By Jack Cormier

Pelican Resort, Photo by Jack Cormier

Jutting like a giant, white sandcastle from the tan sands of Fort Lauderdale's famed beaches, the Best Western Pelican Beach Resort is designed to maximize your relaxation while minimizing your urban surroundings. Once there, you'll have a hard time imagining you are only minutes away from anything your heart might desire. A conversation—overheard during my family's AAA Pelican Grand Slip-Away—might be the most succinct way to describe this resort.

"This place is great," the guest said into his cell phone. "It has pools, a water park, the beach, a restaurant, an ice cream parlor, and the rooms are great...we love this place."

My 10-year-old daughter couldn't have agreed more, thanks to the Lazy River Water Ride, the only ride of its kind in the city. Partnered with a more traditional pool, the Lazy River has two options—tube or body surf. No matter which you choose, you'll be whisked along the circular moat-like pool thanks to numerous water jets. But be warned—once the kids get in, they won't want to get out.

Of course, bribery is a sure-fire way to get little ones on dry land. Take my advice and use the two free ice cream cones at the resort's Emporium ice cream parlor, included in your Slip-Away, as bait. The parlor's decor harkens to the bygone days of the soda jerk.

If you're looking for a little more nostalgia, and one of the best beaches in America, look no further than the Pelican Beach Resort's back door. The backdrop to the Connie Francis spring break homage Where the Boys Are, the beach is long and uninterrupted. Whether you enjoy the golden sands or choose instead to stroll its lengths, the waters of the Atlantic Ocean beckon.

Kids having fun in the Lazy River, Photo by Pelican Resort.

Mind you, all that swimming is a great way to work up an appetite. Featuring hearty American fare, the Pelican Beach Resort's North Ocean Grille won't fail to fill your belly. From baby back ribs to salmon sautéed with artichoke hearts in white wine, your taste buds will thank you after every bite. But the restaurant is more than just a place to eat—it's yet another way to enjoy the beach. If you choose to have your meal on the deck, you'll delight in the only dining just feet from the sand in Fort Lauderdale.

That's exactly how my family took advantage of the breakfast for two included in our Slip-Away. Pancakes and coffee never tasted better than during that breakfast on the deck. Perhaps the experience was augmented by the gentle rolling of the waves nearby. 

After all that activity, the rooms at the resort won't disappoint. Handsomely designed in a warm coastal cottage motif, the plush beds seem to hug you as you snuggle in for a night's sleep. If you'd rather surf the Internet or compete on the in-room gaming console, those options are just a few clicks away in these contemporary rooms. Whether you choose from the Pelican Grand Slip-Away options of standard city view or oceanfront suite, you won't be disappointed.

And if you still haven't had enough city or beach gazing, venture upstairs to the 11th floor, home to twin gazebos overlooking the cityscape. We spent a long, quiet morning gazing at the emerald ocean and the bustling metropolis moving below.

Soon enough, we too joined that bustling metropolis, headed back to our home after being refreshed in the sands and spray of the Atlantic Ocean.

AAA Member Exclusive

Pelican Beach Resort: "Pelican Grand Slip-Away"

$149 (standard city view);
$189 (oceanfront suite),
per night thru 10/16/06. 

Includes breakfast for 2 and 2 free ice cream cones from the Emporium.

For more information, call or visit your local AAA branch office.

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