Arts Afoot

If you live in the Sarasota, Florida, area or are planning a springtime visit here, make plans to check out the free Season of Sculpture exhibit along Sarasota Bay in downtown Sarasota before it ends on May 30.

 

Eighteen large-scale pieces by eight artists from around the world line the bayfront, offering lots of opportunities for interactive family fun.

 

 

Kids can get up close and personal with the pieces, pose for pictures, and try their hand at deciphering just what that squiggly line or tower made of wood is supposed to represent.

 

We spent an afternoon exploring the artworks (with Lindsay’s first-grade classroom teddy bear in tow). She had a great time examining the sculptures and didn’t hesitate to make herself a part of the displays.

 

If you’re looking for other ideas for budget-friendly family outings in Sarasota this month, check out this piece I wrote for Visit Sarasota County.

For the Birds

Binoculars? Check. Nature journal? Check. Lindsay carefully packed her bag before our first trip to the Celery Fields in Sarasota, a spot much loved by local birdwatchers for the variety of winged creatures found there.

 

We strolled along a boardwalk to a gazebo overlooking the restored wetlands at this former agricultural area, which now serves as a storm-water collection site for Sarasota County. All of the aquatic plants and trees put in here during the restoration have helped to attract some 200 (and counting) species of birds to the park.

 

A bird naturalist from the Sarasota Audubon Society pointed out the different birds that were out and about during our visit, like anhingas, turkey vultures, egrets, and pied-billed grebes. Lindsay peered at them through her binoculars, then whipped out her nature journal to take notes and draw pictures. Handy checklists of birds found in Sarasota County available on-site offer another way to keep track of what you might spot.

 

Though busy Interstate 75 is in sight, that doesn’t stop the feathered visitors from swooping in and out, or take away from the park’s peaceful atmosphere. It’s a great place to slow down and reconnect with the area’s wild side. And the next time we visit, we plan on tackling the trails leading to the top of the park’s 85-foot, manmade mound (a byproduct of the wetlands restoration) for a totally different perspective of the Celery Fields.

Parent-Pleasing Meals

Did you hear about the controversy surrounding a couple who took their eight-month-old to an ultra-high-end, Michelin-three-star restaurant in Chicago? I’m all in favor of going out and about with kids—and of taking them places besides just McDonald’s and playgrounds—but I draw the line at things like taking a baby to the movies or a toddler to a super-swanky restaurant. When you go to a restaurant or museum or wherever, there should be opportunity for everyone in your party to enjoy the experience—Mom, Dad, and any little ones in tow. And I know that I enjoy a pricey meal much more when I don’t have to cut anyone else’s food or make sure that no drinks spill.

To be fair to those parents, their babysitter cancelled and the restaurant had a complex, months-in-advance, prepaid and nonrefundable reservation policy. And while their case may be extreme, almost every parent from time to time has taken a kiddo to a restaurant that may have been less than thrilled to have them, in search of a meal that didn’t come out of a deep fryer or that wasn’t available at every suburban mall in America.

With that in mind, here are some Sarasota County restaurants where little guys and gals are welcome and Mom and Dad can have a grown-up meal that goes beyond simple sustenance. And as long as the kiddos aren’t complete terrors, no one should take to Twitter about your presence.

Caragiulos has been an institution in downtown Sarasota since 1989. Kids can keep busy by making their own personal-sized pizzas; adults can sip a glass of wine while enjoying a specialty pie or one of the restaurant’s many pasta dishes.  

Owned by the same folks behind Caragiulos, Owen’s Fish Camp occupies a historic Sarasota cottage tucked under a banyan tree and oozing with down-home charm. Its Southern-tinged menu serves up simple but satisfying seafood dishes, and the atmosphere is anything but stuffy.

 

Gold Rush BBQ in Venice is ultra-casual and perpetually bustling. Tasty barbecued chicken, pork, and beef are served up quickly in a variety of forms and combinations and in portions big enough to handle even the most adult-sized appetite.

Don’t let the white tablecloths and wineglasses scare you away: The staff at Columbia on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota has no problem adding a high chair to the table. There’s tapas and sangria mixed tableside for Mom and Dad and a reasonably priced kids’ menu for the little ones.

Three area locations of Mi Pueblo serve up tart margaritas and spicy Mexican fare and sometimes offer kid-friendly entertainment like magicians, face painters, and balloon artists. Visit on a night when the mariachi band is in the house and no one will notice if Junior throws a tantrum.

 

The Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota is surprisingly welcoming of kids. The menu’s not cheap, but the tropical, get-away-from-it-all vibe provides a relaxing setting for a family meal.

Smack dab on Venice Beach, Sharky’s on the Pier draws locals and visitors for tropical drinks and seafood served surfside. Kids’ meals come with ice cream, and the shark-centric decor and giant fish tank offer plenty for young diners to look at if the water views don’t hold their attention.

Take in the action of downtown Sarasota from an outdoor table at Mattison’s City Grille. Dine on award-winning chef Paul Mattison’s casual yet sophisticated fare (including a kids’ side salad you’ll want to dig into yourself), then browse Main Street’s shops or stroll to Bay Front Park.

 

Venice newcomer Darrell’s Restaurant features a menu full of Southern favorites like fried chicken and pulled pork. Sit outside so the kids can stretch their legs in the adjoining courtyard while you polish off your plate, and make sure to end the meal with a generously sized Mason jar filled with “dirt” (aka chocolate pudding and crushed Oreos).

To the Rescue

If you’ve got a little animal lover or environmentalist on your hands, plan a trip to the Visitor Education Center at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) in Sanibel, Florida.

 

For years CROW has been rescuing and treating injured animals in the Sanibel area. Its hospital facilities are off-limits to the general public, but the education center gives visitors young and old a glimpse of the important work the organization is doing.

 

Kids get plenty of opportunities to play vet as they make their way through the site’s interactive exhibits. Actual case files are used to show what happens after an animal gets hit by a car or swallows something it shouldn’t. (Some of the photos can be a little gruesome, so you might want to preview them first if you have a sensitive or easily grossed-out kiddo.) Young ones can assess injuries, check out the tools used to treat them, and see if they would have made the same calls the doctors did.

 

Live video feeds, frequent talks, and a new Animal Ambassador program help further connect visitors with the work done at the clinic and the animals who are there temporarily or, in some cases, permanently due to injuries that are too severe for release back into the wild. Guests also learn what they can do to protect the local animal population from those kinds of injuries in the first place.

 

Sanibel, in general, is a great place to take little nature lovers for the day or weekend. The conservation-minded island is home to many parks and preserves, great beaches, and outfitters who can help people explore Sanibel’s wild side. Read more about ways kids can enjoy and learn about the great outdoors on Sanibel and neighboring Captiva Island in this story I wrote for Times of the Islands magazine.

I'll Drink to That

I love it when kids’ meals include a beverage in the price. I know that doesn’t seem like a big deal, but when some restaurants charge almost $3 for a child’s drink, even a reasonably priced kids’ meal quickly starts pushing $10.

Priced at just $5.95, the kids’ meals at Columbia come with a beverage. And not just some kind of soda—kids can also opt for milk and several types of juices.

That’s just one reason why Columbia is a great place to take kids. But it’s also a restaurant where young diners can try lots of different kinds of foods and learn about a piece of Florida’s history.

Though there are now several Columbia locations throughout the Sunshine State, the original restaurant opened in 1905 in Tampa’s Ybor City area. It was started by a Cuban immigrant and soon became a popular spot with the multiethnic workforce at the city’s nearby cigar factories. That original location still draws lots of diners today, who come to soak in its Old World charm and enjoy its much-lauded menu of Spanish cuisine (much of it offered in tapas-sized portions).

A trip to the original Columbia can be combined with other kid-friendly activities, like a ride aboard Tampa’s TECO Line Streetcar System and a visit to the Ybor City Museum State Park, which is housed in a former bakery and details the neighborhood’s history.

 

Or visit the location on Sarasota’s St. Armands Circle, a great spot for people-watching and a post-meal stroll. There are a slew of ice-cream shops and other dessert places on the circle for little ones in search of sweets, along with a handful of retailers (Fresh Produce, Crazy Shirts, Little Bo-tique) that carry kid-sized clothing and other items. Read more about my experience dining at Sarasota’s Columbia location with a kiddo in tow in the Whine and Dine column of the January/February 2014 issue of Mommy Magazine.

 

 

 

Animal Action

At a newly minted seven years old, Lindsay kind of finds herself in a bit of a no-man’s land when it comes to Busch Gardens Tampa. She’s outgrown many of the rides at the Sesame Street Safari of Fun area, both in terms of interest level (she pointed out the lack of excitement on the Big Bird’s Whirly Birdie Ferris wheel–style ride) and size (she’s taller than the height limit on some of them). But she’s nowhere near brave enough for many of the park’s thrill rides, even if she’s got the height to ride them.

So during our most recent visit to Busch Gardens, we wound up exploring areas that we’ve often overlooked or quickly passed through during Lindsay’s younger days. One of our new favorite sections is the Jungala area, home to all kinds of cool animals and a couple of rides just right for our first grader.

 

The Wild Surge has become a Lindsay must-do. We strapped ourselves in four times on this ride, which shoots up four stories out of a rocky outcropping and plunges back down several times over. Think of it as a slightly less intense version of the Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Another newfound fave is the Jungle Flyers. Lindsay was disappointed that it wasn’t operating during our recent visit; it was a highlight from our time at Busch Gardens last spring. The zipline-style ride soars fifty feet above the Jungala area, offering riders a bird’s-eye view of the animals below. I admittedly experienced a few moments of panic as I stood below and watched Lindsay take off, but seeing the smile on her face as she flew overhead quickly calmed me down.

Opportunities for interesting animal encounters abound in the Jungala section. I’m usually not a fan of the often-crazy, playground-style climbing structures at theme parks. (We can go to a playground for free, I always tell Lindsay.) But the one here has some nooks and crannies kids can scramble into for out-of-the-ordinary views of animals like gibbons and flying foxes.

In another portion of Jungala, a trail leads visitors to all of the different viewing areas for observing the park’s Bengal tigers, including a very cool “pop up” spot where folks can get an incredibly close look at the fierce creatures. “I could see the tiger breathing!” Lindsay exclaimed after emerging from the enclosure.

Maybe it’s because I’m not a thrill-seeker myself, but I’m happy that Lindsay’s in-between age has afforded us the chance to explore things at Busch Gardens Tampa we might miss otherwise. After all, it’ll only be a matter of time before she’s ditching mom and dad and running off for the twists and turns of a heart-stopping roller-coaster. So I’ll take these more sedate kinds of experiences while I can get them.

Smooth Sailing

Disney Cruise Line recently announced its itineraries for 2015, and it’s got me wishing for another ocean voyage with the company. We enjoyed our first and (so far) only Disney cruise on the Dream last fall, an experience that exceeded our expectations.

Not surprisingly, Disney’s attention to detail stands out, whether it’s the space-saving designs of its staterooms or the staffers standing at the entrance to all of the restaurants passing out hand wipes (a relief to this mom who’d read too much about norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships). There were almost too many activities from which to choose, from the upper-deck mini-golf course and frequent photo ops with Disney characters to the first-run movies and nightly Broadway-style productions.

 

After a tour of the space before we left port, Lindsay couldn’t wait to spend time in the Oceaneer Club and Lab, two of the ship’s kids’ clubs. So one night we dropped her off there and, with one of the ship’s phones in hand, enjoyed an adult dinner overlooking the ocean at Palo. We returned to find her with a face-painted, pirate eye patch and lots of stories about the new friends she made while crafting, playing games, and dressing up like Tinker Bell and other Disney heroines.

 

There’s almost no need to leave the ship; it would take days to see and do everything on board. But you don’t want to miss Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. Free fun includes two water play areas and alfresco game zones (think table tennis, foosball, shuffleboard), while excursion options range from parasailing and kayaking to snorkeling with stingrays.

 
If you’re not into magical mice or think a Disney cruise would be nothing but a floating preschool, think again. Sure, there will be lots of families on the ship, but there are plenty of adult-only spots and activities to entertain even the biggest curmudgeons. Don’t believe me? Read this story I wrote on Disney cruises for adults for Gulf & Main magazine and use it to convince your kiddo’s childless uncle or grumpy grandpa to join in on the fun.

Garden Variety

During our past visits to the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida, Lindsay has always enjoyed playing among the sprawling roots in the site’s Banyan Grove. But during our most recent trip she played above and within the trees, thanks to the new Children’s Rainforest Garden.

 

The years-in-the-making, recently opened spot helps kids understand the interconnectedness of the natural world while giving them a new perspective on what might be growing around them. A canopy walk and wobbly rope bridges offer a bird’s-eye view of the banyans’ gnarly roots and the plants growing among their upper branches.

As a waterfall splashed in the background, we meandered along the walkway, darting in and out of caves and examining lithophytes, the types of plants that grow in or on rocks. Several spots along the way offer opportunities for hands-on fun. An elevated, thatched-roof hut houses binoculars, magnifying glasses, and a tent set-up for playing field biologist.

 

Additional huts on ground level contain please-touch-style stations where kids can check out shells, pinecones, and seed pods and try their hand at building their own tree house–like structures. There’s even a “hugging tree,” where Lindsay enthusiastically made like one of the epiphytes or “air plants” clinging to the giant banyans.

This new addition adds even more pint-sized appeal to the already family-friendly spot. To learn about other ways to explore Selby Gardens with kids, read this story I wrote for Visit Sarasota County.  

Get into the Act

At the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, kids don’t just get to learn about the circus. They can actually pretend they’re in the circus themselves, thanks to all of the interactive exhibits found in the site’s Circus Museum and Tibbals Learning Center.

Ever wondered what it would be like to take to the high wire? Kids (and adults) can make like Nik Wallenda and test their balance on the museum’s tightrope. Just a few inches above the floor, it starts off wider than usual but narrows as it goes along. It’s not that hard at first, but by the end both Lindsay and I were wiggling and wobbling (and gaining a whole new appreciation for Wallenda’s recent Niagara Falls feat).

We had a hard time getting Lindsay off of the bareback “horse,” where she practiced her arabesques and other tricks. She also squeezed into a clown car and admired all the sparkly costumes and ornate circus wagons on display.

The Tibbals Learning Center is home to one of the museum’s coolest exhibits: the Howard Bros. Circus Model. The largest miniature circus on the world, it includes eight tents, 152 wagons, 1,300 circus performers and workers, and more than 800 animals, capturing all of the spectacle that surrounded the arrival of the circus in town.

But it’s not just all clowns and acrobats at the Ringling Museum. The site also includes the over-the-top Cà d’Zan mansion, a 56-room Venetian Gothic estate right on Sarasota Bay. Wannabe princess Lindsay was ready to move right in.

The Museum of Art houses the collection of Old Masters artwork amassed by circus magnate John Ringling and his wife, Mable. It’s impressive but might feel a bit highbrow for most kiddos. (And be warned—all the naked statues and cherubs on view might lead to giggles, uncomfortable questions, or some combination of the two.)

Ticket prices for adults are a bit steep at $25, but kids six to 17 are just $5, and kids under six are free. Want to save some cash? Plan your visit for September 29, when the Ringling Museum will be participating in Smithsonian magazine’s Museum Day Live! program. Register in advance for free admission for two and you can enjoy the site’s cultural riches even if you’re on a budget.

Wondering No More

I will admit it: That upside down building on International Drive in Orlando has always intrigued me. So much so that I suggested a trip to WonderWorks Orlando during a recent visit to the city. But after I got my husband, daughter, sister-in-law, and mother-in-law on board, I started to worry a little about what we might find there. Would it be wackily whimsical or weirdly woeful?

Luckily, WonderWorks exceeded my expectations. Yes, it was teeming with tourists and summer campers. But it also offered opportunities for many entertaining and educational experiences.

In the course of a couple of hours, Lindsay felt the force of a simulated magnitude 5.3 earthquake, created some monster bubbles, lay (very briefly) on a bed of nails, climbed into a replica Mercury space capsule, and stuck her hand into some icy cold water meant to demonstrate the conditions faced by the passengers on the Titanic.

We all got a good laugh when she posed in full astronaut gear, and again when her body appeared to disappear thanks to a mirror-covered box. And we adults got to put our powers of perception to the test in the Far Out Illusion Gallery, where we marveled at an image of Jesus floating on the wall and other tricks that our eyes and minds played on us.

“I love WonderWorks!” Lindsay shouted as we neared the end of our visit. And I was just happy that our trip to what could have been a tourist trap didn’t wind up being an experiment gone wrong.

Streetcar Simplicity

My daughter knows what a tweet is. She can navigate an iPad with the best of them. So during a recent visit to Tampa, it was heartening to see that she got just as much of a thrill from an old-fashioned form of transportation as from a spirited session of Angry Birds.

We were cruising around the city on the TECO Line Streetcar System, which travels between Tampa’s Ybor City neighborhood and the southern edge of its downtown area. In car-centric Florida, we don’t get many chances to try out different modes of public transportation. So Lindsay excitedly climbed aboard the bright yellow, vintage-looking electric streetcar that pulled up to our stop in Ybor City.

We were the first passengers to board, so we had our pick of the car’s polished wood seats. Soon we began to make our way to the Channel District. My husband and I were happy to let someone else do the driving; Lindsay enjoyed watching the driver as he maneuvered the streetcar down the tracks, tooting its horn now and then to alert cars and pedestrians to its movements.

Thanks to this throwback to the early twentieth century, we were able to cover a lot of ground during our day in Tampa, without having to traverse unfamiliar city streets or search for parking spaces. And Lindsay got a taste of what life was like before everyone just punched coordinates into their own GPS devices.

Want to read more about our day riding the TECO Line Streetcar System? Check out my story in the July/August 2012 issue of RSW Living (free registration required).  

On the Same Page

I love the library. I always have. I still have fond memories of attending story hour at the library in my childhood hometown, of making my way to the special space over which an amazing children’s librarian presided.

I’ve been known to visit libraries during my travels. And not just world-famous ones like the New York Public Library. But smaller, more community-centric ones like the library in Bridgton, Maine, into which my husband, daughter, and I strolled during a summertime day trip to the town. And every time we visit my in-laws in Pennsylvania, my daughter pays a visit to the Warminster Township Free Library.

We frequent the library when we’re not traveling too, checking out books and taking part in some of the free programming offered for kids. We’re blessed with two great libraries in our current hometown of Venice, Florida, the Venice Library and Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Library. Both offer all kinds of free kids’ activities, from story time and Lego clubs to screenings of popular animated movies. Lindsay is particularly partial to the arts-and-crafts sessions, where she’s made a cute little owl out of a toilet-paper roll, a fashion-forward Father’s Day card, and other masterpieces.

Of course, all those books also prove a big draw for her, just as they do for her mom. I’ve got a little library lover on my hands. And someone who’ll willingly wander with me into any library we come across in our travels. Who knows what kind of program or activity we’ll find waiting inside? And if all else fails, we won’t have any problem finding something good to read.

Wet but Not So Wild

Lots of the hotel pools at the Walt Disney World Resort have waterslides that twist and turn and splash riders into the water below. But if you have a kiddo like mine who’s not known for being brave, the pool area at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is a great place for little ones to test the waters when it comes to slipping and sliding.

The children’s water play area includes three waterslides sized just right for kids under 48 inches tall, two standard slides and one tube-style slide. Kids splash down into a shallow, contained area, so there’s no need to worry about them navigating deeper waters or crowded pools.

There’s water squirting out from all over the pirate ship–themed play structure; kids can even control the level of spray in most places by turning wheels that reduce or increase the flow. The whole time they’re playing, a huge bucket fills up with water overhead. When a bell starts ringing, that signals that the bucket is about to tip over, spilling its contents all over anyone below. Some kids relish this soaking; others (like my daughter in her younger days) run away from the dousing.

On our most recent trip to Caribbean Beach, Lindsay braved the slides at the main pool area, including an 80-foot-long one that traveled inside a faux fort. But she still spent lots of time skipping and splashing through the children’s play area, even standing in the path of the spilling bucket a few times. She may be getting bigger, but she’s still able to appreciate when good things come in small packages.

A Delicious Deal

We’ve been going to Gold Rush BBQ in Venice since my daughter, Lindsay, was a baby. From a very young age, she would dig into whatever kind of sampler plate we made up for her from our meals, feasting on chopped barbecue pork, green beans, barbecue beans, and melt-in-your-mouth cornbread. She’s now graduated to choosing for herself off of the kids’ menu, but she still always includes the green beans in her order.

Gold Rush is an ideal spot for kids. The opposite of formal and stuffy, the restaurant’s always humming with activity—bustling servers, customers coming in and out—which helps drown out crying, whining, or a stray shout here and there. There’s lots to look at in the dining room that’s done up like a gold miner’s shack, everything from lanterns and canteens to a faux flickering campfire. It’s a game of “I Spy” just waiting to happen. And all of the meals are served in metal mining tins, which means that Junior won’t break anything if he “accidentally” throws his plate on the floor.

Available for diners ages 12 and under, the kids’ menu features old standards like a burger, hot dog, and chicken nuggets along with options like chopped barbecue beef and a quarter rack of baby back ribs. Everything comes with one side dish; choices include applesauce, corn on the cob, cucumber salad, and the aforementioned green and barbecue beans. Expect a kids’ meal to ring in at $3.99, except for the pricier ribs, which will run you $5.99.

Unless you visit Gold Rush on a Monday from May to October. During that time frame, kids eat for free on Mondays. Here’s how it works: With the purchase of adult entrées, up to two kids per table can dine at no charge. Any additional kids eat for just $2 each. Face painting and a bike giveaway add to the family fun.

After devouring a platter loaded with tender barbecued meat, two sides, and a sublime square of cornbread, grown-up diners might not find a meal at Gold Rush to be easy on the waistline. But for families who visit on a Monday, the dining experience will definitely be easy on the wallet.