When staying in one of our Anna Maria Island rentals there will be plenty to do in the area. If you are looking to take a short drive out of town, St Armands Circle in Lido Key is a fun attraction that the crew will love!
St. Armands Circle
St. Armands Circle is a quaint shopping center built around a roundabout that has been in operation since 1926. It is located on a tiny island on a western offshoot of the Sarasota mainland and contains a path to Lido Key Beach.
It has more than 100 shops within its commercial area and includes stores that sell items such as beach-themed jewelry and clothes, surfboards, and homemade goods. It has been an epicenter for tourism within Sarasota for many years and is worth a visit for anyone who has never gone before.
St. Armands Circle Restaurants
The numerous restaurants within St. Armands Circle all specialize in different cuisines. A predominant food style among the restaurants is seafood, but there are other options such as Italian, sandwiches, and cafés.
St. Armands Oyster Bar
This newly-opened Cajun restaurant’s menu includes many foods that would be right at home in a Mardi Gras festival, including fried shrimp or catfish po’ boys, spicy jambalaya, shrimp étouffeé, boiled buttery crawfish, and of course, oyster buckets galore that can be mixed and matched with these dishes.
The restaurant also offers maritime twists on tacos and pasta if oysters aren’t one’s cup of tea, ensuring guests can find something satisfactory to their tastes. Dessert includes sweet bread pudding amongst other confections, and it also offers a large drink list!
Specialty Shops
The shops within St Armands Circle add a lot to the livelihood of the area, with many unique shops that offer many handmade products. For those looking for souvenirs to remember their visit, or decoration to spruce up a home, one of the many shops should be able to fulfill your desires!
Anatolian Collections is a textile and rug shop that offers handmade products such as intricately patterned and colored rugs that will be a beautiful addition to any foyer, ceramic plates that can add an element of style to a dinner party, and stylish and comfortable jewelry and pashmina.
The shop offers gorgeous rings, necklaces, and earrings, made from colorful stones and beads. The products are meant to embody the spirit of the Anatolian peninsula within Asia, and these products offer an exotic beauty that cannot be replicated easily.
The Ancient Olive Gourmet is a shop that specializes in authentic olive oils and vinegar, as well as providing toiletries and mini foods perfect for a charcuterie board.
The olive oils are not ordinary ones, however. While there are tried and true extra virgin olive oils for sale, the Ancient Olive Gourmet also offers olive oils imbued with fruit and vegetable extracts. Among the flavors are blood orange, bacon, and basil, ensuring a unique experience for those who purchase one.
That’s not all, though! The Ancient Olive Gourmet also offers numerous foods from its gourmet pantry, containing sauces and bites such as sausage and ham to go with crackers and cheese, as well as fruits and jams. It also offers handmade soap of differing scents, like Wavertree and London Havana, and accessories for olive oil storage and presentation, such as dipping plates.
Plan Your Visit to Anna Maria Island
Don’t forget to put St. Armands Circle in Lido Key on your list of things to do when staying in a Anna Maria Island vacation rental. Book your stay today!
Dessert & Ice Cream Shops
Those looking to finish their night off on a sweet note can find numerous dessert shops within St Armands Circle.
Le Macaron French Pastries
Our first stop on this dessert expedition offers vibrant and colorful macarons of various flavors. Customers can pick from a wide selection of miniature pastries that include Sicilian pistachio, mango, red velvet, and Colombian coffee.
If macarons aren’t for you, Le Macaron also offers a gelato selection with many unique flavors, as well as candies and chocolates, and cakes. They even cater and can package them in gift displays, allowing one to bring home a taste of their specialty or give to family and friends!
Stay With Anna Maria Vacations
After your day trip to Lido Key, you’ll need the perfect place to relax after a day of adventure. Anna Maria Vacation offers a large variety of Anna Maria Island rentals that your whole family will love. From, beachfront to dog-friendly rentals, we’ve got you covered.
Book your stay today in one of our Anna Maria Island vacation rentals for a trip to Florida that you won’t forget!
