2017 in Review - Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Friends!

Here is a brief update of our 2017.

It was a “rocky start” for us. The herniated discs in Greg’s lower spine worsened.  He ended up having back surgery in May. We were slow-going for awhile, however, with physio appointments and at-home stretches and strengthening exercises, Greg is much improved. 

Career-wise, I transitioned to working for the local School Board as a Speech Language Pathologist. I'm currently stationed at 3 different schools, and enjoy the variety of working with preschool and elementary/primary aged children.  The School Holidays will be a bonus, too! 😉

Hurricane Irma pummeled through the Caribbean and into Florida in September. We evacuated our house and drove up to Alabama to wait it out. It was a bit nerve racking waving goodbye to our house and not knowing what it would look like when we got back. Fortunately, the storm veered to the right and avoided a direct hit in our area. Our hearts go out to all those who did not fare so well.

We visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee for a second time. This place holds a special place in our hearts.  I also spent one week exploring the beautiful Australian state of Tasmania with my Mum.  We experienced some of the clearest waters, cleanest air, untouched nature and the most diverse geography.  Tassie is bloody beautiful, mate!

Honeymoon Bay, Tasmania, Australia.  Image captured by Maree Richardson.

To top the year off, I officially became a dual Australian-American Citizen. After 4 long years the wait (and paperwork!) has finally come to an end and a new chapter begins.  You can read more about this in my next post. 😊

Have a great week!

Maree

Top 10 Things to Do and See in Sarasota

Hey, folks!

Having lived in Sarasota, Florida for the past 4 years, I believe it is time to share my favorite things to do and see in this beautiful part of the state.  

1. Siesta Key Beach - Voted the best beach in America in 2011 and 2017 on the annual Dr. Beach list, you will be greeted by sparkling, turquoise waters that are as warm as a bathtub in the Summer, and a blanket of powder-white sand made of quartz.  If you compare Siesta Key sand to talcum powder, it is difficult to tell the difference!  Reflecting the sun, this powdery sand stays cool under your feet all year long.  The area has recently been updated with a huge concession stand, numerous grills ("BBQ's"), and a playground for the kiddos.  While spending time on this beautiful beach, prepare to witness some of the most dramatic sunsets you have ever seen!

Siesta Key Beach - Captured by Maree's Mum

2. Turtle Beach - This lesser-known beach is directly south of Siesta Key.  It boasts peace and quiet away from the crowds, particularly if you walk a couple of miles north from the main entrance.  The sands are coarse and grey, and the waves are a little bigger than nearby beaches - well, as big as waves can get in the calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. 😉  The turtle nesting season stretches from as early as May, to as late as October.  There are usually hundreds of protected turtle nests dotted along this beach - a gentle reminder of just how magical our ocean life and animal kingdom is!  

3. Myakka State Park - Sarasota does not only offer some of the best beaches in America, but is also the home to state parks and wetlands.  These places are excellent for biking and hiking, and you are almost guaranteed to spot alligators at Myakka.  Gators are beautifully intimidating creatures.  Keep your distance!  Insider tip: bring your camera with a zoom-lens for some epic photos. 😊  There is a boardwalk over the lake, and a canopy walkway with a vertical stairway that takes you above the treeline for incredible views.  The airboat is a fun way to cruise around the lake to spot some birds and gators.  From our experience, some of the more remote hiking trails are poorly signed, with just a few inconspicuous paint marks on trees every few hundred meters.  Thus, if you attempt one of these, it's critical that you keep track of landmarks to avoid getting lost.

Myakka State Park - Captured by Maree Richardson

4. Kayaking around Lido Key and the Mangroves at South Lido County Park - Rent a kayak and paddle through the shallow mangrove tunnels.  You will see crabs scuttling, fish swimming, and a variety of birds.  Insider tip: bring your bug repellent ("mozzie spray")!  Also, bring your lunch, a cold beer, a fishing pole, and life is goooooood!

5. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens - This is the place for plant lovers.  It features thousands of orchards and bromeliads, an abundance of tropical plants, a butterfly garden, and a koi fish pond.  Bring a picnic blanket, a good book, and bask under a shady tree with views overlooking Sarasota Bay.

6. St. Armands Circle, Ringling Causeway Bridge and Lido Key - This major bridge crosses over Sarasota Bay, connecting you from Downtown Sarasota to St. Armands Circle, Lido Key and beyond.  There is a walking/running path on either side of the bridge which offers some spectacular views of the area.  St. Armands Circle boasts world-class restaurants and high-end shopping (a.k.a. "window shopping" for me!).  Just a short walk and you'll find yourself at the beautiful Lido Key Beach, which offers powdery-white sand and clear waters.

7. Downtown Historic District - We don't often make it downtown, although always thank ourselves for making the effort when we do.  Each corner is alive with art, culture, and passion.  You can't help but stroll around with a smile on your face as you consume all of the colors, positive vibes, and quaint store fronts.  Additionally, the cinema with the cheapest tickets in town is located here, so this is the place to go to catch that new flick you've been dying to see.     

8. Sarasota Jungle Gardens - Are you an animal-lover?  If so, than this is the place for you!  You can hand-feed flamingos that elegantly stroll around the gardens.  Unexpectedly, they don't sound as pretty as they look - they honk like pigs!  Feeling bold?  You might have the opportunity to hold a snake, lizard, baby alligator, or a bird.  Some of the most colorful parrots and macaws I have ever seen reside here.  The entry fee can add up if you have a large family or group of people, so utilize their great teacher and student discounts!

Sarasota Jungle Gardens - Captured by Maree's Mum

9. Sarasota Bayfront and Bayfront Park - If you are heading downtown, to Lido Key, or to the Jungle Gardens, you must stop by this stunning location.  We love to take a break and hang out here.  Take a walk around the park, sit on a wooden swing and listen to the water peacefully lapping on the rocks, have a drink at O'Leary's Tiki Bar & Grill, and take a picture with your sweetheart in front of the "Unconditional Surrender" statue, also known as the "Kissing Statue". 😘

   

10. Ringling Museum of Art, Ringling Circus Museum, and the Ca'd'Zan - The Ringling Museum of the American Circus was the first to document the history of this form of entertainment.  Sarasota was where the circus members stayed during the Winter months.  Learn about the history of the Circus and explore the endless costumes and memorabilia.  Nearby sits the grand Ca'd'Zan mansion.  Take a tour of the inside, or simply wander around the outside to admire the intricate designs and size of this place.  Insider secret: Greg proposed to me at this place!  

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Did I say 10? Whoops! Here is a bonus:

11. Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium - Struck a rainy day? Not to fear, the aquarium is here!  Mote Marine is a not-for-profit, marine research organization that helps to protect our oceans and conducts ongoing wildlife conservation and research programs.  Meet the vast array of marine life, including huge sea turtles and manatees! 

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A Sarasota Sunset - Image Captured by Maree Richardson

So, there you have it.  The "inside scoop" to Sarasota.  Whether you're here for one day, one week, or one year, I hope you enjoy your time exploring this inspirational place.


Have a great week!


Maree

Trick #1: Rent your Spare Room

Hi folks,

Do you love to travel but don't have the money? Do you have a spare room in your house? If your answer is yes, then read on!

In a previous post I shared my top 10 "tricks" for pursuing a work and travel life. Today, I am going to explore one of those "tricks" in more detail: Rent Your Spare Room.

One of our New Years resolutions was to become Airbnb hosts. My husband and I pondered this thought for months, unsure whether it was the "right thing" for us. However, here we are, 6 months of hosting later, and loving it! 

There are many people like you who are thinking about becoming Airbnb hosts, however are unsure when to/if you should "take the plunge". From our experience, here is what you need to know:

How?

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3!  

1. Clean your spare room. Keep the big things (e.g., furniture, etc); relocate/discard the small things (e.g., knick-knacks, personal items, etc). 

2. Update your spare room. Think about what vibe, what atmosphere, you want your guests to experience. Be inspired from where you live. For example, we live 10 minutes from the beach, so our guest room is decked out with yellow/blue/white hues, seashells, beach towels, and ocean artwork.

3. List away! Yes, you are ready to create your listing! Go to the Airbnb website. Click on the Become a Host tab and then click on Host a Home from the drop-down menu. Click the red box Get Started and follow the prompts.

• Quick Tip! As well as supplying nice bed linen and bath towels/washers, it is polite to supply toiletries for your guest to use such as shampoo and soap. Your weary travelers will thank you! We also supply tea/coffee (and sometimes baked goods) for breakfast, and leave a jar of chocolates in the guest room as a sweet treat. First impressions last, right?! 😉 

Hanging out with some of our lovely Airbnb guests.

Benefits:      

• Meet interesting people from all over the world! Many of our guests have been fellow-minded travelers, visitors, vacationers, and professionals. We have hosted guests from Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Italy, France, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, and New Zealand, not to mention many guests from different states within the U.S.A. 
• Try new foods! With some long-term guests, we have shared stories over a home-made meal or two, made by us or our guests who have wanted to share a piece of their home state/country. 
• Learn new languages! After hosting multiple international guests, we have learned some new words and phrases. We now know how to say "thank you" in Russian!
• Earn extra cash to fuel your passions! The money you receive enables you to save money for that dream trip, to put towards home maintenance projects, or whatever your passion may be. 
• Play with pets! We allow pets, and have loved getting to meet some furry friends that our guests have brought with them.   
• Bonding experience! Clean the guest room/space with your spouse or friend.

Challenges:

• Presenting with a friendly, flexible, and approachable demeanor. This comes naturally for us, however for others it may not.   
• Being comfortable with unfamiliar people in your home. To be honest, we genuinely miss having some of our long-term guests in our home. They felt like family! 

Still unsure? 

• Work full-time? Don't have time? Not a problem! You can choose how often you want guests. We both work other full-time jobs, and I have a long commute to work each day, so we chose to have a day/night in between guests which allows us plenty of time to clean and prepare. We actually enjoy the "break" away from our professional jobs.
• What if a guest damages my property? Fortunately, you are covered for up to $1,000,000 with the Airbnb Host Guarantee to protect your home and belongings. 
• What if a guest hurts themselves on my property? Airbnb has Host Protection Insurance to protect you from liability. 
• I don't want sketchy people! Guest and host information is verified, including government photo I.D., phone numbers, and email. 
• What if a guest is disrespectful and disobeys my house rules? Both guest and host write a review at the end of their stay, so it is in everyone's best interest to be mutually respectful and obey the rules.
• I don't want guests in my house during the week I am away. You can block out dates on your calendar when you don't want guests.  

"Welcome to [our] house" ~ Flo Rida 

Further questions? Don't hesitate to ask! 

I would love to hear from you all about your Airbnb experiences, as guest or host.

Cheers!

Maree