When I thought Siesta Key, I immediately thought of the reality TV show on MTV. Spending 5 days in this popular beach town made me realize that there was more to it than just young people, drama, and bars.

Below are my thoughts/suggestions as to what to do (other than, obviously, going to the beach), as well as what to eat/drink:

Enjoy the sunsets (especially on rainy days)

This trip taught me that the days with the nicest sunsets are the days when it rains. Also, sunsets are really sweet on the west coast of FL!

Sunrises are pretty nice too!

My room overlooked the city, therefore I got to see the sunrise every morning. I recommend taking advantage of the nice sunrises and using the glow for selfies.

Breakfast/Lunch at Original Word of Mouth

This place is AWESOME and more of a local spot. The ingredients are super fresh, and the staff is really nice. I had the Turkey Club Benedict the first time around (it was one of the specials) and it was delicious, plus look at how fresh the fruit is. The second time around, I had 1/2 a BLAT (Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado, and Tomato sandwich) and a salad – it was also great.

Next door to the restaurant there is boutique called The Pink Place (it is actually moving to The Village soon). The owner is super kind and helpful and she has a cute selection of apparel/accessories.

Breakfast at Another Broken Egg Cafe

I had the avocado toast and smoked salmon breakfast and it was pretty good for a healthy dish. They are better known for their sweet dishes and New Orleans inspired dishes.

Happy Hour at Daiquiri Deck

Happy hour at Daiquiri Deck is from 3PM-7PM and that entails daiquiris being 1/2 off (you will thank me for this). $4 per daiquiri is a STEAL! My favorites were the Venice Vice and Pina Colada. Also, no worries if you don’t want to sit and drink – you can take them to go.

Lunch/Dinner at Island House Tap and Grill

This restaurant is a hole in the wall, but it was still excellent. Our beer of choice was Big Storm, which was a red ale they had on draft. For appetizer, we had guac with sweet potato chips (it was to die for) and Ahi Poke (also incredible) – portions are small, though. For dinner, I had the Pescado Tacos with a side of guac and they were phenomenal (only critique would be that there was too much lettuce for my liking).

Dinner at The Cottage

Loved this place for drinks and tapas. To drink, I had the Adam & Eve (Fig vodka, lime juice, and prosecco); I enjoyed it until the very last drop. To eat, we had Big Island Tuna Poke, Korean Short Rib, Mumbai Chicken, Peruvian Ceviche, Truffle Fries, and Risotto. My favorite was the Mumbai Chicken, but the poke and ceviche were also good. The short rib was dry and flavorless, but the rice was delicious.

Dinner at Star Thai and Sushi

I loved this place! They had so many options ranging from sushi to thai to hibachi. We had the Sarasota Roll for appetizer, and it was yummy and, of course, very fitting. For dinner, I had the Spicy Noodles with Tofu and it sure hit the spot – it was perfect.

Dinner at Spearfish Grille

We were recommended this restaurant from a local and it did not disappoint. For appetizer, we had the conch fritters and grouper cheeks. Both came on biodegradable plates and were large portions. The grouper cheeks were SUPER tender. I recommend them both! For dinner, I had the Ahi Tuna Sandwich and it was great (excellent portion too). I do not recommend the coleslaw, though (tasted a bit funky). For dessert, we had the cheesecake and flourless chocolate cake (it was also dairy-free and incredibly rich).

Dessert at Made in Rome Organic Gelato

I absolutely adored the gelato here (I had it 3 times during my stay). I love how they offer a lot of vegan options; they even had my favorite flavor, pistachio (pictured below).

Explore the Ringling Museum

This was one of my favorite parts of the trip. I know it is hot to be walking around outside, but the grounds are gorgeous and totally worth it. If you go during summer, take water, dress comfortably (walking shoes!), and get ready to take lots of pictures. I learned a lot about the Ringling brothers and about circuses in general.

Visit St. Armands Circle

This is technically in Lido Key, but it is not far. We went briefly during the day to do some shopping. You can check it out for lunch/dinner or maybe just to do some shopping, like I did.

*I also wanted to share a section for my looks during the trip.

The Fits: