Florida is a very flat state. There aren’t a lot of scenic overlooks in Florida, but then The Sunshine State isn’t known for its dramatic scenery either. That’s OK — it’s got fantastic beaches, the world’s best theme parks and often the country’s best weather. Myakka River State Park bills itself as “Where the River […]
The first thing I learned on my airboat ride in Florida’s Myakka River State Park was that alligators hate the cold. I guess that’s why most of them live in Florida. But Florida can get colder than their liking too, and on those chilly days they prefer to stay under water. And February 13th just […]
Every day as we would drive up and down the Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, FL, we would pass a sign that said “Home of the TurDucKen: As seen on the Food Network.” It was the kind of sign that couldn’t help but make me curious. It hung proudly on the Alpine Steakhouse, which is a […]
I love flowers. I love museums. So when I heard that Sarasota’s Ringling Museum of Art having a special four-day exhibit (“Ringling in Bloom”, Feb. 3—6) showcasing 24 floral arrangements inspired by the masterpieces, I was instantly intrigued. The results blew me away — the effect was amazing, as it felt like the art had […]
The blizzard that hit NYC the day after Christmas may have been pretty to look at (see snowy city photos here), but it sure ruined a lot of vacation plans. Amanda Lobell and Neil Roach had planned to take a trip to Arizona, but their flight to Phoenix was canceled and couldn’t be rebooked until […]
I took that photo of the beach at Siesta Key, FL, on Monday, May 31st. As you can see,the water is still clean, clear and gorgeous. (For the record, those are people's heads you see in the water — not tar balls or oil balls.) In fact, I wish I was still there right now… […]
I planned my trip to Sarasota, FL, several weeks before the BP oil spill in the Gulf on Mexico. Every time I'd been to Sarasota, it was too cold to enjoy the beach but I figured that it should finally be warm enough on Memorial Day Weekend. Well, now I wasn't worried about the weather […]
Sarasota, FL, is the ultimate circus town. After all, John Ringling (of the Ringling Bros. Circus) was instrumental in transforming Sarasota from a sleepy fishing village to one of the Southeast’s most culturally rich cities, and The Ringling Museum of Art is one of the region’s best museums. So, it was no surprise that Circus […]
Today in Sarasota, FL, it was 65F and sunny. This is my third visit and this is the warmest weather I’ve ever experienced here. Normally, 65F is not the kind of weather you celebrate in Florida. But when the sun was beating down on my bare arms at Bradenton Beach (pictured above) this afternoon, I […]
This evening I arrived in Sarasota, FL, where I’ll be spending the weekend with my family. On the way in from the airport, I was happy to see my favorite statue, Unconditional Surrender, which is based on the famous 1945 photograph “The Kiss at Times Square”. I’m not quite sure what our plans are for […]
