In this post I will share the best attractions, best restaurants, shops, hotels and much more. Sarasota is one of the main cities on the Gulf Coast of Mexico, put it on your itinerary! The beauty of the beaches and the city, as well as the hospitality, enchant everyone who passes by!
Read too:
- Things to Do in Tampa, Florida: Your Definitive Guide
- What to do Coral Gables – Miami
- Best Beaches in Fort Myers – Florida
- Learn all about Orlando: tips, places, sights and more
Where is Sarasota located
Sarasota is located southwest of Florida, in which Sarasota County is the county seat.
Distances from Sarasota:
- Tampa to Sarasota: 96 km
- Orlando to Sarasota: 228 km
- Miami to Sarasota: 373 km
What to do in Sarasota?
Beaches most popular in Sarasota
the beach of Siesta Key, in particular, is famous for its soft white sand. In addition to swimming and sunbathing, you can find several facilities including picnic areas, beach volleyball courts and playgrounds. Nearby Siesta Village offers shopping, dining and nightly entertainment.
This is the beach to spend the day 🙂 and of course you can enjoy the sunset.
Another cool beach to visit is Lido Beach, she stays in Lido Key. There are opportunities to swim, windsurf, fish and snorkel: it's fun all day long!
Near this beach there is the popular: St. Armands Circle It is a shopping area, with many restaurants and boutiques.
Museums and art galleries in Sarasota
A very different museum: Ringling Circus Museum. You will be enchanted by this tour about the history of the circus and including costumes, props, posters, photographs and much more. You can see circus-related exhibits and visit John Ringling's mansion, Ca' d'Zan.
One of the museum's most impressive attractions is the Howard Bros.. Circus Model, which is a 1/16th scale model that recreates in incredible detail a traveling circus from the 1920s. This model is one of the largest in the world and offers a fascinating insight into the logistics and operations of a circus of the time.
This museum is part of the Ringling complex, which includes the Sarasota Museum of Art, the Asian Art Museum, Selby Gardens and the Ca' d'Zan mansion.
Botanical gardens
O Marie Selby Botanical Garden houses one of the largest collections of orchids of the world.
In addition to orchids, it features several themed gardens, such as the Butterfly Garden, the Florida Native Plant Garden, the Cactus and Succulent Garden and much more.
Address: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 900 South Palm Avenue Sarasota, FL 34236
Sarasota Bay Botanical Gardens is a project that began in 2021, the objective is to transform the seaside area into a landscaped space with gardens, trails, leisure areas, event facilities and spaces for contemplating nature.
boat trips
There are countless boat tour options, you can take one sunset cruise, watch dolphins or even to hire a boat to explore the bay on your own.
Among the various attractions are: group cruise, guided tour, boat parties at night, 2-hour sunset cruise, banana boat, restaurant cruise (you can have lunch or dinner on the boat), in addition to these there are many other attractions !
Company tips for boat trips:
- LeBarge Tropical Cruises
- Sarasota Bay Explorers
- Siesta Key Aqua Adventures
- Paradise key charters
Play golf
Like everywhere in Florida, Sarasota has many high-quality golf courses for lovers of this sport. You can rent all the items and have fun!
Where to stay in Sarasota: hotel tips
Check out the best hotel options in Sarasota at unmissable prices through Booking, one of the best rental sites in the world:
Advantages of booking your hotel through Booking:
- Variety of accommodation options
- Reviews and ratings from real guests
- Simple booking process
- Competitive prices
- Special offers and discounts
- Global availability
- Multilingual customer service
- “Genius” loyalty program
- Ease of comparing accommodations
- Platform security and reliability
Best restaurants in Sarasota?
Ophelia's on the bay
Discover this wonderful restaurant on Sarasota Bay, with great food, fair prices, a pleasant atmosphere and attentive service.
Tip: It is possible to see a beautiful sunset from the restaurant, enjoy this moment.
taste the Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Cakes and the Eggplant Crepes.
Address: 9105 Midnight Pass Rd, Sarasota
Open daily from 5pm to 10pm.
Shore Diner
A relaxed restaurant offering a variety of dishes, from sandwiches to seafood and vegetarian dishes. They are known for their fresh ingredients and creative cocktails.
Address: 465 John Ringling Blvd #200, Sarasota
Open daily from 11 am to 10 pm.
Michael's On East
Offers an elegant dining experience and a variety of contemporary American dishes. They also have an impressive wine bar. It's a great place to celebrate, impress love and drink good wine.
Tips Plates: Birthday Chocolate Torte, Maine Lobster Bisque and Wedge Salad.
Address: 1212 S East Ave, Sarasota.
Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 5 pm to 10 pm.
What's it like living in Sarasota?
Saratosa offers a tropical climate, warm days and many stunning beaches and a rich cultural scene. However, the cost of living can be high, traffic can be congested and the city is prone to hurricanes. It's a popular choice for retirees and nature lovers, but it's important to consider the pros and cons before moving.
How much does it cost to live in Sarasota?
It depends on your location preference, house or apartment (how many rooms), but I put an average cost of living, further away from the beach and the center:
Apartment around US$2,000.00, food around US$500.00 per month, water and electricity around US$200.00.
What does Sarasota mean?
Some theories suggest that the name may have roots in the Calusa Native American language, while other theories point to possible Spanish or European influences.
I hope you enjoyed our article 🙂 until next time!