12 Must-Do Things in Sarasota

It was 1927 when John Ringling brought his famous circus to town making Sarasota the official winter home of the Greatest Show on Earth. A once sleepy fishing village on Florida’s Gulf Coast was transformed into a vibrant, cosmopolitan city. But Sarasota’s charm goes far beyond its circus legacy. This area is often referred to as Florida’s Cultural Coast because of its abundance of performances, galleries and museums packed into a relatively small geographic area. And then there’s natural beauty from one of Florida’s largest state parks to six gorgeous barrier islands that hug 40 miles of coastline, each with their own personality. This travel guide highlights the 12 things you must do when visiting Sarasota.