Accolades

Sarasota County has won a number of accolades for its places to stay, play, and dine over the years. Below are a few examples of the recognitions we are proud to have earned.

2025

The Best Beaches in the World, 2025, The World's 50 Best Beaches - Siesta Key #42
10 Best Botanical Gardens, USA Today - Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Best Beach Towns in the South, Southern Living - Siesta Key
Global Vision Award, Travel + Leisure - Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
10 Best Islands to Visit in the South, Travel + Leisure - Longboat Key, FL
Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best Beach, Tripadvisor - Siesta Beach #1 US, #4 World

2024

Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best Beach, Tripadvisor - Siesta Beach #2 US, #9 World
Best in Florida 2024 Beach Category, Midwestern Traveler - Siesta Beach
Top 10 Best Date Night Cities in the U.S., BonusFinder.com - Sarasota #1
Favorite Beach Town, Florida West, Trazee Travel - Sarasota
Top 10 Best Dog Bars, USA Today - Boo's Dog House & Ice Bar
Best Bars in America, USA Today - Gator Club
World's Greatest Places of 2024, TIME - Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Best of Florida 2024 Coffeehouses, Guide to Florida - The Dearborn Coffeehouse and Bakery
The Best of Architecture 2024, The Wall Street Journal - Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Top 12 Destinations for 2025, Forbes Travel Guide - Longboat Key

2023

Best New Restaurant of 2022, Tampa Bay Times - Meliora
20 Best Pizza Joints in the US, Trips to Discover - Rico's Pizza Gulfgate
Top Cities in U.S. to Pop the Question, Herald-Tribune - North Port/Sarasota
Top 25 Beaches in the United States, Trip Advisor - Siesta Beach
Top 25 Beaches in the World, Trip Advisor - Siesta Beach
Five Cities Blessed with Fantastic Mid-Century Architecture, Dirt - Luxury Real Estate Newsletter - Sarasota
21 Best Gulf Coast Beaches, HGTV - Anna Maria Island, Venice Beach, Blind Pass, and Siesta Key
Best Hotels in Sarasota, U.S. News - Ritz-Carlton Sarasota
Best Hotels in Florida, U.S. News - Ritz-Carlton Sarasota
Top 9 Spring Break Fishing Destinations, FishingBooker - Sarasota
Best Buffet Restaurant in the US, USA Today - Der Dutchman Restaurant
10 Best Free Attractions in the US, USA Today - Venice Beach
10 Best Cities in FL for a Family Vacation, FloridaRentals.com - Sarasota
20 Most Moved to Cities in the US, PODS - Sarasota
10 Best Beach Towns on the East Coast, Conde Nast - Siesta Key Beach
"A" Grade for Sarasota County Schools from Florida Department of Education

2022

Top 10 Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights, USA Today, Marie Selby Gardens #6
The Best Cities for Fishing, Apartment Guide- Sarasota #2
Yelp’s Top 100 Florida Restaurants 2022, Yelp - Antoine's Restaurant #22, Que-Rico Colombian Flavors #40, Max's Table #54, Tikka Indian Cuisine #66, La Dolce Vita #84, Tortellino Bistrot #97
The 25 Healthiest Communities in Florida, U.S. News & World Report- Sarasota #3
Top Cities in the U.S. That Have Seen the Most Growth from 2021-2022, PODS - Sarasota #1
Best Small Airports in the U.S. for Avoiding Flight Delays and Cancellations, Travel & Leisure- Sarasota-Bradenton International (SRQ) Airport #10
Best Places to Visit in Florida, U.S. News & World Report - Sarasota #1
Siesta Key Beach named in Traveler's Choice Awards Best of the Best Beaches - World, Tripadvisor - Siesta Beach #14
Siesta Key Beach named in Traveler's Choice Awards Best of the Best Beaches - United States, Tripadvisor - Siesta Beach #2
Sarasota makes New York Times' 52 Places for a Changed World List, New York Times - Architecture Sarasota

2021

Venice Named Top Escape Destination for Snowbirds by National Self-Storage Company, The Herald-Tribune - Venice
Best Places to Retire in the U.S. in 2021-22, U.S. News & World Report - Sarasota #1
Moving Company Says Sarasota Ranks as #1 Relocation Destination, The Herald-Tribune- Sarasota
Best Beach Bars Across Florida, USA Today - O'Leary's Tiki Bar & Grill, Sharky's on the Pier
150 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2021-2022, U.S. News & World Report - Sarasota #9
The Top 15 Islands in the Continental U.S., Travel & Leisure - Longboat Key #5
America's 25 Best Steakhouses, According to Yelp, 24/7 Wall St - Summer House Steak & Seafood, Siesta Key#12
10 Best U.S. Beach Towns to Live In, Travel & Leisure - Sarasota
10 Best Beach Towns on the East Coast, Condè Nast Traveler - Siesta Key
100 Most Popular Small Cities to Relocate, moveBuddha - Venice #3
Couples' Choice Awards® - Flowers, Cakes, Dresses, WeddingWire - Beneva Weddings, Cakes by Ron, The Perfect Dress of Sarasota
Couples' Choice Awards® - Transportation, WeddingWire - Siesta Trolley
Couples' Choice Awards® - Catering Winners, WeddingWire - Mattison's Catering, Sarasota Catering Company
Couples' Choice Awards® - Venue Winners, WeddingWire - Lido Beach Resort, The Pavilion at Mixon Farm, Zota Beach Resort
The 9 Best Dog-Friendly Beaches in Florida, Oyster - Brohard Paw Park, Venice #1
Top 25 U.S. Growth Cities, U-Haul - North Port #1
The Top-Selling Multi-Generational Community in the U.S., RCLCO Real Estate Advisors- Lakewood Ranch #1
The Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities of 2020, RCLCO Real Estate Advisors - Lakewood Ranch #2, Wellen Park #4

2020

"Top Stop" worldwide for venues with a capacity of 2,000 or fewer, Venues Now - Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall #1
Best Places to Retire in the U.S. in 2020-21, U.S. News & World Report- Sarasota #1
Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2020-21, U.S. News & World Report - Sarasota #16
The Best U.S. Islands: 2020 Readers' Choice Awards, Conde Nast Traveler - Longboat Key #8
Readers' Choice Award, ConventionSouth Magazine- Visit Sarasota County
Top 30 Resorts in Florida: 2020 Readers' Choice Awards, Conde Nast Traveler- Zota Beach Resort #9, The Resort at Longboat Key Club #23
10 Best Kayaking Tours in the U.S., USA Today - Kayaking SRQ #5
America's Best Beach Towns for Retirement, Southern Living - Venice #6, Sarasota #7
10 Best Coastal Small Towns, USA Today - Venice #3
The Top 15 Resort Hotels in Florida, Travel + Leisure - The Resort at Longboat Key Club #12
Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals®, IBM Watson Health - Sarasota Memorial Hospital & Doctors Hospital of Sarasota
Top 10 Places to Live on the Coast, Coastal Living - Venice
Top 25 Beaches in the World, Tripadvisor's Traveler's Choice™ Awards - Siesta Beach #11
Top 25 Beaches in the U.S., Tripadvisor's Traveler's Choice™ Awards - Siesta Beach #1
50 Best Hospitality & Tourism Schools for 2020, Study.com - University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee
Fastest-Growing Places to Travel Last-Minute, GoLastMinute- Sarasota #1 in U.S.