March

Pockets of shopping and dining districts pepper Sarasota County, and visitors rarely have time to explore them all in one day. So, say you only have nine hours to devote to Sarasota district hopping. What would you do? Here is a sample guide. Spend three hours in Southside Village, Gulf Gate and the North Trail's Tamiami Cultural District, respectively, and hunt for gems.

Spring is here and the best time to visit your favorite Gulf Coast community

In Sarasota, FL, unlike many other parts of the country, spring is the peak of the year. The season brings migrating avian and sea critters into the area. The warming sea temperatures mean it’s warm enough to dip into the gulf coast, but cool enough to serve as an escape to the afternoon heat. Spring brings an event or festival virtually every weekend. Spring brings theatre and music. Spring brings the king of all fishing experiences: tarpon. But most of all, spring brings fun.

Sarasota County has some of the best birding hotspots in Florida. 

As a rest stop for migratory birds with bountiful lands such as the Celery Fields and Myakka State Park, there's always something new to be seen through the binocular lens.

Location

On Florida's west coast between Tampa to the north and Ft.

In between the cities of Sarasota and Venice is a collection of communities worthy of stopping for a visit. Dine, stay, and relax at Osprey, Nokomis and the exclusive Casey Key.

A drive down U.S. 41 yields a bevy of eateries and retail options throughout the cities of Osprey and Nokomis. And the exclusive Casey Key has extravagant celebrity homes and privates stretches of shoreline. After the sun sets over the Gulf of Mexico, a beach walk and a drum circle are the perfect preludes to curling up in oceanside hotel suites.

Siesta Key beach, ranked the no. 1 beach in America by TripAdvisor users has completed its renovations. Learn more about the new upgrades.

The sugary, white quartz sand and the Gulf Coast waters that stretch all along Siesta Key are reason enough to visit the Siesta Key public beach when vacationing in Sarasota County, Florida.

The Gulf Beach Resort Motel has been on Lido Key since the 1950s, making it the oldest hotel on the island. Learn more about the resort in our video!

You don't want to miss these natural wonder of Sarasota County

The 66-acre-grounds of The Ringling is itself an exhibit. The grounds feature the largest collection of Banyan trees in Florida, as well as a variety of other exotic trees. Sprawled throughout the grounds are a number of gardens as well, including the Mable Ringling's Rose Garden.

Sarasota's vibrant circus history springs to life at The Ringling, the official State Art Museum of Florida. 

The Ringling is not only home to the decadent and historic art collection of Ringling Circus founder John Ringling and his wife, Mable, but also a touchstone for delving deep into the captivating world of the circus.