So, visiting Sarasota in about a month with a friend and will be making a long weekend of it.  We will be in a hotel near the interstate.  Plan on going to the car museum and the art museum.  What are some other things worth doing there?  Restaurants to try?  Any good gun stores?  Guitar stores?   Any areas to avoid?  

Thanks!

Mote Marine is a nice aquarium to check out and worth the trip, Big Cat Habitat is cool, but maybe not worth it if you are only here for a long weekend.  If you are a beach goer you should check out either Siesta or Lido, the beaches here are beautiful and always ranked in the top for best beaches in the US.  They do get very busy so get there by 0900.  There is a Shoot Straight on University, Shark Coast Tactical is a great shop off Bee Ridge Rd, and Bullet Hole downtown as far as gun shops go.  Only guitar store I know of is Guitar Center off University

Food wise, Columbia is always a winner, for seafood I like Walt's on Tamiami Trl, other good places are Selva downtown, State Street Eating House downtown, and for my favorite pizza, Bavaro's downtown.  For breakfast, the Breakfast House off Fruitville Rd downtown is an awesome little spot.

Avoid anywhere north of 6th Street around 301 and 41 all the way up to University.  That is the hood.

Op, check out treeumph, le barge boat ride around the bay, fossil hunting on the peace River about an hour away, see alligators at myakka state park, tarpon fishing is pretty good this time of year, st Armando circle is a nice place to walk around (fancy boutique shops and restaurants), also check out the st pete area if you can drive about 45 minutes. There is a ton to do up in st pete including the pier, Salvador Dali museum, the downtown area, good concert venues, etc.

Ringling museum of art and the circus museum........amazing place

There's a Sam Ash music store on the south side of the Sarasota airport. Treeumph is awesome and the Ringling as well. In addition to Sharkcoast tactical on Bee Ridge, there's also High Noon a couple miles east on Bee Ridge.

Yoder's or Der Dutchman for breakfast. Nice Amish restaurants. Huge portions, amazing food, good prices.

I love Coquina beach. If you aren't in the sand by 9 a.m., it's too late.

The car museum is fine but REALLY needs a refresh. Definitely check out the dealership in the same building… some amazing vehicles.
https://www.vintagemotorssarasota.com/

Also a good collector car consignment place on 301
https://www.classiccarsofsarasota.com/

(Zero pressure, they’re used to window shoppers/dreamers)

Bullet Hole in DT Sarasota is a mom n pop shop with a HUGE inventory.

Definitely get to the beach early.

Jungle Gardens is an old school Florida attraction. Kinda cheesy but it’s a fun guilty pleasure.

Motorworks in Bradenton is a great brew pub with a big outdoor courtyard.