Sarasota-Bradenton Area Feb12-17

[Daniel P Thomas]

Great Lakes Boater here, heading down to your area for a long weekend.
Girlfriend is running the Sarasota Half Marathon on the 15th.

I am there for moral support and to drink Miller Lite Beers!!

Looking for a marina or two preferably with a restaurant or bar to visit and just walk the docks.

Maybe look at a few boats too.

Always tell her it's just looking, yeah right!

Also going to try and hit Canons on Long Boat and maybe rent a center console for the day if I can't find a ride from anyone.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Dan

 

[wish2fish]

she is your girlfriend, what say does she have?

 

[ghuskin]

lots. Doesn't she control the....money?

 

[Daniel P Thomas]

Yeah she's the girlfriend, but only one season into boating.
Still just learning the ropes as such.

Funny about the money though, she's retired and I'm gonna be working for quite a while.

Divorce and a son in college will do that though.

 

[highslice]

Go to Coasters at Southbridge. Marina Jack's has a few places to eat, the dining room (can't remember the name, but it's on the 2nd floor) is incredible with great views of the marina.

 

[Skeetobite]

By now, you're on your way to Florida, but if you check in here...

From Cannon's you are very close to a couple of places to eat great seafood.

Go left (North) out of the channel leaving Cannon's and you'll see a Coast Guard station on your right before reaching the Cortez Bridge. Follow the cut by the fishing boats to find "Star Fish" (cash only) and farther down is Cortez Kitchen (cash/credit card). Both are accessable by water and have excellent food. Starfish offers beer only while Cortez Kitchen is a full bar service (if I recall correctly).

For beach time, you're about 15 or so minutes from Egmont Key. Plenty of wildlife and Spanish/American war ruins to be seen.

About the same distance as heading south to Marina Jacks, you can head north into the bay and cut over to the Manatee River (approx. 98 degrees from the last ICW marker as you enter the bay). Here you'll find a couple of parks with indian "shell mounds", Regatta Point marina (gas/diesel), Twin Dolphin Marina (gas/Diesel & 5 star Food at Mattison's). Up the river about 5 minutes from Twin Dolphin is Riviera Dunes (Gas/Diesel & 3 star Food). We're at Twin Dolphin.

Right now I'm in Arizona through Saturday, but would have loved to hook up and show you around.

we boat mostly in the area you're going so any questions, feel free to ask!

 

[370Dancer]

Well, you are here. Welcome to Pea Soup day.

Marina Jack will give you plenty to look at for an afternoon, plus you can hit the patio bar, the tiki bar in Island Park, and the Deep Six lounge inside later on.

To see some Sea Rays, go out to St. Armand's circle, head North towards Mote Marine, and visit Gulfwind/Marine Max. See Gary Jones, service manager, and tell him some bum with a 370 Dancer sent you.

For hanging out, go to Lido Beach Resort, and check the Tiki bar there. Nice joint.
There is a boat rental right at Marina Jack, in the corner of the seawall between LeBarge, and Island Park. Seacrafts, I think.