By Patty Ryan In Sarasota, the beach residents turn off lights to avoid distracting sea turtles. When birds of many species adopt a county drainage field, the community responds by building an Audubon Nature Center. Voters tax themselves to extend a popular bike trail. It isn’t difficult to be an…
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By Janet K. Keeler We often think of sight as the most important sense for experiencing art, but hearing also adds value, for fine and especially performing arts. The Ringling in Sarasota offers several accessibility features, notably a hearing assistive system that amplifies world-class theater…
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By Jeanette Scott Looking for the scoop on shopping in Sarasota? Well, look no further because fashion blogger, shopping expert and Sarasota native Megan Zietz of The Frugalista Diaries is sharing her top five places to shop today! 1. For The Young & Trendy: Westfield Sarasota Square If you’re…
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By Dalia Colon Where: About a 20-minute drive northwest of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport or a 1-hour drive southwest of Tampa International Airport. Length: 3.5 miles. Best time to visit: November to July, to visit the Sunday Beach Market at Coquina Beach. Fun fact: If you visit in…
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By Diane Daniel Brad Tanner has led groups on more than 50 kayak trips around Sarasota Bay, many to the same spots. But every outing, he said, is a new adventure. “Even the exact same locations are different each time, depending on the conditions,” said Tanner, who takes out paddlers every couple…
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By Vanessa Caceres Downtown Sarasota is famous for its restaurants, Saturday farmers market, and eclectic mix of shops. The soundtrack is live music, including Mattison’s City Grille, offering up a mix of live music seven days a week in the heart of downtown. From Spanish guitar to blues to rock…
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When I’m planning a trip to Florida’s West Coast I always make sure I stop off at Sarasota. Not only is Sarasota the culture capital of Florida, it’s also home to great shopping, food and award winning beaches For Culture The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota Bay pays homage to…
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By Janet K. Keeler Nearly every visit to Sarasota Architectural Salvage starts the same way. Patrons walk up five wooden steps into the cavernous warehouse of whimsy, and their heads immediately tilt back. Eyes scan top to bottom; side to side. “Wow,” visitor after visitor whispers at first…
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By Dalia Colon Where: The road forms an upside-down “A” shape in West Central Florida, about 30 miles south of Sarasota. Length: Approximately 48 miles. How to get around: Car, boat or golf cart. Best time to visit: February or March, to attend a Tampa Bay Rays spring training game in Port…
Read MoreBy Janet K. Keeler Oscar Scherer State Park is a natural pine and palmetto oasis in densely populated Sarasota County. As development sprouts around it, Sarasota to the north, Venice to the south and the towns of Osprey and Nokomis even closer, Oscar Scherer is a reminder of what this part of…
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