'''Sarasota''' is a popular city on the Gulf Coast of Southwest Florida and the county seat of Sarasota County. It is known for its vibrant arts community, excellent restaurants, unique shopping, and beautiful beaches. Sarasota, although a mid-sized city, is considered to be the cultural center of West Central Florida. The city has a metropolitan flavor unique to cities of its size and to cities in Florida.

The Asolo Theater, Florida West Coast Symphony, Sarasota Opera, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, and frequent art shows add the the cultural theme of the city, rivaling the facilities of Florida's largest cities. Sarasota is also home to the Ringling Museum of Art, the Selby Botanical Gardens, New College (Florida's public honors college), a USF branch, and the Ringling School of Art and Design.

Sarasota's downtown comprises a true urban cityscape with offices and several upscale downtown condominiums. It is complemented by '''Saint Armands Circle''', on Saint Armands Key, which is surrounded by Lido Key, across Sarasota Bay from downtown via the Ringling Causeway (with sweeping views of Sarasota Bay.) Saint Armands Circle is an upscale outdoor shopping area, with several cafes, reminiscent of Europe. The idea for Saint Armands was from John Ringling who also intended to build a Ritz hotel on Longboat Key. Today, Sarasota has a Ritz hotel downtown as well as the Longboat Key Club on Ringling's original site. The Longboat Key Club includes two golf courses, tennis, and all other resort facilities and is located just north of Saint Armands on Longboat Key.

'''The biggest draw to the area remains the beaches'''. Siesta Key Beach is consistently ranked among the most beautiful beaches on Earth. Crescent Beach, Turtle Beach, Lido Beach, and the beach running the 15 mile span of Longboat Key are equally beautiful and accessible. Indeed, much of Sarasota's charm comes from the fact that the beaches are so plentiful and accessible.

Get in

By plane

  • '''Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)''', 6000 Airport Circle, 941-359-2777, [http://www.srq-airport.com/]. Located on the border between Sarasota and Manatee counties.
  • By car

  • Sarasota has one primary expressway, '''Interstate 75''', which runs north to south.
  • The major roads within Sarasota include the '''Tamiami Trail''' (which is the name given to US 41 between Tampa and Miami), '''US Route 301''', Beneva Rd. and Cattleman Rd., all running north-to-south, and Clark Rd., Proctor Rd., Bee Ridge Rd., Fruitville Rd. and University Pkwy., all running east-to-west.
  • Get around

    The city includes the mainland downtown as well as three islands, called "keys." These are Longboat Key, Lido Key, and Siesta Key. Causeways to all these keys are free and very picturesque. Downtown Sarasota is very vibrant with a healthy mix of businesses, residences, and restaurants, as well as city services.

    See

  • '''Sarasota Jungle Gardens''', 3701 Bay Shore Road, Phone: 941-355-5305, [http://www.sarasotajunglegardens.com]. Daily 9AM-5PM. There are 5 shows at the gardens in addition to the grounds themselves which are filled with many interesting plants. As with most early attractions, they offer some animal shows and a chance to see some rare plants, many of which are of extraordinary size. This attraction is a rare opportunity to see what Florida was like in the tourist boom of the early 1900's.
  • '''The Ringling Estate''', 5401 Bay Shore Road, Phone: 941-359-5700, [http://www.ringling.org]. Daily 10AM-5:30PM. The Ringling Estate has recently finished a six-year restoration and expansion phase that restored all of the existing buildings and added four new buildings to the estate. Features of the 66-acre estate include the lush grounds and landscaping including Mable_fs Rose Garden, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the Circus Museum, the Ca d_fZan Mansion, the Tibbals Learning Center, and the Historic Asolo Theater located in the Visitor_fs Pavilion.
  • *'''The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art''', [http://www.ringling.org/museum_art.asp]. The Museum of Art, built by John Ringling to house his personal collection of masterpieces, today features the great Old Masters including Rubens, van Dyck, Velazquez, Titian, Tintoretto, Vernonese, El Greco, Gainsborough and more. Opened in October 1931, the Museum recently opened the Ulla R. and Arthur F. Searing Wing in 2007, adding an additional 30,000 square feet of exhibition space. The Museum_fs 21 galleries feature internationally renowned European, American and Asian art with masterpieces from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The Courtyard of the Museum of Art features casts of original statues including the towering David by Michelangelo. The Courtyard features two fountains - Fountain of Tortoises, one of three replicas from the Piazza Mattei in Rome, and the Oceanus Fountain, copied from the 16th century original by Giovanni Bologna in Florence_fs Boboli Gardens.
  • *'''Circus Museum''', [http://www.ringling.org/circus_museum.asp]. Established in 1948, the Ringling Museum of the American Circus was the first museum of its kind to document the rich history of the circus. The Museum has a fine collection including rare handbills, posters and art prints, circus paper, business records, wardrobe, performing props, as well as all types of circus equipment, including beautifully carved parade wagons. Located in the Circus Museum_fs Tibbals Learning Center, The Howard Bros. Circus Model is a replica of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1919 ? 1938. Complete with eight main tents, 152 wagons, 1,300 circus performers and workers, more than 800 animals and a 59-car train, the model is built in ?-inch-to-the-foot scale replica and occupies 3,800 square feet.
  • *'''Ca d_fZan''', [http://www.ringling.org/ca_mansion.asp]. The Ringlings' dazzling palatial mansion is a tribute to the American Dream and reflects the splendor and romance of Italy. Described as _gthe last of the Gilded Age mansions_h to be built in America, Ca d_fZan has 56 incredible rooms filled with art and original furnishings. With its Venetian Gothic architecture, the mansion is a combination of the grandeur of Venice_fs Doge_fs Palace, combined with the gothic grace of Ca d_fOro and Sarasota Bay serves as the Grand Canal.
  • *'''The Historic Asolo Theater''', [http://www.ringling.org/theater.asp ]. An 18th-century treasure in a 21st-century venue, the Historic Asolo Theater is a work of art in its own right. The palace playhouse was created in Asolo, Italy to honor the 15th-century exiled Queen of Cyprus. In the late 1940s, the theater was brought to the Ringling Estate and served as the first stage for many of the community_fs most recognized performance organizations. Today the theater features a diverse performance schedule including theatre, dance, film, music, and lectures.
  • '''Sarasota Classic Car Museum''', 5500 North Tamiami Trail, Phone: 941-355-6228, [http://www.sarasotacarmuseum.org/]. Daily 9AM-6PM. Adults $9.50, Seniors $7.65, ages 13-17 $5.75, ages 6-12 $4.
  • '''The Mote Marine Lab Aquarium''', Ken Thompson Pkwy, Phone: 941-388-4441, ext. 348, [http://www.mote.org/index.php?submenu=Aquarium&src=gendocs&link=Aquarium&category=Aquarium]. Daily 10AM-5PM. Adults $15, ages 4-12 $10.
  • '''Marie Selby Botanical Gardens''', 811 South Palm Avenue, Phone: 941-366-5731, [http://www.selby.org/]. Daily 10AM-5PM. Adults $12, Children 6-11 $6.
  • '''Art Center Sarasota''', 707 N Tamiami Trail, Phone: 941-365-2032, [http://www.artsarasota.org/]. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. Usually, 2 or 3 art exhibitions going on concurrently. Some pieces in gallery available for sale. Free, $3 Donation Requested.
  • Do

  • '''Siesta Key Beach'''. Siesta Key Beach is among the first and foremost reasons for many visitors to come to Sarasota. The sand, which is 99% pure crystal quartz, is often cited as being the cleanest, whitest sand in the world. With an athletic area equipped with vollyball courts, a cookout area complete with grills (bring your own charcoal), and life guards on duty all day, Siesta Key Beach is a great place for families and spring breakers alike. On Sundays at sundown, there is a tourist-heavy drum circle where local hippies play and everyone dances.
  • '''Historic Spanish Point''', 337 N. Tamiami Trail. Visit Historic Spanish Point and experience the past 5,000 years of history in Southwest Florida. Open to the general public from M-Sa, 9AM-5PM; Su noon to 5PM. Exhibits range from learning about the Florida Environment, Southwest Florida_fs Maritime Heritage, Pioneer Homesteaders, Archaeology and the Bertha Palmer time period of growth in Southwest Florida. The 30 acres of land used as Historic Spanish Point was once the winter estate of Mrs. Palmer. Adults $7, ages 6-12 $3, and under 6 free.
  • '''Ed Smith Stadium''', 2700 12th Street. The spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds. If you are in the Venice area between February and March, catch a preseason game for between $5 and $12. From April to August the Class A minor-league affiliate team of the Cincinnati Reds, the Sarasota Reds play and tickets are only $5, so bring the entire family for an evening of baseball.
  • '''Great World Way''' (Nature Tours), 8374 Market Street, Lakewood Ranch, Phone: ''+1 941'' 650-1820, [http://www.greatworldway.com www.greatworldway.com] Beyond the beaches, but within easy driving distance of downtown Sarasota, is a vast wilderness area of more than 100,000 acres. The backbone of this wilderness is the 66 mile long Myakka River. Within it's watershed are hundreds of miles of trails. You can access this wilderness via horseback, mountain bike, canoe/kayak, and on foot accompanied by a state-certified Master Naturalist.
  • '''South Florida Museum and Parker Manatee Aquarium''', 201 10th Street West, Bradenton, Phone: 941-746-4131, [http://www.southfloridamuseum.org/]. Open Jan-Apr and July M-Sa 10AM-5PM; Sun noon-5PM. Rest of the year Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM; Su noon-5PM. Home of the oldest manatee born in captivity and other wonderful aquatic animals and also includes a Native American collection and a Spanish courtyard containing replicas of 16th-century buildings. This is a great place to spend the day with the entire family. From U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail) take Manatee Av. west to 10th St. W. and turn right. Admission is $9.50 adults, $7.50 seniors, $6 students with ID, $5 children 5-12, free for children 4 and under.
  • '''Marina Jack''', Bayfront Dr. ''Marina Plaza on the waterfront'', Phone:(941) 365-4232. Keep your feet on the land while dining at the Marina Jack Restaurant or take off for an evening around Sarasota Bay on the Marina Jack Dinner Boat. Located on Sarasota Bay, the restaurant offers theatre seating so that everyone can enjoy a view of the waterfront. There is also the Portside Patio Bar for light meals or a drink before dinner. The Dinner Boat is an hour and a half lunch cruise or a two-hour dinner cruise. Plenty of temporarily marina slips available.
  • <!--Have these anything at all for the traveller?

    Learn

  • ''' University of South Florida at Sarasota''', [http://www.sarasota.usf.edu]. A regional branch of USF. It provides upper-level (junior, senior and graduate-level) courses.
  • ''' New College of Florida''', [http://www.ncf.edu/]. A small, public liberal arts college.
  • ''' Ringling School of Arts and Design''', [http://www.rsad.edu/].
  • ''' Pine View School for the Gifted''', [http://www.sarasota.k12.fl.us/pvs/]. A gifted school 2-12 that was ranked as one of Newsweek's "21 Public Elite".
  • -->

    Buy

  • '''Historic Palm Avenue'''. Downtown Sarasota's "Best Walk in Town". Located one block from Sarasota's Bayfront, aptly poised between the Ritz Carlton and Selby Gardens. Stroll the Galleries, Restaurants, Antique and Specialty Shops. "Palm Avenue's First Friday Art Walks" are held the first Friday of every month from 6PM-9PM. Enjoy gallery openings, live performances and hors d'oeuvres as Palm Avenue Merchants serenade the Avenue and its guests.
  • '''St. Armands Circle'''. Removed from the intensity of downtown Sarasota, St. Armands Circle has an unbelievable selection of original shops, galleries and restaurants. Designed in a charming circular pattern amongst a flourishing landscape, this makes for a breathtaking shopping or afternoon strolling or evening dining experience. Take Tamiami Trail (US 41) to SR 780 W to St. Armands Key, travel over the Ringling Causeway and Sarasota Bay and you will run right into lovely St. Armands Circle.
  • '''Westfield Sarasota Square''' (Formerly Sarasota Square Mall)
  • '''Westfield Shoppingtown Southgate''' (Formerly Southgate Mall). an upscale mall with a Saks, Macys, and Dillards.
  • '''Sarasota Pavilion'''
  • '''The Landings Shopping Center'''
  • Main Street in downtown also has several shops.

    Eat

  • '''Caragiulos''', 69 S Palm Ave, Phone: 941-951-0866 http://www.italiansoulfood.com 20 years as Sarasota's Favorite Italian-American Eatery.
  • 5 One 6 Burns. 16 Burns Lane :: Historic Burns Court. 41-906-1884. nfo@fiveonesixburns.com. ttp://www.fiveonesixburns.com. ophisticated Southern Soul Food.
  • '''Esca''', 1888 Main St, Phone: 941-365-3722, Mediterranean Fusion Cusine, Nightly Enterainment, Outdoor dining, Upstairs Bar & Balcony, Late-Nite Bar Menu, [http://www.escasrq.com/].
  • '''Main Street Bar and Sandwich Shop''', 1944 Main Street, Phone: 941-955-8733.
  • '''Sarasota Alehouse''', 3800 Kenny Dr, Phone: 941-378-8888.
  • '''Empress Garden Chinese Restaurant''', 6090 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Phone: 941-359-3658.
  • '''Tasty Home Cookin'''', 3854 S Tuttle Ave, 941-921-4969.
  • '''Yoder's Restaurant''', 3434 Bahia Vista St, Phone: 941-955-7771.
  • '''Sugar and Spice''', 4000 Cattlemen Rd, Phone: 941-342-1649.
  • '''The Table''', 1934 Hillview St, Phone: 941-365-4558.
  • '''Columbia Restaurant''', 411 Saint Armands Cir, Phone: 941-388-3987.
  • '''Cafe Epicure''', 1298 N Palm Ave, Phone: 941-366-5648.
  • '''Cafe Amici''', 1371 Main St, Phone: 941-951-6896.
  • '''Stonewood Grill & Tavern''', 1894 Stickney Point Rd., Phone: 941-927-3969. Fine dining.
  • '''Stoneybrook Golf and Country Club''', 8801 Stoneybrook Blvd, Phone: (941) 918-9595, lunch and dinner.
  • Drink

  • '''Esca''' Upstairs Bar & Live Music, 1888 Main St, Phone: 941-365-3722, [http://www.escasrq.com/]. Entertainment every night of the week: Karaoke, DJs, Bands, Jazz, Flamenco, Lounge, Performers & More. Late Nite Bar Menu.
  • '''Gator Club''', 1490 Main St, Phone: 941-366-5969, [http://www.thegatorclub.com/]. Popular bar and nightclub with entertainment nightly.
  • '''Cock & Bull Pub''', 975 Cattlemen Road (between Bahia Vista & Palmer), America's #6 Beer Bar. Excellent Pizza! Phone: 941-341-9785, [http://www.sarasotarhythmnbrews.com/the-cock-n-bull/index.htm].
  • '''Shakespeare's English Pub''', 3550 South Osprey Avenue, [http://www.dinesarasota.com/Restaurants/First%2085/Shakespheares.htm].
  • G Spot Bar, 6582 Gateway Avenue, Phone: 941-922-7768, [http://www.gspotbar.net/]
  • Sleep

  • '''Hotel Indigo Sarasota''', 1223 Blvd of the Arts Phone:(941) 487 3800 conveniently located right downtown.
  • '''Hyatt Sarasota''', 1000 Boulevard of the Arts Phone: (941) 953 1234. On Sarasota Bay
  • '''La Palme Royale European Style Bed & Breakfast''', 624 South Palm Avenue, Phone 1-866-800-3921 or 941-284-8890. [http://www.lapalmeroyale.com/]. This 1924 historically designated two-story Craftsman style home among oak trees overlooks Sarasota Bay. From your private oasis stroll down Palm Avenue to the art galleries, fine shopping boutiques, superb dining, theater, opera or the famous Burns Court Cinema. A Pet friendly & Gay friendly accommodation in the heart of downtown.
  • Lido Beach Resort. 00 Ben Franklin Drive. 00-441-2113. ttp://www.lidobeachresort.com. Beachfront accommodations.

  • '''Longboat Key Hilton''', 4711 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Phone:(941) 383 2451. In the middle of gorgeous Longboat Key.
  • '''Longboat Key Club''', 301 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Phone:(941) 383 8821. Spanning Longboat Key.
  • '''The Ritz Carlton Sarasota''', 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Phone: (941) 309 2000. Complete with beach club on Lido Key, located on Tamiami Trail.
  • '''Sleep Inn Sarasota''', 900 University Pkwy, Phone: (941) 359-8558, [http://www.sleepinn.com/hotel-sarasota-florida-FL536]. Located across the street from the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, this newly renovated hotel is perfect for corporate, sporting, and event travelers.
  • '''Suburban Extended Stay''', 7251 North Tamiami Trail, Phone: (941) 355-7747, [http://www.suburbanhotels.com/hotel-sarasota-florida-FL958]. Well-equipped kitchens and free wireless internet in all rooms.
  • Get out

  • Tampa and St. Petersburg are an easy drive North via I-75 and the Sunshine Skyway. Professional Football, baseball, NHL, and most other sports venues can be found there. Tampa also has more shopping at International Plaza and Westshore malls. Ybor City and the University of South Florida are also in Tampa, as is a Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI)and Busch Gardens.
  • Disney World