A wonderful one week vacation in 1979 turned into 29 years and counting for the Campbells.

They purchased a condo at Casa del Mar in 1981. Ray and Barbara are from Illinois so you can imagine how they love their fall and winter get-aways to Casa del Mar. With golf clubs and their three children, Karen, Scott and Jill, the family would come to Longboat Key over the years. Joined by extended family and friends, they enjoy the beautiful resort and all the area has to offer.

Ray passed away in 2003 and with friends and family aboard a chartered sailboat; his ashes were spread in the Gulf of Mexico during Thanksgiving Week of 2004. It was this very special day that began a wonderful annual Thanksgiving reunion for the Campbells. Son Scotty with wide Dawnie and children, Emily and Kyle come from California. Daughter Karen with husband Gary and their two children; Maggie with husband Chuck and Nick arrive from St. Charles, and daughter Jill with her new husband Geoff come from Illinois as well. Jill and Geoff were just married in July on the beautiful beach of Casa del Mar.

Then, the rest of the Clan starts to show up. Barbara’s sister, Georgeann with husband John from Phoenix. The Campbell cousins, Ed and Chris from Hickory, NC arrive. Their two sons Ryan and Josh come from Atlanta with wives Amanda and Shelby. Ryan and Amanda got engaged here during Thanksgiving 2007 and introduced their new baby daughter, Liv to all of us this year.

For 2010, add another 5 Campbell cousins from Virgina and the Carolinas and you can see how this beautiful stretch of beach has touched so many lives.

The local residents can tell when we arrive – two kayaks constantly out on dolphin patrol, lots of Corn Hole, horseshoes, bocce ball and fishing. These activities keep us busy during the day and then, card games, Euchre and “tease Your Neighbor” are our favorite evening activity. And if we are not having a large cookout here at Casa del Mar, then you can find us enjoying local cuisine at the Salty Dog or Cha-cha Coconuts.

John and Jo from Waterloo, Ontario drive down to Casa del Mar on Longboat Key each year. This makes year 25 !

As usual, they are here with their Ski Club friends and any number of their three boys/ seven grandchildren. John is a retired dentist and Jo worked as his Office Manager, in addition to caring for the family.
Here for a month each year, their retirement routine is to get up early, go for the New York Times, take a long morning walk… maybe play a little tennis (doubles), and by afternoon, sit in on duplicate bridge with the Bradenton Bridge Club. The club welcomes them back every year with great fanfare! John celebrates his birthday here, including the seventy-fifth, a couple years back. Sometimes, the entire family flies in; sometimes, this year they bought five pounds of fresh caught stone crab claws and will have potluck and cake with their Ontario friends.

A month in Florida affords them the pleasure of eating lots of fresh fish! One year, they chartered a fishing guide who took them to all the best spots. Anchoring just off the beach, they caught 42 Spanish Mackerel, and cooked and ate them all! Another memorable sea adventure: Jo ordered a huge honey baked ham and potato salad for a family picnic. The next day was a fishing expedition. Jo made ham sandwiches to go, which were devoured so early, that by mid-day they had to anchor at Mar Vista and order “lunch”. The sea-air effect!

Jo and John love many things about their “Casa del Mar time”. Number one is breakfast on the patio watching dolphin turn cartwheels or seeing the fishermen set their crabtraps . They both agree that the shelling in our waters is amazing! Two eleven year old grandboys just found rare sea treasures while swimming with masks - sand dollars!
John ordered a tennis ball-toss machine on Ebay…and now sets up tennis clinic on our courts for the grandboys! They all like to go to the cheap movies! And eat out at Dry Dock and Lazy Lobster, Mar Vista and Bonefish. The days are full.

A highlight this year was the guided kayak trip arranged through the Mote Marine Aquarium. Many friends joined the marine “field trip” through the mangrove tunnels.
And like all the Canadians who visit us, they take particular pleasure in the shopping; lots of bargains to be had this side of the border! Jo and John tell me a “must” is the early Saturday morning Farmers Market in Sarasota. It’s prime dog watching in addition to the fresh strawberries!

We look forward to seeing John, Jo, family and friends for many years to come!

Tom and Louise from Ontario, Canada

with family and friends have been visiting Casa del Mar every November for the past 29 years. They enjoy the quiet of the pre-holiday off-season. The weather up north has just turned dreary, and it is still too early for their other passion: downhill skiing. And so, they come to Florida for 3-4 weeks.
Casa del Mar caught their attention decades ago. They had visited many other area beaches…but Casa del Mar won their hearts when they saw how very close to the Gulf the accommodations are situated. About 75 steps from the patio to the high tide line!

The Laileys have four children and 12 grandchildren, ages 12 to 30. Casa del Mar on Longboat Key beach is a traditional rendezvous spot for daughter Connie, husband Peter, grandson David; son Jim and his family; and daughter Martha and her family. Beachtime is a great way to see grandchildren. In addition to swimming each day, they play tennis, they shop, (more rather than less when exchange rate is favorable)…they bike. Outdoor dining, at island favorites Mar Vista and Dry Dock, is a warm weather indulgence.

The group of friends who join them here are all members of a Ski Club in Ontario. In the winter, they ski from the chalets they all own on the same mountain. They have their favorite units at Casa del Mar which they reserve every year. Most favor the ground floor gulf front so they can step out the door to the beach. Mr. Lailey now retired , spent 25 year co-chairing a securities and brokerage firm. He just turned 80; all that exercise clearly agrees with him!

After all these years watching gulf sunsets from a front row seat at Casa del Mar , they can now say they have seen the illusive “green flash”! This year, last week…the neon green mirage jumped into view as they watched the sun slip into the sea. Or was it the cocktail…we’ll never know!