{Hollis Garden in Lakeland, Florida}

After our stay in Miami, we did travel to the central part of Florida, to Lakeland, a city with many lakes. We stayed at the Hyatt Place Lakeland Center which is very conveniently right in the center of this beautiful city. 

Only about half a mile away from our hotel is this lovely Botanic Garden, named Hollis Garden, which is situated within the historic Lake Mirror Park
Below you see lake Mirror viewed from Hollis Garden, which is on its southern shore.

The Swan is very much the Symbol for Lakeland and you find many statues and even more real swans, e.g. on Lake Morton, the largest lake and bird sanctuary in Lakeland.
There is even a link between the Queen of England and Lakeland's swans.
When swans had become extinct, because of alligators, people and dogs, one resident from Lakeland wrote the Queen of England for two swans from the Thames River.
In 1957, Lakeland received 2 swans from Queen Elizabeth.

Pieter sitting next to the water bowl in Hollis Garden.
Look at those absolute blue skies! We got so lucky these 9 days in Florida.

Flowers up close... taken with my iPad.
We did not have our Fuji camera as it got lost at the Hyatt House in Miami...

Tuscan gazebo, this is the water bowl that husband Pieter was sitting next to.
Please see the slide show from link below for far better impressions...

Related links:
Hollis Gardens, Lakeland, Florida | Far better images then shown from my iPad shots... 2:15 min video

{The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass}

The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Mills in Florida are not to be missed if you ever are in the Miami area!

This is also the Valet parking entrance and you are at the right corner to start browsing Neiman Marcus Last Call, Saks Fifth Avenue or Bloomingdale's and all Outlets at the Colonnade to your right.

Sawgrass Mills is the largest outlet mall in the United States!

HOW large?

2.1 million square feet or 195,096 square meters, which is 19.5 hectare!

According to Miami.com's Sawgrass Mills Survival guide you deserve a medal - and a foot massage if you ever walk those 350 stores and outlet shops...

Yep, in the above screenshot, you see Neiman Marcus to the left and at the top you read Escada and that's how all designer outlets are lined up on both sides of the Colonnade and under a roof. 

Rain or shine - you will be fine. 

Neiman Marcus with super bargains and if you can't make it to the outlet, you also can order on line: Neiman Marcus Last Call ←(click it)

Trip Advisor review by me:

“Sawgrass Mills Colonnade is the BEST shopping + valet parking!” ←(click it)

The Valet parking is a MUST in order to save your feet as the parking lot is like Miami.com put it here above: acres of parking lots with no empty space in sight...

There also is a Wolford outlet store; one of my favorites.

Have you ever been to the Sawgrass Mills Mall?

Related links:

Sawgrass Mills | website for finding store directory, mall map and directions

{Hyatt House Miami, Florida - Our Home Away from Home}

Just to give you an idea where we stay when we reach Miami, Florida. The Hyatt House Miami Airport has really become our Home Away from Home! So come, have a look yourself...

We just got here, all the way from Sarasota where we stayed for one free night at the Hyatt Regency. We had a tornado warning and left in time, after first shopping at Trader Joe's in Sarasota. Here Pieter is holding the Bresaola (dried beef) from Italy...

Yes, this is Our Home Away from Home!

A fully equiped kitchen with dishwasher and microwave, visible in the above photo. A cooktop with oven, toaster and large refrigerator with freezer compartment above.

Living room...

Entrance with door to closet to hang coats and to find the iron with iron board and safe.

Free internet access with great ergonomic Miller chair.

It is from here that I picked up the idea for our office...

Flat screen TV in the living room with entrance to the King size bedroom.

You also can have a 2 King size apartment for staying with 4 people.

We did that at three other Hyatt House locations, together with my sister Diny and significant other.

All at a price for $ 129.00 per night in 2007 when she was visiting and that included a hot extended breakfast and from Monday through Thursday also hors d'oeuvres with soup, cheese, salad and fruits with wine or beer in the evening! 

Again, all this luxury complete with pillow top mattress and down duvet and pillows for a great price with Pieter's Platinum Hyatt Card!

The bedroom has another flat screen TV!

If you have a 2 bedroom apartment, you have this in each bedroom!

Very roomy bathroom with ample space for everything. 

Tub with shower and toilet is to the left of that tub.

View from the other side, to the right you just see the toilet...

Left is a huge closet with sliding mirrored doors for half hanging and half with shelves.

In such an apartment you really have all the comfort from home!

There further is a big pool, workout room, laundry room with washer and dryer if you need to use that.

Would you not love to stay there?

Related links:
{Our Smaller Office} | previous post by me showing the Miller chair at our office...
{My Brocade Skirt Suit Creation from 1950s Zelinka Matlick} | photo shoot Hyatt House
{My Hand Knitted Silk Lace Shawl in Peacock Pattern} | photo shoot in Hyatt House garden...
{Miami Hyatt House & Date Palm} | previous post by me
{Muscovy Duck in Miami, Florida} | previous post by me from the Hyatt House Miami
{My Hand Knitted Linen Top} | previous post, photos taken in the garden of Hyatt House Miami