“That house on the right sold for seven million last year,” says Harold Bubil, Real Estate Editor of the Sarasota Herald Tribune.
All eyes swivel starboard. We look at the elevated waterfront home with patio, pool and a dock. Impressive. Just one of many homes we see while cruising Sarasota Bay on the LeBarge, a two-story tour boat perhaps most famous for its fake palm trees sprouting on the upper deck.
“That one is a teardown,” Bubil narrates as the cruise moves along. The lovely older home sits right on the ground. Looks beautiful but doesn’t conform to current insurance requirements. Should they sell the new owners would tear down and build up higher. We nod. Teardown. Add that to our vocabulary.
Water tours – mangroves, pelicans and kayaks oh my!
Next come mangroves dotted with nesting pelicans. Nearby are kayaks. Pictures are being snapped. Bubil tells the tale of how this area was being considered for condominiums. A delegation of potential investors got a water tour. But local boaters protested by showing up en masse and tooting their boat horns in protest. The political powers hear it loud and clear. This are is now protected. Score one for the environment.
This boat tour is a fundraiser for the Historical Society of Sarasota County. We’re messing around in someone else’s boat, getting free food and learning history. What could be finer?
Well, another water tour would work – so many to choose from all around the state. Florida is surrounded by water on three sides making day trip sightseeing cruises ideal for learning new things.
Cruise at sunset, chug along past the homes of the rich and famous and wonder what they pay in taxes, see wildlife, go to a barrier island by boat.
Water tours put a unique lens on Florida.
Water tours – take a sunset cruise complete with happy hour
LeBarge Tropical Cruises in Sarasota has been weighing anchor for 30 years with dolphin and manatee watch cruises, sightseeing and nature cruises and a Tropical Sunset Cruise – all tours feature a full bar and food menu. And you are not doing the driving!
Prices vary by the cruise. For example the Dolphin & Manatee water cruise has a Mote Marine-trained marine biologist on board for the two-hour cruise. Tickets are $25 adult, $20 for children ages 4-13. Under the age of 3 ride free. AND a dolphin or manatee sighting is guaranteed. If not, free passes for any regularly scheduled cruise are issued.
Across the state, right next to the Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine at the Municipal Marinas sits the Victory III with St. Augustine Scenic Cruise. Sure they go out during the day for tours but my personal favorite is the sunset cruises. From April 1 through Oct. 15 the sunset cruise departs at 6:45 p.m. Well-behaved pets are welcome to come along.
Adult price is $16.75, children ages 4-12 pay $7.75 and seniors (60+) pay $13.75. They even have a Frequent Floaters Club. Get a free membership card. Ride six times, any type and any time, and get the seventh ride free.
Each time I’ve taken this trip the Captain will be talking about the town and then suddenly everyone is in the bow area looking down. Dolphins are swimming in the bow wake. Magical. Also a bit of magic is seeing the historic part of St. Augustine lit up with millions of tiny lights after the sun goes down
In the Miami there are a number of cruises including a 90-minute cruise along Biscayne Bay by Island Queen Cruises called Millionaire’s Row Cruise. Mind-boggling to see the houses and hear some of the history and wonder why one McMansion is torn down to build even a bigger McMansion in its place. Does this make sense? Maybe it doesn’t have to.
Sightseeing cruise pricing – adults $24(if purchased online, $28 at the dock), children 4 through 12 pay $19 and children under the age of three ride free. The same cruise looks at the downtown Miami skyline, Port of Miami, Fisher Island and Miami Beach.
In North Central Florida near Ocala on the Silver River, cruise on a glass bottom boat where all the action is in the water and you see it all floating by – sea grasses, mullet, gar and turtles for starters. The boats are inside Silver Springs State Park and are operated by Silver Springs Management. Guided tours on the Silver River leave from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and run 30 to 45 minutes. Cost is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and youth under 17. Kids five and under ride free.
For a short but sweet cruise take a pontoon boat ride from Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin (near Clearwater) to Caladesi Island State Park using the Caladesi Island Ferry for a 20-minute ride. Leave your car behind. Walk ons only. Bring beach things as Caladesi has three miles of great beaches. Adults, round trip, $14 per person, children ages 6-12 pay $7 and ages five and under ride free.
And when Christmas rolls around take a Christmas Light Canal Cruise with the King Fisher fleet docked at Fishermen’s Village in Punta Gorda. Homes along the canals outdo themselves to put on light displays – this boat ride could easily become a family yearly tradition.
UPCOMING
Sarasota County celebrates local authors with book events running from April 15 through 18 at the Selby library, Gulf Gate, Osprey, Jacaranda and Elsie Quirk library. All programs are free and open to the public.
How fine it is to live in a county that celebrates writing, literacy and writers!
I’ll be speaking at the Selby Library at 4 p.m. on April 15 and also at the Osprey Library on April 17 at 1:45 p.m.
The topics are my children’s book Mary Margaret Manatee and 50 Great Walks in Florida.There will be books for purchase and signing.
FLORIDA FUN FACT
Did you know Fish Florida has shipped over 1500 rods and reels to be given away by the Anglers for Conservation during their annual Fish Earth Day events that being in March and run through April. The rods and reels are donated through revenues generated by the Fish Florida license tag. There will be 15 Hook Kids on Fishing programs conducted by AFC volunteers around the state.
MORE TO EXPLORE
What to do in Florida – visit the manatees