We enjoyed two outings with the grandkids during our Gomez 2022/2023 holiday visit. Both have always had an interest in the trains, which pass through Hollywood, FL, so we planned a day of train travel into downtown Miami. We also enjoy taking them out for breakfast, and took Michael and Sarah up on their recommendation to try the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.
Brightline is one of the train services traveling through Hollywood to downtown Miami. Since the kids had never ridden on it, we purchased tickets for a roundtrip between the Fort Lauderdale and Miami Stations. The line is part of the Virgin family of transportatrion companies, and as was our Virgin train experience in Europe, the coach was immaculately clean, comfortable, and provided sufficient food service for the one-hour ride. The only downside we experienced was the posted departure track, both coming and going, did not match the actual track number. Fortunately, there were helpful employees on the platform who courteously addressed the confusion.
Sarah dropped us off at the station late morning, and check-in was a breeze using scannable tickets on our phones. The employees throughout the day were personable and helpful. We had a very positive overall impression and experience. Happy and Sammy had a ball figuring out how all of the seat buttons and lighting switches worked. We bought coffees and treats for them when the food cart passed through.
We weren’t sure how to get from the Miami Station to the Frost Museum of Science. We must have looked lost, because a security officer asked if we needed help. This wasn’t his first rodeo. He quickly concluding that adults with kids were headed to the musuem. He pointed to the Metro Mover train station two blocks away and told us which train to take and which stop was closest to the museum. The kids enjoyed a second type of train ride.
Sammy and Happy have been to the science museum many times already, but turned out this only meant they knew where nearly every exhibit was located. Their enthusiasm and curiosity wasn’t diminished at all. Sarah packed lunches for us, so we found a table near the cafe and took a break at midday.
We returned to the downtown station early enough to grab a drink, enjoy a snack, and assure we were on time for our reserved departure back to Hollywood. The kids had time to explore the station and enjoy the moment. Here’s Sammy with her full personality on display. I took a half dozen pictures as she took in the station environment. Then we captured Happy wearing his personality on his sleeve. These two are so much fun.
Before returning to Texas, we promised the grandkids we’d go to breakfast at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. They’d eaten there before, but like the Frost Museum experience, their excitement wasn’t dampened. The restaurant is called Jet Runway Cafe, and it is located adjacent to the taxiway, parking ramp, and east-west runway. We were able to see a large numebr of general aviation aircraft through the restaurant’s big windows.
Michael promised a quailty breakfast meal, and I can confirm we all enjoyed our food immensely. MFI and Sammy left the cafe and charged Happy and I with paying the bill. But before we left the table, Sammy was tapping on the window near our table, meaning she and MFI had gained access to the flight line. We joined them and met Tony, a pilot with Tropic Air who flew cargo to and from the Bahamas.
Tony was extremely accommodating to all of us. He not only talked about his airplane, flying, and his job as a pilot, but he opened the plane and let us peek inside. Before long, the kids convinced him to let them sit in the cockpit. At one point he exclaimed, “Who knows, maybe this experience will inspire someone becoming a future pilot.”
We had heard there was an airport observation point on airport property, and Tony explained how to get there. It was in a small park at the west end of the primary runway. We not only had a perfect view of aircraft taking off and landing, but behind some bushes in front of us, there were loud speakers, which broadcast live conversations between the tower and pilots. These videos capture the excitement.
Who knows at this early age what profession these great grandkids might pursue. Our philosophy is to expose them to the widest range of possibilities from which they may choose. Can’t wait to see how they turn out.
