Myakka River State Park is kinda like any other state park in any other place...but then it's totally not like any other park at the same time. Got it?Just as you imagine, there are trails, boardwalks, bicycle and canoe rentals, two gift shops and a…Read More

Myakka River State Park is kinda like any other state park in any other place...but then it's totally not like any other park at the same time. Got it?

Just as you imagine, there are trails, boardwalks, bicycle and canoe rentals, two gift shops and a restaurant. What you might not imagine {especially if you are not from Florida} is that you will also see gators {I mean real, live gators without fences or pens literally 20 feet from you...if you're brave}, wild hogs, armadillos, dozens of beautiful birds and did I mention the gators? Yeah - they're like everywhere there!

You can fish, you can ride on an airboat, you can ride the tram, you can hike, you can grill, camp out, have a picnic, go canoeing, eat gator stew, boiled peanuts and seafood gumbo - it can be an all day event {we were there for SEVEN hours!} or you can go grab a bite and a boat ride and be on your way back home in an hour or two.

It's pretty big, but not big enough to get lost in. You can't hike all the trails in a day, maybe two days. There is a treetop walkway and a look out tower - which to me, wasn't so exciting...all you can see are trees, trees and more trees. I'd rather be down by the water, searching for gators, turtles or birds.

Definitely take :: water, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, comfortable TENNIS SHOES - no sandals! - your camera and binoculars.

There is a $5.00 admission per car to get in, but after that you don't have to pay for anything unless you are buying food or gifts.

Check out the pictures I took, they give a better description than I ever could!Close

Note: I wrote this review a day or two after I attended the SRQ Medieval Fair in 2007, left it in a folder and I haven't edited it at all since I originally wrote it. Read this review and compare it to what I had…Read More

Note: I wrote this review a day or two after I attended the SRQ Medieval Fair in 2007, left it in a folder and I haven't edited it at all since I originally wrote it. Read this review and compare it to what I had to say about the 08 Fair...completely different!

Also...if you are squeamish about spiders, be careful looking at the photos that accompany this review - there are two spider pics, and one is a close-up!!

Review starts here...
Although this is called the SARASOTA Medieval Fair, it is held at Hunsader Farms in BRADENTON. Not a big deal, just a little clarification!

This was my first Medieval/Renaissance type fair, and I had a GREAT time! Definitely 10 out of 10 for people watching...events like this really seem to bring out those costumes you usually leave in the back of your closet! Admission was around $15.00, and worth every penny. There was jousting, fighting, wandering minstrels, pirates, wenches, comedians, Fushu Daiko (Japanese Drummers) and SO much more.

Definitely a ton of food booths, and a ton of vendor booths that were selling everything from fairy wands to leather boots. Prices weren't bad at the vendor booths, and same for food...it was all pretty reasonable.

My favorite part was the Japanese drummers. Why they were at a Medieval Fair, I have no idea - but it was awesome, and I'd love to see them again. My least favorite part was the ginormous spiders that were COVERING the trees by the petting zoo. HUGE huge spiders....biggest I have ever seen in my life (other than tarantulas at the pet store). If you aren't afraid of spiders, you probably don't care that I am mentioning this...however, if you are afraid of spiders...this is something you NEED to know. Be careful.

There is one booth where you can pay to fence your friends or any given opponent. I am very proud to say that Hubby Dearest not only won once...but won THREE times - and he was fighting the booth owner. No other person that we saw was able to beat that guy! Yay Hubby!

All in all, we had a great time. The weather was perfect, the parking was free, the people were friendly, and I will be back next year!! See you there!Close

Now, I'm not one to dress up or get totally geeked out just because I'm going to a Medieval Fair - although I do enjoy a good themed event! I go for the people watching, to walk around and get some exercise, to eat some…Read More

Now, I'm not one to dress up or get totally geeked out just because I'm going to a Medieval Fair - although I do enjoy a good themed event! I go for the people watching, to walk around and get some exercise, to eat some sugary food and enjoy a show or two.

The 2007 SRQ {Sarasota abbreviation} Medieval Fair was the very first fest of this type I had been to, and I had a GREAT time. I'll post a separate review for that one, because the 2008 Fair wasn't even worth going to in comparison.

The 2007 Fair was at Hunsader Farms in Bradenton - it seemed to be the perfect location {except the mutant spiders in the trees...again, that will be another post}. The 2008 Fair was at the SRQ Fairgrounds. Why did they move it? I didn't really have a problem with the new location...just about everything else.

The very first thing you see when you enter the "Medieval Village"? Ye Olde ATM {must be designed by the same viking that made Ye Old Bud Light tent}. There was no balloon fencing, no Fushu Daiko, there were more people in costumes last year...this year was just flat.

The "ad-lib" talking that the jousters do before they fight is about 4 hours longer than it needs to be. And if this is a Medieval village, I would REALLY like to see the characters STAY IN CHARACTER. I don't want to see you smoking, or on your cell phone or hear you talking about how you're gonna "get wasted and basted" when the show is over {what the heck does that even mean?}

All of the food we bought was gross...from the brownies at the Queen of Tarts tent {I swear they were those little brownie bites that you can buy at Wal-mart} the nuts at Jester's Nuts were okay - but expensive. And the turkey leg? This was my first "turk leg" experience and lemme tell ya, if their ALL this greasy and gross, I will never touch another turkey leg, let alone eat one.

I mean, I could go on...but the point is, the 2007 show ROCKED. The stage shows were great, the people all really seemed to be so much more into it! This year? I felt like I was watching zombies walk around...it was just soooo not worth the money we paid. Maybe we should have visited Ye Old Bud Light tent when we first arrived?

Sadly, I will not be returning to Ye Old Lame fair next year...I had high hopes after the 07 one, but 08 broke my heart.

I do not recommend it.Close

One of the highlights of our visit to Florida was watching auntie at work. She works for Florida Fish & Wildlife Research Institute on the manatee photo identification project. If not for this, we would have never discovered TECO Big Bend Power Station…Read More

One of the highlights of our visit to Florida was watching auntie at work. She works for Florida Fish & Wildlife Research Institute on the manatee photo identification project. If not for this, we would have never discovered TECO Big Bend Power Station on our own. TECO stands for Tampa Electric Company. Since manatees are mammals, they tend toward warmer water. The power station puts out warm water, so the manatees are drawn there. TECO funded the Manatee Viewing Center, and it was well worth the side trip.One of the things that makes this such a neat side trip is that we really wanted to see manatees in the wild. We had already gone manatee watching earlier in the week, but at the viewing center, they've built a boardwalk through the mangrove of the estuary. With speakers broadcasting information about the plant life, and excellent markers among the plants, the boardwalk is educational in itself. Once you reach the end, though, you are over the water and have a perfect view down into the water. Since manatees only come up for air every 7-20 minutes, unless you are over the water, all you generally see are two nostrils and the tail slick after they dive. By being over the water on the boardwalk, you can look down on the water to see more of the manatees, in addition to the hundreds of other species in the water. There is also a platform in another location at the center, but the boardwalk was my favorite.The drive from the condo was about 45 minutes, then we stayed there for about 2 hours. It was a nice activity for a quiet morning. If you are looking for something inexpensive for the family, why not give it a try? Close

I want to give my hints about Sarasota, as an ex-native. I went to high school in Sarasota and can help by giving some insider advice. #1. Siesta Key Beach - must go there! Rated one of the world's 10 prettiest beaches many years ago…Read More

I want to give my hints about Sarasota, as an ex-native. I went to high school in Sarasota and can help by giving some insider advice.

#1. Siesta Key Beach - must go there! Rated one of the world's 10 prettiest beaches many years ago by Time Mag and it still lives up to its reputation. Sand like baby powder, blue water, dolphins.

#2. The Ringling Museum - an extrordinary museum for such a small city. The collection is quite extensive and the museum is very well laid out.

#3. Longboat - way too expensive.

Myaka - more geared towards the nature end of the spectrum. Spanish Point - the lives of the settlers.

Time not to go - winter!! Beware: even though the weather is the best weather-wise, the traffic and lines quadruple. For example, on US41, it took me 15 minutes to drive from home to Osprey during the off-season. Took me about an hour during the on-season.

I love to end my day at the beach with a beautiful sunset. I have seen many beautiful sunsets in my life, but the sunsets in Sarasota are really beautiful. I think it's the orange glow in the sky that makes it special. They called…Read More

I love to end my day at the beach with a beautiful sunset. I have seen many beautiful sunsets in my life, but the sunsets in Sarasota are really beautiful. I think it's the orange glow in the sky that makes it special. They called it “red sunsets”.

These pictures below were taken at Lido Beach. Many people walking along the coast, while viewing the amazing sunset, day after day.

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I visit this part of Florida at least annually for my work in College Advancement. A new co-worker had never been there, so my husband and I showed her our favorite places. For great food and wonderful service, visit Tim and his staff at the Old…Read More

I visit this part of Florida at least annually for my work in College Advancement. A new co-worker had never been there, so my husband and I showed her our favorite places.

For great food and wonderful service, visit Tim and his staff at the Old Salty Dog on Siesta Key. This long-time favorite of local and visitor alike was expanded and remodeled in the last year. Ask Tim "When are the Reds playing?" (and say Tom sent you).

A walk on the softest sand in North America at Siesta Beach is a must. White as snow. Great place to watch a sunset or see fourth of July fireworks.

Food and roots music to die for at the Packing House is a required stop. Near I75 and Fruitville Road, this hole-in-the-wall has amazing seafood and cajun influenced dishes.

Other sunset spots - a trip would not be complete without a detour down to Venice Beach and a Rum Runner at Sharky's. Follow this with a dinner (and the next day's lunch and dinner) at Luna's for homemade Italian (located off SR41). Take an afternoon to shop with the wealthy at St. Armand's Square, over the causeway from downtown Sarasota. Wander Lido Beach just a few steps away and go shell-hunting.

One of the simplest things we did with my new co-worker was drive the Keys from Bradenton to St. Armands. You see the scene change from funky Bradenton Beach to the tall trees and no buildings on Coquino Beach (at state park and favorite quite sunset view), through the wealth and manicured lawns of Longboat Key. This soothing drive is best done before the mass exodus of the daytime beach goers.

We love the pace of life and the beautiful Gulf of Mexico here. And if you are an arts/theatre fan, no better place in Florida to combine all of it!

Armand Circle is the center of attractions at Lido Beach. It is a traffic hub and center of commerce for the beach. The circle is named after St. Armand's Church, which lends its name and beauty to the elegant setting. The circle is an intersection…Read More

Armand Circle is the center of attractions at Lido Beach. It is a traffic hub and center of commerce for the beach. The circle is named after St. Armand's Church, which lends its name and beauty to the elegant setting. The circle is an intersection of two main streets. The hub provides four blocks of exclusive shops, restaurants, and boutiques to visit. The items are unique and upscale, so bring your credit card. There are sidewalk cafes, elegant jewelry stores, art galleries, apparel shops, and more.

I visited during Christmastime. There were many lights and a beautifully decorated tree. Parking is scarce during busy time. I recommend you use the trolley system or visit at off-peak hours. You will spend hours enjoying what Armand Circle has to offer.

While camping in Cortez, there are many things to see and do, all within less than an hour's drive. From the beaches to the Skyway Bridge to Sarasota. Check with the local Chambers and newspapers for current happenings. Almost certain to find something to fill…Read More

While camping in Cortez, there are many things to see and do, all within less than an hour's drive. From the beaches to the Skyway Bridge to Sarasota. Check with the local Chambers and newspapers for current happenings. Almost certain to find something to fill the day. During the time we were there we came upon a local seafood festival. Many vendors selling all types of food at reasonable prices. Also activites for the kids. Something always going on around the beaches.Close

This sanctuary and rehabilitation center treats more than 5,000 injured birds and other wildlife each year. It is home to more than 50 species of birds. The center has a public viewing area for bird-watching, a bird hospital, and a center office and gift shop.…Read More

This sanctuary and rehabilitation center treats more than 5,000 injured birds and other wildlife each year. It is home to more than 50 species of birds. The center has a public viewing area for bird-watching, a bird hospital, and a center office and gift shop. The admission to the Pelican Man is free. Donations are appreciated.

Location: On St. Armands Key

Address: 1708 Ken Thompson Parkway

Hours: Daily 10am to 5pm Close