Guidebook for Sarasota
Food Scene
Owens Fish Camp is my favorite restaurant in Sarasota. The seafood is delicious, and the beautiful ambiance is "Old Florida Home". The inside is very cozy and there is an outdoor patio seating area with a barbecue area and live music. Unfortunately, there is always a very long waiting time, up to 1.75 hours (they don't take reservations). But, while you wait to be seated, you can sit outside where you can order drinks, seafood appetizers from the barbecue, and listen to live music. I highly recommend this place if you are in no rush, and want a fun dining experience. There is free street parking around the area.
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Owens Fish Camp
516 Burns CtOwens Fish Camp is my favorite restaurant in Sarasota. The seafood is delicious, and the beautiful ambiance is "Old Florida Home". The inside is very cozy and there is an outdoor patio seating area with a barbecue area and live music. Unfortunately, there is always a very long waiting time, up to 1.75 hours (they don't take reservations). But, while you wait to be seated, you can sit outside where you can order drinks, seafood appetizers from the barbecue, and listen to live music. I highly recommend this place if you are in no rush, and want a fun dining experience. There is free street parking around the area.
I recommend this low-key spot if you are enjoying your day on Lido Beach, and you're hungry, but you're not ready to leave the beach yet. Here you can eat lobster rolls on a picnic table right on the beach. This place is not a restaurant, it is an extremely casual concession-style food stand. It has a free parking lot. Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am- 5:00pm ; Sat-Sun 9:00am- 7:00pm.
Lido Beach Restaurant
400 Benjamin Franklin DrI recommend this low-key spot if you are enjoying your day on Lido Beach, and you're hungry, but you're not ready to leave the beach yet. Here you can eat lobster rolls on a picnic table right on the beach. This place is not a restaurant, it is an extremely casual concession-style food stand. It has a free parking lot. Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am- 5:00pm ; Sat-Sun 9:00am- 7:00pm.
This is a nice place for shopping and restaurants. It is on the way to Lido beach( 12 min walk or 3 min drive). Free street parking.
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Saint Armands Circle
Saint Armands CircleThis is a nice place for shopping and restaurants. It is on the way to Lido beach( 12 min walk or 3 min drive). Free street parking.
Entertainment & Activities
Every Sunday locals gather on Siesta beach to celebrate the sunset with drums and dancing. It starts around 5pm and ends around sunset. It's fun to just watch, but it's more fun to participate by dancing, or even bringing your own drum or maracas or tambourines.
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Siesta Key Drum Circle
948 Beach RdEvery Sunday locals gather on Siesta beach to celebrate the sunset with drums and dancing. It starts around 5pm and ends around sunset. It's fun to just watch, but it's more fun to participate by dancing, or even bringing your own drum or maracas or tambourines.
Downtown Sarasota if full of beautiful restaurants, cafes, and boutiques. Main Street is the center of the downtown area. There is two hour free street parking all over downtown. It is fun to walk around and explore.
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Main Street
Main StreetDowntown Sarasota if full of beautiful restaurants, cafes, and boutiques. Main Street is the center of the downtown area. There is two hour free street parking all over downtown. It is fun to walk around and explore.
This is a cool place because you'll have the very unique experience of seeing lions, tigers, ligers, bears, and other animals very up close. (20 min drive)
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Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary
7101 Palmer BlvdThis is a cool place because you'll have the very unique experience of seeing lions, tigers, ligers, bears, and other animals very up close. (20 min drive)
Parks & Nature
You must visit this stunningly beautiful beach while you are here! It is loved for its natural powdery white sand made out of quarts crystals. It has free parking lots.
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Siesta Beach
You must visit this stunningly beautiful beach while you are here! It is loved for its natural powdery white sand made out of quarts crystals. It has free parking lots.
This is the closest beach from The Sanctuary (14min drive). It is very beautiful and not as touristic as Siesta Beach. It has free parking lots and free street parking. It is very close to Saint Armand's Circle, where you will find nice restaurants and shops.
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Lido Key Beach
400 Benjamin Franklin DrThis is the closest beach from The Sanctuary (14min drive). It is very beautiful and not as touristic as Siesta Beach. It has free parking lots and free street parking. It is very close to Saint Armand's Circle, where you will find nice restaurants and shops.
Drinks & Nightlife
This very casual bar/seafood restaurant is on Siesta Key and is open until 2:00am on Fridays and Saturdays. The rest of the week it is open until 12:00am (which is late for Sarasota). They have indoor and outdoor seating areas. It's fun because they have live music, and you can bar hop to other lively restaurants/ bars on the same street. There are a few parking spaces on the property, but they are usually full. You will probably have to find street parking which is free. This area is very touristic, so it sometimes takes a while to find parking.
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Siesta Key Oyster Bar
5238 Ocean BlvdThis very casual bar/seafood restaurant is on Siesta Key and is open until 2:00am on Fridays and Saturdays. The rest of the week it is open until 12:00am (which is late for Sarasota). They have indoor and outdoor seating areas. It's fun because they have live music, and you can bar hop to other lively restaurants/ bars on the same street. There are a few parking spaces on the property, but they are usually full. You will probably have to find street parking which is free. This area is very touristic, so it sometimes takes a while to find parking.
This is a fun, laid back tiki bar right on the water at the marina. They have live music and good food. It's a perfect place to grab a drink and relax on beautiful day. Hours: Everyday 8:00am- 11:00pm. Free parking lot
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Oleary's Tiki Bar & Grill
5 Bayfront DrThis is a fun, laid back tiki bar right on the water at the marina. They have live music and good food. It's a perfect place to grab a drink and relax on beautiful day. Hours: Everyday 8:00am- 11:00pm. Free parking lot
Essentials
This is the closest grocery store to The Sanctuary (7min drive).
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Publix Super Market at Broadway Promenade
1044 N Tamiami TrailThis is the closest grocery store to The Sanctuary (7min drive).
This grocery store is in the heart of Downtown Sarasota (10 min drive)
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Whole Foods Market
1451 1st StThis grocery store is in the heart of Downtown Sarasota (10 min drive)
Wawa
3703 N Washington BlvdThis is the closest gas station to The Sanctuary (4min drive).
Arts & Culture
The Ringling preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling. It is home to the State Art Museum of Florida, the historic Ca' d'Zan Mansion, Bayfront Gardens, an Art Library, the Circus Museums and the Historic Asolo Theater. The grounds and gardens are free to visit, and the Museum of Art offers free admission on Mondays.
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The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
5401 Bay Shore RdThe Ringling preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling. It is home to the State Art Museum of Florida, the historic Ca' d'Zan Mansion, Bayfront Gardens, an Art Library, the Circus Museums and the Historic Asolo Theater. The grounds and gardens are free to visit, and the Museum of Art offers free admission on Mondays.