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While many Brits have discovered the delights of Clearwater and St Petersburg - the perfect antidote to the razzamatazz of Orlando, Sarasota remains a bit of a best kept secret.
THE KEY TO RELAXATION
Sarasota lies on the west coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico, just a thirty minute air conditioned drive south of Tampa.
Getting there is easy, we flew from Bristol with Continental... great legroom and a must if you happen to be 6’ 4” and the American crew make you feel as if the holiday has already begun. We changed in New York, had time for a cool beer and immigration then a brief three hour flight to Orlando. We hired a car and then headed off down the Interstate to Sarasota.
We stay with our friend Denly, originally a local girl and by that I mean Whitchurch. She now finds herself living here and working in Tampa. She loves the relaxed lifestyle and, of course, the tropical climate. We met Denly through other friends on our first visit and immediately hit it off - something to do with large glasses of Pinot Grigio I suspect and her unhealthy devotion to Eurovision!
It’s easy to see why Sarasota has been voted by Americans as the best place in the USA to live and work. Wealthy, yes. They don’t count the millionaires anymore - just the billionaires. The houses are spectacular, with many set in lush tropical grounds with the intercoastal waterway lapping at the bottom of the garden - the perfect place to moor that luxury yacht. Downtown Sarasota is fairly unique as it has a bustling, almost European, feel with galleries, restaurants and great shopping nestled in amongst mirrored skyscrapers and towering luxurious apartments, tipping out over the spectacular, sparkling Sarasota Bay.
There are restaurants to suit every palate and pocket although we love Mattisons on Lemon Avenue. The menu is huge, with anything from pizza to grilled Atlantic salmon and, of course, the portions are enormous. Live music and the fact that you can sit out with the locals and watch the world go by makes this one of our favourites.
Saturday sees the local Farmers Market. So after fortifying yourself at Café Americano with the fluffiest of omelettes, fresh fruit and endless coffee, head off to see what the locals have for sale.
You’ll find tropical plants, mountains of dazzling fruit and salads, exotic home made candles and home baking to die for. The market also attracts the poshest pooches who bring their owners for a bit of a stroll. You’ll see every shape and size... the dogs that is, many bedecked in their Saturday finery of neckerchiefs and caps!
Just across the road, Sarasota Bay houses an enormous marina stacked with the most luxurious yachts. Call in at Marina Jacks, a fabulous place to sit and watch how the other half live and play. Yachts and cruisers glide in and out with the great and the good popping in for lunch or a cool beer. If you want something more informal, the Tikki Bar has a younger, slightly more laid back feel, and you can dip your toes in the sea.
Just across the waterway lies St Armand’s Circle. It was the dream of John Ringling of circus fame to create a shopping experience that would include a whole host of small and varied independent stores as well as housing.
Work began in 1917 amid much excitement. By 1926, however, the depression had taken its toll. The bridge collapsed into the sea and the vegetation took over. St Armand’s slept until 1955 when it was rediscovered and finally finished just as John Ringling had wished. It often reminds me of Portmeirion, brightly coloured with classical statues and architecture softened by lush tropical planting.
On the Circle there are plaques commemorating some of the most celebrated circus performers and there are well over a hundred shops and restaurants. You have to visit the Blue Dolphin Café for breakfast and if you survive the three cheese omelette you won’t have to eat for at least a week.
Tommy Bahama’s Tropical Café, which was partly the inspiration for the Hamptons store is a must. It has a wonderful range of clothing and home accessories downstairs while upstairs the restaurant is laid back and cool.
The staff wear the signature Tommy Bahama shirts and the menu has an island theme. It’s the best place to sample a chilled beer - their own brew is called Bungalow Blonde and certainly hits the spot. If you’re shopping then visit the Met. It looks like a rather grand civic building, but inside you will find every designer brand you can think of.
On the last Friday of every month there is ‘sip and shop.’ You can wander around the Circle with a glass of champagne, listen to jazz or opera and do a little relaxed retail therapy - perfect! By now you’ll no doubt be feeling a bit peckish so just time to nip to Kilwin’s who make their own ice cream and fudge - both of which are heavenly although not the best thing to try to eat in ninety degrees of heat as most of it will end up dripping down your arm.
Still, with Lido Beach just across the way you can submerge yourself in the warmest of sea water - it’s often in the eighties. The beach is made from crushed shell and so is dazzlingly white. Pelicans glide past in military formation and dolphins appear almost daily. Siesta Key is another beautiful beach just around the bay. Surfy with a tropical village feel, Siesta is popular with the locals especially on weekends. You’ll be amazed at how much ‘stuff’ they bring. Whole trolleys with cabanas, chairs, umbrellas, cooler boxes and possibly kitchen sinks! Of course there’s only so much lazing on a beach you can do, so brush off the sand and head for the shopping malls. Sarasota has some of the smartest where you’ll find Saks, Macy’s, Williams and Sonoma, Banana Republic and Pottery Barn. You can guarantee that there will always be a sale somewhere so make sure that you allow enough room in your case for all of those must have purchases.
At night Sarasota finds the bars and restaurants filled with locals... we love the fact that you’ll rarely hear a British accent. For an amazing view of the city head to the rooftop bar at Cheviches. It’s lively, noisy and home to a younger set - by that I mean under 50!
If dinner theatre is more your thing then why not book a show at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre. Chicago was playing when we were there and there’s also the opera and the ballet, jazz, blues, in fact something for everyone.
The cultural diversity is one of the reasons we love Sarasota so much. In one day you can breakfast at an American diner, chill out on the beach, attend the opening of a gallery, meet friends for drinks by the harbour before heading off to the opera in your recently purchased Armani tux with some home made hugely calorific fudge tucked under your arm. Well, you are on holiday after all! Andy Bradshaw
Andy and Peter are the owners of Hamptons, Penarth.
www.hamptons-design.co.uk
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