City Information

Rising on a gentle hillside beside the blue waters of Sarasota Bay, SARASOTA is one of Florida's better-off and better-looking towns, and also one of the state's leading cultural centers. It's home to numerous writers and artists, and the base of several respected performing arts companies. The community is far less stuffy than its wealth might suggest, and downtown Sarasota is fairly lively, with cafés, bars and eateries complementing the excellent grouping of bookstores for which the place has been known. Most visitors stop by to see the Ringling estate on the town's northern edge - home of the art-loving millionaire from whom modern Sarasota takes its cue - and the barrier island beaches, a couple of miles away across the bay.

In downtown Sarasota, Greyhound buses stop at 575 N Washington Blvd (tel 941/955-5735). The Amtrak bus from Tampa pulls up at the local bus terminal on Lemon Avenue, between First and Second. Catch the buses here for the Ringling house or the beaches. Call at the visitor center , 655 N Tamiani Trail (Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 11am-3pm; tel 941/957-1877 or 1-800/522-9799, ), for discount coupons and leaflets.

Eating options along Main Street include the healthful salads, sandwiches and smoothies at Nature's Way , no. 1572 (tel 941/954-3131), and excellent pizza at Il Panificio , no. 1703 (tel 941/366-5570). Café Kaldi , no. 1568 (tel 941/366-2326), is a hip coffee house with delicious pastries, internet facilities and live music some evenings. Opposite the Ringling Museum, the friendly Café of the Arts , 5230 N Tamiani Trail (tel 941/351-4304), serves good European food for lunch and dinner.