Ah, it’s the time of the year that everyone loves – Spring Break! Now is your chance to kick off those snow boots and head south to beautiful, sunny Florida!  Break out your bikini, dust off those flip-flops and hit the beach!  If you are going to be enjoying some time on Anna Maria Island or Siesta Key, we’ve got a few ingenious ideas of things to do on your Spring Break.
1) Boost Your Metabolism
No need to fill up on beer (and feel all bloated in your bathing suit), we’ve got the alternative Spring Break drink – the Sweet Heat Martini at Martiniville on Anna Maria Island. This martini will definitely spice things up – it’s a blend of tequila, cilantro, mango and habanera, yes, habanera the spiciest pepper out there. The spice in the drink will boost your metabolism and help burn off all the calories from the Poo Nang Shrimp Tempura appetizer you just downed.
2) Eat Here and Drink There
There are a few classic “Spring Break” destinations that you can’t miss, like hearing a jam band play at the SKOB (Siesta Key Oyster Bar) and get a fried hot dog from the Old Salty Dog, but there’s a new restaurant that has to be first on your “must eat here” list. The restaurant is called Eat Here and is located on Anna Maria Island.  Eat Here is a “Gulf Coast Cookery” that specializes in regional foods with unique touches. We love the Poutine (think Disco Fries with parmesan), Fried Beets and the Mahi Fish Tacos. Don’t miss the Corn Pudding side dish, a classier version of cheese grits – delish!  There are only 12 tables so there will be a wait – but it’s so worth it! And the wait is also enjoyable!  There is a server assigned to those waiting for a table who will make sure that you’ve got a beverage in hand. Plus, this will give you time to look over the clever menu – we think it’s the best “beach read” out there.  Check out the interesting craft beer list which includes Stone Brewery’s “Ruination IPA” and Flying Dog Brewery’s “Raging Bitch.” They also offer a plethora of yummy wines by the glass.
The Daiquiri Deck on Siesta always is always a Spring Break hot spot, but with their new location on St. Armand’s Circle, you can shop a little, then down a Deck Diesel (make sure you have a few Sarasota taxi cab phone numbers programmed into your cell).
3) Pull an All-Nighter
The bars close at 2am, so what’s there to do next? We have two “stellar” tips that will give you the most memorable night of your life.  After the bartender has yelled “last call,” we recommend heading to the beach to watch the stars. This time of year, you will see zillions more stars than usual because the skies are so clear and we have very little artificial light interference (at night all of the beach properties must turn off their lights so they don’t interfere with the sea turtle nesting…so you may even get to see a mama turtle come up and lay her eggs). Plop down in the sand, lie on your back, listen to the waves crashing and look up. Keep your eyes peeled and you will definitely witness some falling stars.
As the stars begin to disappear, if haven’t fallen asleep , we suggest making your way to the Bay to watch the sunrise. With dolphins frolicking amidst stunning pink hues, the sunrise easily rivals the sunset’s beauty…it just gets less publicity because most people are normally still in bed – but not you, not today. We suggest heading to the Rod and Reel Pier on Anna Maria Island where you can watch the glorious sun rise and get a fantastic breakfast. We heart the Seafood Omelet!