After a free breakfast in the lovely hotel restaurant this morning, Bob and I headed out to explore more of downtown Sarasota.
Sarasota (current population of about 55,000) was settled by Spanish explorers in the 16th century and officially established as a town in the late 19th century. One of the first historical markers we came across today taught us a bit about the founding.
got ahead of the building skills.
We found this sign on our short walk to Bayfront Park, which we can see from our room and which is on a small piece of land that juts out into the bay. It has a walking path, small beach, marina, tiki bar, and a children’s play area and splash pad. It also has this impressive sculpture.
in celebration of the end of WWII.
It reminds us of a similar sculpture
that is near the oceanfront in San Diego, CA.
to get to St. Armand’s Circle yesterday
near the botanical gardens. They caught our eye,
as we were in Augusta, GA, before our trip to Jersey.
Apparently, Augusta brick (made in Augusta, GA) was used for roads in Sarasota and St. Pete in the early 1900s.
This is “Embracing our Differences,” by S. Blessing Hancock, 2016.
It is not open on Sundays, so we haven’t seen the inside.
One of the taller buildings we can see from our hotel room is the Art Ovation Hotel, another (much pricier) Marriott property. We decided to stop in to check it out. It is filled with art, and Bob found an opportunity right outside the hotel for a big head(s) photo.
This afternoon, we did something we never do which is go to the hotel pool. The weather is so great, and the pool is on the roof, so we couldn’t resist. We lasted for about an hour.
Peckish Travels 