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Sarasota is a marvelous travel destination! Sunny skies, palm trees swaying in warm breezes, fabulous beaches, terrific shopping, perfectly manicured golf courses and much more await your arrival!

Sarasota is nestled on the Gulf of Mexico about an hour south of Tampa and an hour and a half west of Orlando. Sarasota has a very laid-back atmosphere and is the home of friendly people. Many "snowbirds" also flock to the Sarasota area to escape the harsh winters of other parts of the country, and the world for that matter. Sarasota even has a nice-sized airport that enables visitors to fly in from several major hubs. It is a very clean and modern facility.

The beaches are a huge attraction in the Sarasota area. There are many diverse kinds of beaches here too -

Siesta Key Beach features some of the best sand in the entire world. It truly feels like powdered sugar under your feet. There are lifeguards on duty at Siesta Beach and a great snack shop too. This beach gets very crowded as the afternoon approaches. It's great for people watching as well as enjoying the Gulf of Mexico.

Longboat Key offers secluded and quiet beaches. There are an endless amount of tiny seashells on Longboat's beaches. There are not any amenities or lifeguards on Longboat.

Lido Beach has great amenities, including lifeguards, bathrooms, rinse off stations and a snack shop. It is a favorite of the locals because it's so handy to Sarasota.

For additional outdoor fun, many golf courses are scattered around the area for the avid golfers to try out. Other fun activities in the area include: parasailing, boating, and deep sea fishing.

Shopping is a fun activity in Sarasota as well. St. Armand's Circle is a unique collection of shops that are arranged in a circular design. Many upscale shops are here as well as some nice bargain places as well. It's a great place to car watch and people watch too! There is an outlet mall in Ellenton, which is about 15 minutes north of Sarasota. You can find some fabulous bargains at stores such as Liz Claiborne, Michael Kors, Brooks Brothers, Coach, Dooney and Burke and many more! Sarasota also has several malls that have the traditional retail stores.

There are some fabulous museums and attractions in Sarasota as well: G-WIZ is a hands-on museum for kids; the Ringling Museum features wonderful art; MOTE Aquarium has interesting exhibits; Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is impressive; and the Sarasota Jungle Gardens is a terrific place to spend a few hours.

Learn more about this author, Lisa Linthicum.
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