Sarasota Guide

Holiday gifts for anyone who loves Sarasota, sorted by recipient, from Longboat and Lido Key sweatshirts to stocking stuffers and gift cards, with shipping and pickup details.

Where to park (and when it's free), where the restrooms are, how to walk to Lido Beach, what to eat and which souvenirs are worth bringing home. A guide to St. Armands Circle from a shop on the Circle.

A relaxed three-day Sarasota itinerary for first-timers flying into SRQ: the islands, The Ringling and downtown, and a final beach day on Siesta or Longboat.

Every public beach access and where to park, how to find Beer Can Island, and what to know before a day on Sarasota's quietest key.

An honest side by side of Sarasota's three best-known islands, from sand and crowds to parking and dinner, so you can pick the right one for your trip.

A beach-by-beach guide to Sarasota, from Siesta's quartz sand to Longboat's empty stretches, with a quick verdict on who each one suits.

The best places to watch the sunset in Sarasota, from Siesta and Lido beaches to the downtown bayfront and the Ringling Bridge, with parking and timing tips.

The best beaches for shelling around Sarasota, when to go, how to tell if a shell is alive, and the Florida rules on live shells.

Where visitors can actually play golf near St. Armands, Lido, Longboat and Siesta, how far ahead to book in winter, and what to wear on the course.

What to bring home from Sarasota, from island-logo tees and caps to small gifts that pack flat, plus what fits in a carry-on, what to ship, and the rules on shells.