Be sure to eat at the SandBar, outside on their deck overlooking their beautiful white sand beach. We make the drive from St Pete just for lunch, although its as much about the setting as anything else! It is indeed a beautiful day today, in this continuous string of beautiful days that have made up this winter. Have a wonderful time.

Have a great time
Thanks for taking us along again
I agree - sunset at the Sandbar

santamonica, I bet you'll have a great time. I'll be there feb !8, so I can hold my jealousy in check.
Definitely rent bikes; Fun and More rentals will bring them to your house. If you like to cook fish go to the Fish Market in Holmes Beach. We like the Waterfront restaurant , where you can look at the bay if you sit outside. Also must go to the restaurant on the end of Rod and Reel Pier at the end of Pine Street for breakfast or a grouper sandwich.

At the end of the day there is much to report. As you might have expected, we survived the landing, then secured our rental car, a big luxurious mazda because they were out of the little cheapo brand we reserved.

renting a car now is different. if you reserve on line you can use a little machine for all the paperwork. you can decline collision insurance by saying no to the machine instead of saying no to some surly person. then the machine sends you out to pick out any car you want out of a line of nifty looking cars. what fun!

then we drove to our house which is really nice, although we can't hear waves or see the water from our house.

then we rented bikes around the corner on pine and tarpon for the week. then we went to the rod and reel pier and had two grouper sandwiches, one with coleslaw and one with french fries. and key lime pie for dessert. boy, was that fun.

then we biked to pedro point and lay in the sun for a while. then I drove back to tampa to pick up ds#2 while dw#1 went swimming and fixed dinner, which we just finished eating.

So much happens on the first day of vacation, so much changes. Now we have a week to do all this over again. Plus go the fish market, the waterfront, and the sandbar. busy, busy.

OO, it's not always 80 degrees and sunny? Starrs, have you been everywhere? Jubilada, your report prompted our trip and we are having a great time. We look forward to finding out more about this little ami place.

Here's our house:

http://www.satorealestate.com/Vacation-Rentals-details-view.aspx?PropID=307#images/houses/ZVTRRTBGRL.jpg

Santamonica, you sure packed a lot into your first day!
I am unfamiliar with pedro point; where is that?
You will find many wonderful beaches to explore, there is beach access everywhere.
The house we stay in is just a few blocks down from rod and reel. If you like to look at shore birds, which are really everywhere in AMI, it is especially nice to walk along the bay either direction for Rod and Reel.

Hey, santamonica, I didn't know you were down here in Florida! Anna Maria island is wonderful - I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

The last two winters here were anything but 80 and sunny (well, sunny, but more like 60 - brrrr) but this winter has been back to normal, so have fun.

Cottage looks lovely and your vacation sounds pretty nice also.

We were in Anna Maria last feb/march and though it was in the low 70's it was gorgeous. And it was 20 at home.

Not much has happened. It rained today. We had blackened grouper yesterday at the city pier instead of fried grouper. I felt the french fries weren't quite as good as the first time. We've watched the sun set twice at the sandbar (it took two days to do this). Tomorrow we go to the Aslmo Theatre in Sarasoto to see Gods of Carnage. I didn't spell the theatre quite right. Are there tasty but cheap restaurants in Sarasota near the theatre you can suggest? And what is the name of the little black birds that fly in a line just above the water at sunset? They aren't as big as pelicans, but they are fun to watch too. And is the cool grey twisty tree in our backyard a jacarranda? I really need to google, but your input would be welcome. Thanks!

Asolo Rep Theatre.

I've googled and can't find evidence that what I thought was pedro point is pedro point. I thought pp was just north of the rod and reel pier, that pp was the northern most point of ami. It's very pretty there, but I think it's not pedro point. I don't know what it is, if it's not pedro point, and I fear I may have gone insane.

Bean Point is the most northernmost point on AMI and it is indeed beautiful. Though rife with rip tides.

And yes, I think that's a jacaranda.

My friend who just returned from sarasota said whatever I do to eat at Indigenous.

Not particularly close and not particularly cheap, but if you haven't eaten at a Columbia restaurant yet in Florida you really should. The original is in Tampa but the others are just as good - IMO anyway. Their sangria is WONDERFUL!

http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/sarasota.asp

I'm so glad to read about a visit to Anna Maria Island. We are heading there for the first time in April--my husband is running for election for the first time in the March 6th primary and we are so tired and so ready for a vacation. Wish we didn't have to wait until April.

Mrs. Romney and Mrs. Gingrich are not doing the tons of computer/reporting/spreadsheet/paperwork I am doing.

I haven't had time to be on Fodors lately but came back for a quick Anna Maria Island search. Thanks for reporting. I'll check back. I appreciate all your suggestions.

Thanks very much. Bean point. Point taken. Sorta cloudy today so we may spend most of the afternoon in Indigenous and Colombia. Life is tough here in florida. I'm going out biking until my family wakes up.

Are your birds Skimmers by chance Santamonica?

http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&client=safari&tbo=d&biw=1024&bih=672&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=skimmers+birds&oq=skimmers+&aq=2&aqi=g3g-S2g-sS1g-S4&aql=&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=6521l6521l0l9867l1l1l0l0l0l0l141l141l0.1l1l0

Or Oystercatchers?
http://www.google.com/search?q=oystercatchers&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=iJAxT4fsIYXqtgfNu-DvBg&biw=1024&bih=672&sei=jpAxT_3vGYW5twe-kMWfBw

I'm sorry for the icky day today! At least it was a warm icky.

"Oystercatcher" takes me back to the Tampa Hyatt, OO
If y'all were there in the early 90s, I was there every Jan-March and we had special dinners there often.

I didn't know you had history there atarrs! We were transferred there in '97, and stayed a little over 8 years. What a great restaurant, huh? Unfortunately they have since ruined the decor, made it sleek NY and who is looking for that when they come to FL? We lived in one of the casitas back there and DH walked to work over the boardwalk. We loved our time in FL, and got back here as quickly as our little feet would take us at retirement. It was coming home. I didn't know you had history there too! If you go back today, much of the waitstaff from those days are still there and I imagine we know some of the same ones you got to know. Fun place. Terrific food! A little loud but that was part of the charm.

We had REALLY BIG functions there (your Hyatt) at different times of the year and I was in the area (for work) for 3 months every year. Unfortunately, we were planted at the dreary Holiday Inn on Westshore for those months (along with all of the 4 to a room, smoking bowling teams from the northern states) but we had our "big" dinners at Oystercatchers or at the city club not far away. That neighborhood really started feeling like "home". I still miss Alessi's and the little family owned Cuban restaurant.

We had the option of flying back if we wanted on the weekends or staying over and playing. Other than being away from home for such long stretches of time, it was pretty sweet

Sorry!
I forgot this was a trip report.

Back to santy and AMI

Cool! All this time, and I had NO idea! I take it you got to AMI during play time as I saw you were friends of the SandBar too. Sounds like a pretty sweet job for sure, and here during prime time too.

Sorry Santamonica..it was a strange discovery of paths that came close to crossing...back to Anna Maria again.

I just read your question about the tree in your yard, santamonica, and looked back at your link at the pictures of the house. In one of the exterior shots (it's a really cute house by the way!) there is a tree in red bloom. Is this the tree you mean and is it blooming now? Jacaranda bloom purple and later in the spring, but the Royal Poinciana blooms red and is blooming currently in St Pete. They are an unbelievable shade of deep red, but the tree otherwise is similar, especially in size, to Jacaranda. Orchid trees are blooming now too, but I've never seen one that big!

ok, I'm following directions as best I can but honestly there is so much side chatter going on it's very difficult.

First of all, the birds. They fly single file at dusk just above the water. They looked black but maybe they weren't. I'm just going to ask a real person (gasp) tomorrow who looks like a birder (look for the binoculars) and find out if they are skimmers, oyster catchers, or royal terns (lots of them during the day).

I may also ask a woodsman (you can tell by the axe) if it's a jacaranda. Light smooth bark, can be a big tree, twisty trunk and branches, no purple flowers presently. I think it is because it's not a palm, oak, spruce, pine or any of the other street names.

We got to the Ringling Museum too late to do anything but walk around the mansion and go to the gift shop. DW got me a gift for valentine's day. Then we drove to Colombia although we'd just have to drive right back to where we were already because that's where the asolo rep theatre was (god of carnage, you'll remember if you've been paying attention and not talking amongst yourselves). Colombia and the sangria were fun, but from the website Indigenous looked very cool. God of Carnage was good but as you may know this is trip reporting, not theater reviewing (what is it with theatre vs theater anyway?).

Tomorrow DW has arranged for me to get a massage. I don't know why she's being so nice. Maybe it's her way of saying thanks to you fodorites for your suggestions.

Good luck Lindain! Win or lose you'll like anna maria.

my partner says skimmers are reclusive, not groupies.
I am very interested in hearing about the play.
I am glad you are liking AMI. nine days and counting.

Glad you enjoyed Columbia. Hope it was worth the side chatter.

Any chance the tree is a crepe myrtle?

I am so enjoying your trip report, santamonica, as we use to go to Long Boat Key quite a bit as my husband had family members there. We always had such wonderful and good food whether it was at restaurants or at their house. For some reason we never ate at the Columbia Restaurant but we did several times at the one in Tampa as they were at McDill AFB for some years before retirement and building a house on Long Boat Key. Continue to enjoy, I am envying you but in a good way of course!

Skimmers aren't reclusive here, in fact they are usually seen in groups. See these pictures for identification. http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2011/05/black-skimmers.html. Perhaps there is another kind of skimmer that is reclusive? They are fun to watch, as like the pelicans you wonder how they can judge the wave action so precisely and not get tripped up.

This morning I got my massage at the spa place on the second floor next to the old IGA. Karen. It was very nice. Complete with hot cloths and scrubbing cloths and some attention to the face.

I don't get many massages. She said take off everything and lie face down on the table and she didn't say anything about a top sheet. She recognized her error as soon as she opened the door. Oh well, I'm sure she'll get over the shock in time. At least I was face down. Tonight we're going to restorative yoga. Maybe that will restore the stress that the massage took away. We'll see.

I have changed my profile picture to the tree in our backyard which I think is a jacaranda. Don't tell me it's a spruce. I'll try and take a picture of the birds tonight. You all have been very agreeable with this whole tree bird thing.

God of Carnage, my son explains, is what is under the surface, under our politeness and civility, our true selfish beastly selves. It's also pretty funny and the front several rows, where we happened to be, can be pretty involved in the play.

Now we're going to the beach so I can amortize the umbrella ($12) and beach chair ($14) we bought at a grocery store in Bradenton. 80 degrees and sunny.

It's hard to tell Santamonica, still. Jacaranda and Poiciana have almost identical leaves, sort of feathery almost fern like, they grow to similar sizes but one blooms red and one purple. Neither one is very remarkable until it blooms, and then its "WOW"! Is this the same tree that shows up in one of the exterior photos of your house in the link you gave us? There was a red blooming tree of the correct height in that picture, which is why I guessed Poinciana. But if it's not the same tree you are asking about, all bets are off. You'll just have to stay until it blooms!

Here's a good picture of a Poinciana in bloom. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2454/3551265285_f43574aa43_o.jpg

Agree with OO that it is probably a Poinciana and not a Jacaranda. My parents had a huge Jacaranda in the back yard. The leaves look similar, but the branches are different. Their tree had straight branches without all the kinks. It was beautiful when it bloomed, but was a headache the rest of the time. It constantly dropped leaves and branches into the yard and pool, and the roots popped up everywhere. They finally had it cut down after a storm shredded most of it.

santa, sounds like you are having a nice restful time. Scaring the message person can be fun...

My recollection was that the art at Ringling museum was pretty good.

ps-LI, my DH's family went to LB Key when DH was in elementary school. Expect it has changed a bit.

Hi TDudette, a lot of the "older" houses were torn down and new mansions built, mostly by Europeans as I understand it. I loved our family's house, a good size sprawling one story home with a beautiful patio and pool and the Florida cage. Their grounds were wonderful. All kinds of birds landed on their lawn and our BIL would feed them by hand. Their property overlooked the Intercoastal Waterway. They had a boat docked on the canal that ran along one size of their property so boat trips were always fun. Good memories!

Poinciana it is then. Limbs definitely kinky. And I went outside and confirmed that the tree is the one with red flowers in the rental pictures. DS#2 and I shared a beer at the beach at sunset, eschewing the restorative yoga. Today I've planned a visit to the Florida Maritime Museum in Cortez, lunch at Cortez Bait and Seafood, a revisit to the Ringling Museum while it's open, a return to a jazz festival at the Sandbar from 3 to 5 pm, try to take a picture of the mystery birds at sunset, then a Big Band Dance sponsored by the Kiwanis Club at the ami community center from 8 to 11 pm. DW thinks this may be a little much. Silly woman.

Maybe we'll have time to buy a nice house over looking the intercoastal waterway. That sounds very nice.

santamonica, I am sure you are too busy today to see this, but consider Starfish in Cortez also.

Sounds like you're keeping busy and enjoying AMI! Don't forget to stop in for ice cream at Two Scoops -- in the little plaza next to the Waterfront Restaurant, and across from the Anna Maria City Pier! They have the absolute BEST ice cream on the island!!

Last time we stopped at Two Scoops last winter they were so disorganized it took 20 minutes to get served even though only 4 people ahead of us. Never again!

I've never seen Two Scoops disorganized, just very, very busy.

Bridge Street has a nice little French restaurant, Le Creperie. We ride our bikes there for breakfast fairly often. From up where you are, it would be about a 5.5 mile ride (don't know how much you bike).

Today is our last day. I'm sure there will be some sort of life after this but it may not be as sweet.

Yesterday we did almost everything on The Plan except Ringling Museum, for which we substituted beach time, since the sun was shining. First a bike ride, then the Village Cafe, in Anna Maria City, across the street from our rental. Great for coffee and they have the NYT free for patrons.

Then the little AMI museum with DW on Pine, housed in the former ice house, which used to be on the city pier. AMI has had it's history of boom and bust, with the boom busted by the depression. The long city pier serviced passenger and freight steamships. I think another boom was in the 1960's when people had things called generous pensions and were able to retire in the sun in little two bedroom stucco houses and put little statues in the front yard.

Then wake DS#2 and head to the Florida Maritime Museum in Cortez, in an old elementary school. One of the docents attended school there, joined the navy, retired as a commander. Knows boats. I Bought $5 ticket to win a sailboat. Winning would present some interesting issues.

Then lunch at The Kitchen in Cortez. OMG good. MahiMahi, or dolphin, but not Flipper. Then to the funky store at the old IGA in anna maria, where DS#2 bought a book. Then DW and I went to the jazz show at the Sandbar, featuring Coco Rey, who plays sax. Is the longer sax the tenor sax, and the shorter one alto sax? Anyway, that was fun. More beach time, sunset pictures, no mystery birds.

Then, tuna from Cortez grilled at home. Then, finally, the Big Band Dance at the community center, complete with a really big band and lots of people who were older than we are, something we don't see that often. We can jitterbug, can't foxtrot. Wife can't waltz, but we'll work on that. I explained it's a backwards baseball diamond, but it might be more like a soccer field for the woman, I'm just not sure.

This morning I took beginning yoga with DW. I can now do a down dog. And breathe. It's not raining, so we'll probably spend most of the day on the beach. Maybe Two Scoops.

Tomorrow we drop DS#2 off in Tampa airport for noon flight, then have about 6 hours till our plane leaves. We're thinking of going to Lettuce Park. Thanks for all your suggestions, and for any suggestions you may have for our time in Tampa, although it's hard to believe anybody could still be reading this after all that work you did on the tree identification.

Poinciana is my new mantra.

Santamonica, it sounds like you really "get" AMI. I am so glad you've had fun. We will be there in a week and I am even more psyched.

Does anyone know anything about jazz at Euphemia Haye ? or have another recommendation for jazz in Sarasota?

You can park your boat down here in god's country, santa. I'll sell you a little cottage to go with it.

I have LOVED reading your report santamonica!! You've had a great time, and I smile all through your updates. I'd love DH to come to yoga with me. I can see him in downward dog. . You are a good sport!

I don't know what you enjoy doing? Do you shop? You might consider Hyde Park...a little shopping then drive around the restored arts and crafts type homes in the Hyde Park area, then move on to the BIG money, ogling homes along Bayshore Blvd.

Or...you could drive over to the hotel Starr's and I were discussing earlier, Grand Hyatt Tampa. Their freestanding restaurant at the edge of Tampa Bay, Oystercatchers, is terrific (although better looking prior to their renovation, as I said). It is minutes from the airport. Disclaimer...it was DH's hotel. He is now retired so I really truly don't care if you do or don't go. It's convenient, and you can eat out back on their deck overlooking the bay.

DH suggested Ybor City too: the historic cigar manufacturing section of Tampa. Personally, I'm not a big fan of Ybor, although the original Columbia restaurant is there.

I've enjoyed your week right along with you, Santamonica! Thanks for the fun trip reports. You at leaving just in the nick of time as bad weather moves in for a few days. Safe trip! Glad you enjoyed your time here.

We're back. Very cold. Some snow.

Our last full day in Paradise was wonderful. It was supposed to rain but was beautiful so we spent most of the day on the beach at Bean Point at the Gladiolus Street beach access. We went to an exhibit by Anne Abgott at the gallery at gulf and pine and bought a bunch of cards because the paintings were too expensive. Dinner at the starfish, sitting on the pier at night, watching the distant lights. Grouper and slaw.

Saturday morning packed, returned keys, bikes, drove DS#2 to airport, got him to the gate, sorta sad. Then drove to Ybor City, went to the city museum and a tour of the cigar-makers houses, had lunch at the original Colombia Restaurant, then drove out to Hillsborough River State Park where we read about the seminole wars and walked along the river. Then back to the airport to home. And snow.

Thanks again everybody for suggestions. It really makes trips more fun.


http://www.anneabgott.com/

It has been fun to be along on your trip in that special place, santamonica.

Yes, it really has been fun! You found a lot to do in a very laid back place...I might have had trouble keeping up with you! You got out just in the nick of time! It's 38° in Sarasota this morning and there is a freeze watch in effect from late tonight until Monday morning!! Did you carry all the warm weather back home with you?

I can so relate to the sadness of returning one of ones' chicks to an airport to fly off to their "real" and separate life again. It's such fun to recapture family vacations, but on a different plane...more as friends than parent/child.

Here's a you tube video for you to watch at sunset tonight if you are feeling a little post vacation letdown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-GtACN-D2I

oo, thanks for the video. However, after extensive review, I am forced to conclude that the birds we saw were the double-crested cormorant. Skimmers are more attractive than cormorants. I don't believe cormorants are featured in many music videos.

However, on our last day I asked a real person on the beach who told us somebody else had told her that they were cormorants, which I doubted because I thought cormorants were bigger than my mystery florida birds.

The mystery birds didn't land in the water close enough to see that they were cormorants, who swim low in the water, but wikepedia says the double-crested cormorant is smaller and "flies low over the water, with its bill tilted slightly upward, sometimes leaving the colony in long, single-file lines."

I wonder if Fodors will find our discussion useful for their upcoming field guide to florida birds and trees?

Hope you have a good trip Jubilada!

Welcome home! It's nice to read about 80 degree weather when the barometer reads 12F.
The tree and bird conversation was interesting but don't hold your breath waiting to be quoted in a Fodor's guide.

When we were in Sanibel we learned that cormorants can go 100 feet down in the water for fish.

Shucks. Can't find any videos of cormorants in FL for you. You know, I wouldn't recognize them in flight I don't think. Do they fly like ducks? Actually, I can't keep them straight from anhingas so use the name interchangeably. They look alike, dive alike, stay underwater for ages, and both stand around with their wings stretched out drying. Cormorhingas. . You don't think we'll make into a Fodors guide, Sassy_cat? LOL

Interesting comparison of anhingas and cormorants:
http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-cormorant-and-vs-anhinga/

I knew about the beaks, but forget which is which, plus you often aren't close enough to be able to see the little hook. I DIDN'T know about fresh and salt water difference! We have both fresh water ponds here as well as saltwater shoreline of course, and the two bodies of water are so close to each other with "Cormorhingas" in both the ponds and bays, I hadn't realized that fresh vs salt water was a major distinguishing factor. Interesting! But then they qualify it by saying "mostly" one type of water or the other. One was in our marina on a boat near us the other day with wings spread, drying. Because it was so near, the white spots on its outspread wings were remarkable, even pretty..had never noticed that before, but that would make it a anhinga, not cormorant, despite the fact that it was salt water!!

Well, OO they like to make it interesting for us mere humans.

Great trip report! I have a two-day business trip to Orlando next month, then I'll enjoy a long weekend on Anna Maria Island. My sister and I will be staying at the Queens Gate Resort near Cortez Beach. I can hardly wait - I've never been to Florida before, let alone anywhere that looks as beautiful as AMI!

twina, I hope you have a nice trip. Try the Starfish in Cortez, just across the bridge from where you are, I think. Tell us if you see any skimmers, cormorants, jacarandas, or poincianas.

We are leaving tomorrow for AMI and are intent on seeing manatees.

twina, you are in for a treat.

jubilada, say hey to AMI for us!

ok, santamonica, we will.
Did you by any chance come across the Village Cafe in the new " green " set of buildings on Pine St? Sounds kind of cool.

It's been a very warm winter so you would think the manatees would still be around, but I haven't seen any since November. That doesnt mean they arent here of course, but probably not in the mumbers they are in warmer months. If you want a guaranteed sighting, go on up to Homosassa Springs or, over to the TECO plant. http://www.tampaelectric.com/manatee/ It's more fun to spot them in the wild, I know, and you might be lucky, but TECO does a terrific job with their viewing area, and you'd be amazed at the numbers of them enjoying the warm water from the plant.

You wouldn't believe how much attention I've been paying the anhingas and cormorants since our discussion. Ok...here's another observation: although I have seen anhingas in salt water, I have yet to see a cormorant in fresh. Swimming, the anhinga's body is mostly submerged so you see only the head and neck, while more of the cormorant's body is exposed. Fascinating, eh? . See what you started santamonica?

Have a great trip everyone!

Oh yes, to further complicate things, we have 3 loons that hang out in front of our condo. They dive and fish just like "Cormorhingas", swim with their heads at that odd angle, but have shorter necks and whitish under-sides. At first I thought they were cormorants in some different stage of maturity. Their non-breeding plumage is entirely different from the distinctive markings we are familiar with.

Absolutely compelling bird and tree discussions. I laughed, I cried. The Village Cafe was across Tarpon from our rental house and had a jazz show one night. We visited for coffee, bagles, and the NYT. Nice place. I did not mention my support for free plastic bags at grocery stores while visiting the Village Cafe, discretion being the better part of valor.

wise choice, santamonica.
A friend of mine who goes to Sanibel this week every year for the last 20 saw manatees in the water for the first time ever this year, and another friend said dhe saw some near Flamingo Cay. I don't want to drive all the way to hermosa, I have long commutes to work and driving is something I try not to do too much of on vacation. So we shall see.

I don't blame you for that, jubilada! It would be a long drive. I hope you see one. More often than not you will hear one before seeing it--hear them taking a breath, like the dolphins, then turn in time to see the rings in the water where their snout broke the surface, or catch sight of a rolling flipper or their back. Fun! Heck, I'll never even get over the excitement of seeing dolphins and they are almost daily occurrences.

I love seeing the dolphins too, and the rays and all the birds. I am not knowledgeable about the birds, but I so enjoy them. One of the reasons we like renting right on the bay is that the deck reaches essentially to the water's edge, so we see everybody up close. There is an osprey hunting perch in a tree right by the deck also, so lots of action. Last year a wood stork wandered by etc etc. It's funny, people tout Sanibel because of Ding Darling, but the birds are a much more integrated feature of AMI.
We'll look at Palma Sola for the manatees.
We are leaving in the a.m.; it is snowing here. We are beside ourselves!

Santamonica, your trip report has taken on a life of its own!

Jubilada, hope you got out OK and are winging your way out of the cold. It's warm here but the weather for the next few days won't be the best, sadly. It's trying it's best to rain as I write.

Bay views are beautiful and ever-changing, aren't they? There is an osprey hunting perch near us too and the other evening one flew past our balcony carrying a fish that was as long as his body! I'm sure his family was happy to see him. Their call is odd, isn't it? So sweet, high pitched and innocuous sounding for such a bird of prey!

We are on a bay too, Boca Ciega, on the 2rd floor of a building that is just yards from the water, so between our elevated perch and the clear water there is some terrific viewing. In July there was a manatee that came past every morning on his way somewhere. Never saw it go back but it must have at some point as we always saw him, but only swimming in that one direction. They can stay submerged for an impressive period of time. One other tip we learned for spotting them: as he swam he often came close to, but did not break the surface of the water so we would then see evenly spaced large oval spots (think their body size) of water where he'd been close enough to the surface to disrupt the little ripple action or wave action the water normally has. There would be smooth large oval shaped spots on the water surface, regularly spaced along a path as he moved along. Watch it long enough and evenyually you'd see him break the surface for air. Happy hunting and I hope the weather improves quickly!

i hope jubilada doesn't wait until after her trip to report back. She's certainly had enough time to have a grouper sandwich and a red stripe at the rod and reel. We need to be patient.

Patience? Ha! Taptaptap I'm waiting! . Jubilada I hope you can read here because I just overheard a lady saying she just saw a big manatee swim right under her as she walked out our pier, so they are still here! Double up your efforts...you really do have every chance to spot one!