Vizen Japanese Cuisine is located in Gulf Gate and is a very eclectic shopping area. It has lots of single owner restaurants and bakeries. It is a great little neighborhood to try all kinds of food including pizza, hot dogs, English food, Chinese food, ethnic groceries, and so much more.
Continue reading For a Japanese food lover, Vizen Japanese Cuisine is the place to go in Sarasota.
If you are a cyclist, the Withlachoochee Trail State Park is a place you really want to check out. But if you are a recumbent cyclist, the Withlachoochee is a trail you cannot afford to miss. Riding this trail on a recumbent is like spending a day in ‘opposite land’, for you will typically spot more recumbent bikes and trikes during a day on the Withlachoochee than you will spot upright bikes.
Ortygia is simply a delightful restaurant in the middle of a neighborhood in Bradenton, Florida. We had no idea how to find it but, thank you Google Maps, we got there. Continue reading Yum is the word for Ortygia Restaurant, Bradenton, Florida
Our bike trip came to an end (and a great road trip it was) at Hawk’s Cay Resort. It is a beautiful place located on Duck’s Key. It was a short week ago that we left the car here. They were very gracious and let us leave the car while we went riding.
It is a beautiful property. Between the spa, docks, pools, and scenery, it was just the right place for us to land after staying in some funky places along the way. It is one of the most service oriented places we have stayed in a long time. We were there on a shoulder season so our room price was quite good. It is a fairly expensive place to stay but so worth it.
We rode up to the front of the place and dropped off our bags. Then we went to the parking lot and packed up the bikes before we checked in. The room was lovely and the bathroom had a wonderfully large shower. We both really enjoyed it after our ride and after all of the not so great showers along the way.
It was a bit late for lunch and too early for dinner so we went to the tiki bar for a celebratory drink (okay, we were ready for a drink) and some munchies. We had some chips and salsa and some popcorn shrimp. They were so delicious. The bartenders are fun as well. The drink (mojitos) were good. They held us over for dinner.
We walked around the property just to see what is there. It is a great place for families with lots of interesting pools including one that is not quite a pool but a lagoon that has a sandy bottom and filled with some fish so younger children can experience the sea in a safe environment.
There is lots of adult recreation as well with fishing, diving, kite boarding, paddle boarding, sea kayaking, and any other water sport anyone can think of. There is also lots of places to just sit at the dock of the bay.
I would imagine it would be a great spot for a business meeting although who wants to be in a meeting room when they can be outside for all the things to do. I didn’t see a golf course but it may be there. They have a big tennis area with pros that provide lessons.
We had dinner in Alma (their elegantly informal restaurant). Their wine list is quite good. The service is excellent. We shared with the garlic shrimp as an appetizer.
It was just yummy. Basically, we wanted to lick the plate. Mike had the paella and it was very good. I ordered a steak because after all of the seafood and fish we ate, I needed a steak.
While it was good, it was delivered a little cool. I would have sent it back but I was just too hungry so I let it slide but I did tell the waiter. They took the steak off of our bill which I thought was exceptional since I didn’t send it back. They also called us later that evening to offer a bottle of wine because of the cool steak. We thought they were incredibly gracious. We would go back there again simply because of their service.
We had breakfast the next morning in Ocean that had a very good buffet or you can order off a menu.
We left that morning for home. What a trip. We loved the Florida Keys, our excellent adventure, and hope to return sometime soon especially to Hawk’s Cay.
On the way back from Key West, our next stop was Parmer’s Resort. It is another fairly low-key, funky hotel. We had a couple of calls from them because the day we checked in was going to be their Christmas party. They wanted to make sure we checked in ahead of everyone partying.
What can anyone say about Barnacle Bill’s Bed and Breakfast. It is definitely an “off kilter” wonderful place on Big Pine Key. They usually require a two-night stay but we were able to stay for one night. It was very special, very eclectic, quirky, or any other odd name we could call it.
Author’s Guest House was recommended to us by a close friend who lives in Key West. Her daughter worked there. We were told it is nice and very clean. The description was apt. It was very nice, clean, and best of all, they had a place we could keep the trikes that was off the street and under an awning.
The second night we stayed at the Lime Tree Bay Resort. Here is what they say about their hotel and I quote from their website. Lime Tree Bay Resort “is an intimate boutique resort which sits on ¼ mile of lush, tropical waterfront property adorned with colorful flowering plants, etc.” “Our upscale resort offers 46 well-appointed rooms and suites all of which have recently been tastefully updated and renovated by professional designer/decorators.”
Continue reading Second night: Lime Tree Bay Resort: Long Key, Florida
Once we decided to ride to Key West from Key Largo, it was time for me to go into reservation mode.
Continue reading Hotels along the way to Key West: First night in Key Largo
