• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 30 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 30th Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $21,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $21 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    60,000+ subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Sarasota - first visit

gjhardt

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
380
Reaction score
42
Points
388
Location
Pennsylvania
Resorts Owned
Marriott Monarch
Renting at Hyatt Siesta Key for 4 days. Would really appreciate any and all ideas on things to do and good places to eat. We usually just relax during the day at the beach and pool but love to get out in the evening for a nice dinner and we like to take a break during the hot afternoon and sight see a little.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions. We are really looking forward to this trip.
 

Talent312

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2007
Messages
17,462
Reaction score
7,277
Points
948
Resorts Owned
HGVC & GTS
Whenever we're near: COLUMBIA RESTAURANT - 411 St. Armands Circle.
Founded in 1905 in Ybor City, the Columbia is Florida's oldest restaurant.
The 1905 salad is not to be missed. See: http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/
.
 

Jim Bryan

Tug Review Crew: Rookie
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
781
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Another vote for Clayton's
 

b2bailey

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2007
Messages
3,682
Reaction score
2,620
Points
598
Location
Santa Cruz CA
Ca' d'Zan | The Ringling
www.ringling.org/ca-dzan
The Ringlings' dazzling 56-room palace on Sarasota Bay has been described as “the last of the Gilded Age mansions.

AND

John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
 

rapmarks

TUG Review Crew: Elite
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
9,632
Reaction score
4,765
Points
649
Ca' d'Zan | The Ringling
www.ringling.org/ca-dzan
The Ringlings' dazzling 56-room palace on Sarasota Bay has been described as “the last of the Gilded Age mansions.

AND

John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

yes, and the Museum of Art is free on Mondays
 

sfwilshire

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
4,131
Reaction score
243
Points
448
Location
Clinton TN
Resorts Owned
Tristram's Landing, Tree Tops Gatlinburg, Mystic Dunes, Sheraton Vistana Spas & Fountains
The Ringling Museum, particularly the miniature circus, was one of the highlights of our visit. We had seen it in 1982 at the World's Fair and it was amazing how much it had grown. Just amazing. We went in the evening when it was deeply discounted.

I also thought we would enjoy the botanical garden, but we never made it over there.

Sheila
 

Sullco2

Guest
Joined
Mar 1, 2011
Messages
162
Reaction score
19
Points
178
Location
New York
Alligators galore

Myakka State Park, just a bit south. Alligators and a great boat tour on the wild lake.

There is an interesting downtown Old Florida neighborhood in Sarasota. Owens Fish Camp restaurant is in the heart of it. Funky.

But, given the luxury that awaits at Hyatt Siesta Key, I'd probably spend a lot of time enjoying the property and its beach.
 

silentg

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2005
Messages
6,185
Reaction score
3,260
Points
649
Location
Central Florida
Resorts Owned
Fitzpatrick's Castle Holiday Homes,
Enchanted Isle.
Definitely go to Ringling you will love it! Siesta Key Beach! Beautiful !
 

MULTIZ321

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
31,265
Reaction score
8,993
Points
1,048
Location
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL
Resorts Owned
BLUEWATER BY SPINNAKER HHI
ROYAL HOLIDAY CLUB RHC (POINTS)
http://claytonssiestagrille.com/ We love Clayton's for a nice dinner, and just a couple of blocks from the Hyatt.
Also recommend Mote Marine and Ringling mansion tours.

Another vote for Mote Marine Laboratory and Acquarium - for more info see
https://mote.org/
At their home page, Click on Experiences and check out doing an Eco-Boat Tour of Sarasota Bay in addition to the Acquarium

Info for Ringling Mansion Tours and Art Museum is included in other posts in this thread.

Here"s the link for info on the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens - http://selby.org/

and here's info about St. Armand's Circle - http://visitstarmandscircle.com/

Sarasota has a large Amish and Menonite Community in the Bahia Vista and
Beneva Road area. The restaurants in the area are known far and wide for both their dining value and baked goods . For more info, see
http://www.restaurantsinsarasota.com/Sarasota/Restaurants/sarasota_amish_restaurants.html

Have a great trip.


Richard
 

rapmarks

TUG Review Crew: Elite
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
9,632
Reaction score
4,765
Points
649
I was going to mention the Amish restaurants. Der Dutchman was good.
 

gjhardt

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
380
Reaction score
42
Points
388
Location
Pennsylvania
Resorts Owned
Marriott Monarch
Thanks

Thank you all for the info. Getting excited will be there next week. And we are planning on going over to the Amish area so appreciate the restaurant info.
 

JPD

TUG Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
248
Reaction score
1
Points
228
Location
Jacksonville NC
We will be in Orlando next week, a poster mentioned Myakka State Park, my son just saw that park on finding Bigfoot at wants to go there. I told him we can go only if he can get a few of those infrared camera's. Just from reading all of your posts of Sarasota, it looks like it would be a worth while trip.
 

theo

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2007
Messages
9,032
Reaction score
2,268
Points
648
Location
New England Coast
We will be in Orlando next week, a poster mentioned Myakka State Park, my son just saw that park on finding Bigfoot at wants to go there. I told him we can go only if he can get a few of those infrared camera's. Just from reading all of your posts of Sarasota, it looks like it would be a worth while trip.

Myakka River State Park is a worthwhile visit, but hardly convenient to Orlando (it's about 150+ miles away). As a day trip, that would involve over 300 miles of driving.
 
Last edited:
Top