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Sarasota feels a world apart from the theme park adventures of Orlando and the city sights of neighbouring Tampa yet remains close enough to drive to, even for a day trip. With blissful beaches, quirky art districts and surrounding natural worlds to discover, multi-centre holidays in Sarasota take on a distinctly more relaxed pace.
This small but ever-growing city perfectly blends its enviable Gulf Coast location with cultural metropolitan vibes, allowing for lazy days on the beach, nature-based activities and wonderful shopping all in the same day. Once a winter resort for the wealthy, Sarasota retains its upscale elegance, but its appeal draws everyone and anyone seeking a relaxed beachside holiday in style.
Sarasota Highlights
Sarasota’s attractions are varied and exciting, from the culturally significant museums and galleries of its art scene to the world-class beaches and tranquil pockets of nature dotted in and around the county. And if you’re travelling as a couple, group or a family with young children, there is something to suit everyone in this beautiful region of Florida’s Gulf Coast.
World-Class Beaches
Set along the glittering Gulf of Mexico for more than 35 miles, Sarasota boasts some of the best beaches in the Sunshine State. Gentle blue green waters are edged by impossibly white quartz sands and framed by limestone ledges, offering several relaxing spots for couples, families and groups of friends seeking unforgettable oceanside fun.
Great Food & Drink
Like much of the coastal regions of Florida, Sarasota specialises in succulent seafood alongside a colourful blend of internationally inspired cuisines from Spain, Italy and South America. Whether you’re keen to try some fresh oysters in the half shell or fill up on a classic Cuban sandwich, this city delivers taste and culinary flair in abundance.
Cultural Attractions
Sarasota is known for its colourful and eclectic art community and with its famous circus origins, it’s no surprise why. Make time to visit the city’s impressive theatres, galleries and museums, which are known for their architectural grandeur as much as the art collections themselves. And outdoors, you’ll discover an ever-changing collection of installations and exhibits in public spaces and attractions.
A Place for Nature Lovers
The region is full of unique natural spaces that beckon to be explored, from lush swamplands to free-flowing rivers, botanical gardens and waterfront parks, Sarasota has it all. Get up close to the native flora and fauna and absorb this environmentally diverse place, from kayaking through the mangroves to feeding flamingos right from your hands!
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Our Sarasota Favourites
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
One of Sarasota’s greatest attractions is just a few minutes from Downtown and doubles up as an aquarium and research centre that is home to more than 100 different marine species. Discover some of Florida’s most beloved animals including manatees, sea turtles and otters, as well as an array of tropical fish, crustaceans and sea jellies.
Its 135,000-gallon Shark Zone is a highlight, where you can observe and learn about the conservation of these ancient predators in an exciting open-water exhibit. Mote is a wonderful place to take the family as there are loads of fascinating programmes and hands-on activities for kids of all ages to learn, engage and be entertained!
Bayfront Park
In a perfect spot with sweeping views across Sarasota Bay and the city skyline, this charming marina park is one of Sarasota’s finest attractions, drawing in locals and tourists alike with its wide-open green spaces, sparkling fountains and abundance of family-friendly facilities.
You could quite easily spend a whole day here picnicking and fishing, walking or jogging on its pretty pathways or simply perching on a bench and watching the world go by. Bayfront Park is a popular place to bring children as there is a playground and splash fountains to cool off in on heated Florida days, so if your Sarasota multi-centre holidays are with the kids, this place should be at the top of your bucket list!
John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art
This magnificent museum was built by the famous entrepreneur and circus founder John Ringling, along with his wife Mable. Their united passion for bold and dramatic art and their love of Sarasota birthed this wonderful 66-acre complex, which has quickly become one of the top attractions in the city.
Comprising the Circus Museum, the Museum of Art, the Venetian gothic-style Ca’ d’Zan mansion and the lush Bayfront Gardens, there is so much to explore and learn about here. Art enthusiasts and nature admirers will also enjoy the gardens filled with bronze and stone casts of iconic sculptures, while the Renaissance-influenced pink courtyard features flowers and fountains, offering a terrific day out.
Asolo Repertory Theater
‘Asolo Rep’ is adjacent to the Ringling Museum of Art and is considered one of the premier professional theatres in the United States. Home to its own highly accomplished acting company, as well as skillful set designers and builders, the theatre presents an impressive rotation of stage productions from classic Shakespeare plays to current Tony-award-winning dramas, in true repertory fashion.
Spend an elegant evening watching the Sarasota Ballet in action, or check out a brand-new production, followed by a beautiful waterfront dinner. Whether or not you’re a seasoned theatregoer, Sarasota twin-centre holidays wouldn’t be complete without booking tickets to one of its impressive shows at Asolo Rep.
The Village of the Arts
Alright it’s not technically located in Sarasota but about twelve miles north in Bradenton, the Village of the Arts is a quirky and gorgeous neighbourhood to spend an afternoon, and well worth the 30-minute drive. This unique, live-work art community is made up of colourful historic cottages turned into restaurants, art galleries, studios, record stores, bakeries and specialty shops selling hand-crafted goods and trinkets.
With frequent live music, art walk events and fabulous spots to eat and drink, the Village of the Arts presents a beautiful, collective spirit that welcomes visitors to stay, play and become part of the community.
Siesta Key Beach
It’s all in that laid-back name, the award-winning Siesta Key Beach on the 8-mile-long Siesta Key invites visitors to come and do some serious relaxing on its brilliant-white quartz sands, as well as paddling in its emerald-green waters, offering a truly spectacular beach-going experience on Sarasota multi-centre holidays.
And right by the beaches lies Siesta Village, an area packed with a great selection of restaurants and cafes, plus cool boutiques and shops to wander round for holiday souvenirs. And in the evenings, feel the party vibes with the sights and sounds of live music and entertainment, sure to delight the whole family on a balmy Floridian night!
Lido Key Beach
Another of Sarasota’s most admired beaches, Lido Key Beach features its signature sugar-soft sands and shimmering turquoise waters from which you could spend all day lounging, frolicking and enjoying fun in the sun. The Lido Beach Pavilion provides a welcome range of snacks and drinks to keep you going – try the lobster roll, a local favourite – while the picnic tables and water fountains mean you can take your own supplies.
Shelling is also a popular activity on many of Sarasota’s beaches, so grab your bucket and make sure to get there extra early to find the best ones! Then, from Lido Key Beach it is easily walkable to the fashionable St. Armands Circle shopping and dining district if you want to explore further.
Longboat Key
Sarasota really does have the lion’s share of Florida’s best beaches, and Longboat Key is further evidence of that. This breathtaking, expansive stretch of sand is divided across both Sarasota and Manatee counties, which spans twelve miles along the coastline and offers a distinctly upmarket vibe for your multi-centre holidays.
Longboat Key is famed for its excellent waterfront golf, fine dining options and luxury resort hotels just as much as its pearly-white sands and crystal-blue waters, so it has a fantastic combination of a stunning oceanfront setting with cultural flair, particularly at its championship golf course and prestigious tennis club.
Turtle Beach
Turtle Beach is located on Siesta Key and provides a quieter alternative than the livelier Siesta Key Beach further north, with fewer people and slightly grittier sand – though no less beautiful. The turquoise waters remain shallow even as far out as 50 ft, making it a lovely spot for families with younger children on multi-centre holidays in Sarasota.
There are picnic tables and a playground for the little ones on the beach as well as opportunities for kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing nearby. And if you’re peckish for something more, there are plenty of great restaurants and cafés in the area where you can sit down and enjoy a meal with a fabulous sunset vista.
St Armands Circle
Sarasota twin-centre holidays wouldn’t be complete without spending some quality time at the famed shopping haven that is St. Armands Circle, located at the beautiful Lido Key. Fashioned as a continental-style marketplace, St. Armands Circle was the vision of famed circus founder John Ringling and features a loop of more than 100 boutique shops, galleries, sidewalk cafés and restaurants to explore.
Palm-lined boulevards extend out ways from the main circle, while within the island itself there are lush tropical and botanical gardens in which to relax and seek shade on a hot day. Its easy-going ambience makes for a wonderful morning or afternoon out for the entire family.
Sarasota Farmers Market
At the year-round Sarasota Farmers Market, set in the heart of Downtown Sarasota, you can experience local living and see the best of what the region has to offer. Stall after stall of artisans selling the freshest fruits, vegetables, flowers and local arts and crafts line the streets, creating a hive of sounds, smells and sights too good to miss.
This non-profit organisation hosts frequent live music events and entertainment, which bring people from all over to this wonderful market every Saturday between 7am – 1pm. Make some time to walk through the streets and soak up this beautiful atmosphere on your multi-centre holidays in Gulf Coast Florida.
Ellenton Premium Outlets
If your trip is spotlighted around Orlando and Sarasota twin-centre holidays and you’re a fan of outlet shopping, Ellenton Premium Outlets should be high on your bucket list. Though not technically in Sarasota but a half-an-hour drive north just past Bradenton, this excellent mall provides all your bargain-hunting needs and features many desirable brands with up to 70% off.
Make sure to have spare room in your luggage for Kate Spade, Calvin Klein, Juicy Couture, Coach and dozens more, and when you’ve shopped ‘til you drop there are heaps of great places to rest weary feet and grab a drink and light bites including burgers, pretzels and even Greek food.
The Mall at University Town Center
As one of the top shopping mall hotspots in Sarasota, The Mall at UTC boasts 100 retail stores, around 20 eateries, and is the place stylish youngsters flock to shop and simply hangout. The Mall is anchored by big-name department stores like Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue and features a diverse range of shops such as Forever 21, Michael Kors, Anthropologie and Pottery Barn, to name a few.
Once you’re all shopped out, settle down for a bite to eat at one of the specialty food shops or restaurants that offer everything from pizzas to steaks to creamy desserts at the ever-popular Cheesecake Factory.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Perfectly positioned amid 45 acres of bayfront splendour, the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens are a wonderful spot for seeing rare plants of the world, beautiful local nature and learning about regional history on multi-centre holidays in Florida. The gardens are split between two campuses, with 15 acres in Downtown Sarasota and 30 acres at the Historic Spanish Point further down on Little Sarasota Bay.
The gardens boast the largest scientifically documented collection of orchids in the world, as well as a rotating programme of exhibits featuring well-known artists. Take half a day to stroll amid these tropical gardens through rainforest, desert, mangrove walkways, and peaceful trails and boardwalks, before stopping off at the Selby House Café for a bite to eat.
Myakka River State Park
Immerse yourself into Florida’s unique and diverse natural environment at the Myakka River State Park, one of the oldest and largest state parks in the country that is located about 25-minutes’ drive southeast of Downtown Sarasota. With 37,000 wild acres to explore via boardwalks and a treetop canopy walkway, the park encompasses the Myakka River, which flows through lush wetlands, prairies and pinelands.
If water-based fun is on your agenda, then you’ll find Myakka River State Park a wonderful corner of the city for kayaking, canoeing, freshwater fishing and boating while observing local wildlife and connecting with nature.
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
This family-owned and operated park has been a Sarasota mainstay, enchanting visitors from around the world since 1939. Set within a 10-acre haven a few minutes north of Downtown, Sarasota Jungle Gardens is home to more than 200 animals across a range of fantastic exhibits featuring reptiles, birds and other animals, as well as a daily schedule of live shows to entertain and educate.
Get up close and hold an alligator, let free-roaming flamingos feed out of your hands and stroke the cutest farm animals at the petting zoo. With a playground, gift shop and café on-site too, this family-favourite attraction provides a whole day’s activity on Sarasota multi-centre holidays.
Celery Fields
Despite the name, Celery Fields contains no celery, much to the delight of the kids in your party. In fact, this striking Sarasota attraction comprises more than 400 lush acres of wetlands, swamps and canals that are full to the brim of native wildlife, featuring around 250 species of birds and offering a terrific backdrop for birdwatching.
A colossal restoration project was completed in 2011, creating two main boardwalks that wind for miles through the fields at the north and south ends of the grounds. Head for the Nature Center as a starting point for all your day’s activities including excellent walking, biking and jogging opportunities, while fishing and kayaking are also possible on its large, tranquil ponds.
Drum Circle Distilling
Take a tour of this marvellous distillery for a taste of authentic, award-winning Siesta Key Rum. A 45-50-minute guided tour will take you through the distilling method where you’ll see the large copper pots that hold the rum from fermentation to distillation, then watch how bottles are filled with the smooth rum after the ageing process is finished.
Finally, the tasting room. Sample from a variety of spiced rums, neat or in a delectable cocktail recipe, then head for the gift shop to purchase some take-home souvenirs such as t-shirts, hats and shot glasses, or perhaps a little tipple for your own collection!
Owen’s Fish Camp
Naturally, the Gulf Coast produces some of the world’s best seafood so it’s only fitting to visit the very best restaurants serving this fresh, local cuisine. Owen’s Fish Camp is set in Downtown Sarasota and offers a rustic charm that delights locals and tourists alike, with delectable seafood dishes and a fantastic selection of craft beers and wines to accompany them.
As an ode to the laid-back Florida lifestyle, the restaurant is open daily from 4pm and oozes history and old-fashioned Southern hospitality alongside live music entertainment, and of course its impressive menu. Try the seared sea scallops and braised pork or the refreshing lobster cobb salad, perhaps finishing off with a bourbon pecan pie. You may need to visit more than once!
Columbia Restaurant
The family-run Columbia Restaurant has been operating for more than 115 years and is one of the city’s oldest and most esteemed eateries. Positioned on the famous St. Armands Circle and just a short walk from Lido Beach, this Sarasota institution serves up award-winning Spanish and Cuban cuisine with a charming, Mediterranean-influenced ambience.
Pop in for lunch or dinner and sample its century-old family recipes that feature classic Cuban sandwiches and hearty seafood dishes, together with an impressive cocktail menu and refreshing sangrias. And as it’s open 365 days a year, you’ll never miss the chance to get a ‘taste of Spain’ yourself!
Marina Jack
Waterside dining at its best, Marina Jack can be found in Downtown Sarasota on the bayfront and features excellent dining options, which includes a breezy, open-air patio for daytime sandwiches, light bites and tropical drinks accompanied by live music each night.
The main level features the Deep Six Lounge and Piano Bar serving fresh yet classic seafood, meat and vegetarian dishes for lunch and dinner in a casual atmosphere. Upstairs in the elegant Marina Jack Dining Room, you’ll find a more upscale dinner menu with steaks, seafood and pasta paired with an award-winning wine list. This is what Sarasota twin-centre holidays are made of.
Sarasota FAQs
Sarasota FAQs
Sarasota FAQs
March to May is always the best time to visit this part of Florida, as springtime brings near-perfect temperatures of around 25°C. With lots of sunshine and very little rain, it’s the ideal weather for exploring all that beautiful nature on offer in and around Sarasota.
Summer has hot and humid weather that isn’t always comfortable, while the autumn months are also a lovely time to visit. Winter is equally pleasant, but it can get rather busy with the ‘snowbirds’ descending from northern US residents.
Sarasota has its own domestic airport but generally for multi-centre holidays in Gulf Coast Florida, most travellers from the UK fly into Tampa (TPA), which is about an hours’ drive away, or Orlando (MCO) about 2-and-a-half hours’ drive away.
Renting a car is highly recommended anywhere in Florida as the roads are wide and easy to navigate, plus it offers you the freedom to explore at your own pace and create epic multi-centre holidays. Sarasota is well located on the Gulf Coast to travel to different destinations within the Sunshine State like Tampa, St, Petersburg and Clearwater, Orlando, and south towards Naples and the Florida Everglades.
Sarasota is either 4 or 5 hours behind the UK depending on the time of year and whether Daylight Savings Time is being observed. It doesn’t make too much difference when you visit as flights from London generally always depart in the afternoon and arrive in Florida early evening. Likewise, the return journey will likely depart in the early evening from Florida and land back to the UK the following morning.
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