What makes Under the Palms particularly special are the hosts, Sylvia and Mike. I received an introductory text from Sylvia the day before my check in. That opened up the communication channel and eliminated thoughts like am I expected, will someone be there, are there going to be any surprises?. I was greeted upon arriving and asked what my interests are and was provided with guidance on places to go and things to see and do in the area tailored to my interests.
Under the Palms is handily located near Manasota Key know for it's beautiful beaches. A unique (to me) beach activity is the hunting and collecting of petrified shark's teeth. I particularly enjoyed going to Blind Pass Beach on Manasota Key where I was able to build my petrified shark tooth collection.
Under the Palms is also located within walking distance of the Dearborn historic district of Englewood. Here you will find various restaurants and cafes some with live music. On Thursdays there are 3 Farmer's Markets close to each other in the Dearborn Street district. I was able to leave my van at the Hipcamp site and walk to the markets avoiding the parking challenge. Best of all, Sylvia and Mike run a booth with breakfast and traditional German food specialties. Their booth is called "German Snack Bar". As you walk west on Dearborn Street they are in the second Farmer's Market on the right. I sampled a variety of things off of their menu. I enjoyed everything I had and it was apparent to me that they both pay p