We loved our October stay! Being a corner condo, there is an extensive view of the beautiful blue-green water and white sand of the gulf! The water was warm and clean. The air temperatures were summer-like in the mid 80s. Since it was off season there were no crowds. A helpful beach hint - there is a beach closet associated with the condo which has beach umbrellas, chairs, floats and toys etc. but hard to find. It is door number 2 located outside on ground level, behind the spiral staircase leading from the condo. The house key opens the closet. The lounge chairs provided for the whole condo complex have to be pulled out and back from the beach by you each day if you want to use them. Things to do- Really enjoyed our "Salty Dolphin" tour. The operator, Chris, was so passionate and knowledgeable! We also did a 2 1/1 hour sailboat ride which was lovely. The public Manatee Beach was fun with live music every night until sunset when they closed the lights for the turtle season. The nearby Gulf Drive Cafe about a 1/2 mile south from the condo was very good. They have breakfast, a nice bar and dinner too. If you want to, you can walk to it on the beach from the condo. It wasn't as crowded as some of the other restaurants like The Sandbar or Waterfront The Feast restaurant was disappointing. We visited Sarasota, about a 20 minute ride south. In Sarasota we went to the Selby Botanical Gardens which was spectacular and the Ringling Circus Museum which was also amazing. The Ringling Museum also has as a very large art museum on the grounds if you like looking at art. Very nice day in Sarasota!
A great vacation. Hope to go back next year!