If you’ve got a trip coming up to the Sarasota, Florida, area, then you’ve got no shortage of fun things to do.
From 35 miles of coastline to art exhibits to a thriving restaurant scene, there’s something for everyone in Sarasota County.
Although Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit the Sarasota/Bradenton area hard, locals are working just as hard to recover (as of this writing, November 2024).
Just what is there to do for fun in Sarasota, Florida? We’re glad you asked as we’re locals! Here are our top picks. (A quick note: There’s the city of Sarasota, but there’s also Sarasota County, which includes the city of Sarasota, Venice, North Port, Englewood, and other areas. This article includes destinations within Sarasota County.)
St. Armands Circle
St. Armands Circle is Sarasota’s European-style shopping district, literally shaped like a circle with stores and restaurants extending around and near the circle. Come to St. Armands Circle for seafood, an Italian meal, unique gifts, or just to people-watch. There also are festivals held here throughout the year.
Sadly, St. Armands Circle was badly hit by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in Fall 2024, and a number of businesses are still recovering. Some may choose to close up shop entirely, or at least move away from flood-prone St. Armands Circle. Yet there’s definitely still a lot of life at the Circle, and we highly recommend visiting if you’re from out of town.
Insider’s tip: Columbia Restaurant is the oldest restaurant in Florida and has one of its locations at St. Armands Circle. The original location in Tampa opened in 1905. You’ll find yummy Cuban/Spanish food, but there will likely be a wait as well. Tommy Bahama is another good option; don’t miss Kilwins right next to Tommy Bahama for fudge or ice cream.
If you have your heart set on visiting a specific place in St. Armands Circle, check in advance that it has reopened post-hurricane.
Myakka River State Park
Did someone say alligators? As in, thousands of them? Myakka River State Park is the premier place in the Sarasota area to see lots and lots of alligators. At this massive park, you can hike, bird watch, climb to the top of the canopy walk, take a boat ride, camp, or browse in the gift shop. Don’t be surprised to see alligators just lounging around. On the main road through the park, there’s a bridge where people typically stop and gawk at the alligators in the river below. They may be still and sunning themselves. Or, they may be swimming with the current.
Don’t. Get. Close! We’ve seen people traverse close to the water to try and get pictures. Gators are actually shy and scared of humans unless they feel threatened. You don’t want one to pursue you out of fear.
With that PSA out of the way, we can say that Myakka River State Park is one of our favorite places in Sarasota and we strongly suggest a visit for the nature and photography lovers.
Insider’s tip: It’s always good to check their website or call in advance of your visit as the park is sometimes closed due to weather. Find out more scoop on Myakka River State Park in our stories here (an overview), here (about the canopy walkway), and here (where to take the best pictures at the park).
Farmers Markets
Florida is kind of funny….there’s a lot of agriculture here, but much of it is commercial farming. Because of this, there have been times that the farmers market community has not been as well-established. That’s not true about Sarasota. The Sarasota Farmer’s Market in downtown Sarasota has been around since 1979 and welcomes about 70 vendors each Saturday year-round. The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch has more than 100 vendors each Sunday and was voted the top farmers market in Florida in 2023.
If you can’t make it to those, then there are other farmers markets almost every day of the week, including the Englewood Market, Venice Market, the newer market in North Port, and others. Come by Fresh From Florida produce or enjoy prepared foods from one of our local vendors. You’ll find cute jewelry and art, too!
Insider’s tip: We always recommend arriving early for the markets when you can, so you can beat the heat and get a good parking space. Check in advance to find out market hours and days, as some are not open year-round. We give an overview of the Sarasota and Bradenton farmers’ markets here. The article was updated in October 2024.
The Beaches: Siesta Beach, Lido Beach, and Others
The Sarasota/Bradenton area is famous for its beaches, with white, soft sand and clear blue water. All of our beaches are pretty terrific, but you may want to try a few to see which ones you like best. Lido Key is convenient if you’re near St. Armands Circle. Siesta Beach is big and has the crowds to match–yet during a recent visit, we arrived early and had a great time taking in the pristine view and the colorful lifeguard stands. Venice Beach and Caspersen Beach are known for shark-tooth hunting, making them great for children (see below). If you don’t like crowds, go as early as you can. Definitely enjoy a beach sunset while you’re in town!
Insider’s tip: There’s a Drum Circle on Siesta Key on Sunday evenings starting an hour before sunset, if you want to see something different.
Searching for Sharks Teeth in Venice
Venice, Florida, is known as the Shark Tooth Capital of the World, thanks to the millions of shark teeth that have washed up there over time. Vsitors bring various sifting devices to find tiny, sharp specks of black or gray that could be shark teeth. (On Venice Beach Pier, you can rent a “Florida snow shovel” to make shark tooth hunting easier.) On Caspersen Beach just down the road from Venice Beach, you can find dedicated hunters early in the morning, eager to see what’s washed ashore overnight. Shark tooth hunting is a family-friendly and potentially free activity.
Insider’s tip: If you don’t have any luck finding sharks teeth (and you probably will get lucky, so don’t worry), head over to Sea Treasures and Pleasures in downtown Venice for a display of larger sharks teeth found over time.
We’ve written a lot about searching for shark teeth. You can check out these articles: Answers to Shark Tooth Hunting FAQs, 7 Ways to Search for Shark Teeth in Venice, and 9 Things to Do in Venice.
Visit The Ringling and Ca’ d’Zan
The beautiful Ringling property in Sarasota has a few things you’ll want to explore.The property was owned by circus magnate John Ringling and his wife Mable. With the couple’s interest in art, the Ringling estate went on to build a large art collection. Currently, the art museum houses an impressive collection of European art from Medieval times to the 19th century. There’s also a center for Asian art and a gallery for contemporary art. Then, there’s the Ringling Circus Museum, which pays tribute to the Sarasota area’s circus heritage. If you like scenic walks, enjoy walking around the grounds of the Ringling and meandering around Mable’s Rose Garden.
Your can’t-miss is Ca’ d’Zan, which means House of John. It was the 36,000-square-foot opulent and ornate home for John and Mable, and it’s impressive both on the inside and the out. It’s located right on Sarasota Bay, so you can take some spectacular shots of the home and also life on the water.
Insider’s tip: If you’d like to just enjoy walking around the grounds, admission is only $5 (versus $30 for an adult admission to the museums and grounds). You’ll want to choose the option for the Bayfront Gardens. General admission is less for Art After 5 on Thursday evenings.
Find out more about The Ringling here.
Enjoy a Meal in One of the Cute Neighborhoods
Sarasotans appreciate good food, and you’ve got more than your choice of places where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner. Here are a few neighborhoods to check out:
—Downtown Sarasota always has some tasty options, and you’ll get some feel of the nightlife if you visit for dinner. (Sarasota isn’t a big city, but the area has grown a lot in recent years. The same can be said for the nightlife there.)
—The Rosemary District has several locally famous restaurants and makes for a cute walk.
–The area around The Mall at UTC has both chain favorites and a few locally beloved places. This is a good area if you have a car and want more of a suburban feel.
—Lakewood Ranch is one of the fastest growing master-planned communities in the U.S. and has expanding options both in its Main Street shopping area and the newer Waterside Place.
Insider’s tips: You can’t beat the view from the rooftop bar at The Westin Sarasota. Also, we recommend Discover Sarasota trolley tours if you want more history and background on downtown, the area’s circus history, and many other aspects of Sarasota history and culture.
Some Final Thoughts
The Sarasota area has long been popular with “snowbirds,” or retirees who spend half of their time up North and the rest of the year down here. That continues to be true, but the area has attracted a broader mix of ages since the COVID pandemic. The downtown area has grown up a lot as well in the past few years, with more taller buildings.
It’s just something to keep in mind as you plan your visit.
We could suggest even more places to visit in Sarasota, and perhaps we will in a future article.
Let us know if you have any questions about our area!
