As the holiday season approaches, we at Rent Siesta Key have been sitting here thinking about Thanksgiving. It is a holiday meant for being thankful, but if you, like us, are wondering when was the last time you actually felt thankful, well, we think it may be time to start considering a Thanksgiving retreat to Siesta Key! Offering peace, beauty, and none of the chores or angst that often accompanies your at-home holiday, you can decide if want to do all the work or none of the work, and whichever you choose, we can assure you that you will be comfortable doing so and you will never regret choosing Siesta Key for your perfect Thanksgiving destination. This guide will reveal all.
Beach Days in November?
Although we who live here year-round find the water a little too chilly to swim in at Thanksgiving (We have thin blood!), we can tell you that many visitors from colder areas jump right in, reveling in temperatures in the 70s and the sunny days that they may not see at home for a few more months. And even if you choose not to swim, walking along shore’s edge, feeling the cool waters snake around your ankles as your toes sink into squishy sand is the ultimate in beach experiences. For those traveling with children, Thanksgiving Day is the perfect day to stake your claim on a section of the beach. Take time to build the most beautiful sandcastle your tiny travelers have ever seen, being sure to take plenty of pictures to help remind you of that year you were thankful from sunup to sundown.
A Feast to Remember
We are always grateful for the feast we enjoy every year, and in 2024, you can be grateful that you don’t have to cook! Restaurants on or near Siesta Key will be open, providing holiday meals that someone else cooks, serves, and clears away, something that makes all of us very happy.
- Duvall’s. Fresh. Local. Seafood. 1435 Main Street in Sarasota – Siesta Key is a smaller key, and as such, many of the restaurants may be closed, but that’s ok. Sarasota is just a short drive off Siesta Key, and many wonderful restaurants, including Duvall’s, will be open and serving feasts you will never forget. Offering the opportunity to enjoy a prix-fixe turkey dinner at the restaurant or to take it home and enjoy in the comfort of your Rent Siesta Key holiday haven, there is no downside to a meal from Duvall’s.
- Euphemia Haye Restaurant & Haye Loft, 5540 Gulf of Mexico Drive in Longboat Key – Fine dining is taken to new levels at Thanksgiving in this Longboat Key establishment, located just about 20 miles away from your Rent Siesta Key holiday hideaway and serving a fantastic three course meal that includes a choice of turkey or duck as well as still offering their standard menu if holiday food really isn’t your thing.
- Café Gabbiano, 5104 Ocean Boulevard in Siesta Key – Café Gabbiano has long been our go-to Italian restaurant, and on Thanksgiving, offering a selection of Italian classics as well as an all-American turkey dinner, it has become one of our favorite holiday restaurants! Open limited hours on November 28, this family restaurant serves upscale menu options at moderate prices.
Black Friday Shopping
Almost before you finish your last taste of pumpkin pie, it will be time for the Christmas festivities to begin, starting with our second favorite part of the holiday, Black Friday shopping. The stores have calmed down quite a bit over the last few years, and most stores will not be open on Thanksgiving, but be prepared to start your shopping bright and early Friday morning! Your Florida vacation is the perfect time to purchase unusual gifts for your family, and the stores listed below are some of our favorites.
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- Foxy Lady Siesta Key, 209 Beach Road
- Beach Bazaar, 5211 Ocean Boulevard
- Gidget’s Coastal Provisions, 5242 Ocean Boulevard
Looking for something a little more upscale? The shops at St. Armands Circle in Sarasota never fail to please. Rochelle’s on St. Armands is a fantastic boutique, and if you are looking for gifts that also serve as souvenirs Destination Florida will fit the bill perfectly.
Three young smiling friends shopping together. Man is behaving like a gentleman by carrying shopping bags for his female friends.
Happy Thanksgiving from Rent Siesta Key
On Thanksgiving and every other day of the year, our goal is to ensure that our guests enjoy a vacation experience in which they feel spoiled and pampered, and when your holiday journey brings you to our doorstep, you become a part of our family. Create the feast in our fully equipped kitchens, watch the parade on state of the art televisions, and know that on this Thanksgiving, we include you on our list of what we are thankful for. Contact us and reserve your favorite holiday haven today!
