Sarasota has long enticed visitors with its natural beauty, but while the ocean’s call is powerful, it is more than the beaches in Sarasota that travelers seek. This cultural capital boasts 10 theaters, 30 art galleries, and an acclaimed symphony orchestra and prestigious ballet and opera companies. From the spectacular contributions of millionaire circus magnate, John Ringling, and his wife, Mable, to the tranquillity of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, you can’t help but be enthralled with this piece of Florida.

Sarasota is a city south of Tampa on Florida’s Gulf Coast that was once the winter home of the Ringling Brothers Circus. Today, it hosts a number of cultural institutes, notably the Ringling Museum of Art, which showcases old masters and modern art. It’s also the gateway to miles of beaches with fine sand and shallow waters, such as Lido Beach and Siesta Key Beach.