Sarasota Vacations: Shopping

Shopper's Guide to Sarasota

Updated: 4/7/2008

Views: 6886

Many of the best boutique stores can be found in Sarasota's downtown area - with several upscale areas to browse and shop. A number of art galleries can be found in the downtown area, too.

Numerous shopping malls and discount outlet centers stand ready to please - and you'll not be wanting for quality merchandise.

There's also the big box stores, strip malls, and dollar based stores throughout the area - something for all income levels.

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Shopping

Sarasota offers two really great areas for boutique stores and great window shopping.

One, is the streets of the downtown area. There's all sorts of art galleries, gift stores, fine clothing, and home and beuty products - not to mention so many restaurants offering up a variety of ethnic menus and selections. You'll find three French bakeries, for example.

The other is the famous St Armands Circle area on Lido Key. A burst of sunshine with rays of stores and salons - if you love doing a bit of detective work, this is the place, since there are a number of fine establishments that are on the second floor of many of the buildings that comprise St Armands Circle.

Cars and traffic can be an issue sometimes, but driver's seem to be unusually courteous. Fine restaurants line the streets, and there are a number of expensive women's apparel stores. Next to the beaches, more people go to St Armands to people watch than anywhere else. Three or four flavors of ice cream stores including Ben and Jerrys and plenty of places to sit and park yourself make for a good combination.

There are several retail malls with the likes of Saks and Macy's anchoring their brotheren, and if you like a good bargain, try the Factory Outlet Mall in Palmerton - off i-75 near Bradenton - by Prime Outlets. It has a number of factory stores: Brooks Brothers, Nike, Waterford, Saks' off 5th, DKNY, and more.