SARASOTA: From the imagination of “The Greatest Show on Earth” to the “Finest, Whitest Sands in the World,” Sarasota and Her Islands offer visitors an atmosphere of cultural indulgence and creative abundance. From the satin-soft sands of Siesta Key to the acoustic acclaims of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, travelers enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of a beachside stay just minutes from cosmopolitan and cultural amenities that rival major metropolitan centers.

OTHER PLACES Boca Raton Bonita Springs Bradenton Brooksville Clearwater Captiva Island Charlotte Harbor Cocoa Beach Daytona Beach Daytona Beach Shores DeLand Destin Emerald Coast Everglades Ft Lauderdale Flagler Beach Fort Myers Fort Myers Beach Fort Pierce Fort Walton Beach Gainesville Gulf Islands Hollywood Jacksonville Key Largo Key West Kissimmee Lake Buena Vista Lake City Lakeland Marco Island Marianna Melbourne Miami Miami Beach Naples Ocala Orlando Ormond Beach Panama City Pensacola Plantation Pompano Beach Punta Gorda Sanibel Sarasota Sebring Siesta Key Space Coast South Walton Beaches St Augustine St Petersburg Tallahassee Tampa Titusville Vero Beach West Palm Beach

Nestled along Southwest Florida's Gulf coast, Sarasota and Her Islands (Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key, Manasota Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Englewood, Nokomis, North Port, Osprey and Venice) is recognized as Florida's Cultural Coast. There are more than 40 unique artistic venues including theatres, art galleries, operas, a professional symphony and ballet. The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art is Florida's State Museum, and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, known for its architecture and great acoustics, seats 1,700 people and features a dazzling season of music, shows and programs for all ages. From antique cars to a year-round spring with 87-degree waters, Sarasota has a variety of attractions appropriate for family enjoyment. Visitors to the area can stroll Towles Court, an authentic artist colony, or visit one of Florida’s oldest original attractions like Mote Marine Laboratory, G-WIZ (Gulfcoast Wonder & Imagination Zone), Historic Spanish Point, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota Jungle Gardens, Warm Mineral Springs, Pelican Man's Bird Sanctuary, and more. Myakka River State Park, with 28,875 acres of land, and Oscar Scherer State Park are Sarasota's destinations for bird-watching, biking, walking, camping or just communing with Florida's natural setting of swamps, palmetto brush and towering pine trees. Myakka State Park offers guided boat and train tours that include informative narration of the area's wildlife and history. Visitors can explore the mangrove tunnels of South Lido Key by kayak or traverse North America’s first canopy trail. Known as Florida's "Cradle of Golf," Sarasota was home to the first course in the state and one of America's first golf courses built in 1905 by Sir John Hamilton Gillespie, a Scottish colonist. The nine-hole course was located in the heart of today's downtown near today's Golf, Links and Gillespie Streets. The community's early ties to golf can still be found today at Bobby Jones Golf Complex. Sarasota offers more than 1,000 holes at public, semi-private and private courses. Fishing piers include the Englewood Public Fishing Pier, Ken Thompson Park Pier & New Pass Pier, Osprey Fishing Pier, Tony Saprito Pier, Turtle Beach Pier and Venice Fishing Pier. Choose from 15 area marinas and 12 public boat ramps. Accommodations in Sarasota range from the Ritz-Carlton to less expensive national brands. Flip-flops are the footwear de jour on Siesta Key. Siesta Key Beach has been voted the Best Sand Beach in America two years in a row and Sarasota is ranked among the top 25 most requested destinations and Family Fun Magazine chose Sarasota as the best destination for “Beachy Pleasure” among their top 10 family-friendly destinations. Longboat Key’s upscale atmosphere and luxurious accommodations provide an air of sophistication mixed with sandy pleasures. Anchored by St. Armands Circle, artistic eccentricity melds with European charm at Lido Key/St. Armands as visitors stroll with ice cream in hand along a plethora of boutiques, eateries and specialty shops. Dubbed the “Shark Tooth Capitol of the World,” the treasure hunters’ tool of choice in Venice is the Florida snow shovel – a small hand-held sifter that easily locates the pre-historic gems. Historic Venice easily conjures nostalgia with its original soda shop. SARASOTA

Take a look at the Travel Tidings Florida FEATURES section for more in depth articles on many places and destinations in the Sunshine State. SARASOTA Sarasota: Pets Deserve a Day at the Beach, too! ST PETERSBURG/ CLEARWATER St Petersburg/Clearwater has become Florida's Cultural Center

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About Us: Travel Tidings Florida features vacation travel information for the cities and regions of Pensacola, Destin/Ft Walton Beach, Seaside/Beaches of South Walton , Panama City Beach , Marianna , Apalachicola/Port St. Joe , Tallahassee , Live Oak/Lake City , Cedar Key/Steinhatchee, Jacksonville/Amelia Island, Gainesville, St. Augustine, Flagler Beach/Palm Coast, Crystal River, St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Tampa, Ocala, Orlando/Kissimmee, Lakeland,Daytona Beach/New Smyrna Beach, Cocoa Beach, Fort Pierce/Vero Beach, Sarasota/Bradenton, Charlotte Harbor, Fort Myers/Sanibel, Naples/Marco Island, Sebring/Arcadia, Florida Keys & Key West, Fort Lauderdale, Lake Okeechobee, Miami, and Palm Beach and more than 500 destinations throughout the state of Florida.  Activities, entertainment and speciality interestes include everything from romantic getaways, spas and secluded parks to family themeparks and holiday resorts, busy places popular for adventure, sports and surfing. General topics covered include diining, lodging, shopping, travel accommodations, attractions, hotels and more. Do not hesitate to contact us for further information at info@traveltidingsflorida.com!