Next up is definitely the Ringling, the single most impressive museums in the region. Circus magnate John Ringling brilliant wife lived in Sarasota, along with the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art highlights the family’s art collection, a great deal of it Renaissance and Baroque.
But it doesn’t end there — The Ringling also has a circus museum, an expensive restaurant, a theater, a good looking rose garden, and Ca’ d’Zan, that has been the family’s winter home. It’s on Sarasota Bay and is also absolutely gorgeous. Keep your Ringling at heart for just a rainy or super-hot day — or a Monday, when admission to the art museum cost nothing. Yep, conditions art museum. For free.
TO DO IN SUMMER
Shark-tooth hunting. That’s why you’re here, right? This is something you ought to try if you’ve never tried it before — and you\’ve got to do it here, because Venice, Florida, is billed as the Shark Tooth Capital of the World. Head over to Venice Beach or Caspersen Beach (more on those below), preferably in the am, to see what’s washed ashore. In past times, visitors would occasionally find teeth from megalodon sharks, which are extinct for scores of years (with teeth provided that seven inches). Obtain a “Florida snow shovel” — Google it — or possibly a sand sieve or colander. You’ll need something to assist you to search through the sand so its possible to discover the triangle-sized, sharp, in most cases black teeth.
When you’re finished, it’s truly beach time. If there’s one activity you will be amply partaking in on your summer in Sarasota, it’s knowing the multitude of beaches among the list of 35 miles that line Sarasota County. Each beach have their own feel. Here’s a brief rundown:
- Longboat Secret is stuffed with stately homes, so its small (and somewhat hidden) public beach areas are very well kept significantly less used.
- Lido Beach tends to attract a vehicles and is closest to downtown Sarasota.
- Siesta Beach has become the nation’s best beach on one or more occasion. Its white sands are beautiful, possesses a renovated picnic, playground, and food area. Arrive early several spot, since the beach fills quickly. Also note: There’s an excellent drum circle on Sunday evenings.
- Caspersen Beach and Venice Beach — in addition to Brohard Dog Park — is available farther south, in Venice and South Venice. These places are not as easy to categorize, to be a small amount of everything.
- West of Englewood, you’ll find Manasota Key along with its beaches, including Blind Pass Beach and Manasota Beach. Head to put paddling opportunities along with a probability to explore mangrove forest.
When you’re ready for a break on the sand, head to St. Armands Circle: a literal circle of outlets, restaurants, and businesses where one can stroll right through the day (yes, all day long). It’s just a couple minutes’ drive from downtown, or possibly a short walk from Lido Beach.
Make sure to look into Clyde Butcher’s St. Armands Gallery, featuring the black-and-white photography of your true Florida artist and icon. Another fun stop is definitely the Spice & Tea Exchange, a retail store that graciously permits you to bask in the odor of many hundreds of spices, herbs, teas, and salts (an example of my faves is a black truffle sea salt.) At Artisans, you’ll find cool-but-affordable jewelry and native, beachy present ideas that aren’t tacky. You\’ll find the regular frozen goodies places on St. Armands, just one recent addition that’s causing a stir is The Hyppo Gourmet Ice Pops, selling natural, gourmet ice pops with flavors like watermelon basil, pink grapefruit lychee, and mango chia. For, nightlife drop by 15 South Enoteca for awesome Latin music and dancing on weekend nights.
TO EAT IN SUMMER
People located in Sarasota have a real fascination with locally produced food and agriculture, understanding that shines through in the Sarasota Farmers Market, held downtown on North Lemon Avenue, Saturdays from 7am to 1pm. The industry has been in existence — fully grasp this — for longer than 35 a few years hosts much more than 70 vendors and occasional live music. From fresh orange juice and in-season produce at Browns Grove into a steak sandwich from Alpine Steakhouse to vegetarian and meat empanadas at Peperonata Pasta, it appears more like a food hall than anything. (Just outdoors!)
There can also be farmers markets inside City of sarasota, and not they all are year-round — though Venice Farmers Market in downtown Venice and also the Siesta Key Farmers Market at 5104 Ocean Blvd in Siesta Key totally have stalls full of goodies all year, too. Pro tip: Bring a cooler to get a things that could perish, and arrive early! Especially in the summer, the markets warm — literally — because the day continues.
And now we have to chat restaurants: At Selva Grill on Main Street, you can find a legit Peruvian ceviche, along with other upscale, Latin-inspired dishes. The Columbia Restaurant on St. Armands serves storied Cuban fare in the bright and airy setting. Fresh, organic, and healthy are definitely the themes along at the Coolinary, just starting out to the downtown Sarasota scene, or investigate vegan-friendly options at Lila. Head within the exact opposite direction while using central-Texas-style barbecue at Brick’s Smoked Meats. And C’est Vie, with one location in downtown Sarasota and another off of University Parkway, offers authentic but casual French food, including crêpes. Yum.
After gorging on whatever you decide, return with a beach you haven’t hit yet. Sarasota County faces the Ocean, meaning it’s got some pretty awesome tangerine, gold, and pink sunsets. You feelin’ lured yet?
