 Sometimes little gems are easily missed, which is why in our travels we just had to turn around and explore. Owned by the Town of Longboat Key (west of Sarasota), Durante Park has a little bit of everything for nature lovers. Near the entrance is a botanical garden featuring many popular Floridian flowering plants. You can find hibiscus, bougainvillea, jacaranda, and wild coffee to name a few. Beyond the garden is parking, restrooms, a playground, a pond with a fountain, a pavilion, and an open grassy area. Trails begin here, winding through several ecological systems by means of shell paths and board walks. As part of coastal restoration, a wetlands system was created in the park. This provides food to many species as well as being a pollutant filter for Sarasota Bay. The upland coastal forest is also being restored. Mangrove forests and salt marshes are other ecosystems found in this park. The many trails are popular for joggers and dog walkers as well as naturalists. We saw egrets, a cardinal, a yellow warbler, mangrove crabs, and possibly an ovenbird during the short time we spent there having a picnic supper. If you are in the area, Durante Park is worth visiting. 5550 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, Florida Visit Website Written By Lucy Noe
 It was only a few years ago that Scott Kenny and his wife were selling gifts, antiques, furniture, and home décor online out of their storage unit. Now they have a store. Both artists and woodworkers themselves, they know the business. Around the store among the signs with cute sayings, the paintings, the exotic soaps, and the lamps are worn-looking chairs, desks, bureaus, and tables. This is furniture painted to look worn and then coated so as not to wear any further – a style I am told is called shabby chic. They even sell the same paint they use in the store and offer painting classes so others can do it. There is a variety of shapes and sizes of furniture, such as children’s desks, so one can find something special that fits their specific needs. There are a lot of interesting things there. The couple is involved in the community and Scott was even named 2016 honorary mayor by the Southshore Chamber of Commerce for raising the most money for charity. They offer painting classes and even plan on expanding the store. 229 Apollo Beach Boulevard, Apollo Beach, Florida Visit Website Written by Daniel Noe, ChampionOfTheGalaxy.com
Written by Daniel Noe, ChampionOfTheGalaxy.com
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