I may be biased but I really think Sarasota is one of the most underrated cities in Florida. I mean sure, it’s generally overshadowed by the likes of Orlando, Miami or even Key West but if you’re looking for a more relaxed holiday, beautiful beaches and some amazing restaurants – you definitely need to consider visiting Sarasota.
Seeing as my aunt lives there, I’ve been my fair share of times and always love it. She lives right near St. Armand’s circle which is super convenient for eating, drinking or beach going.
If you’re looking for a relaxing holiday than you could of course spend more than 2 days in Sarasota. We typically find 2 days enough to see some of the main sights and getting some relaxation time in as well.
| What to do |
There are two things I’ll say about Sarasota, you should have a car at your disposal and you should situate yourself rather centrally. There are also two different areas that you can stay in: downtown or near St. Armand’s circle.
Lido Key Beach
Lido Key beach is known to be one of the nicest beaches in Florida. The beautiful fine sand stretches along the coast invitingly. It’s perfect for laying right on the sand because it’s so fine, although its whiteness will have you begging for sunscreen if you’re laying on it for too long.
You’ll often find a vendor or two on the beach that rent out umbrellas and beach chairs if you want, but they are pretty expensive. I would either bring your own or just suck it up. The sand is so fine and soft beneath you anyways, I definitely didn’t feel like I needed a beach chair to be comfortable.
St. Armand’s Circle
No visit to Sarasota is complete without visiting the infamous St. Armand’s circle. It gets its name from quite literally being a roundabout. It’s a bit of a nightmare to drive around but it’s really pleasant for walking! There are a number of cute boutique shops and good restaurants in the area.
One of my favourite places to eat is Crab & Fin. The tartare is amazing and the wine is delicious! If you find yourself on a budget, or even if you don’t, they had a really good happy hour that you should definitely take advantage of.
In fact, most of the restaurants have really good happy hour deals and you could probably get away with having an amazing (although slightly early) dinner at quite a reasonable price.
Downtown Sarasota
Over the bridge you’ll find downtown Sarasota, a great place to walk around but not doesn’t quite have the same beach-vibe that St. Armand’s has. You’ll find a few more restaurants and some great shops in the downtown area.
As Sarasota is quite known for its art and culture scene, a lot of it you’ll find in the downtown area. Even some of the home furnishing and kitchen stores were really unique!
There are some great restaurants located here as well so do a bit of research before heading into the area. We always rely on TripAdvisor to help us pick restaurants. It’s the safest way to make sure you’re going to get a great meal!
Go for a bike ride
If the rental or hotel you’re staying at has a bike available I would highly recommend going for a ride! The area is really easy to navigate and it’s a great way to see some of the epic homes in the area.
If you bike around the area near St. Armand’s circle, some of the homes you’ll are worth millions. And you can tell. My Aunt lives beside Mark Zuckerberg’s grandparents and right near the owner of the Tampa Bay Lighting. I mean common, you know what kind of money you’re going to get into with names like that!
The John Ringling Museum of Art
This is the one spot I haven’t visited yet but truly wish I have. The museum was built in the later 1920’s to honour the famous circus owners; John and Mable Ringling.
The architecture around the museum looks incredible. It really doesn’t look like anything else you’d find in Florida, almost as if you should be in Spain or perhaps Morocco.
| Where to eat |
There are so many great places to eat in Sarasota it’s really hard to just choose a couple but we’ll do our best! Most of our suggestions are located in St. Armand’s Circle because it’s close to where we stayed so easy to eat at. Plus, there are truly some of the best places to eat here anyways.
Shore Club | I’ve already talked about Crab and Fin so I won’t spend to much time on it here but this trendy bar is a hit among locals. The tartar is amazing and the truffle fries are to die for. There’s also a great wine list to try out as well!
Crab and Fin | On the finer dining side you have the Crab and Fin. With its white table cloth and upscale wine list, you’ll find this restaurant a good place for a romantic date. They too have a happy hour worth putting on your list!
Cha Cha Coconuts | If you’re looking for a cheaper place to grab a drink and perhaps some fried food then this is the spot you’ll want to hang out at. If you get a spot outside, it’s also perfect for people watching!
| Where to stay |
Now I’m super lucky because we stay at my Aunt’s place (which is epic) whenever we visit but there are tons of great options for you to stay at around the area.
Luxury: The Ritz Carlton Sarasota: How can you go wrong with the Ritz chain? This hotel is no exception. The rooms look incredible and super comfortable. Get an oceanview room, you won’t regret it.
Mid-range: Holiday Inn Sarasota-Lido Beach: We actually always pass this hotel when going to the beach and it looks really nice. Set right on the water, and literally steps from the beach you can’t go wrong with this place!
Budget: Embassy Suites Sarasota: While you won’t be right on the beach, you’ll be close enough to the Downtown core to do everything you want to! Plus, for the price you’re getting a great deal!
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Have we convinced you that Sarasota should make it to your Florida bucket list yet?
What a wonderful description of our home town , Sarasota is a fantastic place to live, so glad you enjoyed it.