Located just south of the Tampa Bay area and north of Fort Myers, Sarasota Bay features a series of islands nestled between the Gulf and Sarasota. Offering recreation and entertainment opportunities that attract visitors from around the world, the Bay’s stretches of white, sandy beaches are ranked among America’s best, and the surrounding waters offer some of the best saltwater fishing and recreational water sports in the area. Spend your day exploring the remote nature trails where you can observe wildlife in its natural habitat, and enjoy dining at its finest in one of Sarasota’s many restaurants downtown, or at one of St. Armands Circle’s stellar restaurants.
Discover Sarasota
NEVER FEEL LOST AT SEA.
Our robust calendar of ongoing programs includes everything from classes, to concerts, to guest speakers, and more – a diverse collection of events that not only entertain, but also inform and stimulate the minds of our residents. While some are organized by our team members in the community, a large handful are assembled and led by residents themselves, and have become a popular way for new residents to get to know their peers and neighbors.
Locations & Attractions
Here’s just some of what you can expect here in Sarasota Bay:
SIGHTS
- The Sarasota Ballet, featured in The New York Times, and the Gulf Coast of Florida’s first professional ballet company
- The Asolo Repertory Theatre, Florida’s oldest theater company
- John and Mable Ringling’s Museum of Art, with the most significant collection of Baroque art in the South
- Public art galleries and installations all throughout the Sarasota area
SOUNDS
- The Sarasota Opera House, with its famed Verdi Cycle productions, as well as Carmen and Madame Butterfly
- The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, set along the beautiful bayfront and hosting the Sarasota Orchestra, as well as a variety of music, dance, theater and comedy since 1970
- The Sarasota and La Musica chamber music festivals, featuring a handful of the world’s top musicians
DESTINATIONS
- St Armands Circle, with 140 unique shops, galleries and restaurants
- Mote Marine Aquarium, offering touch pool experiences and high-tech interactive exhibits
- One of Sarasota’s many beautiful golf courses, including The Meadows Country Club and Tatum Ridge Golf Links
- Marie Selby’s Botanical Gardens, located directly across the bay from Plymouth Harbor
RESTAURANTS
- Lila, an environmentally friendly and vegan-inspired restaurant
- Veronica Fish & Oyster, one of the top seafood restaurants in the Sarasota area
- Sage, a downtown standout with worldly cuisine and inspired cocktails.
- Indigenous, owned and operated by Steve Phelps, one of the area’s top chefs for more than a decade
