Vinoy Park in St Petersburg

On a recent trip to St Petersburg to catch a baseball game, we came across this cute little park along the bay and had to stop by to check it out.



Vinoy Park is a pretty open, grassy park along the bay that serves as an event and concert venue occasionally. We caught sight of some manatees playing in the bay and heard other guests say that they say dolphins swimming along the shore. It was nice to walk along Tampa Bay and enjoy the Florida wildlife and boaters go by.




There is a playground on the far north side of the park and a beach/volleyball area just on the other side of the bay. I'm not sure if this is still part of Vinoy park but there was a sidewalk leading towards it.





It was such a nice place to stop and stretch our legs, and take in the beautiful bay before heading out of town.

Gasparilla Pirate Festival in Tampa

This past weekend we drove out to Tampa for what has become one of my all time favorite traditions here in Florida: Gasparilla! This was my 6th Gasparilla and it definitely did not disappoint!

For those of you who don't know what Gasparilla is, get ready to start planning now because you're not going to want to miss it next year!



The annual Gasparilla festival spans from the end of January to early March and includes parades, art festivals, a music festival, and a race. This post will focus on the two parades that most recently occurred in Tampa Bay including the Gasparilla Pirate Fest that we attended this past Saturday. If you would like to learn about the other events, you can view the Gasparilla Schedule of Events.

Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe

The last time we were at Anna Maria Island, we found the ultimate beach spot that has everything you could ever want for every age range! The Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe is located on Holmes beach where SR 64 meets Gulf Drive and includes everything from a playground for the kids to volleyball courts to a bar with food and of course the beautiful Florida gulf beach!





The Beach Cafe offers breakfast, lunch and dinner so you can spend the entire day at the beach without having to leave! The breakfast menu features omelettes, and typical breakfast favorites plus all you can eat pancakes for $5.99 which sounds like a steal to me! (although I'd probably eat two and be done! I bet Matt could put some pancakes away!) The lunch/dinner menu consists of salads, sandwiches and platters and has enough variety for everyone to find something they like. There are dining areas inside (so you can escape the Florida heat for a bit) and outside on the beachfront patio.

The beachfront patio also boasts a bamboo bar with reasonably priced drinks and live nightly music. Your alcoholic drinks however must stay on the patio as there are no drinks allowed on the beach. =[




You can rent beach chairs, umbrellas, and these super comfy looking hammocks! I am definitely getting one of these the next time we go!



It was turtle nesting season while we were there so we got to see a few of the nests on the beach. It would be so cool to see them hatch and make their way down to the water!



Some other things to keep in mind:




What are your favorite beaches to visit on the gulf coast? Has anyone ever eaten at the Beach Cafe here? I'd love to hear your feedback!

Horseback Riding On The Beach Bradenton/Anna Maria Island

Looking for something new and exciting to do? How about horeseback riding on the beach? Or even better- How about riding a horse that is swimming in the bay?! Cool, right?! Well in Bradenton, FL you can do just that!



We noticed people riding horses in Palma Sola Bay on our way to Anna Maria Island from Bradenton and I had to look more into it. It turns out you can pay to go out with a guide who will help you ride a horse that is actually swimming! They can also teach you how to HorseSurf™ and HorseSki™if you want. It looks like so much fun!



Price: $124.95 per person plus sales tax

You can search for available dates here as this experience is by appointment only and apparently sells out quite frequently. You must make your appointment 12 hours in advance and no refunds are offered. You can contact BeachHorses.com at 941-907-7272 if you have any questions or want to book an appointment during normal business hours.

The site location is off of Manatee Ave in Bradenton. Look for a truck and a horse trailer!



Your ride will last approximately one hour in which the first half will be spent riding the horse on the beach and the second half will be spent in the water. You will be able to try HorseSurfing if you would like where you stand on the back of the horse while he/she is swimming! After the ride, you will have an opportunity to pose with your horse on the beach for some photos. Spectators are allowed as everything takes place at a public park so bring someone who can take photos or a water proof camera so you can take some yourself!


What to bring:

-Towels

-Dry clothes

-Sunscreen (That Florida sun is brutal!)

-Waterproof Camera

-Extra cash to tip your guide (not required but recommended)





I'm super excited to try this out next time we visit Bradenton! I will definitely share our experience when we do.

Have you ever done anything like this? I'd love to hear about your experience!

Courtyard Marriott Bradenton Sarasota Riverfront

We recently took a trip to Bradenton, FL to see our friends tie the knot and had the pleasure of staying at the beautiful Courtyard Marriott Bradenton Sarasota/Riverfront.



The hotel overlooks the Manatee River and is close to downtown Bradenton nightlife. It is close enough to walk but was much easier to pay for the $6 cab ride! I definitely wouldn't recommend the walk during the day in the summer but wasn't too horrible at 10 o'clock at night in flip flops. =]

With 5 floors, 96 rooms, 57 suites, and 5 meeting rooms, there was plenty of room to accommodate all of the guests for the wedding we were attending as well as another wedding that was taking place on the same day at the hotel!

THE HOTEL:
The lobby has a very homey feel to it when you walk through the front door and is very inviting. There are multiple areas to sit and chat while you wait for the rest of your party including a media room right off the lobby. The furnishings and decor made you feel more like you were at home than at a hotel.

The Market is just off the lobby as well and offers sodas, snacks, and toiletries for purchase.

 

There is a boarding pass printing station right in the lobby which I thought was pretty convenient for guests who need to print their passes before heading to the airport.



The parking is complementary for guests which I feel should be the case for all hotels but have been to some (usually downtown) that charge an extra fee to park. They also offer free wifi for guests. Check in was pretty typical at 3pm and check out was noon which was very nice. We definitely enjoyed our extra hour of sleep the day after the wedding!

THE POOL:
The pool is pretty typical for a Marriott and not really anything too exciting. I personally think they should have taken advantage of the waterfront view and built the pool a little closer to the river but it was still a great place to catch some sun and hop in the water on those hot Florida summer days. There was also a spa but it was way too hot to enjoy that this time of year!





THE COURTYARD:
The fountains in the courtyard were beautiful and made for a very nice backdrop for the wedding.




OUR ROOM:
Our room was very comfortable with a King size bed, a desk/chair work station, a couch area, a mini fridge/bar area, and closet build into the TV stand. The bathroom was pretty standard with one sink and a shower/tub. Again, the room felt very homey and inviting and I was impressed with the furniture and art work.






We ordered room service from The Bistro Restaurant one morning and were not disappointed! We both had the Breakfast BLT with a side of fruit. The menu is more extensive than I was expecting and worked great for us when we were looking for a quick bite to eat.




There was a Tiki bar not too far from the hotel (another $6 cab ride) that we went to after the wedding and a seafood restaurant across the street. If you are looking for the beach, a short 10 mile drive down 64 will take you to the shores of Holmes beach on Anna Maria island. We went exploring one day and found one of my new favorite restaurants The Sandbar and some beautiful beaches!

I really enjoyed the Courtyard Marriott Bradenton Sarasota/Riverfront and we will definitely consider staying again the next time we are in town!

Have you ever been to Bradenton? Have any tips or fun places to check out?

Grab an Appetizer at The Sandbar in Anna Maria Island

We recently had the pleasure of exploring the beautiful Anna Maria Island and The Sandbar is now on my list of favorite places to visit on the Gulf! I was excited to check this place out because Matt had been for a wedding before and had nothing but good things to say about it. I was definitely not disappointed!


The Sandbar Waterfront Restaurant is located at the north end of Anna Maria Island and provides a relaxing atmosphere to take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy one of the most beautiful beaches in Florida.

The view from our table: