Sarasota’s Teen Scene: A Cool Kid's Guide

Where to send your too-cool-for-resorts young adult while you sip umbrella-garnished drinks by the pool.

Sarasota is best known as a snowbird’s paradise, every year hosting countless retirees who come for the warm weather. All the more surprising, then, to find that its significant 18-and-younger crowd is happily mingling in every mall, movie theater and yogurt shop in the 941 area code.

Should your progeny be too cool to hang with you (and you know they are), there’s plenty to entertain them while mom and dad enjoy an uninterrupted vacation respite.

So you’ve embarrassed your kid yet again — that last appeal to slather on sunscreen elicited one eye roll too many. Do both parties a favor and drop junior off at SunniBunni, a froyo hotspot where the smoothies are fresh and kids seem to be king.

“Everywhere you go, kids will tell you there’s nothing to do. But you have to go out and find it,” says Angela Hamilton,  
14. She suggests the Stardust Skate Center, Hollywood 20 and — where she spends most of her time and allowance — the Westfield Sarasota Mall.

Westfield is Sarasota’s “it” mall, attracting teens like moths to a flame. After SunniBunni, leave the kids to their own devices here and enjoy hours of guilt-free pleasure, as this mall is an adolescent’s playground. There are plenty of shopping faves like Forever 21 and Hot Topic, as well as a movie theater, an ice skating rink, glow-in-the-dark mini-golf and arcade games to keep kids busy for a blissful while. “I’m

here a lot — this is where I get most of my clothes,” says Andrew Pierce, 15, sifting through the racks at Hot Topic for an alt music tee, the store’s specialty.

Your kid wants to act like an adult? Let him. Leave him at LeLu Coffee Lounge, where flip-flopped friends sip frappucinos among surfboardcovered walls. He can deal with the caffeinated repercussions himself (we only hope you have separate rooms).

In the evenings, teens hang out at Regal Hollywood Stadium 20 to watch vampire romances, zombie thrillers and actionpacked car films, grabbing pre-movie meals at Applebee’s.

“What else are you going to do on a Friday night? You gotta go see a movie, right?” says Tim Martinez, 15, relaxing on a bench outside the theater with a mint chocolate chip ice cream cone from nearby Cold Stone Creamery.

Worry not, though, movies aren’t the only place to trade in your whiny teen for a romantic date night with the better half. Drop ‘em off at Livingston’s Amusement Center, which has go-kart racing, rock climbing and an arcade. They’ll barely notice you’re hours late in picking them up.

Seems like Sarasota is a win-win. Sulky rugrats can have their way sans clueless parents, who can happily oblige by getting some well-deserved r&r

Kid-Friendly Resorts

Stuck at a resort with limited transportation? Fear not, these three lodging locales will keep your young’uns entertained, allowing mom and dad to have some time to themselves.

► Check out the Kids Camp at the Ritz-Carlton (1111 Ritz-Carlton Dr; 941-3092000; www.ritzcarlton.com) for arts and crafts and events like Kids Night Out, where kids can let loose — and parents can get a breather — at themed parties such as “Pajama-rama” and “Beach Bonfire Bash.”

► Sun-N-Fun (7125 Fruitville Rd; 941-371-2505; www.sunnfunfl.com) has a children’s splash pool, poolside movies, mini golf and family-friendly activities like “Funtoberfest” and “Everything Chocolate Weekend.”

► At Lido Beach Resort (700 Ben Franklin Dr; 941-388-2161; www.lidobeachresort.com) — which boasts 300 feet of private beach, volleyball courts and three poolside Jacuzzis — kids eat free from their own special menus with the “Kids Eat Free” package in all resort restaurants.

Sulky Teen Remedies

Need a quick fix for a bored teen? Start with this handful:

► Evie’s Tavern on the Range (4715 Bee Ridge Rd; 941-377-9300; www.eviesonline.com/taverns) has mini-golf and a tavern with pizza and other goodies.
► Snag a slice of fudge or a scoop of ice cream at Kilwins (312 John Ringling Blvd; 941-388-3200; www.kilwins.com/sarasota) on St. Armands Circle before a beach-bound Saturday on Lido Key.
► Sarasota Bay Explorers at Mote Aquarium (1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy; 941-388-4200; www.sarasotabayexplorers.com) offers eco-tours, nature safaris and kayak charters.

SunniBunni 
1916 Bay Rd, 941-554-8744; www.sunnibunni.com

Stardust Skate Center 
2571 12th St; 941-365-6888; www.stardustskatecenter.net

Westfield Sarasota 
8201 S Tamiami Tr; 941-922-9609; www.westfield.com/sarasota

Regal Hollywood Stadium 20
1993 Main St; 941-365-2000; www.regmovies.com

LeLu Coffee Lounge
 5251 Ocean Blvd, Siesta Key; 941-346-5358; www.lelucoffee.com

Applebee’s 
1991 Main St; 941-955-7234; www.applebees.com

Cold Stone Creamery
 1900 Main St; 941-330-1880; www.coldstonecreamery.com

Livingston’s Amusement Center
5947 Clark Center Ave; 941-9257665; www.livingstonsamusements.com