Thanksgiving Family Vacation in Sarasota, Florida

Looking for things to do during Thanksgiving in Florida?

Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. is traditionally celebrated by the people on the fourth Thursday of November each year in order to offer thanks for what they have.

On this day families and friends usually invite each other for a meal, which must essentially consist of stuffed turkey roast, vegetables, potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy and pumpkin pie. For some, the idea of cooking such a huge feast seems more of a daunting chore rather than an exciting event on such a festive occasion.

So if you want to skip the stressful Thanksgiving planning, bring the whole gang together and head to Sarasota, Florida for the ultimate Thanksgiving family getaway.

There are plenty of reasons to choose Sarasota for your Thanksgiving holiday.

Located on the west coast of Florida, the region has some beautiful beaches and other activities to keep everyone enthralled. The weather is sure to be warm and sunny and the local eateries will be in full swing at this most delicious time of the year.

For a relaxing day visitors can tee off at one of the town’s golf courses or hike the many trails in the state parks.

Sarasota is best known for the unique keys which feature some of the most famous beaches in Florida. The most loved of all is the Siesta Key Beach, where the cool white sand is actually made up of 99% of Quartz.

Be sure to check out 9 Family Beach Vacation Saving Hacks for your next beach vacation!

Stop next at the Ringling Bridge to gain access to another famous stretch of pristine sand namely Lido beach. The Ted Sperling Park at the south end of the beach is a kayaking hotspot where you can weave your way through the maize of mangrove tunnels.

There are plenty of parks and trails appealing to people of all ages and abilities in Sarasota.

A perfect spot for a walk or a short hike is the Nathan Benderson Park with its 3.5 miles long paved trail. Bikers can ride the The Legacy Bike Trail, which has a paved path running from Sarasota to Venice.

This year (2020) the park authorities and Fit2run are organizing a 5K Turkey Trot race to facilitate the locals kick start their Thanksgiving holiday.

All participants get a commemorative race tee shirt, face covering and a medal to all who finish the race. This 5K will start from Hyatt regency over the lovely John Ringling Bridge and back.

The trouble with vacationing on Thanksgiving is that most restaurants are closed for the occasion. Still there are places where Thanksgiving dining traditions are at full swing in the Sarasota eateries.

If you want the local chefs to do everything for you while you sit at home, you can order the full course from Harry’s Continental Kitchen which includes a fresh roasted turkey stuffed with Apple and walnut, giblet gravy, green beans almondine, cranberry, mashed potatoes and your choice of pie. If you want to dine in, Harry will serve a three course feast with wine pairings.

If you are looking for more buffet options the over 30 years old Bijou Cafe located in the theatre district of Sarasota enjoys a good reputation for Thanksgiving feasting.

One can enjoy roasted turkey (or fish or lamb) with traditional add-ons of vegetables and cranberry sauce, finished off with a slice of homemade pumpkin pie. You can also incorporate some not so traditional dishes like shrimp and crab bisque.

The Columbia Restaurant on St. Armands Circle also offers a Thanksgiving dinner of Roast Vermont Turkey with a special family recipe stuffing, of Italian sausage, ground beef, chopped chicken liver, water chestnut, apples and raisin, which is considered to be extremely delicious.

If you want to go off the beaten path, try some great grouper, red snapper or tapas. This is one place you should book a table well in advance. Columbia Restaurant is one in Sarasota which is open every single day of the year and that includes Thanksgiving and has been running for over hundred years.

Make reservations at Colombia Restaurant in Sarasota, St. Armands Circle here.

A true family type dinner during Thanksgiving can be enjoyed at Duval’s, where a mouth-watering buffet is layed out. This essentially includes herb and butter roasted turkey, maple brown sugar glazed ham, Chef’s signature stuffing of sausage, roasted sweet potato casserole, butter sweet corn and orange and ginger cranberry sauce. Desert options range from baked apple crisp or a lime pie.

For those not inclined for the Thanksgiving menu, Duval’s offers a wide selection of seafood,steak and pork a-la-carte dishes to choose from.

One place to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with excellent food and equally good gulf water views is at the Pier 22 Waterfront Restaurant in downtown Bradenton. The award winning culinary team will be serving traditional meal of roast turkey, house made stuffing, gravy, potatoes, cranberry sauce, rolls and pumpkin pie.

The restaurant stands on the pier which was dedicated to honoring 21 young men from Manatee County who laid down their lives during WWI. This distinctive fine dining destination is most celebrated for an exceptional guest experience, charming ambiance and scratch cooked dishes.

Situated on the Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, Cafe Baci is another exciting option for a Thanksgiving Day meal. Apart from other selected items on the menu, the outlet serves a three course Thanksgiving meal.

Along with coffee and salad and choice of soup, the main course will include a sumptuous roast turkey feast with all the usual trimmings with an Italian twist. For dessert you can choose from pumpkin or pecan pie.

Even though your kitchen facilities may seem adequate for the entire vacation stay, preparing the elaborate dinner may seem ambitious. That is why most people choose to dine out on this occasion. The restaurants described above will be more than happy to serve you the Thanksgiving meal of your choice.

Many people head to Sarasota, Florida for a nice relaxing getaway on Thanksgiving Day. This is because there are plenty of options in and around Sarasota during Thanksgiving if you are looking for a good vacation and a great meal.

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Sarasota, Florida is a great vacation spot for families to enjoy during the Thanksgiving holiday!

What was your favorite Thanksgiving holiday activity in Sarasota, Florida? We’d love to hear about your family vacation.