Spending a longer trip to Anna Maria Island and need a little break from lounging in the sun? Try a day trip to our neighboring county, Sarasota! There are so many things to do in Sarasota whether you’re heading out to escape a rainy beach day, visit a well-renowned museum, or catch some live entertainment! Just a short drive from the Anna Maria Island-Bradenton area, it’s a great and easy way to change things up for a day of your trip!
Museums
Sarasota, Florida is known for its emphasis on the arts. You could certainly spend a full day just checking out the museums within 20-30 minutes within Anna Maria Island. We also recommend stopping by Bradenton’s Village of the Arts on your way out to Sarasota’s famous museums!
Most notably, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art where the grounds are undeniably as beautiful as the art pieces it houses! There’s even a Circus Museum for those fans of “the greatest show on earth” and the Ca’ d’Zan mansion that will make you feel like you’ve traveled to a faraway palace.
There are also countless specialty museums close by — like the Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy with fun and playful sculptures and installations and the Classic Car Museum with so many fabulous, historic cars.
Shops
Whether you’re looking to window shop some boutiques and special items like at the picturesque St. Armand’s Circle just past Longboat Key, strutting down Main Street in Downtown Sarasota to stop by some local shops and grab lunch, or wanting to make a day of it at the massive and award-winning University Town Center… You can shop til’ you drop in whatever fashion you like!
Entertainment
If you’re wanting to have a night out and plan to see a show – Sarasota is definitely the place to go. There really is something for every performing arts enthusiast: The Sarasota Opera, The Asolo Rep, Florida Studio Theatre, The Players Centre, and the Van Wezel — and the options don’t end there. There’s wonderful local productions, as well as national and international tours that come through!
Our team has indulged in numerous of these fun offerings in nearby Sarasota and can recommend the right fit for you and your group. Just let us know when planning your trip with us and we’d be happy to give you some insight and help you get set for a great day trip from AMI to Sarasota!
Photos from Unsplash.com