A Weekend Itinerary To Jump On

Everyone needs a little weekend getaway now and again. Ditch the errands and chores and unwind with your toes in the water and face to the sun. Or maybe you need a little thrill and excitement to escape the mundane and shake up the status quo! Sarasota County's got that, too. If you have a Saturday-Sunday to spare and need a change of scenery, why not make that scenery somewhere that's worthy of a wallpaper change AND has endless things to do? With everything from relaxing hideaways to exciting entertainment, your weekend will fly by faster than you can say "Sunday scaries." 

Friday

It's Friday—blow into town after work and kick off the weekend at a tiki bar with live music and much to cheers to. A great beer selection, tropical drinks and an elevated bar menu make O'Leary's Tiki Bar & Grill a perfect Friday hangout. Watch sailboats come anchor into the marina and enjoy the sunset over Sarasota Bay. There's arguably no better way to let the hair down and let that Friday feeling sink in. 

After dinner and drinks, stroll the beautiful Bayfront Park at dusk or past sundown under the lights. Florida nights—no matter the time of year—feel wonderfully warm and you can't beat the sea breeze as you walk the water's edge.

Directly across from the Park, walk right into the heart of Downtown Sarasota for some nightlife, people watching or more food and drinks if O'Leary's was just a happy hour or precursor to an evening's meal! Find an abundance of hip local restaurants right along Main Street and the walkable streets just off the main drag. For some fine-dining or surf and turf, check out Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse, Element: Steak. Seafood. Pasta, Patrick's 1481 and Sage SRQ. For some more globally-inspired cuisine and trendy settings, make your way to Selva Grill, Bijou Cafe or 1592 Wood Fired Kitchen & Cocktails to round out the night!

Saturday

Get your day started early and head over to downtown's Sarasota Farmers Market for local bites, entertainment and artisan goods. Year-round, every Saturday from 7am to 1pm, locals and visitors alike stroll the popular market of vendors for breakfast/lunch delights, souvenirs, art, beverages, jewelry, candles, plants and so much more. 

From the Market, walk right over to catch the NY Bagel Brunch at 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottleshop for a real meal. Every weekend, 99 Bottles hosts their popular bagel brunch, with bagels shipped from New York and paired with any combination of craft beer, wine, mimosa, kombucha and more. 

After you're full and happy, catch a free ride to the beach on the Bay Runner trolley or drive over the bridge into Lido Key yourself. A whole day's worth of things to do is all right there for you on St Armand's Circle and Lido Beach. St Armand's is a central hub for shopping—both local boutiques and popular chains—as well as dining, from the elegant to beach-casual. Stroll the circle to walk off the bagels and score some great finds, or don't let the sun dip too low past the day and head straight to the beach. If you're in a need of pure R&R, you've got plenty of powder-soft sand to sink in and do so. And if you and your company are on the more restless side, try some surf fishing, rent kayaks or SUPs to paddle Lido's mangrove tunnels or go on an E-bike tour along the tide line. 

Wash up from the day's sun-filled, salty adventures, or relaxation, and head out on the town again for an evening show. Sarasota is known as a performing arts destination, with dozens of theater venues and a variety of showtime experiences. All within walking distance of each other, check out showings from Florida Studio Theatre, Urbanite Theatre, Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Opera or the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. 

After your performance, grab some dinner in another neighborhood of Sarasota. Close by and just a few minutes drive further south of downtown, check out the quaint and more local neighborhood of Hillview, or Southside Village. There, you'll find a couple of galleries and boutiques to window shop, or actually shop, as well as a number of different cuisines for whatever you and your company are craving. For contemporary American food and craft cocktails, check out Libby's Neighborhood Brasserie. For some casual sports bar vibes, local chain, Gecko's Grill & Pub is a lively spot to watch a game and hangout. And for some more coastal island vibes, get your seafood fix in a fun concept at the Reef Cakes. 

Sunday

With the weekend rounding out, treat yourself to a nice brunch further south of Sarasota in the less traveled town of Venice. At Café Evergreen, find brunch favorites like omelets and benedicts, as well as specials like funky variations of pancakes. Or, head right to Venice Beach to have brunch on the water at Crow's Nest Marina Restaurant for some of the best ocean-to-table dining. 

From there, you don't have to go far to get to the beach. And you have a couple of public beaches to choose from in Venice—broken up by two jetties (North and South). Watch the fishermen and boaters come in and out of the pass between the jetties, try skimboarding or search for shark's teeth!

After checking out this part of the coast, walk or drive to Historic Downtown Venice and its Main Street less than a mile away. Want a local guide to show the way? Book a Historic Venice Culinary Tour or a Shark's Teeth & More Family Tour with Sarasota Suncoast Tours. Or wander your own way and take a self-guided tour to experience a vibrant downtown with parks, green spaces, tons of local shops and boutiques, family-owned cafes and restaurants. 

And if you've got the time before the weekend's end, culminate your fun-filled weekend with one last Gulf Coast sunset. Heading back to the beach area of Venice, walk out onto the Venice Fishing Pier for undoubtedly the best view. Get your pics in and cheers to a successful weekend escape with a glass of wine or frozen cocktail at Fins at Sharky's waterfront restaurant.

You may be experiencing some Sunday Scaries at this point in time, but just know, that Sarasota County will always be here for you when you wish to return. And there's more than enough to do to change up the itinerary with each trip!

Need Help Planning Your Trip?

For some local tips and help with planning your trip, find out how to get here, how to get around, where to stay, and explore special offers and deals to get the most of your weekend—or more!