Why You Should Visit Sarasota, Florida

Visit Sarasota for the beaches.
Sarasota boasts 35 miles of beachfront. A must-see for any visitor is the powdery, soft sands of Siesta Key Public Beach. The white, quartzite sand is popular with families for its gradual entry into Sarasota Bay (which opens to the Gulf of Mexico).

The beaches of Lido Key are ideal for shell collecting, fishing and kayaking. In southern Sarasota County, visitors should bring their (or rent a) "Florida snow shovel" (long handle with a basket) to collect black, prehistoric sharks teeth on Venice Beach and Caspersen Beach. Families are seen scooping sand and sifting with the shovels on the hunt for natural treasures. Note: It's rumored that Caspersen Beach is a clothing-optional beach but Sarasota County Government does not recognize it as such.

Sarasota beaches are well-maintained and usually pristine. Parking is free, unlike many other Florida beaches.

Visit Sarasota for the dining.
Sarasota offers a palatable collection of dining experiences, especially downtown. Dining options range from the Continental American fusion at The Bijou Café (1287 1st Street, Sarasota; Tel: 941-366-8111) to exquisite American delights at Cru Bistro & Wine Bar (1377 Main Street, Sarasota; Tel: (941) 951-6272) and Peruvian flare at Selva Grill (1345 Main Street, Sarasota; Tel: 941-362-4427) to culinary treats under a banyan tree at 5 One 6 Burns (516 Burns Lane, Sarasota; Tel: 941-906-1884).

Outside Sarasota's downtown, savor sushi and Asian fare at Pacific Rim (1859 Hillview Street, Sarasota; Tel: 941-330-8071) and share a romantic, waterfront evening at Ophelia's On the Bay (9105 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key; Tel: 941-349-2212).

For casual flavor, try the Old Salty Dog seafood shacks. The City Island location (1601 Ken Thompson Parkway, City Island; Tel: 941-388-4311) is great for watching boaters and fishermen. A small community of Amish-Mennonites lives in Sarasota and their restaurants serve up classics such as liver and onions, meatloaf and roasted chicken. Yoder's Restaurant (3434 Bahia Vista Street, Sarasota; Tel: 941-955-7771) is well-known for their fruit and cream pies.

When planning a visit to Sarasota, checkout the Sarasota Manatee Originals' website a: www.freshoriginals.com. This group of independently owned restaurants offer discounted dining gift certificates throughout the year.

Visit Sarasota for the culture.
Performance and visual culture is enjoyed throughout the year in Sarasota. Enjoy classical theatrical performances at the Asolo Theatre (5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; Tel: 941-351-8000) and contemporary plays at Florida Studio Theatre (1241 N. Palm Avenue, Sarasota; Tel: 941-366-9000). Listen to symphonic melodies of the Florida West Coast Symphony (709 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; Tel: 941-953-4525) or masterful performances of the Sarasota Opera (61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota; Tel: 941-366-8450).

Sarasota is home to a collection of art galleries, notably, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art (5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota; Tel: 941-359-5700). The Ringlings wintered in Sarasota during the 1920s, brining the circus and fine culture. The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is recognized as the official State Art Museum of Florida. Visit the Circus Museum and the recently opened Tibbals Learning Center to see the world's largest miniature circus.

Visit Sarasota for the offbeat.
Sarasota is cultural, yet eclectic. Offbeat amenities make this community worth visiting:

Amish-Mennonites: The Amish-Mennonite community is the area called Pinecraft. On a Saturday afternoon, shuffleboard courts are full of men wearing suspender-holding dark pants, buttoned shirts and straw hats. Young girls ride bicycles in ankle-length dresses and white bonnets. It's a running joke in Sarasota that spring break is "girls gone mild."

Bars with Character: Grab a pint from the extensive beer bible at The Cock & Bull Pub (975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; Tel: 941-341-9785), a near-authentic European pub. In 2006, the pub was ranked one of the top ten beer bars by BeerAdvocate.com. If beer isn't your potion, sip a famous Mai Tai at the Best Western Golden Host's Tropical Bahi Hut (4675 N. Tamiami Trl., Sarasota; Tel: 941-355-5141 while sitting among 1970s Hawaiian motif. Or, the scruffy fisherman your rubbing elbows with at the Dry Dock Waterfront Grill (412 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key; Tel: 941-383-0102) may be one of Sarasota's many millionaires.

Celebrities with Sarasota Ties: Paul Reubens, aka: Pee Wee Herman, grew up in Sarasota. Controversial talk-show host, and "Dancing with the Stars" contestant Jerry Springer now calls Sarasota home, along with AC/DC's Brian Johnson. Horror master writer Stephen King and tennis great Martina Navratilova have homes in the area, too.

Circus Heritage: The circus legacy lives on in Sarasota. Learn about the circus beginnings on the grounds of the Ringling complex. In the center of the shops and dining of Lido Key's St. Armands Circle, the Circus Ring of Fame celebrates Big Top performers. Swing in the air with the greatest of ease at the Tito Gaona Flying Trapeze Academy (432 Spadaro Drive, Venice; Tel: 941-412-9305). Visitors can sway on a swing or participate in a flying trapeze class. Circus Sarasota performs a modern-day circus for one month out of the year. Throughout the year, clown art seminars are taught.

Drum Circle: Prior to sunset each Sunday, hippy-looking people gather at Siesta Key Public Beach. In their gypsy-like clothing, they dance and sway to banging handheld drums. The drum circle continues into darkness.

Nature:Mote Marine Laboratory (1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, City Island; Tel: 941-388-4441) is the premier marine research center, ranging from sharks to sea turtles. The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (811 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota; Tel: 941-366-5731) has a collection of more than 20,000 greenhouse plants and are world-renowned for bromeliad classification. The Springs (12200 San Servando Avenue, North Port; Tel: 941-426-1692) in southern Sarasota County is fabled to be Ponce de Leon's original fountain of youth. It's believed the mineral-rich water has therapeutic properties and maintains a year-round temperature of 87 degrees Fahrenheit.

Visit Sarasota to experience the classical and quirky. Everyone will find something to enjoy in this Florida gulf coast community.