Actually the hotel was on Lido Key (island), not a better location can be found for restaurants, shopping and statues (never discovered why they have so many statues) at St. Armand’s Circle. Other keys connected to Sarasota are Bird Key, Siesta Key and Long Boat Key which turns into Coquina Beach and other smaller keys. The climate down there is almost sub-tropical meaning it rarely gets to freezing and you will find many species of flowers and plants not found outside south Florida.
Our first stop, indeed, was to the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens where we had a docent-led tour of their beautiful orchids, a third of the 20,000 species in nature are here! Also bromeliads, ferns, bamboo, and mangroves. See the banyan tree where Egbert stops to enjoy the story of how Thomas Edison loved these trees and gave away many. You see them everywhere. ..
Egbert is making his way to the shamrocks in honor of St. Patrick's Day (and as a courtesy to Patrick!).
I Love THE NAME OF THIS BAMBOO.
We drove all around Sarasota and into the keys to see the $8 million homes and the million dollar fixer-uppers! We visited St. Armand's Circle and shopped a little and then enjoyed our gulf front view as we read and napped.
Our friendly front desk clerk chatting it up with Egbert while he gets his parking pass.
Trying to catch up with big brother EgBIG.
We spent the entire next day at Ringling Brothers Museum of Art and Circus Museum. We could have stayed for two! It is the main attraction in Sarasota-- sort of like Biltmore in Asheville. Yes, there are other things to do, but this is the overwhelming adventure.
There is the 1925 Mansion designed after the Doges Palace in Venice, the Mable and John Ringling Museum of Art, the John Ringling train parlor car (original), but the most amazing thing at Ringling (and we were extremely impressed with all of it) was the Howard Tibbals Learning Center which features an intricate and unbelievable AND PAIN-STAKINGLY real reconstruction of 50,000 pieces of a circus (called the Howard Circus after himself) which he designed and built over a 50 year span. It contains the big top, smaller tents, ,"the backyard" and the trains and wagons which pulled the animals and circus performers. It is so amazing everyone was just stunned as they enter the room. Then to top it all off for me personally, the city he chose to use was Knoxville, Tennessee, where my Mother is from and where I went to school (UT). I knew the buildings he recreated and the details were all excellent.
The art museum was spectacular, especially the grounds. Many ca. 1300 paintings as well as modern art, cfeaturing hundreds of artists and most coming from Venice and Florence. Many Reubens. Very impressive. Unable to take any pictures, though.
The rose garden was absolutely gorgeous!
Our final evening we spent dining at Marina Jack's and had a lovely waterside view of the beautiful yachts in the marina!
All in all a very wonderful get-away.
It is good to be home though with the pups and the trike!
I love your guide! What a great getaway trip. When we worked in Shelburne, Vt there was a museum there that house a miniature circus carved out of wood. All aspects of the circus were included. Unfortunately we didn't get to tour it as the only day we were able to tour the museum it was very hot and there was no a/c in that building and it wasn't open.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures of the roses are wonderful, could almost smell them.
So glad you had a great time. Squeezes to all.
Rosie
We loved our time in Sarasota when Tom was in treatment there. That museum was/is great. Spent a day there, but could have spent 2.
ReplyDeleteDee
Hi Peggy-What a fun trip for you two . . . and Egbert! My very favorite photo was the one of him trying to catch up to EgBig—I can’t believe you caught such a perfect picture while driving down the road. You’ve seen the Flat Stanley book, I assume? If not, look it up online since it is similar to your adventures with Egbert. It looks like you had perfect weather, esp at the botanical gardens and the rose garden. You took some really great shots! And it looks like you were there at the perfect time because it was gorgeous. I feel like I’m on a trip when I look at your blog . . . the details and all the photos made it so much fun to read! I bet the pups gave you a big welcome when you came home. Hope you’ve been feeling good and that your stomach problems have subsided. I’m so impressed that you are traveling and staying so busy. And you’re off to Vegas, too!! Go see the Cirque du Soleil for me! Oh, and the art at the Ringling Museum sounds fabulous but—I’ll be brief on this subject—they always forget to mention that the elephants are chained when not performing and Ringling’s “training” techniques are brutal. They are coming to Asheville soon. Enough said . . . guess what, it’s FINALLY spring here, too!!!! we are ecstatic! I’m working day and night on my final project and I’m halfway finished (very exciting!). Natalie has one more 6-week internship that she’s about to start (in TN) and she’s finished with school, too. Amidst all of this business we are buying a house, too. It’s a neat old stone cottage on an acre—we’re so excited. Hi to Patrick, Reese, and Allie! :) Michelle
ReplyDeleteMichelle. You are buying a house! Wow! I would love to see pictures. Is it in Asheville? I knew about the elephants and they try to tell you how kind they are to the elepahants but we know better. So glad spring has come to WNC. I was worried about you all freezing to death up there. Good luck on your final project and congrats to both of you for all your hard work over the past few years. It will be worth it as you two move on through life.
ReplyDeletehi Peggy-cold and rainy here again . . . brrrrr! i can't wait to hear all about your birthday trip!! yes, the house is in south asheville (skyland area) and we can't wait to move in May. i'll try to take some good photos to send to you! have fun in Vegas and win lots of money! :) michelle
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