Sarasota, Sunshine, and a Rogue Screw: Our 2-Night Stay in Florida’s Gulf Coast Gem
We pulled into Sarasota, Florida ready for two nights of coastal charm and sunshine—and Sarasota did not disappoint.
Rick & Debbie Balmaseda
Our home base was Sun Outdoors RV Resort, a palm-lined oasis that felt more like a vacation village than your average RV park. GR84RED settled in nicely under the Florida sun, and we were thrilled to reconnect with our neighbors from Danbury. Nothing says "Florida evening" like a relaxed backyard-style BBQ with friends you haven’t seen in a while. Great food, better company, and just the right amount of bug spray.
Tire Drama (With a Happy Ending)
Because no road trip is complete without a little automotive drama, we had a minor scare with the Jeep—spotted a shiny Phillips head screw buried in the passenger front tire. Cue the dramatic music. Fortunately, Tire Kingdom came through like roadside superheroes. While they patched things up for a surprisingly inexpensive fix, we grabbed an Uber and headed off to explore.
Superyacht Lotus
Historic Downtown Sarasota & Marina Views
Our Uber dropped us off in Historic Downtown Sarasota, which charmed us right away with its mix of palm trees, sidewalk cafes, and that warm salty breeze. We grabbed lunch at Marina Jack, where the view of the boats gently bobbing in the bay were just as satisfying as my fresh Poke salad and Terri’s California Chicken sandwich. A standout in the marina is the superyacht “Lotus”. The yacht provides panoramic 360-degree views of the marina and surrounding waters. Membership is by invitation only, and the yacht does not offer charters or public events. But it did offer us a chance to dream about being some of the beautiful people we saw boarding for an event.
Sipping & Supper
That evening we treated ourselves to a wine tasting at Cooper’s Hawk Winery—a relaxed, friendly spot with a wide selection and a staff who knew their stuff. We took part in a blind tasting of two whites and two reds, along with four other wines listed on the tasting sheet. Terri actually got one of the four blind wines right (Meritage), while I whiffed on all four. Whether you’re a red wine loyalist or just there for the truffle popcorn, it’s a great way to wind down.
Wine tasting at Cooper’s Hawk
And just next door? Dinner at Twin Peaks, where the food was hearty, the atmosphere was buzzing, and the people-watching was top-tier. Sarasota nightlife isn’t wild—it’s just the right amount of lively.
Final Thoughts
Sarasota gave us perfect weather, good eats, unexpected reunions, and a surprise tire situation that could’ve gone sideways but didn’t. That’s road tripping in a nutshell, right? A little bit of planning, a little bit of luck, and a lot of flexibility.
We left Sun Outdoors with full hearts, full bellies, and a fully functional Jeep. Onward to the next stop—but we’re already talking about when we’ll come back.
