World-Famous Shopping and Dining
Just minutes from Sarasota's dazzling array of cultural attractions lie the gorgeous beaches and lush tropical scenery of Lido Key. With the world-famous shopping at St. Armand's Circle, a fascinating aquarium and some of the finest restaurants in the area, Lido Key is a little island with big bragging rights.
Just across the bridge from downtown Sarasota, the barrier island of Lido Key lures visitors with gorgeous beaches, upscale shopping, and family-friendly accommodations. When circus magnate and ambitious developer John Ringling moved to Sarasota in the 1920s, he saw Lido Key's huge potential, and proceeded to use his elephants to haul materials from the mainland to construct the world famous St. Armands Circle. Today the rotary and Italian-style garden is peppered with high-end boutiques, gourmet restaurants, and fine art galleries that spill out into the streets.