Coastal Charm in Sarasota, Florida

• Soak up the sun on Lido Beach: The beach I grew up going to, Lido Beach is a hidden gem. There is a park at the north end of the beach that is public with public parking. Walk the shore line and take in the beautiful beach and let the soft waves wash over your toes. Depending on the time of year, you can go look for marked turtle nests or maybe even watch a turtle lay eggs! We have seen quite a few turtles lay eggs at night.

• Shopping at St. Armands Circle: One of my favorite places to shop and hang out, St Armands Circle is quite literally a circle full of boutiques, restaurants, salons and gift shops. With its open-air European-inspired setting, I recommend parking your vehicle and walking the entire thing. You won't be disappointed!

• Go shelling and snorkeling: Take a walk along Lido Key Beach and look for shells! Or grab a snorkel set and get to snorkeling! You have about two to three miles of beach to adventure down and find beautiful shells. When you get towards the pass at South Lido Key Beach, be sure to get your feet a little wet, right before the curve is where some of the best shells are found. The best time to do this is early morning before all the people get out and start doing the same thing. It’s also a great chance to watch the sunrise!

• Walking the John Ringling Causeway: The John Ringling Causeway connects Bird Key to the mainland. Roughly a 2-mile walk all around, you won't be disappointed by the views. On the Bird Key side, you will find Bird Key Park. On the mainland side, you will find Eloise Werlin Park and Hart’s Landing, a bait shop. If you're feeling really up for a walk, continue toward the marina and you’ll find Bayfront Park. About a 20-minute walk from the park. This is a great way to get some exercise while on vacation and it has amazing sunrise and sunset views.

• Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium: Mote Marine has a passion for marine research, rehabilitation and educating the public. Perfect for all ages. You’ll get to see marine life up close and personal. They have a few touch pools, one including sting-rays and sharks! You get to see inside some of their labs. Meet the various sea life they house, such as sea otters, sea horses, manatees and many more! You will also learn about what they do and how they work to protect marine life. It definitely isn't your average aquarium.

• Put your toes in Siesta Key sand: Ranked #1 Best US Beach 2024 by US News Travel. Siesta Key is home to beautiful soft white sand that feels like walking on a cloud. With a large parking area and concession stands at the public beach, you can easily plan a full day of fun at this beach. They have a volleyball net so you can play beach volleyball and a playground for the kids. Visit on a Sunday night and you will find yourself dancing along to the beat of the drum circle.

• Siesta Key Village: Down the road from the public Siesta Key Beach, the village is full of places to eat and shop! It's a neat little village that's worth exploring.

• Explore the Mangrove Tunnels in a kayak: For the past few years, we have gone on a guided kayak tour at Ted Sperling Park on Lido Key. It is amazing to see sea life up close and in the wild. While you're out in the bay, you could potentially see manatees or dolphins! And also have Cormorants, a black water bird, swim underneath your kayak as you paddle. They do this because they are catching fish you stir up, and they get super close to your kayak. Then you will venture through the mangroves and see the ecosystem that thrives in these tropical plants. Every guide is different, but they sure do a great job of making this a memorable experience.

• The Kissing Statue: The Unconditional Surrender statue, standing roughly 26-foot-high, stands tall at Marina Jacks. The statue is modeled after the famous photo that was taken in 1945 in Time Square at the end of WWII. Stop by and take your picture in front of this iconic statue

• Private sunset charter: Who doesn’t love a sunset? Experiencing a sunset from a charter is even better! Sit back and relax on the boat and enjoy the serene beauty of a Sarasota Sunset.

Day trips

• Venice Beach and Fishing Pier: Roughly an hour from Lido Beach, Venice Beach is the perfect location for a day trip. This beach is another gem of Florida's Gulf Coast. It is also famous for finding shark teeth! People go to Venice specifically to look for shark teeth. Go and spend a day relaxing in the sun, looking for shark teeth and cooling off in the ocean. Walk the pier, rent a pole & spend some time fishing off the pier. When you get hungry, eat at Sharky’s On the Pier and enjoy the stunning view of the gulf while you eat. End your day trip by watching the sunset over the gulf.

• Walt’s Fish Market Restaurant & Tiki Bar: My all-time favorite place to eat in Sarasota! The food is amazing, the service is good and the food is fresh (literally, right in front of you). No joke! It is literally a fish market inside of a restaurant. It is actually the only Sarasota market and restaurant! I suggest trying their calamari and captain's platter. You won’t be disappointed.

• Lido Key Tiki Bar: Located on Lido Beach in front of the Ritz-Carlton, this tiki bar is so much fun! Daiquiris, pina colada, cocktails and much more. This bar is a great place to visit, especially mid-day! Sip a refreshing drink, watch the waves and listen to music or watch TV!

• Captain Curt’s Crab and Oyster Bar: This restaurant has great food and a fun vibe to it. Believe it or not, people travel all over the world to this restaurant to have their clam chowder. We have been going here for as long as I can remember. This restaurant is family-friendly and casual. You are bound to enjoy your time here.

• Speak Clam Bar: I absolutely love the ambiance of this restaurant because I love history! Stepping into this restaurant, you are taken back to the prohibition era. Between the decor, setting and interior design, you will feel like you are taken back in time. The food was mouthwatering!

• Daiquiri Deck: Wall of frozen daiquiri’s? Absolutely! Have a great time here and enjoy the live music! Choose from various daiquiri options and chow down on great food. My go-to is their gator bites & a pitcher of frozen daiquiri! Not feeling that? It’s okay because they have a selection of other cocktails, wines, beer & more!

• Five-O Donuts: My guilty pleasure while I’m in Sarasota. I don’t eat donuts often, but I promise you these are the best donuts in town and are sooooo worth it! Melt in your mouth, have you drooling for more deliciousness! Especially their vanilla bean glazed croissant. Oh, they also have really good coffee and drinks! But they do not joke when they say “arrestingly good”

• Waterfront Dining at Marina Jack: The Marina Jack Dining Room, Marina Jack II, Blue Sunshine Patio Bar and Grill and The Deep Six Lounge and Piano Bar all sit in the same area but offer different types of dining. The dining room offers a more formal dining experience with a beautiful view of the bay. Marina Jack II is a buffet-style dining experience while cruising around the waterways of Sarasota. Blue Sunshine Patio offers an open-air dining experience with a family-friendly atmosphere. And The Deep Six Lounge offers a more casual setting while listening to live music. All great choices, and you can choose which one you would like to eat at based on your preferences.

• The Old Salty Dog: A classic, the Old Salty dog is a favorite of everyone who visits. With great food and a fun atmosphere, bring your pup and have a good time!

• Anna Marie Oyster Bar Landside: Just outside Sarasota in Bradenton sits this family-friendly restaurant. My great-grandmother’s birthday fell during when we would take our vacation to Sarasota. This was her restaurant of choice to celebrate at. They have delicious food and great service. I personally love their Gulf Grouper Sandwich.

• Crab and Fin: One of the many restaurants that sits in the St Armands circle, it has been there since before I can remember. Sit and enjoy the environment of the busy circle and fresh food. They even have live music sometimes! A visit you will remember, for sure.