Exploring Florida on vacation..

[Mecca]

I've been down here since Monday morning and so far I've been in Ft Lauderdale, Miami, all the Keys but mainly Key West, did an everglades tour and now I'm in Sarasota just outside of Siesta Key.

First time down here, any other suggestions?

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Where did you get that BS story?


Red Tide happens naturally, but you never see fish kills and wide spread smell like this. Worse in the 11 years I've been down here.


But in this case, it was the planned chemical spill from Piney Point. Their waste product from making fertilizer was deliberately dumped into the Bay and everyone knew this was going to cause a Red Tide explosion. But, the whole dam giving way would have created an even worse Red Tide.


Below is from Wikipedia. Just google Piney Point if you want to confirm..........

Piney Point phosphate plant is an industrial site in Manatee County, Florida, formerly the location of a fertilizer plant and currently owned by HRK Holdings, which leases portions of the land to industrial tenants under the name Eastport.^[1][2] In March 2021, a phosphogypsum stack, the dam to the reservoir storing wastewater from phosphate tailings created by from the former plant's operations, began to fail, prompting evacuations on April 1 followed by the governor of Florida issuing a state of emergency on April 3.^[3][4] Contaminated water was discharged into Tampa Bay in an effort to prevent the reservoir's collapse

I live 2-3 miles from Piney Point

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Chiefs Party

I think my lady got sick from it. She's had a bunch of breathing problems for about a week.

We're at 17,000,000 cells per liter of this crap. 1,000,000 is considered high.

Originally Posted by Mecca

Basically a bunch of unused fertilizer from other states gets washed down and caught in a big lake damn. That damn gets opened releasing all that shit into the gulf, it basically causes an algae explosion..fish swim in it and die because it's so thick.

Then you end up with tons of dead fish and crop chemicals in the water, it smells awful.

I hope Tom Brady stays there in the offseason.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

I live 2-3 miles from Piney Point

Yikes

[cabletech94]

Blackened fish tacos were Awesome in Key West!! We did the touristy trap stuff, didn’t care!! Have fun, drink some Miami-vices!! Eat some chocolate covered key lime pie!!!

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

We’re leaving Sunday morning for 3 days at universal and then 3 days at fort Walton beach. Is the red tide near either of those 2 places?

Also, any tips on good restaurants there would be appreciated.

Ive not heard of any “Red Tide” smell in the Orlando area. You should be good to go. Going to Disney World myself in about 10 days. Florida resident rates are $54. That’s too good to pass up.

No idea where Ft. Walton beach is but this still ongoing red tide smell should just be located in the greater Tampa Bay Area but Piney point is near Sarasota so it could be effecting that area too

[Spott]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

We’re leaving Sunday morning for 3 days at universal and then 3 days at fort Walton beach. Is the red tide near either of those 2 places?

Also, any tips on good restaurants there would be appreciated.

Delmonico’s has great Italian food and it’s not too far from Universal. The owners are from upstate NY and it’s probably my favorite restaurant in Orlando. Seito Sushi is very good too. Toothsome’s Chocolate factory at Universal is pretty cool, but the last time I went there about a year ago the menu was cut back because of covid. I assume it’s back to normal now. No red tide in either of those areas and the beaches in Fort Walton are super nice.

[Lprechaun]

Originally Posted by Spott

Delmonico’s has great Italian food and it’s not too far from Universal. The owners are from upstate NY and it’s probably my favorite restaurant in Orlando. Seito Sushi is very good too. Toothsome’s Chocolate factory at Universal is pretty cool, but the last time I went there about a year ago the menu was cut back because of covid. I assume it’s back to normal now. No red tide in either of those areas and the beaches in Fort Walton are super nice.

The tempura cheesecake at Seito is freaking delicious

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by Spott

Delmonico’s has great Italian food and it’s not too far from Universal. The owners are from upstate NY and it’s probably my favorite restaurant in Orlando. Seito Sushi is very good too. Toothsome’s Chocolate factory at Universal is pretty cool, but the last time I went there about a year ago the menu was cut back because of covid. I assume it’s back to normal now. No red tide in either of those areas and the beaches in Fort Walton are super nice.

Thanks. Toothsomes sounds right up our alley. We’ll definitely check that out.

We’ve heard a lot of good things about Fort Walton beach. We’re gonna do some running at universal and then hang out on the beach for 3 days.

And yes, I’m Mr Touristy McTourist and I don’t care. Lol.

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Ive not heard of any “Red Tide” smell in the Orlando area. You should be good to go. Going to Disney World myself in about 10 days. Florida resident rates are $54. That’s too good to pass up.

No idea where Ft. Walton beach is but this still ongoing red tide smell should just be located in the greater Tampa Bay Area but Piney point is near Sarasota so it could be effecting that area too

Thanks BRC.

[Spott]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

Thanks. Toothsomes sounds right up our alley. We’ll definitely check that out.

We’ve heard a lot of good things about Fort Walton beach. We’re gonna do some running at universal and then hang out on the beach for 3 days.

And yes, I’m Mr Touristy McTourist and I don’t care. Lol.

The touristy stuff is cool. Toothsome’s is definitely a fun place and if you are taking kids they will love it. You’ll probably need a reservation at any of those places I mentioned so definitely call ahead. Toothsome’s normal menu is like a book so if they are back to normal, then you should have plenty to choose from.

If you were going to Disney, Epcot has a couple of really good restaurants too. I used to work in Pensacola and am very familiar with the beaches up there, but don’t know much about the restaurants in Ft Walton area.

[Spott]

Originally Posted by Lprechaun

The tempura cheesecake at Seito is freaking delicious

Yeah it is. I’ve only had it once but it was really good. I really like their shishito peppers and edamame appetizers, too.

[WhawhaWhat]

I've done the Cigar City Brewery tour over in Tampa and had a fun time. They make some great beers. They do beer tastings on the tour and then they have a tap room for after it's over.

[doomy3]

At Disney now, and heading to Madeira Beach (St Pete/Clearwater area) on Monday. Any info about the red tide there? What are the chances it may move out by then?

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Ive not heard of any “Red Tide” smell in the Orlando area.

If you can smell red tide all the way in Orlando, we’re deeply ****ed.

[siberian khatru]

Here’s yesterday’s red tide map. The worst of it is in the actual bay. The Gulf beaches have not had it as bad — yet.