In 1885, Sarasota was a mecca for Scottish settlers. They arrived expecting a thriving tropical town but at that time Sarasota was a simple community with no streets or shops! Some hardy Scots decided to stay and built Sarasota’s first golf course in 1886. The DeSoto Hotel opened in 1887 and the first newspaper was published in 1899.
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- Sarasota was ranked as the best small city in the U.S. There are a lot of small cities in the U.S., making this a high honor for our community.
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- This town has just over 52,000 residents, an ideal size for a smaller town.
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- Guess how many tourists come to Sarasota every year. One million? 2 million? Actually, the answer is over 4 million visitors enjoying our beaches, sunshine, golf, and shopping!
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Sarasota has an average temperature of 72.6 degrees. That means even in the winter, you remain comfortable and warm.
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Siesta Key Beach is considered one of the top beaches in the US, but did you know that altogether Sarasota County has 13 public beaches and 35 miles of soft white sand?
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- Sarasota County also has over 1,000 public, private, and semi-private golf courses for residents and visitors to enjoy. Since the weather is lovely all year long, you can play at any time of the year.
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SEVEN
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Sarasota County is made up of over 42% water. If you love being near the water, this is the perfect city for you.
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Aside from the ocean, Sarasota contains the Myakka River, which has 58 miles of canoeing, kayaking, and fishing opportunities.
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Did you know that Sarasota is the only place in the world where you can walk through the treetops of a subtropical forest? Myakka Canopy Walkway is an 85-foot long boardwalk that is 25 feet above the ground. It allows visitors to spot wildlife and birds from this elevated position.
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TEN
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Sarasota contains more Zagat-rated restaurants in a 20-mile radius than any other city in Florida. That means there is always a quality place to eat nearby, no matter what you're hungry for.
