Your Guide to Sarasota, Florida

Beyond the white-sand beaches of this Gulf Coast gem is a sophisticated city sparkling with fine dining, fascinating art and science museums, and even the Big Cat Habitat. Sarasota’s top attractions are also easy to get to, making your Florida beach vacation a snap. Here are the Opal-curated picks for experiencing “Circus City.”

TOP LANDMARKS

Siesta Key Beach

Coastal expert “Dr. Beach” has named this little piece of paradise the top beach in America for several years, and for good reason: the quartz-crystal sand remains cool beneath your feet–even in the tropical heat. There are also plenty of kids’ playgrounds, nearby eateries, free parking spots, and a newly renovated Sarasota School of Architecture. Check out the spots made famous by MTV, and stick around on Sunday evenings for the entertaining drum circles.

948 Beach Rd,
Sarasota, FL 34242

John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

This 66-acre estate is actually a five-ring circus, consisting of the State Art Museum of Florida, the Circus Museum, Ca’ d’Zan (a palatial mansion designed in a dazzling, Venetian Gothic style), the Bayfront Gardens, and the Asolo Repertory Theatre. But the star attraction is the Circus Museum, filled with a 44,000-piece circus model, costumes, parade wagons, posters, the performer-shooting cannon and the Ringlings’ restored private railcar.

5401 Bay Shore Rd,
Sarasota, FL 34243

Mall at University Town Center

Showcasing more than 100 stores and 20 restaurants, University Town Center (UTC) is a world-class destination attracting shoppers, diners, art lovers, and community members to this spacious place. From Saks and Macy’s to Dillard’s and Lululemon, it has everyone covered. 

140 University Town Center Dr,
Sarasota, FL 34243

MOST POPULAR THINGS TO DO

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Split between the 30-acre Historic Spanish Point campus and the 15-acre site in downtown Sarasota, the Selby Gardens was founded by women to celebrate, showcase and study the area’s tropical plants and archeological history. Head to the downtown site to immerse yourself in an array of orchids, bromeliads, and ferns.

1534 Mound St,
Sarasota, FL 34236

Shopping, Dining, and Gallery Hopping at St. Armand’s Circle 

In addition to UTC, Sarasota teems with retail opportunities, including St. Armand’s Circle, which is an island shopping center featuring Alvin’s Island souvenir store, the Met Day Spa, Les Ciseaux salon and Michael Saunders & Co. real estate, among other fine and fun destinations. Top dining spots on St. Armand’s include Tommy Bahama, Columbia, and Crab & Fin. Sports fans will love the poster selection at Stadium Gallery, while Wyland Gallery is the place for tropical art and much more.

Downtown Sarasota

The up-and-coming Rosemary District is also well worth a visit, thanks to its beautiful location and inspiring selection of unique boutiques, galleries, and eateries. And don’t miss the Sarasota Farmers Market, which takes place every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in downtown Sarasota, luring visitors to dozens of vendors selling everything from apples to zebra-striped prints.

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium

Visitors at this multifaceted facility can see more than 100 marine species, including sea turtles, sharks and manatees while peering in on some of the world’s top research. Check out the open water Shark Zone, ogle the otters, and hop on a boat for an eco tour of the area.

1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy,
Sarasota, FL 34236

Kayaking Mangrove Tunnels

Imagine gliding underneath archways of mangroves, fiddler crabs and fish just inches away from your kayak–and it’s so quiet you feel like you can hear every Florida creature. This is what it’s like to partake in one of Sarasota’s top adventures, offered in kayaks or on stand-up paddleboards in Lido Key.

190 Taft Drive
Sarasota, FL 34236

Spring Training

The Atlanta Braves and the Baltimore Orioles call Sarasota their winter home. Discover “Birdland South” at Ed Smith Stadium, or watch the Braves at Wellen Park. 

Kiteboarding

Sarasota’s shallow waters and sandy areas create near-perfect conditions for kiteboarders, who flock to the Skyway Bridge to practice their craft. Elite Waterports offers lessons, rentals, and everything else you need to take flight.

BEST RESTAURANTS

Obviously no trip here is complete without eating your way through the signature restaurants of each Sarasota Opal resort, like Portofino Ristorante & Bar at The Resort at Longboat Key Club, but if you decide you want to venture off property and into town for a bite – here are our local favorites.

Shore

It’s a “shore” thing when you dine at this fine al fresco restaurant, known for its Key West shrimp, Scallops Risotto, and refreshing cocktails that mimic the colors of the setting sun. You can shop for Shore clothes to match the décor, or simply kick back with a plate of crab cakes and kung-pao calamari during happy hour. Dig into your Pan Seared Local Snapper alongside a refreshing sea breeze in their open-air dining space in Sarasota or stop by their most recent expansion on Longboat Key.

800 Broadway St.,
Longboat Key, FL 34228

Owen’s Fish Camp

Old Florida—full of banyan trees, tire swings, and photos of real-life fish stories—is preserved at Owen’s Fish Camp, one of Sarasota’s best spots for Southern hospitality as sweet as the fried black-cherry pie. Choose your fish, your sauce, and your sides, and let the chefs work their magic.

516 Burns Ct #7030,
Sarasota, FL 34236

Main Street Creamery

With penny-tile floors and a black and white striped awning set, this downtown Sarasota staple feels like your nostalgic ice cream parlor of yesteryear. Offering 30 flavors of Yoder’s Southern Ice Cream (another Sarasota institution) as well as dairy-free options, the friendly staff are known for dishing ample servings with topping arrangements that look like a work of art (try their toasted topper of marshmallow meringue).

LOCAL’S FAVORITES

Myakka River State Park

Flowing 58 square miles through one of the oldest preserved patches of Florida wilderness, the Myakka River is home to alligators, osprey, turtles and limpkins. Hop on a bike, or lace up your hiking shoes to explore this fascinating piece of the Sunshine State’s wildest side.

13208 State Rd 72,
Sarasota, FL 34241

Pinecraft Amish Community

The picture-perfect postcard town of Pinecraft draws Amish residents looking to escape the northern cold in winter, and also day visitors who delight in strolling among the parks and the Amish restaurants, famous for their made-from-scratch pies.

Pinecraft Park,
Sarasota, FL 34239

Big Cat Habitat

Yoga with tigers? Yep, it happens at Big Cat Habitat, a large-animal rescue center founded in 1987 and now home to lions, tigers, bears, monkeys, and birds. Look online for yoga class times as well as the schedules for bird shows and live animal demos.

7101 Palmer Blvd,
Sarasota, FL 34240

Nathan Benderson Park

You can row, row, row your boat, among other activities, at this 600-acre community park, which includes a 2,000-meter spring rowing course and regatta center, one of the best venues of its kind in North America. You’ll also find yoga, Zumba, dragon-boat races, and simple relaxation at Nathan Benderson Park.

5851 Nathan Benderson Cir,
Sarasota, FL 34235 

PopStroke

Mini-golf gets an upgrade when Tiger Woods and his team design two 18-hole courses with all the high-end features of a traditional golf course: bunkers, lush fairways and synthetic turfs. Discover this brand-new venue at University Town Center. 

Serene white-sand beaches, an abundance of outdoor adventures to be had, and plenty of wildlife to encounter, Sarasota can be your stepping stone to experience some of Florida’s finest.