30 Hours in Sarasota
While waiting at a traffic light, a motorcycle that was behind me pulled up to the next lane and then backed up to get closer to me. The driver immediately started his conversation with me by asking if I was a follower of Jesus and had accepted Him. To not start a religious debate (because I clearly could have asked him about his stance on Gaza), I decided to reply with what he wanted to hear. Then he proceeded to talk about how important it is to care for everyone, including people you likely disagree with.
Hmm..
Then after his quick little prayer while the light refused to turn green, he proceeded to ask me if I felt like an entire weight was lifted off my shoulders, as if his prayer is helping me get rid of select demons that had been haunting me. By that point, I knew why he picked me and why he felt the need to tell me these things, nonetheless I responded with “I’m honestly chill dude, I’m fine.” He proceeded to wish me a good night as the light turned green and he went along his way. The man was relaxed, spoke with a purpose, and it never felt like there was trouble brewing. It was a quick harmless moment. But I know why he talked to me.
In the middle of the exchange, I remembered my Bernie Sanders sticker in the back of my car.
And that moment was the ultimate reminder of how I’m not in Orlando, but actually I’m in Sarasota.
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I spent a quick 30 hours in Sarasota and did as much as I could within that timeframe. My main goals were: find Amish food, visit some nice gardens, and return to the legendary Siesta Keys. Here are the places I went to:.
The Pinecraft Trifecta: Yoders, Der Dutchman, Postal 98 Café
The population of the Pinecraft region barely crosses 500, and it looks like its mostly snowbirds that occupy the region. However, the neighborhood is very quaint, friendly, calm, and full of excellent food. The Amish down here know how to cook, and it’s been their pressure-cooked chicken, thick scrumptious pies, and assorted jellies and jams that has made this place a quality destination for foodies and those trying to eat elevated southern cuisine.
Yoders is likely the original spot that put Pinecraft on the map thanks to its infamous appearance on Man vs. Food, which showcased the chicken and pies, and immediately got my attention. I’ve visited this restaurant several times since my first trip there back in 2009. And every single time has been a success, no matter what I order (its usually the chicken however).
This time I went with the country fried steak, and its one of the best country steaks I’ve ever had, seriously. The best way to describe Yoders is basically elevated Southern classics, from the corn to the chicken. The sides were great, the entire meal was satisfactory. Of course I had to order their famous peanut butter pie, which is a bonafide smash hit every step of the way. They may sometimes not have much crust, but you’re not going to complain because the crust is being overwhelmed by delicious custard.
However, if you’re looking for an even bigger meal, then you’re going to visit Der Dutchman, which offers a similar menu to that of Yoders and the other nearby restaurants, but the difference is the buffet option where you can have it all. I jokingly believe that the reason why such a great deal ($19 for all-you-can-eat salad bar, sides bar, broasted chicken, other assorted meats, dinner rolls) exists is because the clientele within the region are on the older side and therefore can’t take full advantage of the opportunity.
The buffet versions of the food being offered are still top-notch quality, from the chicken to the spectacular noodles, to even the fresh, crisp lettuce that truly makes it feel like this place was personally blessed by God himself. Now of course, since its Amish Territory, there’s an added layer of religious text, visual iconography, and Christian sentiment throughout the region, even in the restaurants. There was no background music playing in either spot, the people are dressed very modestly, and there’s a level of respect and compassion that reverberates everywhere. Kind souls selling spectacular food is the ongoing theme of Pinecrest, and Der Dutchman is a shining example of Southern cuisine and hospitality with a twist of friendly Christian demeanor.
Postal 98 Café didn’t get as many pictures from me because I was scrambling both times I wanted to spend time there. Either way, this is a solid coffee shop with good service, plenty of outdoor seating to make up for the hidden parking lot I didn’t discover until Hour 29, and good food and good vibes. The other positive is that its arguably the spot that closes the latest in Pinecrest, so if you need a stop before making your way out of Sarasota, this place will be there for you. Good coffee, good treats, can’t go wrong here.
Gardens Upon Gardens
Sarasota has a good assortment of attractions that ranges from zoos to museums to gardens to of course their legendary beaches. Selby Gardens is considered one of the better botanical gardens in the entire state because of its diversity and approximation towards the ocean. That being said, Selby has undergone a huge transformation in terms of growth and recovery, as they have more exhibits planned and more space to utilize, but on the other side they have more cleaning and maintenance to work on within the shorelines.
Either way, you’re still getting your money’s worth when coming here. They have this spectacular George Harrison exhibit going on until mid-summer which showcases Harrison’s love for gardening as well as his history working on the legendary Friar Park from the day he bought it all the way to his unfortunate passing. You get to hear his post-Beatles music in scattered parts of the garden, and how can you be upset at that? The exhibit more than makes up for a battered coastline that remains under construction as hurricane Milton (sorry) battered Sarasota’s coast with storm surge over 8 feet.
Selby Gardens has an interactive rainforest section for the kids, a developing tropical conservatory, a trail that wraps around the region, a couple shops and restaurants, ongoing exhibits, a botany museum, and plenty of places to sit, relax, and enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer. Lots of nice relaxing scenery, plenty of views of the ocean, and a good mix of animals that can be discovered throughout, and a chill koi pond where you can feed the fish. The world has become more stressful than ever, and places like these are essential for mental health and overall peace.
It might be me setting the bar lower for necessary places like botanical gardens and gardens in general, but Selby Gardens is practically flawless. The place hardly looks like it had been underwater for days during Milton’s (sorry again) reign of stormy terror. It’s a must-visit if you’re looking for something in Sarasota that isn’t just the beach----even though that sounds like a tall order considering the quality of the beaches, but more on that later.
Ringing Museum and Gardens’ scars from the hurricane are a bit more prevalent, as there was a rose garden that looked like it got wrecked, and there’s still storm-related debris in the area. But what Ringling lacks in “gardens,” it makes up for in spades with its immense, varied, historic, and impressive art collection and art exhibits that can be found from inside the famed John and Mable Ringing Museum of Art.
One of my mistakes was arriving to this place way too late, as there were multiple exhibits to visit. I didn’t even get to partake in the circus museum because the art museum had so much to see. Apparently online you can check out their whopping 45,000 objects under the possession of the estate. The art museum itself has some of the rarest, valuable, and overall impressive art in the entire country. You’ll see immense paintings that clearly took an eternity to work on and finish, and between those there’s also a grand collection of paintings spanning eras, decades, and even different styles. The pictures here won’t do them justice, you have to see these items for yourself.
Similar to Selby, it appears that the exhibits themselves change every so often, so even the locals won’t be bored with what this place has to offer. When I visited, it featured stories and artifacts from the 1800s era of spiritualism and how magicians tricked people into believing that they were talking and interacting with the dead. It even had an Ouija board that I refused to touch. Not today, Satan.
Arrive early, take your time, bring some snacks to help assist your journey through the tens of thousands of artifacts and thousands of square feet of gardens and nature.
Beaches and Beaches
Statistically speaking, people that live along the ocean are healthier, live longer, happier, and are less-likely to get sick. The ocean air, the ocean breeze, the ability for the beaches to always provide you with necessary sunlight, blessed water, and space to unwind makes Florida a great destination for those in their retirement years. It makes sense, and we will spend lifetimes arguing how close is too close in terms of living close to the beach, but one thing is certain:
These beaches are crucial to the health and happiness of the Sunshine State and everyone that lives here.
Hurricane Milton opened the conversation once again about flood insurance, overpopulation along the coasts, about overall protection of these fantastic settings against the cold iron grip of real estate capitalism. If you ask me, first and foremost we have to make sure these beaches are preserved to the absolute maximum for the rest of time, if it means removing buildings, condos, houses that are too close, then so be it. To me, we should freeze all construction that’s within a couple miles of the ocean itself, and let nature consume the rest and provide the necessary blockade.
Because look at this and tell me we shouldn’t do everything possible to make sure it stays looking this way.
Lido Beach and Siesta Keys are within a 20-30 minute drive from each other, but they are both quite different in spacing, in popularity, and even the depths of the ocean from the shoreline. They are both amazing for their own reasons, and depending on what you’re looking for determines which one should be your destination if you had just 30 hours to spend here. I’m crazy so I went to both, but to be honest if you did either or you won’t be disappointed.
Lido Beach is within the St. Armands Circle region, which is a large popular outdoor mall full of shops and restaurants in recovery from last year’s storms. Apparently the entire mall was engulfed under 5 feet of oceanwater and hurricane sentiment, so therefore remains in recovery mode and still hasn’t hit its usual tourism numbers. The restaurant I went to was still legit, and the beach during the approaching sunset hours was an absolute beauty.
However, Siesta Keys, that’s probably the undisputed champ of Tampa Bay beaches.
Miles of beautiful white sand where you can find sports, sunbathing, relaxing, tanning, and yoga, combined with miles of beautiful ocean water where it doesn’t get too deep until you’re far far out into the bay makes this place a quality visit no matter what time you’re there----morning, noon, and night. That being said, show up very early or show up very late, because this place will fill up fast. Free parking is always an added bonus, and it makes Siesta Keys Beach that much better. No visit to Sarasota is complete without Siesta Keys. None.
Sunsets in Tampa Bay while on the beach is easily one of the 10 best sensations in all of Florida, I strongly recommend spending a late afternoon at a Florida beach at least once in your life.
Other Notes
1) Golden Host Resort is a decent motel with the oldest tiki bar in all of Florida. The drinks pack a punch, and there’s no food to save you in the evening hours so if you’re drinking here its because you want to go to bed immediately after.
2) ChaCha Coconuts at St. Armands Circle was recommended by a host at another restaurant after I told her I wasn’t craving Italian. She chose well, because the results were good, even though I didn’t drink because I was saving myself for the Bahi Hut
3) I didn’t get to visit 420 Munchies Café, but if you had to pick a place that best represents American cuisine, this place is the answer. Its quality indulgence to the nth degree with late night hours and fun chaos among the wild menu items. I still recommend it even after fully exiting my college phase.