A Slice of Kate

For our anniversary this year, Husband and I decided to go down to Florida for some sun and Spring Training (can you guess which one of us wants the sun and which wants the baseball??). Honestly though, as long as I get a ballpark hotdog, I’m happy to go to a baseball game. Team Relish 5eva.

Every year, the Orioles head down to their Spring Training complex in Sarasota, Florida. Husband has gone a few times previously, but I’d never been. Ed Smith Stadium is a nice little venue for a ballgame. It feels like a hybrid between a minor and major league ballpark. If you’re headed down next year, just be prepared to wait a while for everything — it seems like most of the concessions and ticket booths are manned by silver-haired volunteers, so efficiency is not at its peak. Also, one other thing to know is that there really aren’t any restaurants or bars in the area where the ballpark is located, so if you don’t want to eat ballpark food or pay ballpark prices, your best bet is to eat somewhere and then head over.

One non-Oriole related attraction that Husband was ADAMANT about going to was the Marietta Museum of Art and Whimsy. We love us some whimsy. This little gem is 1000% worth a visit. Founder and curator Marietta Lee established the Museum in Sarasota in 2010 with the goal of showcasing art and bringing people joy. We spent about an hour perusing the installations and wandering through the sculpture garden. Around every corner was something to bring a smile to your face, whether it was glitter flooring, colorful giant inchworms on the trees, or a mosaic on one of the garden walls. There are a few interactive areas as well. As couple of logistical notes: Admission is free, but donations are encouraged, and make sure you check the website for their limited open hours.

In the mornings, our job was beach. On our first day, we decided to head to Siesta Key. Before heading to the beach, we grabbed breakfast at the Sun Garden Cafe. An undeniable creature of habit, I went with the biscuits and gravy, while Husband opted for a breakfast burrito. The service was quick and friendly, and the food was excellent. Afterwards we headed to the public beach. We got there probably around 9:30am and there was plenty of parking in the lot, but by the time we left around 12:30, people were apparently circling for half an hour waiting for people to leave. Even though it was a Thursday morning and the high was maybe 68 degrees, this beach got PACKED. I’m talking rows on rows on rows of people. The beach was lovely, but if you’re coming to Siesta Key, plan to get there EARLY.

On our second morning, we got up early and headed to Casey Key to hunt for shark teeth. There are a number of beaches around the Venice area that are known for being full of shark’s teeth. Unfortunately, a lot of them remain closed due to damage from Hurricane Milton, but check out Google Maps to find out which ones are open. We ended up at North Jetty Beach off the Venice Inlet. The beach there is absolutely covered with shells, and within minutes, we had located our first shark’s tooth. After about an hour of searching, we ended up with maybe 3-4 whole teeth and several more of what we think were pieces of teeth. We also had a close encounter with a pelican that was trying to steal fish off of people’s lines. Everyone came out unscathed, but the trauma of watching a pelican charge at you remains seared into my memory. Husband loved every second of it.

On our third and last full day, we headed out to Anna Maria Island. On the way in, we stopped at The Donut Experiment for breakfast and coffee to take to the beach. When you enter the shop, you will out a order sheet with whatever combination of glazes and toppings your little heart desires and then you can watch the fresh donuts be hand dipped after you hand in your order. Having acquired the donuts, we decided to spend our morning on Bean Point. Located in a residential area at the very tip of AMI, Bean Point is a gorgeous and (relatively) uncrowded beach. Since it’s at the far end of the island, the beach wraps around, giving you unimpeded Gulf views and plenty of sand real estate to set up your spot. After a view hours of lounging on the beach, we packed up and headed back into town for lunch at Ginny and Jane E’s Cafe and Coastal Store. This little cafe/shop is whimsically decorated, and serves delicious breakfast and lunch fare. It also has beautiful, hand-crafted gifts, art, and cards. I got the chicken bacon ranch sandwich, which was delicious, and also walked out with a bag of souvenirs. We love a one-stop shop!

You, like I, may have seen videos on TikTok featuring the “head spa” experience. If you haven’t, envision getting your hair washed at the salon, but on steroids. As my anniversary present to myself, I booked an appointment for a 70 minute scalp treatment with mini facial at the Holistica Head Spa. After taking a close up look at my scalp with a microscope, I got settled onto a massage table. My esthetician (and the owner of Holistica), Toni, proceeded to work her magic with a deep cleanse, exfoliation and hair mask. I highly recommend making an appointment because your scalp deserves love too.

As this was our anniversary trip, I did insist on one dinner that was not ballpark food. For that one dinner, I made a reservation at Shore, which is located on Long Boat Key. Located right on the water, the views from the restaurant were breathtaking, but, dare I say, the food was even better. We started off with tuna tartare and a chicken chinois salad. For my main course, I went for the pepper-crusted salmon with pureed parsnips, roasted veggies, and a pomegranate glaze (picture below). This may have been the best salmon of my life. Husband ordered the branzino and had similarly positive things to say about it. Needless to say, if you find yourself in the area, I’d highly recommend making a reservation.

Alas, after a lovely long weekend, we had to head back home, but I’m so glad we got to spend some time away. It’s been a hectic year so far, so we both needed a little getaway. If we go back again (which I imagine we will), I think I would opt to stay on Siesta Key or AMI as opposed to in Sarasota proper solely for the vibes you get being right on the water. There is so much to see in the area that you could take ten trips and still have a to-do list. Do you have any favorites or recommendations for next time??

Until we meet again, happy traveling, friends!