer a 2015 last meal at Tap 42 in Boca Raton. I’ll probably be at the Funky Buddha in Oakland Park because there is no cover charge and it is close to home, meaning less exposure to potential drunk drivers.

If you’re closer to Palm Beach, the Palm Beach Post posted The Best New Year’s Eve events in Palm Beach County with a whole host of choices.

Miami

If you’re lucky enough to be in Miami, where they have been practicing for New Year’s Eve for 364 days with a bustling night life, it is going to be a tough choice.

It would seem to be a hard decision to make between Downtown Fort Lauderdale and the City of Miami Beach New Year’s Eve Celebration, where you can enjoy free fireworks at Midnight in the heart of South Beach, but have you heard about Pitbull’s New Year’s Eve Revolution 2015?

If you have, then it might be a no-brainer.

PITBULL’S NEW YEAR’S EVE REVOLUTION 2015

“Start planning now to ring in the New Year with Mr. 305 himself, as Pitbull’s New Year’s Eve Revolution returns to Bayfront Park for a live, FOX television broadcast! This is the place to be for the largest FREE New Year’s Eve party in South Florida!”

Bayfront Park for a live, FOX television broadcast while dancing in the New Year?

Scratch that, I might end up in Miami after all.

Good luck deciding.

One thing you should know is to prepare and plan for a safe and fun night.

Happy New Year, South Florida!

The post The Best Places to Spend New Year’s Eve in South Florida appeared first on I Love South Florida.

While the original author is unknown (graphic courtesy of I Love South Florida), the lyrics were obviously crafted by someone familiar with the area – most likely a long-time local.

Lyrics

If you are having trouble viewing the image, the lyrics are as follows:

“Dashing through the sand, in a rented mini-van. Driving by the bay, laughing all the way. Tourists drive too slow, everywhere you go. Oh what fun it is to live in sunny F-L-A. Jingle bells, coconut shells, dolphins in the bay. Oh what fun it is to live in sunny F-L-A. Orange juice stands, Mickey Mouse land, gators in your way. Oh what fun it is to live in sunny F-L-A. Crowded shopping malls, lotto and bingo halls. Sunshine that’s too hot, a football team that’s not. When Santa hits the shores, he finds jellyfish galore. Oh what fun it is to live in sunny F-L-A. ”

Perhaps after a few glasses of eggnog, you’ll be singing it with your family and friends this year!

The post Jingle Bells – The Florida Remix appeared first on I Love South Florida.

This opportunity was provided courtesy of Bemka – House of Fine Foods and Caviar, a Ft. Lauderdale-based purveyor of caviar and fine foods.

The taste of caviar is interesting, refined, acquired, if you will. There are numerous varieties of caviar from a variety of different species, each one unique in texture and flavor.

I was invited to the 2015 Art Basel Kickoff event in Miami Beach by UIC Marketing and as I arrived to the venue, SuitSupply, I saw something I will never forget – a table full of free caviar samples.

As I walked up to the table, I noticed it was being sponsored by a company headquarted in Ft. Lauderdale called “Bemka – House of Caviar and Fine Foods.”

After a short introduction, I learned they sell caviar and fine foods all over the country (for 30 years now!) through their websites CaviarLover.com and HouseofCaviarandFineFoods.com and locally in South Florida by van delivery.

If you are already in Ft. Lauderdale, you can walk right in to their headquarters located by the airport and have your order ready in 10 minutes.

Paddlefish, Hackleback, Herruga, and Salmon Roe

My first taste of caviar was of a species called Paddlefish, and it was delicious. My first portion was on a Mother of Pearls spoon, and I had seconds on a blini topped with creme fraiche, which complements the caviar for extra flavor.

I tried three other varieties, including Hackleback, Herruga, and Salmon. I thought all were unique and delicious, but none as good as my first taste of Paddlefish.

The Hackleback was my second favorite, and more mild. All I can remember about the Herruga hybrid selection was that the eggs were larger and more firm, giving it a different experience when consumed.

The Salmon roe caviar tasted just like Salmon! There isn’t much more to say about it than that. It is bright orange, and if you like the taste of salmon, you will enjoy the taste of Salmon Roe.

After indulging me for my first caviar experience, the staff at Bemka offered me “foie gras torchon,” which I learned after eating it is another word for duck liver. Despite it’s exotic source, it was rather good, with a soft texture that would be great as a spread on crackers or even served alone.

You can learn more about Bemka – House of Caviar and Fine Foods by visiting their website, Bemka.com, and following them on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Review: House of Caviar and Fine Foods in Fort Lauderdale appeared first on I Love South Florida.