Sarasota

Miles of sublime shores curling around a bay and overlooking the Gulf of Mexico define this beloved southern Florida city. But Sarasota also simmers with a unique cultural blend, one that stirs up a blossoming foodie scene with the eccentric legacy of the Ringling brothers, America’s most famous circus family. Delve into its fascinating past, while enjoying the best of its sophisticated present, somewhere along the city's award-winning beaches.

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Visit Sarasota: get started

First stop on your trip to Sarasota? A visit to the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, which includes a Circus Museum and the Ca' d'Zan Mansion where the circus owner once lived. For beaches in Sarasota, head to Siesta Key Beach or the barrier island of Lido Key. For things to do in Sarasota with kids, don't miss the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens or take a day trip to Tampa!

Sarasota travel guide

Destination facts

Language

English

What to bring back

A bottle of award-winning Siesta Key Rum from Drum circle Distilling, artisanal treasures from The Artful Giraffe, Florida apparel or sailor hats from Destination Florida, memorabilia from the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and a sweet sun tan.

What to eat

Southern seafood staples like smoked fish, a grouper sandwich or fried soft-shell crab (try the fresh fish-based meals at Walt’s Fish Market or Duval’s!), a meal at Sarasota institution Columbia Restaurant, legendary Amish pies from Yoder’s and fresh local produce from the popular Sarasota Farmers Market.

Fun fact

The culture of this southern Florida city was changed forever when John Ringling, head of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, made Sarasota the winter base for his circus in 1927, bringing a plethora of limber artists to its streets. Now a sprawling estate that is one of the city’s top attractions, The Ringling includes a Circus Museum where you can see the Wisconsin, the railroad car that took Ringling and his wife Mabel across the country looking for new talent.

Important info

For more information on all necessary travel documents, visa, taxes and more, check Air Canada’s Travel Requirements page and the Government of Canada’s Travel and Tourism website.