July

Looking for more than beach lounging? Here are the top things every nature-loving visitor must try during a trip to Sarasota County!

Learn more about these Black-owned restaurants, tours and other businesses on Florida's Gulf Coast

Chaz 51 Steakhouse

Chaz 51 Steakhouse is a foodie destination offering high-end cuisine to challenge even those with the most discerning tastes. The selections prepared by owner Chef Charles Amherst seek to excite the palate with his combination of Southern hospitality and fine dining, including scrumptious surf & turf entrees that have made this Venice restaurant a community jewel.

Try cooking this dinner recipe from Darwin Peruvian Eatery to add a little taste of Sarasota to your home

Chef Darwin has always been known for authentic Peruvian specialties such as ceviche, and his special techniques with seafood and beef. The creations at Darwin Peruvian Eatery are a reflection of Chef Darwin’s personality and energy materialized in each one of his masterpieces all done with creativity and passion. Enjoy his take on skirt steak with a chimichurri sauce!

Ingredients:

1 shallot, finely chopped

Try cooking this dinner recipe from 1592 Wood Fired Kitchen & Cocktails to add a little taste of Sarasota to your home

1592 Wood Fired Kitchen & Cocktails offers modern Mediterranean cuisine that relies on fresh market produce. By creating intuitive and eclectic combinations, Chef Alexandre Gosselin respects and puts forward the integrity and flavors of the original ingredients. Enjoy this new main dish mouth-watering recipe!

Ingredients:

olive oil

fresh garlic

salt

pepper

Try this dessert recipe from 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop to add a little taste of Sarasota to your home

99 Bottles in downtown Sarasota is proud to pair craft beer with an equally creative menu of bar bites and entrees that will surprise and delight. Enjoy this how-to behind one of their delicious sweet treats!

Ingredients:

1 stick butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

½ teaspoon lime zest

1 ½ cup flour

¼ teaspoon baking powder

Take a taste of Sarasota home by trying these recipes right from our local restaurants

Transport your taste buds to Florida's Gulf Coast with this four-course lineup of local recipes straight from our kitchens to yours! Treat friends and family to full stomachs with these step-by-step instructions for everything from appetizer, to entrees, to dessert.

Bon appétit!

Get out on the water or stay on dry land and learn about the animals, plant life and ecology.

Many of us have fond memories of school field trips when we got to leave the stuffy classroom and learn hands-on, often outdoors. You can re-create those days during your next Sarasota County vacation (without the permission slip and the grades!). Several area attractions and tour operators offer science-related, active educational experiences.

Enjoying beauty and art requires brainpower and good food. Fortunately, Sarasota’s museums and attractions have got you covered. 

From fancier dishes to casual bites and alfresco eats, Sarasota’s food scene has a table for every mood and occasion. If you’re looking for a side of art and culture with your meal, look no further than these eateries that share space with some of Sarasota’s most notable galleries, gardens and more.

An avian lover's paradise, spot native Florida birds year-round—from Gulf beach shores to mangrove flatland and brackish estuaries

Birdwatching is among one of the most peaceful, meditative and gratifying activities you can enjoy in Sarasota County. And while winter is largely birding "season"—as thousands of migratory birds make their way south to escape the northern chill—birdwatching is a fantastic year-round hobby to partake in thanks to our year-round sunshine, subtropical climate and ecological diversity.