by Jessica Howell

For families looking for a quiet escape that offers access to all the sunshine state has to offer, Florida’s Gulf Coast delivers in spades. We explored the Sarasota area – with its spectacular beaches and nature-rich parks – and found a vacation-home wellness retreat that felt like a luxe hotel without sacrificing the conveniences of a home away from home. 

This was our first mid-winter break given that we now have a kindergartener, and as you might imagine, you don’t have to tell me twice to book a little getaway when offered a week away from this new-to-us school schedule.

While many families based in the U.S. count Florida among their first vacation destinations, we’d never taken our children. But the idea of warm weather, beaches and a week away from daily routines sounded irresistible, and thank goodness we jumped at it.

WHERE TO STAY:

It’s not unusual that when researching a vacation, I find the accommodation before I identify the destination. In this case, I stumbled upon a chic, wellness-inspired vacation rental that immediately spoke to me. A pink-hued pickleball court lined by matching fringe umbrellas for shaded lounging was just the start. A saltwater pool, hot tub, cold plunge and hefty list of spa-like amenities signaled immediate relaxation – even while knowing that my kids would be running laps around me at the same time.

That’s the beauty of this thoughtful retreat. While it’s been so clearly designed as a reset from the everyday, it’s also incredibly family friendly – stocked with pool floats, a beach wagon, board games, an outdoor pizza oven, and outfitted with a bunk room that’s as cozy as it is joy inducing.

Sleeping up to 13 guests, The Sideline Club is a new property on a quiet, oceanside cul de sac in Bradenton, Florida, just 10 minutes from the Sarasota Airport and conveniently close to dozens of beaches, restaurants, parks and attractions. It offers four bedrooms (all with seriously comfortable king beds, two of which also offer trundle beds for families, and one with two built-in bunks up top).

*Check out Instagram to save $250 on your first stay!*

Our four-night stay was a delightful rinse-and-repeat of relaxed days that began with breakfast on the kitchen patio, followed by a cold plunge for mom (and the swimming pool for the kiddos), venturing out to a nearby beach or park, then settling in for a game of pickleball, tossing pizzas in the outdoor oven or piling in for a movie and carry out sushi.

Here, the host has truly thought of everything. The coffee station also includes an electrolyte selection; the standalone soaking tub offers a bath salt bar; the pool is stocked with inner tubes and floats for the kids and even includes “water watcher” lanyards so adults can easily ensure a grown up is on duty when kids are swimming.

That same attention to detail extends even to the beds – our friend purchased the bedding for her own bed at home even before we’d checked out! (Update: And I purchased the kitchen hand towels as soon as I got home. Ha!)

Side note: The Sideline Club is part of The Nest Collective; if you love the vibe, you can find sister properties in Northern Michigan and Summit County, Colorado!

WHAT TO DO:

The most obvious option is to head to the beach!

We opted for two very different beach experiences, both located within an easy drive from the house (though I’ll mention that depending on the time of day, you may run into traffic back ups over the bridges and near the water–check before you head out and plan accordingly).

First up was Siesta Key Beach, one that my niece immediately recommended to me, and one that the property host also recommended. It’s a deep swath of quartz-crystal sand that’s cool to the touch and stretches quite a ways, dotted by yellow, red, blue and green lifeguard stands. You’ll find large parking lots here, concession stands, restrooms and a playground for the kids. Beachgoers beware… this is definitely one to lug the beach wagon to. It’s a long haul from the parking lot to the water’s edge, where your kids will surely want to hang.

On our second beach day, we opted for Anna Maria Island and headed toward Manatee Beach. We didn’t arrive until 3 p.m. (the kids were having too much fun in vacation rental pool!), which was a blessing because we pulled right into a parking space and found plenty of sandy availability near the water. Here, there’s a playground right in the sand near the back of the beach, as well as bathrooms and a restaurant / cafe where live music began playing for dinner goers.

This beach also logged core-memory status thanks to an ice-cream boat that played the iconic neighborhood jingle as it rode the waves into shore. Of course, kids and adults alike raced toward the pontoon, where you could purchase wrapped ice cream novelties and popsicles – a complete dream for the nostalgic Millennials among us (read: me).

Another fun stop for the kids was Robinson Preserve, near Anna Maria Island, which came recommended by a friend. This 600-acre salt marsh turned coastal nature park is a perfect place to explore a bit of Florida’s waterways via kayak, or to stretch your legs on a cool-day hike. The park also offers a canopy walk for kids that’s more of a mini ropes playscape with slides. Pack a picnic and spend an early morning or late afternoon here when you need a break from the waves.

WHAT TO EAT:

I’ll be honest. Our vacation rental had a full kitchen and a pizza oven (by Solo Stove… adding that to my Amazon cart, too) that was handier than I imagined, making mealtime a breeze. But we did manage to escape every now and again. Here are the stops that stood out to us, and are worth the hype:

Local Market: Skip the Target run and instead, head to Detweiler’s Farm Market, where you can stock up on fresh produce, baked goods – like fresh donuts, butcher cuts, seafood and more. The atmosphere is lively and friendly, with samples being handed out at every turn and mini carts for the kids to push. Before you pack up the car, you can grab an ice cream cone, too.

Coffee: I’ve long wanted to check out The Fox Mercantile,  a coffee shop and boutique near Anna Maria Island that has the most idyllic courtyard for sipping your iced brew. We brought the whole crew and everyone (dads and kids included) loved this stop – which offers a small selection of kids toys, clothing, cookbooks and the like, alongside a small cafe menu. I ordered an espresso-and-ice-cream shake dubbed “For Fox Shake,” which took me a solid five minutes to realize was a pithy play on words. (Face palm.) It was, however, the most decadent caffeinated treat. Highly recommend a pit stop here if you’re en route to AMI!

Ice Cream: What’s Florida without ice cream? Main Street Creamery in downtown Sarasota was worth a quick walk from our parked car, touting one of the best vegan ice creams… anywhere. But what stood out to me was the service, in particular, the sweet gentleman who happily removed the rainbow sprinkles from my daughter’s scoop of chocolate ice cream in favor of matching chocolate sprinkles (her lip was quivering in pre-meltdown status due to my negligence). Whether you order an affogato, thick milkshake or a double scoop in a waffle cone, you’re going to remember this little storefront. Note that it’s closed on Sundays!

Dining: On our very first night, we flipped open the guestbook left by our vacation rental’s uber-prepared host, and opted for one of the closest oceanside options: Gulf Drive Cafe. Lucky for us, on a weeknight in February, we found parking easily in their private lot, grabbed a waterfront table for eight and watched the kids frolic in the surf as the sun set. It was about as perfect as you can imagine. The drinks were cold and a kids menu offered plenty of options for the littles, too.

WHAT’S ON OUR LIST FOR NEXT TIME:

While four nights felt like plenty, we left so much on the table in terms of family-friendly activities! Here are the things that top our list for the next visit:

• The Cabana Club: The only thing that would have made this relaxing stay a little bougier would be a beachside set up by this vendor, who rents luxury beachside cabana and umbrella / lounge set ups – including set up and take down
• Children’s Rainforest Garden at Selby Botanical Gardens: A 100-year old Banyan tree, waterfall and canopy walk are a few features that make this paid-entry garden stand out as one ideal for adventurous kids and aesthetic-seeking moms
• The Ringling: Yes, that Ringling. Explore a Circus Museum, art museum and stunning 1920s mansion named Ca’ d’Zan
• Sarasota Jungle Gardens: A family-owned zoo and botanical gardens featuring interactive kids opportunities (think flamingos, snakes, goats and more)