Bonnet House
Little do most beachgoers suspect what lies behind the fence and wall of greenery a few yards away. This 35-acre spread named after the Bonnet lily is a trip back in time to 1921, when artist and collector Frederic Clay Bartlett built a gracious two-story manse in a kind of Caribbean plantation style, filled with art and surrounded by lush tropical gardens, where he wintered with a first, then a second wife (the latter of whom, Evelyn, some of the friendly and talkative volunteer guides even met). The 1[bf]1/4-hour self-guided tour introduces visitors to quirky Floridians, whimsical artwork, lush grounds, and intriguing design. For history buffs, the $30 docent-led tour gives a more in-depth look at the stories of those who lived here. There’s also a $40 VIP tour, with access to normally closed areas, but that’s more than most visitors need, or enjoy, quite frankly.
Little do most beachgoers suspect what lies behind the fence and wall of greenery a few yards away. This 35-acre spread named after the Bonnet lily is a trip back in time to 1921, when artist and collector Frederic Clay Bartlett built a gracious two-story manse in a kind of Caribbean plantation style, filled with art and surrounded by lush tropical gardens, where he wintered with a first, then a second wife (the latter of whom, Evelyn, some of the friendly and talkative volunteer guides even met). The 1[bf]1/4-hour self-guided tour introduces visitors to quirky Floridians, whimsical artwork, lush grounds, and intriguing design. For history buffs, the $30 docent-led tour gives a more in-depth look at the stories of those who lived here. There’s also a $40 VIP tour, with access to normally closed areas, but that’s more than most visitors need, or enjoy, quite frankly.
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