Upon leaving Sarasota, we once again stopped in Apollo Beach to enjoy lunch at another coastal restaurant before bringing our winter getaway to a close. Circles Waterfront Restaurant was established back in 1998. For years it has been serving the community and faithful visitors some of the best surf and turf dishes Florida has to offer. Most everything on their menu is made to order. If the seafood is not local, then it is flown in overnight. Even their beef and chicken are r

The iconic attraction that Sarasota is most known for is The Ringling. It is mostly identified as a circus museum, but to my surprise, it was so much more than that. The Ringling is the full estate of John and Mable Ringling, the famous Barnum and Bailey owners and circus entertainers of the early 1900s. Situated on 66 acres, the property consists of the Circus Museum, the home and gardens of John and Mable, a Museum of Art, and the Historic Asolo Theater. I must admit, I hav

In addition to being known for its artistic community, Sarasota is home to an extensive network of parks, preserves, and trails. It has far more than the average city its size. Whether you like to walk, hike, bike or run, there is anything from waterfront paths, long-distance paved routes, nature trails, and boardwalks to choose from. If you prefer to spend your time on the water, there are many access points to launch a kayak or take a guided tour exploring the mangrove pres

Today, we are going to take a quick look at the culinary hot spots that made the cut for our brief visit to Sarasota back in January. When researching restaurants, I was looking for what I am always on the lookout for, a place recognized for its great food, made with quality ingredients, and in a desirable setting. While you wouldn’t normally think of Indian food when visiting a coastal community, this restaurant caught my attention when it revealed a Google rating of 4.9 sta

We have finally arrived to my first accommodation review. When looking for a place to stay in Sarasota, I came across this interesting hotel concept that immediately caught my attention. They refer to themselves as a boutique hotel, an a la carte brand. A boutique hotel is a small, stylish hotel that focuses on personalized service. So, what is the name of this one-of-kind hotel? Kompose. The first Kompose Hotel opened it’s doors in Sarasota in 2020. They have since added loc

Apollo Beach is a small, but growing community. Ironically, it is not a beach community, at least in the sense of what you think of in regards to a Florida beach. While there is a few points of sandy beach access to Tampa Bay, Apollo Beach is predominantly known as a residential canal waterfront community. Nestled in the midst, is a newly discovered restaurant fave for me. Finn’s Dockside Bar & Grill checks off most of my boxes when it comes to a dining establishment with gre

While summer is the most desirable season for most people to visit Florida, there are many unique events and attractions that just can’t be experienced during the summer months. One of those such events is the annual migration of manatees that flock to warmer waters during the winter months. One of the best places to see these gentle giants corralling together is the Tampa Electric Big Bend Power Station in Apollo Beach, Florida. Hundreds of manatees have been gathering here

I needed a quick getaway in January.  Something that would be easy on the wallet but not lacking in intrigue or relaxation.  So, I asked myself, what coastal city comes to mind that may have a lot of options during an unpredictable winter month?  One of the first places that came to mind was Sarasota.  Having lived in the Tampa Bay Area for several years, I was familiar with its beauty and heavy focus on the arts.  That means lots of indoor options for art museums, music venu

Everyone knows that the beach is the main attraction when it comes to Florida.  But what do you do in the off season when the temperatures are cooler, and the water is even colder?  Florida weather can be unpredictable, especially in the fall and winter seasons.  One week it feels like a beautiful spring day and the next week you are piling on layers of clothing.  Case in point, welcome to January in Florida.  Last week I was enjoying lows in the 50s and highs in the 70s with

I was exceptionally busy this past holiday season, so it made it very hard to produce the kind of content that I wanted to.  Now that the holidays are behind me, I hope to start producing on a more consistent basis.  As I look ahead to what is to come for 2026, I will be making some minor changes as I continue to explore my style of presentation and the information I desire to share with you.  The addition of my YouTube channel will play a big part in guiding my creativity an

We began this reflective journey to discover why the end of the year is so “festive” for many religions and cultures and why it leads to a greater tendency to do good and be less self-centered.  I propose to you that we may be able to trace it back to the Tower of Babel.   I will explain.  First, let us come full circle and summarize what we have seemingly learned about the “holiday spirit” so far.  It is a real enough phenomenon to make it into a dictionary.  It is the “feel

Have you heard the phrase “Why can’t every day be like Christmas?” in a song, movie, or conversation?   What are they referring to?  Is it a longing for peace that comes from the unity of celebrations?  Is it the joy that comes from giving gifts or serving others?  Is it the feeling of gratitude that reduces stress?  Bigger question, why is it only associated with the Christmas season?  In Part 1, we posed the question as to why does the end of the year seem to compel people

There is an intensity of celebrations that happen all around the world and in every season.  It amazes me the unity holidays bring, even in unexpected places and unexpected ways.  Thanksgiving, for instance, is an American holiday, yet the influence of American culture and Americans living abroad have impacted other countries to recognize and celebrate with us.  Having lived in the Cayman Islands for a number of years, I can attest that many local island restaurants will offe

As we enter in to the most celebrated and recognized holiday season for Christians around the world, I began to ponder about this time of year with its heightened sense of activity and why it feels so different from the rest of the year.  In the month of November and December, there are many religions celebrating some holiday or festival.  The Christians have Advent, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  The Jews celebrate Hanukkah.  African Americans observe Kwanza.  Buddhists keep

Located on Clapboard Creek in Jacksonville, about 10 miles from the beaches of Huguenot Memorial Park and Little Talbot Island State Park, is a laid-back restaurant that serves fresh local seafood and a variety of other casual dining favorites.  Palms Fish Camp is an “Old Florida Cracker” style fish camp that includes indoor and outdoor dining.  With a public boat ramp on the property and floating dock, boaters have a great opportunity to tie up for lunch or dinner.  The rest

After a disappointing visit to Casa Marina Hotel for brunch, I decided to give brunch a try at another popular Jacksonville Beach restaurant.  This time I was headed to Refinery.  This upscale restaurant features an ocean bar, pub, entertainment lounge, and an elegant upstairs dining room.  They serve Euro-American fare.  The ocean bar is their outdoor option giving direct access to the ocean air and view of the beach dunes.  The First Street Pub offers a surprising touch of

Situated just off the intracoastal waterway in St Augustine on the San Sebastion River lies a laid-back seafood restaurant called Grouper Shack.  This eatery sits in a small marina with its own dock allowing for casual boaters to stop in for a quick bite to eat.  It is secluded amidst the marsh grasses and tree line in a peaceful and relaxed setting, yet you can see far and wide if you are there for lunch.  Grouper Shack is an informal dining experience.  You place your order

I love the city of St Augustine.  There is quite the variety of things to see and do there.  With its unique character and the allure of its old-world beauty, it is no wonder this old city is the gem of Northeast Florida.  It is a water lover’s playground with its miles of beaches, intracoastal waterway, rivers, and inlets.  It has a diverse and vibrant food scene that is growing in recognition.  Located in Villano Beach, Cap’s on the Water is one of the many St Augustine hot

In our last reflection, we explored the topic of biblical hospitality and entertaining.  Today, we are going to dive into the biblical depths of servanthood before beginning our “Journey Through the Bible” series.  The greatest servant that ever was or will be was Yeshua/Jesus, for He was no ordinary servant.  Mark 10:45 (ESV) states, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”   This verse articulates that His prim

For the first time in 10 years, there has not been a single hurricane that has made landfall in the U.S. this season.  Only Tropical Storm Chantal formed out in the Atlantic off the coast of Florida and made landfall in South Carolina back in early July with minimal impacts.  While Florida has been spared so far this year, the east coast has experienced significant beach erosion, flooding, and some structural damages in the last 2 months along many areas such as Jupiter Inlet