On our last full day of fun in Sarasota, we were able to take another long walk on the beach,
followed by opportunities to explore some of the downtown architecture, Farmer’s Market, restaurants, and street activity.
We also visited the Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy, where “part of the mission is to collect and preserve work of artistic and whimsical importance. Our collection is bright and colorful. The artwork will lift your spirits and, hopefully, inspire creative expression”. It was a bright, sunny day, and these images do not do justice to the colorful, metal works.
Take my word for it, our spirits were definitely lifted!
Before I knew it, the time had come to fly home. What an incredible 3 days! I’m grateful to have friends who value this tradition as much as I do!
Thanks for coming along with me on the adventure!
Life on the Bike and other Fab Things 
I had a camera ruined at Siesta Key once! That very fine sand and a stiff breeze . . . that was that! Your camera was definitely working well, though–great shots!
That fine sand is incredible, isn’t it?
Hate that it ruined your camera. Yikes!
Such bright an vivid images Laurie, great post 🙂
Thanks, Joe. Good to hear your voice yesterday (was it yesterday?) 🙂
Email coming soon!
I hope you are feeling better than when we spoke Laurie 😀
I’m a sucker for worn brick walls, bottles and bikes (oh, and horses.)
Jim, thank you for “getting” the worn brick walls. This is my third year in Sarasota, and in trying to capture a photo of that brick wall. It pulls me in every time!
There is nothing like those Florida beaches!!!!! This is THE BEST post!!!! The Art/Whimsy pieces are incredible but the best is the walking on the beach——our absolute fave pasttime!!!!!!! Hugs…….
Walks on the beach are the best for making the heart happy and the soul soothed. ❤
Beautifully stated!!! 😍😎🏖
I liked the whimsical stuff – especially the 3 stylized bikes – but the starfish!! Wow. That’s a beauty of a photo.
Yes, that starfish! I was so pleased to see that little guy. The Museum of Art & Whimsy was fascinating and I could not put my camera down. Thanks for obliging me in looking at them 🙂
Laurie – you are really good with that camera. And there is a lot of whimsy here, for sure.
Thanks, Bruce! Interesting museum, right? I love that the owner values the works of folks who are not “masters” or bringers in of the big bucks. Just regular folks with talent.
How are you, by the way? Posting soon???
All of these shots are wonderful Laurie, so vibrant & varied. I am with Joanne though, that starfish? WOW, WOW,WOW!
Thanks, Lynn! and i appreciate that you didn’t mind the variety of shots. I could not stop shooting all that color 🙂
But the starfish took the prize for me, too
The whimsical stuff is great, but I focused in on the adult refreshment and the beach. Considering we’re supposed to get snow again tomorrow, I would love to have both of those things right in front of me. You had a great trip, Laurie, and special, fun memories.
Mary! We got a little Wisconsin snow last night!
I posted a pic on my FB page of my beautiful Redbud in the snow.
Hope you are staying warm!
It was a great and warm looking adventure😊
No doubt about it! and as I type this, I’m looking out the window after a light snowfall in April 🙂
Lol….there’s no predicting nature😊
What a great time. It’s hard to pick a favorite photo. What was that bird? A gull with a toupee? a kingfisher gull? Pretty darn cool. And those horses as well. And you all look fabulously relaxed on the beach.
Lisa, I am so glad you questioned that bird. After a bit of a search, I discovered that it is a Royal Tern. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_tern
I’d wondered, too, but had not taken the time to figure it out.
Wow. A tern. I did not go to my Audubon as I figured you would have ID’d it! So now we both know! What a magnificent fella!
That was a lot of great art there. Love all the whimsy. Looks like you had a good time.
so much fun, and lots of good memories, too.
As I type this, I am looking outside the window at a light snow …. in April. Not typical for April!
I’ve heard a lot about that snow. At 7200 ft in Arizona, we had snow for Memorial day.
More beautiful photos with excellent textual links
You are kind, Derrick. Thank you!
I’ll be by later to check on the happenings in your part of the world.
My favourite is the star in the water, but the entire series is fabulous.
Thank you, Frank. That starfish /sea star was a wonderful find!
So much colour! I love it.
It really was all about the color, wasn’t it? It was a bright, beautiful 3 days on the gulf coast of Florida!
What colorful photos to memorialize your trip, Laurie. Those vivid reds and blues are a nice contrast to the sand, surf and greenery, but I love the purple most of all.
What is it about old brick walls? I think it’s the promise of a story within. I always think about the person who originally laid the bricks, and the various layers that followed after. xo
Love the colour highlights. A great day out.
Such a cool place. I see now that you flew there. I think that tree has knit-fiti on it, does it? That is the wackiest growing tree I’ve ever seen too. I think the name of the bakery if fun and I love their signage. Very European.
I can’t imagine living where it’s summer-ish all the time. Man these people are livin’-la-vita-loka. Palms, #1 beach in the USA, sunshine, ocean and just being outside all year round….what a dream. Glad you had a great break from the crazy schedule you seem to manage. Unlike me, I take breaks from retirement, ha! I just got my Pension Package in the mail. GAH! I get an allowance as of my next birthday…..when my age and years of service make up some magic number. I’m starting a holiday fund xo K