Hotel Lifehacks

An efficient way to enjoy your stay is to use the motel as a very cheap base to explore the generally more expensive coast. The money saved from staying here is then used for that ‘special’ dinner in Venice town or a day trip to tiny exclusive Boca Grande. A useful local tip is to drive for Venice Beach (about 20 minutes north) which is ‘The Shark Tooth Capital of the World. ’ Hire a “Florida snow shovel,” screened basket on a handle, from the local surf shop, then sift the sand at the water’s edge you will almost certainly come away with some fossilized shark’s teeth, an unusual and free souvenir.

To really feel the locality one must visit West Dearborn Street on a Thursday morning between October and May when the Englewood Farmers Market runs. It is quite a lively and amicable market from where fresh local produces and artisan foods, and crafted items can be bought. Some good hacks would be to buy some fresh fruits there and some local pastries for your breakfast to take back to your room since there’s an in-room refrigerator.

To make for an experience of a lifetime, nature lovers should schedule a trip to Stump Pass Beach State Park, positioned at the very southern end of Manasota Key just a brief drive from the motel. The park furnishes a secluded beach, and tourists can walk along a 1.3 mile trail cutting through an undisturbed coastal habitat. The place serves as a consolidated review of birds and nice shells, while at the same time offering one of the few ‘undisturbed’ parts of Florida’s coast. The sunset views from the tip of the pass are just fantastic.

Appreciate the small things the motel and the region have to provide. There is nothing better than rounding off an evening with a swim in the motel’s very invigorating outdoor pool under the night sky. There’s a tiki bar restaurant on the water in Florida, for a laid-back, old-time Florida dining experience- like the White Elephant Pub in Englewood Beach. The best way to end your day is to enjoy a very basic meal of fresh fish with a cold drink as you watch the sun sink into the Gulf of Mexico. Nothing could be a better end to your day.