Dear George,
Katja and I are just back from a weeklong vacation in Siesta Key, one of the barrier islands neighboring Sarasota, Fla., on the Gulf of Mexico coast. Katja summed it up as being in Paradise, and I’d have to agree. Beach vacations are my favorite, and Siesta Key was one of the most desirable locations we’ve been to. Here are some pics and comments.
We stayed at the Tropical Beach Resorts at Crescent Beach in Siesta Key. Perhaps 200 yards from the ocean, the beach was easily accessible from complex. Tropical Beach Resorts has an “old Florida” ambiance about it, probably originally a large multi-building motel complex that has been renovated in resort-like fashion. Lots of amenities: two swimming pools, several small parks with palm trees and flowers, a shuffleboard court, barbecue grills, free beach chairs and towels, etc. We liked our resort more than the huge high-rise hotels which lined the beach in several areas.
The beach and the ocean, of course, were the center of our stay, and we spent two or three hours there every day. Travel experts have designated Siesta Key as having the #1 beach in the world, and we could see why. The white sand is so soft and fine-grained that it trickles through your fingers. The Gulf varies between calm and wavy enough to body-surf, though the waves were less high than we’ve previously seen on the Atlantic coast. Siesta Key had kite-surfing, paddle boards, kayaking, fishing, parasailing, helicopter rides, sail- and power-boating, and lots of swimming and hiking. I saw a 6-year-old boy who had built an immense sand castle with at least 150 turrets.
When we weren’t relaxing at the beach, we were usually getting ready to go out and eat. There are endless restaurants catering to the tourist crowd. Our best dinner was at Miguel’s French Restaurant on our last night. We both had delicious cobra, a north Atlantic fish I’d never had before. My favorite place was the HH and DD restaurant (with the red awning), which claimed (I’m sure correctly) to serve the Reuben sandwich voted #1 in the State of Florida. Katja had oysters on the half-shell at Captain Curt’s Clam & Oyster, Daiquiri Deck (the best), Spearfish Grill, and the Siesta Key Oyster Bar. We also enjoyed meals at The Toasted Mango, Clayton’s Siesta Grill, Muse, Anna’s Deli, and the Upper Crust Bakery & Cafe. (Now I am fasting to shed a few gained pounds.)
Sarasota, of course, was for years the winter home of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. John and Mable Ringling had their opulent estate there, and The Ringling is now the State Art Museum of Florida. We spent one afternoon at the 21-gallery Art Museum, modeled after the Uffizi gallery in Florence. The Ringlings’ massive collection centered on old masters, including Velazquez, Poussin, van Dyke, and the world’s largest collection of Peter Paul Rubens. The contemporary galleries were also exciting, especially a photography exhibit by Brooklynite Hank Willis Thomas.
We returned to the Ringling the next day to tour the Circus Museum, and it was an emotional, nostalgic trip. Circus wagons, train cars, costumes, posters, props, and paraphernalia of all sorts. In addition, there was an astonishing “miniature” circus model built by Howard Tibbals, 44,000 pieces and 3,840 square feet in area. Katja bought a Ringling T-shirt, a Ringling cap, and a Ringling coin purse before leaving, making her a walking advertisement.
Siesta Village was the resorty shopping/restaurant/nightlife section toward the north end of the Key. A free trolley shuttle picked us up at our resort and deposited us at Ocean and Beach. They were having an art festival on our first visit, and it was fun to see all the images of the Gulf Coast, especially the eye-catching photography.
The Mote Aquarium fit our desire to immerse ourselves in Floridiana. One of the major oceanographic research laboratories in the nation, they provide refuge and healing to many wounded or orphaned sea creatures. We were especially taken by the sea turtles and the manatees.
On our next to last evening we took a Sunset Cruise from Siesta Key marina along the length of the barrier islands. The massive wealth in the area was evident, including Sarasota homes or former homes of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Bette Midler, Stephen King, Jerry Springer, Nick Bolletieri, Martina Navratilova, Prince, Dick Vitale, “Macho Man” Randy Savage., and many others. We stopped at a big sandbar near the gulf, waded in the water searching for seashells, and enjoyed the gorgeous Gulf Coast sunset.
On our last day we drove down to Venice and Venice Beach, took a hike on their beach (also lovely), did some browsing in Venice Beach shops and gift stores, and had our last lunch at the Upper Crust Bakery and Cafe.
Our week seemed to whiz by, and we were sad when it came to an end. Katja stopped at one of the Siesta Key realtors and got information on monthly rentals. Who knows what lies ahead?
Love,
Dave
No comments:
Post a Comment