2017

You can get to know North Port in so many adventurous and challenging ways, but here are just a few options to get you started.

For those who enjoy exploring a new, up-and-coming Florida community, the city of North Port is located in Sarasota County between Tampa and Fort Myers. The Southwest Florida city is tucked beneath a thick oak and pine canopy and is rich with archaeological history, beautiful natural springs and more than 95 miles of freshwater canals.

Sometimes it seems as if Sarasota's sunshine gets all the credit for the city's reputation as a top leisure destination. However, Sarasota by moonlight offers a vibrant nightlife, including a plethora of Sarasota nightclubs and bars, as well as opera and theatre shows. In this city, there's plenty to do after dark - all in a casual, Florida-chic atmosphere that lets every moment feel like vacation.

If the waves are big enough to surf, wakeboard can be a fun alternative. Learn more about the sport and where to rent and ride wakeboards in Sarasota County.

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.

The Sarasota Baseball Classic is a tournament on the sunny shores of Sarasota County held in March 2017. For 32 years teams from the state of Florida and beyond hit the field for a tournament recognized by Baseball America as one of the premier prep tournaments in America.

We began planning our Sarasota wedding from New York City. We did our research and we considered everything from luxurious, all-inclusive spots to warm, sand-in-your-toes beach weddings. But we imagined a one-of-a-kind place that we could dress up with meaningful touches--bowls of oranges in honor of our citrus hometowns, books as favors--and that recalled the jazzy literary elegance of Fitzgerald. We realized early on that our greatest challenge would be choosing which of the many romantic and historic sites with stunning Gulf and bay views we wanted.

With 40 miles of white sand beaches and a bay front with city views, Sarasota County, Fla., was named a USA Today's Great Waterfronts to Visit Across North America Top 10 List. Whether you take in the view from a sandy beach, aboard a floating vessel or from the warmth of your seat at the dining table, there is a wealth of places and ways to enjoy waterfront views when staying in Sarasota County.

The USA Today's Travel section produces the top 10 "Best of" lists for a variety of travel-related topics.

It's a blissful day on Siesta Key. I am at the intersection of "beach" and "ocean" avenues, and debating which path I want to take to one of the best beaches in the U.S. (and the world!).

Location

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