SARASOTA COUNTY AT A GLANCE

By: Christian Stan

News

Sarasota County is situated on Florida’s Gulf Coast, 60 miles south of Tampa and 75 miles north of Fort Myers, and it welcomes more than 3 million visitors annually.

Within its 725 square miles, the county serves up a diverse menu of cultural and recreational activities and attractions, including award-winning dining, world-class fine arts and performing arts, professional and amateur sports, and the area’s circus heritage. Vacationers can enjoy city life in downtown Sarasota, revisit Old Florida in Englewood and Venice, enjoy some of the best beaches in the U.S. on Siesta Key and Longboat Key, or play in North Port’s many parks and waterways.

  • What’s Trending
    U.S. News & World Report listed Sarasota as the best place to visit in Florida in 2022.
  • Sarasota County has 35 miles of beautiful coastline and six barrier islands.
  • Luxury Travel Magazine called Sarasota one of the top Florida destinations for solo travelers.
  • Siesta Key Beach consistently among the top 10 best beaches in the U.S.
  • Venice was named as one of the top five affordable places to retire near the beach by GOBankingRates.com.
  • Apartment Guide listed Sarasota as its second-best city for fishing.
  • New York Times designated Sarasota as one of 52 places for a changed world.
  • Record breaking numbers were reported at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) in 2022: the number of passengers traveling through SRQ in the first 10 months of the year totaled 3,110,343.
  • The Bay Park officially opened in October 2022 and will continue to improve the 53-acre bayfront, city-owned land. The Bay Park offers locals and visitors scenic areas for walks and sunset picnics and a playground, as well as programs like fitness classes and guided kayak tours. The long-term master plan will develop over the next several years.

About Sarasota County

Situated on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Sarasota County welcomes more than 2.7 million visitors annually. Within its 725 square miles, the county serves up a diverse menu of cultural and recreational activities and attractions, including award-winning dining, world-class fine arts and performing arts, professional and amateur sports and the area’s circus heritage. Vacationers can enjoy city life in downtown Sarasota, revisit old Florida in Englewood and Venice, enjoy some of the best beaches in the U.S. on Siesta Key and Longboat Key, or play in North Port’s many parks and waterways.

Sarasota County is perhaps best known for its 35 miles of pristine coastline in addition to 6 barrier islands, delivering options for beach getaways that are unrivaled almost anywhere else in the U.S., including Siesta Beach, named the No. 1 beach in the country and No. 11 in the world in TripAdvisor’s 2020 Travelers’ Choice Awards – the third time it has held the national title. To learn more, visit www.visitsarasota.com. Connect via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.