Sarasota - Gateway to the Florida Gulf Islands
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There’s a circle in Sarasota, Florida. Not a circle in the conventional sense, but a chic and trendy one with upmarket restaurants and boutiques. This is St. Armands Circle, and if you’re one of the beautiful people, it’s where you go to see and be seen.
It’s come a long way from its early days as an island mangrove swamp when John Ringling the famous circus magnate, whose footprint is all over Sarasota, bought the land in 1917 to develop it into an early shopping and residential area. Much of his planning influence is still evident there today, along with Italian statues from his vast estate which lies not far away, but more about that later.
These days it’s all about swish gourmet restaurants and up market European style fashion boutiques and it’s a lovely place to spend some time out.
But there’s more to see and do in Sarasota and her islands. A lot more. It’s truly a city of contrasts. On one hand there’s the laid back lifestyle, glorious white sandy beaches and turquoise Gulf waters of its islands inter connected to each other and to the city by some imaginative bridgework, and on the other, a cosmopolitan city full of culture, arts and heritage with over 10 theatres and 30 art galleries.
What to Do in Sarasota
Topping this list is the 66 acre Ringling Campus, AKA The John & Mable Ringling Museum. The Ringling name is practically revered in Sarasota almost as a Founding Family. The circus business in the 20’s was the principle form of entertainment for everyone and The Ringling Brothers were right up there as the biggest and best of the lot, bringing The Greatest Show on Earth to American families right across the country.
The brothers made Sarasota their hometown and bought huge chunks of land there. They even used their elephants to help build the first wooden bridges in the city. Today the legacy continues and there are still examples of circus life to experience in the city; check out The Flying Trapeze Academy and Flying Fantasy Circus, Circus Sarasota and the Sailor Circus.
John Ringling in his heyday was worth over $200 million and built a huge estate to show off his wealth. The estate today comprises Ca d’Zan, Ringling’s ostentatious Venetian style winter home, where it’s hard not to imagine all the fine dinner parties that must have taken place there, and The Circus Museum (5401 Bay Shore Rd, www.ringling.org) where authentic posters, costumes, props and my particular favourite, the clown equipment can be seen. Also here, is an amazing model replica of a complete circus built by Howard Tibbals spread over 3,800 square feet, which took him over 50 years to complete. And to top it all, for art lovers, is Ringling’s jaw dropping priceless personal art collection.
G.Wiz is a real favourite for me. A permanent science and learning centre where you get to try out all kinds of experiments and scientific gadgets in a hands on way. Great for kids and adults alike.
Restaurants in Sarasota
There are literally hundreds of opportunities to eat from casual crab shacks on the beach to fine dining al fresco. You can pick up an excellent restaurant guide at the Sarasota Visitor and Convention Bureau (www.sarasotafl.org) but here are a few of my personal favourites:
Bijou Café 1287 First St. www.bijoucafe.net
An institution in Sarasota since 1986. Fine dining bistro-style in an historic area of Sarasota close to the opera house.
Café L’Europe 431 St. Armands Circle www.cafeleurope.net
Here’s your opportunity to mix with the in crowd in the famous St Armands Circle. The onion soup is a must have.
Read more about Florida's Gulf Coast:
Useful links
Bijou Cafe, Sarasota
Cafe l`Europe, Sarasota
G.WIZ science museum, Sarasota
John & Mable Ringling Museum, Sarasota
Sarasota Visitor and Convention Bureau
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