March

Choose your adventure in this laid-back coastal community

Ever wonder what it might have been like to vacation in Florida in decades past? Then you'll want to head to Englewood, a place that oozes Old Florida, small-town charm. You won't find lots of Med Rev mega-mansions and sprawling strip malls here. Instead, you can stroll a compact, historic downtown and enjoy the community's well-preserved natural side.

Here are three ways to get out and explore Englewood, whether you're into retail therapy, wildlife spotting, or spending time in the surf.

Heading to Sarasota County with your family? Read up on our guide and get some great ideas to make sure the whole family has a good trip!

Flowers are blooming and birds are chirping; school teachers are breathing a sigh of relief ... Ah, yes, spring break is in the air, and summer vacation is right on its heels. For kids and parents, this combination of unbeatable weather and newfound free time means the timing couldn't be better for vacations and family outings.

There are several retail districts and ways to spend a day browsing and buying in Sarasota. 

Grab your bag and a pair of comfortable shoes: It’s time to go shopping. Whether you’re looking for stylish swimwear or hip home decor, you’ll find plenty of stores in Sarasota County with must-have merchandise. When you’ve had your fill of sun, sand and surf or simply prefer to find the local shopping center over the local beach, here are a few ways to spend a day filling your retail therapy cup. 

Those in the know will not always wish to share their secret beach spots so liberally — lest they become common and crowded — but we’ll let you in on a few of Manasota Key’s secrets anyway.

Manasota Key is a beautiful beach and eco destination south of Sarasota and Venice, where you can explore rarely beautiful and tucked away sections of beach and eco-habitat without the hassles of a well-hyped beach; no overcrowding, difficulty parking, and not even any of the occasionally long waits typical of busier beaches’ diners/bars for your po’ boy sandwiches and margaritas.

One of the most popular shopping and dining districts on the Gulf Coast in St. Armands Circle, but the area has much more to experience. Check out five spots on St. Armands, Lido and Longboat key you'll want to stop at for a photo.

Preserving precious moments in photographs is one of the best ways to capture your Sarasota vacation. Need to find some extra special photo opportunities?

Here are a few to help preserve some of Sarasota's ultimate snapshots:

Sarasota County is a place for the muses. There's plenty of places to capture an iconic moment with a brush in a canvas in the area.

To the modern-day Monet, Sarasota is a heavenly muse.

After watching the final sliver of sun disappear below the Gulf, visitors to Sarasota County shouldn't hole up in their hotel rooms to wait for the next warm beach day. Whether you're a dance-floor devotee, a cocktail aficionado, or a live music junkie, Sarasota's nightlife will keep you up well after the sun goes down.

Fire up your appetite for a quintessential Florida afternoon filled with smoky flavors and soulful sounds.

From smoky barbecue joints and historic hangouts to lively festivals filled with guitars and fiddles, the region offers plenty of ways to soak up the soulful sounds of blues and bluegrass—with a plate of "low and slow" barbecue never far away.

Learn more about how a sweet little Sarasota treat is made and where it can be enjoyed.

People might not be the only thing vacationing in Sarasota County. Thanks in part to our subtropical climate, which produces a beautiful range of colorful and attractive flowers, other little visitors seem to have their ears buzzing. Bees that is, and they leave us with a sweet treat that is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.