GL: any help /information.. Cruising Guides

[G Loupe]

First on the list is Claiborne Young's Cruising Guide to Western 
Florida (ISBN 1589805062 - not sure if current edition).  Here is the 
web page 
http://www.cruisingguide.com/cp/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=18. He 
covers the water from both sides (a boat or on land).  It is like the 
"old" AAA tour books but for cruisers.  He will discuss NAV with 
markers.  The marina detail will include depths (approach & dockside) 
and services and phone number.  He will list points of interest 
around Sarasota.  Each of his cruising guides are a must for anyone 
doing the coasts.

Very HIGH on my list is the Ringling mansion.  It is wonderful even 
if you are not into art collections.  It is a view of the early 
Florida resort world and the circus world.  My favorite anchorage on 
the west coast is Cayo Cost State Park but it has been "discovered" 
so it can be a bit crowed.  It is south of Boca Grand Pass at about 
day marker #72.  Cabbage Key is just south of there with it's dinning 
wallpaper of $1.00 bills.  Sometimes it can be a real challenge to 
get there (a rather small number of docks), but it is worth seeing.

The entire Claiborne Young series is on his web site.  The Young 
series are worth their weight in gold for my boat library.  Here is 
the home page in case you want to check for ICW problems which are 
also posted on the site http://www.cruisersnet.net/ Be sure to look 
around the site since there is lots of info for cruisers.

With children you might want to get A Gunkholer's Cruising Guide to 
Florida's West Coast by Tom Lenfestey because it will have more 
information about the sea life, birds, and area, to how to open a 
scallop or cook shrimp.  (ISBN-13:9780820001357).  Great Outdoors 
site says it is out of stock 
http://www.floridabooks.com/cgi-bin/categories.pl?boating I believe I 
found both books at West Marine.  I don't know if you might find a 
copy in your local library since it sounds like you live in the area.

Fair winds and big blocks... G

At 08:18 PM Wednesday 3/11/2009, you wrote:
>Hello, I'm taking my family and grandchildren  ( 9 of us)for a one week
>charter out of Sarasota on a 50ft Grand Banks,the week of April 14th. Our
>first night will be at Caladesi isle. and than I plan going south for 3  or 4
>days before heading back to home port... I would appreciate suggested
>anchorages,marina and places to "see".. This is my first charter on the west
>coast of Fl. (I have used a runabout in and around Sarasota bay, ..Any replies
>will be very much appreciated.   Thank You John Maier
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