Welcome to the Gulf Coast of Florida. We affectionately call it the ‘Suncoast’, which encompasses Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties. Sarasota and Charlotte counties were ranked in top five fastest growing areas in the nation during 2005-2006, for real estate and home sales.
This sun-drenched region has a plethora of lifestyle amenities to offer new home buyers. With our temperate climate (72 degrees on average in January), world renown beaches and diverse shopping and dining, life on the Gulf Coast is ideal 12 months out of the year. Luxury waterfront condos are poised amongst some of the most pristine beachfront in the world.
The southwest Florida region has more than 35 miles of the world’s most beautiful beachfront, where turquoise waters from the Gulf of Mexico meet the sparkling white sand beaches. From Siesta Key Beach, which was judged in international competition as having the whitest and finest sand in the world, to the family-friendly beaches of Bradenton, to Venice Municipal Beach to the south, famous for its shark's teeth, and Englewood beach in Charlotte county, each Gulf Coast beach has its own unique personality and style.
The beaches are just the beginning, however. If you enjoy sports, the Gulf Coast is the place to be. Exciting team sports, such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Tampa Bay Rays are just an hour away. Southwest Florida hosts several professional baseball teams’ spring training camps, and local residents benefit from the occasional pre-season games. Right here on the Gulf Coast residents can enjoy golf, tennis and all the water sports you can imagine.
Golf is especially popular on the Suncoast, and the region is often humorously referred to as the “Golf Coast”. Southwest Florida is known as Florida's "cradle of golf." Sarasota hosted the first golf course in the state and one of America's first courses was built right here on the Florida Gulf Coast in 1905 by Sir John Hamilton Gillespie, a Scottish colonist. Today Sarasota has thousands of holes at public, semi-private and private courses.
Is shopping your sport of preference? Serious bargain shoppers seeking out the best bargains will find plenty on Florida's Gulf Coast. And those seeking high fashion will also be pleasantly surprised by the beau monde atmosphere of the Suncoast’s retail community. Charming shops and galleries, huge regional malls, and the European-style elegance of St. Armands Circle with its aristocratic shops and boutiques. People travel from all corners of the world to shop on Florida's suncoast.
You will develop an appetite from all the Gulf Coast has to offer. And Southwest Florida’s many restaurants, offer a variety of cuisine from fast food, ethnic, steakhouses, fine dining and more. Suncoast dining will please the most discerning palate.
Cultural Amenities
Why is Southwest Florida often referred to as the cultural capital of Florida. Because Florida’s Gulf Coast has it all. Art galleries, theaters, opera, symphony, ballet and a world renown performing arts center. After a day of sun and fun on the Gulf Coast beaches, and evening of fine art and theatrical performances is the perfect nightcap. Some of the Southwest Florida’s favorite cultural facilities are:
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 953-3366. With its famous seashell shape and purple color, the Van Wezel presents a full season of theater, music, dance, children's programs, Broadway productions and more.
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bayshore Road, Sarasota, 359-5700. The state art museum of Florida, the Ringling Museum houses an extensive Baroque collection, modern collection and visiting exhibitions. Also be sure to visit Ca'd'Zan, John and Mable Ringling's home and the Circus Museum.
Florida State University Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 351-8000 or 351-9010. This $15 million center is home to the professional Asolo Theatre Company, the FSU/Asolo Conservatory of Professional Actor Training and the Sarasota Ballet of Florida. The main stage schedule of plays runs from November to June.
Sarasota Opera Association, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, 366-8450 or 953-7030. Four professional opera productions ranging from Mozart to Verdi to Puccini are offered in February and March of each year at the historic Sarasota Opera House.
Florida West Coast Music Inc., 709 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 953-4252. Under this musical umbrella are the following groups: the Florida West Coast Symphony, the Florida String Quartet, New Artists Piano Quartet, Florida Wind Quintet and Florida Brass Quintet and several Youth Orchestras.
Festivals. Sarasota plays host to several world renown charity festivals throughout the year, including the Sarasota Film Festival in January which often draws high profile Hollywood stars, and the Florida Winefest and Auction in April.
Location
Florida's Gulf Coast lies on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico between Tampa to the north and Ft. Myers to the south. Areas of interest include Casey Key, Englewood, Lido Key, Longboat Key, Manasota Key, Nokomis, North Port, Osprey, Siesta Key, St. Armands Circle and Venice. The Gulf Coast includes 571.75 square miles of land area and 35 miles of beachfront.
Population
City of Sarasota: 54,639 residents
City of Venice: 21,246 residents
City of North Port: 39,892 residents (2004)
Town of Longboat Key: 5,060 residents
Sarasota County (unincorporated areas): 242,852 residents
Total: 363,689 residents
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