Top 5 Things to Do in Sarasota, Florida

Sarasota crossed my radar screen in the early eighties when a colleague at work mentioned he was going there to visit his grandmother. My brain immediately registered Sarasota as a city for retirees. Since then, I had passed by Sarasota many times, but never once did I stop to visit. Until one February when my husband and I had the opportunity to cruise the gulf coast of Florida. We stopped in Sarasota for a few days. What we found was a lovely city with lots of arts and culture. We love it so much we stayed almost three weeks!

These are our favorite things to do in Sarasota:

Bayfront Park and downtown Sarasota
Bayfront Park is a wonderful city park on the water overlooking Sarasota Bay. Every which way you turn, you'll see beautiful boats and people walking, running or rollerblading. It is great place to hang out. There are benches, swings, water fountains, a huge kids' playground and lots of shady trees throughout the park. Also located in the park is a marina, a couple of restaurants and plenty of parking. O'Leary Tiki Bar and Grill is a fun place to stop for a bite to eat and listen to live music. For those seeking watersports activities, you can rent canoes or kayaks, take a sunset or dinner cruises, or go deep-sea fishing on a charter boat.

Wander several blocks to find a downtown Sarasota lined with palm trees, art galleries and chic boutiques. At Main Street, you'll find cafes, restaurants and independent bookstores. On Saturday mornings, part of Main Street is turned into a farmer's market with vendors selling all kinds of products.

St Armand's Circle and South Lido Beach
Swanky St Armand's Circle, 5 minutes drive away, is a shopper's paradise with over 130 stores from art galleries to jewelry and designer clothing. St Armand's Circle is a fabulous place to stroll and people watch. Enjoy a gourmet meal in a tropical setting at a variety of restaurants and cafes. For a change of pace, head over to nearby South Lido Beach Park for a picnic or a walk on the beach. There are cooking grilles, picnic tables, rest rooms, and nature trails. You can take in the view of the Sarasota skyline and watch boats and canoes passing by.

Ringling Museum of Art
When John and Mable Ringling made Sarasota the winter home for the Ringling Circus in the 1920s, they transformed Sarasota into a cultural oasis, attracting writers, actors and musicians. To see their influence, visit the 66-acre estate to see a collection of masterpieces from the 17^th-century Baroque period at the Ringling Museum of Art, the beautiful grounds and gardens, the awe-inspiring Ca d'Zan mansion with an impressive view of Sarasota Bay, and the Circus Museum.

Myakka River State Park
If nature and wildlife viewing is more your thing, take a day trip to Myakka State Park. This excellent state park offers a little bit of the Everglades without having you drive all the way there. You can also hike, bike, canoe, fish and camp in the park. A short hike through shady hammocks brings you to the Canopy Walkway. Go up a small tower to walk amongst the tree tops via an 84-foot long suspension bridge. At the end of the bridge is the stairway to the 74-foot Observation Tower. You can climb to the top to get a birds eye view of the Myakka Lake and River and the Florida landscape. A tour on a tram or airboat will give you a closer look at the countless alligators and the many varieties of birds that call this park home. Don't forget your binoculars!

Siesta Key Beach
Ranked number 2 on Dr Beach's 2009 list of America's Best Beaches, Siesta Key Beach has sand so fine and white it will delight any beachgoer. Spend a blissful day on this picture-perfect beach lazing in the warm shallow waters of the gulf. Stay to watch the incredible sunset.

Sources:
http://www.myakkariver.org/index.html
http://www.ringling.org/