I started going to Siesta Key in the 1970s with the McClure family – Phil and Marge owned a condo at the Jamaica Royale on Midnight Pass Road. Phil claimed to be one of the earliest settlers on the island, liking himself to the Mayflower party. Every 4th of July the entire family would make their way to Florida for a reunion. T-shirts would be printed with a McTheme, games organized, and tans compared. Non-family members would also join in the fun, adding their creative touches to the festivities. Wimbledon was on TV, powerboat races offshore, and the Summer Olympics were a factor every four years. Restaurants like Phillippi Creek, Hooter’s, Captain Kirk’s, and The Oyster Bar hosted our frequent dinners out. Big Olaf’s was the traditional ice cream stop. 

At that time, the Surf & Racquet Club (we called it the Sex and Racquet Club) was probably the tallest building on the island, located next door to our complex. Most all these places still exist today but the traffic has the island at a standstill and as a result we avoid going there. The white sand beaches keep Siesta Key highly ranked in even the worldwide popularity polls. 

I once envisioned Siesta Key as my retirement spot and consequently bought a condo at the Jamaica Royale, just down the row from Phil and Marge. As fortunes changed through the years, I find myself just 22-miles south, finally living that Florida dream. Coincidentally, it’s right between where my grandparents wintered in Englewood and the McClure settlement. Phil and Marge have since passed and we’re not right on the beach but close enough to get there when we want. My son is also nearby, settling in this area long before I ever did. As a result, any 4th of July family reunions remain in Florida.