Sarasota, Florida, is a major city along the southwestern coast of Florida. The community includes barrier islands just off-shore. Today, about 55,000 people call Sarasota home. The area has long been one of the premier tourist destinations in the country.

History

Hunter gatherers and fishermen travelled the area in prehistoric times. In 1513, a Spanish expedition arrived in Charlotte Harbor. The Native Americans reportedly spoke some Spanish during the ensuing visit, indicating prior contact with those from Europe. By the mid-1700s, the area was identified as "Zara Zote" on maps. Fishing camps were established. The U.S. Army built Fort Armistead on the bay in Sarasota in 1840.

Parks and Recreation

Siesta Key Beach is world-renowned for its 99 percent pure crystal quartz sand. It is reputed to some of the cleanest and whitest sand across the globe. Sand volleyball courts and BBQ grills are among the amenities here. At sundown every Sunday, a drum circle forms, and interested visitors join in the celebratory dancing.

The Great World Way is a more than 100,000-acre wilderness that includes the Myakka River that's over 60-miles long. Hikers will love the choices made possible by literrally hundreds of miles of trials. The wilderness can be explored via mountain bike, canoe, kayak or horseback. Those on foot can be guided in by a state-certified naturalist.

Attractions and Activities

The 30-acre, Historic Spanish Point was the winter estate of Bertha Palmer long ago. Today, it is a place with exhibits that cover 5,000 years of southwest Florida history. Learn about archaeological finds, the maritime heritage of the area and the pioneer homesteaders of this part of the state.

The Ringling Estate has greatly benefited from a six-year-long renovation. The 66-acre property includes the Circus Museum, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and Mable's Rose Garden. Also on the grounds is the Asolo Theater, a palace-style playhouse built in the 1700s in Asolo, Italy to honor a Queen of Cyprus exiled in the 1400s.

Events

The Sarasota Film Festival began in 1999, and it has grown to the point that over 200 films are shown over a ten-day period in April. Over 250 filmmakers attend the festival each year. The event began after a small group of actors, including Penelope Ann Miller and Marlee Matlin, came together to launch the festival.

There is great diversity among available Sarasota FL real estate. Of the couple of thousand Sarasota homes for sale at any one time, about 20-25 percent of the residential Sarasota real estate consists of condominiums. Beachfront mansions are among the Sarasota FL homes that can run $5-10 million and more. At the same time, modestly priced two and three-bedroom homes for sale in Sarasota include some newer Sarasota properties that are often conveniently located in proximity to excellent shopping.

A prospective Sarasota home buyer should work with a knowledgeable Sarasota real estate agent to identify the real estate in Sarasota that offers the desired amenities. Given the number of properties for sale, a Sarasota realtor can prove to be indispensable.