Sarasota Florida
52 miles south of
Tampa, 150 miles south west
of
Orlando The town of Sarasota lies on the mainland coast, tucked behind a 40 mile
(64 km) long sliver of barrier islands that stretch north to Tampa
Bay. With a great climate, excellent beaches and a population only just
a little over 50,000, Sarasota is a popular town with retirees spending
their winters in the south.
Noted for their fantastic white beaches and languid Gulf of Mexico
waters, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and Lido Key are
prime vacation destinations and also the location of several affluent
residential enclaves.
The most prominent citizen of Sarasota was
John Ringling
of circus fame
who lived here in the early 1900's. This is where he
built his Venetian-styled mansion and housed his priceless art
collection.
The resulting demand for arts and entertainment has seen the town
become one of Florida's major cultural centers.
Visitors to the area
will find Sarasota accommodation
in branded inn chains along the main routes into the city and an assortment of
hotels and throughout the downtown area.
The popular beach areas on
the keys have a selection of beach resorts, condominiums, vacation
rentals and bed and breakfast establishments.
Getting
There & Getting Around
The Sarasota-Bradenton
International Airport is served by American Trans Air, Continental,
Delta, Northwest, and US Airways. Flights into Tampa
International Airport to the north offer a greater range of flights
and more competitive prices.
The Sarasota-Tampa
Express provides bus connections between the Tampa Airport and
Sarasota. Amtrak has a
service to its Tampa station with bus
connections to Sarasota.
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