Should be Mid-Nov
When I went...my aunt said watch out for Senior drivers....and alligators.
Lido Key, St. Armands circle, Siesta Key
The beaches are fab. Bring your appetite for great seafood. Pack your patience and drive defensively. The Q-Tips behind the wheel are frightful.
Are you driving or flying?
Ringling Brothers/Barnum & Bailey Museum, Anna Marie Island.
Mid November, I would recommend avoiding the beach. Gets a tad cold.
Area beaches are nice. Jungle Gardens isn’t very expensive and is fun/interesting thing to do for a day.
1. Walt’s Fish Market (various seafood boils)
2. Selva Grill (Snapper plate, raw tuna appetizer, and other items were fun and good.)
One place we wanted to try was Der Dutchman, but time didn’t allow.
I am leaving off places we did eat that were not quite as impressive.
Ringling Museum, Selby Botanical Gardens (lovely), St. Armands Circle for shopping, Myaka River State Park (a little bit of a hike, but beautiful.)
The beach is nice (if you’re a Gulf fan, I’m not for swimming, but it is beautiful.)
There’s also a place called the Bahi Hut Tiki Lounge which I remember being hilarious and wonderful with silly Tiki drinks (I’m not much of a drinker of Tiki things, but some people are just for the event. It has ‘atmosphere’.)
Avoid “Florida man.”
Was in Sarasota a few months ago. Had a really crappy meal at place called “1592” in the downtown. Avoid.
Be prepared for traffic jams everywhere. Long lines at restaurants. There’s good places to eat but there’s not many on the water. Theres a nice new seafood place in Osprey a few miles south between sarasota and Venice on Black burn Bridge called Casey Key Fishhouse. https://caseykeyfishhouse.com/
I have not been there because I don’t get down there very often but it looks intriguing . Pretty area.
Siesta Key Distillery (it’s actually in Sarasota). Their Toasted Coconut Rum is to die for.
Great food on Long Boat Key: Euphemia Haye Restaurant
North of Sarasota the Weeki Wachee Mermaids are a must-see. Low entry cost which includes a boat ride on the clear stream plus a mermaid show. Then great swimming in the water complete with big water slide. We had a blast there.
Bring a winter coat... no wait..that’s Sarasota,NY in NoV.
Snook Haven (a few miles down the road)
https://www.snookhaven.com/
Rum runners. The Amish pie place.
Don’t miss the Ringling Circus Museum. It’s worth a day if include the art exhibits.