Scott Le Roy, Author at Riviera Dunes Marina

4 Top Light Displays Near Riviera Dunes Marina

12/20/201712/21/2017 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

4 Top Light Displays Near Riviera Dunes MarinaThe holiday season is still in full force, which also means there are amazing light displays all across our area! Here are the best places to view holiday light displays near Riviera Dunes Marina.Colonial GablesLocated at the corner of Bee Ridge and Woodmont Drive in Sarasota, the neighborhood of Colonial Gables comes alive with an assortment of magical light displays every year to spread the Christmas cheer! Grab a hot cocoa at the nearby Bee Ridge Starbucks for you to enjoy as you drive through the dreamy illuminated arches.Enander's Winter WonderlandSince 1987, the Enander family has decked out their home and yard with festive lights and become a local holiday spectacle! With over 250,000 lights and over 400 illuminated figurines, visitors can take a walking tour of their property, which covers over 2 acres! Join in on the fun every night until Jan. 8, from 6–10 p.m. Their home is located at 2281 Mission Valley...

Fun Free Activities for Holiday Break Near Bradenton

12/15/201712/15/2017 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

Fun Free Activities for Holiday Break Near BradentonWith Christmas nearly a week away, it’s likely that your loved ones will be visiting for the holiday festivities. This of course means there will be more kids to keep occupied while on holiday break.Here are some free activities near Bradenton to keep the kiddos at bay during holiday break: Holidays on MainNow through Dec. 23, there is much to see and do on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch! Some highlights include breakfast with Santa, this Saturday, the 16th and lunch with Santa on Sunday, the 17th. Next Thursday, Dec. 21, the fun kicks off at 5 p.m. for carriage rides, strolling carolers and Santa Strolls. You can even join in on the 5K Jingle Run on Dec. 22. Bradenton’s RiverwalkWhile you’re probably familiar with Bradenton’s Riverwalk, the holidays are a great opportunity to show your family around this fun local destination. The kids can play volleyball, use the skate park and head to...

5 Fish Biting in December Near Sarasota

12/08/201712/08/2017 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

5 Fish Biting in December Near SarasotaAmong all of the holiday parties and events, we hope that you’re still getting out on your boat to go fishing this month! The great thing about our area is that there are always fish biting, no matter what time of year it is. Here are five fish biting in December near Sarasota:TripletailWhen you spot a buoy, channel marker or other floating objects in Sarasota waters, you’re bound to find a tripletail! Known for gravitating toward floating objects, you can specifically find tripletail in brackish water bays and estuaries. They’re also known for camouflaging, so you might need to do a double take when you see weeds or debris in the water. Depending on their surroundings, they could be black to yellow to white and spotted brown! The key to catching them? Use live shrimp on minimal tackle.Speckled TroutFound in concentrated areas with vegetation, speckled trout—or spotted seatrout—can be seen wading in seagrass beds,...

6 Free Holiday Events Near Bradenton, FL

11/29/201711/29/2017 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

6 Free Holiday Events Near Bradenton, FLHoliday season is in full swing! From dazzling parades to photo moments with Santa, there’s an abundance of free holiday events that you and your family will not want to miss. All the yuletide fun kicks off this weekend! Here are six free holiday events near Bradenton, FL!Jingle Paws JubileeDec. 3, Noon–5 p.m.Phillippi Estate Park, SarasotaEven the furry family members get to join in on this holiday season! This Sunday, head to Phillippi Estate Park for the annual Jingle Paws Jubilee. At the jubilee, you can get your holiday shopping done as there are many exciting pet vendors as well as dogs and cats available for adoption! Then, don’t miss the Holiday Costume Parade & Contest, live DJ music, delicious food vendors, raffle prizes, demonstrations and more! Holidays Around the RanchDec. 8, 6–9 p.m.Lakewood Main StreetEntering by a horse-drawn carriage, Santa Claus himself will make a grand appearance at Lakewood Main Street for the annual...

Three Popular Birding Spots Near Riviera Dunes Marina

11/22/201711/22/2017 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

Three Popular Birding Spots Near Riviera Dunes MarinaDid you know that our area is known for fabulous birding? That’s right! Our waterways, beaches, islands, estuaries and marshes make the perfect breeding grounds and habitats for local birds. From egrets to osprey and herons to pelicans, the variety of bird species here is quite broad! Here are a few of the most popular birding spots you must visit whenever you’re near Riviera Dunes Marina.Service Club ParkLocated at the the north end of Brohard Park, you’ll find several fascinating birds here. In the boardwalk area, you’ll see our state’s scrub-jays as well as wrens, ground-doves and savannah sparrows, which can be spotted more often during the winter. Head to the shore, and you’ll spot plovers, sanderlings and willet. There are also a variety of gulls you will be sure to see here: Ring-bellied, lesser black-backed and laughing gull are a few species.Brohard and Caspersen BeachesLocated just south of Venice, about 45 minutes...

5 Sportfish You’ll Find in Sarasota

11/16/201711/16/2017 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

5 Sportfish You’ll Find in SarasotaWhen you’re not enjoying a leisurely ride through the waters of Sarasota and the surrounding areas, there are plenty of opportunities for you to go sportfishing here! Here are five of the predominant sportish you will find in our area. Flounder With its lighter brown to darker brown body and whiter underside, flounder is a popular sportfish you’ll discover here. You'll know you've found flounder when you see both of its eyes on the left side of its body. You can find these on sandy bottoms inshore on channel edges. However, males are typically found offshore. Live shrimp, sand fleas and pinfish are great bait to use for flounder. Look in City Island Flats, Big Pass and Tony Saprito Pier to start.Red DrumKnown for their copper-bronze bodies, large scales and spotted tails, red drum are another popular sportfish to you'll see during your afternoon on Sarasota waters. Look to City Island Flats, San Remo Basin and Roberts Bay to begin your search. Like flounder, red drum...

The 2017 Siesta Key Crystal Classic is This Weekend!

11/09/201711/09/2017 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

The 2017 Siesta Key Crystal Classic is This Weekend!It's that time of the year! Make sure to clear your schedules because the 8th Annual Siesta Key Crystal Classic is back again this weekend and ready to wow you with amazing sand masterpieces!Every year, professional sand sculptors from around the world come to Sarasota to participate in this international sandsculpting festival. Luckily, for us, the event is in our own stomping grounds, and we don’t have to travel too far to be a part of this exciting and unique annual event.Here’s everything you need to know about the 2017 Siesta Key Crystal Classic:This year, artists hail from Canada, Czech Republic, Amsterdam, Lithuania, Singapore and various states in the U.S.Kicking off this Friday, you can view and vote for the masterpieces crafted by master sand sculptors. For four days, there will be live music, a party tent and dining tent as well as shopping vendors. Looking to learn more about sandsculpting? There will be demonstrations and lessons...

3 Shelling Hot Spots Near Palmetto, FL

11/03/201706/01/2018 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

3 Shelling Hot Spots Near Palmetto, FL If you’re looking for shelling hot spots near Palmetto, you don’t have to go far! There are plenty of locals’ spots that you will want to visit when you’re ready to add to your collection. While veteran beachcombers might know about these spots, you never know what treasures you will discover upon your return!Keep in mind that you’ll have your most successful shelling when either the water is at low tide or after a storm, when there are plenty of gems washing ashore. Here are the three best shelling hot spots when you’re in the Palmetto area.Manatee Public Beach If you head to the end of Manatee Public Beach, you can park there for free! After combing the beaches, this is also a great area to shop for souvenirs, visit gift shops and even grab lunch or dinner at the variety of cafes there. And if you prefer to clean up before heading home,...

4 Dog Parks Near Riviera Dunes Marina

10/26/2017 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

4 Dog Parks Near Riviera Dunes MarinaThere’s no shortage of dog parks near Riviera Dunes Marina when your furry friends need to stretch their legs! Here’s a round-up of nearby dog parks in Palmetto, Sarasota and Bradenton that will ensure your pups are not only welcome, but exercised!1. Dog Leg Canine Park7550 69th Street East, PalmettoYour pups will be VIP (Very Important Pups) for the day while at Dog Leg Canine Park in Palmetto. From sunrise to sunset, dogs can visit the fenced-in park, which sits on 3 acres at Buffalo Creek Park. Your pups are free to roam without their leashes . . . within the park, of course. Amenities include their own water fountain, complimentary waste bags, a separate enclosed area for small or enderly pups and a covered shelter. Keep in mind that there is maintenance on the park grounds Thursdays, 7–10 a.m. and on the last Friday of the month from 2 p.m. to dusk.2. De...

6 Family-Friendly Halloween Activities Near Bradenton

10/18/201710/18/2017 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

6 Family-Friendly Halloween Activities Near BradentonWith just two weeks away from Halloween, there are plenty of ways to have family fun without the fright! From parades to ghost walks and where to trick or treat with the kiddos, keep reading to find the best non-spooky spots for the remaining weeks of this hair-raising season.Here are six family-friendly halloween activities near Bradenton and surrounding areas.Bradenton Beach Ghost ToursFrom Bridge StreetOngoing, Tuesday–Saturday, 8 p.m.$10–$15Hear about the history of Bradenton Beach, shipwrecks and mysterious ghost stories, some of which are based on eyewitness accounts! The walking tour duration is 90 minutes beginning at 8 p.m. on Bridge Street. Tours are held every Tuesday–Saturday. Tickets must be purchased in advance online or via phone at 941-704-0621. Night of Fun, Fish & FrightMote Marine AquariumOct 20, 6–8:30 p.m.$10–$14This weekend, head to Mote Marine Aquarium for an evening of frightful, family-friendly Halloween activities! Discover shark teeth within Coffin Creek, view their exciting underwater pumpkin carving, Mad...