Welcome
to our tropical oasis of natural beauty, offering sunsets, beaches, the
Gulf of Mexico and unique island lifestyles. Florida's Gulf Coast is a
friendly, captivating place to call home, with an array of
events in performing
arts, world-class shopping and
dining, advanced education, and a
prosperous business community.
For permanent and seasonal residents, fishing and boating, year-round championship golf, collecting seashells along the beaches, strolling through galleries and watching sunsets are but some of the choices available among our barrier islands.
The residential choices for permanent and
vacation lifestyles are nearly endless. From the casual, Old-Florida
neighborhoods of West Of Trail, Anna Maria Island and northern Longboat Key, southward
through the elegant enclaves and waterfront condominiums of southern
Longboat, St. Armands, Bird and Lido Keys, to the casual beach homes of
Siesta Key, and the secluded Gulf-to-bay estates of Casey Key and Boca
Grande, your most treasured dreams of sandcastles can come true.
Architecture varies from Bungalows to
contemporary
Sarasota School of Architecture styling to modern Spanish Med
Revs to ultra chic condominiums of the Ritz and Beau Ciel.
Neighborhoods around Sarasota
West Of Trail - The Heart of Sarasota is a choice location on
Sarasota's mainland, this area is one of the city's oldest suburban
neighborhoods. It offers quiet streets lined with grand trees and
sidewalks, as well as easy access to Sarasota Memorial Hospital,
Marina Jack and
our thriving downtown. Streets here are named for flowers such as Bougainvillea, Rose
and Hibiscus, and are known as "the flower streets". The homes reflect
traditional and Spanish styles, with many renovated to preserve the
special flavor of the neighborhood. For professionals and families who
appreciate the convenience of downtown living, the area west of the
Trail is one of the most popular places to live. ($350,000 to
$12,000,000)
Sarasota's Downtown district is exploding with new energy, from new luxury condominiums facing the bay to renovated apartments, and a delightful blend of both new and refurbished single-family homes. Downtown Sarasota is a vibrant and exciting place to call home. Live theater, including the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall to the opera, ballet, symphony, an eclectic collection of fine art galleries, and a wide variety of live entertainment in restaurants and lounges are drawing both the young professional and the mature adult to sample the flavor of this sophisticated, cosmopolitan area. Homes range from small craftsman bungalows to Ritz Penthouses.
Casey Key - One of Florida's most prestigious
addresses is Casey Key. Its privileged residents dwell on this narrow,
eight-mile island south of Siesta Key, between the Gulf of Mexico and
Blackburn Bay. Homes here exude a unique blending of wealth, elegance
and old-Florida charm. Conservative, tasteful architecture reigns
supreme, with few exceptions. Land use is restricted to single-family
residences, many of them sprawling Gulf-to-bay estates. The key's
pristine natural environment and wildlife are protected by legislation.
With some of the highest land values on Florida's west coast, Casey Key
affords residents a picture perfect island lifestyle. ($900,000 to $18
million)
St. Armands Circle, A world-renowned shopping and dining destination, St. Armands is also a residential community of 225 homes. Architectural styles are eclectic, ranging from Old-Florida to Mediterranean to contemporary. Many of the smaller or older homes are currently being renovated or replaced with miniature mansions and elaborate estates. An intriguing blend of past and present, this stylish neighborhood is only a short walk from famed St. Armands Circle and Lido Beach. It is also convenient to downtown Sarasota, the airport and theater district. ($600,000 to $7,000,000)
Longboat Key - From the imposing high-rises
which line Gulf of Mexico Drive to its sprawling bayside estates,
Longboat Key offers residents a secure and private lifestyle. From the
moment you cross the bridge onto this island community, you'll marvel at
its impeccably manicured fairways and lawns, upscale shopping areas and
obvious opulence. Many of the island's condominiums are second, third or
even fourth homes for Longboat's world-traveling residents.
Lido Key/Lido Shores - Nestled just north of world-renowned St.
Armands Circle, Lido Shores is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico,
Sarasota Bay and New Pass. This picturesque locale provides the perfect
backdrop for dramatic, upscale homes created by some of Sarasota's most
talented architects and designers. The area has attracted artists and
intellectuals, as well as successful entrepreneurs. Many of the homes on
the Gulf are now being sold, remodeled or replaced, as are some bayside
homes with their views of the Sarasota skyline. Deed-restricted, the
area offers its own private beach, accessible only to homeowners of Lido
Shores. ($650,000 to $16 million)
Bird Key - Surrounded by the emerald waters of Sarasota Bay, Bird Key
is an exclusive enclave of 500 single-family homes. Once the province of
Northern retirees, its quiet streets and striking vistas of Sarasota Bay
and the city skyline have drawn some younger residents in recent years,
including celebrities. Residents of Bird Key appreciate its privacy,
security, and close proximity to world-class shopping at St. Armands
Circle, lovely Lido Beach and the dazzling downtown theater district.
Developed in the 1950's by Arvida, the island is a boater's paradise,
with many of its homes situated directly on the bay or on deep-water
canals. Today, many of the 1950s-style homes are being renovated or
rebuilt, among them some of the biggest, most extravagant homes in town.
Bird Key also boasts its own prestigious yacht club. ($700,000 to
$5,000,000)
Siesta Key will captivate you the moment you
step onto its powdery white sands. From sunrise to sunset, Siesta Key's
world-famous beach displays its unsurpassed beauty to residents and
tourists every year. Venturing further inland, you'll discover an
artist's and writer's village, complete with eclectic shops, some of the
finest restaurants and sophisticated boutiques. Turn down Siesta's side
streets and you'll find everything from small beachfront condominiums,
villas and apartments to magnificent estates. ($450,000 to $9 million)
Palmer Ranch, Formerly owned by Sarasota pioneer, Bertha Palmer, (and
then by the late, legendary businessman and Tampa Bay Bucs owner Hugh
Culverhouse), Palmer Ranch today is Sarasota's largest master-planned
community. It consists of 10,000 acres of superbly developed
single-ownership land. In fast-growing South Sarasota, just minutes from
the city's beaches, cultural, business and civic centers, Palmer Ranch
presents buyers with a wide range of lifestyle choices, from
maintenance-free villas and condominiums to sprawling estates and
beautiful single-family homes ($250,000 to $3,000,000).
Osprey & Nokomis, Osprey is home to Historic Spanish Point where visitors explore 4,000 years of the areašs culture, the history of native Americans and the original pioneering. Oscar Scherer State Park comprises 1384 acres of pine and scrub flatwoods on the banks of a small tidal creek, and offers canoeing, a swimming lake, campgrounds, nature trails, bicycle paths and picnic areas. This southern Sarasota provides a wide range of communities to serve every need, from elegant waterfront residences and the luxurious homes in the Oaks, South Bay and South Creek to charming inland properties and condos. These neighborhoods are mere minutes from all the conveniences of Sarasota.
The City of Venice is divided, by the Intercoastal Waterway, into
Venice Island and the Mainland. "Venice Mainland", east of the intercoastal, is threaded by the Tamiami Trail (US 41) bustling with a
wide variety of businesses to serve your every need. The "Mainland"
offers neighborhoods in all price ranges from the modest to fine
communities surrounding superb golf courses. Enjoy the Florida lifestyle
from a home, maintenance-free villa or condo on the fairways, or choose
a Venice Mainland home nestled on acreage where you can keep your horse.
South Venice community offers homes with deeded beach access, some
creek-front properties with dockage, and a modest price range. Venice
Mainland and Venice Island offer you extraordinary residential options
in a community with a small-town feel and city advantages.
The Island of Venice offers the unique opportunity of living on or near the Gulf of Mexico. Residents have quick access to the Gulf, and also to the shopping, Arts Center, hospital, schools, library and restaurants of Venice. Residences include condominiums, traditional Florida homes and luxurious waterfront estates. ($120,000 to $2,000,000+)
Manasota Key, South of Venice and over the Beach Road Causeway is
Sandpiper Key, with only two condominiums and four single family homes.
Nearby Manasota Key retains an old-fashioned charm of beach cottages,
resorts and condominiums on its south end. The north end is
characterized by fine estates and guest homes with tropical acreage,
abundant wildlife, privacy and Gulf-to-bay views.
Boca Grande, The elegant private island community of Boca Grande
boasts the deepest natural port between Tampa and Miami. Across the
causeway from the mainland lies a charming small town of shops and
beautifully restored buildings dating from the early 1900s. Renowned for
tarpon sport fishing, this unique island draws yachtsmen and sailors,
and offers unlimited Gulf sunsets over the sandy white beaches.($600,000
to 16,000,000)
Click here for a list of hotel & motel accommodations .
Click here for general neighborhood information.
Click here for the Sarasota County Historical web site.
Click here for the Sarasota School of Architecture history
