Saturday, February 23, 2019

Still Life with Robin: Florida Dreamin' (On Such a Winter's Day)

by Peggy Robin

What a week it’s been – snow on Wednesday – not so deep but it was wet, heavy stuff, a bit of a chore to shovel, and quite enough to make anyone wish to be someplace else, preferably with warm ocean breezes. Then the very next day we hit the 60 degree mark, causing a massive melt-off, leaving cracked drainpipes and mud puddles everywhere you looked. Then back to a damp chill, mid-40s yesterday. What a pleasure it was on these past few gray days to come home to the Cleveland Park Listserv and read message after message describing what it would be like to be in Florida right now!

The discussion began on Tuesday, February 19 with a query from a list member interested in a quick but relaxing getaway. List members with Florida experience readily rose to the challenge. Twelve messages so far, and all soooo tempting:

First off was from a poster telling us about Anna Maria Island. Just take a look:
https://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/cities/anna-maria-island.html

On Wednesday, we learned about beaches around Tampa-St. Pete and Bradenton and Sarasota. We got some pros and cons for Longboat Key. These posts were answered by fans of the Atlantic coast side – Palm Beach, Jupiter, Ft. Lauderdale, and environs.

On Thursday the beckoning breezes wafted in from Delray Beach, Vero Beach, and Fort Pierce.

On Friday, the sirens called from Sanibel and Captiva on the Gulf Coast. One poster recommended a visit to the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. I should have added the link, but forgot to do so. Let me make up for that now: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/JN_Ding_Darling/ -- or for a more animated view of the birdlife at the refuge, take a look at this Youtube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzEfZyU7sNs.

And today, for those looking for more urban pleasures of dining, shopping, theater, art galleries and museums, and as well as a great botanical garden, plus proximity to white sand beaches with shelling -- the place to be is Sarasota: https://www.visitsarasota.com/

Thank you all for this lovely, vicarious vacation!
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Still Life with Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.   

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