I’ve lived in downtown Sarasota for nearly three years and thought I’d seen everything the city center had to offer until the other day, when I took a walk along Sarasota Bay. Just two blocks from the heart of downtown I discovered an arched entryway leading to Bayfront Park, a half-mile long peninsula jutting into the bay. Intrigued, I stepped through the archway and into an alternate reality of grass-roofed shacks, brightly colored water sport equipment, tiki bars, multi-million dollar yachts at anchor, outdoor sculpture, elaborate playground equipment, and a circular recessed fountain where children romped in columns of water burbling from the ground.
Gateway to Sarasota's Bayfront Park
Rent paddle boats, kayaks, and jet skis at the little grass shack
Live music and tropical drinks are the order of the day at O'Leary's Tiki Bar and Grill
Marina Jack's Restaurant and Sarasota's yacht harbor are framed by an outdoor sculpture
Children scamper through pillars of water in this recessed waterfront fountain
Dolphins adorn a fountain at the tip of the half-mile peninsula that forms Bayfront Park
If I didn’t know better, I would have sworn I was somewhere in the Caribbean. I am astonished that Bayfront Park has escaped my notice all this time. It just goes to show that no matter how long you live in a place, there’s always something more to be discovered.
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Posted in Florida travel | 
Tags: bayfront park, blogsherpa, Children, Florida, fountains, marina, O'Leary's Tiki Bar, playground, Sarasota, Sculpture, tampa, USA, water sports, west coast
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It looks beautiful! Why can’t you find an apartment on THAT side of town?
xo
Why does the sky never get that blue in cincinnati ohio? Pretty place.
Looks like great fun for families – you’re write, there are so many things in your own neighbourhood that you take for granted – until you become a blogger that is, then it all becomes great material to write about!
.-= Heather on her travels´s last blog ..Cycling by the sea in Istria – in Croatia =-.
I used to go to Sarasota 25 years ago every spring break for family vactions. It looked nothing like this!! Really fun to see how it has developed. Then again I think all I did was sit on the beach and work on my tan lathered in baby oil!! Love the photos Barbara!
.-= Sherry Ott´s last blog ..Mongolian Food – Got Milk? =-.
Wow Barbara! I had no idea these things existed in Sarasota and I feel like I’ve been there by taking your virtual tour. Thanks for sharing such wonderful visuals of where you live.
.-= Shannon´s last blog ..The Real Kellerman’s from Dirty Dancing =-.
Wow. That place is just beautiful!
.-= Robina´s last blog ..Death (again) and kid drama =-.
Good Morning just thought i would let you know that i had a issue with your blog appearing frozen also. Might be chimpanzees in the system.