Taylor's Sarasota Guidebook

Taylor
Taylor's Sarasota Guidebook

Sightseeing

Cá d’Zan (John Ringling’s winter home), the circus museum, and an art museum are excellent and worth a visit. Reservations recommended for the on-site restaurant.
540 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Iziko lezobuciko zeJohn neMable Ringling
5401 Bay Shore Rd
540 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cá d’Zan (John Ringling’s winter home), the circus museum, and an art museum are excellent and worth a visit. Reservations recommended for the on-site restaurant.
433 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Iziko lezithole ze-Marie Selby Botanical
1534 Mound St
433 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sarasota Art Museum
1001 S Tamiami Trail
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
532 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy
532 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni

Beaches

Lido Beach, the closest Gulf of Mexico beach to the Casita (11 min drive), has white sandy beaches, concessions with food and drinks, lifeguards, a pool, and live music (during peak hours). Lido Beach is within walking distance of St. Armand’s Circle, great for dining, shopping and ice cream.
442 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lido Key Beach
400 Benjamin Franklin Dr
442 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lido Beach, the closest Gulf of Mexico beach to the Casita (11 min drive), has white sandy beaches, concessions with food and drinks, lifeguards, a pool, and live music (during peak hours). Lido Beach is within walking distance of St. Armand’s Circle, great for dining, shopping and ice cream.
My favorite local beach. The southernmost point of Lido Key is where the Big Sarasota Pass, the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay converge. Just south, you can see Siesta Key and west: downtown Sarasota. This beach is a 15 min drive from the Casita. Has parking and restrooms but no concessions.
25 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
South Lido Key Beach Park on the Gulf
Benjamin Franklin Drive
25 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
My favorite local beach. The southernmost point of Lido Key is where the Big Sarasota Pass, the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay converge. Just south, you can see Siesta Key and west: downtown Sarasota. This beach is a 15 min drive from the Casita. Has parking and restrooms but no concessions.
Check out Siesta Village and Siesta Main Beach. If Main Beach is too busy, you can drive further south to Crescent Beach.
798 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Siesta Beach
798 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Check out Siesta Village and Siesta Main Beach. If Main Beach is too busy, you can drive further south to Crescent Beach.
The southernmost beach on charming Anna Maria Island.
118 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bradenton Beach
118 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The southernmost beach on charming Anna Maria Island.

Activities

24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cponies Beach Horseback Rides
8400 Manatee Ave W
24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sunset cruises and dolphin cruises. Embark from Marina Jack in downtown Sarasota.
37 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
LeBarge Tropical Cruises
2 Marina Plaza
37 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sunset cruises and dolphin cruises. Embark from Marina Jack in downtown Sarasota.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sarasota Boat Rental
2 Marina Plaza
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Dog-friendly brewery with a creative array of local drafts served from a rustic bar. Enjoy BBQ, live music and beer in their expansive shaded outdoor seating area with fire pit.
30 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Big Top Brewing Company
975 Cattlemen Rd
30 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Dog-friendly brewery with a creative array of local drafts served from a rustic bar. Enjoy BBQ, live music and beer in their expansive shaded outdoor seating area with fire pit.
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cruisin' Tikis Sarasota
920 Gulf Gate Dr
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Yoga on Lido at Sunset
232 Benjamin Franklin Dr
Lively and fun for all ages, this starts about an hour before sunset on Sundays at Siesta Key Main Beach.
62 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Siesta Key Drum Circle
948 Beach Rd
62 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lively and fun for all ages, this starts about an hour before sunset on Sundays at Siesta Key Main Beach.
29 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Siesta Key Rum
2212 Industrial Blvd
29 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Myakka Canopy Walkway and Observation Tower
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
91 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Oscar Scherer State Park
Oscar Scherer State Park
91 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni

Food scene

Famous and historic Spanish restaurant on St. Armand’s Circle. Food & Wine Magazine named their Cuban sandwich the “Best Sandwich in Florida.”
118 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Columbia Restaurant
411 St Armands Cir
118 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Famous and historic Spanish restaurant on St. Armand’s Circle. Food & Wine Magazine named their Cuban sandwich the “Best Sandwich in Florida.”
260 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Owens Fish Camp
516 Burns Ct
260 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Excellent French restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and baked goods
47 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
C'est La Vie
1553 Main St
47 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Excellent French restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and baked goods
36 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Caragiulo's Italian American
69 S Palm Ave
36 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
40 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Brick's Smoked Meats
1528 State St
40 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
El Melvin Cocina Mexicana
1355 Main St
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
31 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Anna Maria Oyster Bar Landside
6906 14th St W
31 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
150 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Walt's Fish Market Restaurant
4144 S Tamiami Trail
150 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
$5 burgers on Mondays. Voted Sarasota’s best burger.
29 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Patricks 1481
1481 Main St
29 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
$5 burgers on Mondays. Voted Sarasota’s best burger.
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Main Bar Sandwich Shop
1944 Main St
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
North Longboat Key
21 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Whitney's
6990 Gulf of Mexico Dr
21 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
North Longboat Key
37 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Baker & Wife
2157 Siesta Dr
37 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Greek restaurant on St. Armand’s Circle.
17 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Blu Kouzina
25 N Boulevard of the Presidents
17 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Greek restaurant on St. Armand’s Circle.
14 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Speaks Clam Bar - Seafood - St Armands
29 N Boulevard of the Presidents
14 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
49 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Veronicas Fish and Oyster bar
1830 S Osprey Ave
49 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
‘One of the most acclaimed chefs in the region, owner Steve Phelps earned a James Beard Foundation nomination for Best Chef, South, in 2014 and 2015, and was featured on CBS This Morning, where he discussed his use of ingredients native to the area.’ [Sarasota Herald Tribune]
80 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Indigenous Restaurant
239 S Links Ave
80 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
‘One of the most acclaimed chefs in the region, owner Steve Phelps earned a James Beard Foundation nomination for Best Chef, South, in 2014 and 2015, and was featured on CBS This Morning, where he discussed his use of ingredients native to the area.’ [Sarasota Herald Tribune]

Live music

Florida’s oldest tiki bar. Live music Friday and Saturday nights and drag bingo Sundays at 7:30. One mile north of the Casita.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bahi Hut Tiki Cocktail Lounge
4675 N Tamiami Trail
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Florida’s oldest tiki bar. Live music Friday and Saturday nights and drag bingo Sundays at 7:30. One mile north of the Casita.
Good food and drinks, reasonably priced and close to the Casita (0.5 miles south).
14 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Wicked Cantina Sarasota
1603 N Tamiami Trail
14 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Good food and drinks, reasonably priced and close to the Casita (0.5 miles south).
On Main St in downtown Sarasota. Great live music, craft cocktails and many beer options.
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cask and Ale
1548 Main Street
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
On Main St in downtown Sarasota. Great live music, craft cocktails and many beer options.
O’Leary’s is located at Sarasota’s Bayfront Park and offers views of the bay and city.
171 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Oleary's Tiki Bar & Grill
5 Bayfront Dr
171 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
O’Leary’s is located at Sarasota’s Bayfront Park and offers views of the bay and city.
96 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Gator Club
1490 Main St
96 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni

Waterfront dining

One of Sarasota’s primary meeting points for visitors and locals.
257 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
marina jacks
2 Marina Plaza
257 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
One of Sarasota’s primary meeting points for visitors and locals.
A Longboat Key classic with great seafood, nice atmosphere and lovely views of the Bay.
74 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Dry Dock Waterfront Grill
412 Gulf of Mexico Dr
74 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
A Longboat Key classic with great seafood, nice atmosphere and lovely views of the Bay.
While enjoying the gorgeous view from North Longboat Key, you may spot a dolphin or two.
65 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Shore Longboat Key
800 Broadway St
65 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
While enjoying the gorgeous view from North Longboat Key, you may spot a dolphin or two.
If you want to dine with your toes practically in the sand, this Anna Maria Island destination may be worth the 30+ minute drive from the casita.
24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Kokonut Hut
900 Gulf Dr N
24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
If you want to dine with your toes practically in the sand, this Anna Maria Island destination may be worth the 30+ minute drive from the casita.

Dog friendly

A short walk from the casita and a great place to walk your dog and enjoy the view of Sarasota Bay.
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Indian Beach Park
2703 Bay Shore Rd
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
A short walk from the casita and a great place to walk your dog and enjoy the view of Sarasota Bay.
Every Saturday from 7am to 1pm
136 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sarasota Farmers Market
North Lemon Avenue
136 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Every Saturday from 7am to 1pm
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sapphire Shores Park
5015 Sun Cir
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ken Thompson Park
1700 Ken Thompson Pkwy
Award-winning brewery with indoor and outdoor seating, live music, various food options, Sunday brunch, events and very dog-friendly inside and out. Local and imported beers as well as a full bar with liquor and wine. Located in Bradenton about 20 minutes drive north of the casita.
80 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Motorworks Brewing
1014 9th St W
80 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Award-winning brewery with indoor and outdoor seating, live music, various food options, Sunday brunch, events and very dog-friendly inside and out. Local and imported beers as well as a full bar with liquor and wine. Located in Bradenton about 20 minutes drive north of the casita.