Ticket Editor: Best restaurants in Sarasota, Bradenton for holiday lights, family fun!

Everybody is home for the holidays, and that is truly a wonderful thing, until it isn't. Let's be honest. By the time you've watched "Christmas Vacation," "A Christmas Story," and a "Christmas Carol" or two (I'm partial to the Muppets' version), it's time to get out of the house!

Luckily, we have lots of things to do here in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Personally, eating out always ranks as my top choice for basically any kind of fun, including that which involves the entire family. Choosing a restaurant is crucial, though, especially during Christmastime.  To help, here are some of my favorite local destinations for the winning combination of quality dining options, dazzling holiday lights, and fun activities for children of all ages.

The best restaurants open Christmas Day in Sarasota and Bradenton area

AndThe 22 biggest restaurant openings, closings and sales in Sarasota and Manatee in 2022

St. Armands Circle for restaurants near Winter Spectacular

One of the oldest and most famous shopping and dining districts in Florida, Sarasota's St. Armands Circle enjoyed an extra-special holiday makeover this season with the premiere of Winter Spectacular. Continuing today through Jan. 3, it offers free admission and free live entertainment, with fees for select rides and activities. There's an ice skating rink, carousel, inflatable snow globe, and an adorable little train that goes around the park and its towering Christmas tree; which you will want to observe while sipping world-class sangria at Columbia Restaurant.

A St. Armands Circle icon dating back to 1959, Columbia Restaurant excels at authentic Spanish-Cuban cuisine, including the legendary combo of their Cuban sandwich and Original "1905" Salad. It's also a first-rate seafood joint. Probably most famous for the paella, they serve everything from fresh stone crab claws to deftly prepared scallop, snapper and salmon dishes. Seeking something a bit more casual? Check out Columbia's sister restaurant Cha Cha Coconuts, which is located right next door and typically features live music out front to go with a tropical menu that includes tasty wings, the Tony salad that's nearly as good as the 1905, and the Havana Ham & Cheese that just might be the best ham and cheese sandwich you've ever tried.

And while I love the history of Columbia Restaurant, St. Armands Circle is also home to St. Armands Oyster Bar, the Louisiana-style destination I recently included among my best new Sarasota restaurants of the year as well as our USA TODAY Network story on 10 of our favorite new restaurants in Florida. Not in the mood for seafood? Consider Venezia Italian Restaurant, located across from the main entrance to Winter Spectacular for wood oven-baked pizza, and then grab some gelato next door at Settimi’s.

Other dining options to consider on St. Armands Circle include Blu Kouzina for genuine Greek cuisine, Speaks Clam Bar for fresh seafood and Italian faves, and Shore for creative coastal dining such as their signature burger, which is among the best in Sarasota.

Tampa or Miami-style?Tampa or Miami-style? Best restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton for real Cuban sandwiches

Columbia is also featured in12 best seafood restaurants in Sarasota and Manatee serving fresh Florida stone crab

Restaurant reviewCha Cha Coconuts for Tony Salad, Ham & Cheese, Chicken Tinga De Rangel

Which restaurants make the best burgers?Here are 25 of our favorites in Sarasota County?

University Town Center for restaurants near Holidays at UTC

The Mall at University Town Center is a great place to shop and then dine or just have a drink at restaurants like The Capital Grille, Sophie's at Saks Fifth Avenue, Brio Italian Grille, and Seasons 52. However, the surrounding University Town Center area is where you will find Holidays at UTC , with numerous, mostly free Christmas activities taking place today through Jan. 2. For starters, there's the free nightly light shows along Cattlemen Road occuring every 30 minutes from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. (as well as fireworks on Saturdays at 9 p.m.)

To best enjoy the lights and synchronized holiday music, you'll want to secure one of the open-air, covered outside seats at JPan Sushi & Grill or Rusty Bucket. JPan offers an array of sushi rolls as well as the must-try sweet and tangy "KFC" (Korean fried chicken) wings. Rusty Bucket focuses on pub grub classics as well as the kind of light, doughy, chewy pizza that pairs perfectly with the various craft beers they offer.

Pizza enthusiasts will also want to visit nearby California Pizza Kitchen, which in addition to their famed BBQ chicken pizza and such serves a surprisingly good dish of Szechwan chicken dumplings. A bit farther from the main circle featuring the Christmas tree and main lights display you will find downtown Sarasota Latin fusion restaurant Selva Grill's UTC location across the road from Shake Shack, which just might be my favorite national chain on the planet for the eternally cool combo of shake, burger, and crinkle fries. Shake Shack serves delightfully thin smash burgers, but for big, juicy burgers with gourmet toppings, you need to walk over to Ford's Garage.

Founded just south of us in Fort Myers about a decade ago, Ford's Garage is probably my favorite restaurant in the UTC area. I love the Americana setting paying homage to Henry Ford and his game-changing Model T automobile, I love the beer selection that runs the gamut from local to regional craft faves to macro must-haves, and I love the classic American comfort food. Favorite appetizers include the hand-breaded pickles and crispy fried "Nashville Hot" chicken wings, and I sure do love their burgers with my current pick being the Estate Burger with smoked gouda, sweet red onion marmalade, arugula, tomato, fried onion straws and white truffle bacon aioli on the brioche bun branded with the restaurant's name.

Ford's Garage, with two bars and plenty of outdoor seating, is also in a prime location for holiday fun. Its parking lot is right next to where the chairs are arranged for the free holiday movie showings that will conclude with "The Nutcracker and the Four Realms" (6 p.m. Fri. Dec. 23), "Christmas Vacation" (7 p.m. Dec. 30) and "Frozen" (6 p.m. Dec. 31.) Nearby, you'll also find the horse-drawn carriage rides taking place 6-10 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays (closed on Christmas Day, open Christmas Eve, cost $10.)

Finally, if you're seeking a good time at University Town Center, be sure to check out PopStroke. Headquartered in Jupiter, Florida, and backed by golf G.O.A.T. Tiger Woods, the Sarasota PopStroke that opened earlier this year includes two 18-hole putting courses consisting entirely of synthetic turfs with fairways, bunkers, and the kind of rough you would encounter on a traditional golf course. Plus, PopStroke serves a full food menu and has full-liquor bars including a rooftop option open to the public when not booked for a private event.

PopStroke is located in UTC's East District, a short walk from Ford's Garage, near where Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium's new facility is being built, and across from the Mall parking lot and Kona Grill. Right next to PopStroke, you'll find The Rink at UTC. Presented by the Tampa Bay Rays, it's a real ice rink covered by a large white tent. A 75-minute skate costs about $20 and can be reserved online.

PopStroke is also featured inSarasota-Manatee's most notable retail newcomers of 2022

Also featured inFort Myers-born Ford's Garage set to boom nationwide

Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island

While Sarasota and Manatee counties include many famous beaches, the best one to visit for nearby holiday fun is in Bradenton Beach on charming Anna Maria Island. Because the tiny city of Bradenton Beach is also home to Bridge Street, which has a gorgeous Christmas tree glowing outside the post office and its entire restaurant row and historic Bridge Street pier overlooking the Intracoastal waterway are beautifully illuminated with holiday lights. In addition to fishing on the pier, you have the absolutely adorable Fish Hole Miniature Golf for family fun and right next door the irresistible sweets shop the Fudge Factory.

The perfect evening, though, will consist of an evening of the region's freshest seafood at Blue Marlin, which is housed in a historic cottage with a patio area for outdoor seating, a full-liquor bar (there's one inside, too) and covered stage where bands perform. Following a meal of, say, stone crab and pecan grouper, at Blue Marlin, consider having a drink while listening to music outside at the Drift In or overlooking the Intracoastal at the Bridge Tender Inn.

One of Sarasota-Manatee's best sports bars, Island Time on the other end of Bridge Street, closer to the beach, also hosts live music. And for more upscale dining, visit Island Time's sister restaurant Island Bistro, which is directly above and includes a third-floor terrace for spectacular sunset views. Then across the street you'll find the Key West-style building housing Bridge Street Bazaar and Daiquiri Deck, which include one of the best rooftop bars in Sarasota-Manatee.

Want to dine right on the water? Head back to the Bridge Street Pier. At its base you'll find the Anna Maria Oyster Bar, part of a locally owned group of popular seafood restaurants dating back to 1995.

More:10 best beaches to visit in Sarasota-Manatee – and what to do when you get there!

Island Time is also featured inBest sports bars in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice for food, drinks and fun football watching

Daiquiri Deck is also featured inBest rooftop bars, restaurants in Sarasota, Bradenton for food, drinks, waterfront views

Downtown Bradenton for holiday lights and family fun at Bishop Museum of Science and Nature

Downtown Bradenton's Barcarrota Boulevard running along the Manatee River outside City Hall features a vibrant lights display including everything from musicians and ball players to a New Year's Eve ball drop. The waterfront boulevard leads to the Bradenton Riverwalk's western entrance taking pedestrians under the Green Bridge (the boardwalk is closed for repairs through Dec. 31) and The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature. The museum, located across the street from a free parking garage, includes The Planetarium, the Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat, the Mosaic Backyard Universe, and a changing lineup of temporary exhibitions such as the Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO Bricks that's on display through March 18. The museum is typically open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Its holiday hours are 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 24), closed Sunday (Dec. 25), open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday (Dec. 26), open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 31, closed Jan. 1, and open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 2.

Oak & Stone is at the corner of Old Main Street and Barcarrota Boulevard, with a first floor dining room featuring tables and a bar area overlooking the water and light displays, plus a huge rooftop bar area dubbed The Deck overlooking the entire Manatee River with views all the way to Tampa Bay and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Opened in late 2019, Oak & Stone is one of the best restaurants in Bradenton for waterfront views, pizza, burgers, wings, fried chicken sandwiches and watching sports including NFL football.

I'm also a big fan of Pier 22, which recently hosted their annual Christmas boat parade party. The waterfront terrace should still be adorned in all of its holiday glory with many of the boats that participated in the parade still covered in lights and docked at the adjacent Twin Dolphin Marina. Downtown Bradenton's oldest and most famous restaurant, Pier 22 offers an extensive, eclectic menu includes and one the best happy hours in town, with deals on drinks and small plates daily from 3 to 7 p.m. Craving some ice cream or perhaps a smoothie? Stop by Pier 22's sister business Corwin's.

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Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida-Georgia Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.​​​​​​

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Best restaurants in Sarasota, Bradenton for holiday lights, family fun