Top Five things to do in Sarasota, Florida

What comes to mind when you think of Sarasota? I have always heard great things about the Keys and the amazing beaches but Sarasota, Florida which is just miles away from one of the best beaches in the US has much more to offer. Before I continue with my recap, I want you to know that my visit was sponsored by Visit Sarasota but all opinions are mine. I was so impressed with Sarasota and I experienced a few firsts on this trip. From trying Kayaking for the first time to going to my very first baseball games in North Port, the home of Atlanta Braves Spring Training Complex and spending time at The Ringling! This south of Tampa City has so much to offer no matter your age! Keep reading to find out my top things to do in Sarasota.

Go Kayaking

I didn’t realize how calming kayaking was until I tried it on this trip! Thanks to Kayaking SRQ Tours and Rentals for an amazing experience. I highly recommend using Greg and his team. It was a wonderful experience being so close to nature in the mangrove tunnels and getting to see a Manatee which showed it’s tail while we were Kayaking. P.S. you can go kayaking with kids from age 2 and up.

Head to the Beach

I didn’t get to spend a lot of time on the beach, so you know I am planning another trip to Sarasota soon! I visited Lido Beach, a beautiful white sand beach minutes from the upscale shopping center of St. Armands Circle in Sarasota. I got to catch the sunset with the hundreds of Sarasota residents and visitors who gathered to do the same thing. Other beaches around include the very famous Siesta beach, Nikomos, Venice beach just to name a few, so you have so many options!

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Visit The Ringling

The Ringling was another highlight of my trip to Sarasota, Florida. From the beautiful Ca’ d’Zan mansion, to the Rose garden, Circus Museum, the Historic Asolo Theatre, there is so much to do/see at the Ringling! You will spend hours here guaranteed and from kids to older adults there is something for everyone. Bring your cameras! I love that they have trolleys to take you around. I had the yummiest lunch at Muse, the restaurant at the Ringling.

Linked most of what I wore on this trip below

Catch a baseball game at CoolToday Park

CoolToday Park is in North Port/Venice, Florida, depending on who you ask. It definitely was a great way to experience my first baseball game. I watched the Atlanta Braves take on Tampa Bay Rays. This new stadium is truly spectacular and a great way to spend time while in the area.

Stay at one of many amazing hotels and resorts, guaranteed foodie craving satisfied and shopping!

I had to cramp all of the above into one, LOL. There are so many resorts and chain and boutique hotels to pick from when vacationing in Sarasota. You can find all the options by clicking HERE, Visit Sarasota have them all listed out. There are two Ritz Carlton properties, Hyatt resorts and many more there. I stayed at the Art Ovation Hotel while in Sarasota. A beautiful boutique hotel with so much character. It is centrally located, and you can walk to numerous restaurants from the hotel. I highly recommend staying there. I had a chance to try different cuisines during my 3-night stay in Sarasota and had one of my best Italian meals in Venice. Yummy bbq in North Port and had my face on my cappuccino (super cool) at this cute restaurant called OfKors in Sarasota. There are so many amazing restaurants to pick from. Sarasota also has a lot to offer for shoppers, from the RoseMary district which has a lot of boutiques to the city Mall which has a Saks store.

I could go on about my trip but I’ll end with this, Sarasota is perfect for a family trip, girls trip or just any trip with the mix of activities to do. I also visited Rothenbach Park. I didn’t get a chance to experience the nightlife, but our guide Britney from Visit Sarasota had amazing things to say and she did a great job putting this press tour together so I definitely take her word for it. I hope this makes you add Sarasota to your list of places to visit. See some of my video highlights from Sarasota HERE and read more of my TRAVEL posts HERE.