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.
Friday, January 8, 2016
Monday, April 5, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The Christmas Lights Boat Parade
Saturday, December 12th was a perfect evening for the Christmas Boat Parade of Lights in Sarasota Bay. With balmy temperature and a mild breeze, it was comfortable for hundreds (thousands?) of people to gather on lawn chairs and picnic blankets on the grassy areas of Bayfront Park.
A few vendor tents offered appetizers and comfort food. The air was full of anticipation as everyone waited for the first bejeweled boats to come into view.
There were lots of oohs and aahs as the lead boats approached the marina.
We may not have snow in Sarasota, but we surely have beautiful light displays during the holiday season.
A few vendor tents offered appetizers and comfort food. The air was full of anticipation as everyone waited for the first bejeweled boats to come into view.
There were lots of oohs and aahs as the lead boats approached the marina.
We may not have snow in Sarasota, but we surely have beautiful light displays during the holiday season.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Walking in Siesta Village
I've always chuckled at the quote on a t-shirt in the window of the Beach Bazaar gift and apparel shop on Ocean Boulevard in Siesta Village: "A quaint drinking village with a fishing problem." Well, Siesta Key is more than that, of course, but it does offer lots of opportunity to eat, drink, and be merry.
In addition to the food and libations, many of the restaurants in the Village hire local musicians to provide entertainment, which gives a tropical soundtrack to your walk along the street. Here's The Hub Baja Grill, which is across from the Beach Bar. Both are very popular with vacationers.
The Lobster Pot reminds me of the fish shack restaurants familiar on Long Island and in New England. It's a long-time fixture on the corner of Ocean Boulevard and Canal Road. To the right is Siesta Key Market, an outdoor laundromat, and Siesta Key Hardware.
Last year, as part of the village-wide sidewalk redesign and landscaping project, Siesta Village added a brand-new gazebo for sitting and watching the world go by.
At the end of Ocean Boulevard, where it curves into Beach Road, you can walk onto Siesta Beach at Beach Access #5. Here's the sidewalk leading from Siesta Village up to Access #5, with lovely native grasses to the left.
In addition to restaurants and bars, Siesta Village offers lots of casual shopping, including jewelry stores, gift boutiques, a used bookstore, and ice cream shops.
In addition to the food and libations, many of the restaurants in the Village hire local musicians to provide entertainment, which gives a tropical soundtrack to your walk along the street. Here's The Hub Baja Grill, which is across from the Beach Bar. Both are very popular with vacationers.
The Lobster Pot reminds me of the fish shack restaurants familiar on Long Island and in New England. It's a long-time fixture on the corner of Ocean Boulevard and Canal Road. To the right is Siesta Key Market, an outdoor laundromat, and Siesta Key Hardware.
Last year, as part of the village-wide sidewalk redesign and landscaping project, Siesta Village added a brand-new gazebo for sitting and watching the world go by.
At the end of Ocean Boulevard, where it curves into Beach Road, you can walk onto Siesta Beach at Beach Access #5. Here's the sidewalk leading from Siesta Village up to Access #5, with lovely native grasses to the left.
In addition to restaurants and bars, Siesta Village offers lots of casual shopping, including jewelry stores, gift boutiques, a used bookstore, and ice cream shops.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Walking on Siesta Beach
The sands of Siesta Beach, on Siesta Key, in Sarasota FL, are 99% pure crystal. They are world-renowned for their soft, powdery texture.
Every day, Siesta Beach is groomed, to fluff up the sand for another round of beachgoers.
In contrast to beaches in other parts of the country, Siesta Beach parking is free and public, so everyone has access, via 10 different entry points.
People of all ages enjoy walking along the blue-green surf, swimming, building sand sculptures, picnicking, riding their bikes, or quietly napping or reading a book.
In recent years, the small-scale wooden beach cottages that used to line Beach Road have been replaced by 3-4 story beach mansions in some places.
Siesta Village is an easy walk from any of the beach access points. Once you've had your fill of sand and surf, you can amble over for a meal at the numerous cafes and restaurants, stock up on basics at Siesta Key Market, or shop for beachwear, jewelry, and gifts in Village stores.
Every day, Siesta Beach is groomed, to fluff up the sand for another round of beachgoers.
In contrast to beaches in other parts of the country, Siesta Beach parking is free and public, so everyone has access, via 10 different entry points.
People of all ages enjoy walking along the blue-green surf, swimming, building sand sculptures, picnicking, riding their bikes, or quietly napping or reading a book.
In recent years, the small-scale wooden beach cottages that used to line Beach Road have been replaced by 3-4 story beach mansions in some places.
Siesta Village is an easy walk from any of the beach access points. Once you've had your fill of sand and surf, you can amble over for a meal at the numerous cafes and restaurants, stock up on basics at Siesta Key Market, or shop for beachwear, jewelry, and gifts in Village stores.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Island Park at the Sarasota Bayfront
Downtown Sarasota's Island Park is a beautiful multi-use greenspace that follows the arc of the shoreline at the west end of Main Street.
It's one of Sarasota's many delights that one minute you're walking along a city street with shops and restaurants, and the next minute you're ambling along the water's edge, surrounded by yachts,
small craft,
walking paths,
a playground, and numerous spots to read or rest under the shade of a banyan tree.
The panoramic view towards the John Ringling Bridge, which connects downtown to Lido Key, is not to be missed.
And, Sarasota being the artsy town that it is, you can enjoy permanent sculpture such as this exuberant dolphin fountain
and the very interesting "Season of Sculpture", a biannual temporary outdoor exhibit of large-scale creations that follows the curve of the bayfront. This year's selection is now installed, so make sure to schedule an amble along the Bayfront to see the artwork up close.
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