Sifting through my Miami Beach notebook The Montrealer April 3, 2011 5769 SUNNY ISLES BEACH, Fla. Montrealers travel to South Florida in droves, be it Snowbirds or those just looking to get away for a few weeks. Here is an update on a few noteworthy happenings. MAKING A DIFFERENCE: The Trump International Beach Resort has launched the first phase of its new community outreach program, Make a Difference, Created in an effort to give back and serve the local community, Make a Difference interactively educates, inspires and empowers children to protect the earth’s environment. Globie, the resort’s earth-shaped mascot and “green” ambassador, will embark on a mission to share his eco-education with the children of South Florida four times per year, engaging them in exciting eco-educational activities like song and dance that will teach them how they can make a difference in their community and protect our environment. This Trump property is beyond magnificent and noted such luxuries as the pool and beach cabana food and beverage experience. The oversized air conditioned cabanas redefine the hotel experience and include a refrigerator stocked with soft drinks and water, a television, wet bar area and microwave, a table and chairs, couch and chaise lounges. Beach cabanas are equipped with private bathrooms and showers. Cabana attendants serve three separate culinary offerings throughout the day. For details, visit www.TrumpMiami.com. ACQUALINA RATED AAA: The Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach in Sunny Isles recently earned the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award for 2010. Acqualina was, in fact, the only hotel in South Miami chosen to receive this esteemed award. Acqualina is a coveted member of The Leading Hotels of the World and very popular with Montrealers. This premier Florida retreat is situated on a nearly five-acre sprawl of prime beachfront real estate. It boasts 4.5 beachfront acres with 400 feet of stunning Atlantic coastline, 188 residences, 97 guestrooms and suites, a 20,000 square-foot ESPA award-winning oceanfront spa, two oceanfront restaurants, four swimming pools and an innovative marine biology-based children’s AcquaMarine program. Poolside on a sunny day here is heavenly. The staff is used to pampering guests with delicacies and smoothies from the Costa Grill. As for the pools, the water is warm and comfortable. A DIFFERENT IL MULINO: I received many calls when I last wrote about the Il Mulino New York Restaurant in Sunny Isles Beach, wondering if there was a connection to the Il Mulino Restaurant in Montreal at 236 Rue Saint-Zotique East. There is no relationship whatsoever. Il Mulino New York (www.ilmulino.com) is an international chain, with 13 locations. In Sunny Isles it is located within the Acqualina. The 110-seat indoor restaurant spreads onto a 24-seat veranda overlooking the ocean. Check out the menu online and look out for Maitre D’ Tino Ponti Corvo’s magnificent grappa trolley – something you certainly won’t find in Montreal or at probably any other Il Mulino location. MIAMI ON A BUDGET: You don’t need deep pockets to celebrate Greater Miami and the Beaches. With a mere $15 dollars or less, you can dig your feet into the white sands of South Beach, stroll through the art galleries in Coral Gables, experience the Latin culture of Little Havana, tour the Art Deco district or take the South Beach local bus to one of the city’s more than 22 points of interest. Did you know there are more than 800 Art Deco buildings within a one-mile radius on South Beach? You can view them all as you ride on the South Beach local bus for just 25 cents. A few of the shuttle’s stops include Lincoln Road Mall, the Art Deco Historic District, City Hall, Holocaust Memorial and the Miami Beach Convention Center. For a vacation guide visit www.MiamiAndBeaches.com or call 1-888-76-Miami . Mike Cohen’s email address is [email protected]. Read about his travel adventures at www.sandboxworld.com/travel.