Beachside luxury mixed with world-class museums makes Sarasota, Florida, just south of Tampa, a popular coastal getaway. You can experience the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay, as well as world-class entertainment and performing-arts-fueled history in three days. Expect stops at restaurants, museums, gardens and more.
Encounter big-top memorabilia and lazy alligators alongside fine sand and fine dining. Find out firsthand why the Ringling Brothers Circus chose Sarasota as its winter home — and how that helped define the city it is today.
As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.
Friday: Visit Botanical Gardens and Boutiques
Get ready to spend the day exploring downtown by grabbing some breakfast at C’est La Vie, a French bakery with a colorful exterior. Fill up on classics like baguettes, omelettes and pastries — the cream-filled beignet is a fan favorite.
That should fuel you up for the 20-minute walk to the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens downtown. There, you can meander through rows of tropical plants, including thousands of orchids.
Next, make your way to Laurel Park. The neighborhood is home to an eclectic mix of cafés and boutiques often compared to New York City’s Greenwich Village.
Have lunch in the garden at the Garden Room Café at Shoogie Boogies, a spot where the opulent European design will stop you in your tracks. The restaurant is made up of winding paths, nook-filled gardens, grand chandeliers and dramatic velvet curtains.
Next, walk up Main Street to Pineapple Avenue, stopping at Selby Five Points Park and any shops that catch your eye along the route.
Before dinner, head toward the water to see the massive sculpture To New Beginnings, modeled after the famous Victor Jorgensen photo of a soldier kissing a nurse on V-J Day. For dinner, head to Owen’s Fish Camp, where you can choose from imaginative seafood dishes like chicken-fried lobster tail and a soft-shell-crab BLT.
Finally, top off the night with a comedy show at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, known for hosting national acts.
Saturday: Learn How the Ringling Brothers Made Their Mark
You can’t come to Circus City and not experience Sarasota’s fantastical history, centered in the Indian Beach/Sapphire Shores neighborhood.
Start at the casual Toasted Mango Café for breakfast before heading north to the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art. There you’ll get to see a massive collection of art spanning ancient works to 21st-century paintings and a grand courtyard.
Move on to the Ringling Circus Museum to be amazed by the miniature 44,000-piece model, circus artifacts from the original touring days and even a full train car that was the traveling home for John Ringling. Plus, you can find out if you’re cut out for the circus life by attempting to fit into a clown car and walking on a tightrope.
Take a break at an on-site restaurant, the Ringling Grillroom, before heading over to Ringling’s Venetian-style winter estate, Ca’ d’Zan. Explore the 36,000-square-foot house and manicured gardens by following along with the audio tour, or try the kid-friendly self-guided tour option, which teaches youngsters the history of John and Mable Ringling with a captivating storytelling format.
Before dinner, stop to see the wildlife at Sarasota Jungle Gardens. Check out the flamingos and alligators and even hold a parrot before driving back downtown for dinner at Siegfried’s Restaurant & German Biergarten, famous for its schnitzel and strudel.
Finish off the evening at the local dive bar, the Gator Club, where you can sip on classic cocktails inside a restored historic brick building before calling it a night.
Sunday: Enjoy Some Time by the Sea
After yesterday’s busy day, today is all about relaxing on Siesta Key. Start with some sweet treats for breakfast at Meaney’s Mini Donuts & Coffee House (the peanut butter cup and French toast flavors are some of the best). Then head to one of the public beach access points and set up shop in the sand. Soak up the strong Florida sun, take a dip in the ocean or do nothing at all.
When you’re hungry, pick your way through a kettle of mussels or some peel-and-eat shrimp at the Lobster Pot. Browse the sweet little shops of nearby Siesta Key Village to pick up a souvenir. Beach Bazaar has all of your ocean needs (flip-flops, bathing suits) while Siesta Key Outfitters is stocked with kitschy gifts, toys and funny T-shirts.
Next up is a quick drive to Siesta Dolphin Tours to spot frolicking sea creatures aboard a late-afternoon cruise. The large boat’s shaded cover makes this a rain-or-shine activity. In addition to seeing dolphins leaping out of the water, the sunset cruise offers passengers complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks — happy hour at sea.
Then it’s time to head for Siesta Key and enjoy a bowl of the award-winning chowder at Captain Curt’s Crab & Oyster Bar. Finish the night at Daiquiri Deck, where you can taste-test the most incredible selection of frozen daiquiris. From the top level, you can see swaying palm trees and the ocean as you toast with a tropical drink to your fabulous beach getaway.
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