Visiting friends from Sarasoto to Wesley Chapel
Gail got a lot of time with her friend Linda in Sarasota: some “Girls Time” just hanging out and lots of time with our hubbies, too. When we arrived, we tried our first Puerto Rican food…Mark had Mofongo Relleno and Gail had roast pork with Trifongo. For a Valentine’s Day Double Date, we attended A Tailor Near Me at Sarasota’s Contemporary Theater with their local theater group, and the last 2 days we visited a couple of new (to us) local attractions (below).
We also had dinner with Mark’s RSE friend Karl in Wesley Chapel, last seen at our RPI 50th and we spent a day with another old RPI friend Gary…solving the world’s problems (that was FUN), visiting the manatees around the Tampa Electric Power Plant and having dinner on the bay.
Lions & Tigers & Bears … Manatees and more, doing a little touring
First…anybody want to take bets on which excited Mark more, when we visited the Manatee View Center??? Was it the manatees (and tarpon, rays, and sharks) or the actual power plant? In the picture above, with the power plant in the background, just look how happy he and Gary are!!!
With Linda and Steve, we visited Historic Spanish Point Tuesday, where we had a lovely afternoon exploring the gardens and historical structures and butterfly house, before another dinner on the bay. Yesterday we all visited the Big Cat Habitat, where we really did see Lions & Tigers & Bears and so many other animals, even a Liger (who was very well trained).
Manatees hanging out in the warm waters near the Power Plant 
Manatee close up 
Sunken Gardens at Historic Spanish Point 
Seen in the Butterfly House at Historic Spanish Point 
Roseate Spoonbill seen on a little walk around our RV Park in Bradenton 
Bengal Tiger at the Big Cat Habitat 
Rare, light colored Golden Tabby Tiger, being trained at the Big Cat Habitat 
Already well trained Liger (half Tiger, half Lion, only in captivity) at the Big Cat Habitat
Off for Starke…last stop in Florida…last family/friend visit for a bit
For more pictures (later), see Adventure Album: South for the Winter
3 Comments
Gretta · February 19, 2026 at 7:40 am
Looks like fun time. Been to see manatees there also. Pretty cool. I guessed you and friend preferred the Power Plant.
Did you get to the wonderful Cuban restaurant in Almands Circle? The Columbia.
Or Ding Darling is Ft. Myers?Safw tripping
Gail · February 19, 2026 at 7:48 am
We’ve beeb to the Columbia, but not this trip. Mark preferred the Power Plant,
not I…but I’m not a Nuclear Engineer!
Gretta Scully · February 19, 2026 at 7:44 am
don’t know why having terrible time posting this