4 Things You Must Do On Your Sarasota or Siesta Key Vacation If you are going on a Sarasota or Siesta Key vacation

4 Things You Must Do On Your Sarasota or Siesta Key Vacation If you are going on a Sarasota or Siesta Key vacation, don’t miss these must-do activities. Some are typical Florida vacation fare, and some are not; all are entertaining and well worth the time you will spend on them.

See Lions and Tigers and Bears Big Cat Habitat and Sanctuary on Palmer Boulevard in Sarasota is home to retired circus animals such as tigers, lions, and bears, along with other rescued animals. Kids of all ages will love a visit to the low-key, nonprofit animal sanctuary and will relish the chance to get up close to the gorgeous animals. If you want a fun way to donate, bring in raw meat to help feed the big cats; they need to eat about 2% of their body weight each day. (An average tiger weighs about 500 pounds.)

Eat Great Italian Food Though it might seem out of place to find great Italian food in Florida, Sarasota features the amazing Caragiulos, which has authentic Italian food made with fresh Florida ingredients. Try the Shrimp Bruschetta or the Linguine fra Diavolo (shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari, and whitefish in a spicy tomato sauce).

Go For a Sunset Cruise LeBarge is a two-story party boat topped with palm trees that offers a sunset cruise complete with live music as you cruise Sarasota Bay and past Siesta Key. The gorgeous Florida sunset combined with beer, wine, and plenty of appetizers make the evening special.

See Beautiful Florida Architecture Sarasota has a variety of architecturally and historically significant buildings; visit the Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau and purchase a guidebook and take a drive through the area to view them. Wooden model exhibits along with photos of Sarasota landmarks are on permanent display at the Bureau; make sure to take a look at them while you are there.