Beaches, Markets, and Museums

We recently spent a fair amount of time in the Florida Keys. After leaving the beautiful waters and island lifestyle, we headed inland for new adventures.

Travel days are always a bit stressful, and this one was no different. John hit himself in the mouth with a knife while on a ladder, and Donna managed to tweak her knee. We are quite a pair.

The travel day itself wasn’t as bad, and the scenery was pleasant enough. We cut across the state mostly on two-lane roads. We, like most of you, have never really enjoyed endless hours on the interstates. We love the small towns that the interstates bypass in the interest of saving time. Although, with a rig the size of ours, you should plan and not get yourself in trouble. Some of the streets and roads can be a challenge.

We ended up staying at Winter Quarters Manatee RV Resort in Bradenton, Florida. This park had a whole different vibe going on, and we felt at home. While the interstate was close, there wasn’t an entrance or exit ramp nearby, and that helped with the noise. The park was well kept and had several park models throughout. They were all very clean and neat, with manicured lawns and well-maintained landscaping. Not that we are looking, but we could see ourselves staying in this area or owning a permanent lot here.Before we started traveling, we had often heard about Anna Maria Island. Everyone who had been there raved about it. So, that was on our list, and by chance, they had an artisan market one of the days that we were there.

Anna Maria is a cool beach town. If you visit the island, you can park your car and ride the free trolley or use your bikes to get around. The beach is a short walk across the street from most all locations.

The market was much bigger than we thought it would be. While it had the normal things that could be expected at a market, there seemed to be more beach-style clothing than anything else. We guess that works out due to the location. The cool part was the market was right on the beach.

In true Coddiwomple Travelers form, the day we decided to have an adventure was one of the first days of a weeklong heatwave. On days like this, you should get out early, and since retirement, we just don’t do early as well as we used to.

The beach was pleasant, the sand was deep, and the water was warm. It would have been a great day to just chill and listen to the waves. They had a restaurant/bar, along with volleyball, right on the beach. Parking was free, and there seemed to be plenty. The only downside we found was that along the trail and pretty much any area right around the market was a “no dog” area. Our dog, Jack, would have loved to go for a walk with us while we shopped and wandered around the trail system.

While we were in the area, we took the opportunity to drive around and found ourselves in Holmes Beach. This part of the island had more of a local feel about it. We normally carry some snacks, drinks, and lunch with us when we explore. Bean Point Beach turned out to be a great place to grab a picnic table for some food. The local music and the smell of the grills was reminiscent of days spent on Lake Hartwell with friends.

Another day and another adventure! The Ringling Museum and property are located in Sarasota. Tickets currently are $30 per adult for admission to the Museum of Art, Circus Museum, and Bayfront Gardens. If you also want to check out the first floor of Ca’ d’Zan, the winter residence of John and Marble Ringling, the cost is $40 per adult; for a guided tour that includes the second floor of Ca’ d’Zan, the cost is $55 per person.We managed to get up early (for us) and got to the gates when they opened at 10:00 a.m. We were not sure what to expect of this stop, and we were pleasantly surprised.

The grounds were amazing! We wandered through rose gardens with statues and along shady lanes that led through the trees. We found reflection pools with secret gardens hidden all over.

When you come through the entrance, you must show the e-tickets that you bought, and they issue a bracelet depending on which ticket you purchased. We made our way through the grounds to the front of the residence (Ca’ d’Zan) where we were ushered inside.

Inside the residence was off the charts. It is a Mediterranean Revival-style mansion located right on the banks of Roberts Bay. John and Mable Ringling were not only circus moguls but huge art collectors as well. The mansion and its contents were a museum on its own.

After the mansion, we found the art galleries. Again, it bears repeating that we had no idea. The level of art in this place was amazing and beyond anything that we had ever visited. There were a number of original pieces and some that dated to the 16^th century. Breathtaking! We made our way through as much as we could while leaving a lot for another visit.

We then made our way to the Circus Museum. Here, we found original pieces that the Ringling Brothers used during the heydays of the circus. These included bills, posters, wagons, and props used when the “Circus was coming to town.” One of the most impressive pieces was the private train coach used by the Ringling family during travel. The craftsmanship of this train car is unmatched even by today’s standards. You just don’t see attention to detail like this anymore.

 

The last building quickly became our favorite. This was the Tibbals Learning Center. This building contained Ringling circus archives, with historical documents, costume drawings, and art. But the biggest hit for us was the Howard Brothers Circus. This is a scale-model circus that includes all aspects of what it took to make a circus, created by Howard C. Tibbals. Along with the iconic big-top tent with three rings, the model also includes support function tents and showed how they fed humans and animals, and how they moved equipment and supplies via trains. It also depicts the activities of farriers, barbers, etc. He thought of everything. The attention to detail was awe inspiring. Even the knots holding the tents were tied correctly. There were thousands of plates, cups, and silverware. If you looked inside one of the tents, you would think it was a photo from that era.

We learned that Howard Tibbals had died earlier that year (2022). His masterpiece, the Howard Brothers Circus model, is an accomplishment that must be seen to be appreciated. Howard and his wife spent roughly 20 hours a week for nearly six decades creating his model of a tented circus in America in the 1930s.

If you are ever in the area, don’t miss stopping by for a day; you won’t be sorry.

Our time on the Ringling property left us wanting more, but our time in Bradenton/ Sarasota area was quickly coming to a close.

As we travel and pass through these cities and towns, it seems that we always leave a bit on the table to come back and see another time.

We are John & Donna Scarborough. We have been living and traveling full-time with our dog, Jack, in our Keystone Montana since 2020. We have enjoyed traveling through our amazing country, meeting people, and seeing what our nation has to offer. We can be found on Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram at Coddiwomple Travelers.