Sarasota has a reputation for unsurpassed natural beauty, but there’s a surprise side to this small jewel on Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast. The variety of visual and performing arts, culture and immersive environmental experiences exceeds expectations. A three-day weekend barely scratches the surface and calls for some hard choices. Add in global dining, luxury shopping and entertainment, and any visitor is guaranteed a memorable 36 hours.
Friday
10:00 a.m. The Ringling, home of the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Circus Museum, Historic Asolo Theater and Bayfront Gardens ranks as a must-see. Circus magnate John Ringling’s European acquisitions satisfy religious and Baroque art lovers, but can’t eclipse thecontemporary paintings and glass, Asian treasures, or the lavish 1926 Venetian Gothic mansion,Ca’d’Zan. A highlight is the 3,800-square-foot, scale model of a 1900s circus, replete with animal and acrobatic acts under the big tent, trains, spectators, roustabouts and miniature vignettes of real circus life.
12:30 p.m. Refuel in the Visitor’s Center at the Ringling Grillroom, seated inside or on the patio overlooking a pond and the lush campus. Fish and seafood, salads, burgers and desserts will fortify you for the afternoon.
2:00 p.m. Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy is open limited times from September to May, but visitors love the quirky collection of paintings, sculptures, collages, ceramics, furniture, lighting, mosaics and other arts and crafts on display. The festive sculpture garden with its full-growth trees cheerily festooned with lights and orchids is also pure joy.
3:00 p.m. The Bay is a low-key, sustainable urban oasis on 53 acres of prime waterfront near the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall that checks a lot of boxes. Appreciate the half-mile,meandering boardwalk, a mangrove bayou with kayak launch, open lawns, an amphitheater, food concession and more. You might catch a free fitness class or a live music event.
6:00 p.m. Dinner now—or later, after the sunset—your choice: Savor the fusion of award-winning Latin and American cuisine with a Peruvian accent at Selva Grill on Main St. The food and ambiance are modern, jazzy and sophisticated, with ceviche as the star.
Alternatively, walk to one of downtown’s cool rooftop bars at either the Art Ovation Hotel or The Westin and take the elevator to memorable sunset views of the city and Bay. When the sun has gone to bed, head to that dinner at Selva Grill.
Saturday
8:30 a.m. The Breakfast House makes swoon-worthy sweet and tartcoconut/pineapple/macadamia nut Island pancakes, inventive omelets and other scratch madedishes. Diners wait on the porch of this quaint, yellow Key West cottage, then settle inside thehouse or in the shaded back garden.
10:00 a.m. Another choice: Two ways to experience the water –Work off your breakfast comaon scenic Lido Key, with a private or group kayak or paddleboard tour in the sun-dappled mangrove tunnels at the island’s southern tip. Kayaking SRQ will get you up close and personal with Sarasota Bay’s diverse wildlife and calm, clear waters.
Alternatively: Assemble a picnic and head to the unmistakably magic Siesta Beach.
Tips: Order an artisanal sando at Focaccia Sandwich + Bakery to go, and take an addictive, crispy-chewy loaf with you to nibble in the car. Then stop at Yoder’s in Pinecraft—Sarasota’s Amish and Mennonite snowbird enclave—and take away some delectable slices of fresh fruit orcream pie (note: the No.1 flavor is peanut butter cream.) Lastly, pick up a tasty cup of Guatemalan coffee from Postal 98 Café, once the Amish post office and now a cottagecore café.
Walk the three-mile shoreline of the #1 beach; swim, play volleyball, make castles in the soft sand and relish your gourmet lunch.
4:00 p.m. Meander around St. Armand’s Circle, close to Lido Beach. You might catch an art fair while perusing the boutiques and galleries, especially the luxury fashion emporium The Met. Refresh with some decadent ice cream, chocolate, or freshly made fudge from Kilwins or a gelato at Settimi’s. Look down to admire the Circus Ring of Fame, a set of embedded medallions honoring famous circus artists of the Ringling Bros. era.
When hunger strikes, dive into the Cuban Spanish fare at Columbia Restaurant, family owned since 1905 and the oldest restaurant in Florida. Fans swear by the black bean soup, Cuban sandwiches and famous 1905 salad, a tangy mélange of lettuce, ham, olives and cheese made tableside.
8:00 p.m. A Difficult Choice: Take in a performance at the Asolo Rep, Sarasota Ballet, or Sarasota Orchestra and marvel at the world-class productions on offer.
10:30 p.m. If you have the oomph: Find Pangea Alchemy Lab, a moody speakeasy where mixologists create craft cocktails using unique infusions and house-made syrups. Part of the mystique is finding the entrance, cheekily tucked away in the alley behind Mélange Restauranton Main St. Open until 2 a.m. on weekends.
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Sunday
10:00 a.m. Option 1: Devote your final Sarasota morning to nature at its curated best. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is conveniently located five minutes from downtown, adjacent to Bayfront Park. Nature bathe in 15 acres of waterfront gardens and a tropical conservatory. Rotating photography, art and culture exhibits tie to the world-renowned orchid, bromeliad and fern collections set among ancient Banyan trees and water features.
Option 2: The wonders of the sea unfold in a futuristic slice of contemporary architecture at Mote Science Education Aquarium (SEA) in Nathan Benderson Park. Learn about coral reefs, sharks, rays, sea turtles, manatees, and over 100 Florida native marine species swimming in one-million gallons of watery habitat. The striking new facility joins science and hands-on exhibits with live demonstrations of active marine research.
NEW COPY:
12:30 p.m. Sarasotans love to give their visitors a waterfront, al fresco dining experience. What better place to end your 36-hour vacation than a restaurant that both Open Table and Yelp have called one of the “100 Best” for its scenery, seafood, and romance? The Dry Dock Waterfront Grill on south Longboat Key hits all the right notes for impeccably fresh fish (especially the grouper), seafood, and land-side entrees served on the patio at the Boathouse Marina. As you watch the boaters pull up to the dock on Sarasota Bay, feel satisfied that you’ve sampled the deep charms and appeal of this special city.
