5 Best Places to Shop in Sarasota, The Tampa Bay Area

This independent store carries a diverse selection of books and periodicals, as well as gifts, crystals, candles, and jewelry. It also hosts various events and art fairs.

Find the trendiest fashions and most stylish handbags and shoes from top designers in this downtown shop, which is attached to a swanky spa.

The specialties here include women's fashion, cute handbags, shoes, perfumes, and lingerie. Across the street is Lotus Active, where you'll find high-end athletic wear.

Not too far from Siesta Key's wildly popular beaches is a cluster of stores, restaurants, and watering holes you won't want to miss. This is a great place to shop and grab a bite after the beach—or earlier if it's not a beach day. Park in the municipal lot at the end of Avenida Madera, then stroll down Ocean Boulevard, where you'll find clusters of upscale shops and a range of restaurants and bars.

No visit to Sarasota is complete without a visit to this busy yet laid-back shopping hub—literally and figuratively, as it's arranged around a large traffic circle in the middle of Lido Key. (Trivia: it was developed by John Ringling.) You'll find a sprinkling of upscale retail chains, including White House Black Market, but the area's small, imaginative boutiques are the real draws. St. Armands Circle also offers plenty of dining and dessert (especially ice cream) options, nightlife, and just plain people-watching.