DRIVING 'ROUND FLORIDA

I’ve been to Florida more than I’ve wanted this year. I’ve rented a car each time. You HAVE to if you want to get anywhere. I never get GPS but I have the next best thing – my blackberry with Google Maps for mobile. It saves my life – I waste a little less time getting lost.

I need it to find Sweet Tomatoes, a must-stop for me when in Orlando because I can never find a decent place to eat. For example, there is one nice restaurant on International Drive (where the Convention Center is) – Capital Grille – and then it’s a row of chains: Uno, Bahama Breeze, Sizzler, Ponderosa, TGIF, you name it. It seems like every chain restaurant is represented here. I used to grab and go from Sweet Tomatoes in Houston when I did my first golf tournament. We don’t have Sweet Tomatoes in NJ, but if you’re from the southern & western parts of the US, you know it’s a great cheap place for an awesome make-your-own salad. Sound healthy, right? But you turn the corner from the salad bar to find a pasta bar, bread bar, soup bar, and ice cream bar. Some people sure take advantage of the all-you-can eat bar.

* A recommendation for the directionally challenged, like me: download maps for mobile at www.google.com/gmm for the next best thing to GPS. Check the site for compatible devices. (And try Sweet Tomatoes when you have the chance.)