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FTWtoday City Editor Rebecca, here. I worked in Sarasota, FL for a little over a year before returning home to DFW for graduate school. During that time, I enjoyed trips to the beach, learned about the history of the circus, and ate award-winning seafood. Come along with me and discover some of Sarasota’s best offerings for your next weekend getaway.
Why go?
- This town, located about an hour south of Tampa, is known for its white-sand beaches including the popular Siesta Key, Lido Key, and my personal favorite, Brohard Paw Park, where dogs can run free and swim in the ocean.
- Sarasota was named the “Best Place to Travel in Florida” in 2022 by US News and World Report.
- Enjoy beautiful weather nearly all year — the city gets an average of 251 sunny days per year.
- Take a photo with the iconic “Unconditional Surrender sculpture.” The sculpture was purchased by late World War II veteran and Sarasota resident Jack Curran.
Act like a local:
- Food: With 37 miles of open shoreline, there’s a plethora of fresh seafood restaurants. Get dressed up and try Indigenous, a sustainable seafood restaurant, run by James Beard semifinalist Steve Phelps.
- Drink: Walk around Siesta Key Village and cool off with a cold drink from Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar or Gilligan’s Island Bar & Grill.
- Outdoors: Take in the nature and explore the wetlands on a canopy walkway at Myakka River State Park.
- Learn: Visit Ringling Bros. and the Barnum & Bailey Circus and explore the Ca’ d’Zan — the former home of John and Mable Ringling. The mansion is now home to The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and is inspired by the Venetian Gothic style.
- Sports: Catch the Baltimore Orioles practice at Ed Smith Stadium for free (mid-February-March).
- Explore: Take in the fresh ocean air and shop 130+ merchants at St. Armands Circle, including local boutiques, jewelry stores, and candy shops.
Where to stay:
- Vrbo: Club Bamboo South 123 Studio, steps away from the Gulf of Mexico on Bradenton Beach. (~205/night)
- Airbnb: The Artist Studio SRQ, walking distance to downtown and conveniently located near the Selby Botanical Gardens and the Sarasota Art Museum. (~169/night)
- Splurge hotel: Lido Beach Resort, a private, secluded beach paradise on Lido Beach. (~439/night)