Top 10 Things to Do in Sarasota This Year

People who live in Sarasota know it's more than a beach town. The cultural scene, the dining, the natural beauty, and the year-round calendar of events give this area a depth that catches visitors off guard. If you're new to the area — or just looking for reasons to explore — here are ten things I'd recommend.

1. Visit the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

The Ringling is Sarasota's cultural anchor. The museum complex includes the art museum (with an impressive collection of European paintings), the Circus Museum, the historic Cà d'Zan mansion, and the Bayfront Gardens. It's one of the largest museum campuses in Florida, and it's worth a full day. The Thursday evening "Art After 5" events, when the museum stays open late with live music and drinks in the courtyard, are a highlight.

2. Spend a morning at Siesta Key Beach

Siesta Key's quartz-sand beach is consistently ranked among the best in the United States. The sand is almost entirely quartz — cool to the touch even on the hottest days, and fine enough to feel like powder underfoot. It's a public beach with easy access, and mornings are the best time to visit before the crowds build. Arrive early, bring a chair, and watch the water turn from grey-blue to turquoise as the sun rises.

3. Walk St. Armands Circle

St. Armands Circle is a ring of shops and restaurants surrounding a central park, located on the barrier island between Sarasota and Lido Key. It's a pleasant place to browse boutiques, grab lunch, or have dinner at one of several well-regarded restaurants. On the first Friday of each month, the St. Armands Circle Association hosts a "First Friday" event with live music and extended shopping hours.

4. Attend the Sarasota Film Festival

Held each spring, the Sarasota Film Festival brings independent films, documentaries, and filmmaker Q&A sessions to venues across the city. It's a well-organized event with a community feel — you're likely to sit next to a filmmaker or local business owner. The festival draws talent that punches above the city's size, and it's become a genuine cultural event for the region.

5. See a performance at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

The Van Wezel sits on Sarasota's bayfront and hosts touring Broadway shows, concerts, comedy acts, and special events throughout the year. The venue is intimate enough that every seat feels close to the stage, and the programming is varied enough to appeal to most tastes. It's one of the best performing arts venues in Southwest Florida.

6. Shop the local farmers markets

Sarasota has several farmers' markets that run weekly, including the Sarasota Farmers' Market (Saturday mornings downtown) and the Venice Farmers' Market (Friday mornings). These are genuine community gathering spots — local produce, prepared foods, artisan goods, and the kind of casual conversations that make a place feel like home. They're also a good way to discover local food producers and seasonal ingredients.

7. Take a boat tour or go kayaking

The waters around Sarasota — Sarasota Bay, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Gulf — offer excellent opportunities for boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing. Guided eco-tours take you through mangrove tunnels and into the habitats of manatees, dolphins, and wading birds. Several operators offer sunset cruises, fishing charters, and dolphin-watching tours departing from the bayfront and surrounding marinas.

8. Explore the local dining scene

Sarasota's restaurant scene has grown considerably in recent years. Downtown Sarasota, the Rosemary District, and the areas around St. Armands and the keys offer a range of options — from casual waterfront spots serving fresh seafood to more refined dining experiences. The quality and variety here consistently surprise people who are used to bigger-city food scenes.

9. Visit Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Selby Gardens is a 15-acre tropical botanical garden on Sarasota Bay, known for its orchid collection and living canopy of tropical plants. The downtown campus includes a historic mansion and frequent art installations. The newly expanded campus also features a banyan grove and a waterfront garden that makes you forget you're in a city. It's a peaceful place to spend an afternoon.

10. Enjoy a sunset from the bayfront

This one costs nothing and never gets old. Sarasota's bayfront — particularly the area near the marina and the Van Wezel — offers unobstructed views of sunset over the Gulf. On a clear evening, the sky turns through shades of gold, pink, and purple that are worth stopping your day to watch. It's one of those simple pleasures that reminds you why people choose to live here.

Sarasota is the kind of place where there's always something happening, but you never feel like you have to keep up. That balance is part of what makes it special — and it's one of the reasons so many people who visit decide to stay.

If you're thinking about making Sarasota your home, I'd be glad to share more about the communities and neighborhoods that fit what you're looking for.

Ready to explore what life in Sarasota really looks like? Let's chat about real estate — I'm your realtor with a heart to serve.