MNIL-ILNG-Retirees
Air/Army/Navy/Civ
Feb 15th, 2025
Sarasota, FL
UPDATE 2/14/25
Navigating to Good Food & Good Company!
Forecast: 87°F with a 10% chance of rain—so, basically, bring sunglasses but keep an eye on the sky.
Attire: T-shirts, shorts, and sandals are perfectly fine. No need for dress blues—unless you really want to make a statement!
Directions: Yes, Google Maps is actually telling the truth this time! You’ll be cruising down Cortez Rd., then turning south on 119th St W (bonus: there’s a traffic signal, so no need to play “Frogger” with traffic). Ride 119th all the way to the end, then swing a right into the parking lot—if it looks like a boatyard, congrats, you’re in the right place! Yes, there will be boats. No, you don’t need to enlist in the Coast Guard to park there.
Your GPS will lead you straight to the front door, but just in case—look toward the water. You’ll see two restaurants, and Swordfish Grill is on the right. USA Today recently named it one of the top 4 seafood restaurants in Florida—so if you’re bringing your appetite, you’re in the right place!
Oh, and about the sign? Yeah… didn’t see one. Maybe the last hurricane decided it needed a souvenir. Just head up the walkway with a slight incline, and our crew will be dockside, just past the hostess station.
Traffic Alert:Brace yourselves—Cortez Rd. will be packed because of the annual Cortez Fishing Village Seafood Festival this weekend. Great timing, right? But hey, that just means even more seafood in the air to whet your appetite!
See you all there! (And no, you’re not required to eat fish… but it’d be a shame not to.)
Location: 4628 119th St W, Cortez, FL 34215
Time: 1200 hrs (noon)
Click on image above to see menu
A big thank you to the General Manager for allowing us to reserve early, normally they don't allow reservations more than 29 days in advance!
Civilian Air Travel
The closest civilian airport is Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport, code is SRQ.
The next closest is Tampa International Airport, code is TPA.
Other airports are Punta Gorda, St. Pete-Clearwater , Fort Myers and Orlando.
Military Air Travel (Space - A)
MacDill AFB is the closest military air base.
The next closest is Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater.
Note: Space - A Travel is not as easy as it used to be and the number of flights are greatly reduced.
Hotels:
Exciting News—This Year's Gathering is Set!
At last year’s get-together, the group voted to hold this year’s event on February 15th—and we can’t wait to see you there!
Important Update: Due to lingering hurricane damage, some VRBOs and Airbnbs are still closed, which has driven up demand for hotel rooms—especially since it’s peak tourist season. To ensure you have the perfect place to stay, I recommend booking your accommodations through your favorite travel app.
For your convenience, I’ve included details about MacDill Inn below!
Boaters, Take Note! If you’re planning to arrive by boat, please be aware that the marina at MacDill AFB is still closed for repairs. However, the Swordfish Grill does offer a dock for lunch use—just keep in mind it’s not available for overnight stays.
We’re looking forward to another unforgettable gathering. Don’t forget to book soon, and let the countdown to February 15th begin!
MacDill Inn Lodging:
813.828.425
https://macdillfss.com/macdill-inn-lodging/
97637 Bayshore Blvd, Bldg #350 MacDill AFB, FL 33621
Down below you'll find a form to let me know you're coming and how many in your party so I can let the restaurant know - thank you!