St. Armands Circle

Looking to dine and shop outdoors in Sarasota? Well St. Armands circle is the place for you!

It is located just a few minutes away from Lido Key Beach, and the circular shaped shopping and dining center offers a variety of places and activities for families and couples.  St. Armands Circle is located at the heart of St. Armands Key, a small island off of the Sarasota City coastline.  The large traffic circle is the island's Main Street, which in a circular formation, and is centered around a tree covered park known as Circle Park.  Outlining the the skirts of the park are all of the businesses and restaurants that are ever so popular to Sarasota natives and visitors.

The stores range from typical tourist gifts and Florida souvenirs to fine jewelry, clothing, art, and collectibles.  General categories of the store fronts in St. Armands Circle are:

Photo Credit: Rowyn Adriano

• attorneys at law
• beauty salon and spas
• computers
• fashion
• footwear
• galleries
• jewelers
• massage and therapy
• medical and professional
• real estate 
• travel

There are also casual and fine dining options as well as concession store front eateries.  Two of the best known restaurants in the circle are the Daiquiri Deck and the Columbia Restaurant.  If you are wanting a sweet treat, you are in luck because is there is a Ben and Jerry's and a Kilwins where you can indulge your sweet tooth into a delicious ice cream sundae!  

There is free parking within the Main Street circle, but that can be very hard to get, so there is also free parking in the area surrounding the St, Armands Circle as well. 

St. Armands Circle received an award from Trip Advisor in 2015 for excellent shopping experience and quality in Sarasota.

St, Armands is open year round, but is definitely emptier during the summer season.  No matter what time of year you come to visit St. Armands, you can enjoy specialty stores and restaurants unique to Sarasota, and can easily travel to Lido Key beach from the area to catch a glimpse of the beautiful sunset.  

For more information: St. Armands Circle

For store front locations: St. Armands Circle Map

Source: Basic Information

Surf, Sun, and Sand, It's Beach Time!

When people think of Florida, they affiliate this sunshine state with year round beach time and that is a true statement! The soft sand, warm water temperatures, and endless sunshine make Sarasota a perfect place to come enjoy the beach.  So pull up your beach, put up your umbrella, and pour a drink as I will take you on a journey to the major beaches in Sarasota County that you don't want to miss!

Lido Key Beach

Photo Credit: Lady Briggs

• This is the main public beach for the Lido Key area, and can be located one half of a mile southwest of St. Armand's Circle, off of Ben Franklin Drive. Some of the amenities that can be found at this beach are: rest rooms, food and ice cream concessions, gift shops, picnic tables, playground equipment, handicapped accessible observation deck, chair and umbrella rentals, and parking for about 400 cars.

Siesta Key Beach

Photo Credit: Jennifer McElroy

• Sarasota's prime treasure is Siesta Key Beach, which can be located off of Beach Road on the Siesta Key Island.  In 2015, it was named the #1 beach in the United States by Trip Advisor, and it for sure is the crowd favorite when going to the beach in Sarasota.  Sand at most of the other beaches is made up of coral, but at Siesta Key 99% of the sand is quartz, making it feel cool and soft.  Although there are 950 parking spaces around the area to access the beach, you better get there early to guarantee a spot for your car,  Some other amenities that can be found at Siesta key are: volleyball and tennis courts, parking, picnic tables, a large concession stand, rest rooms, outdoor showers, and playground equipment. 

Turtle Beach

Photo Credit: Jennifer McElroy

• It is located on the southern end of the Siesta Key Island off of Midnight Pass Road.  While the sand here is a mixture of black and white an isn't as soft, you will have more privacy and may even find a shark's tooth.  If you love to take long walks on the beach, this is the place to do it as there are dune walkovers and miles of sand to walk on.  Some of the other amenities that you can find at this beach are: rest rooms, boat ramps, picnic shelters, playground equipment, and volleyball and  horseshoe courts.

Nokomis Beach

Photo Credit: City Data

• This beach is located on Casey Key, directly west of the Albee Road Bridge,  The park and beach area includes 22 acres with 1,700 feet on the Gulf and 3,200 feet on the Intracoastal. There are large pavilions area that you can rent for parties and family gatherings as well.  Some of the amenities at this beach are: rest rooms, parking, boat ramp, board walk and deck, and dune walkovers.

North Jetty Park

Photo Credit: Venice, FL

• This area is located on the southern tip pf Casey Key in Nokomis, and the jetties there make it a great place to go surfing in Florida.  Boats pass through the jetties from the Intracoastal of the Gulf.  It is also a great place to set up your chair and fishing pole to relax for a while and attempt to catch some fish.  Some of the other amenities you can find at this park are: rest rooms, parking, picnic shelters, volleyball and horseshoe courts, and a concession stand.  

Venice Beach

Photo Credit: Dawne Lagregren

• This beach is located at the west end of Venice Avenue one mile west of business Route 41.  If you are a scuba diver, there is a reef containing fossilized material located a quarter of a mile off of the shore.  You can also find sharks teeth along the area.  There is a large restaurant and pier known as Sharky's, that sits along the edge of the beach and Gulf.  Some of the other amenities include: rest rooms, parking, a pavilion, a concession stand, picnic tables, and a volleyball court.  

As you can see, all of these beaches are family friendly and offer a fun day at the beach no matter which one you go to! All you have to do now is book your plane ticket here.  See the link below that I have on the blog to get connected with the Sarasota airport.

Please comment below this post to what beach you would want to spend the day at.  Lets see which one is the most popular!

Sources: Beach Information, Siesta Key Beach

All About the Area

Sarasota is more than just a town where senior citizens retire and slow down.  It is an exciting city filled beach life, outdoor activities, art and performing events and shows, night life, and delicious cuisine offered at unique restaurants.  While all of those topics will be posted about later in detail, here are just a few facts about the basic aspects of Sarasota County that makes it a special place to be visiting.

• The average air temperature year round is 72.6 degrees Fahrenheit
• There are 35 miles of soft, white sand, and 13 public beaches to bury your toes into the warm sand

Siesta Key Beach

• There are 1,000 public, semi-private, and private golf courses in the area to score that hole-in-one while enjoying the nice weather outside
• 42.58% of the county area is water, so outdoor activities on a boat is a must
• The Myakka River offers 58 miles of water based hobbies such as fishing, kayaking, and canoeing

Myakka River State Park

 

• According to the United States Census Bureau in 2014, the population in this county is 396,962 people
• This area has been ranked by Money Magazine as the best small city in the United States

Do these facts already interest you to come to Sarasota for a future vacation?  Well stay tuned for more information about this relaxing, fun, and one of a kind west Florida town.

Source: Fun Facts About Sunny Sarasota