Did you know you can escape to white sand beaches without leaving the United States?! With beaches around every turn, live music, tropical drinks, and charming streets and shops, Sarasota, FL is a true gem for anyone looking for a relaxing beach vacation! Throughout this post, I will share tips, stays, things to do, and the perfect one-weekend itinerary for Sarasota, FL
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Table of Contents
How to get to Sarasota?
As you can see from the map above, you have several options for flying into Sarasota. If looking for the best budget, Tampa will likely be your best bet. But, the Southwest Florida International Airport is a similar difference away. If money is not a factor, there is also an airport directly in Sarasota.
Distance from…
- Tampa International Airport: 55 miles (1 hr 4 min)
- Southwest Florida International Airport: 90 miles (1 hr 20 min)
Tip: You may find the best deal by searching one-way flights from all three airports.
When is the best time to visit?
Sarasota Average Temperatures:
- Summer (June-August): 90/75
- Fall (September-November): 80/51
- Winter (December-February): 73/54
- Spring (March-May): 84/67
- Most Rain: June- September
- Hurricane Season: June- November
- Peak Season: February-July
Where to stay
If you are looking for a beach vacation, it would be best to book a stay on Siesta Key Beach or Lido Beach. You will of course pay more for this ocean view, BUT waking up to the salty air and white sand will be worth it. If you are hoping to save a bit of money, find a spot away from the beach and rent a bike for the weekend to get around! Some of the stays listed below even come with a bike to take to the beach!
Things to do in Sarasota, FL
Go to the beach
You will be pleasantly surprised to find beaches around every corner. Pack a picnic, some drinks, and a beach chair, and check out any of the beautiful beaches below!
Siesta Key Beach– After stepping onto the sparkling white sand and viewing the turquoise water, it will be no surprise that Siesta Key Beach is always voted the number 1 beach in the USA. With its beauty also comes crowds. There is a large free parking lot, but it oftentimes fills up early in the day. Near the main beach parking lot you will find bathrooms and concession stands!
Tip: If arriving later, there is paid parking in the Siesta Key Village. We arrived in the early afternoon and did not have any probably finding a spot in the Village. We then took a short stroll to the beach.
Lido Key Beach: Slightly less popular than Siesta Key is the Lido Key Beach. Located near St. Armands Circle (see below). Again, we arrived a bit later here but had no probably finding parking in their main free parking lot. There are also bathrooms, lifeguards, concession stands, and drinks available here.
Turtle Beach: If you are looking for a quieter beach, head to Turtle Beach! Although the sand is not white as the beaches above, it is a perfect beach if you are looking to escape the crowds. There is free parking nearby and a bar and grill right across the street.
Casperson Beach: One of the best beaches for searching for shells and shark teeth! There is free parking and restrooms on-site!
TIP! Click on the map below to open the directions for getting to each beach!
Stroll the St. Armands Circle
A perfect place to window shop and grab a bite to eat. St. Armands Circle is near Lido Key Beach and features over 130 stores and restaurants. There is a lot of sidewalk seating and live music playing which makes for such a fun scene! Our favorite restaurant here was Cha Cha Coconuts (make sure to order the coconut shrimp!)
Jet Ski the Gulf
This sounded like a great idea, BUT I am not an adrenaline junkie. I was terrified the entire time, but if you like jet skis (I do on lakes…not on the ocean…lesson learned) you will enjoy renting a jet ski and jumping the waves. My husband LOVED it.
We used Siesta Skis for the morning “dolphin” tour. We were going far too fast to ever see dolphins, but the staff here was great, it was in a central location, and there were other rentals on-site. You do need a temporary Safe Boaters License to drive, but they are available online!
Watch the sunset
You can’t go to Florida without taking in the sunsets. We grabbed our beach chairs and watched the sunset on Turtle beach, but any of the beaches would lead to a beautiful view. Or grab a delicious dinner along a sunset boat tour with Marina Jack’s!
Mote Aquarium
The Mote Museum is a perfect rainy day activity for a weekend in Sarasota (or if you just need a break from the sun!).
This aquarium is open 365 days a year from 9:30 am to 5 pm. Admission is 24 dollars pp and must be purchased online in order to reserve a time slot. The exhibits include sharks, manatees, jellyfish, and hands-on opportunities. There is a cafe on-site and even boat tours available!
You may also like: Fort Myers Vs. Sarasota: Which is the best beach town?!
Tour the Ringling Museum
The Ringling is home to hundreds of art and cultural collections! The museum showcases the lives of John and Mable Ringling the history of the Ringling Bros. circus. The museum is free on Mondays, and regular admission ranges from 5 dollars to 25 dollars depending on which tour you are taking.
Snorkel with Manatees
This one requires a bit of a drive but looks like SO much fun. Unfortunately, we did not get to do it this time, but it is on the top of my bucket list for the next trip. (Update! We went back to swim with the manatees & was 100 percent worth it!)
If you are starting your weekend in Sarasota from the Tampa airport, I recommend you do this tour upon arrival or departure as it is closer to Tampa. Below are some tour providers to check out!
Parasail
This one is still on my bucket list as well! BUT what could be better than soaring across the turquoise blue water and sparkling white sand! Check out Parasail Siesta for current prices and times!
Where to eat in Sarasota, FL
There are SO many choices of unique restaurants and bars to grab a bite to eat or a tropical drink at. Many had live music, outdoor seating, and fun décor. Below are some of my favorites that we tried!
- Gilligan’s Island: After a day at the Siesta Key beach, head over to Gilligan’s Island for a unique Tiki Bar vibe and the best tropical drinks…complete with the drink umbrella of course!
- Turtles: Located directly across the street from Turtles Beach, this restaurant offers beautiful marina views and delicious food. There is also a small Turtles bar down the road with drinks, bar bites, and live music.
- Cha Cha Coconuts: This fun beachy restaurant is located near Lido Key Beach. Complete with coconut shrimp, live music, and tropical drinks!
- The Old Salty Dog: As seen on Man VS. Food, this waterfront restaurant is a perfect pit stop after the Mote Aquarium.
One Weekend Sample Itinerary Sarasota, FL
- Friday: Early Morning Arrival and Snorkel with Manatees
- Saturday: Siesta Key Beach and Sunset Dinner Cruise (Food: Gilligan’s Island)
- Sunday: Morning Jet Ski Ride and Lido Key Beach (Food: Cha Cha Coconuts and Turtles)
- Monday: Mote Aquarium and the Ringling Tour and late-night departure (Food: The Old Salty Dog)
If you have more than one weekend in Sarasota, be sure to check out the list above to add more to your Sarasota itinerary!
Want to explore more of Florida?? Check out the BEST Things to Do Near Orlando (Besides the Theme Parks).
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