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J U LY / A U G 2 0 1 4
TRAVEL
Here’s Your Key to a
Great Getaway
Florida’s Sarasota area has lots to offer
by Jan Ross,
Staff Writer
The Sarasota area
of Florida has a lot
to offer travelers,
including the fact that it is below
the frost line, so it has lovely, warm
weather in the winter.
But it’s the sand that is most
appealing. Although every beach
in Florida has sand, it’s not like
the sand here. Formed of crushed
quartz, Sarasota sand is always cool
even on the hottest days and has a
soft, baby-powderlike texture that
you won’t find on any other beach.
Because a beach house or condo
is always a nice option on a trip, the
Crescent Royal Condos on Siesta
Key make a great choice for your
Sarasota getaway. Condo No. 7a is
one of the best choices in the entire
complex. With more 2,000 square
feet, including four bedrooms – two
of which are master bedrooms – a
huge, fully equipped kitchen, a large
living room and an amazing glassedin porch with a view of the Gulf
of Mexico, it’s a perfect location.
There are also one-, two-, three- or
four-bedroom units in the complex, all with a view of the Gulf and
all with a porch, the perfect place
to watch the spectacular Florida
sunsets.
Cross the bridge from Sarasota
to the beach area of Siesta Key and
you enter a charming area with local
shops, wonderful restaurants and
plenty of beach houses, cottages and
condos. The public beach has a nice
playground, picnic areas and tennis
and beach volleyball courts. Watersports abound in this sanctuary from
winter with scuba diving, boating,
parasailing, jet skiing and sailing
all available. However, just relaxing on the beach is always a good
choice. Spend a day at the beach,
then check out all the little shops in
the Village and have a scrumptious
Italian dinner at
Café Gabbiano.
Be sure to try the
lobster ravioli – it is
amazing!
On another day during your stay,
pack your swim suits and a picnic
lunch and spend some time at the
beautiful beach on Lido Key. The
public beach area is pristine and
beautiful with changing rooms and
even a small public pool for a dip if
you tire of swimming in the ocean.
In the late afternoon,
head to St. Armands
Circle in Sarasota,
where there are many
upscale shops and restaurants. Plan on having
dinner at the Tommy
Bahama restaurant for
a wonderful dining
experience. Try to sit
in the second-story
dining room, which has
a pretty view of the area
through
the large windows. The
crab bisque, coconut shrimp and
Parmesan-crusted Sanibel chicken
add up to the perfect meal. You will
be too full for desse