Angela's Guidebook
Area Gulf coast beaches
Beautiful white sand beach made of quartz. Has free public parking lot and amenities such as restrooms and some food options.
I love this beautiful white sand beach made of quartz! It has restrooms, showers, and some food choices available. There is a large public parking lot. The water is very shallow and you can float in a raft near the shore while you tan!
798 locals recommend
Siesta Beach
I love this beautiful white sand beach made of quartz! It has restrooms, showers, and some food choices available. There is a large public parking lot. The water is very shallow and you can float in a raft near the shore while you tan!
Beautiful large and expansive beach! It’s right next to St. Armand’s Circle, so you can shop, dine, and then go for a beach walk or take in an exquisite sunset! This beach also has many natural sand dunes.
442 locals recommend
Lido Key Beach
400 Benjamin Franklin DrBeautiful large and expansive beach! It’s right next to St. Armand’s Circle, so you can shop, dine, and then go for a beach walk or take in an exquisite sunset! This beach also has many natural sand dunes.
This is my favorite beach in the area! It’s more cozy and quaint and I love the quality of the sand. It’s very soft under your toes! If you drive past the public beach, you can find some parking on side streets with public beach access. The public beach has showers and some food options.
374 locals recommend
Anna Maria Island Chamber
5313 Gulf DrThis is my favorite beach in the area! It’s more cozy and quaint and I love the quality of the sand. It’s very soft under your toes! If you drive past the public beach, you can find some parking on side streets with public beach access. The public beach has showers and some food options.
This beach has many trees for shade and a very large free parking lot. There are also public showers available to rinse off.
138 locals recommend
Coquina Beach station
This beach has many trees for shade and a very large free parking lot. There are also public showers available to rinse off.
This beach reminds me so much of the Caribbean! It is absolutely exquisite!! The water is clear and turquoise and the sand is soft and white! It a very wide and expansive beach! In one word it’s BREATHTAKING! Parking is limited on side streets including Gladiola and North Shore.
67 locals recommend
Bean Point Beach
793 N Shore DrThis beach reminds me so much of the Caribbean! It is absolutely exquisite!! The water is clear and turquoise and the sand is soft and white! It a very wide and expansive beach! In one word it’s BREATHTAKING! Parking is limited on side streets including Gladiola and North Shore.
Yummy places to dine
This is one of my favorite places to eat either for lunch or dinner! You can sit right outside on the water and see many fish and pelicans! The food is delicious and reasonably priced! I take all of my friends who come to visit me to this restaurant. I just love the peaceful vibe on the water!
74 locals recommend
Dry Dock Waterfront Grill
412 Gulf of Mexico DrThis is one of my favorite places to eat either for lunch or dinner! You can sit right outside on the water and see many fish and pelicans! The food is delicious and reasonably priced! I take all of my friends who come to visit me to this restaurant. I just love the peaceful vibe on the water!
This restaurant has exquisite water views! I prefer the food at Dry Dock, but the views here are lovely! Arrive early as it gets really busy in the evenings and at sunset!
65 locals recommend
Shore Longboat Key
800 Broadway StThis restaurant has exquisite water views! I prefer the food at Dry Dock, but the views here are lovely! Arrive early as it gets really busy in the evenings and at sunset!
Many organic and vegan options! You will find a variety of healthy and beautiful food options!
21 locals recommend
GREEN ZEBRA CAFE, LLC
476 John Ringling BlvdMany organic and vegan options! You will find a variety of healthy and beautiful food options!
I’ve eaten at the Porch several times and every time it is absolutely scrumptious! My favorite is the beet burger that they serve for lunch until 3 pm. It was beyond delicious! Most of their food is made from pure and fresh ingredients. If you can sit outside, I highly recommend it. I love how they play Frank Sinatra music. You won’t be disappointed.
8 locals recommend
The Porch Restaurant
9707 Gulf DriveI’ve eaten at the Porch several times and every time it is absolutely scrumptious! My favorite is the beet burger that they serve for lunch until 3 pm. It was beyond delicious! Most of their food is made from pure and fresh ingredients. If you can sit outside, I highly recommend it. I love how they play Frank Sinatra music. You won’t be disappointed.
I love the location of this restaurant right on the white sandy beaches of Anna Maria Island! You can even dine with your toes in the sand, if you request! There is typically quite a long wait for dinner, so arrive early, put your name in and then take a walk on the beach while you wait. I love their brussel sprouts….crispy with an amazing sauce!
168 locals recommend
The Sandbar Restaurant
100 Spring AveI love the location of this restaurant right on the white sandy beaches of Anna Maria Island! You can even dine with your toes in the sand, if you request! There is typically quite a long wait for dinner, so arrive early, put your name in and then take a walk on the beach while you wait. I love their brussel sprouts….crispy with an amazing sauce!
This is an awesome place to be right on the water with your toes in the sand! I love coming here to watch the sunset. You can just have a drink and come out to the tiki huts right on the beach. I’ve only eaten here once and I wasn’t super crazy about the food, but the views are worth just stopping by and enjoying a drink or maybe an appetizer. There is also plenty of free parking right across the street.
24 locals recommend
The Kokonut Hut
900 Gulf Dr NThis is an awesome place to be right on the water with your toes in the sand! I love coming here to watch the sunset. You can just have a drink and come out to the tiki huts right on the beach. I’ve only eaten here once and I wasn’t super crazy about the food, but the views are worth just stopping by and enjoying a drink or maybe an appetizer. There is also plenty of free parking right across the street.
Grocery stores and area shopping
Less than a mile from the townhouse, ALDIS has great prices for affordable food! Large selection as well, with many organic options. You will bag your own groceries at this store.
ALDI
4525 53rd Ave ELess than a mile from the townhouse, ALDIS has great prices for affordable food! Large selection as well, with many organic options. You will bag your own groceries at this store.
Great place to get a variety of organic and healthy foods, beauty products, etc. They have a restaurant inside and other prepared food options.
140 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
1451 1st StGreat place to get a variety of organic and healthy foods, beauty products, etc. They have a restaurant inside and other prepared food options.
A fun and healthy place to get your groceries! I love the atmosphere and vibe at Trader Joe’s! Prices are very fair and less expensive than Whole Foods. There are many organic and non GMO choices.
110 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
4101 S Tamiami TrailA fun and healthy place to get your groceries! I love the atmosphere and vibe at Trader Joe’s! Prices are very fair and less expensive than Whole Foods. There are many organic and non GMO choices.
There is a Publix less than a mile away in the shopping plaza. It has a wide variety of food options, but in my opinion it’s a bit expensive. Aldi is much more reasonably priced.
11 locals recommend
Publix Super Market at University Walk
2875 University PkwyThere is a Publix less than a mile away in the shopping plaza. It has a wide variety of food options, but in my opinion it’s a bit expensive. Aldi is much more reasonably priced.
UTC has almost every store you can think of besides the large mall and it is in a very nice and new area just about 15 min from the townhouse. You will find Target, Marshalls, Homegoods, Ross, Whole Foods, TJ Max, and many others. In addition there are many dining options to choose from.
326 locals recommend
The Mall at University Town Center
140 University Town Center DrUTC has almost every store you can think of besides the large mall and it is in a very nice and new area just about 15 min from the townhouse. You will find Target, Marshalls, Homegoods, Ross, Whole Foods, TJ Max, and many others. In addition there are many dining options to choose from.
Every Sunday and Wednesday there are many vendors selling crafts, jewelry, food, and fresh produce here. Add this to a day at the beach!
17 locals recommend
Beach Market at Coquina Beach
2650 Gulf Dr SEvery Sunday and Wednesday there are many vendors selling crafts, jewelry, food, and fresh produce here. Add this to a day at the beach!
Every Saturday enjoy exploring the many vendors selling their crafts, food, and fresh produce in the downtown Sarasota markets.
136 locals recommend
Sarasota Farmers Market
North Lemon AvenueEvery Saturday enjoy exploring the many vendors selling their crafts, food, and fresh produce in the downtown Sarasota markets.
Sightseeing
This is a fun area to walk around and window shop, dine, take in the vibe, etc. There are many interesting and quaint shops as well as many different options for dining. It is also right next to Lido Key Beach.
358 locals recommend
St Armands Circle Shops
300 St Armands CirThis is a fun area to walk around and window shop, dine, take in the vibe, etc. There are many interesting and quaint shops as well as many different options for dining. It is also right next to Lido Key Beach.
Beautiful gardens along the Bay. It has a very peaceful and zen vibe.
433 locals recommend
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
1534 Mound StBeautiful gardens along the Bay. It has a very peaceful and zen vibe.
Free admission on Mondays but only $5 per person other days.
540 locals recommend
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
5401 Bay Shore RdFree admission on Mondays but only $5 per person other days.
Great place to explore beautiful nature! There are many hiking trails or you can rent kayaks and go out on the water for the day to explore.
193 locals recommend
Robinson Preserve
1704 99th St NWGreat place to explore beautiful nature! There are many hiking trails or you can rent kayaks and go out on the water for the day to explore.
Yoga Vibes
These are my favorite places to practice yoga!
Beautiful studio space on North Anna Maria Island. Studio and beach yoga classes available. Cindy is the owner and you will love her! Vinyasa and gentle yoga classes offered almost every morning. Drop in rate is $20. It’s right across the street from the beautiful beach!
Island Yoga Space
9805 Gulf DrBeautiful studio space on North Anna Maria Island. Studio and beach yoga classes available. Cindy is the owner and you will love her! Vinyasa and gentle yoga classes offered almost every morning. Drop in rate is $20. It’s right across the street from the beautiful beach!
GT BRAY offers a variety of classes, including yoga, dance, and others. They offer both morning and evening yoga classes. Quality and capable instructors. Drop in classes are only $10!
17 locals recommend
G.T. Bray Park
5502 33rd Ave Dr WGT BRAY offers a variety of classes, including yoga, dance, and others. They offer both morning and evening yoga classes. Quality and capable instructors. Drop in classes are only $10!
I love this store! If you are a yogi, or just interested in crystals and the spiritual world, you will love exploring this unique shop, located in the Village of the Arts. They have an extensive collection of crystals!
The Village Mystic
1017 12th Ave WI love this store! If you are a yogi, or just interested in crystals and the spiritual world, you will love exploring this unique shop, located in the Village of the Arts. They have an extensive collection of crystals!