Field Trip: Desoto National Memorial and Anna Marie Island

      My mom and dad flew into Tampa toward the end of October to visit us and see our new house.

    There were plenty of shopping trips (like this one to IKEA - bless poor Papaw and his patient self)...

     ...and restaurant going. (This is a place in Bradenton I really like a lot called Sage Biscuit Cafe, and this is the Southwestern Skillet (minus corn).)

     One day we went Desoto National Memorial which is in a lovely spot in Bradenton, south of St. Petersburg.

 

 Lovely, yes?

 

 inside the museum

 

     The kids started working on their booklets for their Junior Ranger badges.

     We walked the circle trail that goes along the coast to find some of the answers and also to just admire nature and get some exercise.

more exploring outside the museum

     I feel like I'm still getting used to Florida "forests" - the different trees, mangroves, etc. After almost 6 years, it still feels so different than everything I knew in Missouri and Arkansas.

     Ryan and Dash headed home after that to take care of the animals. The rest of us stopped at Small Town Creamery, a cute little place with vegan options on Anna Marie Island.

 

     Anna Marie Island is located near Bradenton. I showed them a little secluded spot with a narrow beach right beyond parking. It's easy to get to and walk around.

 

     It is by the city pier.

 

     Sister, whose whole world is a gymnasium

     We lucked out and got a table out front at The Waterfront Restaurant, which is right across the street from the ocean and has good views. It would have been a perfect experience, but it started getting pretty chilly out!! We were shivering by the time we finished.

 
My go-to at The Waterfront is the quinoa black bean loaf.
Small, expensive, and tasty!