Florida isn’t just sunny, says Dom Joly, it’s also home to the nicest people on the planet

By Dom Joly

Revealed: 14:16 EDT, 28 December 2013 | Up to date: 14:42 EDT, 28 December 2013

I hate Florida, or at the least I believed I did. I had travelled to the US many, many instances earlier than filming commitments took me to Miami for the primary time. It was love at first sight. Like a shocking cocktail, Miami was a mix of one of the best of American can-do tradition and Cuban/ Latino vitality, ever-present sunshine and Artwork Deco structure as well. However whereas Miami was critically cool, I nonetheless felt that I used to be proper about the remainder of Florida. To me it was an unlimited swamp populated by alligators, rednecks and the worst sort of British vacationers.

So I used to be greater than just a little nervous earlier than taking a flight to Orlando, a flight so filled with households that there was an additional half-hour’ boarding time so as to cope with the stroller-jam. I may really feel that this won’t be my sort of vacation – a half-term break with the youngsters to the Gulf Coast, whereas attempting to keep away from taking them to theme parks. And but… as we cruised in over Cape Canaveral, that excited feeling I get each time I go to America hit me once more. That is the marvel continent. I am by no means dismissive when folks spout the same old line about 70 per cent of Individuals not proudly owning a passport.

Why journey overseas when all of that is in your doorstep? I in all probability would not go overseas both. I may by no means be bored of America, and I made up my mind to offer the remainder of Florida a good crack of the whip. We picked up our SUV from the automobile rental place. As regular, this course of was as clean as most buyer relations issues within the States. A person simply checked out my coupon, waved me over to a row of automobiles and mentioned: ‘Take your choose.’ It was the polar reverse of the UK, the place it’s a must to produce 4 residing great-grandparents and move a psych check to hire a Reliant Robin. It was late and getting darkish. I roared out of Michael Mouse City as quick as doable, hoping that my daughter Parker and son Jackson would not discover the multitude of vibrant indicators inviting them to spend days in child heaven/mum or dad hell theme parks.

Previous-school allure: The pool space on the Mainsail Inn on Anna Maria Island

On our method to the town of Sarasota, we stopped at a fast-food joint referred to as D’Arbys. Again house, this is able to be a barely miserable, unhealthy expertise. Within the USA it is an unique, thrilling, unhealthy expertise. Quick meals by some means simply is smart in America. It is a part of the surroundings. We loaded up on roast beef sandwiches, curly fries and jalapeno poppers. ‘We love America,’ chanted the youngsters as they tackled sandwiches greater than their heads. I knew we have to be approaching Sarasota when the tattooed Brit pedestrians began to offer method for rotund Floridians in shorts, golf shirts and compulsory baseball caps.

Sarasota payments itself as a spot ‘the place city facilities meet small-town residing’. It is probably the worst slogan for a metropolis since Melbourne’s ‘A pleasant place to dwell’. Garbage as they’re, nevertheless, each slogans are appropriate. Sarasota is a superb place, with a sequence of keys stretching up the Gulf Coast reverse the town. We began on Siesta Key, an island that claims to have America’s No 1 seaside. That is fairly a declare, and I questioned what the {qualifications} have been. The sand was actually the best and whitest I’ve ever seen, however was it actually higher than Hawaii? We went for a stroll on the sand at daybreak the next day, and it was like stepping on to a velvet carpet. I used to be impressed, though maybe just a little underwhelmed, given the hype.

Store in fashion: Stylish St Armands Circle at Lido Key

We regarded out over the Gulf in direction of Mexico – fortunately there was no signal within the water of the hideous oil spill that threatened the vacationer business right here in 2010. I used to be relieved, as I believed there could be some residual anger on the BP Deepwater Horizon accident and, by proxy, at us. However anger, I quickly found, is an virtually unknown entity on these keys. I do know Individuals are habitually ‘good’, however the inhabitants of Sarasota and the encircling keys make Canadians appear to be hostile jerks . . . and so they’re the ‘nicest’ race on Earth.

It was virtually as if any person had dropped a contented tablet within the water. Not that there wasn’t so much to be blissful about. There’s the fixed solar, for starters – this isn’t a spot for rain-lovers, although there may be the occasional hurricane. We headed into central Sarasota to take a look round. It was nice, if just a little empty. On the lookout for some motion, we drove to St Armands Circle at Lido Key. This a part of city has that very uncommon factor in America – a roundabout.

The Circle is among the principal buying hubs of Sarasota and is a very fabulous place to wander about. The children went loopy within the multifarious ice-cream shops whereas I assuaged my chilli habit in Pepper Palace, a store that offers in each scorching sauce identified to man. I sampled the legendary Ghost Pepper, and slightly regretted it for the remainder of the day. Later, my spouse Stacey and I had ginormous, scrumptious, stone-baked pizzas in Venezia, an Italian restaurant run by Argentine-Italians. Utterly unsolicited, locals listening to our English accents would come up and advocate issues for us to do – kayak over to Midnight Move, strive the Ringling Museum, go to the Blue Dolphin for breakfast…

That night time I made a decision to spoil the household and we checked in for some severe luxurious on the Ritz-Carlton, whose principal profit, aside from astonishingly good service, is its luxurious seaside membership on Lido Key. It is a spot the place folks learn Self-importance Truthful, not for escapism, however to see what their buddies are as much as. I beloved it. The next day we drove north to Anna Maria Island, the place we met Captain Wayne for a fishing journey. Now I do know nothing about fishing and was fairly certain this is able to be a wasted morning away from solar and enjoyable. How unsuitable I used to be.

We reeled in so many groupers, mackerels and yellow jacks that it was as if a frogman have been putting them on our hooks. On the best way again to shore, we cruised alongside blissful pods of dolphins and noticed an unlimited eagle ray sunning itself on the floor. The children have been all beside themselves. Again on land, we drove to the north finish of Anna Maria Island. Right here, eventually, was ‘outdated’ Florida, stuffed with brightly painted seaside shacks. We hit the Sandbar, an area establishment, and scoffed plates of scrumptious meals seemingly ready for a household of giants.

Fittingly, I noticed a gentleman waddle previous on the seaside. He wore a T-shirt that learn ‘I am not fats, I am American’. I did not know whether or not to giggle or cry. We waddled again to the Mainsail Inn, our house for the following couple of days. We had a critically tasteful flat overlooking the gorgeous seaside. Stacey and I poured ourselves some wine and sat on the balcony watching the solar set. As the ultimate rays dappled on our faces, we noticed three dolphins frolicking within the sea about 100 yards away. A pelican swooped down for a closing fish supper. The solar disappeared, there was a momentary inexperienced flash, after which it was night time. It was time to sleep, to dream of island life, manatees, and margheritas… I like Florida. Did I say that already?