Day Tripping: Local Fun and Free

By Betty Greenspan

Liberties Artist Studios (creativeliberties. net) and The Bazaar on Apricot and Lime (bazaaronapricotandlime.com).

After exploring the downtown area of Sarasota last month, the focus will now be on interesting north and east locations. Traveling east on Fruitville Road you’ll notice some cute bungalows housing restaurants and art galleries from Orange to Washington Blvd.

A stop at the Visitor’s Information Center, 1945 Fruitville Rd is a good place to pick up the newest visitor’s guide and other interesting booklets and maps as well as discount coupons. Trust me, you won’t believe what they have on display.

In the Rosemary District, the Artisan Cheese Company, my favorite cheese shop, offers grab and go items, gifts, and wine. There is a cheese influence lunch menu and an amazing selection of cheeses with great homemade sourdough bread. “Cheese Louise” the owner originally from England and Scotland will educate you about cheese. Ask about girl’s night out and occasional cheese classes on Thursday evenings.

An assortment of restaurants and small boutiques and shops dot surrounding streets. The Station 400 Cafe on Lemon Avenue is a great place for breakfast or lunch. It’s housed in an old train depot built in Kentland, Indiana dating back to 1852 and at some point, was moved to Sarasota. There are creative dishes served in a lovely garden setting with a covered outdoor patio. “I’ll take the lemon curd pancakes please.”

Continuing east on Fruitville Road, make a left on Lime and travel north for several blocks and you’ll find a funky place for art known as the Gas Light District. It incorporates The Creative

There are indoor and outdoor art galleries and a market with a restaurant. It’s home to over 60 local artists filled with something for everyone. From art, collectibles, clothing, jewelry, gifts, and food. It’s open yearround Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There are occasional evening happenings so be sure to check their calendar. You’ll find live music from noon to 3pm as well as weekly classes.

The Pinecraft area near Beneva, Webber and Bahia Vista is a curious place, overlooked by some people. It’s home to the Amish community with famous restaurants, ice cream shops, farm stands and gift shops. Think Yoders! Tiny homes and bungalows as well as mobile homes line many of the surrounding streets.

Frequently you will see residents from the area walking downtown and at the beach riding bikes, dressed in country attire, men often with beards and women with head coverings. Doing some research, I learned interesting facts about the Amish and Mennonite population. In the Pinecraft area most of the residents are from Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. During the winter month special buses travel back and forth to Sarasota.

Amish and Mennonite farmers first arrived in Sarasota during the 1920s to grow celery, a common Amish crop. They found the soil was not right for growing large celery crops, but loving the area decided to stay. Some do live here year-round, but most are winter visitors. The Amish and Mennonite faiths are very similar. The differences lie mainly in the outward practice of those beliefs. But foundational to both groups is their core commitment to faith, family, and community.

For those who really want to learn more, join a tour led by a guide with personal connections to the local Amish and Mennonite communities. Learning about their roots in Florida, traditional customs, and beliefs, you’ll also have the chance to shop for handmade gifts and sample famous pie at an Amish cafe. Interesting fact, there is a reality TV show on TLC called “Return To Amish”. Check it out for a glimpse of this other world. The series takes place right here in Sarasota and has been on the air since 2014! Who knew??

Being a lover of ice cream, I had to stop at the Pinecraft Ice Cream Parlor offering so many flavors it was difficult to choose. Do go and check it out yourself. Quite delicious!!

Beach exploration next month!