On the west coast of Florida, where the Gulf of Mexico sun shines on golden beaches, we find Sarasota, a town that turns out to be the perfect base for some of the best beaches in the Sunshine State.
At the southern end of Tampa Bay and less than sixty miles from this great city, Sarasota is a favorite place for those who want peace and relaxation on the beaches of Florida, without missing all the amenities and, why not, some culture or natural interest to discover.
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Best time to visit Sarasota: climate and events
First of all, to help you in preparing for your trip to the Sunshine State, we have written an article dedicated to the Florida climate. In fact, not all seasons are perfect, and it’s good to set off on your trip aware of what weather conditions to expect. That said, sun and rain are not the only two criteria to keep in mind when organizing your trip. Every city, including Sarasota, has its own events during the course of the year: visiting it on one of these occasions is certainly of added value. So here are some of the main occasions not to be missed.
At the beginning of the year, in January or February, the Sarasota Highland & Celtic Festival, organized by the Scottish Heritage Society, takes place at the Sarasota Country Fairgrounds, with the aim of preserving and promoting Scottish history and culture. As in any self-respecting Celtic-themed festival, traditional music is a must, but in addition to singing and dancing here you will also find Highland games and other initiatives.
In February there is also The Palm Grove Amish Quilt & Craft Show: a sort of market fair where you can find handicrafts produced by the Amish people and in particular their characteristic multicolored quilts. In April there is also the Gem, Jewelry & Bead Show and in October there is the Downtown Sarasota Craft Festival, the main fair dedicated to handmade objects.
In November, three weekends are animated by the Sarasota Medieval Fair: as you may guess, the theme is medieval, so you can expect to run into ladies and knights, archers and minstrels. A classic medieval fair, where you can eat, drink and have fun in a thematic setting.
Again in November, but on the beach at Siesta Key, is the Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival, a three-day sand sculpting competition. If you happen to be in Sarasota these days, you’ll be amazed at the grandeur of some of the artwork made with just sand from the sea.
Things to do in Sarasota
Sarasota is not a big metropolis, but it also has a number of places of interest in addition to the beaches that surround it and that attract thousands of vacationers every year, like all the coastal cities of Florida.
The Ringling: art, theater, and circus
The city of Sarasota would not be what it is without the story of John Ringling, the most famous of the seven Ringling brothers, five of whom worked together to create the Ringling Bros World’s Greatest Shows and later incorporated the Barnum & Bailey Circus (on which the musical The Greatest Showman was based), thus creating a sort of monopoly of traveling circus shows in America.
The Ringling is a gigantic complex that includes the magnate’s amazing residence, which can be visited on guided tours, surrounded by large gardens, where statues in classical style abound. The most famous is the bronze reproduction of Michelangelo’s David. In addition to the residence, there are also three other buildings of great importance.
- John & Marble Ringling Museum of Art. The wealthy couple were great art lovers and their collection includes works by great masters such as Titian, Veronese, Rubens, and Gainsborough, as well as an Asian and contemporary collection.
- Asolo Theater. This lovely theater was built in Asolo, in the province of Treviso, at the end of the 18th century. In 1950 it was literally transported from Italy to Florida and relocated to Ringling’s property.
- Circus Museum. An exhibition dedicated to what made Ringling famous worldwide is a must: the circus. It is here that you fully understand John’s personality and his passion for this art. You can see stage costumes and playbills, as well as the people-throwing cannons, parade floats and machines used by clowns in their performances.
Museums and monuments
The most photographed monument in Sarasota is most likely the Unconditional Surrender statue. Who doesn’t remember the famous photo taken in 1945 of the sailor kissing the nurse in Times Square during the celebration at the end of World War II? Artist Seward Johnson was inspired by that photo to create a bronze statue and then several other versions of it in other materials.
The first, made of Styrofoam, was displayed right here in Sarasota on a temporary basis in 2005. Others have since been displayed in several American and European cities, and the one in San Diego, the second to be displayed after Sarasota, has become a permanent work that can still be seen. This 7.6-feet statue became a permanent fixture in Sarasota in 2009, when veteran Jack Curran purchased it for $500,000 to honor his wife, who was in love with the piece and had just passed away. It now sits in Bayfront Park.
A significant building for the city is the Historic Courthouse: the distinctive H-shaped courthouse, dating from 1927 and built in the Mediterranean Revival style. If you’re looking for some museums, there’s one dedicated to classic cars: the Classic Car Museum. Among the four-wheeled jewels kept here, we find Paul McCartney’s Mini Cooper and John Lennon’s Mercedes Benz, as well as several historic cars of value such as Cadillac, Ferrar, Bentley, and Delorean. Among all these important pieces, John Ringling’s collection of Rolls-Royces stands out.
Parks and gardens
Sarasota is a green city with plenty of parks and gardens to explore. Some are perfect for a stroll under the shade of trees on sunnier days, while others have you come face to face with animals or incredible exotic plant species.
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- Sarasota Jungle Gardens
Let’s start with what is probably the most interesting park, especially for those traveling with children. It is a kind of educational zoo, where you can interact with the animals. Among other things, visitors can feed flamingos, hold a parrot, brush a sea lion or touch a snake. Here, knowledge of the animal world comes through the experience of direct contact. There is also an area dedicated to injured animals, which are cared for before being released back into the wild.
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- Big Cat Habitat & Gulf Coast Sanctuary
We find a variety of animals here as well, with big cats as the stars. Tigers and lions are undoubtedly the biggest attraction, but there are also monkeys, bears, turtles and other species.
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- Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
If you are a fan of botanical gardens, this one will not disappoint. It is a large tropical oasis, with the most varied plants: from palms to mangroves, from bonsai trees to aromatic plants. One of the most interesting parts is undoubtedly the butterfly garden, as well as the water lily lake and several small waterfalls.
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- Bayfront Park
Separating the city center from the sea is this large park, where the library is surrounded by greenery. Fountains and statues are scattered along the paths that cross the flowerbeds, filled with people walking their dogs, playing sports or riding bicycles.
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- Mote Marine Laboratory
This aquarium is an independent marine research institute, where scientists dedicated to the sustainable exploitation of the oceans work. It also houses a hospital for injured marine animals. You can see cetaceans such as dolphins and manatees, as well as sharks, turtles and seahorses.
Best Beaches near Sarasota
As already mentioned, Sarasota is one of the most popular cities for those looking for beautiful beaches along Florida’s west coast, despite the fact that the city does not directly overlook long stretches of sand. Separating it from the open sea, there are a few islands that act as a barrier between the mainland and the Gulf of Mexico, which are connected to the city by a few bridges. The beautiful beaches that attract many vacationers are right along these strips of land. Here are some of those that you can reach comfortably from the city.
- Anna Maria Island. Starting from the north, this is the first island, which has a long and wide sandy coastline. Also, here is the Leffis Key Preserve, a protected area where a wide variety of birds nest. It can be reached directly from the city over Anna Maria Island Bridge or Cortez Bridge, but also by following the John Ringling Causeway, the road that connects all the islands from the south with a series of bridges and that is reminiscent of the Overseas Highway that leads to Key West through the archipelago of the Keys.
- Longboat Key. Immediately south of the previous one we find the longest of the islands located in front of Sarasota. On Longboat Key there are many private beaches, but also some that are free and accessible. Here the sand is darker than the other islands, but it is a perfect place for those who like to look for shells.
- Lido Key. This island is the one that is located in front of the city center and offers a beautiful white sandy beach. Between the island and the mainland, the road passes over another small island: Bird Key. This is a small residential island, but it is a great place to view the city skyline from.
- Siesta Key. Still heading south, we find another large island connected by two bridges and along whose coastline we find several beaches. The most important are Siesta Beach – considered the best – and Turtle Beach.
- Casey Key. Even further south, moving away from the city we find this thin strip of land that is very popular with surfers, but also perfect for bathers with Nokomis Beach.
- Venice. This is a fairly urbanized area, but still has a good beach. In South Venice, however, we find the beautiful Caspersen Beach: miles of pale sand with nature trails immersed in nature, where you can see birds and sea turtles.
- Manasota Key. Finally, with Blind Pass Beach, this island is one of the quietest and most private, but still has picnic tables and a few other amenities.
Where to eat
There are a variety of places to eat in Sarasota, reflecting a bit of all levels of cuisine and price ranges. One of the most elegant restaurants is Café l’Europe (431 St Armands Cir), where European cuisine is served in a very nice old-fashioned setting. Next to this, we find Columbia Restaurant (411 St Armands Cir), a Spanish restaurant in a casual chic style, serving Spanish, Cuban and some American cuisine. Both restaurants are located in St. Armand Circle, a large traffic circle located where the John Ringling Causeway comes in on Lido Key.
If you love seafood, we recommend Phillippi Creek Village Restaurant & Oyster Bar (5353 S. Tamiami Trail), which serves great seafood in its tropical setting. If you’re looking for a cheap but good place to eat, try Mirna ‘s Cuban Cuisine (7980 N Tamiami Trail): a Cuban cuisine restaurant where you won’t spend much while eating well.
Places to Stay in Sarasota
Being a resort, Sarasota is full of accommodations of all levels. Here are some tips.
- Hotel Indigo: (1223 Boulevard of the Arts). A good four-star hotel with pool, spa, bike rentals and several other amenities, located within walking distance of downtown and not far from the beaches.
- Aloft Sarasota. (1401 Ringling Blvd.). Very central and convenient to the beaches, this is another of the good four-star hotels we can find in the city. There is a gym inside and on the rooftop there is a bar and a pool.
- Tropical Beach Resort: (6717 Sarasea Circle). On the island of Siesta Key, we find this excellent three-star hotel, which offers its customers a private beach. There is also a swimming pool and there are barbecue grills available.
- Captiva Beach Resort (772 Sara Sea Circle). Also on the island of Siesta Key, a very good two-star hotel where you can save a little on the bill but find every amenity, starting with the private beach. Guests also have the opportunity to play ping pong, bowls, badminton and other sports.
