The Florida Gulf Coast has been a favorite of mine since my college days, when I interned one summer at The St. Petersburg Times (now The Tampa Bay Times). In my free time, I explored the beach communities north and south of St. Pete, where I lived in a retirement hotel with my Irish-American grandmother (that’s another story…). The Bradenton beaches on Anna Maria Island were idyllic, with long stretches of blindingly white sand, clear blue water, and few crowds. While kayaking in the...
Artimus has a way of sneaking up behind you and poking you with his pointy nose to get your attention. That is not unusual behavior for a Shetland Sheepdog. What is surprising is when he greets you in a hotel lobby. Compass Hotel by Margaritaville on Anna Maria Sound in Bradenton isn’t your typical Florida hotel. It is part of a new brand of hotels associated with popular singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffet. Parrot Heads, as Buffet fans are affectionately known, will recognize its pet-friendly...
As a journalist, I’ve written about crime for newspapers, business deals for magazines, cruise ship ports for online travel publications and industry trends for websites. My focus now is exclusively on travel.