Sarasota: A City of Walkable "Pods"

While you need a car, bus, or bicycle to get from district-to-district in Sarasota FL, each "pod"--as I like to think of them-- is easily walkable once you're there.

For instance:

Downtown Sarasota:
Park on Cross Street, at the north end of Pineapple Avenue in Burns Square. Walk across the roundabout towards downtown. At the purple fountain, continue on either Lemon Avenue or Pineapple Avenue. You can walk everywhere downtown from here. West on Main Street to Bayfront Park. Or east on Main Street all the way to Rte. 301 (Washington Blvd). Don't forget to explore Palm Avenue, 1st Street, State Street, etc.

Siesta Key Village:
Park in the Village (free parking lots behind Ocean Blvd). You can walk west down Ocean Blvd to Beach Access #5. Explore all the side streets, too, including Canal Road (which intersects with Ocean Blvd at the gazebo between the Lobster Pot and Beach Bazaar.

Gulf Gate and Sarasota Pavilion:
Gulf Gate Village consists of one-story shops and restaurants on Gulf Gate Drive, Gateway, and Superior Avenue. Next to the village is Sarasota Pavilion, which has lots of shops including Michaels Crafts, TJ Maxx, Bed Bath & Beyond, Ross Store, Panera Bread, Books-a-Million, Marshall's, Chinese food, and many others. Park in the village or at the Pavilion, and you can walk anywhere within those two shopping/dining areas.

St Armands Circle and Lido Beach:
There's plenty of parking behind the shops and restaurants on St Armands Circle. If you want to walk the circle and have easy access to the beach, park in the Lido Beach parking area (2nd right off the Circle, if you're coming from Tamiami Trail). You can walk right onto Lido Beach from there, or walk around the Circle. There's a lovely walking path just off the beach entry there. As soon as you step onto the sand from the entry ramp, look to your right, and you'll see a tree-shaded path that parallels the beach for about a mile and then reconnects with the beach. So you can walk on the path in one direction, and return via the beach in the other direction.

Pinecraft:
This is the Amish/Mennonite neighborhood in Sarasota. Taking Bahia Vista St. east from Tamiami Trail, look for the small turquoise "Pinecraft Park" sign on your right, and turn right.You can park near the shuffleboard court at Pinecraft Park. Walk in the small park, or along the canal. Also, you can walk through the whole neighborhood of small, well-kept houses. On Bahia Vista Street, get fresh produce at the Amish Market. There's a popular Big Olaf ice cream shop, a pizzeria, restaurants, and other locally owned shops. At the corner of Bahia Vista and Beneva is a shopping center with Earth Origins market, Dollar store, CVS, etc.

Lido Beach

Easily accessible from St Armands Circle on Lido Key, Lido Beach offers panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico. Its sand is coarser than the powdered sands of Siesta Beach, and a bit darker. If you like searching for seashells, you'll find the best selection in the early morning on Lido Beach.

The Lido Beach parking area is a right turn off St Armands Circle. From your parking spot, walk towards the beach, and you'll see this wooden deck and ramp with foot-washing station appear in front of you.
As you walk across the deck, the Gulf comes into view.

Lido Beach is very peaceful, so you can take time to listen to your thoughts or escape them, as the sound of the gentle surf and seabirds replaces everyday concerns.








One of the magical experiences on Sarasota beaches is taking in the exquisite sunsets that surprise every night with a different array of colors and light effects.







In addition to the Lido Beach access near St Armands Circle, you can enter the beach by driving south on Ben Franklin Drive until you reach the Lido Beach Pavilion. There you'll find concessions, rest rooms and showers, and other outdoor play areas, as well as parking.

At the north end of Lido Beach is North Lido Beach, which is more secluded. Here's a view north, with a gentle skyline of Sarasota buildings in the distance.



At the south end of Lido Key is South Lido Beach, which offers picnic facilities, parking, two walking trails and a canoe trail, and lots of shade from acres of pine trees.

Parking is free at all the Lido Beach entries.