20 Things To Do in Lakewood Ranch, Florida

Lakewood Ranch (LWR) is a planned community between Bradenton and Sarasota on Florida’s Gulf Coast. However, there is more to Lakewood Ranch than just houses and golf courses. There are many things to do, see, and eat, as you’ll see in the following list of 20 Things to Do in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.

Lake View from behind Fishhole Miniature Gold in LWR.

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Share an Ice Cream with Your Pup

In Main Street Lakewood Ranch, near Starbucks Coffe, you will find Big Olaf Creamery. This ice cream shop has premium homemade ice cream and even a selection of dog-friendly frozen yogurt. Not only is the ice cream good, but the place also has a friendly atmosphere I always enjoy. It is the perfect stop after a stroll through Main Street.

Play a Round (or Two) of Miniature Golf

The Fishhole Miniature Golf in Lakewood Ranch will keep everyone in the family entertained. It has a pond with koi fish that’ll grab you and your kids’ attention, misters through the 18 hole course to keep you fresh on Florida’s hot weather, and a location that’ll make it easy to grab a bite after finishing playing.

Get your Hands Dirty with BBQ Sauce

There are only a few things better in life than sweet, spicy, and savory BBQ. Nancy’s Bar-B-Q’s Lil-Nancy pulled pork in Main Street LWR is precisely that and worth a try. Other offerings include chicken, salmon, and beef. They even hand trim the beef brisket to extra lean for a small additional fee if you were already discarding this option because of health or diet concerns.

Have Brunch

My favorite place to have brunch in Lakewood Ranch is Station 400. The Bacon & Salted Caramel Pancakes with Orange Butter and Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup is a delight to the palate. If you’re more into savory food, the Fried Green Tomato BLT is also delicious.

Drinking a Hefeweizen at Naughty Monk Brewery.

Go Beer and Rum Tasting

The Tampa/St. Pete area is well known for its breweries, and Lakewood Ranch does not want to stay behind. Naughty Monk Brewery has a vast selection of craft beers (mainly Belgian-inspired), board games, and billiards, making it perfect for an outing with friends or a partner.

There is also Craft Growlers To Go & Tasting Room where you can sample beer and cider. After deciding which one is your favorite, fill a growler to enjoy later. You can bring your growler (get one here!) or purchase it at the store.

The latest addition to the neighborhood is Loaded Cannon Distillery, where you can go for a tour and taste various spirits. From gin to rum, to vodka, to hopefully whiskey soon, there’s something for everyone. P.S. The toasted coconut rum is made with real coconut (not extract), and the flavor is unlike any other toasted coconut rum I have ever tried. 

Appreciate and Create Art

Plan a visit to Let’s Create Art, also in Main Street LWR. Let’s Create Art offers an array of creative and specialty classes for kids and adults. They also offer open studio hours, space rental for activities, and the opportunity to order and pick up a paint kit to create art wherever you feel more creative.

See a Movie

If you’re looking for an IMAX Experience, Lakewood Ranch Cinemas is not for you. However, if you’re looking for a quiet cinema (for the most part) with reasonable prices, the Sarasota Film Society, a non-profit member-supported organization, is doing a great job with the previously mentioned movie theater.

Listen to Live Music

Music on Main happens the first Friday of every month in Main Street Lakewood Ranch when the street is transformed into a pedestrian-only zone. Aside from the live music, there are food vendors, and some of the restaurants on the street have dinner and drink specials.

Enjoying Port Wine at Fine Wine & Tastings on Main.

Drink Wine &  Eat Cheese

We might not have too many wineries around, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy excellent wine. Fine Wine & Tastings on Main has a relaxed vibe, but with extremely knowledgeable staff and more than 450 wines from around the world. Every month they choose 25 wines that you can enjoy by the glass on their own, or you can choose to accompany them with cheese and charcuterie.

Pick and Eat Meat from a Crab

Pinchers in Lakewood Ranch is where you can sit down and feel like you are in an old seafood shack along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The Hot Crab & Cheese Dip is the favorite of many (and not without reason). But no one will judge if you order the pound of Alaskan Snow Crab or King Crab.

Visit LWR Farmer’s Market (The Market)

The Market at Lakewood Ranch is a community-supported agriculture project where you can find fresh produce, seafood, beef, poultry, cheese, and other goods. It runs from November to April, and at the time of updating this list, it is happening every Sunday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Adopt a Pet 

This might be the most serious thing to do on this list since it’s a longtime commitment. However, if you have decided to add a new member to the family, consider adopting from The Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch. A no-kill, non-profit shelter with adoptable pets ready for a home.

Celebrate Christmas

In Lakewood Ranch, Christmas is taken seriously. From the house decorations to multiple activities on Main Street, you’ll find out ‘Christmasy’ things to see and do in LWR. Make a note to check out Christmas on Main.

Miles of trails and multiple amenities at the Bob Gardner Community Park.

Complete a 5K (or 10K, or Half-Marathon, it’s your choice)

If there is something that Lakewood Ranch doesn’t lack is running trails. Here you can find a map with some of the ‘official’ Lakewood Ranch trails, but you can plan a run or a walk anywhere there is a public sidewalk.

Play a Sport

In Lakewood Ranch, there is always a sport being played. From golf to soccer to tennis, rugby, and polo. Some of the areas are only accessible for members of the different country clubs, including the Ritz Carlton Members Club. But, Lakewood Ranch also has many parks for residents and visitors alike. Click here to find them, and see which one is perfect for you!

Pretend You’re in Ireland

One of the newest additions to the LWR restaurant scene is the Irish Restaurant McGrath’s Irish Ale House. At the moment, I have only tried it for lunch, but the items I tasted were delicious. The French Onion Shire Dip and especially the Pub BLT were winners for me.

Go Horseback Riding

Epic Equine Experiences provides adventurous trail experiences (with lunch or dinner) in the Manatee and Sarasota counties, including Lakewood Ranch. The riding season is from October to June, and reservations are required.

Buy New Clothes

Lakewood Ranch Wish on Main is a fashion and lifestyle boutique with attentive staff ready to help you upgrade your wardrobe. Here you’ll find unique pieces that you can accessorize with shoes, jewelry, and bags, also available in the store.

Eat Sushi

Hana Sushi Lounge is the perfect spot for sushi and cocktails. The sushi is fresh, the cocktails are creative, and the service is excellent. They have many tasty sushi rolls, but my top three are the Tampa Roll, the Red Diamond Roll, and the Crunchy Munchy Roll.

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