Sarasota Area Favorite Places

Shannon
Sarasota Area Favorite Places

Beaches

America’s number 1 beach known for its beautiful white sand, is a short 4.1 miles away and takes only 10 minutes to get to the main beach pavilion. There is a drum circle Sunday nights at sunset and yoga on the beach for those interested and a great playground for kids. ADDRESS: 948 Beach Road Sarasota, FL 34242 PHONE: (941) 861-5000
798 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Siesta Beach
798 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
America’s number 1 beach known for its beautiful white sand, is a short 4.1 miles away and takes only 10 minutes to get to the main beach pavilion. There is a drum circle Sunday nights at sunset and yoga on the beach for those interested and a great playground for kids. ADDRESS: 948 Beach Road Sarasota, FL 34242 PHONE: (941) 861-5000
Not as well known as Siesta, but this is actually our favorite beach as it’s more natural and rustic and you can get there in 20 minutes. Lido is never as busy and it has beautiful nature trails and so many shells to find! All of the shells in our house are Lido Beach finds, and if you are visiting with kiddos they will love to go on a shell search. If you visit the main beach pavilion the food is actually pretty great and there is a bar for fun beach drinks, as well as lifeguards on duty. ADDRESS: 400 Ben Franklin Dr Sarasota, FL 34236 PHONE: (941) 263-6386
Lido Beach Restaurant
400 Benjamin Franklin Dr
Not as well known as Siesta, but this is actually our favorite beach as it’s more natural and rustic and you can get there in 20 minutes. Lido is never as busy and it has beautiful nature trails and so many shells to find! All of the shells in our house are Lido Beach finds, and if you are visiting with kiddos they will love to go on a shell search. If you visit the main beach pavilion the food is actually pretty great and there is a bar for fun beach drinks, as well as lifeguards on duty. ADDRESS: 400 Ben Franklin Dr Sarasota, FL 34236 PHONE: (941) 263-6386
Not as well known as Siesta, but this is actually our favorite beach as it’s more natural and rustic and you can get there in 20 minutes. Lido is never as busy and it has beautiful nature trails and so many shells to find! All of the shells in our house are Lido Beach finds, and if you are visiting with kiddos they will love to go on a shell search. Park all the way down on the end at South Lido Beach and there are picnic tables, a playground, boat and kayak launches, and a nature trail along with tons of parking. ADDRESS: 190 Taft Drive Sarasota / Lido Key, FL 34236 PHONE: (941) 861-5000
25 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
South Lido Key Beach Park on the Gulf
Benjamin Franklin Drive
25 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Not as well known as Siesta, but this is actually our favorite beach as it’s more natural and rustic and you can get there in 20 minutes. Lido is never as busy and it has beautiful nature trails and so many shells to find! All of the shells in our house are Lido Beach finds, and if you are visiting with kiddos they will love to go on a shell search. Park all the way down on the end at South Lido Beach and there are picnic tables, a playground, boat and kayak launches, and a nature trail along with tons of parking. ADDRESS: 190 Taft Drive Sarasota / Lido Key, FL 34236 PHONE: (941) 861-5000
This beach is a local favorite and is only 15 minutes away! It’s a great place to go to avoid crowds and enjoy old Florida charm and natural beauty. ADDRESS: 8918 Midnight Pass Road Sarasota, FL 34242 PHONE: (941) 861-5000
91 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Turtle Beach
91 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
This beach is a local favorite and is only 15 minutes away! It’s a great place to go to avoid crowds and enjoy old Florida charm and natural beauty. ADDRESS: 8918 Midnight Pass Road Sarasota, FL 34242 PHONE: (941) 861-5000
This is another of our favorite beaches around. It’s on the southern end of Anna Maria island and definitely worth the trip! ADDRESS: 2650 Gulf Drive Bradenton Beach, FL 34217
Coquina Beach Gulfside North Pavillion
1438 Gulf Dr S
This is another of our favorite beaches around. It’s on the southern end of Anna Maria island and definitely worth the trip! ADDRESS: 2650 Gulf Drive Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

Sightseeing

Anna Maria Island has that old Florida charm that reminds us of Key West! Much like Siesta Key, there is a wonderful downtown area filled with shops and restaurants that your family can make a day out of enjoying! Anna Maria also offers several beaches so you can spend days visiting everything the Island has to offer!
374 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Anna Maria Island Chamber
5313 Gulf Dr
374 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Anna Maria Island has that old Florida charm that reminds us of Key West! Much like Siesta Key, there is a wonderful downtown area filled with shops and restaurants that your family can make a day out of enjoying! Anna Maria also offers several beaches so you can spend days visiting everything the Island has to offer!
Located on Lido Key, Saint Armands offers great dining and shopping options. The stores range from kitschy to upscale so it’s fun to pop in and look around no matter your style. Our favorite food spots on Saint Armands are Kilwins for fudge and Icecream and Shore Diner for unbelievably delicious food.
297 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Saint Armands Circle
Saint Armands Circle
297 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Located on Lido Key, Saint Armands offers great dining and shopping options. The stores range from kitschy to upscale so it’s fun to pop in and look around no matter your style. Our favorite food spots on Saint Armands are Kilwins for fudge and Icecream and Shore Diner for unbelievably delicious food.

Food scene

Delicious and a good cause! Try their ice cream cookie sandwiches, so good! And they have vegan ice cream options too. ADDRESS: 1534 State Street Sarasota, Florida 34236 PHONE: 941-217-6449
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Rise Coffee Co. & Nye's Cream Sandwiches
1534 State St
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Delicious and a good cause! Try their ice cream cookie sandwiches, so good! And they have vegan ice cream options too. ADDRESS: 1534 State Street Sarasota, Florida 34236 PHONE: 941-217-6449
Seafood at its best. Their sustainable fishing practices and unexpected food combinations make this one of the best restaurants in the area. You won’t be disappointed, try something you otherwise wouldn’t think to, and wait for it to blow you away. ADDRESS: 239 S Links Ave Sarasota, FL 34236 PHONE: (941) 706-4740
80 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Indigenous Restaurant
239 S Links Ave
80 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Seafood at its best. Their sustainable fishing practices and unexpected food combinations make this one of the best restaurants in the area. You won’t be disappointed, try something you otherwise wouldn’t think to, and wait for it to blow you away. ADDRESS: 239 S Links Ave Sarasota, FL 34236 PHONE: (941) 706-4740
Authentic French baked goods at their finest. Try their almond croissant, a favorite of ours for years. ADDRESS: 1553 Main Street Sarasota, FL 34236 PHONE: 941-906-9575
47 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
C'est La Vie
1553 Main St
47 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Authentic French baked goods at their finest. Try their almond croissant, a favorite of ours for years. ADDRESS: 1553 Main Street Sarasota, FL 34236 PHONE: 941-906-9575
Want beautiful bay views and a fresh breeze while you sip on a frozen drink and eat delicious food? This is the perfect spot for you. WEBSITE: https://theoldsaltydog.com ADDRESS: 1601 Ken Thompson Pkwy Sarasota, FL 34236 PHONE: 941-388-4311
80 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Old Salty Dog City island
1601 Ken Thompson Pkwy
80 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Want beautiful bay views and a fresh breeze while you sip on a frozen drink and eat delicious food? This is the perfect spot for you. WEBSITE: https://theoldsaltydog.com ADDRESS: 1601 Ken Thompson Pkwy Sarasota, FL 34236 PHONE: 941-388-4311

Family Friendly Activities

This park has it all, a delicious cafe with amazing popsicles, a circus themed playground with a splash area, an ultimate frisbee course, tennis courts, and a huge walking/running trail that’s great for solo exercise time or for the whole family to enjoy together. Our kids beg us to take them multiple days a week, so if you are looking for a great place to get the kids some exercise and score major parent/grandparents points, look no further, this is it. ADDRESS: 2010 Adams Ln, Sarasota, FL 34237 PHONE: 941-263-6386
37 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Payne Park
2010 Adams Ln
37 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
This park has it all, a delicious cafe with amazing popsicles, a circus themed playground with a splash area, an ultimate frisbee course, tennis courts, and a huge walking/running trail that’s great for solo exercise time or for the whole family to enjoy together. Our kids beg us to take them multiple days a week, so if you are looking for a great place to get the kids some exercise and score major parent/grandparents points, look no further, this is it. ADDRESS: 2010 Adams Ln, Sarasota, FL 34237 PHONE: 941-263-6386
This could fit into family fun and the art scene in Sarasota. It’s a perfect piece of Sarasota history and includes the Museum of Art, Bayfront Gardens, Circus Museum, Ca’d’Zan, and The Historic Asolo Theatre. Monday admission is free and open to the public for the Bayfront Gardens and Ringling Museum of Art. A must see while you are in town, you won’t be disappointed. WEBSITE: https://www.ringling.org ADDRESS: 5401 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, FL 34243 PHONE: 941-359-5700 Open Daily 10am-5pm EST
540 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
5401 Bay Shore Rd
540 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
This could fit into family fun and the art scene in Sarasota. It’s a perfect piece of Sarasota history and includes the Museum of Art, Bayfront Gardens, Circus Museum, Ca’d’Zan, and The Historic Asolo Theatre. Monday admission is free and open to the public for the Bayfront Gardens and Ringling Museum of Art. A must see while you are in town, you won’t be disappointed. WEBSITE: https://www.ringling.org ADDRESS: 5401 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, FL 34243 PHONE: 941-359-5700 Open Daily 10am-5pm EST
This is our favorite place to visit and learn about the natural wonder of the oceans surrounding Florida. There is so much to take in and learn about that even our 3 year olds want to return again and again! There is also a beautiful park by the water you can walk around afterwards and we recommend grabbing lunch at the Old Salty Dog, just a 2 minute walk from Mote Marine, after a morning spent learning about wildlife. WEBSITE: https://mote.org ADDRESS: 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway Sarasota, FL 34236 PHONE: (941) 388-4441 Open daily 9:30am-5pm EST
532 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Laboratorio y Acuario Mote Marine
1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy
532 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
This is our favorite place to visit and learn about the natural wonder of the oceans surrounding Florida. There is so much to take in and learn about that even our 3 year olds want to return again and again! There is also a beautiful park by the water you can walk around afterwards and we recommend grabbing lunch at the Old Salty Dog, just a 2 minute walk from Mote Marine, after a morning spent learning about wildlife. WEBSITE: https://mote.org ADDRESS: 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway Sarasota, FL 34236 PHONE: (941) 388-4441 Open daily 9:30am-5pm EST