December

Turn a regular day of shopping into a memorable experience with these local tips for things you can do when you visit some of the popular retail stops around Sarasota County.

Downtown Sarasota

For 70 years, Sarasota's Sailor Circus has thrilled audiences as one of the most unique extracurricular activities for local students in the world.

It hasn’t taken our dog Mickey too long to love Sarasota County as much as we do. As a integral part of our family, we often take Mickey wherever we go!

Enjoying a day out in Sarasota County is almost always more exciting when you have a puppy. If you ever take for granted our stunning intercoastal views, then I invite you to take a boat ride with Mickey.

Covering 130 acres, nine meticulously groomed and irrigated polo fields, two stick and ball fields and a regulation-sized arena make Sarasota Polo Club one of the largest clubs in the country.

The Sarasota Polo Club, established in 1991, is a premier luxury sporting destination located on 130 manicured acres, including 45 private equestrian estates, 7 Bermuda grass fields, a half-mile horse track, boarding facilities for 72 horses, a Player’s Clubhouse and a Polo Pavilion.

Nathan Benderson Park offers world-class rowing in addition to a plethora of fun-filled outdoor events

Golf has been a part of Sarasota County since 1885, when John Hamilton Gillespie arrived in Sarasota from Scotland, forever changing the course of Sarasota’s future.

When John Hamilton Gillespie arrived in Sarasota from Scotland in 1885 he was keen to develop a new home in America, which would include his beloved game of golf. By 1886 he had laid out two new golf holes (eventually to be 18 holes) that would be played upon the ground that is currently near Sarasota’s downtown Main Street.

Sarasota has enough Florida Gulf Coast nightlife to spice up (or cool down) your visit to our sunny beaches-and-beyond destination.

When many of us think of Florida, we imagine daytime activities -- visions of ourselves on the beach, out on a boat, or perhaps indoors, perusing a museum or someplace that closes its doors at 5. But what happens after the sun goes down? From Sarasota's museum nights and live music to breathtaking sunsets, there's more to do than dine and drink after dark.

These photo op spots will capture the essence of Sarasota, arouse the most jealousy from friends back home, and help you relive your trip year after year.

Find all kinds of ways to explore the great outdoors in this Sarasota County city

North Port is the largest city in Sarasota County, both in terms of population and land mass. But while that fact might make you think of crowds or overdevelopment, the reality is just the opposite.

"North Port is not densely populated," says Erin Bryce, the city's community outreach manager. "It's only 20 percent built out, which translates to a lot of natural, wide open space."