I have been lax on publishing this information, but if you can find the time, Mote SEA is an incredible experience requiring reservations beforehand. Plan on at least four hours to view everything created in this world class aquarium.
- www.mote.org is the website to make your reservation. My have photos from Mote Sea, which I have visited four times with more visits planned for the future.
- Warning to all husbands: this is located next to the University Town Center (UTC) Mall a shopper’s paradise. Additionally the mall has very large shopping strips with pretty much any store you shop at in your area.
- Nathan Benderson Park features a world-class rowing venue that hosts numerous rowing competitions from around the USA and borders all of the above.
- Circus Art Conservatory is also located at UTC and Mote Sea and is worth visiting if any events are scheduled during your stay.
- Marie Selby Gardens in Sarasota has events at their downtown campus and Historic Spanish Point.
- Ringling Museum is an all day visit with lunch at the Banyan Cafe even dinner at the Ringling Grill Room. This is not one museum, but many and you can’t take it all in one day.
There is much more including what I have been told is the largest number of restaurants per capita in the USA. I’m not sure if this is accurate and I have not even come close to eating at 20% of the places since we first visited Sarasota in 1988. However, please let us know your favorites. My “MUST” recommendation is Star Fish an old Florida unique Fish Processing Plant, Fish Market and restaurant that will have you smiling all the way back to Siesta Sunset Royale. Female owned and operated, this business purchases the local fishermen’s catch and sells and serves fish that were swimming in our waters earlier that day. They are closed on Monday, accept cash only (no credit cards), and you will return.
All of you know that Siesta Key is the big draw to Sarasota and amazingly I discovered that most of our guests who have been coming to Siesta Key for years have never visited any of the six items listed above let alone experienced Star Fish. Truth be known, though Siesta Key is the largest contributor to Sarasota bed taxes—which immensely helps make Sarasota the vacation destination it is today—the greatest number of annual visitors to Sarasota for a single location is The Celery Fields where “birders” from around the world come to add another bird or birds to their lists of verified sightings.
The most important thing for all our guests to know is the need to plan your next visit to Siesta Sunset Royale while we are still here, as Nann and I have listed Siesta Sunset Royale with Jason Skowronski of Compass.com Realtors, whom I have CC copied on this email. We will continue to accept future reservations until we sell our favorite hobby of the past sixteen years. Jason created a video of Siesta Sunset Royale, which I have downloaded to this email. All present and future reservations will be honored by the purchaser for your reservation dates and your reservation funds will be included at the time of closing. In the 83 years since my birth, I have done and experienced many things and have had opportunities that most people don’t experience. I can honestly say that owning and developing Siesta Sunset Royale has been my most interesting and enjoyable venture.
Nann felt this was long overdue, but my resistance to selling this great little piece of real estate on Siesta Key was not acceptable until now. Nann is correct, it is time and I’m not retiring, just moving to my next venture in life: www.SiestaKey.Org. This will be a portal for Siesta Key, monetized by Siesta Key vacation rental owners who will subscribe for an annual fee and receive direct reservations from SiestaKey.Org. Unlike VRBO, Booking.com, AirB&B, TripAdvisors and other OTAs (Online Travel Agents) that charge owners 20 to 25 percent of their rental revenue, SiestaKey.Org takes none of that revenue, saving money for both owners and renters. Nann and I have loved being your Inn Keeper for these past years and will love supplying you with future enjoyable stays on Siesta Key. We will maintain our two-bedroom/two-bath beachfront penthouse condo at Sunset Royale for personal use and as a vacation rental.
Sincerely,
Paul
Paul & Nann Parr
5322 Calle de la Siesta
Siesta Key, Florida 34242
941-548-6001