Sarasota  is Culture and More..

Sarasota is the cultural gem of Florida where residents are dedicated to the arts. Masterpiece artworks hang in outstanding museums such as the John Ringling Museum, the largest museum/university complex in the nation.  The Lieberman Gallery is a non-profit art "viewing" center dedicated to exhibiting contemporary and challenging works by artists living and working in Sarasota and Manatee counties.  You can enjoy European tea and view art by nationally know and local artists at Cobblestone Gallery.   The Kennedy Gallery and Studios contains images of hundreds of recent and previously unavailable watercolors by Robert E. Kennedy, and includes many new paintings completed in 2003-2005. Bobs subjects range from Maine to the Caribbean, including New England, Mid-Atlantic, and the Southern States, Bermuda, Nassau, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, The Cayman Islands and Cozumel. His originals can be viewed at the Kennedy Galleries in West Dennis, and Hyannis, Massachusetts.   The Art Center Sarasota, proudly presents the community with a broad spectrum of workshops, exhibits, classes, and arts education programming in the visual arts, led by respected and nationally known professionals, and emphasizing the work of living artists.   Please visit the Sarasota County Arts Council's website for a list of all the galleries and exhibits in Sarasota. 


In addition to museums and  galleries, the ballet, theaters, and symphonies, are a part of the Sarasota culture.  The Sarasota Ballet started in 1987 as a presenting company and through extraordinary support became a resident company in 1990 and the Series became the Sarasota Ballet of Florida.The ballet was voted Sarasota's Best Performing Arts group for eight consecutive years and has gained in stature and prominence during the course of its history.

The New Florida West Coast Symphony delights audiences on the cultural coast of Florida with over 100 concerts every season.  Established in 1949 and now presenting a 37-week season, the Florida West Coast Symphony is the oldest continuing orchestra in the state of Florida.

 The Golden Apple Dinner Theater opened its doors on December 11, 1971 and is celebrating its 32nd anniversary Season. They have produced more than 270 plays and musicals and 5 original plays - one of which went to Broadway.  They have also been active producing shows for other theatres around the country and the globe.  The Asolo Theatre Company produces and presents high quality professional theatre.    The Players Theatre,  is a nonprofit organizaton which offers performances as well as education for the youth and children of the community.  The  Florida Studio produces world premieres and contemporary works which have been produced on or off-Broadway within the last five years. During its history, FST has grown into a theatre with more than 20,000 subscribers a year, more than any theatre its size in the country.  

The landmark Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, located on Sarasota's beautiful bayfront, has been entertaining audiences with a variety of music, dance, theater and comedy for more than 33 years.   The Hall has welcomed a broad range of performers and shows, including world-class symphonies, both classical and modern dance companies, jazz artists, pop legends, and the best Broadway has to offer, such as this season's Miss Saigon. ""

The Sarasota Opera is an internationally respected producer of the highest quality professional opera.  The Sarasota Opera House plays host to everything from opera, symphony and classical ballet to film festivals, popular music concerts, comedy shows and clowns.  The Opera Complex features a new Pavilion with a spacious, multi-purpose banquet/performance facility; the Peterson Great Room, which can seat up to 390 people.  Private meeting space, as well as private rehearsal rooms are part of the pavilion.  The Opera House theater seats 1033, with 740 on the first floor and 293 in the balcony.

For the sports enthusiast, The Grey Flannel Gallery  offers some of the finest sports memorabilia you will find anywhere. They carry a large selection of jerseys, signed baseballs, basketballs and footballs, signed 8x10 photos, modern and vintage sports cards and one of a kind framed displays. All autographed items come with a COA and are guaranteed authentic for life. Antique car lovers will want to visit the Sarasota Classic Car Museum which is located on Rt 41 in Sarasota.


OTHER THINGS TO DO IN SARASOTA



Music lovers find that there is always some type of event going on in Sarasota.  The Sarasota Blues Fest is very popular and attracts thousands. The Sarasota Music Festival brings together Faculty, artists and students for a extrodinary event. High schools and churches offer concerts on a regular basis and the caliber of talent is extrodinary.

The Marie Selby Botanical is an oasis of tropcial beauty on Sarasota Bay.  You can wander the garden pathway where you will see past plantings of bamboo, ancient banyans, and  mangrove and visit the tropical display house. 

The 135,000-gallon shark tank at Mote Marine Aquarium lets you view its inhabitants from above and below the water's surface. Kids get to touch cool stuff like a stingray (minus the stinger, of course) and watch sharks in the shark tank.

Here is an opportunity to enjoy a stroll along a trail that wanders through an ever-changing landscape growth and around open pond shorelines.  Sarasota Jungle Gardens is a magnificent and wildy overgrown paradise.  There are several shows such as Reptile Encounter.   This new, audience interactive show is designed to thrill and amaze.  Birds of The Rainforest  is a performing bird show with a twist. Learn more about these exotic animals, their habits and habitats, while they test their's and your IQ .This is a day of fun for the whole family.


G Wiz   is a hands-on discovery center for young and old kids. You can dig for fossils, play with lasers, and get up close and personal with the slimiest members of the reptile kingdom at this center. G.W.I.Z is located in the Blivas Science and Technology Center.

The Myakka River State Park is one of South Florida's largest tourist attractions.  The Park offers narrated airboat trips daily which takes visitors exploring throughout the park. 
There is hiking along 39 miles of trails, canoeing/kayaking on the river and lakes, biking, fishing, birding, horse trails (your can bring your own horse)  and and opportunity to see native trees. 

The Pelican Man's Bird Sanctuary, is dedicated to rescuing disabled birds and giving them homes. Currently, there are over 55 different species represented in the 200 permanently disabled birds in the park. Native and migratory birds from all over the world can be seen here.