Welcome to Fort Lauderdale.
Although completely renovated and updated a few years ago, the
Pelican Grand Resort (illustrated above) retains much of its 1900s charm. Unlike most Ft. Lauderdale hotels and shops, The Pelican Grand (the white building with turrets) is located directly on the beach.
From the moment you arrive at the front entrance, old-fashioned details such as fish scale gable shingles, filigree brackets and pineapple lanterns catch your eye.
The open hallways capture ocean breezes and were an architectural feature of old Florida hotels.
Suspended from a coffered ceiling, the enormous lighting fixtures in the lobby are stunning.
The Tiffany style stained glass chandeliers and sconces in the poolside lounge are also lovely.
Old fashioned woven palm ceiling fans hover above most of the main floor's public spaces.
And rattan furnishings also contribute to the hotel's retro tropical look.
My suite, booked online for a fraction of the list price, was painted a soothing pale yellow with a wall of windows separating the sleeping area from a spacious sitting room.
Carpeted in the same pretty floral pattern as the bedroom, the sitting room opened onto a balcony with an ocean view.
Here's the view looking north from the balcony.
In addition to the private stretch of beach, the hotel also boasts a pool and lazy river. The river isn't the only thing that's lazy. I couldn't resist grabbing a tube and floating along.
Post siesta, one of the back veranda's rocking chairs called my name.
And since I couldn't tear myself away from the view, I dined at an outdoor table.
What was so fascinating to watch? In addition to the waves...
there were boats bobbing in the water...
palm trees blowing in the breeze...
and the hotel's namesake pelicans.
Next post, I promise to take you on a stroll along the beach.
Don't forget to link up to Waterside Wednesday (with a waterside post, of course). Lakes, rivers, steams, ponds, or any body of water qualifies, as do coastal crafts and cooking posts, too.
*** BLOG DU JOUR ***
Sarah's blog
is a visual treat every day, but today, I especially adore one of the photos (see below). Could it be the propping? So swim on over to
A Beach Cottage (www.abeachcottage.com) and visit this gorgeous Australian cottage by the sea.
(photo courtesy of A Beach Cottage blog)
But today, please push the pause button on my West Coast trip... and enjoy this Halloween tour of my East Coast home, Clifton, Virginia. 
Except for two days each year. Both exceptions occur in Fall. The first is Clifton Day. When thousands of folks come to our annual fair.
They come to check out the booth's filled with antiques.
And the re-inactments...
Clifton does Halloween in a big way.
