I go down to Miami once or twice a year to visit my in-laws, and I love the energy of the place, the amazing Cuban food, the electrifying Cuban coffee, the beaches nearby, and of course the weather. Prior to 2003, the only other place I had visited in Florida was the Sanibel Islands on the west coast for a long weekend. We loved the peace and quiet of the place, and the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Then, in 2003, we decided to explore the west coast of Florida a little further, and went to Fort Myers and Sarasota.
We liked Fort Myers, but fell in love with Sarasota. Sarasota is a gem. It is located about an hour from Tampa, and an hour and half from Fort Myers on I-75. It is a sophisticated small town that has almost everything you can wish for in a big city: a modern hospital, a renowned University, and great restaurants combined with lots of cultural activities and entertainment. Sarasota is well known for its art galleries, an opera house, the Van Wezel Arts Hall, the Sarasota Orchestra, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the Sarasota Circus, and many other attractions. My favorite spot is probably the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, and the adjacent Ringling Mansion. John was the creator of the famous Ringling Circus in the early 20th century, and the wealth he accumulated throughout the years enabled him to collect works of art by Rubens, van Dyck, Velázquez, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, El Greco, Gainsborough and more (John and Marble Ring Museum of Art).
We then visited Siesta Key, which is also part of Sarasota, and it has been named the number one beach in the U.S. It features quartz sand, crystal clear waters, and a variety of birds. It is a perfect spot for sun bathing, swimming, or just walking along the shore. On Sunday nights locals have a drumming session at sunset, which is a lot of fun. People bring their folding chairs and drinks to the beach to watch the amazing sunset every night.
I hope to go back there sometime, and enjoy some peace and quiet for a change.
Wow, they say a picture is better than a thousand words, but 369 words you have used to describe your experiences paint such a vivid picture that I am ready to set the sail for the west coast! I live steps from the first public beach in America (Revere), but I can only dream of crystal clear waters…We have no birds other than really fat seagulls here and a choice of restaurants is rather limited too.
ReplyDeleteI almost went to Revere Beach when I was in Boston a few weeks ago. I was gonna check out that Kelly's Roast Beef place, which was recommended by a friend of mine. Have you ever eaten there?
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I are planning a vacation this summer, we were thinking Cancun, Riviera Maya, Aruba or Punta Cana but haven't decided yet and after reading this we may just have to add Sarasota to the list.
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