A Medal-Worthy Weekend in Sarasota

Only have a weekend to spend in Sarasota? Then you’d better spend your time wisely. Lucky for you, we’ve put together an itinerary based on Sarasota native and Team USA swimmer Emma Weyant’s favorite local spots. Follow her lead and you might just feel like a champion yourself. 

Friday afternoon: Check in at Art Ovation Hotel  

Emma might opt to stay with family when she’s in town. But she’s also a big fan of Art Ovation Hotel in downtown Sarasota. The boutique hotel that’s part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection embraces Sarasota’s artsy side, with on-site art installations, performances, and workshops and in-room amenities like sketchbooks, coloring pencils, and a ukulele. Make like Emma and head up to the rooftop for a drink at Perspective Rooftop Bar; there’s also a pool up there perfect for relaxing. 

Friday night: Dinner at Café Epicure 

Walk from the hotel over to Café Epicure, one of Emma’s favorite spots for Italian food. The casual trattoria serves pastas made from scratch, pizzas, and entrees that will leave you satisfied. After dinner, amble around downtown Sarasota. Cool spots nearby include Bar Hana for tropical cocktails, Main Street Creamery for ice cream, and OfKors Bakery for coffee and dessert.

Image

Saturday morning: Stroll the Sarasota Farmers Market, then hit the beach

Held every Saturday morning in downtown Sarasota, the Sarasota Farmers Market is one of Emma’s favorite ways to start the weekend. Grab a hot coffee or cold brew from Jimmy’s Java or O&A Coffee and Supply, then sample everything from French crepes to artisan breads as you check out the offerings from the market’s dozens of vendors. 

After you’ve had your fill, it’s time to head to the beach. Emma’s a big fan of Turtle Beach on Siesta Key; it’s where she likes to go with a good book and relax. “It has the best sand and the prettiest water,” she says. 

Longboat Key Beach is another of her top picks for a quiet beach day. And if you want a little more activity, Longboat Key’s also a great place for kayaking or standup paddleboarding. Companies like Happy Paddler Kayak Tours & EcoVentures and Longboat Key Paddleboard and Kayak can get you set up with rental equipment or take you on a tour of the area. 

Saturday afternoon: Lunch and shopping on St. Armands Circle 

When Emma’s looking for unique items, she heads to the boutiques on St. Armands Circle. Shops there carry everything from sandals and sundresses to art and beachy home accessories. 

Make sure to check out the Circus Ring of Fame as you’re strolling the circle, a tribute Sarasota’s rich circus history that began when John Ringling relocated the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus’s winter headquarters here. And when you want to break for lunch, options abound ranging from frozen drinks and casual eats at local fave Daiquiri Deck to clam chowder, crabcake sandwiches, and Key West yellowtail snapper at Crab & Fin. 

Saturday night: Dinner at Napulè and drinks at The Westin

It’s a short drive or rideshare from downtown Sarasota to one of Emma’s favorite local restaurants, Napulè. The stylish Italian eatery serves homemade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, breads, and desserts to a devoted clientele (definitely make a reservation).

After dinner, head back to downtown Sarasota and up to the rooftop of The Westin Sarasota. Sit by a firepit with a drink in hand from the bar atop the 18-story hotel and admire the sweeping city views. 

Sunday morning: Get some exercise and eat some brunch 

Start the morning off like Emma would with a run or walk over the Ringling Causeway. The 65-foot-tall, 3,097-foot-long bridge that connects downtown Sarasota to Bird, St. Armands, and Lido Keys provides both a challenging workout and postcard-worthy views of Sarasota Bay and the surrounding area.

Then reward yourself with brunch at one of Emma’s favorite spots, C’est La Vie Downtown Sarasota. The charming French bistro offers indoor and outdoor seating where diners can enjoy croissants, omelets, crepes, and quiche. 

Image

Sunday afternoon: Take a ride on the Legacy Trail

A former railroad corridor turned multi-use trail, the almost 20-mile Legacy Trail runs south from downtown Sarasota to Venice’s Shamrock Park. Emma developed an appreciation for the trail in recent years, which has a trailhead at Payne Park in downtown Sarasota. 

You can rent bikes from outfitters like Ride & Paddle, Sarasota Bike Tours, and Wheel Street. For a shorter ride, pedal from Payne Park down to Culverhouse Nature Park and explore the nature trail and community garden there.