Lido Key Arts and Entertainment

Lido Key attracts visitors looking for sun, sand, and world-class shopping. Elegant St. Armand's Circle draws shoppers from all over the world with its huge assortment of high-end boutiques and hip bistros. On the north end of the key, the Mote Aquarium delights visitors with fascinating exhibits and shows. On the south end, the South Lido Park is a popular spot for picnics, hikes, and canoeing. Just minutes from the beach, downtown Sarasota's bounty of attractions await. Thanks in large part to the efforts and arts-minded developer and circus magnate John Ringling, Sarasota has long been considered Southwest Florida's "Cultural Capital." A happening theatre district, world class museums, scores of galleries, and the yearly Asolo Theatre Festival keep artsy types busy for days on end. Fans of major league baseball enjoy catching the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds playing spring training games.

Longboat Key Center for the Arts

Budding artists young and old can test their skills with a brush at The Longboat Key Center for the Arts. Established in 1952, the center has become one of the state's premier facilities, providing studios for instruction and continually changing exhibits in three art galleries. The center also sponsors regular outdoor concerts featuring local budding musicians. www.lbkca.org

6860 Longboat Drive South . Longboat Key, FL 34228 . (941) 383-2345

Circus Sarasota

The circus is an important part of Sarasota's legacy, so a performance by the city's resident big top is a definite must see. The European-style one ring show offers non-stop entertainment with unique acts including the Russian Cossack Riders and a Roman rings and aerial act. www.circussarasota.org

(941) 355-9335

John and Mable Ringling Museum Complex

Circus magnate John Ringling helped transform Sarasota into a cultural capital in the 1920's. Today his influence is still evident in the John and Mable Ringling Museum complex, affiliated with Florida State University. Stunning architecture and an expansive collection of works by baroque masters and American artists delight serious art aficionados. Innovative installations and object art help showcase the wall pieces by giving the viewer a sense of time and place. In addition, the estate encompasses Ca d'Zan (the recently restored 32-room Ringling mansion), the Circus Museum, Original Asolo theater, Rose Garden and beautifully landscaped grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay. www.ringling.org

5401 Bay Shore Road . Sarasota, FL 34243 . (941) 359-5700

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is the perfect place for gardening enthusiasts and nature lovers to check out orchids, ferns, bromelaids and heliconias. The garden's biggest claim to fame is that it has more epiphytes than any other exhibit or display in the nation. What's an epiphyte - you ask? A breed of flower that seems to grow out of thin air. Not excited by obscure horticulture? No worries - nine acres of walking paths guide you through scenic gardens full of hibiscus, wildflowers, banyans, and tropical fruit trees. www.selby.org

811 South Palm Avenue . Sarasota, FL 34236 . (941) 366-5731

Mote Aquarium/Sarasota Bay Explorers Cruise

Mote Aquarium's informative exhibits portray underwater life in grass flats, rivers, and artificial reefs. The popular "touch tank" allows little visitors to get up close and personal with a variety of marine life while three working laboratories give budding scientists insight into the world of Mote's research projects. The brand new Sea Cinema allows theater-goers to experience life as a hungry shark, thanks to surround sound, a big screen and 3D objects. The Sarasota Bay Explorers Cruise, a fascinating extension of the aquarium, travels through the bay with a marine biologist on board to help passengers spot dolphins and manatees. A brief stop on an island rookery allows glimpses of pelicans, herons, ibises and egrets. www.mote.org

600 Ken Thompson Parkway . Sarasota, FL 34236 . (941) 388-4441

Myakka River State Park

Florida's largest state park gives visitors a sense of what the state was like a hundred years ago. 29,000 acres of primal wilderness surrounding the Myakka River teem with alligators, vultures, and wild boars. Guided tours by foot, canoe, and kayak offer nature lovers an interesting look at wild cypress swamp, mangrove forests, and marshland. www.myakkariver.org

13207 State Road 72 . Sarasota, FL 34241. (941) 361-6511

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

Arguably the crown jewel of Sarasota's contemporary arts scene, the landmark Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall welcomes a broad range of performers. Set along the waterfront, the stately venue hosts world-class symphonies, premier dance companies, jazz artists, pop legends, and Broadway shows. www.vanwezel.org

777 North Tamiami Trail . Sarasota, FL 34236 . (800) 826-9303