Florida Culture for the Week of February 19, 2017 By Josh Garrick 

3 different climates, 10 nature parks, 8 national parks, countless beaches, excellent food & wine, and 7 UNESCO World Heritage sites - where are you? Croatia!

At first blush, Crljenak Kastelanski, Grasevina, Plavac Mali, Pošip - some of Croatia’s grape varietals - sounded Greek to me. Since OPA is the only Greek word I know, pronouncing these grape names sent my mind into a tailspin.

In fact, I was so overwhelmed by the names of Croatian wines, winemakers, and labels that I couldn’t imagine writing about them without mastering the spelling first. Then I scanned several sources and talked to a Croatia wine expert. That said, I cheered up and decided to give these wines a swirl.   

Firefighters Know Coffee. This is a fact. My brother's a firefighter, and I know that there's more truth than we can ever guess to that statement. After all, our first responders need to be ON for 24 hour shifts - sometimes longer. So who better to make coffee than firefighters?! 

Food is wonderful. It tastes great, there are an almost infinite number of options, and it keeps you alive.

Move over Seattle, San Francisco is on your caffeinated heels. Coffee is the lifeblood of most Americans, with 83 percent considering themselves coffee-drinkers. Whether you want coffee in the morning or afternoon, from a coffee shop or a regular eatery that offers coffee, chains like Starbucks are becoming just as commonplace as McDonald's. But, San Franvisco urges you to cut the chains and try out some of these top local coffee houses in the area next time you're around.

The weather gods sent us a flawless day to wander San Francisco. Bob and I targeted the historic Ferry Building to enjoy the sun and warm, and indulge a bit of browsing.  It’s a destination easily combined with a trip to Alcatraz, Sausalito, or Fisherman’s Wharf.

Are you heading to San Francisco soon? Well, you’re going to love it. San Francisco is one of those cities that’s friendly, compact and really easy to get around if you only have a few days, making it the perfect destination for a long weekend. 

There are plenty of well-priced hotels in San Francisco, meaning you can see the city on foot or via the cable cars without having to travel a long way into the center from the suburbs.