Sightseeing
great hiking, short and long nature trails, cycling, wildlife
382 locals recommend
Myakka River State Park
13208 State Rd 72great hiking, short and long nature trails, cycling, wildlife
Art museum only & museum grounds (rose garden, banyan trees, statuary, etc) Free on Mondays. Art after 5, Thursdays 5pm - 8pm, $10 adults, $5 children, includes Museum of Art, Circus Museum, events
540 locals recommend
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
5401 Bay Shore RdArt museum only & museum grounds (rose garden, banyan trees, statuary, etc) Free on Mondays. Art after 5, Thursdays 5pm - 8pm, $10 adults, $5 children, includes Museum of Art, Circus Museum, events
Essentials
Whole Foods Market
1451 1st Stgreat selection of fresh produce and organic staples
Large, all purpose grocery store, great prices, water machine - gallon bottles available for sale, water only $0.27 per gallon, Redbox kiosk for movie rentals
15 locals recommend
Walmart Neighborhood Market
3500 N Tamiami TrailLarge, all purpose grocery store, great prices, water machine - gallon bottles available for sale, water only $0.27 per gallon, Redbox kiosk for movie rentals
good small grocery store, selection of organic produce and dairy available (less than Whole Foods, but more than Walmart Neighborhood Market
40 locals recommend
Publix Super Market at Broadway Promenade
1044 N Tamiami Trailgood small grocery store, selection of organic produce and dairy available (less than Whole Foods, but more than Walmart Neighborhood Market
Food Scene
good cafe/coffee place - interesting characters. You can sit for hours without being rushed to leave
13 locals recommend
Pastry Art Bakery Cafe
1512 Main Stgood cafe/coffee place - interesting characters. You can sit for hours without being rushed to leave
a couple of miles from the studio - reasonable prices, good pizza, great garlic bread rolls
Cafe Amalfi
1880 Stickney Point Road a couple of miles from the studio - reasonable prices, good pizza, great garlic bread rolls
First Watch
1395 Main Stgood breakfast place, especially pancakes, downtown Sarasota
Chipotle Mexican Grill
1707 S Tamiami Traildecent mexican food according to friends
Pho Cali
1578 Main Stgood asian food according to friends
C'est La Vie
1553 Main Stgood croissants, coffee, light breakfast/lunch also available
La Mucca Ballerina
1668 Main Stgreat fresh sandwiches - small, family owned restaurant.
Very close to the studio. good coffee, decent prices. Upstairs there are comfortable places to sit and relax, with live music occasionally. Outdoor seating also.
7 locals recommend
The Coffee Loft
5025 N Tamiami TrailVery close to the studio. good coffee, decent prices. Upstairs there are comfortable places to sit and relax, with live music occasionally. Outdoor seating also.
starbucks coffee place downtown, around the corner from Whole Foods market
61 locals recommend
Starbucks
1375 S Tamiami Trailstarbucks coffee place downtown, around the corner from Whole Foods market
LeAnh's Vietnamese Restaurant
2901 N Tamiami Trailclose to studio - good Vietnamese food according to friends
close to studio - good asian restaurant according to friends and good reviews - traditional Chinese dishes & daytime dim sum
31 locals recommend
Yummy House China Bistro Sarasota
1737 S Tamiami Trailclose to studio - good asian restaurant according to friends and good reviews - traditional Chinese dishes & daytime dim sum
Veg
6538 Gateway AveGood Seafood, Vegan, Vegetarian restaurant according to friends
Excellent, inexpensive Puerto Rican cuisine. Small, take-out only (chairs to sit outside) in a shopping plaza
Sofrito Mama's
935 N Beneva RdExcellent, inexpensive Puerto Rican cuisine. Small, take-out only (chairs to sit outside) in a shopping plaza
Bella Nonna
close to studio - good casual, authentic Italian bistro
Sahara Cafe & Mediterranean Foods
1121 S Tamiami Trailinexpensive, good, middle eastern food
Arts & Culture
Recent but not newly released movies, good prices
$2 matinee (before 6 pm)
$2.50 evenings
6 locals recommend
Parkway 8 Cinema
6300 Lockwood Ridge RdRecent but not newly released movies, good prices
$2 matinee (before 6 pm)
$2.50 evenings
First run movies, stadium seating - but high prices:
matinee (before 3 pm): adults, $8.75, children and seniors $7.75
evening (after 3pm): adults $10.50, children and seniors $7.75
66 locals recommend
Regal Hollywood - Sarasota
1993 Main StFirst run movies, stadium seating - but high prices:
matinee (before 3 pm): adults, $8.75, children and seniors $7.75
evening (after 3pm): adults $10.50, children and seniors $7.75
Small Art Gallery part of Ringling College of Art and Design. High quality exhibitions. May-August: Mon. - Fri., 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
September-April: Mon. - Sat., 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Tues., 10 a.m. – 7
Selby Gallery
2700 N Tamiami TrailSmall Art Gallery part of Ringling College of Art and Design. High quality exhibitions. May-August: Mon. - Fri., 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
September-April: Mon. - Sat., 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Tues., 10 a.m. – 7
Shopping
Saint Armands Circle
Saint Armands Circlerestaurants and shopping
large outdoor and indoor flea market - eclectic mix of stores - new, vintage and second hand
46 locals recommend
Red Barn Flea Market
1707 1st Stlarge outdoor and indoor flea market - eclectic mix of stores - new, vintage and second hand
Westfield Siesta Key
3501 S Tamiami Trail15 minute drive from the studio - Small shopping mall
Great thrift store, some high quality items ...
Daily 9am - 8pm, except Sun, 10am - 6pm
Goodwill Manasota Retail Store
5150 N Tamiami TrailGreat thrift store, some high quality items ...
Daily 9am - 8pm, except Sun, 10am - 6pm
Everything Else
uncrowded beach for early morning walks, nature trail, sea turtle nests ( June- Sept), bird watching. Park in small lot or on the street near John Ringling BV and Polk Dr, Sarasota, FL 34236
442 locals recommend
Lido Key Beach
400 Benjamin Franklin Druncrowded beach for early morning walks, nature trail, sea turtle nests ( June- Sept), bird watching. Park in small lot or on the street near John Ringling BV and Polk Dr, Sarasota, FL 34236