Florida is famous for beaches, and the Sarasota area offers some of the best! Come see for yourself why Siesta Key, with its luminescent, powdery white sand, is consistently ranked one of the top beaches in the country. But, if the sand and surf isn’t your bag, there are plenty of other activities for all ages. You can stroll through museums, pet live flamingos, hunt for shark teeth, peruse the farmer's market, or take a dolphin tour. And there is always plenty of nightlife in downtown, so bring your dancing shoes!
Siesta Key Village
Why is Siesta Key Beach consistently rated as the best beach in the country? Is it the velvety white sand? Is it the charming “village” with live restaurants, homemade ice cream, shopping and pubs? Judge for yourself when you nest on the beach by day, then transition to live music and good eats after dark! Highly recommend Daiquiri Depot for their creative alcoholic and non-alcoholic yumminess!
Trip to Anna Maria Island
If you are a beach lover, you have probably heard about this delightful area…for good reason. Talk about beach vibes, this place is overflowing with chill and charm! The pedestrian area boasts plenty of restaurants and public beach access points.
We recommend The Beach House Restaurant patio for a table in the sand, excellent Clam Chowder and breath-taking sunsets!
The Beaches
This entire area boasts an endless strip of drive-able beach and bay options, starting with Anna Maria Island. Make plans to see all of them: Bradenton Beach, Longboat Key, Lido Key, Siesta Key, Bird Keys, Venice Beach and more! Expect to see amazing mansions, first class resorts and plenty of boats.
Downtown
The best view in the city is the 789 bridge over Sarasota Bay into Downtown Sarasota after dark. The city dazzles when it is lit up! Downtown landmarks include the famous WW2 tribute statue Unconditional Surrender statue, the Sarasota Farmers Market, and the beachside O’Leary’s Tiki Bar & Oyster Grill, with live entertainment, food and cocktails along the Gulf of Mexico. If you’re looking to hang loose, this is the place to be!
Dolphin Tour
Let’s face it, no trip to the area will be complete without a dolphin tour! Best of all, they offer two different timelines to serve you. The morning cruise wakes you up with coffee and donuts from a locally-operated restaurant, or you can toast the afternoon cruise with complimentary wine and beer! Locations in Siesta Key and Anna Maria Island.
Mote Marine Aquarium
Let Sarasota bring the ocean to you, with manatees, sharks, sea turtles, dolphins, otters and more. Enjoy touch pools, hands-on exhibits and explorations of science and conservation. And check out the Eco Boat Tours for $35!
St. Armands Circle
This area was purchased by John Ringling (as in The Ringling Circus) in the early 1900s, and it has blossomed into more than 130 unique boutiques, art galleries, cafes and restaurants. Enjoy homemade fudge and gelato, or grab a table at the Columbia Restaurant, which opened in 1905 and is famous for unique Spanish Cuban cuisine.
Myakka State Park
One of Florida’s largest and most established parks, with 60 miles of breath-taking nature: palm trees, live oaks, turtles, alligators, wildlife tours, kayaking and more. Birders will enjoy the bird-walk, and other options include horseback riding, camping, geo-seeking, and hiking. And how about that Elephant Ranch? The Myakka Outpost offers bike/canoe rentals, souvenirs, and more. Don’t miss the Pink Gator for house-made Seafood Gumbo and a Swamp Gator Sundae!
John & Mable Ringling Estate
When The King of Circus died of pneumonia at 70, he left his decadent Sarasota grounds to the citizens of Florida. His legend lives on through this 66 acre site, making it one of the top tourist draws for the area. Come see a series of attractions on the internally-inspired grounds: the circus museum, (official state) art museum of Florida, an active theatre and the showstopper for sure…their lavish Venice-inspired, historic mansion called Cà d'Zan.
Jungle Gardens
This family-focused paradise, which is home to more than 200 native and exotic animals, features educational and interactive components like a nature park, a zoo, and a jungle walk & petting area. The koi pond and flamingo encounter areas are always crowd pleasers, and scope out the multitude of animal shows that are scheduled throughout the day. The 10 acres of lush, tropical landscaping are home to birds of prey, parrots, primates, snakes, iguanas, alligators, crocodiles and more.
Downtown Venice
This quaint town is located about 30 minutes outside Downtown Sarasota, and it is worth the hype. Head to Centennial Park for lush green-space and a fun splash pad for the kiddos. Don’t miss the Farmer’s Market every Saturday! Venice Beach happens to be the Shark’s Tooth Capital of the World, so be on the lookout for the black fossilized shark’s teeth that frequently wash up along the shore.
Wherever you land in Sarasota, StayAWhileWithUs with us in our beautiful StayAWhile.
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