Sarasota

An arts city on Florida's Gulf Coast, where The Ringling museums rival the white quartz sand of Siesta Key, with Anna Maria Island nearby.

Sarasota lies on the Gulf Coast of southwest Florida, about 90 km south of Tampa, and is a resort city known for its white-sand beaches and arts and culture. In the 1920s circus magnate John Ringling moved his winter quarters and art collection here, leaving behind the Ringling Museum of Art and his Venetian Gothic mansion, and the city still boasts an opera house, a symphony orchestra and numerous theaters. The main attractions fall into three areas: first, the barrier-island beaches—Siesta Key Beach, famous for its fine white quartz sand, Lido Key and the St. Armands Circle shopping and dining district, and kayaking through the mangrove tunnels at the south end of Lido Key; second, the cultural sights on the mainland—The Ringling, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Bayfront Park and downtown; and third, day trips—inland Myakka River State Park for alligators and a canopy walkway, old-school island towns on Anna Maria Island to the north, and fossilized shark teeth on the beaches of Venice to the south. The best time to visit is November–April, when it's dry and sunny but lodging is at its priciest; May–October is hot and humid with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, hurricane season runs June–November, and red tide occasionally occurs in summer. Getting there: Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is just north of the city, or it's about an hour's drive from Tampa International Airport; attractions are spread out, so you'll need a car. Plan on 3–4 days. Tips: beach parking is free but fills up early in the morning in high season; shuffle your feet when entering the water if stingrays are around; and watch for thunderstorms in the afternoon.

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Itineraries