Lido Beach/Coolidge park area? (Sarasota, Venice: city hall, buy, restaurants)

[pattisw]

We just rented a cottage about a block from the park and beach and will be down there the 22nd for 2 weeks.
Does anyone know if the park is pet friendly? Also looking for advice for good places to eat(casual dining)maybe a fun bar,we are 55 so not too fun,lol,and and also are there any fishing piers close by? Thank you

[Old Man Winter]

No sarasota beaches or parks allow dogs unfortunately. I was just at lido park taking pictures and there are big no pet signs everywhere. Pets are not allowed on the beaches either. Try the old salty dog in the village for dinner, you can sit outside and enjoy a cold beer with a grouper sammy . Siesta key oyster bar is right in the village, the Deck is there as well.

[gypsychic]

Go over the bridge to downtown Bayfront Park - your dog is allowed there, and there is a nice little Tiki bar/restaurant called O'Leary's. There are also plenty of restaurants in downtown where you can sit outside with your pooch. Downtown is great!

[SoFLGal]

Here are parks located in Sarasota County that allow pets. County Ordinance prohibits pets at any other park locations.

Beach Park
Bird Key Park - on John Ringling Causeway (on the way to St. Armand's Circle, just east of the bridge) is Sarasota's only beach allowing dogs and cats.
Brohard Park & Dog Beach - Venice-off leash is OK

Parks
Ken Thompson Park - 1700 Ken Thompson Parkway, on City Island by Mote Marine Laboratory
Bay Front Park - at U. S. 41 & Ringling in the Marina Jack area
Gillespie Park - 710 N. Osprey, Downtown at Gillespie and N. Osprey
Arlington Park - 2650 Waldemere Street (trail area only)
ALL ANIMALS MUST BE KEPT ON A LEASH IN THE ABOVE PARKS.

Paw Parks
17th Street Park - 4570 17th Street, on 17th Street east of Beneva Road, west of Honore Avenue
Woodmere Park - On Jacaranda Boulevard 2 blocks north of U. S. 41
Lakeview Park - Sarasota

Here's some more info on Brohard Park. It's probably the best dog beach around but not real close to either of the locations you listed.

Brohard Park
Brohard Park is located in the southern most part of the City of Venice, on the Venice Airport property on Harbor Drive.

If you enjoy fishing, there's a 740 foot fishing pier on the property for public use. The pier has rest rooms, a snack bar, and a bait shop.

Also located at the park is Sharky's Restaurant and the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center.
The wetland area is known for bird watching. There are no lifeguards on duty.

The Venice City Commission voted to allow dogs at South Brohard Park. There is a fenced area, a dune walkover, a drinking fountain and showers for dogs and fire hydrants and leash posts. A 300 foot section of beach behind the City's wastewater treatment plant is a dog beach for dogs and their owners. Dogs must be on leash or under voice control. Owners must clean up after their pets. South Brohard park is by far the best dog-friendly beach in Southwest Florida. The people are friendly and its a large beach area for dogs. Definitely worth the drive from Sarasota.

Bekham’s in Osprey has dog friendly dining out on the patio as well as The Salty Dog Grill.
A good Manatee county dog park is in Lakewood Ranch sub-division has a great dog park but it is little known. It is like a Florida State Park ! Get off I-75 at State Rd. 70, go east to Lakewood Ranch Blvd., turn right, go to the first stop light at Summerfield Parkway, go on Summerfield Parkway until it ends at Summerfield Lake, turn right and go into the parking lot. Stop and look at the park map next to the sidewalk going into the forest past the south side of Summerfield lake. Walk is about 1.4 miles. Check out Wolf Slough [creek] at the south end of the walk....you can see it from many spots along the east trail which parallels it. Also, across the bridge over Wolf Slough where the trail is a concrete sidewalk, you will find a DOG PARK.....a really good one. Go to the Lakewood Ranch city hall and buy a non-resident pass for the Dog Park !

Many places in the downtown area allow dogs out on the patios. Anna Maria fishing pier is always a pretty good spot as well as the community dock on the north end of Longboat Key.

[pattisw]

Thank you! Lots of great information

[222muchcoffee]

My dog says thanks for the good info!