Sarasota

Laurel Oak Country Club

• Laurel Oak Country Club is a private, member-owned club with the goal of providing the best social and recreational lifestyle along with the highest level of service. Laurel Oak has two championship 18-hole golf courses on property designed by Gary Player and Rees Jones. You will also find an impressive tennis facility comprised of 12 Har-Tru tennis courts and a six lane junior Olympic swimming pool perfect for laps or just splashing around. A full social calendar and year round casual or formal dining round out this clubs offerings.

The Field Club

• The Field Club is a unique club property constructed in 1925 by Mr. Stanley Fields originally as a winter estate. In the late 1950’s, it was purchased and became known as The Field Club which today offers members a marina, tennis and wellness centers, and expansive dining options. University Park Country Club is a semi-private club which offers it members 27 holes of championship golf, 11 Har-Tru tennis courts, fitness center, full host of member events, and creative contemporary cuisine at its Park Grill & Café restaurant.

Palm Aire Country Club

• A premier private member equity owned club, Palm Aire Country Club, features two 18-hole championship golf courses, 8 Har-Tru tennis courts, 1 asphalt tennis court, 4 pickleball courts, fitness center, and junior Olympic size swimming pool. Both casual and elegant dining can be found on property and a wide variety of clubs and organizations keep members active in the 30,000 square foot Spanish-Style clubhouse.

The Meadows Country Club

• The Meadows Country Club offers both equity and non equity memberships along with seasonal and summer membership opportunities. At the club, you can enjoy golf, tennis, fitness, and dining all in a relaxed Florida atmosphere. Members with a love for tennis will find an enormous 17 court facility recognized by Tennis Magazine. Three 18-hole golf courses will keep the golfer in the family busy and the junior Olympic swimming pool complex has food and bar service throughout the day.

Sarasota has a vibrant dining community. Conde Naste Traveler named it one of the “Best Food Cities in the U.S”. Seafood is big in Sarasota but the city is full of diverse restaurant offerings with cuisine from around the world. The Gulf Gate neighborhood is popular with foodies and has over twenty restaurants to choose from. From fine dining to fish tacos you will find it all in Sarasota.

The star of Sarasota, when it comes to shopping destinations, is The Mall at University Town Center. Modern and full of natural light this mall features world class shopping from its more than 150 retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Michael Kors, Lily Pulitzer, Lululemon, and many others.

Started in 1979, the Sarasota Farmers Market is the place locals go to get fresh produce, plants, prepared foods, and artisan crafts. Attendees enjoy the community feel of the market along with its pet friendly atmosphere and live music.

St. Armands Circle is a continental marketplace founded by the circus magnate John Ringling. This high-end shopping destination has 138 merchants selling trinkets and treasures, home décor, and the latest fashions to name a few. After a long day of shopping you can stop in one of the many salons and spa’s to relax and rejuvenate.

Towles Court Artist Colony is an enclave of bungalows and cottages that are now home to many artist studios, galleries, shops, and restaurants. This peaceful, artsy neighborhood is the place to go for one of a kind treasures, textiles, watercolor and oil paintings.

The Shoppes at Sarasota Row are a collection of chic boutiques and sophisticated restaurants located in downtown Sarasota.

Once the 36,000 square foot mansion of the circus impresario John Ringling, the Ringling Museum houses one of the nation’s finest art and cultural collections. The grounds are home to the State Art Museum of Florida, Circus Museum, Historic Asolo Theatre, and Bayfront Gardens.

The Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is a nonprofit marine research institution dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of oceans. The aquarium features a 135,000 shark tank, manatee and sea turtle habitats, and various other coral reef and marine ecosystem displays that are home to all different types of marine animals.

Ed Smith Stadium is the spring training home for the Baltimore Orioles Major League Baseball Team. It is a beautifully renovated stadium with lots of Orioles history.

Siesta Key is an 8 mile long barrier island just off Sarasota that claims to have the “Worlds Finest Whitest Sand”. Made up of 99% pure quartz it is always cool to the touch. Bird watching is popular here as is shell collecting. Point of Rocks on Siesta key is possibly the top snorkeling area on the entire west coast.

Longboat Key, Lido Key, and Siesta Key house Sarasota’s amazing beaches. Longboat key is known as a popular beach to watch sea turtles nest and lay their eggs. Siesta Key to the south has won a whole host of awards, including nation’s best beach multiple times.

Boating is a popular activity for the residents of Sarasota. In the middle of Big Sarasota Pass lies the Big Pass Sandbar. Popular for its clear water and white, sandy beach, it is a top desitanation for boaters in the area. Many find it a perfect spot to anchor up and party, swim, snorkel, have a picnic, and just enjoy the boating lifestyle.

In and around Sarasota you have the opportunity to do many different types of fishing. The Gulf of Mexico waters off Sarasota offer numerous reefs and wrecks for catching bottom dwellers like Grouper, Snapper, and Amberjacks. Inshore Sarasota Bay gives anglers a shot at many popular species such as Snook, Redfish, Sea Trout, and Tarpon. Because of the numerous inlets flushing the bay waters daily, it has remained a relatively healthy ecosystem for fisherman to enjoy.

Sarasota public schools are controlled by Sarasota County Public Schools District. The district has over 42,810 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. According to state test scores, 70% of students are at least proficient in math and 66% in reading. Niche.com gives the school district an A rating and has it as the 2nd best school district in the state. Several notable private schools include Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School (Roman Catholic), The Out Of Door Academy, St. Martha Catholic School (Roman Catholic), Sarasota Christian School (Mennonite), The Tabernacle Christian School (Christian), The Classical Academy of Sarasota, and Community Day School (Jewish)

The city of Sarasota has a total of 29 golf courses with 3 courses being municipal. Within a short 20 mile drive you will find another 62 courses of which 33 are public and 2 municipal.

The three municipal courses in Sarasota are all located at the Bobby Jones Golf Club. It consists of two 18-hole championship courses and one 9-hole executive course. The Bobby Jones Golf Club holds multiple tournaments and leagues throughout the year.

Serenoa Golf Club was designed by architect Mark Alden to be unlike the typical Florida golf course. The modest 6,270 yard course plays much longer and brings water into play on every hole. It is a true shot-makers course layout that is anything but typical.

University Park Golf Club features 27-holes of Championship golf designed by Ron Garl. It is consistently rated 4 stars by Golf Digest and features 2 or 3 day golf schools at their world class practice facility.

Misty Creek Country Club is a par-72 championship course designed by Ted McAnlis. Set in a wildlife preserve, it is not uncommon to see resident bald eagles, deer, bobcat, wild boar, and alligators in the surrounding live oak forests and wetlands. Featuring two 18-hole championship golf courses,

TPC Prestancia has hosted some of golf’s greatest such as Arnold Palmer, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Gary Player, and Lee Trevino. Their Stadium Course is am 18-hole par-72 which rewards shot-making designed by Ron Garl. A bit more challenging is their 18-hole par-72 Players Course designed by Robert Van Hagge which includes classic doglegs and carry over water.