Across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge

Image by billfrog...Tuktogna Ke Ceyas via Flickr

On Sunday, with little planning and no camera, we decided to go for a drive.  We crossed Tampa Bay on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge going south towards Sarasota.  It's an impressive bridge.  Over 5 miles long with a cable-stayed central span that allows ship traffic to enter Tampa Bay - 175 feet of vertical clearance.  It's a steep drive up to the top of that span.  I'm sure it's the steepest roadway to be found anywhere in Florida.  The view from up there is spectacular. 

We followed the freeway down to I-75.  We got off at a Sarasota exit, drove west through the city, across the Ringling Causeway over Sarasota Bay to Longboat Key.  I'd expected to see a long strip of tourist-catering commerce on Longboat Key, such as we'd seen along the St Petersburg Gulf Coast strip.  I was pleased to be surprised.  Longboat Key is quite different.  It's more residence than commerce.  Some of that residency is, I think, seasonal, but not short term tourist accommodation.  There are beach front condominiums with golf course back yards.  But there are also permanent residence homes and apartments.  Street and sidewalk traffic do not shout tourism.  No Waffle House restaurants.  No beach toy and beach wear stores.

We drove north to Bradenton Beach.  Driving across the bridge linking the two barrier islands we saw dozens of small powerboats anchored in the shallow water and pulled up onto beaches on both sides of the bridge.  This had more the look of locals enjoying their weekend than tourists on vacation.          

Image by Mr. Usaji via Flickr

After the bridge and beaches we came to a commercial strip of accommodations and some restaurants.  But this was still different from what we'd seen on the St Petersburg Gulf Shore barrier islands.  Funky is one word that comes to mind.  Less corporate owned chains and more locally owned businesses.  This appealed to us more.  Cathy suggested that when she takes some time away from the office we should come down here for a few days.  I agreed, with the added suggestion that we rent a small powerboat when we visit so we can explore the vast coastlines we'd admired along the way.