Would you like a piece of pie with that?

Amish style cooking is available at Troyer's Dutch Heritage in Sarasota. Try the broasted chicken - you won't regret it. The bakery attached to the restaurant has delicious pies, cakes and breads. And after the portions in the restaurant, you might just want to take your dessert "to go." A large gift store features Vera Bradley handbags and many unique items.

Troyer's Dutch Heritage is located in the Pinecraft neighborhood of Sarasota at 3713 Bahia Vista, east of Beneva. For more information, call 941-955-8007. They are open Monday - Saturday and closed on Sundays.

Shop Till You Drop!

For those of you who like outlet shopping, we have two excellent choices in the area. To the north, we have Prime Outlets in Ellenton with approximately 130 stores. Check out such fine outlet stores as Chico's, Ann Taylor Factory Store, Adidas Outlet Store, Movado and Coach Factory. Prime Outlets is easy to reach from I-75 at exit 224.

To the south, Miromar Outlets in Estero has approximately 140 stores. Included in the roster are Disney's Character Warehouse, Escada, Neiman Marcus Last Call Store, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th and Crabtree & Evelyn. Take I-75 to exit 123. Miromar Outlets is located between Naples and Fort Myers. Now go shop!

Cafe de la Bay

There is a new restaurant on Dearborn Street: Cafe de la Bay located at 470 W. Dearborn Street. It is open Tuesday - Sunday for both breakfast and lunch and will have some dinner hours available as well. Seating is available at outdoor tables under the trees and in a crisp and attractive indoor dining area. The weather was warm, so the large screened windows in the dining area were open. We felt like we were outdoors.

We enjoyed Spinach Benedict with fresh fruit for our brunch. The Hollandaise sauce had a hint of lemon - very delicious. Breakfast entrees are available from $3.95- $10.95. Lunches of salads and sandwiches range from $5.50 -$9.95. Entrees range from $5.99 - $12.95. Beer and wine is available.

Try it - you'll like it!

Let's Visit the Florida Military Heritage & Aviation Museum

If military history is your interest, you will find lots of fascinating exhibits at the Florida Military Heritage & Aviation Museum. Located in Punta Gorda at Fisherman's Village, the museum has military medals, uniforms, weapons and other equipment. The collection is vast, so exhibits change often. The volunteer guides, most with former military service records, are very helpful. All donations are 100% tax deductible. They can be reached at 941-575-9002.

It's a Flower Garden!

Sandpiper Key's grounds have many lovely flowers, plants and trees. Hibiscus plants with their spectacular flowers are planted throughout the property. Palm trees are abundant. Live oak, Royal Poinciana, Key Lime, orange, grapefruit and avocado trees are also on the property. Orchids and bromeliads can also be found. Flowering bushes, like the Plumbago with its blue flowers, add another texture. Mangrove trees with their salt-tolerant prop roots are located at the water's edge. Take a walk on the grounds to see what other plants that you can find and identify - and take your camera for some Florida photos.

Lizards, Lizards Everywhere

You will see many little brown, beige or black lizards all around Sandpiper Key. These are Brown Anoles - also called Cuban Anoles. Males have colorful dewlaps under their chins and display them as a threat to other males or to impress the females. They will also do "push-ups" to make themselves look bigger to the other lizards. Females have a diamond pattern on their backs. If you see one that is a bright green, that will be a Green Anole. Both species mostly eat insects. Thank you, anoles!

Sandpiper Key Condo Rentals eBook

You might be interested in viewing the Sandpiper Key condo rentals in an eBook format. Take a few minutes to view the book by clicking here

When there, you can flip through the pages of the eBook to see Sandpiper Key's seasonal listings.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Many people want to see baseball spring training when they come to Florida. Now Sandpiper Key visitors can go to a Rays' game during their seasonal visit.

Charlotte Sports Park hosts the Tampa Bay Rays' spring training. The Charlotte Stone Crabs, a Rays' minor league team, have games from April through September. The Charlotte Sports Park is located just 25 minutes from Englewood and Sandpiper Key. All renovation is complete with new and extra seating, kid's play area, Tiki bar and gift shop. Now, go out and enjoy a ball game!

Let Me Take You on a Sea Cruise

Since Englewood is located on Lemon Bay, boating, fishing and water sports are very popular. Several companies close to Sandpiper Key offer guided nature cruises, boat rentals and jet ski rentals. Fishing guides are available for in shore and off shore fishing. Sightseeing or guided canoe or kayak trips are also popular. Check in with the Rental Office during your stay at Sandpiper Key for brochures or contact information.

Area Highlights - More Things to Do

Englewood has a convenient location between Sarasota to the North and Ft. Myers/Naples to the South. Many activities are just a short drive away and include everything from museums, theme parks, theatre, aquariums/zoos, historic restorations, fine dining and shopping. Here are just a few to consider for outings during a visit to Englewood:

Sarasota
Spend a day at the Ringling Museum complex with art, circus museums and John & Mabel Ringling's mansion tour. Walk the Selby Gardens with orchids, ferns and bromeliads plus lots of walking trails along Sarasota Bay. Visit St. Armand's Circle with upscale boutiques and dining. Learn at the Mote Aquarium, and don't miss the manatees, dolphins and sea turtles.

Punta Gorda
See historic downtown with shops and restored cottages from the 1900's and earlier. Visit Fisherman's Village with its open air shopping and dining center and boat tours of Charlotte Harbor. Drive out to Babcock Ranch to take a guided swamp buggy tour on this working ranch. You can't miss seeing alligators here.

Boca Grande
Enjoy the restored light house museum and the beaches. Shop in the village's charming stores.

Arcadia
Look for depression glass and furniture in the antique stores that dominate the downtown area.

Brochures or information on many of these activities are available in the Rental Office.

Shop Historic Dearborn Street, Englewood

Historic Dearborn Street in Englewood has a charming "Main Street" atmosphere. Park free and walk to the various gift & antique shops, galleries and restaurants on the street. Dearborn Street is also home to the Lemon Bay Playhouse where you can see a live theatre production during your stay. For more information, please visit http://www.oldeenglewood.com/.

A Trip to the Zoo

Plan to visit the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens during your stay. The park is a lovely, historical botanical garden with tropical plantings and includes a fine animal collection. One price admission covers such attractions as a narrated boat ride with viewing of lemurs, gibbons and monkeys; a Planet Predator show with live animals; alligator feedings; a guided botanical tour; and Meet the Keeper talks. The zoo has many large cats; a new black bear exhibit; wild dogs and hyenas plus several varieties of hoof stock. There is food service on the property - and a well stocked gift store. The drive to Naples will take about 1.5 hours, depending on traffic. For more information on this zoo, please visit their web site at http://www.caribbeangardens.com/.

Stock photo by Klaus Post

Englewood Beaches

The beaches of Englewood are along Manasota Key on the Gulf of Mexico. Manasota Key is a barrier island - one side is on the Gulf and one side is on Lemon Bay. We have four beautiful beaches from which to choose: Englewood Beach, Stump Pass State Park, Blind Pass Beach and Manasota Beach. Give each a try during your stay in Englewood. You might also want to explore Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota with its white sugar sand and the Venice beaches where you may find some shark teeth in the sand.

Stay on the lookout for pelicans, sandpipers, Great Blue Herons (they especially like to hang out with the surf fishermen), frigate birds, cormorants, dolphins and manatees. Florida has a lot of wildlife in the beach environment.

Season or Off-Season?

Sandpiper Key's Rental Office provides one month minimum condo rentals. Our season (or high season) runs from December through April. The seasonal months have average temperatures in the 70's, although higher or lower averages do occur. Many people like the seasonal months because they are escaping the winter temperatures and snow in the north. The activity level is up for things like street fairs and special events during the seasonal months. The lovely area beaches are a big draw as are the bright, sunny days and pretty sunsets on the Gulf.

Sandpiper Key also has an off-season which runs from May through November. Many people like the laid back atmosphere of the off-season. There are virtually no wait times for restaurants; tee times are easy to schedule; the water warms up to temperatures in the 80's or above; and there are continuing cultural activities in the area. We have many European & Canadian visitors during this off-season time who enjoy a low-key Florida. We see people from the U.K., Germany, Switzerland as well as from many of the Canadian provinces.

I'd like to invite you to visit our newly re-staged web site at: http://www.sandpiperkeyrentals.com/. If you have a question about a specific unit, please give me a call at 1-800-475-3108, or leave me a comment here.

Sandpiper Key activities

The Clubhouse at Sandpiper Key is always "humming" with activities in season. Bridge, exercise-aerobics classes, book club, mah jongg and cocktail parties are just a few of the activities available to owners and seasonal visitors alike. It is a great way to meet the other people here.

Sandpiper Key

Sandpiper Key is located on Lemon Bay and has views of Lemon Bay and the mangroves. Located just 3/10's of a mile from Englewood Beach and the Gulf of Mexico, it's a perfect get away location. The property has two heated pools and barbecue grills with picnic tables for outdoor dining.
Units are fully furnished and equipped. Elevator buildings have covered parking and townhouses have attached garages. The Clubhouse has many scheduled activities during seasonal months. Spend a month or more relaxing in this beautiful setting.