Whenever you think of the state of Florida, you are bound to imagine beautiful sunny days and the golden sandy beach. After all, Florida is called the Sunshine State for this very reason. Florida makes for a wonderful vacation destination, especially if you are looking for an ideal spot to head off to for the summer. However, it is time to forget about Tampa and Miami and head over to the beautiful city of Sarasota. Wondering why? Well, here are the top five reasons to love summers in Sarasota.
1. Perfect beach town vibes
Located amidst the powder white sand and the emerald and aquamarine waves hugging the Gulf Coast, Sarasota is home to some of the best beaches in the world. In fact, many of these beautiful beaches have won several awards from various organizations.
Beachside living is the only lifestyle there is in Sarasota. It is only here that you can come out of the water and head straight to the friendly Siesta Key Villa to indulge yourself at the oyster bars and daiquiri decks, or you can even catch the Siesta Key Drum Circle on Sunday evenings. From grooving to live music, indulging your taste buds with ice cream and mini-donuts, collecting Sarasota souvenirs, and enjoying the nightlife, Sarasota has all the beach town essentials to let you have the most enjoyable summer of your life.
2. Enjoy the Farm-to-Picnic Potential
Bayside and beach parks complete with playgrounds, islands that can be accessed by kayak, and the many natural habitats of Myakka and Oscar Scherer State Parks offer some of the most magnificent settings for picnics in Sarasota.
And if you want to experience the authentic local picnic experience, just head over to a Sarasota Farmers’ market to pick up the items you need for your picnic, from juicy watermelons to sweet tomatoes, sweet corn, and refreshing cilantro, you will get the complete experience here.
3. Bicycling in Sarasota
Bicycling in Sarasota is one of the most enjoyable activities to participate in throughout the year, owing to the flat terrain of the Florida state. You can rent a beach cruiser to have a breezy transport option as you go around Lido Key and Siesta Key. Or you can also check out Sarasota’s bikeable historic downtown neighborhoods by picking up a bicycle for rent from Sarasota Bike Tours.
Spend a leisurely morning taking a ride to the Towles Court Artist Colony, and then head over to catch the latest indie flick running at Burns Court Cinema. You can follow it up with a spin through the very heart of downtown Sarasota on Main Street as you head back to the marina-side Bayfront Park.
4. Stunning sunsets
While every season on the Gulf Coast is sunset season, but there is something extraordinary about the summer sunsets in Sarasota, as the sun sets every evening over some of the most beautiful and top-rated beaches in the country.
The summer storm season brings with it a cooling late-night downpour to subtropical Sarasota during the months of July to September. This is the best time to catch a glimpse of some truly stunning sunsets as they often feature dramatic clouds and heat lightning that electrifies the entire sky.
5. A Kayaker’s Paradise
There’s no denying that Sarasota can sometimes become a bit crowded with tourists hanging out everywhere. So if you want to get away to look for some peace and quiet, you need to search no further than the magnificent mangrove tunnels of Lido Key. These mangrove tunnels are located along the Intracoastal Waterway in southern Sarasota County, or you can even find them deep within the wild and scenic swampland of the charming 66 miles of Myakka River.
Regardless of whether you are looking for a calm lake, river, and bay paddling, or you want to experience the more physically demanding thrill of tackling the Gulf Coast waves, kayaking or canoeing, or even stand-up paddle boarding are the best ways to explore the breathtaking aquatic side of Sarasota’s off-beaten path by the mangrove tunnels.
As you go along your way, you will be sure to come across some of the commonly spotted wildlife in this area, including dolphins, manatees, pelicans, stingrays, turtles, osprey, roseate spoonbill, deer, and alligators.