Recently, I had a free weekend and decided to stroll through the trendy neighborhood of Las Olas, an area near downtown Fort Lauderdale.

I wasn’t looking for awe; instead, the awe found me.

My first touch of awe in Las Olas came from the can’t-miss location Pura Vida Miami. I’ve written before about its fabulous blue-and-white ginger latter and how delicious it is. With 15 locations (all on the east coast of Florida), I might need to start a write-in campaign to lobby for a venue on the Gulf, closer to me.

The location I visited is right next to a gorgeous 27-foot statue of a woman opening her own chest, called Thrive. She’s quite the sight for ginger-latte drinkers and Instagrammers visiting the area. Her awe-inspiring, peaceful nature is compelling and soft, especially considering she’s made of nearly 14 tons of concrete! Passersby can actually walk beneath her, sort of like a tunnel adorned with ferns leading you to the Riverwalk. After snapping a few photos, I decided to keep going down the Riverwalk, leisurely watching different yachts and boat cruisers take turns moving up and down the channel.

I then made my way to Las Olas Boulevard and spent some time weaving in and out of museums, shops, boutiques and restaurants. The area is home to Riverside Hotel, the oldest hotel in Fort Lauderdale and sitting in the heart of downtown. With its original 1936 structure, the hotel caught my eye enough to make a mental note for perhaps a future stay.

Although Riverside Hotel certainly caught my eye, my overall attention was nearly hijacked by the overwhelming awe of Unique Treasures. Full of of oversized art and collectables, Unique Treasures was, truly, too elaborate for me to comprehend or explain here. Instead, I’ll offer some generic narration for context and let the photos do the talking.

A 12-foot-tall life-like statue of The Hulk stood alongside a display case of Fabergé eggs. Bronzed mermaid statues were next to an over-the-top Monopoly banker, resembling a metallic Christmas ornament. Huge sportfish hung on the walls next to a modern depiction of Audrey Hepburn. And did I mention the chandeliers?

After touring the store, still in awe, I gathered my wits, smiled, shook my head and walked out the door.

— Carrie Cox, account executive