Some vacations are simply experienced with dates marked off on the calendar.(Some of our best vacays have been stay-cays!)
This vacation/get-away was a last-minute-fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants adventure, lasting for almost 2 weeks!
Retirement has its perks, and being able to come and go without deadlines is at the top of the perks list!
Sarasota Florida is 827 miles from Roanoke (12ish hours of driving time).
We drove to Savannah for the first overnight.
Savannah is always a fun stop for us, providing excellent restaurants,views of the water, touring the city with its southern charm, and of course people watching! Here is another blog posted last year of Savannah with more photos! --->SAVANNAH, A SOUTHERN JOURNEY (If you haven't been, GO!)
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| Forsyth Park Fountain |
We love Savannah's River Street, paved with 200-yr old cobblestones. The century old buildings once cotton warehouses have been converted to shops, galleries, pubs, restaurants, and inns.
Our evening meal was 5-stars! THE COTTON EXCHANGE (click here to see their menu).
It was sooooooo delicious that we ate another meal there, on our return home!
I'll be making that shrimp and organic stone ground grits lightly fried and roasted red peppers, onions, andouille and smothered in sherry cream sauce..... for sure!
The views outside the restaurant were stunning!
ONWARD TO FLORIDA!
The Sunshine State welcomed us with LOTS OF WARM WEATHER AND SUNSHINE.
Here are a few "ahhhhhhh" moments from our first day! Siesta Key Beach is THE PRETTIEST, WHITEST, SOFTEST, beach, ever! The sand is 99% pure quartz, soft and cool on the feet!.
The beaches are equally beautiful when the sun is setting!
While staying in Sarasota, we visited 5 beaches!(Click on highlighted links below to see additional info).
SIESTA KEY
VENICE BEACH
CASEY KEY BEACH
LIDO KEY BEACH
LONGBOAT KEY BEACH
One would think that we both were a couple of beach bums.
AND THOSE SAND CASTLES!!!!!
The Sarasota area includes many residential sections.(and some extraordinarily large abodes, making me even more grateful for my modest 'el-rancho in the mountains of southwest Virginia!)
Within walking distance is the popular BAYFRONT PARK and MARINA JACK
Of course, we spent lots of time here!
Downtown Sarasota is the civic and cultural center of Sarasota. Here is an article published in the December 2016 issue of Sarasota Magazine: WHAT TO DO IN DOWNTOWN SARASOTA. Included are places to eat, shop, and do. "Having fun in Sarasota doesn't require a lot of money." Listed in this link are 50 fun and free things to do in and around Sarasota!50 FREE AND FUN THINGS TO DO. And one more link about Florida: FLORIDA'S BEST KEPT SECRET
Not to be forgotten is the MOTE AQUARIUM.
One could spend days at John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art---> or even days just on the link here: The RINGLING
We read, we slept, we walked, we ate, we talked, we laughed, and we took a few photos.
We were easily entertained.
But most of all..... we enjoyed being with each other ♥
We visited long-time friends, Bob, Jane, and Kelly, who now reside in Venice!
Seems like 'almost yesterday', we were living in Richmond, while hubbies were in dental school!
Palm trees, palm trees, and more palm trees:
St. Armands Circle is a must-see, if you visit Sarasota.
Here is a little history of the Allegory of Sarasota, It's Seven Virtues represented with Statures----> Allegory of Sarasota. Yep, we saw all of the statues, and a bucket-load of high-ended retail stores, and busy restaurants. People-watching was a definite past time for us!
Before arriving in St. Armands Circle, we stopped to admire the retirement community that Ron's great Aunt Ruby resided in for many years. Little did we know then, that she lived in the HUB of the Sarasota area!
We lost track of time, days, schedules, and reality!
Our get-away was great!
But.....
HOME-SWEET-HOME is the best place to be!
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