Alhough there were pets allowed management was very discerning on admitting only well behaved animals. The pool was deep and clean and I had a fully functional blender on my kitchen counter. Truly, what more could you ask for? Boat drinks poolside! They even provided a Tupperware pitcher and glasses so you can take your home ground libation down to pool with you. I loved it and I highly recommend this place for families and others who enjoy an extremely friendly and easygoing place to stay. The beach was right across street; within walking distance were beachside clubs such as Elbo Room, Sloop John B, Lulu's Bait Shack, and a number of affordable restaurants also dotted area.

One last note on pets: we found but a few hotels that allowed pets and considered ourselves extremely lucky to have stumbled upon Merriweather as most pet friendly lodgings were nowhere near beach and not necessarily of a quality I would recommend. One should also know that beaches in Ft.Lauderdale and even sidewalks lining them are prohibited to pets. This is not an idle restriction; I was stopped by police every time I tried to sneak my pooch down sidewalk. They were very friendly about it and I was not ticketed but if a romp on beach with your dog is what you have in mind I am here to say you will not find a conducive environment in Ft. Lauderdale for this. Pitiful as it is, I am overly connected to my dog, yet I can understand and even agree with this policy. The beaches in Ft. Lauderdale are beautiful and extremely well groomed but they are also busy. It doesn't take much of an imagination to see why they don't want hundreds of dogs and attendant detritus that dogs leave behind on their scenic beaches. Also one is in something of a quandary as to where to carry that doggie doodie bag while clad in Speedo or bikini. I did not research this, I am sure there are places that welcome dogs along beach but it might be best to make arrangements to leave Fido behind if visiting Greater Ft. Lauderdale area.

I have avoided teeming teens and found luxurious surroundings. now what shall I occupy my time? Where to start? Let us speak of things that I accomplished and then look to future. While exploring area I found more to do than I had expected and I left much undone. I hit both Museum of Science and Discovery and Museum of Art, both located within a few blocks of Riverwalk District. The Museum of Science and Discovery is a great place to visit, especially if you have some kids to entertain. The museum has a massive clock run on old mousetrap principles out front - kill time watching ball make all little thingies move. There were a myriad of interactive displays explaining scientific principles that were fun and informative even to a big overgrown kid like myself. Exhibits showcasing Florida's tidal regions and wildlife are stocked with actual critters and were highly interesting and educational. The facility is topped off by an IMAX theater that I was unable to attend, but past experience tells me that these are always worth time and expense for a visual feast.

The Museum of Art was another great hit

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Mike, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

Llamas grazed in fields on both sides of road as we trekked up hill. The idea of using Llamas for hiking was a foreign idea to me, but not one for history.

Known as probably one of first domesticated animals, early fossils have been found of these docile creatures in America dating back 5000 years. A member of Camelid family, llamas are considered a burden bearing creature, meaning they are work animals.

The Livengood family, owners of WindDancers, have been breading llamas for decades and love gentleness of animals.

The sight of surprisingly tall animals, made lodge feel comfortable and laid back, much as their demeanor.

We first meet some of Livengoods when settling into our room and they told us about llamas and lodge. There are hundreds of acres of wooded hillside that family takes visitors on their hikes. We were not able to hike with llamas due to weather conditions but we walked a small trail leading to a lunch deck.

To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/cabinweb/east/nc/llama/llama.html

John Ross, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com