Clearwater Beach, Tarpon Springs and a suprising find

Although we both grew up within a couple of hours of Tarpon Springs this was our first visit.  

We finished up our "Florida Adventure" week with four nights at Clearwater Beach.  Like we had done in Orlando, we took advantage of some lower than normal rates. This time staying at the Marriott at Sand Key.  All the rooms here are two room suites with balconies and nice views of the intercoastal waterway.  It's a nice property and because of some status I earned staying at Marriott's while working we were given a nice upgrade to a top floor.

Sunrise from the Clearwater Marriott

We designed this adventure so the "busy stuff" like Sea World and Busch Gardens would be early in the week and the second half was dedicated to the fine art of relaxing.  It's all worked out according to plan!  Although we did a little bit of exploring by car, there was plenty of hot tub time, walks on the beach and of course eating.
A sign at the entrance to Clearwater Beach proclaims it "Florida's Top Beach".  Going a step further, in 2018 Trip Advisor named it the #1 beach in America.  We've roamed quite a few miles of the wide, white sand beach and they can certainly make an argument for either title.  It hasn't been great beach weather (a little chilly, windy and rainy at times) but we were able to enjoy getting out everyday.
Clearwater Beach

The view southward from the Marriott.  The intercoastal is on the left and you can catch a glimpse of the gulf between the two buildings

If you're not familiar with this area and want to check it out for a day visit there is parking along the main stretch of Clearwater Beach.  There is even more parking available at Sand Key Park which is located adjacent to the Sheraton Sand Key.  Parking here will set you back $5 for the day.  There are picnic tables, restrooms, showers, changing facilities and some concessions.
Sand Key Park
Of course you gotta eat and there are plenty of choices in the area.  We enjoyed a nice casual lunch at Frenchy's Rockaway Grill.  There are actually five Frenchy's restaurants in the area.  The Rockaway one is located right on the beach.  There are plenty of seafood options on the menu and there is live music most days from 1:00 PM through the evening.  Good food at a good price in a very casual beachy atmosphere, there's no downside to that combination.  We also enjoyed a nice lunch at the Columbia Restaurant which is located next to the hotel.  The Columbia has been serving up some of the best Spanish/Cuban food since 1905.  Their first restaurant was in the Ybor City section of Tampa.  I'm not sure if it is in the original location but it has the distinction of being Florida's longest continually operating restaurant.  There are now four other restaurants and two cafes including one at Tampa International Airport.  There are lots of good looking items on the menu but our usual "go to" is a 1905 Salad, Spanish Bean Soup, a Cuban sandwich and a pitcher of sangria (we like the red better than the white but they're both good).  You'll also get a piece of nice warm Cuban bread which is delivered daily from the La Segunda Bakery in Tampa.  If you've never had real Cuban bread you are in for a treat.  A baguette from Paris has nothing on Cuban bread from Tampa.
Frenchy's Rockaway Grill
Columbia Restaurant
On Thursday afternoon we made a short 30 minute drive north on US Alt-19 to the city of Tarpon Springs.  This city of around 25,000 has the distinction of having the highest percentage of Greek Americans in the United States (around 12%).   Tarpon Springs developed a unique industry back in the 1800's of harvesting sponges from the local Gulf of Mexico waters.  In 1905 a Greek immigrant introduced a diving technique that allowed for more productive harvesting of the sponges.  The industry continued to grow until a red tide algae bloom in 1947 killed many of the sponges.  Although the sponge industry is still alive most are now man made, fishing and shrimp boats have replaced most of the sponge diving boats.  Of course with that heavy of a concentration of Greek Americans there is no shortage of Greek restaurants around town, especially in the sponge dock area.  Using Trip Advisor as our guide we ended up at Hellas Bakery and Restaurant.  We had a really nice Greek Salad, Gyro and Chicken Souvlaki followed up by a couple of tasty treats from the bakery including Baklava...…….Opa!
Hellas Bakery and Restaurant

A statue dedicated to the sponge divers of Tarpon Springs

Hellas Bakery and Restaurant

Sponges for sale-all shapes and sizes

A bike that was fished out of the Gulf of Mexico.  In addition to the barnacles it was starting to grow sponges.

The surprise that we found on the drive from Clearwater to Tarpon Springs was Dunedin.  I really couldn't have told you much about Dunedin before Thursday afternoon.  I could have picked out it's general location on a map and told you that it was the Spring Training home of the Toronto Blue Jays.  It looked interesting as we drove through so we stopped and explored it a bit on the way back.  There was a very nice downtown with small shops and restaurants, a waterfront area with a large marina, hotel and restaurant and a very nice waterfront.  One of the most intriguing things was the Pinellas Trail.  Depending on the source, the walking/biking trail is anywhere from 38 to 53 miles in length from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs.  This is part of the "rails to trails" program that converts old railroad lines into walking and biking paths.  I think the discrepancy in the length of the trail is simply due to the fact that they are continuing to expand it. Upon doing a little more research we learned that Dunedin has been recognized as one of the most livable small towns in Florida and one of America's best walking cities.  Although we didn't spend too much time in Dunedin we spent enough to know that we'd like to come back and take in more of Main Street, the waterfront and the Pinellas Trail.

Me and Flipper

One of the many themed decorations along Main Street in Dunedin

One of the buildings in downtown had a huge mural titled "Welcome to Dogedin".  It was a project by a local artist.  All the dogs (and a few cats) that are painted on the mural are real pets.  A donation was made by their owners to the Animal Welfare League.  Great idea!

Murals for Mutts

The Old Dunedin Railroad Station-now it's the local historical society museum 

Not a great picture but this is the Pinellas Trail as it passes through Dunedin.

We're back on AMI now.  We'll be here through Christmas afternoon.  Ben will be joining us on the 23rd.  Then after the traditional Christmas lunch with Beth's extended family the three of us (me, Beth and Ben) will be flying out to California to celebrate Christmas with Sarah, Joey and James.  We'll ring in the new year on the west coast which is really nice.  We only have to stay up until 9:00 PM local time to see the ball drop in Times Square.
It's a nutty time of year and a nutty world out there.  Stay safe and sane!

Sea World, Free Disney and Busch Gardens!

Beth and her cool friend at Sea World

We're taking advantage of a Black Friday deal and the calm before the Christmas tourist storm to do a little Florida adventure this week.  Beth heard the Black Friday deal on the local news.  It was a one day admission to both Sea World and Bush Gardens for $70 total.  This saved us about $30 per person on a two park admission ticket. We were also able to take advantage of this being a very slow week at the hotels and we got some very nice rates in Orlando and Clearwater Beach.
First up was Orlando, the vacation capital of the galaxy.  Our hotel was a Double Tree (booked through Hotwire) that was within walking distance of Sea World which meant no parking fee ($25) or hassle of catching a shuttle.  It was our first visit to Sea World-Orlando in about 25 years.  Although it was a Saturday and fairly busy it was far from being crowded, especially compared to what the crowds will be like in a week or two when all the Christmas visitors show up.
Sea World has taken it's fair share of criticism in recent years over their captivity of animals, especially whales.  From what I understand the whales at the park were a part of their breeding program which has been discontinued.  If these whales were released in the ocean they would have no natural instincts or resistance to some of the crud that can be found in the oceans.  In other words, they wouldn't last long.  Besides, they seemed pretty content being in Orlando.  With the exception of one show (Walrus show) the shows were nicely done and much more educational than they had been in the past.  The park was really nicely decorated for Christmas and featured several very nice holiday shows.  We got to the park a few hours after it's 10:00 AM opening and enjoyed it so much that we stayed until pretty close to closing time before taking the short walk back to the hotel.

A whale of a jump

Free and Disney aren't two words you typically find in the same sentence, but it can be done.  Of course parent(s) or folks from the frozen north aren't going to bring their kid(s) or come to the Disney area without plopping down about a billion dollars for park admission, mouse ears, Cinderella dress, t-shirts, and other overpriced souvenirs and food.  Since we've been to the parks enough to fill a life time (or at least until James gets a little older) we had no interest in the parks.  However, for the low cost of "free" you can wonder around Disney Springs (formerly called Downtown Disney)and downtown Celebration.  There are plenty of shops and restaurants to fit any budget.  We really enjoyed a very casual place called "Chicken Guy" which is a new place that is owned by Guy Fieri.
You can really amuse yourself in the Disney store at Disney Springs watching folks fork over real money like it's monopoly money for "stuff" they don't really need but just have to buy, like a mouse ear headband for $30!  Like Sea World, both Disney Springs and Celebration were decked out for the season.  Both were very festively decorated.  Celebration even had an outdoor ice skating rink, fake snow on the ground that looked like a massive shaving cream spill and fake snow that falls from the surrounding light poles several times per night.
Chicken Guy

The "S" in Disney should be "$"

Why plop down $30.  Just put them on, get your picture made and put them back on the shelf

Disney Springs Main Tree

A rocking chair by the lake in Celebration.  What more do you need?

Downtown Celebration complete with fake snow

Beth's carriage awaits!

Voodoo Donuts in Universal City Walk.  The donuts weren't nearly as good as the ones at the original store in Portland.  Maybe because the employees didn't have any tattoos or piercings like the folks who work in Portland.

We finished up by spending yesterday (Tuesday) at Busch Gardens.  Because it was a weekday and the temperature was slightly nippy (high around 60) there were probably only a 1000 or so people spread out over the 335 acres, which made it feel very empty.  Just the way we like it!  If you were a roller coaster enthusiast you would have thought you had died and gone to heaven.  There was no waiting to be dropped, twisted and turned on any of the half dozen or so major coasters.  Our roller coastering days are behind us although we did ride a "kiddie coaster" called the Sand Serpent and the Merry Go Round.  I, in a temporary lapse of good judgement, got on the "Falcon's Fury".  This implement of torture takes you up close to 350 feet in the air, points you straight down to the ground and releases you.  As the designers intended, it slowed down and stopped before I face planted into the concrete.  Beth captured it all on video and I'm sure it would have gotten many more views had there been a malfunction.  I can live without the fame and notoriety!

Busch Gardens Skyride

A hat thief!

Mom and baby (just over a year old).  A face only a mother could love!

A wild time on the Merry Go Round!

Falcon's Fury.  The girl next to me was from Argentina.  She was crying real tears.  I'm not sure if she was scared of the ride or didn't like sitting by me.  I had to take my glasses off so I really couldn't see much...…..maybe it was better that way!

(There is a video at the end of the blog)

Serengeti Overlook-Busch Gardens

Bird Whisperer!

Busch Gardens after dark

As with Sea World, there were several nice Christmas shows.  Most of which we had seen previously since we had visited Busch Gardens at Christmas the two previous years.  I guess we're developing somewhat of a trend and it's a nice one!

Manatee County Trails..........something old, something new

At the south end of the Coquina Beach Trail.  That's Longboat Pass and Longboat Key in the background

To anyone who is a regular or semi-regular reader of this blog (thank you), you are aware that we spend quite a bit of time throughout the year on Anna Maria Island.  You are most likely aware of the fact that we like walking.  AMI is a nice place to enjoy the outdoors.   If we walk 4-5 blocks west we're on the beach.  We're then faced with the dilemma of "do we turn right or left".  Either direction gives us miles of white sand beach for our walking pleasure.  As we walk the beach there is plenty of entertainment with birds, dolphins, boats, locals out for a stroll and tourists enjoying a slice of paradise before returning home.  If the tide is high we can opt for walking neighborhoods on sidewalks or uncrowded side streets.  It's easy to get spoiled!
This week we took advantage of the cooler temperatures and small crowds to explore a couple of places that we don't usually walk, because to reach them a short car ride is required.  As I previously confessed, we're kind of spoiled!
First up was the Coquina Beach trail at the south end of the island.  This trail is a nice paved trail that is about a mile and a half in length.  There is great parking along the trail since most of it is through the well maintained public beach.  Most of the trail is shaded by huge trees.  Sometimes you're close to the water and at others you may be a few hundred yards off shore but it's rarely out of view.  If you start at the north end you will end up at the Longboat Pass.  From here you can retrace your steps back or if you're feeling like putting in some more miles continue across the Longboat Key Bridge and explore Longboat Key.  This was a trail that we were familiar with and had walked quite a few times over the years. It's a very nice way to explore the south end of the island.
Coquina Beach

We actually did this trail twice this past week.  The second time we were joined by Beth's sister, Debbie.

The Queen and her court

There are great places to enjoy sunset along the trail

Another priceless sunset! 

The first "something new" for me was Robinson Preserve.  Beth had walked this trail once or twice before but it was a new one for me.  This is a 682 acre preserve made up of mangroves and tidal marshes. There is a main trail that is a little over two miles in length (one way) as well as multiple other trails branching off the main trail.  In addition there are picnic tables, fishing areas and an observation tower that overlooks the preserve.
Robinson Preserve

I was making sure NaNa knew the rules....especially no jumping off the bridges!

A stork feeding in the tidal area

The day we walked it, we shared the preserve with a flock of white pelicans.  These are true "snow birds".  Unlike their cousin, the brown pelican, they migrate down from the north every winter.  They are a little less social than the brown pelican which can be easily found all along the coast.  They also flock together more than the brown pelican and hunt for their food (fish) as a group instead of individually.  It was a nice sight to see a large flock of them relaxing in one of the tidal areas.  While watching them we talked a bit to another couple who have walked the path frequently over the past couple of years.  They shared with us that this was the first time they had seen them in that area.  Maybe we should have bought a lottery ticket, it seems like it was our lucky day.  This amazing county maintained facility was less than a ten minute drive away.  It's a destination I hope we make frequently in the future.
White Pelicans

White Pelicans!  

On another day we were in downtown Bradenton and explored a bit along the Riverwalk Park (another "something new").  This 1.5 mile stretch along the Manatee River is a real beauty as well.  There is a nice paved path, numerous places to picnic or just sit and enjoy the views.  It also features nineteen pieces of artwork, an amphitheater, sand volleyball courts, a skateboard park (maybe a few decades back but not now) a children's park and fishing pier.  We didn't have much time so we only did a small portion of this park but are already looking forward to visiting it again sometime soon.
Riverwalk

Riverfront Park

I guess the moral of the story is that it's easy to get spoiled.  There's nothing not to like about the scenic walks available to us just outside the door, but there are other amazing things to explore close by that are well worth the little effort required to reach them.

Stepping back in time...........life in Florida before "the mouse"

Today Beth, NaNa and I took a little field trip.  Our destination was Sarasota Jungle Gardens, which is located around 30 minutes from Anna Maria Island.  Although it was just a short drive it was like turning the clock back.  Florida has been a tourist destination since Ponce de Leon discovered the "Fountain of Youth" over near St. Augustine.  The white sand beaches that make up most of the 1,350 miles of coastline have always been an attraction.  We've also had, for as long as I've been roaming the planet, a number of "tourist attractions" throughout the state.  When it comes to "tourist attractions", you can divide Florida's tourism history into two distinct time periods, PM (Pre-mouse) and AM (After Mouse).  Having lived through a bit of both I can attest to the differences between the two.
The Florida tourist attractions back in the pre-mouse days were small (by todays theme park standards) and plentiful.  As you made your way south through the Sunshine State there were attractions like Silver Springs and Six Gun Territory in Ocala.  Weeki Wachee Springs (home of live mermaids!), Cypress Gardens (famous for it's water ski show), Lowry Park Zoo, Sunken Gardens, Bok Tower and Gatorland in Central Florida and the Seaquarium and Serpentarium in Miami just to name a few.  Then the mouse arrived!
I remember stopping by the Disney Preview Center with my mom and dad sometime back in 1970 and getting a sneak peak at what was to come in the next few years.  I was around 12 years old and couldn't wait until it opened.  I think in my young skull I was thinking "there is no way I could ever visit some place as far away as California" (where Disney Land is located).  Now Disney World is going to be just up the road, who needs California anyway?  Once the Disney World theme park was announced I lost interest in all the attractions that I had previously enjoyed, as well as those that were on my "wish list" to visit.  Soon I'd be zooming across the galaxy on Space Mountain, spinning in circles until I turned green on some oversized tea cups, riding on a flying elephant and more, all at the happiest place on earth...……..Walt Disney World! 
Walt Disney World Preview Center
Miraculously some of the little guys of yesteryear have survived and I'm so glad they are still with us.  Today's visit to Jungle Gardens made me realize just how special these little jewels from the past were, and still are today.  It was a combination of stepping back in time and a trip down memory lane all for one low admission price.
Jungle Gardens opened in 1939.  It sits on ten acres which at one time may have qualified as being in the "jungle" but which now sits in the middle of a neighborhood.  There's a small sign at the entrance that could easily be missed if you weren't paying attention.  Beth and I used to make occasional trips  here when Ben was little and before Sarah arrived on the scene.  It was an easy stop just off Highway 41 between where we lived in Port Charlotte and Beth's parents (NaNa and PaPa) house out on Anna Maria Island.   At one point we were even season pass holders, which probably set us back fifteen or twenty bucks back in the day.
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
Ben is now thirty so it's fair to say that today's visit was our first in over a quarter of a century.  I was pleased to see that not only had it survived but other than a fresh coat of paint, that it remained pretty much unchanged as best as I can remember.
Parking was free and plentiful.  As a matter of fact, just for kicks I counted the cars in the parking lot as we were leaving.  There was a grand total of nineteen.  Given the number of "guests", I'm pretty sure that included staff cars as well.  (A little explaining on the crowd size, and a "Visiting Florida Tip") The first two weeks of December are a great time to visit Florida.  The weather is usually very pleasant and the crowds are small.  I know todays crowd reflected the time of year and the fact that it was a Monday, otherwise they would have closed their doors years ago.
You enter the gardens through a small but well stocked gift shop. We got a kick out of seeing some cool looking small shells that have been glued together to look like animals.  They were selling for a buck (they would probably sell at Disney World for around $15).  If we had a house to put them in I'm sure we'd be the proud owners of some of them (just what every home needs).  Once inside you can enjoy the wonders of a bird show, a reptile show, feed live alligators with a pair of what must be the worlds longest forceps, get close to numerous animals that are housed in decent sized habitats, walk through the Garden of Christ which tells the story of the bible from birth to resurrection in 8-10 small displays, and walk the path around and through a palm forest and much more.  All this fun can be had for less than $20, but being big spenders we are now once again proud annual pass holders.  The cost for an annual pass, about the same as the cost to park your car and buy a coke at Disney World.

Parrots can live up to 70 years in captivity.  Even though we hadn't been here in over 25 years we may have seen some of these guys before.

We were the only humans in the picnic area, but we were joined at the table by this guy

Fluttering our way through...……...

Bravely wrestling a concrete alligator

Along the path...…...a nice stroll

Real ones, not the ones you buy at Wal-Mart

If I was an artist I'd title this picture "Reflecting on Flamingos"

We easily got the price of admission worth of fun out of our visit and look forward to going back soon.  Especially since we missed both the bird and reptile show.  Even living life in the fast lane, you gotta pace yourself!
Disney, Universal, Sea World...……..they're great!  But don't forget the classics!
Classic Florida Attractions You Can Still Visit