Sarasota FL Real Estate Blog

Neighborhood Spotlight: Palmer Ranch

Home in Palmer RanchAs one of the largest master planned communities found in Sarasota, Palmer Ranch is a very popular choice for new residents moving to the area. This neighborhood provides tree-lined streets with plenty of lush landscape found throughout. The sidewalks are wide and allow residents to enjoy walking throughout the community.

Those living in the area can enjoy the bike paths, which run through the community. Palmer Ranch also features the "rails-to-trails" program, which provides the Legacy Trail, a bike path and a nature walk through a natural habitat of a bald eagle family. Plenty of wildlife is found throughout the area including the adopted mascot of Palmer Ranch, the sandhill crane

Location

Palmer Ranch is found close to Siesta Key, which provides some of the best...

Staying in a Sarasota Luxury Hotel for Vacation

Inn on the BeachWhen you live in a city like Sarasota every day may seem like a vacation. However, you may be missing some of the amenities and the treatment of a luxury hotel. Instead of spending money on a flight and time traveling to another part of the world, why not stay in one of the luxury hotels in Sarasota for your next vacation?

Lido Beach Resort

Spend time on the beach and enjoy staying in one of the suites at the Lido Beach Resort. This property is found on Lido Key and provides plenty of beautiful beaches for your relaxation. You can enjoy dinner in Christopher's Lounge and live entertainment every night of the week.

Island House Beach Resort

Another beachfront choice found on Crescent Beach, the ...

The Top Take-Out Restaurants in Sarasota, Florida

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/guymoll/6888229188/Sometimes you don't feel like cooking and you really don't want to go out for dinner either. When this is the mood in your house, finding the best place with great take-out food is necessary. Here are some of the top restaurants in Sarasota for take-out meals.

Pastry Art - 1512 Main Street

This cafe and bakery provides some of the best takeout you will find, if you're looking for dessert. They offer a number of pastries, tarts, cheesecakes and gourmet cookies. You can also pick up an espresso or coffee here.

Along with the many pastries, they also offer plenty of salads, soups, paninis and other items perfect for an entire...

Discover the Top Four Secret Beaches in Florida

Siesta SandsFlorida is known for the beaches and many of the best beaches are found in Sarasota, Florida. Finding a great beach for sunbathing, water sports or just a relaxing walk isn't hard. The best beaches, however, are secret and only locals know where and how to get to them. Here are the top four secret beaches throughout Florida for you to discover.

Pass-a-Grille Beach

Found just north of Sarasota near St. Pete Beach, this is a very quiet place to enjoy the beach. The water stays warm from the Gulf-Stream and the sands are beautiful. This tranquil environment is home to the Pass-a-Grill, which is a huge resort. Many shops and restaurants are found throughout and there's plenty to enjoy with Tampa just 15 minutes from this secret beach.

Siesta Key

This small island is very close to Sarasota and provides one of...

Top Things to Experience in Sarasota for 2014

SarasotaIt's a new year and everybody has their resolutions to lose weight, eat less, play more golf, make more money, etc. However, instead of making a resolution you may have already given up on, why not make a resolution to see more of the city you live in?

Sarasota is full of great things to enjoy from beaches to museums to theaters and more. Here are some of the top things to experience in Sarasota during 2014.

The Beaches

Of course, if you haven't discovered the amazing beaches near Sarasota, this is where you must start. Many local residents get caught up in day-to-day life and don't make it to the beach as often as they should. One of the best kept secrets is Anna Maria Beach, which isn't nearly as crowded and allows for plenty of relaxation.

The New UTC Mall

Shopping is very si-highlight--primary to many...

Sarasota Named at One of the Top 10 Most Exciting Small Cities in America

Central ParkRecently, Business Insider released a list of the "Top 10 Most Exciting Small Cities in America" and Sarasota, Florida was found on the list. This list used six specific criteria to compare 140 cities across the country. The criteria included:

  • Nightlife per capita - Bars, night clubs, comedy clubs, etc.
  • Fast Food Restaurants per capita - Less is more
  • Percentage of Restaurants that are fast food - Again, less is more
  • Live music venues per capita
  • Active life options per capita - outdoor activities, parks, golf courses, etc.
  • Percentage of young residents ages 20 to 34 - More is better

How did Sarasota Fare?

Once all the numbers were looked at, Sarasota, Florida was named as the 10th most exciting small city in America. The city placed higher in a few categories...

Selby Gardens Now Has a Rainforest

Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24736216@N07/4900646877/The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a very popular destination for both adults and children. This attraction makes sure the children have an enjoyable experience with plenty of natural plant life throughout. They've been providing the Sarasota area with a family-friendly attraction for nearly four decades.

Recently, the premier of the Ann Golfstein Children's Rainforest Garden was announced. This beautiful rendition of a tropical rainforest further enhances the overall attraction. Children can enjoy and play in this interactive area as they discover how life in a rainforest must be.

Award-winning designer Herb Schaal is responsible for creating...

Neighborhood Spotlight: Whitakers Landing

Whitakers Landing is one of the most desirable locations found in Sarasota, Florida. Even though this was such a desirable location, it wasn't developed until the 1990s. Frank Cameron Lambert is responsible for building the community, which features many luxuries.

This highly sought after community was built just south of Whitaker Bayou and provides a number of private features. High-end homes are found behind the gates of the community and plenty of lush foliage is found throughout. The area is marked by majestic oaks and beautifully designed homes.

The mansions found within Whitakers Landing are mainly Mediterranean-style and Island Bermuda designs. They features multiple stories and many custom features. Only one dozen homes are found here and they all features balconies, terraces, skylights and patios.

This luxury community comes with a price range of $1 million to about $5 million. The homes range from 3-bedroom to 5-bedroom and fall into the ultra-luxury category....

What is The Ringling?

Ringling Museum - Ca d'Zan - Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24736216@N07/2984616747/The Ringling is an Art Museum in Sarasota, Florida. This is one of the top choices for art and it includes the art museum, circus museum, research library, historic theater, historic mansion and a conservatory laboratory. This is a top attraction found in Florida and provides many things for the public.

The six attractions found as a part of The Ringling include:

  • Museum of Art
  • Circus Museum
  • Historic Asolo Theater
  • Art Library
  • Bayfront Gardens
  • Ca'd'Zan Mansion

These attractions provide a little bit of everything and provide something for all visitors.

Tours

The best ways...