Timeless Journeys

by Kimberly “Sage” Pridemore

Welcome to Infinity Magazine’s exciting adventure feature, “Timeless Journeys with Sage.” Sage has been with the Infinity team for several years, her wisdom, knowledge and experience makes her a perfect fit as Infinity’s Travel Editor for this special feature. Each issue will be a wonderful adventure with Sage as she travels to amazing destinations. Sage will share her travels with helpful tips, interesting facts about her fun filled and relaxing get-aways!

I was so excited to step onto a plane in March of 2021; it was the first time since December 2019. My girlfriend, Michelle (MiMi) and I were on our way down to her Florida vacation condo. I’d never been to Longboat Key and was super pumped to spend a week at the beach to kick off my 60th birthday month. I’ve spent a great deal of time in Miami and South Beach over the years and truly love Florida.

Long Boat Key is located south/southwest of the hustle and bustle of metropolitan Tampa and St. Petersburg. LBK maintains the laid-back attitude of a tropical paradise, for which Florida is famous. The quaint beach town is loaded with plenty of recreational activities, shops and beachfront restaurants.

Some of my favorite activities include kayaking and canoeing. These are two engaging ways to explore the natural, untouched beauty of the Floridan landscape. The maze of mangrove tunnels is a fun place to navigate and see the ecosystem of native birds and plants. There are also guided kayak tours at sunset and night, along with dolphin and manatee tours.

Of course, there is snorkeling and shelling, as well as fishing and parasailing. It’s an ideal destination for a family vacation! Michelle and I opted for a more low-key trip, which consisted largely of morning beach walks and sunbathing.

For those that like learning more about marine life, the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is a great place to visit. Shark enthusiasts will be in heaven among the lab’s extensive shark research, which is the only one of its kind recognized by the U.S. Congress. Over 100 species of marine life are showcased.

For us, this trip was more about kicking back and relaxing, enjoying beachfront restaurants and shopping. Our plan was to eat as much fresh fish as possible - and believe me, we did!

One of my favorite places for lunch is Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant and Pub. Mar Vista is considered to be one of the 12 oldest surviving structures on Longboat Key, circa 1912. We enjoyed a table outside on the beach and kicked off our shoes. With our toes in the sand, we shared Crispy Oyster Rockefeller, a Summer Farm Salad with mixed baby greens and fresh mozzarella, along with a grilled Florida Grouper. It was all delicious. A bottle of cold, crisp chardonnay complemented our afternoon meal. Great conversation and boat watching also helped make the day near perfect!

Now, I am one of those girls who celebrates her birthday the entire month. Pretty much everyone in my circle knows this. To me, the trip was a kick off to my month full of celebration! Year sixty was going to be a big one. Michelle treated me to a spa day at the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota. Sarasota is located twelve miles away and a wonderful place for shopping. The spa at the Ritz is amazing. We both received a signature massage and had access to the Healing Waters whirlpool, dry sauna and steam room. With nowhere to be, we immersed ourselves in relaxation and rejuvenation. Talk about a Zen moment!

What I loved most about this girls’ trip is that we had no agenda. We slept in and napped. We read books and did some work. We enjoyed our downtime and let things unfold organically.

Michelle’s sister, Pam, lives in Bradenton which is about 15 minutes from LBK. She invited us over for a day of painting and lunch. She prepared fresh Thai spring rolls with peanut sauce and a lovely avocado salad. After such an excellent lunch we headed to her art studio. Her garage is set up like an art studio for acrylic pouring. I’d never done this before, so for me, it was a work in progress. If you’ve never done it, you should check it out, because it’s pretty cool.

Pouring is a fluid painting technique used to create art by pouring acrylic paint onto canvas. This allows artists to apply color in puddles, pools and marble-like patterns. I had a blast learning the technique and creating two different art pieces. I swear, I see mermaids in each one!

A girls’ getaway is never complete without some shopping. Both of us love consignment stores along with arts and crafts festivals. Every Wednesday and Friday, Coquina Beach in LBK has a beach market. You’ll find local artists, arts and crafts, jewelry, fresh produce, baked goods, gourmet foods, spices and teas, local honey, pottery, purses, collectibles, photography, woodworking, health and beauty items, unique gifts and even more. This is the ideal place to find that perfect Florida souvenir. I bought the cutest fairy earrings, two birthday crowns with rose quartz and lapis! Everyone needs a birthday crown and fairy earrings!

I highly recommend Longboat Key for not only a girls’ getaway, but for a family vacation. It’s adorable and low key but with plenty of activities for everyone. The Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is only seventeen miles away. Rent a car and head to the beach! There are quite a few nice hotels to stay at in Longboat Boat Key and many options with vacation rentals as well. The northern

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