The narrow island of Casey Key is one of Sarasota’s hidden gems, an isolated and exclusive enclave just off the sleepy mainland town of Nokomis.
It’s easy to pass by this hidden gem, relativity unknown to the general public, this gem is truly a paradise on earth.
With white crystal sands and quiet beaches it is truly the playground of the rich and famous. Seldom does one see more than just a few beach goers on this tiny island.
The only public beach is on the south end, the rest can be classified as public, but, there are no parking places, making them almost inaccessible to everyone but residents.
Growing up on a dairy farm in southeastern Indiana, Gary traveled very little until midlife, when the opportunity became available to him.
Grabbing his camera and a bag full of equipment, he began his vision quest traveling to most areas of the United States and several countries abroad.
Along the way he collected several thousand photographs that he wants to share with everyone.
Cocoa Beach is south of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It’s a gateway to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The city is known for its beach and surf breaks. Inside a surf shop, the Florida Surf Museum traces the sport’s local history. Nearby Cocoa Beach Pier has eateries and shops. The maritime forest at oceanfront Lori Wilson Park attracts birdlife.
Named for the chocolate brown sand,the city of Cocoa Beach’s roots are said to lie in the hands of freed slaves in the post-Civil War era. Ais Native Americans once inhabited the area, a family of freed slaves established the first colony on Cocoa Beach, according to city of Cocoa Beach records. The documents state a hurricane displaced the original settlers.
There is something magical about Siesta Key, its white sand is formed from quartz crystal and some say, including many American Indian tribes in the area, that its mystical powers have long kept hurricanes from striking Sarasota County. The American Indians always came here in the summer as they knew they would be safe from the storms. A hurricane has never struck Sarasota County.
Growing up on a dairy farm in southeastern Indiana, Gary traveled very little until midlife, when the opportunity became available to him.
Grabbing his camera and a bag full of equipment, he began his vision quest traveling to most areas of the United States and several countries abroad.
Along the way, he collected several thousand photographs that he wants to share with everyone.
Gary decided the best way to accomplish his goal was to publish photo documentaries on the various areas of the world he has visited.
What will follow will be several photography books, who knows how many will wind up in his collection.
A little boy walked down the beach, and as he did, he spied a matronly woman sitting under a beach umbrella on the sand. He walked up to her and asked, “Are you a Christian?”
“Yes.”.
“Do you read your Bible every day?”
She nodded her head, “Yes.”
Do you pray often?” the boy asked next, and again she answered, “Yes.”
With that he asked his final question, “Will you hold my quarter while I go swimming?”
The author has been a writer/ photographer for over 20 years, specializing in nature, landscapes and studying native cultures. Besides visiting most of the United States, he has traveled to such places as Egypt, the Canary Islands, much of the Caribbean. He has studied the Mayan Cultures in Central America and the Australian Aboriginal way of life.Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in many different parts of the world!
He has published several books about the various cultures he has observed.
For more information and a link to his hardcover and Ebooks, and contact information: please check his website, http://www.journeysthrulife.com.
Your comments appreciated
There has been much debate over the years about what the founding fathers meant about the separation of church and state. In recent times there has been much disinformation about how they actually believed, especially George Washington. In this short Ebook the author tries to explain how they actually felt.
Having lived and traveled in many parts of the country, it would be hard to narrow down why I like living in Sarasota, Florida. There are so many reasons, but the number one reason, being it is now January, It’s 70 degrees out there! I left my snow shovel, boots and parka in Indiana!
Sarasota is located on the Suncoast about 60 miles south of Tampa Florida. With the completion of I-75, many midwesterners settled here as it was an easy drive from Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio.
Having lived in the mid west most of my life, I can really appreciate leaving the house this time of year in shorts and a tee shirt!
Sarasota has a lot going for it, Siesta Key, one of the finest beaches in the world, superb dining, if desired one could dine somewhere different every night of their life and never be in the same restaurant twice!
Adding to Siesta Key, several more beaches, Longboat Key, Casey Key, Lido Beach, Bradenton Beach, and numerous others add to the beach hopping opportunities!
Most of the housing in the area are either single family homes or condos, thereby offering the opportunity for families to rent homes for the winter.
Even though the Ritz- Carlton has property in Sarasota, along with a few other chains, there really isn’t much hotel room available, making it nearly impossible for us to be invaded by the spring break crowd every year.
Numerous social and civic activities abound, nearly every club and organization in America has a facility in Sarasota. Sahib Temple, the local Shrine Center, has a membership of nearly 2000 and is featured as one of the most active Shrine Centers in Shrinedom,all Shriners are invited to attend the Thursday luncheon attended by approximately 200 Shriners.
Golf courses abound and the area is home to numerous Baseball teams during spring training.
Shopping malls and art galleries abound, as well as theater and museums.
If one has a need to get away for the week-end, Sarasota International Airport and I-75 offer that choice.
Sarasota has become the center of life in southwest Florida, making it the premier retirement location in Florida.
This year my wife and I decided to do something different for Christmas. Our kids were all going to be out of town so we were “Home Alone”.
It would be a different kind of Christmas with no family around, first problem was to figure out “what to do.” There are very few businesses and restaurants open on Christmas Day, so that would be our first challenge.
Christmas Eve was easy, we have made a tradition of going to the Madfish Grill on Cattlemen Road, so that was the first thing on the list, making a reservation for 7:00PM our holiday was underway! Next on the list was deciding what to do next, we both grew up with a religious background, but although we are spiritual in nature we are not avid churchgoers.
We bought each other Christmas gifts on our last cruise, so that function was already taken care of. We have throughly enjoyed this Christmas Season although we didn’t put up a tree, my wife , who converted to Judaism has no problem with a tree, but I wasn’t in the mood, so no tree, maybe next year!
By chance we saw a news blurp on TV about a Christmas display at 59th and Tuttle in Sarasota, so we decided that would be our evenings entertainment.It was fabulous, there were probably two acres of lights, displays and music, complete with cookies and punch!
It had drawn quite a crowd as there were literally people there from all over the country as well as Canada! It is our understanding that this display has been available for several years and I am sure it will be on our list of “to do” things next year!
Christmas morning dawned warm and beautiful, so after all the calls to family, we decided it was time to hit the beach. Thinking that no one would be there , we were surprised to find the beach at Siesta Key packed, so we were able to partake in the time honored ritual of searching for a parking spot.
No beach chairs for us! We came to walk, so off we went to the Point of Rocks, the beach was filled with locals and visitors alike, you can tell the difference,the visitors are swimming in the 70 degree water(no self respecting Floridian would ever go in water with a temperature lower than 80 degrees!)and when they exit the water they are either fried to a crisp or lilly white.
We enjoyed the holiday spirit, as people were building snowmen out of sand, I just had to send a photo to my snowbound northern relatives!
Hunger having overtaken us, it was time for our Christmas feast. Driving around, most of our normal haunts were closed, making our way to St. Armand’s Circle,we found life, there were places open!
Christmas Day offered us the opportunity to find a convenient parking spot close to the restaurants on the north side of the circle.
After discussing our options, we decided to eat at Coconuts, which affords open air curb side dining.
The evening was perfect, the temperature was a balmy 75 degrees, no snow, and my Caribbean Steak ,complimented with onion strings and a vegetable was delicious. What a way to celebrate Christmas, life is good!!
Gary has been a writer/ photographer for over 20 years, specializing in nature,landscapes and studying native cultures.Besides visiting most of the United States, he has traveled to such places as Egypt,the Canary Islands,much of the Caribbean. He has studied the Mayan Cultures in Central America, and the Australian Aboriginal way of life.Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in many different parts of the world!
He has published several books about the various cultures he has observed.
For more information and a link to his hard cover and Ebooks,and contact information: please check his website.www.commonsensejourneys.com
You can also follow him on your Kindle.
Your comments appreciated
This informative Ebook describes alternative methods of making money ,often a full time income in photography even if you have no desire to shoot wedding photography. this book gives examples and websites where you can use your photos to supply you with an income, not only to enable you to buy new equipment, but a living income as well.
, its white sand is formed from
and some say, including many American Indian tribes in the area, that its mystical powers have long kept hurricanes from striking Sarasota County.
, Florida. There are so many reasons, but the number one reason, being it is now January, It’s 70 degrees out there! I left my snow shovel, boots and parka in Indiana!
, Casey Key, Lido Beach, Bradenton Beach, and numerous others add to the beach hopping opportunities!
Thinking Between the Lines 