It's Raining Cats and Dogs

Original painting of It's Raining Cats and Dogs, the signature art piece of Fur Ball 2019 by local artist, Matt Moffett.

One Week Stay at Casa Piazza

Located in the exclusive gated community of La Punta which features controlled 24-hour security, Casa Piazza is a stunning 8000 square foot multi-level blending of Mexican and Italian Mediterranean architecture. Created by owner Scott Piazza and Italian designer Paolo Cressini, Casa Piazza is spacious and airy, designed for relaxed tropical living and lively entertaining.

Unusual and well-thought-out touches catch your eye everywhere, like custom made hardwood furniture, Mexican tile work, American antiques and Malaysian chairs. Some beds are adapted from antique farmhouse doors and the floors are tile, hand-peened brick and stone.

The property has sculpted grounds, a tiled swimming pool, two separate palapas (outdoor living areas) wet bar and spa tub. At every turn you'll find striking views, comfortable furniture, balconies and large windows that admit the cooling sea breezes.

Easily accommodating ten guests, the main house offers 5 master bedrooms with 6-1/2 baths. Every bedroom has a private balcony, comfortable King bed, air conditioning and ceiling fan. The outdoor dining pavilion seats 12 guests adjacent to a modern, fully equipped kitchen with gourmet appliances. The sprawling living and family rooms are perfect for relaxation with comfortable sofas, satellite TVs, VCR/ DVD player, a film library, games, ping pong table, books and recreational diversions galore. Up on the 1600 square foot rooftop terrace, life is good as you watch the afternoon slip into evening and enjoy after-dinner drinks.

The tiled pool terrace features chaises, deck chairs and tables with large umbrellas to shade you from the afternoon sun. Just across the street are 4 semi-private tennis hard courts with night lighting. The Casa Piazza staff includes a manager, chef, houseman and maid. They are all dedicated to making your vacation perfect in every respect.

5 Night Stay at Big Cedar Lodge

In the midst of hectic lifestyles, with our faces pointed toward our smartphones, it is easy to lose sight of the robust beauty that comes from Mother Nature herself. Located deep within the Ozark Mountains is a world-class resort that offers an escape into the immersive relaxation of the great outdoors, with all the comforts of home. Big Cedar Lodge is a remote haven of natural beauty that truly brings conservation to life through nature-inspired accommodations, immersive wildlife attractions and breathtaking views. Inspired by a commitment to conservation, Johnny Morris, the founder of Bass Pro Shops, created Big Cedar Lodge to encourage visitors and their families to connect with the great outdoors.

Tucked away in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, Big Cedar Lodge was occupied by Native Americans for over a century. Shortly after the turn of the twentieth century, railroads expanded through the area, transforming this everyday world into a vacation paradise.

In the 1920s, two Missouri natives, business entrepreneur Jude Simmons and Frisco Railroad executive Harry Worman, acquired 300 acres of forest and built lavish country resort homes on the land known as Big Cedar Hollow along the White River.

Simmons created a log mansion, while Worman constructed a Tudor-style retreat made of stone and stucco. Both homes were built with native materials, which are still on display at Devil’s Pool Restaurant and The Worman House.

Travel became more difficult during the Great Depression, and the Simmons and Worman families spent less time in their wilderness retreats, eventually selling the property to a logging firm. In 1947, Dan Norris, a real estate executive and hotel operator purchased the property. Norris added a lodge, swimming pool and stable, creating Devil’s Pool Guest Ranch. In 1958, the White River was dammed to form Table Rock Lake, setting the stage for the premier wilderness resort in the Ozarks, Big Cedar Lodge.

Bass Pro Shops’ founder, Johnny Morris, purchased the property in 1987, restored the Simmons and Worman buildings to their original prominence and began to build a larger wilderness resort.

Today, Big Cedar Lodge is spread over 4,600 acres in its own wooded hollow. It overlooks the 43,000-acre Table Rock Lake, and has quickly matured into the “#1 Resort in the Midwest” according to Travel and Leisure.

Experience the past and present grand beauty as you settle into Big Cedar Lodge today.

One Week Stay at the Vanderbilt Beach and Harbor Club in Naples, Florida

Naples is the crown jewel of Southwest Florida -- nestled on the sun drenched beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Naples is known for world class shopping, dining and abundant, challenging golf courses. It is also, only steps away from island seclusion or the untamed tropical wilderness of The Everglades. Boasting one of the nation's best sandboxes and calmest seas, Naples makes a splash with water lovers and recreationists. Friendly parks beckon sports enthusiasts and picnickers with lovely green spaces and recreational facilities. Naples is located on the Gulf of Mexico in Southwest Florida.