Top 10 Reasons to Retire in Sarasota Florida

What does the beach, ballet and baseball all have in common? We’ll give you a hint… they’re an eclectic mix of cosmopolitan fare and small town life that actively engages the whole community in a fun, natural and sophisticated way. With sunsets that last forever and an array of activities to complement your intellectual desires; the popular retirement beach town of Sarasota, Florida offers such a lifestyle.

If you're exploring the west coast of Florida for the first time and would like to learn more about the area, ask us for our free Sarasota Florida relocation information to help you discover the best places to live in Florida.  Among all the fun things to do in Sarasota, listed above, here are the top 10 reasons to retire in Sarasota Florida:

SARASOTA COUNTY BEACHES 

Six Islands line over 36 miles of the Sarasota coast featuring activities that reflect the unique environmental characteristics of each:

• LONG BOAT KEY- Northern point of Sarasota located on the Sarasota Bay and at the southern tip, Quick Point Nature Preserve is home to scenic bays, lagoons and bird watching.
• LIDO KEY- just above Siesta Key and below Long Boat Key. Shop and dine at St. Armand’s Circle, minutes away from the beach.
• SIESTA KEY- centrally located and home to Siesta Beach, Turtle Beach and Palmer Point Park known for, white sands, walking running, and people watching. Canoeing, kayaking and boardwalks.
• VENICE - just south of Casey Key and Nokomis Beach offers a picturesque 1950’s concession stand beach era style, fun for the entire family. Prehistoric shark teeth 
• BLIND PASS BEACH- south of Venice but not as far south as Manasota Key, Blind Pass offers, nature trails, excellent fishing, a canoe launch, play- grounds and access to both Lemon Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. 

ART & CULTURE

Sarasota offers plenty of sophisticated entertainment and speaks tremendously for the fun things to do in Sarasota. Florida Studio Theatre began in 1973 and is located in the heart of downtown on the Sarasota Bay. A village of theatres, it includes the historic Keating and Gompertz Theatres, and the Parisian-style Goldstein and John C. Court Cabarets all very intimate venues that showcase plays and musical acts of all interest. The Ringling Museum of Art houses John and Mable Ringling’s art collection from the beginning of the twentieth century. Their travels through Europe in the 1920’s introduced a Baroque style to the collection. Part of John’s intentions was to bring art and culture to Sarasota. Today, the Ringling offers The Museum Of Art, Circus Museum, Ca’ d’ Zan, Historic Asolo Theatre an education center and a botanical heaven at Bayfront Gardens. Join the Sarasota Opera house for its 56th season home of the Sarasota ballet and orchestra delivers stellar performances by Nabucco, coming soon on May 15th & 18th or the play Driving Miss Daisy starring Angela Lansbury and James Earl Jones on June 5th & 8th, just to name a few.

OLD FASHIONED SPORTS

Hey! Batter! Batter! Swing batter!! Watch America’s favorite pastime during Spring Training as the Baltimore Orioles as they gear up for the next season at the ED Smith Stadium. Sarasota is also known for its world class golf at communities such as University Park Country Club. Longboat Key Club is a stunning beach club or perhaps enjoy polo at Lakewood Ranch. Boating on the Gulf Coast of Mexico is some of finest in the state of Florida. Lakewood Ranch offers 4 Championship Golf Courses and Longboat Key Club has luxurious spa amenities both revealing themselves as some of best places to live in Florida. 

COSMOPOLITAN RESTAURANTS & SHOPS

What good would a place to retire be without sophisticated boutiques and waterfront restaurants? Sarasota doesn’t fall short of fun things to do and for places to eat or shop. St. Armand’s Circle offers waterfront dining like that available at Lido Beach Grille featuring fine American cuisine with a touch of the Mediterranean with spectacular views of Sarasota Bay.  The Chart House on Longboat Key offers succulent steaks and seafood offering views of beautiful sunsets over the New Pass on the Gulf Of Mexico. From outlets, to houseware stores, Sarasota has shops to appease all budgets and shopping credentials. The more you learn about the area, the sooner you’ll discover, Sarasota is one of the best places to live in Florida and is affordable.

SARASOTA FARMERS MARKET

Sarasota’s Farmers Market is a Sarasota tradition, located downtown on Main Street and S. Lemon Avenue.  This non-profit organization has been a part of Sarasota for over 30 years and is home to over 70 vendors and 5,000 square feet of delicious produce.  Featured every week in downtown Sarasota, the market has been bringing locally grown favorites to residents, while supplying great community outreach with free events like Yoga on Saturday mornings, local musical guest and interactive farming classes for kids and adults, alike.  From farm to table, be a part of tradition and enjoy all of the the fun things to do in Sarasota.

UNIQUE PARKS & BIKE TRAILS

Myakka River State Park has over 40 miles of walking trails, a scenic wild river, two lakes and 58 square foot of wetlands.  Rise high upon the treetops on the Canopy Trail and get a birds eye view of this beautiful park. Trail down the Mossy Hammock, a 4.5-mile trek through moss covered Oak that will leave you feeling miles away from civilization and one with Mother Nature. The Legacy Trail Bike Path offers over 10 miles of quintessential Florida wilderness running through Sarasota near Palmer Ranch and Venice.  Like Myakka, Lido Beach Nature Park located at the southern point of Lido Key is great for camping, canoeing and kayaking offering an authentic view of the natural world, Sarasota has to offer. Oscar Scherer State Park is another hidden treasure located in Osprey. In hopes that you will run into the rare and endangered Florida native, the Scrub Jay lay among the large acreage of protected scrubby Flatwoods that once covered all of Sarasota. 

FESTIVALS

Sarasota offers a wide array of celebration. Whether it’s about a life revolving around the great outdoors, art or music, there is plenty to do in Sarasota for you, the retiree and the whole family.  

• SARASOTA POLO - December 15th- April 6th.  Polo events every Sunday with a wide array of sponsors
• SARASOTA ROWING INVITATIONAL - February 22nd & 23rd.  Hosted by Sarasota County Rowing Club, competing for the Diamond Vault.
• SARASOTA OPERA FESTIVAL - February 9th- March 24th
• JAZZ FESTIVAL - February 23rd- March 1st.  Afternoons of free Jazz at Centennial Park in Venice
• VENICE’S SHARK TOOTH FESTIVAL - April 11th, 12th &13th. BBQ’s, activities for the kids, prehistoric shark teeth
• SARASOTA MUSIC FESTIVAL - June 2nd-21st.  Showcases symphonic orchestras, classes, coaching
• RINGLING INTERNATIONAL ART FESTIVAL - October 15th-18th.  Art form all over the world, puppetry, music, performances
• SARASOTA CHALK FESTIVAL - November 13th- 18th.  Four blocks and six days, appealing to the sophisticated art lover. Street painters create magnificent 3-D imagery.

MEDICAL CARE

St. Armand Medical Center, located in Lido Beach is a family center in practice since 1986.  Specializing in family and urgent care.  Lakewood Ranch Medical Center is equipped with an invasive and non-invasive Cardiology department and is equipped with new age surgical procedures that use Da Vinci Surgical Systems.  Including Orthopaedic joint and spine specialists and a Woman and Children’s center.  Sarasota Memorial Center located downtown on Tamiami Trail is a fully equipped medical facility prepared for any major medical emergencies and right up the road is Sarasota Medical Center specializing in family care and urgent care.  During your Sarasota Florida property search, it is important to be knowledgeable about medical services provided in the area. Sarasota Florida has medical facilities that are prepared to take on all medical care services, tackling any problems as efficient as any metropolitan area.

NEIGHBORHOODS IN EVERY STYLE & PRICE

Downtown Sarasota is an apex of cultural sophistication.  Set along the beautiful Sarasota Bay, this popular retirement city is home to 10 theaters, 30 art galleries, art festivals, parades, musical celebration, restaurants, shops and nightclubs. All of the activities are found in Sarasota, one of the best places to live in Florida! Lakewood Ranch is a city in and of itself with nine different style neighborhoods ranging from $100k to $500k. The community offers a wide range of outdoor activities with championship golf courses, polo and tennis courts, swimming, and community parks for the grandchildren, exquisite shops and dining line Main Street, as well as a six-screen movie theatre. 

Longboat Key Club is a gated beachfront community with oceanfront homes with miles of white sandy beach, 29 slip deepwater full service marina, 9.5 miles of walking and bike paths, beautiful golf courses, tennis courts, and resort style swimming pools. There are also deepwater homes on the Sarasota Bay at Longboat Key Club.  Just north in Bradenton is Harbor Isle located on Anna Maria Sound where waterfront townhomes begin in mid $300k.  Mangrove Walk is the first of this new community; fifteen buildings are up with a proposed 44 to be built.  In the near future, Harbor Isle Marina accommodating 119 boat slips and beach club will be available. As of current, there is a resort-style swimming pool, interior lake with kayak launch, a hammock park and walking trails.  

TRUSTED ADVISOR AND FRIEND TO HELP YOU

Having solid advice is an important part of making sound decisions.  Relocating for retirement is a big deal and it is imperative to have accurate information to make the correct decisions. Community Finder is a trusted third party resource providing you the most up-to-date information to you about the best places to live in Florida.

Allow us to be your trusted advisor and new best friend helping you find the dream home you’ve longed for. Ask us to send you free Sarasota Florida relocation information and for help with planning your trip.

Image courtesy of Cliff Roles