We'll be on Anna Maria Island (AMI) until Christmas eve when we head to California. While we're here there will be plenty of beach time, spectacular sunsets and of course getting beaten in cards. We've also got quite a few day trips planned. Some of these involve holiday music, dance and plays. Other outings will be to local attractions that can easily be reached with a short drive.
Prior to Thanksgiving we enjoyed Cirque Dreams Holidaze at the Van Wezel Preforming Arts Hall in Sarasota. This production was full of talented (and extremely flexible) acrobatic performers, singers and colorful costumes with a Christmas fantasy theme. It was a fast paced and fun performance. Even though it was still a few days before Thanksgiving, it was a nice kick start to the holiday season.
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| Cirque Dreams Holidaze |
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has been dotting the Sarasota Bay skyline since before there really was a Sarasota Bay skyline. It will be celebrating it's 50th year in 2020. This was our first time attending an event there and as much as we enjoyed the performance, we also enjoyed the venue. It didn't take long to figure out it was built in a Frank Lloyd Wright style. It turns out that the architect,William Wesley Peters, happens to be Frank's son-in-law.
Van Wezel Performaning Arts Hall
Over the Thanksgiving week we were able to enjoy having Ben with us. Of course Thanksgiving day was filled with the three F's. Food, Family and Football! You can't go wrong with that combination.
A few days ago Beth and I enjoyed getting away for a bit to enjoy some time at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, which is also located in Sarasota. Mote is a nonprofit marine research organization that's been around since 1955. It was founded by Dr. Eugenie Clark, aka "The Shark Lady. She was a highly respected marine biologist who specialized not only in the study of shark behavior but also in the field of scuba diving. She continued her research and diving into her 90's, before passing away in 2015.
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| Since Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium was founded by "The Shark Lady", of course there were sharks! |
Beth had visited Mote many years ago, but it was my first visit. There are two main buildings, located a short walking distance from each other. The displays feature numerous aquariums, large and small, with all types of sea creatures from sharks, reef fish, turtles, manatees and otters. The displays were very well done and there was plenty of interesting information on all things aquatic.
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is a great place to spend a few hours looking, learning or both.
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| The Lion Fish is interesting, but it's an invasive fish that's making a mess of things around Florida. |
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| Otters are some of the most enjoyable creatures to watch. |
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| The milkshakes at Mote are really good. |
Right now our travels may not be taking us to as many distant and exotic places as we have enjoyed over the past few years. In the meantime, though, we're enjoying discovering and sometimes revisiting some of the many treasures close by.
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| There is a really nice waterfront park near Mote that is worth checking out. There is a nice boardwalk through the mangroves and some great views across the bay to downtown Sarasota. |
