While at Sarasota, we visited the Ringling Museum. What a great day! We were like kids viewing all the circus cars, props, etc. One whole floor was one man's miniature circus that he spent 55 years carving! After seeing his first circus at age 3, he started carving. He spent about 20 hours a week for all those years, and still works on completing a few details whenever he gets to town. This genius, Howard C Tibbals, created this, the largest miniature circus in the world. You could almost feel the circus atmosphere just viewing the magnificent display. He showed the loading and unloading of the railcars, all the people, equipment, etc. 
The crew would set up the circus in a new location every day, setting up kitchen (or "hotel" as they called it, green rooms, etc. The kitchen crew would break down during the evening show and move on to the next venue in order to have breakfast for the 1300 cast and crew first thing next morning.
Lou Jacob's little clown car was even hard for me to get into. Imagine the 6'4" clown who did it all the time!!! 
The Ringling's personal railcar was also available to view from a walkway around. Very luxurious. Also went through the lower floor of the Ca d'Zan (5-story Ven
etian Gothic Mansion). It was John & Mable ringling's residence. VERY ornate and elegant in architecture, decor and furnishings. This wealthy man suffered in 
the stock market crash, and refused to sell his wife's collection of art (even after her death) which could have saved him. Instead, he willed it to Sarasota for people to view forever, and he died with about $300 to his
name.
The massive banyan trees grew all through the grounds, and Mrs. Ringling's huge rose garden has been preserved and tended. In her day, there were only a few types of rose bushes, but now there are many! There were obviously some parts of this 66 acre site that we did not cover, including a museum of 1700 dress, and the courtyard of bronze sculptures. We were tired and hungry, so called it a long, fun day and went to Olive G
arden for dinner.
The crew would set up the circus in a new location every day, setting up kitchen (or "hotel" as they called it, green rooms, etc. The kitchen crew would break down during the evening show and move on to the next venue in order to have breakfast for the 1300 cast and crew first thing next morning.
Lou Jacob's little clown car was even hard for me to get into. Imagine the 6'4" clown who did it all the time!!! 
The Ringling's personal railcar was also available to view from a walkway around. Very luxurious. Also went through the lower floor of the Ca d'Zan (5-story Ven
etian Gothic Mansion). It was John & Mable ringling's residence. VERY ornate and elegant in architecture, decor and furnishings. This wealthy man suffered in 
the stock market crash, and refused to sell his wife's collection of art (even after her death) which could have saved him. Instead, he willed it to Sarasota for people to view forever, and he died with about $300 to his
name.
The massive banyan trees grew all through the grounds, and Mrs. Ringling's huge rose garden has been preserved and tended. In her day, there were only a few types of rose bushes, but now there are many! There were obviously some parts of this 66 acre site that we did not cover, including a museum of 1700 dress, and the courtyard of bronze sculptures. We were tired and hungry, so called it a long, fun day and went to Olive G
arden for dinner.Next day, we went to Siesta Key Beach...the #1 beach in the US. Beautiful white, fine, sand, calm waves, and crowds of people, even at 8:30 AM. We had tried to go a couple days sooner, but got there about noonish, and there were waiting lines to wait for parking spots! Went on to Turtle Beach which was very nice, but not nearly the wonderful sand as Siesta Key. The sand there is pure white, and almost like cornstarch in texture, and since it is so white, it never gets hot, no matter what the temperature! Talked to some retired guys on the beach who seem to do this all day every day....take 
their umbrella, cooler, book, or whatever and hang out at the beach! The water at Siesta Key was warm 
and clear. We stayed a couple hours, but the wind was cool, and I was getting chilled.
their umbrella, cooler, book, or whatever and hang out at the beach! The water at Siesta Key was warm 
and clear. We stayed a couple hours, but the wind was cool, and I was getting chilled. We left Sarasota Elks on Easter Sunday, and drove to Winterset Resort in Palmetto (about 29 miles from Sarasota). Very nice, friendly park, great pool, shuffleboard, horseshoes, etc. Asked the manager about a computer repair in the area since I have had trouble connecting. She told us to ask one of the residents, Chuck Norcutt. We did, and he found the problem (a Windows Driver had not been updated due to not being able to connect properly) and he wouldn't take $, so we took him and his wife, Peg, to dinner. Went to Anna Maria Oyster Bar and had lobster special! Very good and quite reasonable. Al had their specialty, Ley Lime Pie, for dessert.
Went to Hickory Hollow BBQ for dinner with Paul & Priscilla who are in the park. Then they drove us to "The Point" (Emerson Point Preserve) to see the bay and river view. Lots of southern food there! Prime Rib for us, and again, Al had Key Lime Pie! I think he's hooked.
Then we went to Mixon Fruit Farms and too
k their tour through the orchard, their annimal wildlife preserve (owls, wild boar, snakes, iguana, turtles, etc. that have been injured and they rehabilitate or keep to teach with), Koi Pond,
Butterfly Garden and we talked with Charlie, the head gardener. He is 86 years old, very fit and sharp. A WWII Army Airforce veteran with quite a story. He works in the gardens there all day every day a
nd loves doing it. The owner, Bill Mixon was at the park and gave everyone on the tour a signed copy of his autobiography which I am anxious to read.
Then we went to Mixon Fruit Farms and too
k their tour through the orchard, their annimal wildlife preserve (owls, wild boar, snakes, iguana, turtles, etc. that have been injured and they rehabilitate or keep to teach with), Koi Pond,
Butterfly Garden and we talked with Charlie, the head gardener. He is 86 years old, very fit and sharp. A WWII Army Airforce veteran with quite a story. He works in the gardens there all day every day a
nd loves doing it. The owner, Bill Mixon was at the park and gave everyone on the tour a signed copy of his autobiography which I am anxious to read. 
After that, we stopped at the Red Barn Flea Market for a couple hours. Very repetitive shops, and all we bought was a tea diffuser and a window-cleaning cloth. Fun to watch people, though!
We take the kitties out on their leash and they are fascinated by all the little geckos, or whatever they are. I used to call them salamanders, or when I was little, they were "Gizzards". So far, that is all that they have come across, but a gal at the pool found a little snake the other day and threw it back in the bushes! YIKES! Neither of us like snakes at all!!!!
Still to see before we leave here is Anna Maria Island. It is just 7 miles long and about 3 (?) wide. Has a free trolley to take you around the island with many stops to shop, beach, etc.
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