#margaritaville-brand-empire

#margaritaville-brand-empire

Casa Marina, a storied resort that originally opened in 1925, is set on Key West's largest private beach and in its 100-year past, has hosted luminaries like Rita Hayworth, Guy Lombardo, Ernest Hemingway, Donald Sutherland, Helen Mirren, and Ozzie Osbourne. For Lilly Pulitzer, a brand synonymous with a resort lifestyle and sense of escape, the designer's first ever prints were developed on Key West in 1962.

Marquesa may be one of the most unique properties in the Sunshine State. Constructed in 1884, the main building of the hotel was originally a butcher's home and still retains tons of Old Florida charm. You can frolic through the courtyard, enjoying the comforts of Southern charm, while surrounded by French-Gothic architecture that is painted with the bright colors of Florida.

Buffett's brand, operating under Margaritaville Holdings LLC, is a multibillion-dollar empire. Under the brand's umbrella is an impressive array of Buffet-related ventures: There are Margaritaville casinos, retirement homes, beach resorts, a radio station, and even a home décor line. However, the real bread and butter of the brand has always been food and drink.

Easily accessible from major U.S. cities, the Exumas remain refreshingly uncrowded, making them one of the Caribbean's true hidden gems, at least for now. As the wealthy look for privacy in paradise, and the world's most sought-after resort groups like Aman and Rosewood prepare to plant their own flags there in the coming years, everyone seems to have their sights on the Exumas.

When retirement approaches, many start to wonder where they want to spend their golden years. Some might be most comfortable in the familiar surroundings of their hometowns, but others envision themselves in an idyllic location-one that offers beaches, sunshine, palm trees, and a laid-back vibe. Whether the goal is to reduce expenses and live comfortably on a fixed income or to spend retirement in luxury among beautiful scenery, some tropical spots are perfect for seniors.

If you're wasting away in Margaritaville, you want to be drinking a good margarita. And the Margaritaville man himself has just the recipe. The legendary singer is best known for his hit song "Margaritaville" and the brand he built around it, including restaurant and resort chains, food products, and - of course - tequila. It's no surprise that he also knew exactly how to make a perfect margarita.

Albury Landing is a nine-bedroom estate located just 90 minutes south of Miami. The design-forward compound, available only for full buyouts, is spread across five coastal-chic structures: a four-bedroom main house, three standalone one-bedroom villas, and a two-bedroom residence, which, together, can accommodate up to 18 guests.

Despite decades of jokes and occasional bad publicity, cruise vacations are more popular than ever - just ask the tens of millions of Americans who take one every year and together represent more than half of all annual cruise travelers. Today's ships are massive, complex affairs backed by giant corporations and celebrity commercial sponsorships, all commanding big money. And while to the uninitiated, a ship may just seem like any other ship, experienced cruisers increasingly understand that unique offerings make all the difference.

Above an oasis of floppy sun hats, chinos, and pastel polos on most weekday afternoons, you will find one of Manhattan's most formidable cohorts: the power lunchers. We visited the Midtown location of Tommy Bahama, a clothing store that also includes a chain of restaurants, on a recent Tuesday. The interior design was straight out of a beachfront vacation home, but the environment was more work than play.

So when my family and I touched down in an 18-seater plane on Mustique's airstrip, I was expecting to find a place with the high-touch sheen of private island resorts elsewhere in the region: a celebrity chef-driven restaurant, perhaps; a ritzy beach club; or a boutique selling designer swimwear. But Mustique isn't about five-star bells and whistles-not on the surface, at least.