10 things to do at waterside place

You’ve probably heard about Waterside Place, and it’s likely you’ve been to the Sunday Farmers Market or grabbed a bite to eat at Good Liquid Brewing Company. But let me tell you, Waterside Place is a lot more than simply being home to the Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market.

If you’re not already familiar with this new entertainment hotspot, let me fill you in. Waterside Place is located barely East of I-75 off Lakewood Ranch Blvd. It is South of University Blvd and North of Fruitville Rd, residing within Lakewood Ranch’s popular new residential area of Waterside. In fact, Waterside Place is really the heart of the Waterside community. It's a hub right in the center of a residential area. An outdoor plaza, a town center, a lakefront shopping destination, a Sarasota attraction; it has been named all these things. This public attraction invites the Sarasota and surrounding communities into all it has to offer. So, what kind of things can you do there? Let me fill you in on 10 great things to enjoy at Waterside Place.

1. Visit the Night Market

Waterside Place hosts a weekly (seasonal) night market called Ranch Nite Wednesdays. This night market runs most of the year highlighting local food trucks, dessert trucks, and a mobile bar. You can also expect live music, rotating vendors, and a recreational cornhole league. Whether you make a one-time visit or you’re a regular, Ranch Nite Wednesdays is sure to be a good time to gather with friends, family, or to bring along the kids.

2. Sunday Funday - Stop in at the Farmers Market

The Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market takes place at Waterside Place on Sunday mornings and into the early afternoon. This weekly market runs throughout the year with over 100 vendors. The market covers everything from fruits and veggies, to meat, to flowers, spices, condiments, bakery items, fresh food, coffee and teas, sweet treats, gifts, artisanal goods, and more. Beyond the vendors, visitors can enjoy yoga in the park or a kid’s craft workshop (when offered). The Farmers Market is always guaranteed some local live music and a good time! 

3. Take a Ride on the Water Taxi

The water taxi will make its home on Kingfisher Lake at the Waterside Place Marina. This experience gives visitors something a little extra special and out of the ordinary to do- it’s like bringing a slice of the Disney experience to our area of Sarasota.

4. Play Corn Hole in the Yard

Stop on in to grab a drink or a bite to eat and play a game of cornhole in the turf yard! The Yard is nestled in between some of Waterside’s favorite businesses; it’s a little area of turf that’s set up with cornhole and string lights, creating the perfect atmosphere for some relaxing fun.  

5. Listen to Live Music in the Plaza

The plaza is the heart of Waterside Place. The covered pavilion is filled with lounge seating and surrounded by tables, chairs, and umbrellas. In addition to live music events, there is also live music at the weekly Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market and Ranch Nite Wednesdays, which both take place at Waterside Place.

6. Play at the Splash Park and Playground

Bring the kids along to Waterside Park to visit the splash park or playground. Adjacent to each other, with a restroom in between, the splash park and playground overlook the beautiful Kingfisher Lake. With a breeze off the lake, enjoy playing in the sun and cooling off in the water with your littles!

7. Exercise at Waterside Park

Waterside Place has paved sidewalk paths throughout, making a great spot to walk or run. Waterside Park also has sand volleyball courts. These courts are open for public play, but you can also sign up for sunset volleyball meetups, teen volleyball, and more. Similarly, yoga events are plentiful throughout the park. You can register for these events on the Waterside website.

8. Grab a Bite to Eat

Waterside Place is home to a handful of places to grab a bite to eat or find a drink to sip. And the best part about it, the atmosphere doesn’t disappoint. Check out the directory to see the most up to date businesses.

9. Stroll the Shops

From beauty and wellness, to gifts, to boutiques. Waterside Place has a few shopping options to check out. These are not your big box retail stores, but rather ones you may enjoy perusing with a coffee in hand. Check out the directory to see the most up to date businesses.

10. Check out Waterside Area Real Estate

Waterside Place is the “town center” of its surrounding area of Waterside. Waterside is a Lakewood Ranch community made up of a lot of neighborhoods within. As Waterside is currently an up-and-coming area, these neighborhoods are full of new construction homes. If you’re interested in buying Waterside real estate, make sure you’re working with a realtor before registering with new construction communities or you won’t be allowed to use the services of a realtor during your new construction build. If you’re looking for a realtor to help you navigate your new home purchase, my team and I would love to help educate you on Waterside real estate.

Contact Matt