Enjoy this slideshow of “Sarasota, Naturally”:
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The video above is neither professionally engineered, nor is it curated photography. This video is the work of Mobile Estates residents who try to stay alert to Sarasota’s natural world. The beautifully crafted images of Sarasota’s magnificent flowers (by resident Henry Hess) pay glorious tribute to the plants and shrubs we often take for granted.
Why Sarasota?
Visitors planning a trip to Sarasota usually have done their homework: #1 beaches, watersports, sightseeing, museums, performance centers, nightlife. What they find when they arrive, first and foremost, is the breathtaking beauty that sets Sarasota apart: the brilliant blue sky of day, with clouds thick, white-white and gorgeous, and spectacular sunsets that cry out, take my picture! The sugar-sand of Siesta Beach beckons most to photograph their footprints in the sand. They’ll collect shells, shark’s teeth, and sand dollars to document their stay here. The allure of the bay brings many to the intracoastal waterway to rent a boat, or paddleboard or kayak — or try parasailing.
Then, after a satisfying time between beach and bay, they find a nightlife that is both friendly and exciting. And they return home with memories to hold until the next visit. Or maybe they won’t leave at all. That’s been known to happen, and more often than you might think.
Isn’t Sarasota for older people?
Not really. For many years, relocating to Sarasota worked best for retirees, but with technology growing a new generation of remote workers, that is, work-from-home career professionals, many now realize they can have it all. And why not spend that time in paradise? And, as a result, Sarasota has been growing, and growing younger.
Natural Beauty
For those who are fortunate enough to call Sarasota home, the beauty goes deeper than the fun in the sun variety. They have the time to find the natural beauty of Sarasota, those remnants of what made Old Sarasota so appealing for the first residents of the area: the trails and shell roads begun in the “Spanish days,” the acres of sanctuaries that protect over 260 species of migratory birds; the fields of rich, fertile soil that brought farmers, ranchers, and even golfers; the moss-covered thick jungle-like forests that still today harbor the likes of deer, armadillo, river otters, panthers, and alligators; and the hundreds of captivating flowers and plants native to Sarasota. Be sure to pay your respects at the Indian mounds at Spanish Point, home to a prehistoric civilization that many believe left spirits behind to protect Sarasota from bad weather.
The next time you come to Sarasota, plan to stay awhile to visit areas outside the tourist trail. Sarasota County and the State of Florida have worked to preserve so many of these quiet, tranquil places. Walk or bike the Legacy Trail, a 12.5-mile length of the old Seminole Gulf railway line that has been repurposed for recreational use. Take in places like the Indian Mounds, the Celery Fields, and Red Bug Slough. Understand the reasons behind the great Sarasota migration, why so many are leaving their homelands and resettling here. Look and listen. You might find this exercise to be invigorating for both body and spirit.