By Shannon Pease-Severance
From its sugar-sand beaches and stunning sunsets to its vibrant art scene and engaging attractions, there’s a lot to love about Sarasota. Situated just south of Tampa, the city was once the winter home of the Ringling Brothers Circus. With such a rich mix of offerings and an easygoing atmosphere, there’s something for everyone on Florida’s Cultural Coast. Fortunately for us, our neighbor to the west is just a short drive away. So pack your bags, pile in the car, and head to Sarasota for a memorable trip with the family. Here we offer some suggestions to get your wheels turning.
Attractions
• Siesta Key Beach
While the rest of the country weathers the winter chill, we have the benefit of strolling the beach barefoot – in January. People worldwide travel from afar to experience this award-winning beach for its silky-smooth white quartz sand and crystal blue water. The scenery is so beautiful that it ranked #2 in the U.S. in 2024 for Best Beach in the world by TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards and served as the set for the first four seasons of the MTV Siesta Key reality television series. Luckily for us locals, we get to bask in the beauty of Siesta Key Beach all year long.
• The Ringling
Learn about art, culture and society as you tour a variety of collections ranging from art and circus to history and architecture. The experience gives insight into the vision of circus impresario John Ringling and his wife Mable to make Sarasota a world-class destination. The estate includes the Museum of Art, the Circus Museum, the 1920s mansion Ca’ d’Zan, the Historic Asolo Theatre and Bayfront Gardens. Special scheduled events feature family art making, story time and stroller tours designed specifically for families with infants and toddlers. The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art is located at 5401 Bay Shore Rd. in Sarasota. For more information, call 941-359-5700 or visit http://www.ringling.org.
• Myakka River State Park
Visit one of Florida’s oldest and largest parks with a beautiful backdrop of 58 square miles of wildflower-covered prairies and wild wetlands. Pack a picnic and make a day of it by bicycling, birdwatching or taking a guided boat ride. Bicycle, canoe and kayak rentals are also available. And, if your family is the outdoorsy type, forgo the hotel and rent a cabin or a primitive campsite where you can pitch your own tent. The park is open 8 a.m. until sunset, 365 days a year. The cost is $6 per vehicle (2-8 people) or $4 for a single-occupant vehicle. Myakka River State Park is located at 13208 State Road 72 in Sarasota.
To learn more, call 941-361-6511 or visit http://www.floridastateparks.org.
• Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary
Families can explore habitats (lions, tigers, and bears!) and participate in unique activities like fox yoga and sunset safari tours at this animal haven. Yes, you read that right, fox yoga. Guest are guided through a yoga flow while two silver foxes, Stormy and Miko, play freely and interact with yogis. There are other activities, too, including lemur yoga, tiger yoga (outside the habitat!), and interactive experiences where you can connect with a wallaby or a capybara.
Big Cat Habitat is at 7101 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota. To book a reservation or for more information, call 941-371-6377 or visit http://www.bigcathabitat.org.
Events
• Sarasota Seafood & Music Festival
Friday-Sunday, January 10-12
It’s a lip-smacking, toe-tapping good time at this festival featuring various fresh seafood, meat and vegetarian options and musical performances by talented artists. Festivities kick off Friday evening from 4:30 to 10 p.m., continue Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and culminate Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. In addition to fabulous food and music, there will be a marketplace with arts and crafts, gourmet food items and other specialty products. The lineup of entertainers and showtimes can be found at http://www.paragonfestivals.com/festival/sarasota-shrimp-music-festival. Admission is free. The event occurs at the Sarasota Fairgrounds at 3000 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.
• Sarasota Anime-Fest
Saturday, January 11
Anime fans and collectors can enjoy a day of all things anime, including anime candy, comic books and magazines, artwork sketches, video games, apparel, jewelry and more. The festival will also feature anime panels, anime trivia, a cosplay contest and a roster of industry professionals and fandom-related celebrities for fans to meet.
All ages. $20/person. One child age 11 and under is free per one accompanying adult. 10am-5pm, Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, http://www.sarasotaanimefest.com
• Family Art Making at Ringling Museum
Saturday, January 18
Kids can make art inspired by objects in the museum’s collection and then explore the exhibit to see the actual object in person. Tickets are free, but they are required. A limited amount will be available online about 14 days before the program. The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, http://www.ringling.org
• St. Armands Winter Art Festival & Sidewalk Sale
Saturday-Sunday, January 25-26
Spend a day, or the weekend, perusing gallery-style booths filled with fine art of every medium
by national and local artists. Displays will include a mix of art, including paintings, life-sized sculptures, fine jewelry, hand-crafted apparel, décor, glasswork and more. 10am-5pm, One St. Armands Circle, Sarasota, http://www.artfestival.com
• Scottish Highland Games & Celtic Festival
Saturday, February 1
Enjoy a full day of fun at this second annual event that includes piping and drumming, athletics, live music, vendors, food and more. $15-$30. 8:30am-6pm, Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, http://www.suncoastscots.com
Dining
• Beach Bites
After spending a sun-drenched day on the beach, exploring the local art scene, or visiting various animals that call Sarasota home, you might need some sustenance. Here are a couple of places that will help you recharge and fill the void.
• The Old Salty Dog
Known for casual dining and a comfortable atmosphere, The Old Salty Dog serves up delectable dishes, cool drinks and even cooler kids meals that are plated on a frisbee. Menu choices range from handhelds like fresh fish sandwiches and island tacos to the namesake “Salty Dog” – a ¼ pound hot dog dipped in batter and fried to a golden brown. If you like it piled high, try the Fully Loaded Salty Dog – as seen on Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food. It comes topped with sauerkraut, bacon, grilled onion, mushrooms, and four different kinds of cheese – American, cheddar, pepper jack and Swiss. You will not leave hungry. At last check, the City Island location was temporarily closed and undergoing repairs due to hurricane damage, but both the Siesta Key and Venice Island locations are open for business. http://www.theoldsaltydog.com
• Abel’s Ice Cream
Satisfy your sweet tooth at this locally-owned ice cream shop featuring more than 40 flavors of Florida-made ice cream, dairy-free sorbets and plant-based, non-dairy frozen desserts. The award-winning locale features a variety of classic flavors like chocolate chip, coffee and spumoni and specialty flavors like chocolate raspberry truffle and butterscotch bomb. 1886 Stickney Point Rd., Sarasota, http://www.abelsicecream.com
Hurricane Recovery Continues
At the time of publication, some area businesses like Mote Aquarium and Sarasota Jungle Gardens continued to be closed due to damage sustained from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Please check the status of local attractions before setting off on your adventure. To assist with their recovery efforts, visit http://www.mote.org or http://www.sarasotajunglegardens.com. To learn more about storm recovery in the City of Sarasota, visit http://www.sarasotafl.gov.