Christmas Day Driving in from Tampa

We should be out of the Tampa Airport by approximately 2:30pm on Christmas Day. We then plan to drive to Naples. I have a couple of questions:

1. Are any grocery stores (like Publix) or Pharmacies (like Walgreens) open on Christmas Day so that we can pickup our necessities?

2. We have a well behaved preschooler. Any place we can dine for a Christmas meal? Casual or fine.

3. I know this may sound like a silly question but are the shops all open on Dec 26th, Boxing Day? Big Sales? Grocery stores as well?

Thank You.

Christmas Day Driving in from Tampa

Most groceries close on Christmas Day, particularly Publix, and the few that are open usually close by about 4 PM. Plenty of restaurants will be open on your way down. If you don%26#39;t eat at the airport, and are heading south on I 275 to I 75, there are plenty of places near the Bradenton and Sarasota exits that should be open, including the dreaded McD%26#39;s. Everything will be open as usualy December 26th--not a holiday here, and yes, there will be plenty of sales. If possible, you might ask the place you are staying to lay in a few very basic groceries for the first night.

Christmas Day Driving in from Tampa

I am surprised to hear that plenty of restaurants are open on Christmas in the Bradenton area. I don%26#39;t have any first hand knowledge about that, but I know that when I leave Boston on Christmas day, driving to Naples, there are almost no restaurants open, except for the fast food joints on the toll highways. I suggest you check this out carefully. If it was me, I would get something to eat at Tampa Airport. The next morning, I would plan to eat breakfast out, and then shop for whatever. Everything will be open that day.

To clarify -- restaurants at the highway exits will be open...not much else.

Life returns to normal on 26 December -- Boxing Day isn%26#39;t celebrated here.

Here is a list of restaurants that are open on Christmas Day. Menu guy (a regular poster here) should be posting some others soon so keep checking back.

Baleens at La Playa Resort is doing brunch.

laplayaresort.com/Christmas_Day_Brunch.aspx

Both Ritz Carlton Beach Resort and their Golf Resort are doing a buffet and a sit down dinner

Beach resort

ritzcarlton.com/en/…Default.htm

Golf resort

ritzcarlton.com/en/…Default.htm

Bice Restaurant (Italian) on Fifth Avenue %26amp; Third Street downtown is serving dinner

http://www.bicenaples.com/naples/index.html

Enjoy your trip!

Publix and Sweetbay stores in the Sarasota area will all be closed.

As others have said, there should be some chain restaurants open at the various exits; in Sarasota, you could try University or Fruitville.

If you want to venture farther off the Interstate, you could get a decent (and fun) seafood meal at Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar (see www.creekseafood.com).

If you pass through Fort Myers Beach many good restaurants are open on xmas day. Diamond Head Beach Resort has a nice biffet as well as many sit down restaurants. Almost all 7-11 stores are open. You can get milk , bread and sandwiches and cake. Not great but it%26#39;s better than nothing.

I%26#39;d recommend getting a sandwich or salad (or heavy snack!) at the airport before you leave -- then you can take your time and find a Christmas dinner in or near Naples.

Marriott has a nice hotel right in the Tampa airport; you could definitely eat there before you start your drive south. There is a decent coffee shop on the main floor and an excellent revolving restaurant on the top floor (which might fascinate your preschooler).

The only reason I would not want to take the time to eat in Tampa because if you spend a couple of hours there, you will be driving the last part of your trip after dark.

Linda of Bonita Springs

I have found that Chinese and Thai restuarants sometimes open during the afternoon of Christmas Day.