Sarasota/Bradenton, Fla March 10 - 15....must see?

Quint4

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Oct 6, 2006
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CY 3375
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7.4 MPI twin
Heading down for a Marine canvas class. I will have some free time at night. Good boat docks to walk? Favorite beach?
 
Marina Jack's (MJ) in Sarasota is pretty good with a nice park to walk around and water front bar (their fine dining, which is upstairs, is not that good), then there's O'Leary's in the park which is a pretty good bar that has a Ticki Hut and food. For beaches Siesta Key's public beach is about the best locally it was voted #1 Beach in USA recently by some organization and they market the heck out of that, but it is an excellent beach. MJ's has pretty good parking and from there you can walk across US 41 to downtown Sarasota which has a proliferation of really good restaurants and a wide choice.

In Bradenton I think the Twin Dolphin Marina is good for "boat watching" but I think for beaches in that area you will have to go to Bradenton Beach or Snead Island (there are others but not sure where they are). The coast ride between Bradenton and Sarsota is very worth while if you are in Bradenton training. You travel all the way down Cortez Rd. turn left at the very bottom, past Bradenton beach, through Longboat Key, through St Armand's Circle (that is really worth a stop and look around, very high-end and has Kilwins ice cream)! Then pick up sign for the US 41 again around the "circle" keep in R/H lane and just before the light at 41 filter right and MJ is on your right just past the WWII statue (there are several other art works to see also), MJ is really worth a look and is a big tourist destination. Hope that helps, have a good safe trip and a good time:)
 
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Marina Jack is an easy, obvious stop in SRQ. Decent eats on-site and more great spots to dine an easy walk away. The docks are gated but there are usually people around who will let you in if you're nice and talk the talk. Grab a fresh grouper sandwich and a cold beer at The Old Salty Dog while watching the boats go by and then walk next door to tour MarineMax Sarasota. Consider driving by Longboat Key Moorings for some great dock walking. Tell the gate house guard you're going to the restaurant (which you should). If you've got the time, take a short drive and walk some of the most beautiful sand anywhere in this country on Siesta Key. Have fun!

(I just saw BritLady & I were writing our posts at the same time and have many of the same thoughts :smt001 )
 
Quint, Anna Maria Island is the barrier island off of Bradenton that connects to Longboat Key as BritLady mentioned. There are 2 bridges onto the island depending on where you are starting from in Bradenton. The northern bridge is Manatee Avenue (Rte 64) and ends at the beach at a county park -Manatee Beach. The southern bridge is Cortez Road (mentioned below by BritLady). On Anna Maria, there are basically 3 beachfront restaurants, the Sandbar (at the northern tip of the island), Gulf Drive Cafe (between the 2 bridges,but closer to Cortez) and Beach House, just south of the Cortez Bridge. Galati Marine is located on the northern end of AMI and they have a large selection of sport fishers at their docks. Across the Manatee river bridge from Bradenton in Palmetto (Snead Island area mentioned by BritLady) is the HQ of Marlow Yachts. I've never been there, but it's on my list to try to visit.
On AMI, there are several beach parking areas with public access, the Manatee Beach I mentioned earlier, and also Coquina Beach, which is south of the Cortez Bridge, before you cross onto Longboat Key.

If you're coming to the beaches from Sarasota, you've got Siesta Key to the south, and then Lido Key across the big bridge that Brit Lady mentioned. Both of them have public beach parking areas as well.

Sorry about the ramble, and let me know if you have more questions.
 
Awesome advice you guys! Bradenton Beach yesterday and Marina Jack (Sarasota) today. A few pics:

Anna Marie Island (Bradenton Beach)
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Marina Jack

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"Big City" at Marina Jack....143' Trinity....for sale 19mil........rent 175K week

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Hey Quint4, pleased you are enjoying our neck of the woods (who wouldn't), but just one quick question. Does the "awsome advice guys" include the advice from "gals" ? S'pect you're buying "Big City" while you're here then, LOL. Can you put us down for a ride?
 
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