What better way to start the day than breakfast right on the beach. If you don’t mind plastic, Café on the Beach at Manatee Beach offers all you can eat pancakes and sausages. Gulf Drive Café on Bradenton Beach serves bountiful breakfasts inside or out on their covered patio.

Other breakfast/lunch establishments include the Island Creperie in Bradeton Beach, Joe’s Eats and Sweets or Melinda’s on Gulf Drive, Paradise Café in Holmes Beach and the Village Café @ Rosedale on Coquina Beach.

Dinner

At the north end of Anna Maria is the legendary family friendly, reasonably priced Sandbar Restaurant; where indoor/outdoor beachside seating is perfect for sunset watching.

With picturesque views and good casual eats, the Rod and Reel and Rotten Ralphs are great local favorites. Don’t miss Ralphs all you can eat fish fry on Friday nights.

Housed in a 1913 cottage is the Sign of the Mermaid offering fresh local ingredients and fabulous homemade desserts. The Waterfront Café is another excellent choice with delightful selections and patio seating for bay views.

Beach Bistro is probably one to reserve for "special" occasions and arriving before sunset is highly recommended as you’ll be dining right on Holmes Beach. Just be prepared for a price tag that reflects the Awards they’ve received.

Other dining options off island include Moore’s Stone Crab, Lazy Lobster and Euphemia Haye on Longboat Key and the Cortez Fish Market and Mattison’s on the River in Bradenton.

Sarasota is also at your disposal with a short trip across the Ringling Bridge.

Looking to sip a libation on the bay-front? Marina Jacks and O’Leary’s come to mind. Both located along Sarasota’s Bay in Centennial Park;

Marina Jacks features a huge open air bar, covered patio and dance area while jazz and contemporary tunes can be found at the inside piano lounge. O’Leary’s Tiki Bar at the southern end of Centennial Park, shares the same parking as Marina Jack’s. Attracting a crowd at sunset with live Reggae and beach music, this is a great place to bring your four legged bud.

Also at Centennial Park, Le Barge is like a giant houseboat with a bar and dance floor on the top deck and cocktail tables inside. Entertainment is usually a solo guitar player/singer performing island style music and Jimmy Buffett hits. Le Barge sails several times a day around Sarasota Bay and offers a great view of the waterfront homes and spectacular sunsets. Be sure to bring the camera.

Downtown Main:

Featuring soft jazz every Wednesday through Sunday, Divino Restaurant is a local favorite for excellent Italian food. The bar pulsates with vibes every weekend. Mattison’s City Grill is a covered open-air eatery and bar offering, Blues, Jazz, Rock, Pop and Swing. A small dance floor can usually be found in front of the band. Across the street is the Gator Club. Featuring live bands starting around 9:00pm... it’s definitely a bar crowd... smoke included. Horsefeathers is a young meet and greet kind of a place with martini bar and DJ on Saturday nights.

First Street offers two more musical venues. Ceviche’s Flamenco Room has a huge dance floor devoted to the pleasures of salsa Friday and Saturday nights and the Roof Top Bar is great for a breath of fresh air. Then there’s the First Street Chop House with rotating nights of jazz, piano and acoustical guitar.

Cà d'Zan Lounge named for the "House of John" Ringling is located in the Ritz Carlton Hotel, (dressy), offering live entertainment and expensive drinks.

Sometimes you need to let loose—whether that means kicking back and sipping on a cool one or tearing up the dance floor. So, come-on out and catch a vibe!