Sarasota Memories: How to Take The Perfect Family PortraitIf you’ve been searching for tips on how to get the perfect family picture without a professional, look no further! See below for some photography tips to help you get that album-worthy family photo. Timing is Key!Finding the right timing for your family photo is the key for getting the best shot. Sarasota beaches have some of the most pristine sunsets in Florida; but that’s not when you want to take your family portrait. The best time to shoot? The “golden hour” is what you want to aim for; about 45 minutes after sunrise or prior to sunset. There is a very slim window of time when the light will be ideal, so be ready! Location, location, location!Location is another key factor you will want to include in your family photo. A unique location in your background that has a special memory associated with it can make the entire shot! Not sure where to...
Summer in Sarasota: A Complete Vacation Guide Part 3There’s no place like Sarasota in the summertime! Seas the day in sunny Sarasota with the hottest events of this August. Read below for the complete guide to a beachin’ vacation! August EventsVenice Cabaret FestivalJuly 12 - August 25 Enjoy an evening on the town with Venice Theatre’s riveting Cabaret Festival performances this August! Originally opened in 1950, the Venice Theatre is a frequent favorite of Sarasota locals and visitors alike. Recognized as the largest community theatre in the United States, Venice Theatre brings you the 7th annual Cabaret Festival, featuring many different acts from top performers. Shark DaysAugust 4-10 Head over to Mote Marine Aquarium for Shark Days, starting August 4th! This fin-tastic shark frenzy is going to be full of fun activities and family-friendly events. Learn all about Sarasota’s shark population while getting a unique perspective on these jawsome aquatic creatures!Sarasota Slam Fishing TournamentAugust 8-10Get ready for a reel good time at Sarasota Slam...
Summer in Sarasota: A Complete Vacation Guide Part 2There’s no place like Sunny Sarasota this summer! Seas the day in Sarasota county with the hottest spots of the season. Read below for a complete guide to your best vacation yet! July EventsSarasota Powerboat Grand PrixJune 29 - July 7Ready, set, go - get ready for the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix! An annual Sarasota favorite, this family-friendly, fun event takes off on June 29th, running through July 7th. Some dates to remember: July 3rd - the festival kickoff at Van Wezel, a spectacular evening of fireworks and more! July 5th - the Boats on Main block party. July 6th - Car show and motorcycle event at Rossiter’s Harley Davidson. July 7th is the highlight of the festival, where you can watch the powerboat races at Lido Beach. Looking for more places to sit back and watch the fireworks? Check out this guide to Independence Day Fireworks in Sarasota! Art and a Movie at The...
Summer in Sarasota: A Complete Vacation Guide There’s no place like Sarasota in the summertime! Seas the day in sunny Sarasota with the hottest events of the summer. Read below for a complete guide to your best vacation yet!June EventsSarasota Music FestivalJune 1-22Don’t miss Sarasota Music Festival’s 54th annual music extravaganza! This event is a prominent music festival for professionals from all over the country. Presented by the Sarasota Orchestra, there are an array of performances to enjoy, including Friday Festivals, Saturday Symphonies and more!Summer Circus SpectacularJune 11 - Aug. 3Summer really starts to heat up in Sarasota when the Summer Circus Spectacular comes around! Located at the Historic Asolo Theatre, The Ringling works with the Circus Arts Conservatory to bring a thrilling family adventure featuring performers from across the globe!Players Centre Summer Sizzler SeriesJune 12-23, July 23-28, Aug. 14-25; Players Centre for Performing ArtsA Sarasota hotspot, The Players have been annually performing in Sarasota for 83 years! This carefully crafted...
Sarasota County is a nesting ground for the highest amount loggerhead turtles in the Gulf. If you are planning your Sarasota vacation, it’s important to know all about their graceful habitants, the sea turtles! The History Sarasota’s Sea TurtlesMay 1st through October 31st is sea turtle nesting season in Sarasota County. Through July 1st, female turtles journey ashore to nest and lay their eggs, and starting around July the hatchlings begin their swim back into the Gulf of Mexico. Last year, the research from Mote Aquarium showed over 3,000 nests - almost all loggerhead sea turtles! Nine of those nests were reported to be green sea turtles. Both of these are on the endangered species list, but with the help of Mote’s sea turtle conservation efforts, last year’s nesting total was the third-highest since they began the program about 40 years ago. Mote Marine Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Conservation The Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program, founded at Mote Marine Laboratory &...
How To Navigate Through Sea Turtle Nesting Season in Sarasota Are you planning your Sarasota vacation for the summer? If your explorations are scheduled anytime before October 31st, there are some things you need to know about sea turtle nesting season! Sarasota County is a nesting ground for the highest amount loggerhead turtles in the Gulf. Sarasota is the natural habitat to these elegant sea creatures, so here are some things to remember on your vacation: Help The HatchlingsSarasota’s sea turtle population is dependant on visitors and residents working together to make the hatchlings journey as safe as possible. If you are planning your trip to Sarasota, this means keeping some tips in mind on the waterfront. When setting up your beach day site, be sure to give nesting sites a wide berth. These are easy to spot as the sites are marked by wooden stakes and bright caution tape. If you are lucky enough to happen upon some hatchings coming out of...
Are you planning your Sarasota vacation and looking for the best places to have fun? Full of coastal charm and tropical attractions, no matter how you choose to spend your time, Sunny Sarasota has endless fun in store for all. Here Are Some Of Sunny Sarasota’s Best Local Attractions: Sporty Sarasota SpotsEd Smith StadiumKick back and relax with America’s pastime at a baseball outing. Sarasota spring training is in full swing and a hotspot of fun! Spend your holiday the all-American way while snacking on Dippin Dots and watching the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium. Smugglers Cove Adventure GolfFeed the baby alligators before your game at Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf! Featuring a beautiful freshwater reptile habitat, you can head over to the course after feeding the gators. A full Floridian adventure with caves, waterfalls, pirate ships and more, this mini golf course is a family-friendly outing all will enjoy. TreeUmph! Adventure CourseGet ready for the ultimate adventure at TreeUmph!, a 14-acre...
Enjoy Sunny Sarasota’s Coastal Charm At These Local Attractions!There’s no place to be like Sunny Sarasota this summer! No matter how you choose to spend your time, Sarasota has endless fun in store for all. Here Are Some Of Sunny Sarasota’s Best Local Attractions: Artist’s RetreatThe RinglingArt lovers from all over revel at The Ringling’s 66-acre breathtaking bayfront hideaway. Once the estate of art appreciators John and Mable Ringling, this historic museum includes priceless art, a circus, gorgeous gardens, historic tours, and more! With classic collections from the original owners to modern artists, the magnificent art display at The Ringling has something for everyone. Marie Selby Botanical GardensThis 15-acre scenic site is full of blooming florals and many different types of plant life. If you’re looking for an artsy adventure for the whole family, the Selby Botanical Gardens features The Children’s Rainforest, which has many different kids activities to enjoy. A tropical paradise filled with orchids, banyan trees, ferns and many...
Whether your dream Sarasota vacation includes water activities, safari adventures, or relaxing by the waterside with a good book, you will want to make time to grab a bite at some of these six breathtaking waterside restaurants. If you want to make the most of your time in Sunny Sarasota, you’ve come to the right place! Below you will find Sarasota’s best waterfront restaurants; sit back, relax and enjoy Florida’s freshest bounties with serene saltwater on your horizon. Fin’s at Sharky’sTake a short trip to the south end of Venice Island, where you will find Fin’s at Sharky’s, the only local restaurant situated right on the Gulf of Mexico. Sip on a carefully crafted cocktail while drinking in the beauty of the Gulf. Famed for their Tuna Tacos and unbelievable view, Fin’s at Sharky’s will be a lunch or dinner treat to remember. Old Salty Dog - City IslandComplete your Sarasota adventures with a lunch break at Old Salty Dog. Their...
Dive Into Sarasota’s Tastiest Seafood Spots By Hannah M. Are you planning your Sarasota vacation and on the search for the best seafood spots? Southwest Florida has the freshest fish on the Gulf of Mexico! Take a look below at some of Sarasota’s favorite fish restaurants. Walt’s Fish Market, Restaurant & Tiki Bar4144 S. Tamiami Trail, SarasotaOriginally started as a fish market by the Wallin family, this restaurant took off in the 40’s when Tom Wallin began to cook up the catch of the day for local fishers. Since then, they have relocated and refreshed their entire business to include a full bar and a variety of fresh fish, including a rotating catch of the day. The grouper sandwich is a local favorite and said to be the best in the area! Crab & Fin 420 St. Armands Circle, SarasotaA fundamental pitstop on St. Armand’s Circle for over four decades, Crab & Fin is known for the freshest fish in...