There are so many things to see and do in the Sarasota Florida area that you can fill an entire year and never go to the same place or event twice. Yes, there are attractions that almost everyone has visited, but there are many more that only locals seem to know about. Yet, they are fun things to see and do by yourself or as a family regardless of your age or interests.
Sarasota and Manatee County together offer over 80 golf courses – one for everyone and every level of play. Some are private with luxurious country clubs, some are semi-private and many are public courses.
And, of course, there is Siesta Beach, named the #1 beach in the world in 2011 by Dr. Beach. Miles of fine white sand stretch along the Gulf of Mexico perfect for building sandcastles, taking a stroll or just soaking up the sun. But you may also want to try the more laid-back atmosphere at Crescent Beach or the shell-collecting on the coarser sand at Turtle Beach on Siesta's southern end.
The Ringling Museum of Art at 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota anchors Sarasota’s art scene with a world-famous collection of paintings including Rubens canvasses, You can also tour Ca D’Zan, John Ringling's mansion built in the Venetian-Gothic architectural style. There’s also a collection of circus memorabilia housed in the Ringling Circus Museum.
And few miss St Armands Circle on Lido Key where you’ll experience the ambiance of exotic lands and far away places in a collection of eclectic shops and casual eating establishments. Fulfill your shopping passions with fashion elegance, fine collectibles, antiques, crystal, china and precious gems.
Then, there is the Jazz Club of Sarasota, the most active jazz club in the United Sates with over 80 concerts and lectures each year. Founded in 1980 by the late Hal Davis, the former publicist for Benny Goodman, the club has about 750 members and is growing. The Jazz Club sponsors, with the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, the annual Sarasota Jazz Festival, one of the major U.S. jazz festivals.
For another outing, visit the Mote Marine Lab where you and the kids can explore the secrets of the sea through touch pools, viewable-working labs and high-tech interactive exhibits that showcase the world-renowned research of Mote Marine Laboratory. You'll see sharks, dolphins, manatees and sea turtles, along with more than 100 other species of marine life.
But have you experienced the Children’s Garden and Art Center at 1670 10th Way, Sarasota. It is a truly enchanted place whimsically designed for kids. There is a pirate ship, secret garden, a maze, a tree fort and slide, fairy gardens, the three little pigs' house and a dress-up room. Kids of all ages love to follow the yellow brick road to a world of magic.
The Crowley Museum and Nature Center at 16405 Myakka Road, Sarasota is a 190-acre wildlife sanctuary with 5 native Florida habitats and historic 1800's pioneer buildings and a museum.
The Banyan Theater Company is an award-winning professional theater company which performs mainly during the summer months. Their three-play season begins in late June and ends in late August,
Only in Sarasota can you experience the "Greatest Little Show On Earth," at the PAL Sailor Circus, celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year with the country's longest running Youth Circus. At the shows each year in March and April, it's hard to realize that the 120 performers in this spectacular Circus Show are Sarasota's teenagers. They juggle, walk the high wire, do acrobatics, unicycle, flying trapeze and much more.
Or, the G.WIZ - The Science Museum at 1001 Boulevard of the Arts in Sarasota has as its mission to be the gateway to lifelong adventures in science by showing that the world around us is amazing, breathtaking and full of unanswered questions. GWIZ offers an interactive gallery, critter habitat and “Fab Lab” as well as on-going programming for residents, school groups, community groups and tourists. Children from 1 to 5 years old will love the chance to explore science in the Itsy Bitsy Scientists program
Historic Spanish Point in Osprey, just south of Sarasota offers tours of a 30-acre archaeological, historical and environmental museum located on Little Sarasota. Visitors experience "A Window into the Past," the only museum exhibition in the world built inside a prehistoric shell mound. The colorful gardens and the Butterfly Garden will delight your senses. Nature trails wander through native coastal habitats accentuated by a long boardwalk providing stunning views of Sarasota Bay.
This list could go on, but we think you get the point. There’s also fine dining and an eclectic mix of shopping venues. There are many, many things to see and do that make Sarasota Florida, the surrounding communities of Bradenton, Anna Maria Island, Osprey and Venice and our Island Keys so attractive to buyers of homes and condominiums for either full-time or seasonal enjoyment, during a working career or in retirement.
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