Look at this view! Throughout the year, people of all ages flock to Sarasota’s Island Park. In the AM, retirees/snowbirds count laps while surrounded by boats, Banyan trees, and Bay water.

Across the Inlet is the iconic Marina Jack, known for its attractive menu, waterfront dining, and great live music. On the park side, my wife & I have enjoyed kicking back on a bench on any given evening during the week, enjoying the music and boats returning to the marina.

WOW! I’ll never forget witnessing SeaFair’s arrival in Sarasota at Marina Jack. This stunning 228-foot, 2,800-ton megayacht designed by Miami’s award winning yacht designer Luiz de Basto, dwarfs the “Jack,” let alone any other yacht moored in Sarasota. I remember paying $25.00 to tour this first-class traveling art gallery, boasting 28 exhibition galleries. Deck one offered 10 galleries and an international coffee bar. On deck 2, you discovered another 12 galleries, while the third deck offered a 5-star restaurant and six additional galleries. The SeaFair’s sky deck featured an open-air restaurant, a harbor-view cocktail reception area, and a champagne and caviar lounge, all of which served to present the grand luxe traveling art experience the financially well-off expected.

Every time I see these fountains, I smile. At these fountains, my kids grew up. I can still hear them laughing while playing, never wanting to leave. As quickly as time flies, the fountains at Island Park remain as they always have. Parents recline on stone steps encircling the fountains, shooting an occasional glance toward the boats bobbing in the nearby mooring field. Oh, what memories.

Yep! You guessed it. The red-haired kid is my son. Today, the red hair’s the same. The smile’s the same. The size is definitely not the same. He’s grown up now. Where did time go? What you see sprinkled throughout this Sarasota Lifestyle website is my life…this site’s as much a family photo album as it is a digital travel brochure espousing this amazing place we’ve called home for three+ decades. On any given day, you’ll stumble upon Sarasota’s best park as little kids, soaked and bearing big smiles, enjoy the time of their young lives.

Fountains. Playground. Big grassy knoll. Statues that double as jungle gyms. Banyan trees. Any wonder why this park is Sarasota’s best park? Next to the inimitable fountains sits this amazing playground, shaded and padded for hours of non-stop fun for your kids or grandkids. I snapped this photo on a day when the City had the park closed for maintenance. Otherwise, you’d see myriad kids darting to and fro, sliding, climbing, chasing, and tumbling on the padded ground.

Ah, I know what you’re thinking: “What about the fire ants? No worries. The City keeps the park treated for these annoying red ants. If you don’t know fire ants, consider yourself warned. Grab your furry family member (& a leash) and picnic basket for a fun family outing. This is how locals enjoy a weekend throughout the year. We enjoy year-round outdoor weather albeit more humid during the summer.

Overlooking Sarasota Bay, O’Leary’s exudes the tropical tiki beach bar vibe. Grab a burger, fries, and Corona. Enjoy a laid-back scenic lunch or after-work drink. Rent a boat, kayak, or jet ski.

Is this what you had in mind when envisioning the perfect tropical vibe: palm trees, thatched tiki, simple picnic benches, Bay waters, and people who seek easy-going, like-valued people?

O’Leary’s attracts the best local musicians playing all genres, 7 days a week. Out of the sun, you can kick back with a burger & fries and enjoy Sarasota’s simple life(style)…all year long.

At the Bayfront, you can board a boat for a spin around the Bay. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot dolphins, manatees, and a few kayakers & paddle boarders from the comfort of your shaded seat.

All aboard, LeBarge is shoving off for another exciting adventure of Sarasota Bay.

Who doesn’t want to snag a few Florida fish” with friends, family, and like-valued people while offshore fishing aboard a charter arriving and leaving from the Bayfront Park? Unfortunately, you won’t be fishing snagging a swordfish as Jerry Lewis did in “Hook, Line, and Sinker.”

What’s better proof of a fishing charter’s secret sauce than to see proof of the day’s catch?

Next to Sarasota’s beaches, no other attraction competes with “Unconditional Surrender,” a statue honoring “V-J Day” or the end of WW2 that’s prominently displayed at the Bayfront. It ranks #3 on Instagram’s most-photographed and uploaded photo list for Sarasota. On any given day, you’ll see couples mimicing the pose for their photo memories.

If for other reason than to get outdoors,  go to the Bayfront for an early-morning stroll around the Park. No doubt, you’ll encounter health enthusiasts who are logging laps in conjunction with a daily dose of “Ponce DeLeon elicir.”

The Ringling Causeway is more than a bridge connecting the Sarasota mainland to Lido Key. It’s a destination for exercise, sightseeing, and the most awesome tropical vibes. Funny how I think back to March 4, 2012, when I cross this bridge by car, bike, or foot. My wife, kids, and I took a walk that very windy day. How windy? Boats in the area not moored sufficiently broke loose. One of those unfortunate boats capsized near Bird Key Park, just over the bridge. On the bridge, I carried my young daughter at the time, fearful the wind would whip her over the bridge and into the Bay. I might be exaggerating a bit, but it was surprisingly windy on the bridge that day. Every morning throughout the year, you will see people biking, jogging, walking, rollerblading the Causeway. C’mon, join us. The view’s amazing!

Naturally, water activities play a big role in defining many people’s Sarasota lifestyle. For them, a boat is as important as a car. On a lazy summer day, can you imagine hopping into your boat & putting around the Bay, dropping anchor to fish, splash around, or even bob in the gentle waves while enjoying the warm sun?