Local Living at Its Best: Coastal Treats, Classic Cruises, and a Holiday Must-Visit
In this month’s roundup, we are delighted to highlight some of the area’s most charming local experiences. From a whimsical floating ice cream boat to a classic Old Florida coastal cruise and a beloved Sarasota butcher shop, these community favorites add even more richness to life at The Peninsula.
Below are a few local spotlights residents are sure to enjoy.
Tropicool Ice Cream Boat
A Beach Day Delight
What’s better than enjoying ice cream on our gorgeous beaches? Ice cream that comes to you - by boat!
Tropicool has reinvented the classic ice cream truck as a bright, music-playing boat that cruises along the coastline delivering frozen treats, cold drinks, and snacks right where the waves meet your toes.
If you hear a cheerful tune drifting across the water, you’re not imagining things - that’s your cue to paddle over for a Tropicool treat. It’s quirky, fun, and easily one of the coolest ways to cool off.
Set Sail with Selby Gardens
Experience Old Florida from the Water
If you’re craving a taste of Sarasota’s past, Selby Gardens has brought back one of my favorite experiences: the Set Sail with Selby Gardens coastal cruise. Running every Saturday through late April 2026, this excursion offers a peaceful, scenic journey along the Intracoastal Waterway between Selby’s Downtown and Historic Spanish Point campuses.
Following the same routes early Sarasota explorers once traveled, it’s an enchanting way to see the region from a new perspective.
Here’s what the day includes:
A relaxing cruise between both campuses
Lunch at Michael’s on East
Full access to both garden locations
Free time to wander the Downtown gardens afterward
Tours run from 9:45 a.m. to about 3:30 p.m., and tickets are $150 per person ($135 for members). They tend to sell out quickly, so if you want to experience Sarasota the way its earliest residents did, we highly encourage you to register soon!
Alpine Steakhouse
Your Go-To Holiday Hero
As the holidays approach, the Peninsula team always finds themselves turning to Alpine Steakhouse, Sarasota’s oldest family-owned steakhouse and butcher shop. It’s the perfect one-stop shop for festive entertaining and cozy dinners.
Alpine Steakhouse & Butcher Shop
4520 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Whether you’re planning a holiday feast, picking up a turkey or a prime steak, or grabbing their convenient ready-to-heat sides, Alpine is one of our favorite “shop local” spots.
Their butcher shop offers:
Prime rib roasts
House-made sausages
Classic comfort foods
High-quality cuts for any occasion
Supporting local businesses means a lot to me, and Alpine has been a Sarasota staple for decades. If you’re looking for a delicious shortcut to a holiday meal, Alpine Steakhouse is a must-visit this season.