Worth the drive, coming from vacation. There are many beaches to choose from yet many of the…read morereviews on other beaches were stating there was sharks in the water, so anna maria beach it was. They offer free parking which was very easy to find. Or you can pay its up to you. The beach was beautiful yet as it got darker the waves were stronger & took you with them, just depends on the tides. Overall it was so much fun, took lots of pictures & memories i will not forget. Most shops there close at 5 pm which i find weird bcs who closes that early? Idk

I stumbled upon this spot by accident and was so happy I did. It's such a relaxing spot with…read morejetties and small beach access. Small parking lot, but the spots freed up quickly as many people didn't stay long. I recommend stopping here if you're looking for a more quiet beach spot away from the crowds.

The Bidwell-Wood House is located at 1260 12th Street and is a one and one-half story Classical…read moreRevival, wood-frame structure with a Georgian floor plan, built in 1882. The house formerly was located at 881 Florida Avenue, and prior to that, 900 S. Euclid Avenue, and prior to that it stood near the intersection of U.S. 41 and Wood Street. It was moved to its' current new home in Pioneer Park in October of 2006. This is one of the oldest document homes in Sarasota county and now serves as the offices of the Sarasota historical society. Many rooms in the home are maintained as they would have been during the late 1800s/early 1900s. It's a very interesting and informative place to visit. It also has an interesting history: On December 27, 1884, Charles Abbe was murdered in front of Mr. Bidwell's store. Bidwell was associated with the Sara Sota Vigilante Committee. It is alleged that plans for the murder took place at the Christmas Eve housewarming. Mr. Bidwell was arraigned and sentenced and the Bidwell property was sold in 1885. In recommend stopping in if you have time.

Fantastic evening at the Field club in the Grill room with friends! This is a private members only…read moreclub on the Sarasota waterfront with tennis facilities, pool and multiple dining areas and well worth the visit if you get an invite from a member! The building is historic with many great touches, and the food and service did not disappoint! Salmon and fillet were both outstanding as were the tuna and shrimp appetizers. Desserts were also absolutely delicious and large portions easy to share. If you're in the mood for something sweet, cold and delicious after dinner, try the Whisper! Thanks for a fantastic evening!

The Field Club is a private country club that seems to be pretty exclusive. I attended a wedding…read morethere so I am reviewing that experience. And quite frankly, it was wonderful. The ceremony was located on a beautiful lawn area looking right out into the water. That was followed by cocktail hour which was located at a nearby event room with an outdoor patio. Then we moved into one of the dining rooms for the reception. My meal was salmon and it was fantastic, as were all of the servers and bartenders all evening. It was a great wedding and I'm glad I got to experience this place.

I've been visiting Venice, Florida for decades, it's a beach town of sorts a resilient town that…read morefully understands how to continuously reinvent itself and with it's location on the gulf coast it has some beautiful beaches among so many other things, whether you're just looking to soak up the sun or you want to partake in one it's most famous adventures "shark tooth hunting" you won't be disappointed. The story goes and I'm referring to stories I've been told for years that off-shore from Venice there lies large tar pits that were created over centuries when sharks would travel great distances to spend their final days in the area and died in mass numbers, as the tar-pits erode, or exposed by the ocean currents the shark's teeth wash ashore so much so that it has created a thriving business for the locals - I personally have found hundreds and carry a sand scope with me when visiting to sieve the sand near the waters edge. That's just one of many reasons to visit the beautiful town, the downtown business district offers shopping and outdoor dining options and free parking. There's lots of history here so if that's your thing exploring the town can be quite rewarding, this is a must visit if you're in the area...

Not much for kids to do besides the beach. lots of drinking and driving going on as that seems to…read morebe everyone's hobby. For "paradise" everyone sure acts miserable. traffic terrible unfriendly people. jobs are either restaurant or construction. high rent prices. and more riff raff than people realize here.

As we were driving around Sarasota getting acquainted with the city, we noticed a unique building…read more We were intrigued with the graffiti art on the side of it and decided to pull in. Being from Miami, where graffiti art is very popular in various neighborhoods, we wanted to take a look. The vibrant blue colors with fish life were a perfect match for Sarasota. As in most cities, a Chamber of Commerce is a much needed organization that organizes valuable events and relationships that bring together local businesses and business leaders to build and sustain their cities. Sarasota C of C has many worthwhile events scheduled during the year to reach out to business leaders to help keep them a success. We were not able to tour the building as it was closed on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend.

This archaeological site in Manatee county is in need of some love. The signs are faded, hard to…read moreread, or vague. There are 2 parking spots, but I guess that's ok, it doesn't seem to be heavily visited. The mound is literally in front of several people's homes, which means something, I'm sure. One picnic table, an In need of repair earthen stairway that leads to the top of the mound and 3 signs of any significance. Seems maybe there could be more.

Madira Bickell Mounds is a nice place off the beaten path to have a picnic. It is nestled in a…read moreresidential area which unfortunately has been built upon an archeologically rich area. What remains is the small area and the preserved mound used by Native Americans. The park itself is very small, and the mound is overgrown by vegetation and is hard to see. There are some signs that provide information about the historical significance of the mounds. This is not a major stop of a state park. It is very small and is best suited for anyone who does have an interest in the historical aspects of the park.

Friendly staff, clean interior and bathrooms, somewhat limited parking, very slow WiFi (off and…read moreon), and somewhat limited outlets. Check the back walls for power outlets. However, I haven't found any location inside where the WiFi is better. Additionally, the main library website times out, so no further information can be collected.

Started taking notice of these memorial signs along bridges on I-75 North for their on duty deaths…read more Trooper JD Young died in 1987 near this bridge. This is a toll free bridge over the Manatee River in Ellenton and is smooth driving over and is basic but nicely paved. Drove over the bridge traveling from Cape Coral to Tampa. Not much of a dramatic view over the edges.

This pair of bridges carries I-75 over the Manatee River and joins the communities of Bradenton and…read moreEllenton. It is named for Trooper Jeffrey Dale Young who was killed in the line of duty not far from here in 1987. They are simple and unadorned, but completely functional as the traffic going over doesn't even slow down from highway speeds. There is a plan to expand to FOUR bridges with additional bridges to handle express and HOV lanes. It's a challenge because the Ellenton side has US-301 that has traffic for the outlet mall and the trade port. A big deal. As bridges go, this one was pleasant and easy to cross. And surprisingly, no toll. [Review 19897 overall - 1699 in Florida - 870 of 2023.]