Sarasota County

Featured Lists

Eric Brown / CC BY-SA 3.0

Sarasota County Essentials

Sarasota County features the quartz-white sands of Siesta Beach and the shark-tooth-rich shores of Venice Beach. The region's cultural identity is shaped by the Ringling legacy, including the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and the Mediterranean revival Ca’ d’Zan mansion. Nature lovers can explore the 15-acre Marie Selby Botanical Gardens or the expansive Myakka River State Park, known for its wetlands and canopy walkway. Marine research comes alive at Mote Marine Aquarium, while Historic Spanish Point preserves 5,000 years of Florida's human history.

12 places

Ebyabe / CC BY-SA 3.0

Sarasota Natural Wonders

Sarasota’s natural landscape ranges from the specialized epiphytes at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens to the diverse bird nesting habitats of the Venice Area Audubon Rookery. This collection includes coastal access points like the Venice Inlet jetties and the prehistoric shark-tooth-rich sands of Caspersen Park. Inland, Nathan Benderson Park offers a world-class rowing venue, while the Lemon Bay and Myakka River preserves protect native mangrove and freshwater ecosystems across Sarasota County.

10 places

Sarasota County — Map

Climate & when to visit

Best time to visit: January, February, March, April, November, December

Practical information

Tours & Activities