We spent three days in WaterColors, Trent/Ginger and granddaughters moved here a month ago. It was nice spending time with the Haleigh and Emma, good sea food, white sand and bike riding. We then drove five hours to Cedar Key in the
elbow of Florida on the Gulf Coast. This is old Florida, or maybe a forgtten part of Florida. Population 1890 =3000 2011= 800.
The downtown is as it was rebuilt after the hurricane of 1895, except many of the store fronts are empty. The primary industry is clam farming $12 million per year. The atmosphere is relaxing, everything is within walking distance, and the clam chowder at Tony’s is the best I’ve ever had (2009 and 2010 National Champion).
The next evening we dinned at the Island Hotel and Restaurant (est 1895) and had four appetizers: Mushroom caps stuffed with crab meat, Cedar Key Steamed Clams, Heart of Palm Salad topped with homemade ice cream, and sauteed shrimp and artichoke harts. I don’t think we’ll be coming back to Cedar Key but tonight at dinner I realized that Cedar Key is to Florida as Florance is to Italy, it is as it was, not much has changed. I had hoped that we could find someplace that we could move to I could write and Nita and I could have a simpler life, Cedar Key is not our place.
Tags: Retirement Travel