Southern Byways

There is never a wrong time for a road trip. Packing the car up and venturing out with a group of loved ones can be the best experience that can happen to you. Good friends, good food and good conversation add to the experience. While some people don’t like to make plans, but rather see where their trip may take them, others want to make sure they experience the best a particular area has to offer. For those who like to plan ahead or at least know what they are getting themselves into in regards to food and dining, …read more

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For many, a destination can be defined or remembered for its food. Perhaps you are one of those travelers who can quickly recall eating at different restaurants and their signature dishes, but struggle when someone ask you what you saw on your getaway.
Culinary tourism isn’t really anything new, especially in the south, where places like New Orleans and Charleston, S.C., have made a name for themselves. However, they do have some (delicious) competition, namely the Florida’s Gulf Islands region.
Breakfast
I’m a breakfast person. I’m not sure when this change happened, but nonetheless I fully embrace it. One morning, I had …read more

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Photo credit: Personal photos

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Nearly every place  has a certain shopping district/area that you have to go to when you’re there. While they might be special in their own way, I bet they aren’t anything like St. Armands Circle in Sarasota, Florida.
Before I provide you with some ideas on what to do on the popular Circle, let me give you a little bit of the background of the actual area. St. Armands Key was purchased by John Ringling (yes, the same Ringling of the Ringling Circus fame) in the early 1900s. He wanted to create a place that was reminiscent of what …read more

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Well, I’m heading home today. I have tons of information to share with everyone, so be checking back this evening and on to read about all of the places I visited.
Now, I need to pack (which I really don’t want to) and get on the road, again, not something that I’m overjoyed to do today. I’m waiting for the sun to come up so I can go on my last beach walk.
 
Later this evening, come back to read about St. Armands, mango wine and conch fritters.
 
Photo credit: Ignition, flickr, creative commons by billaday

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Don’t forget to join Apryl on her last day in the area as she discovers Brandenton.
Creatures of the Land
Sarasota Jungle Gardens promotes itself as the “area’s only zoological gardens.” However, while that is something definitely to talk about, I think what’s most interesting about the Gardens is the fact that not only is it the oldest attraction Sarasota, but also the oldest, continuously operating attraction in the state. If you want to see an “old Florida” attraction, this is it. Encompassing ten acres (original began as 13 acres), the Gardens appeal to everyone.
First and foremost, the Gardens serve as …read more

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Good morning from Longboat Key! Be sure to follow me today in Sarasota as I take you to visit Sarasota Jungle Gardens, Mote Aquarium and Old Salty Dog.
 
 

Photo credits: personal photos

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Be sure to follow Apryl and her adventures along Florida’s Gulf Islands, and to check back here for a more in-depth look at what the area has to offer.
So, I rolled into the area, more aptly crept because of the slow moving car in front of me, around 7 p.m. Needless to say, by this time I was hungry. And I was in luck, because dinner was planned at Euphemia Haye. Located in Longboat Key, the two-story restaurant is named after the original owner’s grandmother. While the restaurant has changed ownership, the name has remained the same. And the …read more

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Starting later this morning through Wednesday afternoon, be sure to keep up with my travels to Florida’s Gulf Island as I post my many adventures on Twitter. If you don’t read what I’m up to, you’ll miss out on such things as meeting Snooty at South Florida Museum, and learning exactly what an “Old Salty Dog” is.
And of course, keeping visiting Southern Byways as well to read Katherine’s latest posts and as well as mine. You don’t want to miss any of that, either!
 
Photo credit: Computer, b&w, flickr, creative commons by Kevin Zollman.

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What does an inn, a bowl of soup and an astronaut have in common? No, this isn’t the opening line of a joke, but serious question. Hmm…intrigued? As for the answer, well, all three have more in common than you may think.  Read on to find out exactly how..
The Inn
Build it and the visitors just might come and in the case of Chalet Suzanne, they did. For over 70 years, the Swiss-style chalet property has been welcoming guests into its 30 guest rooms. Located in Lake Wales, Fla., (also home to the Historic Bok Sanctuary), Chalet Suzanne is found …read more

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