Parks to Play In

Hike or Bike Through Rothenbach Park's Gorgeous Oak Hammock

A series of trails at the site of the former county landfill provides access to some of the nicest woodlands around.

11/01/2020 By John McCarthy

Parks to Play In

Enjoy Robinson Preserve, a Rare Coastal Habitat, by Boat or on Foot

This 62-acre preserve along the south shore of the Manatee River is a popular place to hike, kayak and paddleboard.

11/01/2020 By John McCarthy

'I Will Never Go Away'

Becky Ayech Fights for Old Miakka’s Rural Way of Life

For decades, Ayech has been battling government and developers over zoning issues, pollution and the need to protect the watershed.

11/01/2020 By Elizabeth Djinis

Food news

The Bijou Cafe Reopens Next Week

In addition to in-person service, the restaurant will be offering online ordering and curbside pickup options.

11/01/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Food news

New Mid-Sarasota Five-O Donut Co. Opens Saturday

Customers can snag one free doughnut at the shop's soft opening event.

11/01/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Rescue Mission

Wildlife Inc. Has Been Rescuing Wildlife Since 1988

In 2019, 3,000 rescues were performed, and about 80 percent of those were released into the wild.

11/01/2020 By Allison Forsyth

Flower Power

Our Intrinsic Love of Nature Is Trendy in Home Décor

Biophilia is a desire or tendency to commune with nature.

11/01/2020 By Megan McDonald

Parks to Play In

Hike—or Drive—to Emerson Point Preserve, a Native American Temple Mound

A highlight is the sandy shoreline at the westernmost tip, with Robinson Preserve and DeSoto Memorial across the river and Anna Maria Island and the Sunshine Skyway in the distance.

10/31/2020 By John McCarthy

Creative Spirits

Ki Woon Huh Is a Nature-Inspired Master Potter

“Florida is good for my art,” says Huh. “I find nature and make it into my style. Sometimes humorous. Always beautiful.”

10/31/2020 By Dan Harris

Time Machine

The Best Seasonal Cocktails Take You Down Memory Lane

“Nostalgia is amazing if you can portray that through a cocktail,” says Made beverage director Spencer Taliaferro.

10/31/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Exploring the Green Banana

Mote Scientists Dive Into the Green Banana, One of the World’s Deep Blue Holes

Shaped like an hourglass, the hole starts about 150 feet below the surface and goes down to a 425-foot depth. It had never been explored scientifically before this summer.

10/31/2020 By Susan Burns