I LIVE in Sarasota...it is a FABULOUS little place.....full of ARTS and FUN! What do you like?? ART, FOOD, SEASHORE, BOATING? You can FREEPMAIL me.
Siesta Beach is a must.
Also,if you have free time drive up to Bradenton (a short drive) and check out the Tropicana plant. Many truckloads of oranges arrive regularly.And there are times when one can smell citrus as you drive nearby.
And if you have a lot of free time drive across the state on Route 41 from Naples to Miami. The Everglades...amazing.
For lunch and head over to longboat key and eat at salty dog. For dinner down the street and behind the gas station is Dry Dock. Bird man, bird sanctuary and mote Marine aquarium are right next-door to each other along with sea turtle rehabilitation. Also in longboat key, be careful as you can get a speeding ticket for 1 mile an hour over on longboat key. Absolutely no crime there. Dick Vitale’s original broken egg breakfast restaurant is on siesta key further south. Saint Armand Circle is where you buy your Christmas gifts for your family. Good Italian restaurant there can’t remember her name. Indoor gun range by the airport but very dangerous down there. Number one tip is when driving at night. Go slow. Lots of two legged vermin will walk across the street and pedestrian strikes are very high and Sarasota. Sarasota hospital is fantastic. Right behind it is a nice little shopping center with a good public market down the street from that is a botanical garden world class.
Watch out for the Canadians. They are crazy.
Definitely go to the horse races.
Marina Jack’s is pretty good
Mote Marine Aquarium.
They also do boat tours of Sarasota Bay. It is well worth it.
Take up kite boarding!!
Yours truly in Pensacola a few years back!! I hot 2 or 3 locations a year between Clearwater and Naples...ya don’t need anything but the wind!! More source for inner peace for years!!
For beaches, I really like Ft Desoto. It's on the N. end of the Skyway. Miles of beach and some cool history there.
If you are adventurous, drive inland to Arcadia. Go to "Canoe Outpost" and do on of their river trips on the Peace River. They will shuttle you up-river and you paddle back to the outpost. I say paddle back but that's a stretch. You more like keep your canoe (or kayak) pointed down stream and the current does the rest. Yes, you will see Alligators. They'll be lazing on the bank and are no threat (unless you wanna shake its hand or something dumb). Ask at the desk how to find find fossilized sharks teeth. There are millions of them in that river.
Also, inland but much closer is Mayakka State Park. Take the boat tour. You'll see massive gators there. Also walk the trails. Beautiful Live Oak canopy.
Take 2 days (or one very long day) and drive to my neighborhood, the Keys. Driving the FL Keys Overseas Highway is something everyone should do once in their lifetime. It is awe inspiring. I've actually walked the entire length, 109 miles. On the drive there you'll cross Alligator Alley. Not much to see but marsh-land and sawgrass - but you can say you've done it.
“Going to Sarasota, FL”
Why?
Sharks, Shark week is coming and the different sharks gather in places like that to take selfies with tourists like you.
Be careful
Mid November is a great time to go……
…..hurricane season is winding down…..the weather is cooler….
.Sarasota is lovely and I do recommend the Ringling Art Museum!…..quite a collection of beautiful artwork the Ringling family brought over from Europe, including floor to ceiling Rubens!……
….and in the courtyard a replica of the statue ‘David’