An hour south of Tampa on the gulf coast of Florida is a small city called Sarasota. Sarasota, Florida is best known as being home to the #1 beach in the United States: Siesta Key Beach. There is so much more than just beaches though! Here is a one day Sarasota itinerary with kids that doesn’t involve the beach unless you want it to.
There is so much to do in Sarasota that no matter your interests your day will be full of culture, arts, outdoor activities, the beach and good food. If you are in town longer make sure to check off as many things to do in Sarasota as possible.
So let’s get started!
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One Day Sarasota, Itinerary
Morning
First up, the most important meal of the day, breakfast! Start your day off right with some delicious and absolutely decadent donuts from Five-0 Donut Co. They are delicious and completely over the top, in fact it will probably cause a sugar crash about mid morning but it is very worth it. I tried the peanut butter snickers and the s’mores flavors. Both were good but the peanut butter snickers one was my favorite!
Then we headed over to the John and Mable Ringling Museum or “The Ringling” for short. The museum opens at ten so there is no need to get up early. And the donut shop is only a quick 10 minutes away.
The Ringling is made up of several different sections. It started as the winter home for John Ringling, one of the Ringling Brothers that started the Ringling circus, and his wife Mable. The art museum was started by John and Mable Ringling to celebrate art and culture. Their mansion is now part of the museum and the stunning home’s design was drawn from a Palace in Venice (it costs an added fee to go inside). They loved Italy and you can see that in all of the buildings and landscaping.
There are also two whole museum buildings dedicated to the history of the circus. They have miniatures depicting what life in the circus would have been like and what a show would have looked like. In addition, there are circus artifacts and an interactive area where kids and adults alike can walk a tightrope and more.
All in all I recommend about 3-4 hours to see everything!
Afternoon
By now you’re probably starving! There are lots of great restaurants to try, we chose O’Leary’s Tiki Bar and Grill. It is a waterfront restaurant in Bayfront Park right next to the “Unconditional Surrender” statue. The outdoor seating offers a great view of the water, the food was delicious, my virgin mango daiquiri was refreshing and there was even live music playing. I definitely would have appreciated it more if I didn’t have a baby that was trying to nap lol. Overall it is a great spot to stop in and eat for lunch.
Bayfront Park also has waterfront walking paths, a playground, boat rentals and more.
After lunch you’ll be rested and ready for your next adventure. Since it is the hottest part of the day an indoor activity like the Mote Laboratory and Aquarium is perfect!
At the Mote Aquarium you can see lots of fun aquatic wildlife like jellyfish, sharks, turtles and even manatees! I recommend about 2-3 hours in total for the aquarium.
Evening
If you are really hungry you can walk less than ten minutes and eat at The Old Salty Dog, a seafood and hot dog restaurant on the water. Or if you’re still full from lunch then head to St. Armands Circle. This is a roundabout with high end stores and a variety of food options. You can walk around, shop and work up an appetite. Once you are hungry you can choose from one of the great food choices like:
- The Columbia Restaurant
- Crab and Fin
- Shore
If you have young kids like us then it is probably time to head in for the night but if you still have more life in you then head to nearby Lido Beach to watch the sunset!
Best Time To Visit Sarasota
Thanks to Florida’s temperate climate there really is no bad time to visit. I will say the best temperatures, before it gets too hot, are between November and May with January and February being on the chilly side.
Hurrican and rainy season is from April to October. That doesn’t mean it is a bad time to visit but you should definitely bring an umbrella and shoes that you don’t mind getting wet.
The hottest time of year is from June to October and that also tends to be peak tourist season because kids are out of school and family vacations are happening.
My personal favorite time in Florida is March – May!!
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How to Get to Sarasota, FL
Sarasota is very easy to get to. You can drive there which is what I recommend if you are coming from a drivable distance. You are most likely going to need your car to get around so driving saves you the cost of renting a car.
Luckily Sarasota is not far from several large Florida Cities.
- Tampa to Sarasota: 1 Hour
- Orlando to Sarasota: 2 ½ Hours
- Naples to Sarasota: 2 Hours
- Miami to Sarasota: 3 ½ Hours
You can also fly into the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ). It is a small local airport but if you can find cheap flights then flying is a great option. The airport is just outside the city and you can rent cars there if you need to.
Tampa is only an hour drive away and has a bigger airport (TPA). So another option is to fly into Tampa and then drive down to Sarasota. You may be able to find cheaper flights out of TPA since it is the larger airport.
More To Do Near Sarasota:
- Things to Do on a Day Trip to Anna Maria Island
- Flower Picking at Hunsader Farms in Bradenton, FL
- Guide to Shark Tooth Beach in Venice, Florida
- All Inclusive Day at Discovery Cove Orlando
How Many Days Do You Need in Sarasota?
The ideal amount of time you need for a vacation in Sarasota, Florida is 3-5 days. That is ample amount of time to see the sights as well as have plenty of time for relaxing and playing on the beach.
Sarasota offers so much to do that you could even stretch 5 days into a week or more, especially if you added in some day trips to nearby Tampa, Orlando or Naples.
One day is enough to get a sampling but I promise it will leave you wanting more! Check out the longer Sarasota itineraries I have (coming soon).
How to Get Around Town
Like I touched on before, driving is the best way to get around Sarasota on vacation. As is the case with the rest of the United States, things are just too spread out and the public transportation is just not widespread enough to be truly useful.
There is a bus system (SCAT) that you can try but if you can afford it, I highly recommend having access to a car.
Where to Stay When Vacationing in Sarasota?
If you decide to visit Sarasota for longer than a day, which I definitely recommend (or take multiple day trips) then these are some great places to stay:
Affordable:
With rooms starting at under $80 per night the Kompose Boutique Hotel is a great option. It is centrally located, has a cute pool and parking is included. The cute decor will make you feel like you’re at a nice resort but the close proximity of sarasota attractions will mean you will hardly be there to enjoy them!
Mid-Range:
Homewood Suites by Hilton has phenomenal reviews from guests. It is clean and the staff are great at giving personal attention to individual guests and their needs. Breakfast is included and these are apartment style rooms so you can cook meals at home if you are looking to save even more money!
Splurge:
The Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota has AMAZING reviews. It is an ocean front property with a private beach and many rooms get views of the bay! The hotel provides cribs or infant beds on request, the rooms are spacious and some reservations include breakfast. It is a great place to visit with or without kids.
What is Sarasota Known For?
If I had to pick one thing that Sarasota, Florida is best known for it would be that it is home to the number one beach in the U.S. Siesta Key has ranked as #1 in the U.S. three times since 2015 and last year it ranked #11 in the world!
Siesta Key boasts 100% quartz-crystal sand that doesn’t get hot, playgrounds, pavilions and free parking! (visitsarasota). This Sarasota itinerary doesn’t include the beach but the next one definitely!
Tips For Vacationing in Sarasota
- Florida gets HOT, especially in the middle of the day. The best time to go to the beach is in the morning or in the evening when the temperatures are cooler and the sun’s rays are not as intense.
- Make sure you wear sunscreen! Even if you don’t plan on being outside all day it is a good idea to wear sunscreen. The Florida sun is strong and nobody wants to deal with a sunburn on vacation.
- If you are visiting during the rainy season (April – October) make sure you pack an umbrella. It rains almost everyday in the late afternoon/ early evening during this time. Sometimes more!
- Schedule any indoor activities during the hottest times of the day or the rainiest time of day in order to stay the most comfortable
Practical Information for Sarasota, Florida
Find accommodation, sign up for a local tour, or buy your Florida Travel Guide.
Sarasota Itinerary For a Day Trip
This is a great Sarasota itinerary for a one day trip. There really is so much to do in Sarasota, if you have more time to spend here definitely take advantage. I know I’ll be back and I’ll keep you updated with more itineraries and recommendations!
Let me know if you have any questions or recommendations in the comments!!
