Sarasota Travel Guide
For details of what to do and see in Sarasota check out our Sarasota guide to car hire in Sarasota.
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Sarasota's popularity as a tourist destination dates back over a hundred years, to the days when John Ringling, the legendary circus impresario chose the resort as the ideal place in which to allow his entourage of acrobats and freaks to rest and recover over the winter months after a hard summer of touring the country. The once small town on the Florida Coast soon overtook nearby Bradenton as a place to see the sun over the cooler months, and people from all over the USA began to gravitate towards Sarasota in increasing numbers, drawn by the promise of warm weather. Sarasota boasts quiet beaches, which are protected from the full force of the Atlantic Ocean by a barrier of islands just off the coast. Throughout the year, the sea remains warm and calm, making it ideal for swimming in.
In recent years, Sarasota has distanced itself from the perceived vulgarity of more commercial holiday destinations such as Tampa and Fort Lauderdale, and fought hard to gain a reputation as a sophisticated place in which to relax in the sun, and the packed programme of cultural events that take place all year round are designed to appeal to the more discerning traveller - although those of us with more low brow sensibilities are well catered for with a variety of popular events over the summer.
A dedicated holiday destination, amongst the many things to do and see in Sarasota, the famous jungle gardens, and the classic car museum, are popular choices, and not far from town, in the rivers and creeks, you can get the chance to swim with the peaceful manatees should you want to.
One of the most visited attractions in Sarasota is the absolutely fascinating museum of circus memorabilia that has been kept from the days when Ringling put the resort on the map. The museum's collection includes many costumes, programmes and playbills, as well as having several multimedia presentations to watch. Needless to say, the most popular section in the museum is the collection of freaks that were once an integral part of the show. Ironically, in this era of political correctness, the freaks now attract more prurient interest than ever, which certainly says something about how popular taste is influenced by the notion of what is taboo.
Of course, it goes without saying that Sarasota has a large number of excellent golf courses up to PGA standard available for visitors; it is in Florida after all.
