June

Looking to run instead of lounge on America's favorite beach? You'll want to check out these spots for the best places to play

Grabbing a blanket and packing some PB&Js makes for a simple beach picnic, but what if you want to get a little more creative?

Your dream picnic can be just as magical as the ones you see on TV. Sarasota's scenery makes it simple. Enjoy a long picnic lunch in the sunshine or a quiet picnic dinner at sunset. All you need to do is make a few preparations along the way.

In search of coastal cuisine, cultural attractions, and enough sunshine to cure their lingering polar-vortex blues, a couple heads south for a week in Florida's cultural capital.

Art Center Sarasota, though often overlooked by visitors and Sarasota County residents, boasts provocative exhibitions from international artists. The building is one of the city's oldest cultural attractions but one of it's most active present-day establishments as well.

No matter the season, the weather is always a treat in Sarasota.

There's a reason Southwest Florida is known as the Sunshine Coast. With endless summer vibes, the odds are in your favor that the weather will be vacation-worthy no matter what time of year you're able to come. 

Runners rejoice — you can take your vacation without having to pause your training. Sarasota County is an excellent Florida Gulf Coast destination and a Runner Friendly Community, as chosen by the Road Runner Club of America.

Vacation and training for a race tend to pair together about as well as oil and water. Too often, "training" on vacation means running loops around the small park next to the hotel, or laboriously dull treadmill jogging.

Introduce yourself to the freshest and healthiest dining options in Sarasota County.

In Sarasota, a locale geographically blessed with year-round sunshine that nurtures farm food, healthy eating seems to simply make sense. As the city of Sarasota has the highest concentration of Zagat-rated restaurants in Florida, you'll have no problem finding a variety of healthy places to eat dinner, dessert, and breakfast – in whatever order you so choose.

While visiting Sarasota County, be sure to enjoy these activities – whether rain or shine!

The old adage is "April showers bring May flowers," but in Sarasota, an area celebrated for its year-round sunshine and inviting beaches, rainy days can feel like a drag. However, even the grayest clouds have a silver lining. When spring showers and summer thunderstorms put a damper on your beach days, don't let the stir-crazy blues get the best of you and your family.

North Port is home to nine miles of primitive mountain biking trails

North Port, Fla., situated between Tampa and Fort Myers in Sarasota County, is well known for its unique natural environment and abundant choice of activities for the outdoor enthusiast. The city offers an array of canals and trails for hiking, fishing, kayaking, horseback riding and more.