My Secret Park

About five minutes from my house is a little mostly unknown park.

It's not on any map I know of and you can only find it if

a local tells you about it or

if you get lost like Mom did ;P

It's located in the museum district.

I don't know why they call it a district,

there's only one museum there.

It's the John and Mable Ringling Museum

Sarasota was the winter home for the Ringling Circus.

Mom thinks it's one of the best museums she's been to

except the Louve of course ;)

Perhaps I can convince Mom to take another tour of the Ringling Museum

some time. Unfortunately they don't let doggies in so I wouldn't be able to 

accompany her. She could share some photos though of the Circus section, 

The Ca' d'Zan Mansion (lots of gilded stuff inside), 

and of course the Museum of Art in which every room has

a theme and is painted a different color.

I'll work on that for y'all ;D

But this is not about the museum, it's about MY secret waterpark :)

This is one of my favorite places to go!

When we first arrive, it's right to the water :)

Then we go on our walkie.

Sometimes we go on the park trails.

And other times we go down the neighborhood streets.

Like today...

All the houses are custom built so you get to see

lots of different architectural styles.

The one above is a Key West design.

This one is probably Mom's favorite.

  Mediterranean with a Tuscan flare...

When they have the front doors open, you can see through

to the bay on the other side :)

If you biggify, you can barely make out the sailboats in the water.

This one is a more modern style...

And this one is (I am certain) Frankie's seasonal

Mayoral Estate...

One of the reasons we went to my secret park today was to try out

my new Ruff Wear Portage Float Coat that just came in from REI.

Because I don't have webbed feet, I tend to be a bit timid in deeper water.

I try to stick to the shallower areas where I can at least bounce off the bottom ;)

So, my pawrents got this for me to build my swimming confidence.

Here's me modeling my new float coat...

Okay enough with the modeling. Let me in the water it's hot out here!

Hey, this isn't too bad. 

I don't have to paddle so hard to keep my head out of the water!

I'm thinking this new jacket just might be the ticket!

Mom says we're going to practice a few more times here.

And then we'll graduate to the pool.

She's hoping I'll like playing in the pool more with my floaty on :)

Time will tell...

Waggin at ya from my secret park,

Roo