Siesta Key_Sarasota

Gilligans Island Bar and Grill is a fun spot with live music daily and nightly.  Nice Patio out back which is shared with Mojo Risn' Coffee.  Great to hang out, drink margaritas, and listen to live music.  Good menu, next time nachos.

Captain Curt's Crab and Oyster Bar is more than a bar, it has a restaurant, a "sniki tiki bar" and a gift shop, so it's a bit of a destination.   We ate at the tiki bar where a 90's alt rock band played, Pearl Jam & Nirvana.  Clam chowder may be the best I've ever had, more clams than potatoes. 

Mojo Risn' Coffee Co.; yes, think Jim Morrison, the lizard king.   A very colorful spot on the outside, dimmly lit by white strands of christmas lights on the inside.   Great patio in front and back, coffee, smoothies and pastries.

Pastry Art Cafe & Dessert is a colorful coffee shop with plenty of breakfast and lunch options.  Large outdoor patio on the street, we had bagels and a delicious breakfast sandwich.  

City Sightseeing Trolley Tour of Sarasota was fascinating.  Sarasota was settled by Scottish immigrants, including the "father of Sarasota", John Gillespie.  It was essentially a jungle.  Then there are the Ringling brothers, incredible wealth, nice house.  And the giant statue of Sailor kissing Nurse in Time Square on VJ day, doint know why it's in Sarasota?

Columbia Restaurant came highly recommended by the tour guide and others on the tour.  It did not disappoint, great Cuban and the salad,,, oh ,,, the salad, made right at the table, sooo good.  We had to wait but so worth it, I know we will go there again.   This is a Kristi Jump favorite.

Sun King Sarasota brewery is a great spot with some easy drinking brews.  Kristi likes the orange vanilla cream ale while I do a flight of a wide variety of IPAs.  We went to two locations in Indianapolis.  They have multiple locations in Indiana and this one in FL, and retained the small brewery quality.  

Siesta Key Oyster Bar is a lively place with live music, some local beers, and a big menu.  It's one of those places with dollars bills stapled everywhere signaling to customers to expect energy and rowdy.  Wings and Seafood Jambalaya were delicious.

Venice Island Coffee is a light, bright, clean coffee ship with fresh food.  It has a small patio. This seems to be a place with local regulars, a hangout for recent retirees.  

Real Bikes in Venice was a perfect place to rent a bike, right on the bike path, knowledgeable and helpful staff, and low prices (only $25 for day).  Option:  rent an E-bike, take more time, cover more ground.   

Legacy Trail in Florida runs about 18 miles between Sarasota and Venice.  We biked about 12 miles up to Calusa Brewing and back.  Great ride, flat and easy.  We could have gone further.  

Calusa Brewing is a highly rated  brewery with variety and unique beers.  Definitely, a place for flights.  Florida Flavor is a lager and fantastic, perfect for day drinking.  7 IPAs on tap, oh yah!   Kristi had a good non-sour fruit beer.