Sarasota Lifestyles

There's more to Sarasota than sun and water, with beautiful tree-lined streets, galleries, cafe's, live theatre and more you will be hard pressed to stay in one place for very long. Discover all the gulf coast of Florida has to offer and why Sarasota is called the gem of the coast.

 
TAMPA - One Hour Away
Tampa boasts the third highest population of any city in Florida. Located on Florida's gulf coast, Tampa is centrally located to offer ideal travel to any area of the state. This big city has a small town appeal that cannot be found anywhere else. With so much to offer.

Busch Gardens is a 335 acre theme park with an African-based theme. The park offers a variety of different rides and is one of the country's premier zoos with over 2700 different animals. Live shows, eateries, and games combine to make Busch Gardens Africa a top priority as a place to visit in Tampa.

The Florida Aquarium is an incredible display of over 20,000 aquatic species and animals housed in a 250,000 square foot aquarium. Some of the creatures on display include river otters, free-flying birds, and alligators from the wetlands. "Swim with the fishes" and "dive with the sharks" are two of the interactive programs that are offered as attractions at the Aquarium. "Sea hunt" offers a close encounter with some of the oceans most dangerous predators. Included in the attraction are the sand shark, the moray eel, the lion fish, and the octopus.

Adventure Island offers thirty acres of splish-splashing fun. Bring a bathing suit, as this water-based theme park is guaranteed to leave every guest dripping wet. Fast-paced thrills on water slides with corkscrews and waterfalls and a wave pool will raise the adrenaline of any who enter. Its tranquil surroundings and a children's water playground create a perfect setting for any aged visitor.

Tampa has a natural beauty all of its own, offering visitors and residents a perfect blend of paradise and attractions. and is home to some of the country's top sports teams. The beautiful beaches that cover the entire coast are a sanctuary for everyone from the weekender to the avid beach goer. The nightlife of Ybor City offers a perfect blend of entertainment and dining that is as unique as the area's name. Tampa is a great place to getaway and call home.
 
ORLANDO - Two Hours Away
The Orlando area is home to a wide variety of tourist attractions, including the Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and Sea World Orlando. The Disney resort is the area's largest attraction with its Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney-MGM Studios. Cypress Gardens Adventure Park is in nearby Winter Haven. Disney operates an animation studio at the Disney/MGM Studios in Orlando. The city is also known as the capital of pop, mainstream and alternative rock music, with music acts like Britney Spears, Mandy Moore, N-SYNC, Backstreet Boys, Creed, and Matchbox Twenty. The NBA Orlando Magic is the city's one professional sports franchise. The Citrus Bowl is also located here, home of the Capital One Bowl (formerly the Florida Citrus Bowl). Orlando is the birthplace of sit-com star Delta Burke.

Home to Walt Disney's famed theme parks, Orlando, Florida is a growing city with diversity. Anyone visiting Orlando will find a warm and humid subtropical climate. It can either hot and rainy from May until October, or cooler and drier with moderate temperatures the rest of the year. During the humid season, daytime highs average in the 90s with heat indices as high as 110 degrees. During the summer, violent storms will appear, bringing high wind, heavy rain, hail and lightening. The humidity is lower in winter with an average low of 50 in January and highs around 72 degrees. and temperatures are more moderate, and can fluctuate more readily. Orlando records an average rainfall of 50.6 inches annually, most of it during the hurricane season. While the city faces a considerable hurricane risk, the area is safer than South Florida's urban corridor or other coastal areas. Hurricanes are likely to weaken before reaching Orlando. The Orlando-area has experienced tornado activity that is slightly higher than the rest of Florida, and 96% greater than the U.S. average.
 
NAPLES - Two Hours Away
The southwest corner of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico is where the Sunshine State really starts to get into the groove; miles of coastline, stunning in its own right, lead down to this picture perfect region that will make you feel that you're far, far away from your regular life. Naples especially does an incredible job of removing you to a whole new state of mind; it's as if the farther south you go, the easier it is to just relax. This beach town has what it takes to show you the best of Florida, so think about pointing yourself in this general direction for a chance to make your escape from the confines of your cubicle.

Calm seas, white sands and a town filled with activities of all kinds are all you could ask for. Stepping into Naples is like entering a designated “stress-free” realm of constant diversions, but it's delightfully laid-back pace will never pressure you to run yourself ragged. Do what you want to do, when you want to do it, and the details will take care of themselves.

If right this minute you find yourself itching to feel warm, soft sand between your toes and wish you could hear the sound of the intermittent surf, then plan to spend a big chunk of your time in Naples with a beach towel, your trusty sunglasses, and that novel you've been meaning to read.

Naples has ten miles of pristine coastline and nearby areas. Catamarans, kayaks and fishing gear are readily available to get your motor running. Shelling along Paradise Coast is also something you don't get to do every day, so grab a bucket and keep your eyes to the ground in search of that special souvenir. It must be mentioned that golfers will find temptation around every corner. In a place that provides fitting weather to play on any day of the year, you can bet that people want to take advantage of it. There are about 40 lovely choices in the Naples area and several more that aren't too far away, so basically the general passion that Florida displays for this sport isn't in short supply here.

Naples is known for being well-rounded thanks to all of this plus the attention it pays to the arts. Several galleries showcase the work of local creative types, and theatres and festivals further encourage visitors to get to know the more colorful side of this not-just-a-beach town. From glass making to photography, live music to shows, Naples has a vibrant personality to go with its natural beauty.