https://www.heraldtribune.com/lifestyle/
Wade Tatangelo and Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
August 1, 2022
From arcades and trampoline parks to museums and movie theaters, here's where to have fun on a rainy or hot day in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
It's summertime in the Sunshine State. And that means many of us, and perhaps our children, have way more free time. You should definitely visit Sarasota and Manatee counties' famed beaches, as well as our public parks and nature preserves. But as any true Floridian can tell you, between the thunderstorms and sweltering heat, the summer weather doesn't always accommodate your plans.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to have fun inside with air-conditioning locally, from arcades and trampoline parks to museums and movie theaters. Here's our updated guide, now with 22 of our favorite destinations for indoor activities in Sarasota-Manatee. Details are subject to change, so it's a good idea to check for updates, or for more information on the venues' COVID-19 policies, while planning your visit.
Play like a kid at Livingston's
Photo Provided
Whether you're a teen or a grandparent, you'll find something fun to do at Livingston's Amusements, featuring over 50,000 square feet of entertainment including go-karts, bumper cars, arcade games, billiards and a full bar with pub grub. 5947 Clark Center Ave., Sarasota; 941-925-7665; livingstonsamusements.com
Nerd out at Arcade Monsters
Sarasota Herald Tribune Staff Photo/Mike Lang
Opened last year on St. Armands Circle, Arcade Monsters features two floors with more than a hundred classic and contemporary arcade games, along with a menu featuring casual dining staples as well as slushies and specialty drinks (with or without alcohol), all behind a colorful, pop culture-filled backdrop. 326 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota; 941-554-4728; arcademonsterslidobeach.com
Ice skate at Ellenton Ice
HERALD-TRIBUNE ARCHIVE/2015Spend time on the ice, even in the heat of Florida summer, at Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex, featuring two NHL-sized rinks plus an indoor roller/ball hockey rink, fitness center, concessions area, birthday party rooms and pro shop. There are public skate sessions throughout the week, with other options including joining a hockey league or figure skating. 5309 29th St. E., Ellenton; 941-723-3663; ellentonice.com
Admire an antique at the Classic Car Museum
HERALD TRIBUNE ARCHIVE 2012
One of the oldest continuously operating antique car museums in the country, dating back to 1953 as “Horns’ Cars of Yesterday,” Sarasota Classic Car Museum features more than 75 automobiles including Alfa Romeo, Buick, Corvette, Ferrari and Mustang. 5500 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-355-6228; sarasotacarmuseum.org
Roller skate at Astro Skate
Family-owned and operated in Florida for nearly four decades, Astro Skate’s Bradenton roller skating rink also contains bounce houses, a cafe and arcade games. 3611 Third St. W., Bradenton; 941-747-8602; astroskatingcenter.com
Explore outer space and more at The Bishop
HERALD TRIBUNE STAFF PHOTO/Thomas Bender
The largest natural history museum on the state’s Gulf Coast, T he Bishop Museum of Science and Nature (formerly South Florida Museum) offers permanent and temporary exhibits, as well as educational programs for children of all ages. The museum also includes the all-digital Planetarium for outer space explorations (and the recently returning Laser Light Nights), as well as the The Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat. 201 10th St. W., Bradenton; 941-746-4131; bishopscience.org
Learn about our circus culture and more at The Ringling
HERALD TRIBUNE STAFF PHOTO/Wade TangeloSarasota's most iconic attraction, The Ringling has an art museum filled with galleries of works by old masters, contemporary art and exhibitions from around the world. It also features a Circus Museum including the impressive Howard Bros. Circus Model, which recreates the vintage big top experience with over 44,000 pieces, and John and Mable Ringling's Ca' d'Zan mansion. Pro tip: Every Monday, the Museum of Art is free to the public, though regular admission pricing applies if you wish to visit the Circus Museum or Ca’ d’Zan. 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota; 941-359-5700; ringling.org
Take in the art of today at Sarasota Art Museum
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A new addition to Sarasota-Manatee's museum scene, opened in December 2019 in the old Sarasota High School building, this contemporary art museum features 15,000 square feet of gallery space, the restaurant Bistro and more. If the weather outside is cooperating, there's also a sculpture courtyard. 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-309-4300; sarasotaartmuseum.org
Shop, dine and people-watch at Red Barn
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Bradenton’s Red Barn is definitely not your typical flea market, with plaza shops, food courts, bar and live entertainment in its 80,000-square-foot air-conditioned indoor area. 1707 First St. E., Bradenton; 941-747-3794; redbarnfleamarket.com
Jump for joy at a trampoline park
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Feeling cooped up? Jump around on over 15,000 square feet of inflatable fun, ride a 250-foot-long zip-rail coaster, play dodgeball and much more at local trampoline park Jumpin Fun Inflata Park (7321 Trade Court, Sarasota; 941-388-5867; jfipark.com.) There's also the national chains Sky Zone Trampoline Park (6180 Edgelake Drive, Sarasota; 941-363-6359; skyzone.com/sarasota) and Defy (7385 52nd Place E., Bradenton; 941-900-4484; defy.com/defy-bradenton.)
Gamble, legally, at One-Eyed Jack's
Thomas Bender/Sarasota Herald-Tribune Formerly based out of the now permanently closed Sarasota Kennel Club, One-Eyed Jack's features 30 poker tables with live action cash games and tournaments offered daily. Plus, there's more than 70 large-screen TVs, a restaurant, bar and perks such as tableside beverage service. 4404 Bee Ridge Road #26, Sarasota; 941-355-7744; skcpoker.com
Take a trolley ride with Discover Sarasota Tours
HERALD TRIBUNE ARCHIVE/2020
Discover Sarasota Tours offers a variety of tours in an enclosed, air-conditioned trolley or van showcasing some of our most notable local landmarks and history, including city sightseeing, circus secrets and haunted Sarasota tours. Evening tours also include complimentary beer or wine at the Trolley Cottage Tiki Bar before boarding. 1826 Fourth St., Sarasota; 941-260-9818; discoversarasotatours.com
Tour a local distillery
Nationally acclaimed, locally based distillery Siesta Key Rum (2212 Industrial Blvd., Sarasota; 941-702-8143; siestakeyrum.com) offers free tours that take about 45 minutes to an hour. And – here’s the best part – the tour includes free samples, with Siesta Key Rum available for purchase by the bottle in the gift shop. Lakewood Ranch's Loaded Cannon Distillery (3115 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. Suite 110, Bradenton; 941-900-1482; loadedcannondistillery.com) also offers tours, followed by a tasting.
HERALD TRIBUNE ARCHIVE/2019
Learn about Cortezians at Florida Maritime Museum
Nestled in the historic fishing village of Cortez, the Florida Maritime Museum (4415 119th St. W., Cortez; 941-708-6120; floridamaritimemuseum.org) does an outstanding job of preserving the state's fishing heritage right by where commercial fishing boats continue to unload their fresh fish, which can be eaten dockside at Star Fish Co. (12306 46th Ave. W., Cortez; 941-794-1243; starfishcompany.com)
Board Bob's Train
Located just east of downtown Sarasota in four former circus train cars, Robert Horne (aka Bob) operates this restaurant serving burgers, sandwiches and other casual fare and accompanying museum full of circus memorabilia. 2211 Fruitville Road, Sarasota; 941-321-5643; bobstrain.com
Dick Gran, who bowls on the PNB 50 tour, is pictured here practicing at Bowlero Bradenton. Mike Lange, Sarasota Herald Tribune
OK, even if you can't bowl triple digits, there's plenty of fun to be had. For instance, there's Bowlero Bradenton (4208 Cortez Road W.), which offers signature blacklight bowling, an arcade and plenty of food and beverage options. The same company operates Gulf Gate Lanes at 7221 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. There’s also the family-owned Sarasota Lanes at 2250 Fruitville Road, just east of downtown Sarasota.
See a blockbuster in style at CinéBistro
Thomas Bender/Herald-Tribune
There are several local theaters screening new films, many now offering cocktails, beer and wine along with classic cinema concessions, but CMX CinéBistro Siesta Key offers the luxury experience. Sip a craft cocktail and nibble on high-end appetizers at the bar before the show, then eat a steak or other fine-dining entree perhaps paired with another drink or dessert inside the theater, served while seated in a ridiculously comfortable recliner. 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-361-2456; cmxcinemas.com
Catch an art film at Burns Court Cinemas
Herald-Tribune Archive/2016
If you're looking for an arthouse movie not playing elsewhere, the next Oscar contender for best international feature film or an enlightening documentary, then Burn Court Cinemas is your spot, with three auditoriums in its namesake neighborhood in downtown Sarasota. 506 Burns Court, Sarasota; 941-955-3456; filmsociety.org
Escape an escape room
Photo provided by Mysterium Escape Rooms & VRYou know the drill. Have some fun with family, friends or complete strangers using your collective critical thinking skills to break free of a themed room. There are now several escape rooms in the area, including Mysterium Escape Rooms & VR (1900 Main St. #104, Sarasota; 941-444-6766; mysteriumescaperooms.com), Escape Room Sarasota (6526 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-343-2829; escaperoomsarasota.com), Premier Escape Adventures (7369 52nd Place E., Bradenton; 941-363-1443; premiereescapeadventures.com) or Escape Rooms Unlocked, with Sarasota and North Port locations.
Blow off some steam axe throwing
Christina Domborari of Sarasota tries his hand at axe throwing at Nathan Bendersens Park's Fireworks on the Lake Festival. Mike Lang, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Axe throwing has become an increasingly popular recreational activity in recent years, appearing at various Sarasota-Manatee festivals and breweries/bars. Sarasota is also home to its own indoor axe throwing facility, Axe & Bull (4088 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota; 941-346-6750; axeandbull.com.) Book one or two-hour sessions with up to 40 participants, where you can let off some steam in the form of hurling an axe at a wooden target, while keeping cool in the air-conditioning.
Explore the seas at Mote Marine
THOMAS BENDER/HERALD-TRIBUNE
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, the research institution founded in 1955, lets visitors see sharks, manatees, otters, sea turtles and more at its City Island facility with both indoor and outdoor exhibits (all viewable from covered spaces, so visiting isn't weather-dependent.) It also features virtual reality experiences that include swimming with humpback whales or encountering huge sharks. 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota; 941-388-4441; mote.org
Shop, dine and people-watch at UTC
HERALD-TRIBUNE STAFF PHOTO/LAURA FINALDI
The Mall at University Town Center (140 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota; 941-552-7000; mallatutc.com) offers a bevy of spots for shopping, dining or even just sitting and people-watching, as well as events held both inside and out. You can find more of the same at the other stores outside the mall but inside the UTC district, including the indoor "Beyond Van Gogh" immersive art exhibition, which runs through July 24 at 195 University Town Center Drive.
Day drink at a local brewery
HERALD-TRIBUNE ARCHIVE/2018
There are about a dozen breweries spread across Sarasota and Manatee counties (though that number's always changing), all of which are worth visiting to sample their IPAs, porters and other brews made right here. Most of these breweries feature both indoor and outdoor seating, with several also offering food and/or live entertainment.
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